Chapter 1 |
"Oliver," a voice whispered.
Sleep clung to Oliver's mind like frost to the shady side of an iceberg. He wasn't ready to wake, did not want to wake, he was curled up with hope and refused to be parted from it. The memories of Shane reading the letters she had written to him were still fresh and wonderful and he refused to let go of them.
"Oliver," the whisper grew louder.
Even in sleep, his heart beat faster at the memory of how she looked when his chair had turned to reveal her return, the moment their eyes had met, and the sudden flood of love that had washed over him.
"Oliver," the whisper was joined by a hand shaking his shoulder.
His arms tightened and he smiled to find them full of Shane McInerney. "Mmm," he sighed. "A-sleep. Go-way."
"Oliver!" Rita's voice took on a demanding tone and he blinked his eyes open. The brunette's face was inches from his own. She was smiling. "Oliver," her voice returned to a whisper. "It's morning and people are arriving for work. As much as I love finding you and Shane like this, it might cause problems."
"Mmm," Shane sighed, burrowing deeper into Oliver's arms.
Sometime during the reading of letters, the two had moved to the old leather couch at the back of the DLO. Comfortable. Too comfortable. Now, several hours later, Oliver was reclined with his feet on the matching ottoman, and Shane stretched out on the couch with her head resting on his chest. The two had happily fallen asleep in each other's arms.
"What?" Oliver asked, blinking sticky icicles from his eyes. "Rita? What are you doing here?"
"I work here," Rita laughed and nudged Shane with her shoulder. "I am so happy to see you back," she whispered. "But you have to get up now before Supervisor Fuentes comes in and issues of proper employee comportment hit the fan."
Shane rolled, stretching both arms wide, accidentally punching Oliver in the side of the face, until she was staring at Rita. Her face broke into a wide grin. "Rita. Give us a hug." She did, they did, Oliver groaned loudly.
"Ladies," he admonished. "Please stand."
Falling asleep on a couch has one very unfortunate side effect; the Rip Winkle Syndrome that ages an adult body by several decades during slumber. Shane seemed to be immune, however, and jumped up and then jumped into Rita's arms to continue the hug. Oliver, the old one, stood in crinkling stages, forcing joints to bend while making loud crackling noises while he moaned pitifully. "Not doing that again," he said.
"Yes we will," Shane laughed.
The door to the DLO was forced open with a loud bang as Supervisor Fuentes, known to her lessers as Genghis the Can't, barged in pushing a large wheeled hamper filled with undelivered mail. "Standing around! Always standing around! Get to work people!"
The three Postables flashed matching Cheshire grins, Rita and Oliver said nothing. "Weren't standing a minute ago," Shane mumbled.
"Ugh," Shane groaned after the door had closed. "I have been in this dress for two days."
Oliver pulled her close and gave her a kiss while dropping his car keys into her hand. "Take my car, go home, shower, change, take your time. You're home now."
Rita gasped when Shane slipped her arms round Oliver's neck and kissed him, with obvious pleasure and gusto. "Oh my," Rita gasped. "That's a kiss." Oliver blushed as Shane grabbed her jacket and purse and headed for the door.
"What about you?" Rita asked.
"I have an emergency grooming kit in my desk, including an aerosol can of "Instant Shower," he said with a smile. "I will do the best I can with what I've got," Oliver said.