Winter Waltz

#4 Snow

-- by Stephanie

Disclaimer: As always, this is just for fun! I do not own the characters of Jessica Fletcher or George Sutherland. And like everyone else who is participating in this Writer’s Challenge, my intent is not to infringe on anyone’s copyright, nor is it to make any money.

With that said, please enjoy this short scene that takes place sometime after the story “Murder in Big Sky Country.”

Anxiously, George scanned the lobby for Jessica. He had hoped to make this a proper date but unfortunately, work had once again intruded on their plans and he was forced to ask her to meet him there. As always, she had understood completely and wasn’t put out in the least by the last minute change in plans. You’re a lucky man, Sutherland, George had thought to himself after hanging up the telephone a few hours earlier.

The London Metropolitan Police Department’s Black and White Ball would be preceded by a formal dinner, which was to be served shortly in Melrose Hall. When George was unable to find Jessica, he checked his watch and chided himself for arriving even later than he had predicted. When he looked up to resume his search, he froze suddenly, stunned by the radiant figure that approached him from across the room.

Not that he had given it much consideration, but he had assumed that she would choose to wear a black gown. She hadn’t. She had chosen a strapless satin gown, the color of freshly fallen snow, with a matching black and white stole.

It was not until she was within a few feet of him that he snapped out of his trance to greet her. “You take my breath away,” he offered quietly, still slightly off balance, before welcoming her with a proper kiss on the cheek.

“Are you alright?” she asked, amused that he was so obviously taken aback. Knowingly, she thought to herself, I should have gone with the black dress.

Later that evening, as they danced a Viennese Waltz, Jessica finally commented on George’s reaction earlier that evening. “I don’t recall you ever being rendered quite so speechless,” she teased.

George smiled at the recent memory. “You caught me a bit off my guard,” he admitted, as he pulled her closer and spoke softly next to her ear. “You truly are a vision in white, just as I expected you would be,” he explained further as he ushered her across the dance floor.

The evening was perfect. A light snow was falling outside, the orchestra was outstanding, the music was romantic, and Jessica felt secure and comfortable in his arms. “How did you know what I would be wearing,” she wondered. “I don’t recall telling you.”

“I didn’t know,” George confessed. “I was merely referring to an unspecified date, sometime in our future.”

“I wouldn’t wear white,” she informed him matter-of-factly, catching him off guard once again.

They continued to circle the dance floor, effortlessly keeping time with the music. “That’s good to know,” George finally commented, a smug grin now tugging at the corners of his mouth.

“What’s good to know?” Jessica asked curiously.

George stopped in the center of the dance floor and looked down into her crystal clear blue eyes. “It’s good to know that you’ve considered what you will wear on the day that we marry…a date that is yet to be determined, of course,” he explained with a twinkle in his eyes before resuming their dance.

Feeling quite satisfied with Jessica’s unexpected disclosure and sudden, stunned silence, George pulled her even closer into his arms and thought to himself, And now who’s speechless.