I wasn't expecting so many messages asking me to continue so I tried. I'm not happy with it but I never anticipated an ending.
Chapter Two
Sunday after church Mort pulled up as he was leaving the building.
"Inside quick, Doc," he commanded.
Seth put on his seatbelt prepared for another drive to Portland but Mort drove to Jessica's house and pulled around back. "Inside, hurry."
Seth bolted from the car wondering what was going on. He entered the kitchen but turned around when he noticed Mort hadn't followed after him. He spun around when he heard a sound and there she was. Thinner, paler, but whole. He crushed her to him and shook with silent sobs.
Jessica knew he went through hell and she tried to soothe him but he was having an emotional overload. "Seth," she said softly. She snuggled into him, pressing her face into his neck and wrapping her arms around his waist. She hugged him as hard as she could even as his own arms were tightly around her. He couldn't, wouldn't let go. All he could do was cling to her.
It took several minutes but she was able to move him over to the couch and sit. Neither spoke. They were content to just hold each other. Eventually Seth pulled back and began running his hands over her. Checking her over. He opened her jacket without asking and looked for bruises or injuries, feeling her muscles, touching any available skin. If she was uncomfortable, she didn't voice it. Satisfied, he buttoned her jacket and sat back.
"You are never leaving my sight again, never!" His face was fierce.
"Never," agreed Jessica. "They're going to make an announcement in about an hour that I've been found and safe so please grab a few clothes so we can get away. I don't want to see anyone but you right now."
Seth walked over to the hall closet and picked up his suitcase where he kept his clothes. "Only Mort knows?"
"The FBI found me so other than letting my publisher know once I was out of there, no one else knows. I'm going to need a few weeks away. I'll tell you about it later. I just need…"
"You have me, Jess." Seth picked up a suitcase he just noticed and realized she had probably packed a bag already. He looked out the kitchen window. Mort was standing next to the car, waiting. He hurried Jessica out the house and into the car before anyone could notice.
"I'm taking you to Cowell Newman's summer house in Windsor. I'll run to the store while you settle in and leave the groceries on the porch. It will be enough for three or four weeks. Call me on my cell phone if you need anything, otherwise I won't bother you. Rest up, feel better." He let out a breath of air. "I'm so happy you're back with us, Mrs. F."
Jessica smiled and leaned into Seth. Their hands were clasped. The back seat was roomy enough for her to pull her legs up on the seat and put her head on his shoulder.
Mort dropped them off and drove away to get groceries. He was very happy for them and so relieved he wanted to cry tears of joy. The Doc was already looking a bit better. He grabbed a couple of carts and filled them quickly. The Doc could cook so he put in the basics and added fresh fruit and vegetables as well as breads, meats, and condiments. While the groceries were being loaded in the car, he hoped they would be able to heal from the trauma. If he had to place a bet, he was pretty sure Mrs. F and the doc would pull through.
Seth and Jessica went inside the house and looked around. Seth put her suitcase in the first bedroom before crossing the hall to put his suitcase in the other bedroom. The relief he felt was so great he nearly fell onto the bed.
"Seth, I…I don't…please don't make me sleep alone."
Seth grabbed her into another hug. "You can share with me. Whatever you want is yours, Jess." He sat them at the foot of the bed and held her. He would have done it forever but they heard footsteps on the porch and knew Mort was delivering the groceries.
Jessica insisted Mort come inside for a few minutes and sit while she put away the groceries. Seth helped and Mort smiled thinking the Doc probably wanted him out of the house as soon as possible. The poor man still looked like he was in a daze. Mort helped by starting a fire in the fireplace and bringing in enough wood to last several days.
He kissed Mrs. F goodbye, shook Doc's hand, and left so he could get back to Cabot Cove. There was sure to be a celebration. He listened to the car radio on the drive back home.
"Do you mind if I have a bath?" asked Jessica. "I think I'd like a good long soak."
"Of course, Jess." Seth hurried off to run a tub of water, making sure it was the perfect temperature. He poured in a generous dollop of bubble bath and turned off the tap.
"Call out if you need anything," he said before ushering her inside the bathroom and closing the door. He went into the kitchen and put on a pot of chili and made a pan of cornbread. He wasn't much of a baker but managed a small cake and put a sugar glaze on it since he didn't know how to make frosting. He put the cornbread and the cake on top of the stove to cool and checked on the chili. He walked down the hallway to see if Jessica needed anything and stood outside the bathroom door. He could hear her crying softly.
Knocking on the door he called out, "Jess, are you okay?"
"No," came a small trembling voice.
Seth turned the door handle and opened it. Jessica was sitting in the tub with her hands covering her face. He picked up a towel and knelt in front of the tub. Opening the towel he placed it on his lap and lifted up the washcloth, still dry, and sitting on the edge of the tub. He wet and lathered it with soap and began washing her back. He used long, soft strokes. He gently wet her hair and washed it. It was longer than she normally wore it but only a few inches. Her cries stopped and beyond a sniffle every now and then, she didn't make any noise.
He handed her another washcloth and she began washing herself. When she finished he helped her stand and wrapped the towel around her. Assisting her out of the tub. He toweled her hair dry and then her body. He took her nightgown off the back of the toilet tank and pulled it over her head. He tucked her into bed and told her he would bring her some food.
A bowl of his chili with a nice sized piece of cornbread was consumed slowly but she managed it. Seth cleared away their dishes and left them to soak in the sink. He stripped off his clothes down to his boxer shorts and got into bed with her. He wrapped her in his arms and rubbed her back.
"I am so very grateful you're back. I…: his voice broke and he stopped.
"I thought about you every day, Seth. I hoped you weren't too worried." She touched his face. "I thought I would be stronger but I was afraid, sometimes paralyzed with fear. She looked at the deep lines on his face. "You look awful."
Seth let out a bark of laughter. "You look wonderful to me, Jess. I love you so much." He didn't bother hiding his tears from her. They cried together. Eventually they would talk but for now just holding each other was all they could manage. He held her while she slept and when she woke he rubbed her back, assuring her he was still there.
"Did you get checked over at a hospital?" he asked.
"I didn't think it was necessary. They took some blood and did a cursory exam but I wasn't physically harmed," she replied softly.
Their first week together was marked by sitting together holding each other. Seth was constantly rubbing her back, stroking her hair, and holding her as often as she would allow. He couldn't believe she was with him and his eyes followed her wherever she went.
"I started going to church," he began. "I had to try everything for your safe return."
Jessica showed her first real smile since her return. "Next you'll be telling me you were prepared to take vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience."
Seth grinned. "I've already battled poverty twice so I was given extra credit."
"I know we can't hide out here forever, Seth, but I don't think I can handle crowds of people. I'm not sure I can handle even Cabot Cove. I don't even want to listen to the news."
"We can go wherever you'd like, Jess. If I could wrap you in cotton, I would." He kissed her temple. "There isn't anything I wouldn't do for you."
"Dear, sweet Seth, I am most appreciative." Jessica never seemed to get enough of touching him or being held by him and she snuggled against him.
At night they shared his bed, him holding her until she fell asleep but during the night her hand was constantly seeking him. It wasn't a sexual situation. They both sought comfort and he tried to make her feel secure. She had nightmares, which was to be expected, but it usually only took a few soothing strokes of his hand on her arm to settle back down.
They played a few matches of chess but their hearts weren't in it. Seth thought it was too stressful at the moment. Instead they took walks, held hands and discussed Christmas. Seth assured her she was the only present he needed.
One night she didn't fall asleep as usual and Seth sensed she wanted to talk.
"I stopped in the restroom once I got off the plane. The drive home would take nearly an hour and I didn't think I could wait so long. A worker was cleaning inside and recognized me. It happens when I'm out in public so when she asked if I could autograph one of my books for her, I agreed. In the restroom was a storage room for supplies but in the back of the room was a door that led to another room. It was a poky, little room and she asked me to sit while she got the book." She took a deep breath. "She returned with a gun. I was surprised. She made me change into a uniform like hers and led me through a maze of rooms that looked unused. I think when they enlarged the airport they no longer used the old washrooms. There were old toilets and sinks everywhere."
Seth listened intently and held her close, stroking her hair.
"We climbed some stairs and she locked me in a room. She was insane. She believed she was protecting me from danger and cuffed me to a bed. It was a dark room and she would bring me food from a vending machine or something. She told me if I made noise she would have to shoot me but she didn't mistreat me."
As she told Seth the story, he was horrified for her. "After a few weeks she told me it was time to leave. No one was looking for me at the airport anymore. I had my bag with me and she let me wash in one of the old restrooms but she handcuffed me to her and dressed me like one of the workers again, no one even spoke to us. I had to keep my head down until we reached the employee lot and she drove us out of town. I knew you were worried but I couldn't think of a way out. I thought as long as I cooperated, an opportunity would open up. It never did." She began to cry and Seth whispered loving words calmly in her ear.
"Somehow the authorities were able to get inside the house. I could hear footsteps but my captor wasn't in the room with me. There were a lot of gunshots firing but I don't know who fired first. She's dead though."
She began kissing his neck, his chest. "Love me, Seth. Please help me forget." She began unbuttoning her pajama top and tossed it on the floor. Seth was determined to touch every inch of skin he could. He wanted to cherish her, love her, forever. Their lovemaking started off slowly. He touched her as though she were fragile glass. But she didn't want to be treated as if breakable.
Her hands were everywhere. Stroking, soothing, tugging, urging him on. Their coupling didn't take long but they were both sated. A thin sheen of perspiration covered their bodies.
"I'm yours now," commented Seth. "I'll never be able to leave you."
Jessica gave a sigh of relief. "At first I was angry with myself. I was told in the beginning not to put my cell phone in my purse but in a pocket but I didn't listen. It's more convenient in my purse."
"You think you would have been able to call?" asked Seth, rubbing her arm. He wanted to touch her forever.
"She didn't search me or even go through my overnight bag or purse. She just took them from me each day and brought them back when I could wash." She held on to his hand as he moved it across her belly. "She heard voices in her head, I think. She was always talking to someone."
"She likely needed mental health services," commented Seth. "Speaking of…I think we should let you talk with someone."
Jessica was shaking her head. "Every minute with you is helping me. I did everything she told me to do without question and I think that helped both of us. I didn't worry she would shoot me after a week or so and she seemed to think we were friends, in a way. No, I was worried about you."
"Me?"
"Yes, you. I knew you'd worry and let's face it, you don't have my coping skills." She smiled tentatively at him. "I pictured you ranting at Mort or getting arrested when a reporter got in your face."
Seth scoffed. "I'll have you know, none of that happened." He sighed. "To tell you the truth, I tried to keep my mind blank. I felt so lost and alone. In the beginning I worried you were hurt and that scared me. Later, when people started suggesting you'd been killed, I didn't cope very well but I did it alone, in your house."
Jessica lifted her head and kissed his lips softly. "I admitted to myself that I loved you far deeper than I let on and I wasted an opportunity. I prayed for another chance."
Seth chuckled lightly. "I did the same thing. I can't tell you how many times I castigated myself for not telling you how much I love you, and am in love with you."
They snuggled together and began drifting off. Both had limited sleep during the weeks she was kidnapped and their bodies were determined to regain as many hours of sleep as necessary. Jessica's nightmares had dwindled considerably and Seth insisted on bringing her breakfast in bed each morning.
It had been three weeks since they arrived at the summer home and other than a few bathroom breaks, they hadn't been apart, rarely even in separate rooms.
"Jess, Mort called to check in and to see if we needed more groceries." Jessica had just come out of the bathroom.
"I think I'd like to go home. My house needs winterizing and there's something about sleeping in your own bed," suggested Jessica.
"Marry me, Jess. Because I'm going home with you." Seth stood with a determined look on his face.
"Oh Seth, we can't marry."
He looked disappointed but Jessica pulled him into a hug. "I love you, my dear. Don't ever doubt it."
"But…"
"I don't want to marry, not now or ever again. I've thought about it before." Jessica kissed him long and deep but eventually Seth pulled away. He looked hurt. "Darling, it isn't you, it's me."
"I just don't think I can be without you, not after…after…"
"And we won't be. I want you living with me," stated Jessica, firmly. " I don't care what anyone says. They can take a flying leap into the ocean."
Seth smiled. "It will be a huge scandal." He began to warm to the idea.
"After what we've been through, no one deserves to be together more than the two of us and we get to dictate how we want it to be." Jessica tilted up her face but then smiled. "Now that I'm back, the least I can do is give the women at Loretta's something to chew on for a few months."
Seth took a seat on the sofa and pulled her onto his lap.
"At some point you'll have to return to work," sighed Jessica.
"No, I don't think I will. I've only been working mornings and I've farmed out most of my patients already," replied Seth. "I only want to take care of you from now on."
Mort picked them up on Saturday and informed them that the entire town has been cautioned to give them space for a couple of weeks. The couple was extremely grateful. Jessica and Seth were still inseparable. Jessica was with Seth during the morning. While he saw patients, she was upstairs packing and sorting. After lunch he joined her and after a week everything was moved to her house to be unpacked at their leisure. He donated his furniture to the senior facility near the edge of town.
While they waved at people as they walked around town, no one bothered them beyond telling Jessica 'welcome back' or 'good to see you'. Jessica made a hair appointment at Loretta's once Seth moved in. She told him it would signal that she was ready to face the town again.
The women at Loretta's immediately came forward to offer hugs and kisses. Seth stood nearby, ever watchful, but Jessica was fine. It was when her hair was nearly finished that she smoothly commented that Seth had moved in with her.
"Oh my, Jessica!" announce Eve Simpson. "You're getting married?"
"When's the date?" asked Loretta. The women immediately began offering wedding suggestions.
Jessica smiled. "We aren't getting married but if we change our minds, we'll let you know."
The women were silent for a moment.
Phyllis Grant was the first to speak. "After everything you went through it's better to deal with coping with that ordeal without having to break in a new husband too."
The women were all nodding, satisfied that they were correct in their thinking. Seth turned away and looked out the window so they wouldn't see his grin.
There was nary a peep when the paper announced Seth had retired and moved to 698 Candlewood Lane. For once the gossip mill was silent and considerate. Except for one person. The minister did pay a visit to Seth to show his disapproval but Seth assured him he proposed but was rejected. Since no one could find fault with Jessica, not after what she experienced, even the clergy fell in line.
A short statement was given to the media regarding her kidnapping. Jessica declined all interviews and didn't answer any questions. Since her kidnapper was killed, there was no one to tell the story and reporters had to accept it, for now.
Seth and Jessica cherished every moment they had together. Seth kept his promises and told her often how much he loved her. The town closed ranks against outsiders and if they were overprotective of Jessica, they were forgiven.
There are so many missing people that haven't had a happy ending or haven't been found. I tried to convey how thankful Seth was that Jessica was found and relatively unharmed.