Oliver checked his watch as he entered Blooms and Hugs. It was fortuitous that traffic had been extraordinarily light on this Saturday evening. The bell over the door announced his arrival, and the pretty blonde floral arranger, Ellie, looked up.
"Oliver," she exclaimed with enthusiasm, a wide grin spreading across her face. She made her way to him and encircled him with a big hug. He couldn't help but feel affection for her.
"Hello, Ellie", he said smiling back at her, returning the hug.
She called to her husband. "Bobby, Oliver is here!"
Oliver heard rustling noises in the back, and then Bobby appeared, his smile as bright as Ellie's. He hugged Oliver too, and looked lovingly at his bride.
Oliver looked at the couple, reflecting on how Divine Delivery had caused the couple and the DLO to intersect. When he and Shane had delivered Ellie's letter, he found a couple deeply in love, wanting to get married, but Ellie's parents, specifically her father, had been reluctant to let it happen. Ellie had Down syndrome, and her beau, an intellectual disability. But their love had been perfect, and Oliver and Shane had been blessed to help their marriage happen. He found it ironic that as he sought to begin a relationship with Shane, he found himself in the presence of this couple that had overcome so much.
"We have your order ready. Ellie prepared it", Bobby said, gazing proudly at Ellie.
"A dozen yellow roses", Ellie said, a questioning tone.
"Yellow roses have special meaning for Shane."
The answer to Ellie's unspoken question made her eyes go wide. "I'm going to get the roses, but I'd like to add a few more stars. I know Shane will love that." She quickly moved to retrieve the bouquet and add her special touches.
Bobby looked at Oliver, eyes narrowing as he took Oliver in. "You look nervous. Is this a first date?"
Oliver thoughtfully nodded. "Is it that obvious?"
"It's written all over your face." Bobby hesitated a moment. "May I offer you a word of advice?" he asked.
"Please do", Oliver implored and looked Bobby in the eye.
"If you think this is something special, don't think, just jump in. It's worth it. Love is worth it."
Oliver nodded, wondered how to respond, but was saved from doing so as Ellie appeared with the bouquet. It waswrapped in navy paper adorned with golden stars, a matching ribbon twisted into a lovely bow around the paper. There were stars in the bouquet with the roses and baby's breath. The flowers were perfectly prepared with such care. He told her so, and he hoped his evening would turn out as perfectly as the flowers had.
A rush of emotions went through him, emotions he was unaccustomed to feeling. He was anxious about this date. He felt affection from this wonderful, capable, married, couple who had just helped him. And he felt grateful—that his lives had intersected with theirs and that a clerical error (or Becky Starkwell) had brought Shane to the DLO.
Oliver thanked Ellie and Bobby, and with a final hug, he returned to his car.