A/N: Thanks for your reviews! This chapter is set in the current year of Reflections, during Jim and Jo's engagement.
Chapter 2 – Great Expectations
As Johanna stepped into the breakroom early that afternoon, she caught sight of Jim and smiled, seeing that he was lingering near the counter with Jeff. "Are you two slacking off in here?" she asked as she moved to the fridge to get a cold soda.
"Every chance we get," Jeff replied. "What's your excuse for being in here?"
"Dying of thirst and the need of caffeine," she answered as she pulled a bottle of Coke from the fridge. "I thought they said we couldn't have glass bottles in here anymore…you know, ever since Stanley was threatened with being hit in the head with one."
Jim shrugged. "I guess the powers that be decided it might be okay after all if someone hit him with a glass bottle."
"It is very tempting," she said as her fiancé took the bottle from her hand to open it for her.
"I've thought about it a time or two myself," Jim remarked as he handed the bottle back to her.
"Thank you," Johanna told him, pressing a kiss to his cheek.
"You need caffeine, huh?" Jeff asked. "Does that mean that Jim kept you up past your bedtime practicing for Valentine's Day?"
Johanna smirked at him. "That's privileged information that I can't disclose."
"And we don't need to practice for anything," Jim added.
"Don't go bragging," Johanna chastened lightly. "Jeff might get jealous."
Jeff scoffed. "I have no need to be jealous. But Valentine's Day is on the horizon."
"We're aware of that," Jim replied. "It does seem to pop up every February."
"Funny how that keeps happening," Jeff quipped. "But you know, you probably are out of practice at celebrating Valentine's Day."
"What are you talking about?" Jim asked. "Jo and I have spent the last two Valentine's Days together."
"As friends," Jeff remarked. "But this Valentine's Day, you're an official couple…not only that, you're an engaged couple. That's a whole different ballgame, buddy. You're going to have to rise to the occasion."
"Don't put that kind of pressure in his head!" Johanna exclaimed, seeing the tension beginning to creep into Jim's body at the thought of it.
"It's true though," Jeff replied. "It's different now; can't just do what you did as friends. Relationships call for the fancier type of Valentine's Day. Everyone knows it."
"No, it's not true!" she insisted. "Jim, don't listen to him."
"Come on, Sassy," their friend stated. "You know you're expecting more…women always do."
"No, I'm not. I've enjoyed the celebrations we've had the last two years."
"I don't doubt that…but you're a couple now…Valentine's means more this year. Gifts and fancy nights out and romance come into play."
Johanna glared at Jeff. "I don't know about you and Maggie but we're not the kind of couple that needs it to be a holiday in order to have sex. Any day of the week works for us."
Jeff laughed. "Now who's bragging?"
"You made me," she retorted. "And I'll thank you to quit filling Jim's head with this it needs to be different narrative."
"I'm just telling you both the truth."
"No, you're just being a jackass. We'll celebrate our way; you celebrate your way."
Jeff nodded. "Alright, Sassy; unruffle your feathers; I didn't mean to get you riled."
"Well you did," she exclaimed.
"Jim, do you want to help me out here?" Jeff asked.
"No," Jim replied. "I don't have time. Now I have to think up new ideas for Valentine's Day and it's only days away."
Jeff gave them a tight-lipped smile. "Okay, on that note, I'm going back to my office and I'll catch you later…when you've forgotten that I've ruffled your feathers."
"Good idea," Johanna said. "Too bad you didn't think of it sooner."
Jeff chuckled lightly and then left the room, leaving them alone.
Johanna set her bottle of soda on the counter. "Jim," she said softly. "Don't pay attention to what he said."
"But it's true," he replied. "It is different…we're a couple this year."
"I'm aware of that…but I'm not expecting some grand affair like Jeff was alluding to. You know I don't care much about this holiday."
Jim gave her a disbelieving look. "Yeah, but you were single then…now you're not. Now we're a couple…so it has to be different…more than that, we don't even get one to ease into as a couple."
"Meaning what?"
"It's just like Jeff said, it's not just our first one as a couple," Jim said, grabbing her left hand and holding it up for her to see her engagement ring. "We're engaged."
"Honey, you say that like I don't know that we're engaged and I assure you that I'm aware of the development."
"Don't get cute," he told her. "Most people have a Valentine's where they're just a couple before they have one where they're engaged."
"A lot of people get engaged on Valentine's Day," she replied. "It really doesn't make a difference."
"It does," he replied. "It has to be better than when we were just friends."
Johanna sighed. "Honey, listen to me, yes, we were friends on the last two…but really, if you think about it…we were just denying that we were in a relationship. I don't need anything fancy. I don't expect anything fancy. We have enough stress just starting on wedding planning."
Jim shook his head. "It has to be better…something we haven't done for Valentine's before."
"Jim, you don't need to pressure yourself over this," she told him, a note of firmness in her tone. "If you want to do something for me that you haven't done before, then get me a card. You haven't given me a card for Valentine's Day. Just get me a card."
"You think that's no pressure?" Jim exclaimed. "Trying to pick out a card! Do you know how long that's going to take me to find the right one? One that isn't too sappy like you're marrying a sissified wimp like your sister did, and one that isn't too plain and makes it look like I didn't care at all! Do you know how hard it is to pick out a card!?"
Johanna laid a hand against his chest. "I had no idea. What about a card that's blank inside and you could write me your own note? I would love that if you wrote me your own note."
"Are you insane! I can't write some Valentine Card; I would end up looking like an idiot. I'd be better off spending hours looking for one that has writing in it!"
"Okay," she said, holding up a hand. "Don't get me a card."
"I have to because now I know you want one."
Johanna shook her head. "I don't want one; I promise, I totally don't want a card. Just bring me flowers like last year. I like flowers."
"Flowers are pretty much a given, Jo," he replied. "Candy too before you mention it."
She sighed a little. "Jim; I'm going to be happy just being with you. Valentine's is on a work day this year, so honestly, if you just want to pick up some food and take it home, I'm fine with that. We can light some candles, open up a bottle of wine, turn off the phone…just have a nice evening at home."
"We can't do that! Not for our first Valentine's as a couple. I'll figure out what to do…I just wish I had thought about it sooner; we're only a few days away from it and I haven't even thought of a gift to buy you."
"If it makes you feel any better, I haven't been thinking about gifts either…so I have to figure out what to get you."
"I'm not worried about that," Jim said. "You're the one who has to have something nice."
"I have something nice, I have you."
"You're going to have to have something more."
"But I spent a lot of time getting you to date me," Johanna replied. "I don't want to start over."
Jim smirked at her. "This isn't funny."
"It is a little; you're going to make yourself crazy for no reason."
"I do have a good reason; it's our first official Valentine's and I have no plan!" Jim exclaimed. "How could I have done this?"
"Honey, neither one of us has been thinking about it. We've been thinking about getting our wedding planning started. It's okay."
He nodded because he knew it was what she wanted. "I'll get it figured out, don't worry."
"I'm not worried…I told you, I'm fine with something low key."
"We've done low key; we have to do better."
Johanna sighed as she took a drink of her soda. This Valentine's Day was going to be different alright…she had a feeling it was going to be unnecessarily difficult.
The next day, during her lunchbreak, Johanna walked along the shops wracking her brain for what to get Jim for Valentine's Day. She hated to admit, even to herself, that she hadn't given it much thought. Her mind had been too wrapped up with thoughts of wedding planning thanks to the pressure that her mother kept heaping on her. Valentine's Day had almost completely slipped her mind; she had been in a whirlwind since December but that was no excuse. Last year they had given each other boxes of candy…and he had liked his box of coconut filled candy…but there had to be something more than a repeat of that box of candy. After all…it was different, just like Jeff had said…and she wanted nothing more than to punch him for putting that kind of pressure on their shoulders.
A sigh slipped across her lips as she peered into store windows. What was she going to get him? It really shouldn't be so difficult…but she had used up her best ideas for gifts for Christmas and now she found herself unsure of what to give him. The only thing she recalled not getting him that he had seemed to keep going back to was one of those shaving cream warmers that he had seen in a holiday catalog. She had seen them in the stores though but hadn't gotten him one because he had seemed hesitant about it, as if he wasn't sure the product would work as intended or if he'd like it. She could get him one though…it would be a start at least; she'd have to find something to add to it, the warmer didn't cost much if she remembered correctly. There had to be something else out there besides a box of candy and a lousy shaving cream warmer. The question was, what was that elusive thing?
A part of her wished that this holiday didn't have to be different this year…and really, if Jeff hadn't opened his mouth, it might not have been. They could've had one more year of a low-key celebration; after all, wasn't the fact that they were together now enough of a change? It was enough for her for this year…maybe next year they could have a different type of celebration…but she had a feeling that Jim wouldn't go for that idea with Jeff's comments in his head, and she knew he was dwelling on it; he had been somewhat silent last night and she hadn't really felt up to broaching the topic…but maybe she would over dinner. Maybe she could convince him that they didn't need to make a huge change this year for their celebrations. Maybe…but deep down, she felt doubtful.
Still, even if she relented about the need for a somewhat fancier holiday, it didn't solve her gift giving problem. What was she going to buy for him…and why did figuring it out have to be so difficult. Another sigh escaped her…there had to be something out there that Jim would want. Something she knew that wasn't coming to mind just yet. Maybe if she could calm him down and convince him of a quieter type of holiday, the pressure would be off and the ideas would come more easily.
Jim blew out a breath late that afternoon as he walked into what had become his favorite jewelry store. He hadn't ever thought he'd have a favorite store for gifts like his father did…but here he was, in the store that he had been in so many times the last few months that he was on a first name basis with the jeweler.
"Jim," the older man said from behind the counter. "You're back."
"Hello, Larry," Jim replied as he moved toward the counter.
"How did your girl like the earrings?" Larry asked.
"She loved them."
"Good," he said jovially. "They do match the ring."
Jim nodded. "You don't have anything else that matches the ring, do you?"
Larry thought it over for a moment but shook his head. "I'm afraid not. We're you looking for something specific?"
"No…just hoping," he muttered.
"You're troubled," the older man stated. "Is she mad at you and you're looking to make amends?"
"No," Jim said with a shake of his head. "It's nothing like that."
"Well…you couldn't have forgotten her birthday; I believe that's what the earrings were for if I remember correctly."
"They were."
Larry studied him intently. "You forgot that Valentine's Day was coming?"
Jim met his eye. "Pretty much…what are we going to do about it?"
"What would you like to do about it?"
"Cancel it," he replied.
Larry laughed. "That sentiment has been expressed by a few other men who have been in here this week."
"Maybe if we start a petition, we can make it happen."
"Perhaps, but the ladies might be unhappy about it."
Jim sighed. "I'm just out of ideas. I got her an engagement ring…then we had Christmas…her birthday was on the fourth. There's ten days between her birthday and Valentine's Day…I don't know how to think up so many gifts in such a short span of time."
"That is a problem," Larry remarked.
"Yes, it is…what are we going to do about it?"
The jeweler laughed. "You know, you don't have to buy jewelry for every occasion."
His brow arched as he regarded the man. "Are you saying you don't want my money?"
Larry shook his head, a smile on his lips. "No, not at all…I'm just saying, there could be something else besides jewelry. As for your money, I know you'll be needing wedding rings before long."
Jim laughed. "That's true; and you better make sure you keep the best you have for her."
"You have my word," he promised. "But back to my point, you don't want to overuse jewelry."
"I wouldn't if I knew what to get her!"
Amusement gleamed in the older man's eyes. "Valentines isn't always an occasion that requires a big gift…you could give her smaller gifts. You must know the things she likes."
"I got her stuff like that for Christmas."
"There must be something; what does she like?"
"Clothes, which she has enough of. Shoes, and she has more than enough of those. She likes music but none of her favorites are scheduled for concerts here any time soon. She likes to read but I get her books for every occasion. See, this is why I'm down to jewelry on the list."
Larry nodded. "I see…but I still think you should give it a little more thought…see if you can get a few hints out of her about other types of gifts she may want. If you can't think of anything in a day or so, then come back and I'll find something worthy of her."
"Can't you find it today?" Jim asked.
"No, I think you need to ponder other options. Don't put so much pressure on yourself. Get some flowers and candy, a few little trinkets."
"But it's different this year," he replied.
"Why?"
"Because now we're together."
Larry's brow crinkled with thought. "What do you mean by that exactly? You've celebrated Valentine's Day with her before, haven't you?"
Jim sighed. "Yes, the last two years…but…we were…complicated."
"Complicated?"
"Yeah…as in…friends, but kind of more than friends," Jim replied. "It was…complicated…but you see, this year we're an official couple…and more than that, we're engaged…so it's different."
Larry nodded. "I can see that it's different in the scheme of labels for your relationship, but did you enjoy the previous holidays with her?"
"Of course."
"And what did you do for those holidays?"
"The first year, we had a quiet takeout dinner…in the office as a matter of fact, we were working late. Last year we went out to a movie and dinner. I got her flowers and candy…and after dinner, we just went back to her place and watched TV, relaxed…it was quiet but it was nice."
"Did she enjoy it?"
"Yeah, she seemed to."
"Then why pressure yourself so much just because you've changed the status of your relationship?"
"Because it's Valentine's Day and I'm supposed to make it better."
"Why?"
"Because I love her!"
Larry chuckled. "You didn't love her last Valentine's Day?"
"Of course I loved her last Valentine's Day…we just hadn't addressed that yet."
"If you loved her then and you love her now, then really nothing has changed except for putting a ring on her finger."
Jim sighed. "Larry, just pick me out some jewelry and put me out of my misery."
The older man shook his head. "No, not yet. You think it over a little more, try to pick up some hints. If you absolutely can not think of a gift, come back and I'll find something for you."
"That's cruel, Larry," Jim replied. "Especially after all the money I've spent in here the last few months."
The jeweler chuckled. "Trust me, it will be better this way. You don't want to fill up her jewelry box so soon…you're going to be married…you're going to have many holidays and anniversaries to buy gifts for in the decades to come."
Jim glared at him. "Is that supposed to make me feel better?"
"No," the other man said with a grin. "It's supposed to make you think."
He huffed a little. "Fine…but if I get into a last minute jam over this; you better have one hell of a gift behind that counter."
Larry laughed. "I give you my word, that I will bail you out of the jam if necessary."
"You better; because you might need a lawyer one day…and my fee is going to depend on how helpful you've been in my gift giving endeavors."
"Understood," Larry said with a nod, amusement gleaming in his eyes.
Dinner was quiet that evening…so quiet that it made Johanna uneasy as she shifted in her chair. Jim was pensive…too pensive once again, she thought to herself. "Jim?" she said, breaking the silence.
"What?" he asked.
"You're awfully quiet again, what's on your mind?"
"What do you want for Valentine's Day?" he asked.
"Jim; if that's what's bothering you, please relax. I'm good with the flowers and candy."
"It has to be better."
"There's no law that says we have to be extravagant for Valentine's Day," she replied.
"I can't just get you nothing."
"I said flowers and candy."
"That's the standard thing for the holiday," Jim remarked. "I need something else and I can't think of anything…so give me a hint."
"Honey…I have no hint to give. I'm having trouble thinking up something to give you if it makes you feel any better."
"I don't need anything. It's your gift that matters."
"No," she said with a shake of her head. "Either we both get something or neither one of us does."
"I just need a hint, Jo…anything."
Johanna shrugged. "Honestly, I just don't know. You gave me wonderful gifts for Christmas and my birthday…not to mention an engagement ring…and a honeymoon later this year. I don't want you to keep putting out a lot of money for me."
"What is that supposed to mean?" he asked, a hint of sharpness in his tone.
"It means that you've spent a lot of money on me the last few months and I don't expect you to continue to do that just because Jeff got into your head about this holiday. The last two years we had a low key celebration and I cherished those times with you. I'm just happy spending the evening with you…and with it falling on a week day, when we have to work the day of and the day after, something low key may be best anyway."
Jim shook his head. "We can't just do what we've done before. We're together now and it should be something more."
"Okay, it can be; we'll go somewhere nicer for dinner; one of our favorite places."
"And then what?" Jim asked.
"I don't know…a movie?"
"We did that last year."
"I know…I like movies."
"Jo," he sighed.
"What?"
"I'm trying to make this better for you and you're not helping."
"Maybe because I don't see anything wrong with how we did things before. I just want to spend the evening with you. I don't care if it's a diner for dinner or somewhere a little fancier…if we have gifts or not…if we come home early. All that matters to me is being with you."
Jim stared at her for a moment. "I hate to tell you this but you're not helpful."
"That's because you're determined to feel pressured about this holiday all because of our relationship status. I don't want you to go all out on some expensive evening and expensive gift just because you think you need to prove something," she retorted. "And that's what it comes down to, you let Jeff get in your head and now you think you have to put on some big show all because we're engaged. You keep asking what I want but you're not listening because it doesn't fit your agenda."
His jaw tightened. "I'm just trying to give you something nice, something you deserve…especially after you spent the last two years complaining about how much you hated this holiday because you were single…now you're not and you still want to complain about it; so since you're so against me trying to make it better; maybe we just won't do anything…in fact, maybe I'll just stay at my place that night and you can be here alone."
Her eyes narrowed as she shoved away from the table. "You know what, that's fine…because I'd rather be alone than have you make this something bigger than it needed to be, because like I said, all you want to do is prove something. It isn't about me. It isn't about us being together. It's because you always let your stupid friends in your head and when you do that then they get to dictate your thinking. So fine, we'll do nothing."
"Where are you going?" Jim asked as she moved away from the table.
"I'm going to my bedroom to be alone. Finish your dinner and feel free to leave," she retorted before storming from the room.
Jim frowned as he listened to the sound of her footsteps moving quickly through the apartment…and then the slam of the bedroom door. That had gone all wrong, he thought to himself…things always seemed to go wrong so quickly. He didn't want to spend Valentine's Day alone. He didn't even want to spend tonight alone. A heavy breath crossed his lips; maybe he was putting on too much pressure. But he didn't want her to think she wasn't worth more effort than he had given in previous years. Shouldn't she want more? Why didn't she want to make a big deal out of it? Why did he want to make a big deal out of it?
It had barely been a blip on the radar until Jeff had brought it up…and mentioned how it would have to be different this year. He scoffed; it would be different alright if they ended up spending it separately.
An hour and a half later, Jim made his way to the bedroom door, picking up the sound of the record player playing inside. He smiled a little…she always needed her music when she was feeling stormy. He reached for the doorknob and twisted it but found it to be locked. He should've known, he thought to himself as he knocked on the door, half expecting her not to answer or to tell him to leave once again. He waited a few moments and tried again, this time hearing the lock tumble in the door. Johanna opened it, clad in her silky white nightgown, her gaze questioning.
"I'm sorry," he said quietly.
She nodded as she leaned against the doorframe. "Me too."
"What do you have to be sorry for?"
"For not living up to expectations," she replied. "I guess I should've been more enthusiastic…you know I'm not good at that…my mother tells me all the time that I'm not good with enthusiasm."
"Maybe I had the wrong expectations…for the wrong reasons," he admitted.
"Meaning what?"
"Meaning that I guess I thought we had to live up to some ideal just because we're together this year. I thought you'd want more…why don't you want more?"
"It's not that I don't want more…I just feel like we don't need a big production this year."
"Why?"
"Because…I feel like we've had a lot going on the last few months," Johanna replied. "We had a disastrous Thanksgiving…we got engaged…you met my father…we had our first family oriented Christmas…that big blowup with my mother about a damn party, wedding planning, my birthday…it just feels like it's been a lot and I just thought maybe since we've had so much going on that we could just kind of stick with our low-key Valentine's day this year…I liked the idea of just something quiet and drama free…but it's already become drama…and maybe you want it to be more, which is fine…I just don't want it to be because you're trying to prove something just because of what Jeff said."
"I guess I was trying to prove something…that I could make big plans for you just like they all do."
"Maybe you should keep in mind that we've been witnesses to the aftermath of their big plans and that it hasn't always been pretty."
"That's true," Jim replied. "I guess I also thought you'd be expecting more this year."
"I told you yesterday that we didn't have to make a big deal out of it."
"I know…but I don't want you to think that you're not worth making a big deal for."
Johanna gave him a small smile. "I know you'd make a big deal for me over any occasion I wanted."
"So what are we going to do?" Jim asked.
"Whatever you want," she replied. "Because I don't want you to think that I'm not willing to make the effort for you. Maybe my mother's right; I need to be more enthusiastic about things. I don't want you to think the things she does about me…."
"I don't," he interrupted. "You have enthusiasm for plenty of things, I see that all the time. We have been through a lot the last few months…maybe I didn't realize how much until you started to list it."
"It makes me seem terrible, doesn't it?"
"No…it just tells me that you're tired and stressed…and maybe low key is best for both of us this year."
She shook her head, tears filling her eyes. "I don't want to disappoint you."
"Sweetheart, you can't disappoint me when I don't have any ideas in the first place. I keep wracking my brain, trying to think up something fantastic, trying to come up with some great gifts…and I just feel like I'm coming up empty handed and letting you down."
"You're not…I'm having trouble too with gift options."
"So, listen…for Valentine's Day…let's go somewhere nicer for dinner this year; somewhere you can dress up a little for; one of our favorite places where we're sure not to run into any of our friends. Does that sound okay?"
"That sounds great," she replied, giving him a smile. "Can we go to a movie afterwards?"
Jim returned her smile. "Yeah, we can go to a movie…remind me to buy extra popcorn on the way out."
"Deal…and let's agree that we don't have to buy extravagant gifts…that we're going to like whatever we get for each other."
"Agreed," he replied, his hands slipping around her waist to draw her closer before he stole a kiss. "Does this mean I can stay tonight?"
She smiled up at him as she wrapped her arms around him. "You pretty much have to."
"Why is that?" he asked.
"Because, we had a fight…now we have to make up," she murmured before capturing his lips in a kiss.
"See, you have enthusiasm," he remarked as he carefully backed her into the room. "You're very enthusiastic about negotiating our peace treaty."
"Well, it is a relationship law…and what kid of lawyers would we be if we didn't follow the law?"
"That's a good point," Jim replied. "I'm just glad we were able to make a settlement."
"They are one of my specialties," she teased.
"So true, sweetheart…and now I'll show you some of mine."
"See," she said with a smile. "Just like I said, we don't need a holiday for romance."
Jim laughed quietly as his arms slipped around her. "Even when you're not trying to you have to say I told you so."
"You wouldn't want it any other way."
He nodded. "You're right," he said before silencing her with a kiss.
A few days later, Johanna smiled at Jim as he collected another bag of popcorn on their way out of the movie theater. "Thanks for reminding me," he said as he returned to her side, brushing a kiss against her cheek.
"I don't want you having popcorn regrets again this year," she replied, her hand slipping into his.
"That probably would dampen our Valentine's Day," he remarked as they made their way out of the building.
"That's why I reminded you."
He smiled. "I'm also glad that I convinced you to hide those extra breadsticks from dinner in your purse."
Johanna nodded. "In all honesty, it didn't take much convincing…they are divine breadsticks."
"We're going to have to go back there soon…I know we had talked about going to one of our favorite places but I'm glad we tried a new one."
"Me too…maybe it'll be a new favorite restaurant for us. The food was great and the wine was good too. I really liked it…and it was fancier than our dinner last year so that fit our requirements."
"So you're not disappointed in our somewhat quiet celebration?"
Johanna shook her head. "Not in the slightest. I told you all I wanted was the evening with you. It was kind of a long day at work and this has been perfect tonight, I'm happy…I hope you are too and that you're not disappointed."
"No, I'm not disappointed. I'm happy with the way it's worked out…it feels right. We don't need to compete with other people or live up to their expectations. We're better off when we just do our own thing."
"I agree," she replied, giving his hand a squeeze. "Tonight is exactly what I wanted."
"I'm glad," Jim said, relief filling him. "Are you ready to head home? We said we wanted some time to unwind and we still have our gifts to give."
"There's something I want to do first."
"What is it?"
"Last year when we ate at the diner, we got milkshakes," Johanna said. "I'd really love to go get a strawberry milkshake to take home."
He smiled and slipped his arm around her waist as they moved toward the car. "We can do that, sweetheart. Strawberry for you, chocolate for me."
"To go," she added.
"To go," he agreed.
Awhile later, they finished off their milkshakes while the show they had been watching ended on the TV screen, her heels kicked off beneath the coffee table and his jacket and tie laying over the back of the chair. "Are we ready for the gifts?" Jim asked.
Johanna nodded as she sat her empty cup on the stand. "I'm ready; who wants to go first?"
"I'll give you your gifts first," Jim said, rising from the sofa. "Then I can be put out of my misery."
She laughed. "You know I always like your gifts."
"There's bound to be a time when you won't," he remarked as he went to the closet and got the gift bag. "I had a hard time thinking of what to give you…none of it is especially grand…I tried though…."
"Jim," she said softly. "I know you always give me your best…and I told you I didn't need anything grand. I'm sure I'm going to love whatever is in the bag just like I love the vase full of roses sitting on the coffee table."
"I hope so," he replied as he handed her the bag.
Johanna opened the bag and pulled out the item that was lying on top, a smile breaking across her lips as she looked at the stuffed Snoopy that was holding a heart.
"I know that's for kids," Jim stated. "But I know how much you love Snoopy…so I thought you might like it."
"I love him," she exclaimed, running a hand over the soft plush material. "I'm going to sit him on my vanity so I see him all the time."
He smiled. "I'm glad you didn't think it was silly."
"Of course not! I love it, really I do," she said, reaching back into the bag and pulling out a heart shaped box of candy. "I also love my chocolate…I hope there's a lot of strawberry creams in here."
"Sweetheart, they're all strawberry cream…I went to a specialty store and made sure of it."
"You really do love me," Johanna said with a grin.
He nodded. "I do…I love you enough to scour this city for a box that only had chocolates with strawberry cream in them."
She smiled. "I love you too."
"There's more in there," he said with a nod at the bag.
Johanna reached back into the bag and pulled out a velvet jewelry box. She cracked open the lid and found a dainty silver ankle bracelet inside. "I know you were upset last summer that you lost your ankle bracelet," Jim stated. "We looked all over for it and never found it anywhere…so I thought I'd get you another one so you'll be ready for summer."
"Thank you, I love it," she told him. "I was going to replace it this summer but now I don't have to…and this one is more special than the one I lost."
"I wasn't sure if it was as nice as the one you lost."
"It's better," she assured.
He gave her a smile and nodded back at the bag.
"More?" Johanna asked. "You're spoiling me."
"That's my job," he remarked.
Johanna reached back into the bag and brought a box. "A cassette player," she exclaimed as she looked at the package.
"Yeah…I thought maybe if you had a tape player then you wouldn't have to move your record player from room to room. You could have this in the living room and leave the record player in the bedroom or switch it around…whichever you want. I got you some tapes of your favorites, they're in the bag too. I didn't know if you'd want it…but I know you love your music when you're cleaning or feeling sad or…"
"Jim, I love it," she interrupted. "It's perfect."
"Really?" he asked, relief filling him.
"Yes, I can't wait to try it…but I will, I'll try it tomorrow after work, but believe me, I love it. I'm going to keep it in the living room."
He smiled, leaning over gifts to kiss her. "There's a card in the bag too."
"A card? I thought that was too much pressure?"
Jim shrugged. "I did it anyway."
She smiled as she opened the card, knowing he had squirmed the whole time in the store picking out a card with the words 'For the woman I love' written in flowy script on a red heart. She opened it and read the text and then spotted his bold script at the bottom of the card. "I love you more every day, even when I'm being ridiculous. You're the best thing that's ever happened to me and I can't wait until August to make you my wife. I love you."
Tears stung her eyes as she leaned toward him and kissed him. "And you said you couldn't write me a note."
"It's not very good."
"It's perfect and I'll keep it forever," she said before stealing another kiss. "Now I want to give you your gifts…and I feel like they're going to pale in comparison to these."
"I doubt that," Jim said as she went to get his gifts.
She wasn't entirely sure of that but she carried the bag into the room. "I admit that I struggled to think of things too. I don't know why…but I did. I hope you'll like them though."
"I'm sure I will," he said as he accepted the bag. He reached in and pulled out the box of coconut filled chocolate candy first. "Now you know I like this."
"That one I didn't doubt," she replied with a laugh.
Jim laid it aside and pulled out the next item, finding a small box that he opened, finding a new black leather wallet with his initials monogrammed on it. "I know you usually don't like to change things," Johanna said. "But I know your wallet is getting a bit worn…so I thought maybe you'd be okay with a new one."
"I love it," he told her. "You're right, I usually don't like change…but this is from you…and I do need it. I'll switch it out tomorrow…I like having my initials on it, people will think I'm high class," he teased.
Johanna laughed. "I wasn't sure if I should have that done or not, but I thought it would look nice and would suit you…it's professional looking when you're out with a client."
"You just don't want people saying that my fiancée lets me go out with a wallet that has electrical tape on one corner," he laughed.
"The tape is the reason why I felt you might need a new one…but you do deserve classy looking things," she replied lightly.
"Thank you, sweetheart. I do love it."
"I'm glad."
He reached back in the bag and pulled out the box containing the shaving cream warmer. "Hey, this is great," he exclaimed. "I wanted one of these."
"I didn't get one at Christmas because you didn't seem sure about it," Johanna admitted. "But it came to mind and I figured I'd get it and hope for the best."
"I'm glad you got it; I'll be trying it out in the morning when I shave. Thank you."
She smiled. "I'm glad it's something you wanted."
"I'm not hard to please," Jim said with a laugh as he reached back into the bag and came up with a model car kit.
"I remember you telling me how much you enjoyed putting together model cars when you were a kid and a teenager," Johanna stated. "I figured there's not an age limit on certain things, if I can love Snoopy, you can build a model car."
"It's a Camaro too," Jim said happily.
"Of course, I wouldn't get you any other kind," she replied. "Do you like it?"
"Of course I do…and you're right, there shouldn't be an age limit on certain hobbies. This will be nice for me to do on a snow day when you're lying on the couch watching soaps."
"Then that's like a gift for me too, you'll be occupied and not mocking my show," she quipped.
"Maybe we're better at Valentine's than we thought," Jim laughed.
"Maybe so…there's more in there."
Jim reached into the bag and pulled out a box, finding a cassette tape deck for his car. "You've been talking about adding a tape player to the car," Johanna said. "You haven't said for sure if you were going to do it…and I don't know if I picked the one you'd want, but I thought maybe it was something you'd want."
"It's perfect," he said as he read the box. "It looks like one of the easier to install models which is a plus because I don't want to be beating up my car."
"The man at the store recommended that one; he did mention that it was easier to install than other models. I got you some tapes too, some of your favorites."
Jim smiled. "We both got each other tape players…different kinds but it's still kind of the same."
"You know what that means, don't you?"
"What?"
"It means we're meant to be," she said with a wide smile.
"No doubt in my mind," he replied before stealing a kiss.
"There's a card in the bag too."
Jim took the card from the bag and opened it; his gaze drawn to her handwriting inside instead of the verse on the card. "I don't need a holiday to tell you that I love you but I do and I promise to spend my life making you as happy as you make me. I love you, always and forever."
"I love you too," he murmured, kissing her once more.
Johanna smiled at him. "There's one more thing."
"The bag is empty except for the tapes," Jim remarked.
"It's not something that can go in a bag," she replied. "I made you a promise last Valentine's Day."
"A promise?"
"Yes, remember…I promised you that this Valentine's Day there would definitely be sex," she said with a teasing smile.
Jim grinned. "Oh yeah, you did promise that."
"I did…and I bought something special occasion to wear for it since you stipulated that I should dress sexy this year."
"I think your red dress is sexy," he remarked, his hands reaching for her.
Johanna shook her head. "I think you'll like what I bought much better."
"I like it already and I haven't even seen it," Jim said as she dodged his hands. "Where are you going?"
"I'm going to go put it on while you lock up and take care of things out here…when you're finished, you can meet me in our room and I'll prove to you that I am a woman of my word since you doubted me last year," she said before kissing him.
"I'll never doubt you again, sweetheart," he replied lightly. "Happy Valentine's."
"Happy Valentine's to you…now you hurry with your tasks so we can finish having the complete experience," she teased as she moved away to head for the bedroom.
He smiled, watching her go; she had been right all along; there was no need for some big flashy affair to celebrate the holiday. Their own special way was just what they needed.