By 6:45, Seth headed to Jessica's house. He didn't want to arrive empty handed, so he prepared a casserole dish full of braciole and sausage. Just a little something in exchange for the pie.
Seth knocked on the kitchen door. "Come on in Seth, it's open."
He walked in carefully, "I hope I'm not disturbing you. "
"On the contrary, I have the pie fresh out of the oven. Let it cool and you can take it with you."
They stood in silence, "oh…uh…in appreciation for the pie I thought I'd bring some food over. I made plenty," Seth offered.
Jessica took a peek under the foil, "looks wonderful. Thank you Seth. Uh, did you eat yet? I haven't and I hate to eat alone. "
"Well…I..didn't think…uh…no I haven't had dinner yet," he stammered.
Jessica turned and grabbed some dishes from the cupboard. "Can you grab the silverware, Seth?" He obliged and they sat down to his Italian feast. They ate mostly in silence. Neither pushing the issue. When both seemed to be finished Jessica cleared the plates.
"How about I make some coffee and we can have that blueberry pie in the living room. 'It Happened One Night' is coming on at eight. I know it's not Gable and Harlow but still a great film."
"One of the best! That don't make them like that anymore."
Seth carried the pie along with some plates and forks, into the living room. He sat on the couch and turned on the tv. Jessica waited in the kitchen while Seth caught the last few minutes of the previous film, "The Farmer's Daughter." He admitted to himself that it was another romantic comedy that he enjoyed. "Coffee almost ready?"
"Just about, Seth." Within ten minutes she arrived with the pot and two mugs. Jessica poured each of them a cup and the two sat at the edge of the couch as the movie began. Suddenly, the electricity went out. "What was that?" Jessica suggested. Seth wondered himself, "I wonder if someone got into an accident and took out a pole? Expect my beeper going off anytime soon." Jessica got up and grabbed a rather large flashlight that she kept in her desk drawer. She had several around the house due to the sometimes crazy New England weather.
The silence was unbearable, "I should get going Jess. In case I'm needed."
Jessica held the light under her chin, "Seth, why don't you wait a few minutes. You don't know…"
"I think it's better if I leave, Jess." Seth was grateful she couldn't see the heartbreak in his face.
"Seth there's no reason to leave," she paused. "Look we're acting like 2 uncomfortable people on a blind date. We need to talk." True things were not back to normal with the two friends and the sudden darkness only made things worse.
Seth turned abruptly, "No we don't need to talk! At least, I don't want to talk. Look if you are uncomfortable in my presence, I'll be happy to give you your space. I don't believe in talking about what 'was'," then his tone softened, "it would wound me to the core to know you've changed your opinion of me or to have you think I'm someone you don't feel safe to be around."
Jessica interrupted, "Seth stop thinking like that. I'm embarrassed at how I treated you."
"Huh! YOU'RE embarrassed? Oh Jessica, I'm the one who should be embarrassed and I am. I deserved your reaction, and I don't deserve anything less than a slap in the face." Seth felt his way to the kitchen. The streetlight across the way was still lit so he managed to find the back door.
"Seth, wait," Jessica pleaded but he left. Jessica felt awful. This situation was just as bad as any fight she experienced with Frank. Only then, making up was easy. A little love making solved any problem between them. What do you do when you're about to lose your best friend who you've suddenly developed feelings for?
Seth was indeed needed at the hospital as the crash involved a motorcyclist and a car. No one, thankfully, was seriously hurt but the motorcyclist needed surgery to repair a shattered leg.
Seth was able to leave the hospital by 5:00 AM and head home. Luckily, it was the weekend and he didn't have any scheduled patients. Of course another emergency could change all that. He went straight to bed too tired to be upset, angry or anything else.
Meanwhile, Jessica wanted to call on Seth but wasn't sure if he'd welcome her visit. This was really eating away at her. Seth was a friend, someone she could rely on. She certainly didn't want to develop any feelings for him. She had something wonderful with Frank and for that first year she thought she'd live a hum drum life as a widow. After Grady sent her manuscript to Preston Giles, Jessica soon found herself in a new life and out of her comfort zone. However she still remained humble and close to her New England roots. She realized she enjoyed this new life and certainly had no intentions of marriage or even a serious, romantic relationship.
However after Seth was almost poisoned, her feelings for him had changed. Oh, he gave her a chaste kiss when she presented him with the incredible chess set but she thought nothing of it. When he was on his almost death bed it shook her. She realized she didn't know how she could go on without Seth. He had become an important part of her life and she started to wonder what it would be like to be really kissed by him, to be loved by him.
Jessica thought if Seth had been at the hospital she would give him time to rest and head over in the afternoon.
By 2 o'clock Jessica thought it was time to head over and she brought the blueberry pie…darn this pie!
She knocked on the door and Seth answered it, "May I come in?" Jessica asked softly.
He stood to the side with his arm out as if welcoming her in like a butler. Jessica's astute eye noted a rock glass with, what looked like whiskey or scotch. However, Seth did not seem tipsy nor were his eyes bloodshot. Had she just interrupted something?
"Seth, please. Don't turn away from me," she pleaded.
He pursed his lips together and sat down inviting her to do the same.