A/N: suzie2000 gave me this wonderful one-shot idea from a movie called "Divorce American Style." I must admit that I wasn't a fan of the movie itself, but the last major scene that she suggested I view, was wonderful fodder for a one-shot just as she thought it would be. A quick google told me that the female hypnotist in the movie was played by real-life hypnotist, Pat Collins, who was known as "The Hip Hypnotist." For the purpose of this story, I chose to use Pat Collins, playing herself as she did in "Divorce American Style." Thank you, Suzie, and thanks to KarlieQ and furthershewrote for help with fabric details to describe Jessica's dress. I based the gown Jessica wears in this story on one that AL wore many years ago.

While this started out as a one-shot, it became too long. It is now four short chapters that I will post rather quickly in the coming week. Please leave a review if you enjoy it.

Chapter 1

Cabot Cove was buzzing. Over the last few months, Eve Simpson had orchestrated a fundraiser for the town to take place at the high school gym on the upcoming Saturday night. The town council had once again batted down her request to obtain funding to remodel the community center. However, this time, Eve decided to take matters into her own hands. The old building had not been updated in over twenty-five years and needed major repairs. Those who did use the building regularly agreed that it was becoming an eyesore and an embarrassment to the community. Eve had garnered support in organizing a fundraiser instead from the town council and residents had become excited to participate. She had successfully recruited volunteers to help her in her quest. Everyone had been working hard, making posters for storefronts, along with putting ads in the Cabot Cove Gazette, as well as obtaining items for the silent auction.

Eve had never been known for altruism and she readily admitted that she needed certain improvements to happen in Cabot Cove to attract buyers for her real estate listings. She believed that having an updated community center with plenty of space for classes and activities for both the youth and senior citizens, would be one way to bring in more people to the area.

However, she was not above pulling on the heartstrings of others in an effort to get the support of the town in putting on this fundraiser, as improvements to the community center would benefit many in their area. The ladies at Loretta's alone had gotten excited at the thought of creating a monthly book club and knitting group for themselves. Their eagerness to help Eve succeed, had gained their help in recruiting entertainment and donation items for the silent auction.

Those, like Seth Hazlitt, preferred for Cabot Cove to stay the way it was, not particularly wanting those like Eve Simpson to bring more people to Cabot Cove, but Jessica was quick to tell him that no change was not good for their community either. Ultimately, if they wanted Cabot Cove to be a vibrant community, they needed to be supportive.

"Jess, I suppose you are right, but I'd rather things stay the same."

"Oh, Seth. You are curmudgeonly as ever, but we should help when we can."

"If you say so. I already got roped into helping Eve set up for the event on Saturday afternoon with Mort and a few others. What did she get you to do?"

"Oh, I have donated some signed copies of my books for the silent auction. I believe I'm also helping with the entertainment in some way, although she wouldn't say what she needed yet. I did tell her that as long as I didn't have to do anything silly, I would try to help."

Seth barked with laughter, "You are in for it now, Jess. You should never trust that woman."

Shaking her head at him, she tried to push off the spike of anxiety she felt at his words. Eve wouldn't embarrass her, would she? Oh, who was she fooling? Of course, Eve would embarrass her if given the chance. What had she gotten herself into now?

S/J

"Hello?"

"Hi Jessica. It's Eve. Do you have a minute?"

"Only just. I'm working, but I assume you are calling about the fundraiser?"

"Yes, I have the schedule printed and the bios for you and wondered if I could drop them by for you later?"

"Schedule and bios for what, Eve? You never told me exactly what you needed me to do."

Eve's voice took on a plaintive tone, clearly wanting to convince Jessica, as she all but whined, "I didn't? Well, no matter. I need you to be our mistress of ceremonies on Saturday. Say you'll do it, Jessica, please?"

"Oh Eve. I'd really rather not." Jessica hated being the center of attention, even though she often had to be when she traveled for book tours and speaking engagements. However, when she was home in Cabot Cove, she did her best to stay out of the limelight. But she knew any protest she could voice to Eve now, would not be heeded.

Eve continued on, "I would do it myself, but I have to be available backstage during the event to make sure nothing goes wrong. Now, I have written everything down with the schedule of events. You need to thank everyone for coming, encourage them to bid on the silent auction items throughout the night and introduce each of the entertainers once it is their turn to come out on stage for their set."

"Who are the performers?"

"That's the exciting bit, Jessica. I was able to get a stand-up comedian, several singers and musicians, and a hypnotist to do a routine at the end of the night."

"A hypnotist? Are they going to hypnotize people in the audience?"

"I suppose so. I thought having a variety of talent perform would be fun for the attendees and keep them engaged and bidding on the silent auction items during the breaks between performers."

"I see."

"Oh, Jessica. The event is in two days. Everyone knows and loves you. Please say you'll do it."

Jessica was cornered. She knew she was and she knew Eve knew it as well, having been the one to put her there. Sighing, she said, "Alright, I'll do my best."

"Oh, thank you! I'll stop by later today with everything."

Hanging up, a feeling of unease settled over her.

S/J

With the flurry of activity taking over Cabot Cove, she had almost forgotten that her friend, Dennis Stanton was visiting the night of the fundraiser, having prior business in Portland. With Dennis, she never knew if anything he said was true or an excuse for something else, but as he was staying at the Hill House and had his own car, she was not responsible to entertain him.

When he called midafternoon on Saturday, to tell her he had arrived, she was apologetic.

"Oh Dennis, I am terribly sorry. I'm afraid I don't have much time to visit this afternoon as I had hoped. If you want to come over for a drink an hour or so before the fundraiser, we could catch up then."

"Jessica, dear heart, that sounds lovely."

Telling him she had to be at the high school an hour earlier than everyone else as she was the mistress of ceremonies, he had chuckled.

"I can't wait to see you on stage, Jessica."

"Let's hope it all goes well. I did not know until this week what I had signed up for."

Amused, he assured her that she would be a wonderful and gracious host for the event, before ending the call.

S/J

Jessica was on edge, feeling her nervous energy spiral out of control. Butterflies in the stomach, heart palpitations, sweaty palms, shaking hands, and weakness in the knees. While she did not enjoy being on stage, she was familiar with the experience. She was not sure why she had such a sense of deep foreboding about the event, but she could not shake it.

She had been trying to use Eve's notes for the past two days to prepare for the fundraiser that evening. While Eve could converse with anyone, she was not a gifted writer. Earlier that morning, Jessica had become so frustrated that she had taken Eve's notes combined with some research she had done on each of the performers on her computer and written her own introduction for everyone. Practicing a few times after her phone call with Dennis, she felt much better.

She was on her way upstairs to bathe and dress for the evening ahead, when she heard Seth come through the back door, calling out to her.

"Jess?"

Turning back around on the stairs, she walked into the kitchen, answering him.

"Hi Seth. I thought Eve had you working at the high school all afternoon?"

"Ayuh, she did. I'm beat already."

Chuckling, she offered him a cup of coffee, knowing he was hoping for some. She started a fresh pot as he sat down at the kitchen table to wait for it to brew.

"What time do you need to get there?"

"By about five thirty."

"That's in two hours, woman."

"Yes, well, I was just about to get ready but I have plenty of time yet."

"Isn't that jewel thief here tonight though?"

"Oh Seth! He is reformed now. Please be pleasant tonight."

Seth scoffed at the idea that Dennis was reformed, but he did not know him, so she supposed it was difficult for him to believe.

Setting fresh coffee in front of him, Jessica joined him at the table. He did not say anything though, so she added, "Dennis arrived at the Hill House a couple of hours ago. He is going to come by for a drink in an hour to visit before we have to leave."

He bristled. "So, you have a ride then."

"You said you were working at the high school all afternoon. I didn't think you would be done and ready before I needed to be there."

"You could have asked me, instead of making an assumption."

"That is true. I'm sorry, Seth. You know that I love going to events with you. In fact, I have it on good authority that some of the musical performers will encourage dancing, so I do hope you will ask me."

"I will never turn down a dance with you." She smiled at him widely, before she saw his expression as it darkened and he added, "As long as that jewel thief doesn't monopolize all your time."

"Are you jealous?" She asked, feeling incredulous at the thought.

He shrugged, but kept his eyes on his coffee.

"Seth, Dennis is a friend. That's all."

"Oh? So why did he have business in Portland and then feel the need to drive over two hours to attend a small-town community fundraiser with you?"

Now it was her turn to shrug, as she said, "I suppose he wanted to see Cabot Cove in person after hearing me talk about it so much over the years."

"Hmm."

"What does that mean?"

"It means you are far too intelligent to be that naive."

"Seth!"

Standing, he moved toward the door. Making a point to look at the clock on the wall, he told her that he would see her that night, as he closed the door behind him.

Flummoxed, but taking the hint that time was running out, she went upstairs to get ready.

S/J

When Jessica found out that she had to host the fundraiser, she had pulled out a formal gown that she bought for her life in New York some time ago. Often going to formal events there, she kept a closet full of garments that she could wear to any number of events in the publishing world. This particular gown, she had purchased in a boutique store in Boston one weekend, when she was visiting with Seth, and brought it home to Cabot Cove. She had done so with the intention of taking it to New York the next time she went to her apartment.

Thankfully, she had forgotten and it was still hanging in the back of the closet. Since she was going to be forced to be in the spotlight, she did want to look the part. It was a deep red wrap dress made of a rich shantung silk, with four matching round buttons that fastened at the side as it wrapped around her body. The result was that the neckline crossed over her chest creating a deep and low v, finished off with hand-sewn pearl and rhinestones around the edged collar and cuffs with the same hand-sewn embroidery. It was beautiful and by far, the fanciest dress she had ever worn to any event in Cabot Cove. She even had red-heeled shoes to match.

She had gone downstairs to wait for Dennis to arrive, when the doorbell rang. Before walking to the door, she switched on the kettle in case he wanted a cup of tea first.

When she opened the door, Dennis Stanton, was there in a black tux and bow tie, looking as debonair as usual.

"Why, Jessica, you look simply marvelous," he said, smiling and slowly taking in her appearance from head to toe.

"Oh, Dennis, you are a rascal. Come inside."

Walking into the house, he pulled his arm from behind his back to display a bouquet of multi-colored roses, which he grandly presented to her with a wide gesture of his other arm.

Leaning towards them, Jessica inhaled their luscious scent. "They are lovely, Dennis. Thank you."

"My pleasure," he said, moving to kiss her cheek softly. "It is wonderful to see you again."

Jessica smiled warmly at him. He knew how to make her feel attractive and sexy, even though she knew it was an act. Dennis did not want to be tied to anyone, and while he may be open to a fling here or there, she did not want either. Still, he was a friend, and he would be attentive tonight. She wondered idly if Seth would be jealous seeing them in person.

"Let me put these roses in water. Would you care for some tea or perhaps a glass of wine?"

"A cup of tea would be lovely, dear heart. May I assist?"

Motioning to the kettle that had finished boiling, she asked him to pour the hot water into the waiting teapot to steep, as she worked on arranging the flowers in a vase.

They had an enjoyable chat over their cups of tea, Jessica careful to keep her dress spotless. Dennis had changed, happy to tell her how he could have robbed someone of their priceless jewels while vacationing somewhere exotic recently, but he refrained, causing her to belly laugh a time or two as he wove his tale. He was a charming man, but one she was glad to know as a friend only.

She believed he knew she did not want more. She hoped so at least. She would never want to lead him on.

Now, Seth was altogether different. She did want to be with him, but she had a feeling that if she continued to wait, she would be waiting forever. How could she find out if he felt the same? If he did love her, what was keeping him from acting on it? They were of an age and generation where the man was supposed to make the first move, but she was beginning to despair of that ever happening. Although she considered herself a modern woman now who applauded other women who acted on their own volition, it was challenging to respond differently in social situations personally as her thinking had adapted, since it was such a departure from how she had behaved all her life.

Seth had appeared put out with her earlier and her assumptions about Dennis. She mused that perhaps he did feel something for her…

"Jessica, am I boring you, my dear?"

"What?"

"Your eyes have taken on a glazed expression and you appear lost in thought. Is everything alright? I do hope I am not boring you."

"Oh, Dennis, I'm sorry. I got a bit distracted. How rude of me."

He smiled at her. He knew she was a deeply private woman or at least she was with him. She would not tell him what had distracted her if she did not want to and it appeared that she did not. No matter. He knew she could never love him. Nor should she. He was still a bit of a cad and he could admit that she was far too good for him. Besides, he knew that doctor friend was who she loved. Even if she pretended otherwise.

"No matter, Jessica. I do fear it is time to leave though if we are to get you to your event on time."

"Oh yes, thank you, Dennis." Standing, she turned off the lights and grabbed her clutch, before following him out the door.