Spring Break '98
"I told you I wasn't hungry!" Pete Thornton bellowed at his wife, Connie, as he shoved the bowl of chicken soup away causing the hot liquid to splash on her hands.
"But Peter, you need to keep your strength up!" she retorted.
"I'm not sick," he scowled. "I'm just immobile." He waved his hand to where his casted leg lay on the foot rest of the recliner that had been his prison since the accident.
"The doc gave you crutches," Sam pointed out. "Maybe you'd feel better if you used them to move around a little."
"And just how is a blind man supposed to navigate on crutches?" Pete shot back. "It's hard enough to walk around my own home with two good legs. You want me to fall and break the other one?!"
"Peter, watch your tone. Sam's our guest and he's only trying to help," Connie admonished.
"Well, he isn't," Pete mumbled petulantly as Cip nudged his hand with his snout. "And would someone get this mangy mutt outta here?!"
"He's just trying to make you feel better, Mr. Thornton," Becca replied meekly.
"Why does everyone insist on trying to make me feel better?!" Pete returned to bellowing. "I'm a blind man with a broken leg stuck in this stupid recliner for the next four to six weeks. Just how am I supposed to feel better?!"
"You need to find something to take your mind off your leg," Sam suggested calmly.
"And what do you suggest?" Pete sneered. "It's not like I can watch television or read a book! Don't you and that girl and that mongrel of hers have apartments of your own to go home to?!"
"Peter!" Connie exclaimed. "How dare you speak to them that way!"
"It's okay," Sam replied, pushing himself up from where he sat on the couch. "We need to get going anyway." He shrugged into his jacket and then helped Becca into her coat before clipping on Cip's leash. "We'll be in touch," he promised, as they headed out the front door.
"Poor Mr. Thornton is really taking this hard," Becca observed once they were in Sam's car.
"I feel sorry for Connie," Sam stated. "She's the one taking the brunt of his attitude."
"I wish there was something we could do," Becca sighed.
"Maybe there is," Sam replied thoughtfully.
"Like what?"
Sam's lips curved into a mischievous smile. "I think it's time we call in reinforcements."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Friday afternoon, Joanna got up from her chair in the teachers' lounge and tossed the remainder of her lunch in the trash. Throughout her career she had made it a point to avoid this particular room set aside to act as both a school gossip mill and grapevine, but after the incident with Mr. Miller she decided it might be beneficial to listen to what the other instructors had to say about parents and students. Had she an inkling about the man prior to meeting him, she could have handled things differently and avoided the whole debacle altogether. She wandered to the window and watched fat, lazy snowflakes drift to the ground.
"Whose idea was it to have spring break the first week of March anyway?" she asked no one in particular.
"Hey, don't knock it," the young algebra teacher replied. "It's still a week off of work! Got any plans?"
Jo turned to face her colleague. "I'm planning on spending most of my time at Challengers. Since I've been covering for Mrs. Dunham I haven't spent a lot of time over there."
"Considering you'll get to spend every day with your hunky fiance I can't say I blame you!" she giggled.
Joanna smiled even as her cheeks turned warm. "I need to get going. I have a class in five minutes," she said by way of excuse and slipped out the door.
To be honest, she was looking forward to spending the coming week with MacGyver. In fact, she decided to stay late and finish grading papers so she wouldn't have to take work home. By the time she arrived at Challengers, Mac had already left, so she headed over to his place to join him for dinner. She walked in the front door just as he was opening the pizza take-out box.
"Hey! Good timing!" he said with a grin.
"So I see," Jo replied, shrugging out of her coat before taking a seat at the table.
"Sam called this afternoon," he said once they had both taken healthy bites of their food.
"How is he?"
"He's fine," Mac replied after swallowing. "He actually called about Pete."
Joanna's head snapped up in concern. "What's wrong with Pete?"
"He broke his leg a couple weeks ago and, according to Sam, he's as ornery as a hibernating bear with insomnia."
"I can imagine!" Jo chuckled.
"Sam thinks I should go down there and keep him company. Ya know, run some interference for Connie."
Joanna felt her blood begin to bubble with excitement. She could use a road trip and time with good friends right about now.
"I thought I'd head out tomorrow since you have off all week and were planning on working at Challengers anyway," he said with a casual shrug before taking another bite of pizza.
The bubble of excitement Jo felt suddenly turned to boiling anger. He hadn't even bothered to ask if she wanted to join him! He planned to leave her behind! She felt her muscles tighten and the cheesy slice of pie tasted like cardboard as she took a bite to hide her frown.
"I figured I'd take the Nomad," Mac continued, oblivious to her change in demeanor. "It's roomier than the Jeep and maybe I can convince him to get out of the house."
"Sounds like a good idea," she mumbled, refusing to meet his eyes. She couldn't decided whether to cry or to kill him.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Joanna was oddly quiet as they finished their meal and cleared the table. She stood at the sink, hands submerged in frothy bubbles, washing the few dishes they had used as MacGyver approached her from behind, wrapping his arms around her waist and nuzzling her neck when he felt her entire body stiffen.
"Hey, what's wrong?" he asked, raising his head and turning her around so she faced him. It was then that he noticed the shimmer of tears in her eyes.
"What's going on?" he prodded as his heart squeezed.
"Nothing," she said in a weak voice, wiping a soapy hand across her eyes.
"Don't give me that, baby. Talk to me."
She turned to grab a dish towel to dry her hands and he released her but stayed where he was.
"It's silly, really," she finally said. "I'm just overreacting."
"About what?"
"You didn't even bother to invite me along," she said softly, dashing the tears from her eyes.
MacGyver's heart just about ripped in two. He pulled her close, resting his chin on the top of her head.
"I'm sorry. I thought after everything you've been through you'd appreciate some time alone."
Joanna eased from his arms. "I know this probably sounds weak and corny, but the only place I wanna be, especially after everything I've been through, is with you."
"That is not weak and corny," he gently protested, losing himself in the dark chocolate depths of her eyes. "I'm sorry I didn't ask, and I would love it if you came along. But I gotta warn you, Pete in a bad mood is not a pretty sight."
This last statement earned him a smile. "I think I can handle it," she assured him. "And I think Connie would like to have a female around for a little girl-talk."
"You're right," he agreed. "Now go home and pack and I'll pick you up in the morning."
Before she could move, however, he captured her mouth with his in a long, lingering kiss to let her know exactly how much he wanted her by his side for now and forever.
XXXXX
"I suppose Sam called and told you to come down and keep me company," Pete groused Saturday afternoon. His wife was repositioning a pillow behind his head while MacGyver and Joanna stood at the foot of the recliner.
"Nope," Mac replied flatly. "Just came to sign your cast."
The older man harrumphed and turned his head away from the direction of his friend's voice mumbling something about still being a lousy liar.
"You gonna tell us how this happened?" MacGyver asked, motioning towards Pete's injured leg even though he knew the man couldn't see him.
"I was coming out of the doctor's office and slipped on a patch of ice. Can you believe it?!"
Mac's brow furrowed with concern. "What were you doing at the doctor's office?"
Pete paused before blustering, "It was just a routine check-up."
MacGyver didn't miss the pointed glance Connie shot Joanna over the top of her husband's head. "Why don't you two freshen up and get settled. By then I'll have dinner on the table," she instructed before weaving her arm through Jo's and leading her to the guest room, leaving Mac to make up the couch.
A few minutes later, Mac stole away to talk with Joanna who was still unpacking.
"Something's not right," he stated firmly, sitting down on the bed.
"I agree. There's something they're not telling us about that doctor's appointment," Jo replied, sitting next to him.
"Can you come up with a plan to get Connie out of the house tomorrow?"
"Sure," Joanna shrugged.
"Good. Maybe then Pete'll open up to me about what's really goin' on."
MacGyver stood up and had just stepped into the hall when he almost bumped into Connie who was headed toward the living room carrying a tray laden with food.
"You takin' that to Pete?"
She nodded sadly. "He refuses to even try to come to the table."
"Not on my watch," Mac replied as he turned Connie back toward the kitchen.
"C'mon Pete, soup's on!"
"Connie's supposed to be bringing me my tray," he grumbled.
"Not today. You're gonna come in the kitchen and eat with the rest of us."
"How'm I supposed to do that?" Pete grunted.
"Didn't the doctor give you crutches?"
"Well...yeah. But how am I supposed to use them when I can't see where I'm goin'?"
"One thing at a time," Mac instructed as he found the crutches gathering dust in a nearby corner.
He coaxed Pete to lower the footrest and gently helped him from the chair. With his friend balancing against him, he slipped a crutch under each arm and slowly backed away.
"Alright!" MacGyver exclaimed. "Ready to go to the kitchen?"
"Do I have a choice?"
"You always have a choice, Pete!" Mac replied cheerfully, patting his friend on the shoulder.
"Not with you around I don't," Pete mumbled.
MacGyver carefully guided Pete into the kitchen with encouraging words and a steadying hand when needed. It was slow going, but they finally got the injured man settled in a chair, his casted leg resting on another.
"Now doesn't it feel better to get out of the living room for a change?" Connie asked with a smile.
"Doesn't matter since it all looks the same," her husband replied.
Mac glanced at Jo who raised an eyebrow and shrugged a shoulder. He couldn't remember Pete ever being this bitter about losing his eyesight. In fact, at times, he handled it better than MacGyver himself.
Supper was an uncomfortable affair with Pete mumbling under his breath while barely touching his food and Connie surreptitiously swiping moisture from her eyes. As for Mac, he hated the helplessness he felt, but he couldn't make things better until he knew what was wrong to begin with. He was thankful when Joanna cleared her throat and began to speak, breaking the stony silence.
"Hey, Connie. I was thinking tomorrow we could go out to lunch and then do a little shopping. Just us girls. How does that sound?"
The older woman sighed. "Oh, Joanna, that sounds wonderful!"
"Wait a minute," Pete quickly interrupted. "Who's gonna take care of me?"
"I'll be here," Mac announced. "I think you and I can manage on our own for a few hours."
Pete harrumphed again, crossing his arms across his chest indicating that this conversation, and meal, was over.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Noon on Sunday found Joanna and Connie seated at a small table in a cozy bistro just outside the city.
"So, have you two set a date yet?"
Jo's hand, fork and all, froze halfway between her salad plate and mouth. She sighed inwardly, determined to make this a good day for her friend.
"No," she replied with a forced smile. "We're still working on it."
"Well, I hope you're not letting Mac drag his feet."
"It's a mutual decision," Jo said, perhaps a bit more forcefully than she intended.
"Oh," Connie quietly responded, dropping her eyes to her plate where she pushed the leafy greens around with her fork but made no attempt to eat.
"Connie, what aren't you telling us about Pete?"
The older woman met Joanna's gaze. "Pete made me promise not to tell anyone. Not even MacGyver. Though I do hope some time alone today will encourage him to confide in Mac."
"That's the plan," Jo smiled.
After lunch, the two women decided to take a stroll and enjoy the seasonable weather while doing a little window shopping. It wasn't long before Connie stopped in front of a bridal boutique to eye the white, lacy confection gracing the display window.
"Isn't it gorgeous?" she asked her companion.
Joanna eyed the wedding dress and frowned. "I suppose, but it's not really my style."
Connie suddenly turned, grasping Jo's arms with both hands, a carefree glint in her eye.
"Let's go inside!"
Jo hesitated. "I'm not really ready to look for a dress. I mean, we haven't even decided on a season."
"Well, a little browsing never hurt anyone," Connie retorted. "Besides, it will give you an idea of what's out there for when the time comes."
"I guess you have a point," Joanna reluctantly agreed as her friend was already pulling open the plate glass door.
Before they knew it, a stylish, grey-haired saleswoman descended upon them and began peppering them with questions, none of which Jo could honestly answer. Not one to be deterred, the woman led them from rack to rack, pulling out dresses to hold up in front of Joanna. Some she returned to the rack, other's she carefully draped over her arm. Thirty minutes later, Jo found herself standing in a large dressing room surrounded by satin, lace and tulle. One-by-one she donned the gowns and paraded in front of Connie and the saleswoman as they discussed the pros and cons of each. Not realizing how exhausting this process could be, Joanna breathed a sigh of relief when she handed the final dress back to the saleswoman.
"I'm sorry for taking up so much of your time," she apologized. "But I'm just not ready to make a decision yet." She was about to head to the door when Connie came hurrying towards her, yet another gown in hand.
"I know you're tired," Connie acknowledged. "But I think this may be the one! Please try it on."
"Connie…" Jo replied, just short of whining.
"For me?"
Joanna grinned. "Sure, what's one more?"
With well-practiced movements, Jo slipped into the dress. Turning to look at herself in the mirror she could not hold back the small gasp that escaped. If she had been looking for a wedding dress, this would have been the one. Made of soft, white satin, the top of the dress boasted a modest sweetheart neckline and long, fitted sleeves. At the waist, a floor-length A-line skirt gave the illusion of a ballgown. And strategically placed floral appliques and seed pearls accentuated the dress in all the right places. As Joanna closed her eyes and imagined the expression on MacGyver's face as she walked down the aisle to him her insides turned to Jell-O. She had barely stepped from the dressing room when Connie's hands flew to her mouth and her eyes misted over.
"Oh Joanna! That dress is perfect! And it fits as if it was made for you!"
The saleswoman happily agreed. "Indeed! I doubt there's a dress in this entire store that would be better suited for you!" she gushed. "May I ring it up for you?"
Jo threw Connie a panicked look. Thankfully, the older woman seemed to take pity on her.
"Could you please give us a moment?" she politely asked the saleswoman as she urged Joanna back into the dressing room.
"Connie, I'm not ready to buy a dress and I'm sure I couldn't afford it!"
"You have to admit, it looks stunning on you dear."
Jo frowned. "It does, but-"
"No 'buts' about it!" Connie declared. "Peter and I have been talking. You've become the daughter we never had and we decided to help pay for the wedding. Please let us buy you this dress."
Joanna shook her head but her protest died on her lips. The rest of the afternoon passed in a haze as she struggled to wrap her head around the fact that she was now the proud owner of a brand new wedding gown.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
MacGyver opened the refrigerator door and studied its contents.
"What do ya want for lunch, Pete?" he called to his friend who had once again taken up residence in the living room.
"I don't care," came the disgruntled reply.
"Alright! Tofu casserole it is!" Mac proclaimed with a sly grin as he gathered fixings for some sandwiches.
"You know what this reminds me of?" MacGyver asked after taking several bites of his lunch.
"No. What?"
"That time we went skiing and I got caught in that avalanche. I survived without a scratch but you ended up busting your leg."
"Yeah," Pete grinned. "Ironic, isn't it? But you're still the only man I know who can go to pick up Chinese take-out, get kidnapped, and escape using those little packets of soy sauce!"
"I guess we both have some unique talents," Mac observed.
Silence hung heavy in the room until Pete spoke up.
"So, when are you gonna ask me about it?" he addressed MacGyver.
"When will you be ready to tell me about it?"
Pete sighed, placed his sandwich on the plate in front of him, and leaned back in his chair.
"A few weeks ago, my eye specialist in Los Angeles called to tell me that there was a very new, very experimental surgical procedure being developed to reverse, at least somewhat, the effects of glaucoma and the trials were being done right here in Chicago. He set up an appointment for me with the physician in charge of the study. Turns out I wasn't an appropriate candidate. I've had the disease too long and there's been too much damage. I tell ya, Mac. For just a little while I had this glimmer of hope and then to have it all taken away...well, it was like going blind a second time. After the appointment, I was depressed and frustrated and not paying attention to my surroundings. That's when I stepped on a patch of ice in the parking lot and fell adding insult to injury. Since then I've just lost all my confidence. I made Connie promise not to tell anyone."
"Why? It's nothing to be ashamed of."
"I didn't want people's sympathy...again."
"So you shut out your friends, too," Mac stated flatly.
"Yeah. And I'm gonna ask you to keep this to yourself, just until I'm ready to tell the others."
"Aw, c'mon Pete! We're your friends! Your family!"
"Please MacGyver!"
"Oh, all right," Mac agreed, scrubbing his face with his hands.
"Thanks. You're a good friend."
XXXXX
After dinner that evening, MacGyver insisted Pete and Connie retire to the living room while he and Joanna cleaned up the kitchen.
"Did you and Pete have a chance to talk today?" Jo asked as soon as the older couple was out of earshot.
"Yep," Mac replied placing a glass in the dishwasher. He hated keeping a secret from Joanna, but he also didn't want to betray his friend.
"And?"
"Pete made me promise not to tell anyone," he said flatly as he watched her shoulders fall.
"I understand," she assured him quietly.
"Did you and Connie have a good time?" MacGyver asked, eager to change the subject.
"Yeah, we did," Jo answered him, her cheeks turning an endearing shade of pink.
A smile tugged at Mac's lips. "You gonna tell me about it?"
"I did the stupidest thing!" she exclaimed, catching him off guard.
"Somehow I doubt that. What did you do?"
"We were walking by some shops and came across this little bridal boutique. Connie insisted we go inside even though I told her I was nowhere near ready to buy a dress."
"It doesn't hurt to look," MacGyver shrugged.
"That's what Connie said. So since the day was all about keeping her happy, I let her drag me in and even try on some gowns."
"So far it doesn't sound that bad." Mac wasn't sure, but he kinda thought trying on fancy dresses was something most women would enjoy. Then again, Joanna wasn't most women.
"I didn't want to like it," Jo confessed. "But it was kinda fun."
"So what's the problem?"
"I found the absolute perfect dress, Mac! And Connie insisted on buying it for me!"
MacGyver laughed in relief and reached out to hug her. "That's great, baby!"
"No, it's not!" she insisted, pulling away from him. "I had already decided to just wear a nice, sensible dress or maybe a skirt suit. I don't need some fancy, overpriced concoction to make the day special."
Mac found Jo's troubled gaze and grasped her firmly by the shoulders. "I agree. You don't need it, but I know that you deserve it. Especially if you love it. In fact, I bet you dreamed about finding the perfect dress growing up."
Joanna shrugged and MacGyver let his hands drop. "That's just it, Mac. It was a dream. One that died a long time ago. The dress...the wedding...none of that's important. It's the marriage that matters. The store is keeping the dress until I ask them to ship it to Milwaukee. I'm gonna give Sam and Becca the receipt so they can return it."
"You sure you wanna do that?"
She nodded.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Joanna had just finished combing her hair the next morning when there was a knock on her bedroom door.
"Come in," she called, knowing it had to be either Connie or Mac.
"Um, my hands are a little full right now," came the reply in an unexpected voice.
Hurrying to the door, she opened it to find Pete waiting on the other side, leaning on his crutches.
"I let my seeing-eye-troubleshooter get away," he said with a wry grin. "Mind if I come in?"
Joanna gently guided the older man through the doorway and to the bed where he carefully settled on the edge of the mattress.
"Seems I owe you an apology and explanation for the boorish way I've been acting these past couple days," he sighed gustily.
"That's okay. You don't have too-"
"Yes, I do! Eventually you're gonna marry my best friend, and you've become like family to Connie and me. I want you to know the truth." And with that, Pete launched into the explanation he had given MacGyver the previous afternoon.
"I'm sorry, Pete," Jo replied when he finished talking. She knew the words were inadequate, but couldn't think of anything else to say.
"Don't be. I should've known better than to get my hopes up anyway, but now you know the whole story. And from what I hear, I'm not the only one in this house keeping secrets."
Joanna blew out a breath and sat down next to Pete. "Mac told you about the dress," she stated.
"He just wants you to be happy, and so do Connie and I. If you both do this right, you'll only do it once so make the most of it."
"Breakfast's ready!" Connie called.
"Would you mind escorting a blind guy with a broken leg to the kitchen table?" Pete asked.
"It would be my pleasure," Jo responded with a smile.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Later that afternoon, MacGyver sat at the kitchen table studying the small electronic gadgets laid out before him. His concentration was interrupted when Joanna breezed into the room and began to pour herself a glass of juice.
"So where did you run off to earlier," she asked.
"I took a little field trip to the Phoenix Foundation downtown and convinced them to let me borrow some things," he replied.
Jo moved to stand behind him and bent down so her mouth nearly touched his ear. Forget about his concentration being interrupted. Her close presence totally shattered it!
"What's that stuff?"
"It's a surprise for Pete," he told her, his voice husky. "Sit down and I'll show you."
With Joanna seated across from him and his teenage-like hormones firmly under control, he began to explain his project.
"Pete doesn't want to move around 'cuz he's afraid of bumping into things, right?"
"Right," Jo confirmed with a nod.
"Well, I'm gonna make a gadget that'll detect when he's getting close to an object."
"Kinda like sonar?"
"Actually, pretty much exactly like sonar," Mac laughed happily, duly impressed with her deduction.
"So how does it work?"
"I used one of the computers at Phoenix to write and upload the code. Now all I have to do is use these wires to connect this arduino to the ultrasonic sensor and plug in the buzzer."
It didn't take long for Mac to assemble the components.
"Wanna test it?" he asked.
Joanna's eyes brightened. "You bet! What do I do?"
MacGyver turned on the mini-sonar device.
"Hear that beeping?" he asked and waited until she nodded before proceeding. "Okay, hold the palm of your hand in front of the sensor and slowly move it closer."
Jo did as he instructed. The beeps came fast the closer her hands got to it.
"It works!" she exclaimed.
"Don't sound so surprised," Mac frowned playfully. "Now grab me a ball of twine from that drawer and let's have Pete try this out."
"Are you gonna tie it to one of his crutches?" Joanna asked as she followed orders.
"No. It works best if it's placed in the middle of the moving mass."
Jo quirked her eyebrows and MacGyver grinned. "I'm gonna attach it to his belt buckle."
"Okay Pete, take it for a spin," Mac urged as his friend stood in front of the recliner leaning on his crutches.
"I feel ridiculous," Pete mumbled.
"Aw, C'mon! All the cool kids are wearing them!" MacGyver countered.
"I do know my way around my own house," his friend pointed out.
"And you've been afraid to move around on your own since the accident. Think of it as a seeing-eye dog until you get back on two feet."
"Okay, here goes nothin'," Pete mumbled as he cautiously began to move forward. Soon the slow, steady rhythm of the beeps became more rapid and he stopped.
"By my calculations, I should be in the middle of the room. In open space. Connie, did you rearrange the furniture?"
"You're right, Pete," Mac replied instead. "There's no furniture there. But you were just about to wipe out my fiance."
"Oh! I'm, ah, sorry Joanna," Pete apologized sheepishly.
"Don't worry about it," she laughed. "It was all part of the test."
"Ha! Then this thing really does work!" the older man exclaimed with a grin.
"The downside is that you can't sneak up on anybody," Mac observed.
"That's a plus in my book!" Connie declared happily, causing the others to break into easy laughter.
XXXXX
"Are you sure you can't stay longer?" Connie asked as MacGyver loaded the luggage into the Nomad while Joanna hugged the Thorntons good-bye.
"We've been here since Saturday. We don't wanna wear out our welcome," Mac replied, giving her a hug of his own.
"Like you could ever do that!" she scoffed.
"Besides, we need to get back to Challengers," Joanna explained.
"And maybe spend some private time together?" Pete added with a knowing grin.
"Sounds like a plan to me," Mac agreed with a wink at Joanna as the couple got in the car to head home.
Forty-five minutes later, the Nomad sat stopped on I-94 in the middle of downtown Chicago, the victim of the city's infamous traffic jams. MacGyver heard Joanna's cell phone trill from deep in her purse. He watched as she rummaged around in her handbag until she retrieved the device. He noticed a white slip of paper escape and flutter to the floorboards. Instinctively, he bent to pick it up and his heart stuttered when his eyes fell on the words 'Bridal Boutique'.
"Hi Ma," Jo spoke into the phone. "We're caught in a traffic jam...yeah, I know...I'll see you later tonight."
After she clicked off the call, Mac handed the receipt to her. "I think you dropped something," he said casually.
"Oh, thanks," Joanna replied with a slight blush as she grabbed the piece of paper and shoved it back in her purse.
"I thought you were gonna give that to Sam and Becca."
"I was...I am...I just thought it wouldn't hurt to hang onto it for awhile," she stuttered.
"Can I ask you something?" Mac ventured.
"Of course. What is it?"
"We've been engaged for what? Almost six months now?"
"Sounds about right," she replied.
"I know we promised to do this whole wedding thing on our terms, but I kinda thought you'd be starting to make some plans by now." MacGyver tightened his hands on the steering wheel even though the car wasn't moving. "Are you having second thoughts?"
"No!" she exclaimed, turning her upper body to face him. "Not at all. Why? Are you?"
He heard the fear and uncertainty in her voice and mentally kicked himself for putting it there.
"No! And I'm still fine with us taking our time, but I just wanna make sure there's nothing more to it."
Joanna lowered her eyes and fell silent for so long MacGyver was ready to turn on the radio just to hear another human voice.
"It's not something I'm proud of," she finally said in a soft voice. "You know that my grandma lived with us while I was growing up."
Mac nodded but didn't interrupt.
"Well, she had heart problems from the time I was little, and whenever we made plans to go on vacation or even just a day trip they'd often get cancelled at the last minute because she wasn't feeling well. Then, when I got older, my friends and I would talk about doin' stuff, but they'd forget or bail on me. So, long story short, over the years I trained myself not to get excited about or count on long-term plans because I often ended up disappointed."
MacGyver relaxed as understanding dawned. "You don't want to start planning the wedding because you're afraid something will happen to ruin it."
"Or cancel it altogether," she shrugged. "In my head I know that's dumb."
"It's not dumb," Mac assured her. "And there is nothing in this world that's gonna keep me from marrying you. I promise that I will do everything I can to make our wedding day exactly how you want. But if things go sideways, we'll work through it together."
He reached out and cupped her cheek in his hand, tenderly wiping away an errant tear.
"Does this mean you're keeping the dress?" he asked quietly.
"I know it's not practical like I had wanted, but I really do love it," she confessed. "And I think you'll love it too."
"Baby, you could wear a paper sack and I'd love it!" This earned him a watery chuckle.
"Ya know, maybe it wouldn't be a bad idea to start thinking about what we want our wedding day to be like," she suggested.
"I bet you got a whole bunch of ideas in that head of yours just waiting to break free," he teased.
"Mmm, maybe one or two," she grinned.