A/N-This chapter is based off the episode, 'Blast from the past'. Mary Jo had a friend come visit her, they were platonic but they had a deal that if they weren't married by 35, they would get married to each other. At the end of the episode, they went on their separate ways, deciding to get married later in life if they don't. Julia also had her home put on the tour of homes. Mary Ann Mobley was the head woman on the tour of homes.
-Dead-
Mary Jo was riding through the streets of Atlanta,she enjoyed looking at the historic homes as the sun was going down on them. She slowed her car as she was going down a particularly beautiful street and she looked at the Victorian houses with their peaks on the roofs. The old-fashioned designs, the wrap a round porches and one that stood out in the center, a home-made in the Queen Anne style made Mary Jo almost bring her car to a stop and admire it more closely. She had lived here half her life, maybe even more but she loved looking at the beautiful home.
She was about to get back in the car when the door to the Queen Anne home opened and out came this woman, Mary Jo felt something familiar about the woman...she had brown hair that was set very fashionably and she wore clothes, expensive clothes that screamed, "Look at me". She kept thinking about her until it came to her-Karen Delaporte. The woman from when Julia was on the tour of homes that turned into "Nightmare from Atlanta".
She got back into the car and drove off, she looked around at the houses on the left and right then she drove through the streets until she came to Charlene and Bill's house. She looks at their charming house that has the edge of a haunted house but that's what Charlene wanted so Mary Jo smiles then she goes up and rings the doorbell and Elvis Presley's song, 'Home is where the heart is' from the movie Kid Galahad and she smiles at the thought of her best friend.
A few minutes later, Charlene shows up at the door in a simple blood-red dress and gold earrings and necklace to accentuate and Mary Jo thinks, 'She would even make Suzanne run for her money' then Charlene says.
"Mary Jo! Good to see you, I haven't seen you all day"
Mary Jo smiles then says. "Just been a lazy Saturday but I thought I would get out now. Would you like to come to Quinton's 'Gone with the Wind' play over at the theatre?" Charlene looks back in the house than says. "Gee, I wish you had called earlier, I would love too, I haven't seen the new woman who took Julia's place as the mother but Bill and I haven't got to spend any time together all last week, it's crazy but even since he's planning to retire in a few years; he is getting busier and Olivia is coming over tonight so we're just planning supper at home". Mary Jo smiles then says. "Well, another time then". "Sure we will. See you at church tomorrow". Mary Jo waves then says. "Bye"
Charlene closes the door and Mary Jo sighs then goes to her car and gets in and drives off and she drives to the little theater and she stops the car and gets out and she looks up and sees on the marquee',Quinton Shively's Production of Gone with the Wind starring Sheila Hughes and Steven Dowden' and she smiles, she closes the car door and goes across the street. She steps up on the sidewalk and she thinks of something and looks in her green purse then she hears. "Mary Jo!"
Mary Jo looks up and she sees a pleasant looking man coming to her with brown hair with graying temples and she smiles then says. "Daryl!" She goes running up to him and hugs him then he says. "When I saw that Quinton was the producer behind this, I just had to come see this" She then asks her friend. "What are you doing here?" He smiles then says. "Well, I..."
She smiles then says. "You're not here to try to make me keep the promise again are you?" He laughs then says. "Uh, no because...". A pretty woman comes to them with a huge smile on, Daryl puts his arm around her and he says. "This is my wife, Cheryl". Mary Jo takes her hand and shakes it and says. "Hello and congratulations! Daryl, when did ya'll get married?" Daryl looks at his wife then says," Last week in South Carolina, I had to come to Atlanta for a business meeting, knew this play was going on then we're going on a honeymoon on a cruise" Cheryl and Daryl kiss then he asks her. "Well, how are you Mary Jo? Are you married yet so we can fully call off the promise?" They all laugh and Cheryl looks at them funny and Daryl says. "Mary Jo and I made a pact that if we weren't married by a certain age, we would so..."
Mary Jo nervously laughs then says. "No, I'm..." . Before she can say anymore, D.P. LeBoof shows up and he says. "Mary Jo! I'm glad you showed up, the play is about to start". She looks at him in astonishment then Daryl asks. "Who is this?" She keeps looking at D.P. then she says. "This is, um, D.P. Le Boof, he's a ...". Before she can say anymore, D.P. says. "What Mary Jo is not saying is that I'm her boyfriend and we were supposed to meet here, I thought she wasn't going to show up. Did you run by Charlene's , Mary Jo?" She slowly shakes her head then D.P. says. "Well, it's almost showtime, we better get going"
The foursome go inside and they find their seats, Daryl and his wife in the fifth row and D.P . and Mary Jo up in the balcony. Mary Jo leans over and she says to D.P. and says. "You didn't have to do that". He smiles and he says. "Yes, I did. I knew you needed help and I wanted to come in". She smiles then asks him. "What are you doing here?" He points down to the stage and he says. "That's my cousin, Sheila, down there that is playing Scarlett's mother" . Mary Jo smiles and she says. "That's why I'm here, it will be my first time seeing the play since Julia...died"
Just then the curtain is pulled back and the play that glorifies Atlanta starts. Thunderous applause comes then they hear the slow music of the play/movie starts, darkness enters the theatre and they all settle in to watch. Mary Jo feels a tingle all over her body and D.P. smiles.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOooooooooOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOO
After the wonderful play is over,they go out to the lobby and D.P. says to Mary Jo. "That was wonderful". She smiles and says. "It was. I haven't been to see it since my friend Julia died, she played Scarlett's mother but your cousin does an amazing interpretation". D.P. beams with pride then he asks her. "I seem to recall her telling me that some Japanese investors they had at one time, really changed things". Mary Jo laughs then says. "Yes, they did but they are gone now and things are back to normal in the play". He looks around then he says to her. "I'm going to go give my congratulations to Sheila but I really want to talk to you, could we meet at the restaurant across the street? The one we go to all the time? Ashley's Grill?" Mary Jo shakes her head then says. "I would like that"
D.P. then leaves to go find his cousin and Mary Jo does a silent scream and whispers to herself. "Yes! Yes!" She then looks around and she sees her son surrounded by friends and reporters and she waves to him, he waves back then she happily leaves for the restaurant across the street . She gets there and a woman comes to her and asks. " Table for one?" Mary Jo then tells her. "Well, I am expecting somebody". The woman warmly smiles then says. "So, let's go to a booth. Smoking or non smoking?" Mary Jo looks at her and wants to say. 'Like it matters? Smoke travels!' But she just keeps her little mouthy mouth shut and she smiles and says. "Non-smoking". The hostess takes her over to a booth, Mary Jo takes off her coat, orders a water and waits. About 15 minutes later, D.P. shows up, Mary Jo sees him and waves for him to see where she is seated.
He sits down and unzips his jacket, smiles at Mary Jo and before he can say anything, the waitress comes over and puts down a glass of water for him then asks. "Are ya'll ready to order?" He looks up at her and realizes his waitress has her hair in braids and is bubblegum PINK and he says. "Uh, no thank you. I'll signal when we're ready". She smiles and says. "Okay". She puts her pad and pencil away then walks across the restaurant then he whispers to Mary Jo. "She looked a little weird". Mary Jo waves it away then says. "She's nothing, I've had waters with holes the size of the Grand canyon in their ears and piercings all over their face"
He chuckles a bit and Mary Jo smiles then she looks at him and asks. "D.P.?" He nervously looks at her and he can feel his own heartbeat in his chest then he finally says. "Well...uh..." He clears his throat then says. "Well, I was wondering...well, the last few times we have gotton together, we just seem to 'hit it off' as they say and I was wondering, if we...could...make things more...solid...in our relationship" She smiles as big as the world and the insides of her is waiting to scream but she calms down then she asks. "D.P., are you asking me...to be 'your girl'?" He looks at her sheepishly then nods his head and the first thing Mary Jo thinks of is to stand up with a bullhorn and shout yes for all to hear but she doesn't, she just quietly tells him "yes" and he breathes a sigh of relief, takes her head, kisses it and they talk for hours.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Mary Jo races through the streets of Atlanta for Charlene's house, she stops and gets out, runs up to the door and rings it over and over. Charlene finally comes in a blue house coat and you can smell make up remover on her but Mary Jo charges in and Charlene asks. "What's going on Mary Jo? Is something wrong?" Mary Jo vigorously shakes her head NO then she says between breaths. "D.P...he...asked me...".
Charlene closes the door then screams. "He asked you to marry him?!" Mary Jo playfully slaps her then says. "NO, I didn't get the world series but I got in the play offs. He asked me if I wanted to go with him". They both squeal and Charlene asks her friend. "Well, what did you say?" Mary Jo turns around and walks over to the couch and says. "Oh, I told him I had to think about it, I got SO many men to think about...what do you think I said?!" They squeal again and Charlene says. "Oh, let me go make a pot of coffee, we're going to be up all night talking about this" Mary Jo follows her into the kitchen and asks. "You don't think we're too old to be up all night talking like teenagers?" Charlene turns and looks at her then they both say "No!" at the same time! Charlene goes to make the coffee and Mary Jo is sitting on cloud 9.
A/N-Disclaimer-I do not own Designing women or the characters but what I am doing with them is of my creation. D.P. and Mary Jo's relationship is of my creation, 'Ashley's Grill' is my idea. The bubblegum waitress is mine.
'Gone with the Wind' belongs to Margaret Mitchell.
This chapter I'm dedicating to Dr. Micheala Quinn-She's been such a faithful reader and helper!
Sand n' Sable