Chapter 18

Rita and Shane enjoyed shopping together for the matron of honor dress. After eating lunch and picking the dress out, they even made a side trip to start looking at things for the honeymoon.

"We haven't discussed where we're going or what we're doing on our honeymoon," Shane said. "I probably shouldn't get anything yet."

"Oh, I think Oliver knows exactly what he wants to do on the honeymoon," Rita said assuredly. "You can tell by the way he looks at you."

Shane blushed laughing, "I wasn't talking about that. I meant we haven't talked about whether we're going to the beach or somewhere else." She paused, "What do you mean by the way he looks at me?"

"Norman and I were watching a wildlife documentary the other night. Shane, when he thinks nobody is looking, he stares at you like a lion that hasn't eaten in a month. It's so sweet."

"Rita Dorman. I can't believe you just said that." Shane sighed, "He did make a comment awhile back that May can't come fast enough."

"Believe me, that man is counting down the days."

They finished looking at another store and then sat in a cafe. Shane wanted Rita's help putting together the wedding website and loading pictures. She had put together the shell of a site the previous night after Oliver had left. There was an area for information on the wedding, how they met, and for the registry. She added pictures of the church and the reception venue. Joe & Rita had sent her pictures from when they were dating, the engagement and afterwards. Joe had snapped a picture the night they sat by his fire when Oliver had put his arms around her. Shane's eyes were closed leaning against him with her ring hand on his chest, and Oliver had placed his chin on her head. It was a beautiful picture of them together completely at peace.

Rita teared up when she saw it. Shane told her the song Joe was playing and what Oliver said about looking into her eyes, loving her forever and seeing a little girl the image of her mother in their future. By this time, they were both crying and digging for Kleenex.

The ladies sitting at the table next to them leaned over. "Can we have one too. That story was just beautiful and that is one incredibly handsome man."

Rita said through tears, "They're engaged. To each other."

Rita and Shane looked at each other and burst into laughter.

They finished arranging photos and Rita emailed the list of Safe Haven needs that Norman had put together for Shane's list on the site.

Shane looked at the time. "I better go. I'm supposed to meet Joe & Oliver for dinner. Keep your fingers crossed he'll like this."

Rita hugged her. "It looks awesome, I'm sure he will."

By the time Shane arrived, Oliver and Joe almost had dinner ready. Oliver had caught his dad up on what had happened over the last week.

"So, I hear you've been moonlighting," Joe commented as he and Shane were setting the table. Shane glanced over at Oliver.

"Did he at least use his inside voice when he was telling you about it," Shane asked under her breath?

"Yes, I take it he hasn't been."

"There's been varying levels of intensity as well some high-pitched disbelief at times."

Joe hugged her. "We both care about you."

"I know." Hugging him back. "Everything turned out ok and I'm fine."

"Does Oliver realize it's probably not going to be the last time?"

"What do you mean?"

Joe looked at her surprised by her naivety. "Shane you've got skills other people don't have. It's not the last time someone is going to come knocking asking for help."

Oliver overheard the last part as he set dinner on the table. "I believe Dale used the term 'computer ninja' and she already warned me that they wanted to keep working with you whenever you had the time."

"What is with the CBI and nicknames?"

"It's a law enforcement thing, what else have they been calling you," Joe asked?

"Most of the task force called me Banksy. Evidently, I doodle when I'm thinking, and case reports got turned in with pictures I drew on them." Shane winced.

"I've noticed. Several times I've had to redo reports after you've sat at my desk to answer the phone."

Joe laughed.

"Why didn't you ever say anything?"

"It's kind of cute and it didn't happen often enough to be that big of a problem."

"The guys at CBI have a collection going on a bulletin board."

"I'd like to see it," Joe said.

"You'll have to ask Dale."

As they finished, Shane brought up the website. "Rita and I were able to work on a mock-up of the wedding website."

Oliver winced when Shane was picking up her laptop and not looking.

Joe asked, "What's this about a website?"

"Norman had a great idea to put together a wedding website with information about us and the wedding for people that are out of town. But really the main reason was so we could put the gift registry on there. Oliver and I decided we didn't need any gifts and we'd rather people donate to the Foundation or Safe Haven, our current project. This way we can put a wish list from Safe Haven instead of people buying off a gift registry at a store."

She had set up her laptop on the table and brought the site up for them.

"When did you start this," Joe asked?

"Last night I threw together the site. Rita and I uploaded the pictures after we got done shopping today."

"This is why you were asking for me to send any pictures I had?" Joe asked watching Oliver flip through the site.

Shane got up to get a drink. "Yep, I told Oliver we could password protect it, so it wasn't a public site."

When she returned, Oliver still hadn't said anything.

"Oliver, I know you were really unsure about this but what do you think?"

He had scrolled through a visual history of them meeting, dating and getting engaged. He ended on the picture of the two of them in front of the fire. When he looked up his eyes were a bit red. He took her hand and pulled her closer. "I think it's beautiful. I shouldn't have doubted you."

"Oh, yea of little faith." Shane said jokingly.

"It only takes a little," Oliver said wrapping an arm around her and leaning his head against her side. She wrapped her arm around his shoulder as they looked at it together.

She pointed out where they could add the registry wish list from Norman and where guests from the wedding could upload pictures later.

"This is really cool," Joe said.

"Norman thought it was a great way for people that couldn't make it to the wedding or are out of town during the leadup to the wedding to be a part of things."

"Oh, I need to find a book. I told Rita she could borrow it. I think it was in the group we unpacked."

"I did wonder when Oliver started reading romance novels when I walked through there earlier," Joe said grinning.

Shane laughed and went to find it.

As she stepped away, Joe said, "Son, you realize this is Shane's version of a love letter."

"I do, Dad. Dale said she has a gift and I see it at work all the time. But it's times like this that I'm blown away, I can't believe she put this together in less than a day."

"Whose idea was it to do donations instead of gifts," Joe asked?

"Shane brought up that between the two of us we didn't need any wedding gifts and wasn't really sure how to avoid people gifting things we didn't need. I suggested putting something on the invitation that in lieu of gifts send donations to a charity. Norman and Shane ran with it after that."

"Your marrying quite a woman."

"You're the second person to tell me that this week."

"Who was the first?"

"The pastor right before he told me to take Shane home to right things with her after blowing up during our meeting. I actually accused her of taking these dangerous jobs for the money."

Joe started laughing. "Did she let you know you were acting like an idiot?"

"Yes." Oliver laughed.

"Found the book. What's so funny?"

"Oliver was just telling me how forgiving you were when he acted like an idiot."

"Oh, I've had my moments as well." Shane said in his defense and kissed him on top of his head. She put the computer and book back in her bag.

They played cards the rest of the evening until Joe took Shane home.