Someday(#66)
-- by
Stephanie
Disclaimer: As
always, this is just for fun! I do not
own the characters of Jessica Fletcher or George Sutherland. Thank you to MCA/Universal and Donald Bain
for creating these two wonderful characters.
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.
“Someday” is the
final installment in a mini-trilogy which also includes “Merlot” and
“Antique.” I respectfully suggest that
you read those two entries before proceeding.
George crossed the room and knelt down next to where Jessica sat on the bed, gently placing his hand over hers and over the velvet box that she held. “Jessie, are you alright?”
She nodded silently, not sure exactly what to say. She loved him. She had no doubt about that. But getting married again wasn’t something that she had ever seriously considered even when he had casually hinted at the idea.
George closed the lid to the box and then tucked it into the pocket of his trousers. “Why don’t we talk about this another time?” he suggested, knowing that such a time was far off in their future.
His smile was kind and reassuring
even despite the intense ache that he now felt in his heart. Normally, he was a very patient man but
having had Jessica there with him in
“George?”
“Yes, love?” he said, looking up to meet her shimmering blue eyes.
“It’s very beautiful.”
George responded with a small nod. Too beautiful to be tucked away in a box, he thought to himself as he considered his options.
“I’m sorry,” they said in unison before both chuckling a bit, relieving at least a small portion of the tension that now stood between them.
“Go ahead,” she encouraged him.
“No, Jess, ladies first,” he insisted.
Jessica laid her hand over his. “You know that I love you?” she began.
“I could never be convinced otherwise.”
“Good,” she answered with an internal sigh – this was amazingly difficult.
“Are you sure you won’t go first?”
“If you wish,” he answered. He smiled and stood, gently pulling her to her feet as well. “I love you, Jessie, more than anything and I apologize for mucking this up.”
“You didn’t muck this up,” she started to argue. After all, she had been the one to search through his jacket. For all she knew, he probably hadn’t even intended to offer it to her tonight, or anytime in the near future.
“Yes, love, I did. I should’ve thought this through a bit more.” He raked his fingers through his hair and shook his head. “I should have…uh, tested the waters a bit more first.” He lowered his hand in a gesture of disgust at himself.
“I should have been more patient,” he admonished himself. After all, despite having know each other for a decade or more, they had really only been together for a short time.
More
patient? Jessica thought to herself. How
many years had it been since he first told her that he loved her? Eight? Nine?
“I may not have thought this through completely but there is one thing that I do know for certain” he decided after collecting his thoughts and emotions for a moment.
He reached into his pocket and removed the small blue box. “I bought this for you because I love you and because I want to marry you. That hasn’t changed nor will it - ever.”
When he began to open the box, Jessica , unsure of his intentions, tried to stop him. “But, George…”
Undeterred, he withdrew the ring from its box. “Just hear me out, Jess.”
He held the ring up to the light and looked at it closely. “Aye, it’s too beautiful not to be enjoyed, don’t you agree?”
Jessica nodded and relaxed slightly when he took her right hand. He slid the diamond and sapphire ring onto her hand and then kissed her gently on the lips.
In response, Jessica wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him more deeply.
“I love you,” she began, “and I hope that you know that even though I don’t see myself remarrying, I am committed to you, to us.”
“As am I,” he assured her with a warm smile. “And if you should ever change your mind…”
“You’ll be the first to know,” she assured him.
After a moment, George glanced sideways at the bed and wondered, “I don’t suppose this would qualify as our first row?”
Jessica laughed. “Not even close – why?”
“Oh, I don’t know,” he said contemplatively, pulling her close. “I suppose that if it had, we might spend the rest of the night making amends.”
Before she could respond, he swept her up into his arms and nuzzled her neck.
“We could do that,” she murmured softly next to his ear.
Later, George gently caressed Jessica’s shoulder with a single fingertip. “You haven’t by any chance changed your mind yet, have you?”
Jessica laughed as he had intended. “No, George, I haven’t. Not yet.”
He smiled
in the darkness and silently repeated her words, ‘not yet.” But
someday, he added hopefully. Someday!