Chapter One
Seth Hazlitt, physician to most of Cabot Cove, Maine and respected by all, was dancing around his office. His hips were shaking and he was moving his arms reminiscent of the disco scene that finally died a few years back. He couldn't recall ever being so happy. He stopped and returned to his desk. He picked up the slip of paper again and stared. A check for two hundred and fifty thousand dollars and it was made out to him! Tears of joy and relief rolled down his cheeks. This was what he considered found money. Oh sure, most of it, well a lot of it, would go into his retirement account but for the first time in his life he was going to splurge.
He would pay off the last of his remaining debts but he wasn't going to waste the money by buying a new car or something silly. No, he was going to take a trip, somewhere spectacular, and he was going to invite Jessica to come along. She was always inviting him to accompany her and he had never been able to repay her kindness until now. He took a deep breath. He didn't know how often he would receive a check like this one but he was going to throw caution to the wind and woo Jessica. He still wasn't in her league financially but at least he could pay his own way and a little of hers.
For years he wanted to court her but he didn't feel worthy. She wasn't shallow and didn't put him down for having a modest lifestyle but he was ashamed all the same that he couldn't take her on exotic vacations and buy her jewelry for her birthday and Christmas. He was able to tamp down the feelings of jealousy when she mentioned this man or that man was taking her to some event in New York. He knew those men meant nothing to her and were merely escorts. Of course, it didn't mean that the men didn't hope for more but at least he knew she wasn't interested in more with them.
He needed to tell her! He grabbed the check and headed out the door. First he had to stop at the bank and deposit it into his account. He drove immediately to Jessica's house after he left the bank.
"Knock knock," he called as he entered her empty kitchen. Jessica walked in from the next room.
"Seth! What brings you by? Coffee?" She picked up the carafe and poured out two mugs.
They took seats at the table and she looked at him expectantly. Seth dropped by plenty of times but she could see he was bursting with excitement.
"Jess, remember a few years back when we visited my family in South Carolina?"
"Yes, and they started growing your cousin's magnolia trees. It was a huge boon to the community and the horticultural society." She took a sip and waited.
Seth cleared his throat. "Yes, well, I don't know too much about the financial side of things but I received a dividend check today, the first time."
"Well, that's great, Seth." She smiled brightly at him. While she didn't know every detail of his finances, she knew he had plenty of lean years and was only now recovered enough to enjoy a little more of life.
"I'm not going to be irresponsible with it…" began Seth.
"Well, of course you aren't," agreed Jessica. Seth was the thriftiest person she knew and that was saying a lot.
"But I've always wanted to take a trip to explore more of nature, to enjoy it. Just a week or so," he continued. Seth's eyes were hopeful and still contained plenty of excitement.
"That sounds like a good idea. You work so hard and a vacation seems like a nice reward for your labor." She topped up his cup before her own.
"I want to take you with me," he blurted. "I've gone on plenty of trips with you and I want to plan a trip for us."
Jessica was surprised. "Don't you think you should spend the money on yourself? I can pay my own way."
"You've never let me pay my way when you invite me to places so fair is fair." He looked down at the table before looking up at her and back down again. If she didn't want to take a trip with him, it was unlikely she would want to have a romantic relationship either. She probably enjoyed the status quo and didn't want to change it.
Jessica lifted his chin with her fingers and looked into his eyes. She saw the hope dimming and knew he was feeling vulnerable. She didn't want to be the cause of dashing his excitement. Surely she could find a few days to spend with him.
"I'd love to go away with you, Seth." She laughed when he pumped his fist into the air.
"You won't have to do a thing, Jess. I've been dreaming of this for years."
His joy was infectious and she laughed along with him.
Seth told her he wasn't going to waste his money but he treated her to a shore dinner the following evening and while a haircut isn't a big deal, he admitted he had gotten a shave as well. Her eyes twinkled when he admitted it was a luxury he enjoyed albeit sparingly. She told him he deserved a little pampering and a shave probably wouldn't break the bank.
He had sobered then and told her there were plenty of times when he didn't have enough for a shave, barely enough for a haircut. He had hinted at a poor childhood and the time he found a torn dollar in the road when he was six. He had been able to buy his brother Richard and himself Buck Rogers ray guns and enough candy to have stomach aches that evening.
Jessica enjoyed hearing stories about his childhood although he rarely shared them. She also told him that when she received her first royalty check she splurged and bought a handbag she had wanted for a couple of years but couldn't justify spending so much on a purse.
"Do you plan on retiring soon?" she asked.
"I don't know if there'll be more checks coming or how much they will be so I'll just continue working until…until I have enough," he finished awkwardly.
"Well, I'm happy for you, Seth. Let me get my calendar so we can settle on a date." She went to her desk in the next room and returned with her planner.
"Give me a couple of dates, let's say for a week, and I'll get back to you as soon as things are arranged." He stood and swung her around the table, dancing, and ending it with a flourish and a dip.
Jessica couldn't help smiling at Seth. She had never seen him in such a good mood. She knew it wasn't the money but what it represented, freedom. Freedom from worrying over whether he had enough money to retire. Freedom from some of the stress the lack of funds could cause that weighs a person down. Freedom to make choices otherwise unavailable to him.
Over the next couple of days the townsfolk were all remarking about the difference in Doc Hazlitt. He was always an exceptional physician with a decent bedside manner but now he was cheerfully working longer hours and rumor had it he had erased the balances of several overdue accounts.
People were turning to Jessica for answers but she feigned ignorance, which didn't fool anyone, and pretended not to know the cause of the tremendous change in him. His good mood was also infectious. Jessica thought it was nice to see so many smiling faces when she went into town. Even the gossips at Loretta's Beauty Parlor had toned down the malicious aspects of their news.
Seth had gotten back with her and told her to pack for sunny days, warm nights, beaches, waterfalls, and lazy days. He wouldn't tell her where they were going because he wanted to surprise her and she happily went along with his plans. He did tell her she needed her passport though.
One evening Jessica took the time to sit with a cup of tea and think about Seth. Think about them as a couple. Oh sure, the town thought they were more than friends and were certain they were in love with each other. Jessica never bothered to convince them otherwise. It would only cause the gossip mongers to spread more tales about them and they were imaginative enough without trying to correct them. She knew the gossip around town was that they were lovers and usually it caused a pleasant feeling in the pit of her stomach, a nervousness but pleasant all the same.
Jessica hadn't been in a relationship since her late husband Frank passed away and she felt it was time. The overwhelming pain had finally receded into a sort of numbing ache and she smiled fondly with memories of him now. There were a couple of reasons for her hesitancy the last couple of years. One, she had never had a romantic affair before. It was the nineties and affairs were out in the open now. No one blinked about couples living together. Two, she wasn't certain Seth would agree to a relationship. Oh, she knew he admired her, was fond of her, considered them close friends, best friends even. He shared a lot of confidences with her and she with him.
She had always taken the bull by the horns so why not now? Wasn't she the one to ask Frank out on their first real date? She didn't shy away from difficult circumstances. If they were going to be together for ten days, there would be plenty of opportunities to discuss things with Seth.
When the book, "The Sins of Cabot Cove" came out she had been surprised about all of the affairs that were mentioned. The women in town certainly kept the gossip mill churning. Somehow Seth had kept the women at arm's length. It was time to see if something between them was possible.
She packed several bathing suits, shorts, dresses, and sleeveless tops. She also packed a lot of sunscreen and sunburn remedies, just in case. And because she was Jessica Fletcher and usually prepared, she packed mosquito netting, insect repellant, and smoke coils. She also packed a couple of her nicer nightgowns and reminded herself to stop at the drugstore. On second thought, she'd take a cab to Portland and go to a drugstore there.
Jessica was pretty certain they weren't going to one of the Caribbean Islands because most were full of tourists and Seth said he wanted to relax and explore nature. To her that meant he probably chose somewhere remote with few people. She packed a couple of books to read along with a small chess set. She wanted to relax too.
As the days passed she found herself anticipating their trip more and more. She went about preparing her house as ten days was a long time for some of the contents in her refrigerator. Once again the townsfolk were in a tizzy about them going away together. Jessica told them she was going to New York and that was true. Seth told her their flight was out of New York and hoped she didn't mind if they spent the night at her apartment. He explained he wanted to arrive relaxed and not stressed from a day of travel. He assured her he did the booking himself and not through Cabot Cove's only travel agent, Phyllis Grant, and one of the town's biggest gossip.
An entire day of travel brought too many possible destinations and even though she gave it some thought, she realized she didn't even know which direction they were headed.
Seth spent several days making plans. This was a trip of a lifetime and he wanted it to be perfect. He wanted somewhere exotic, warm, and hopefully with no television sets. The thought of hours and hours spent in Jessica's company was thrilling. He wanted to hike, explore, and even lounge at the beach with her. The time to talk about everything under the sun and to talk about the possibility of becoming a couple. He was nervous, scared, and eager to share his feelings with her.
He wouldn't admit it to anyone but a few days before their trip, he had taken the time to look himself over. He had bought a couple of swim trunks and sandals to lounge around as well as shorts. New underwear and pajamas rounded out his purchases. He groomed himself carefully removing all unnecessary hair from places usually neglected.
Two days before their trip Jessica journeyed to Augusta for a spa appointment. There she was pampered with a massage, facial, waxing services, and generally indulged with a hairstyle that flattered and her makeup professionally done. Her manicure was exceptional. She didn't often wear nail polish but the pink tones flattered her fingers. Her toes were painted red. Eve Simpson would be envious if she saw them.
While in the larger city she also purchased condoms and lube, just in case. If Seth was interested, there were some urges she had that needed satisfying.
They had gone on several trips together but usually with a purpose, to visit family, an archeological dig, to speak with their senator, etc. But never a trip to simply spend time together and enjoy activities they loved. She always wished they would become closer than mere good friends but it never felt like the right time. Someone always died when they went away. She fervently hoped there wouldn't be a murder on this trip. At least one she couldn't solve…