Chapter 8

The weekend was spent unpacking boxes from Shane's house and spending time with the dogs. They checked out one of the local dog parks and got the dogs signed up for their first training class. After unpacking some tools and rearranging part of the garage to fit a second car, Oliver came inside to see if Shane was ready for lunch. He found her in their closet talking with Gryffin regarding her shoes. When she noticed him in the door, she looked a bit self-consciously at him, "I don't think this is going to work."

"What exactly?" Oliver said trying to keep a straight face while making her verbalize the problem.

"There's not enough room for my shoes," Shane said sighing slightly.

Oliver let a smile through, "Had I seen the collection in mass I would have fully comprehended the comment you made regarding computer equipment being like shoes. I believe you said 'You need different ones for different activities. I wouldn't have been as shocked to see our guest bedroom turn into a computer farm. I still would swear things replicate in there when we're not looking. Eventually I'm expecting it to take over the house."

"What do you know about replicators?" Shane asked nudging his shoulder when he sat down beside her.

"Poker night." He leaned towards her to tuck a lock of hair behind her ear. "Might I suggest we pick up some closet organizers after church tomorrow and whatever doesn't fit joins the hive in the other bedroom."

Shane laughed at his continued attempt to find a nickname for her equipment in the guest bedroom. "Thank you for understanding."

"Oh, I wouldn't say I understand. It's more about being an appreciative spectator."

"Excuse me," she raised an eyebrow.

"I appreciate how your legs look like they go on for miles in these," he gestured towards a pair of heels. "Those over there you usually wear with your blue dress. Watching you walk back to your desk in that blue dress hugging your curves with those heels." He sighed remembering how much of a trial it had been, "Trying to focus on anything else becomes rather difficult." When her mouth dropped open slightly in shock, he ran his thumb along her lip. Kissing her gently he asked, "Do you want to know what your red heels do to me?" He wondered at the fact she still blushed.

"Oliver," she said drawn to the adoring look on his face.

"The red heels ..." She kissed him not sure she could wear them again to work if she knew. He deepened the kiss pulling her closer. As her hands moved up his arms and around his neck, he pulled her on top of him leaning back against the wall. Her hands ran through his hair while his ran slowly up and down her legs on either side of him as if he were still thinking about the way they looked. Right as his hands were starting to work their way under her shirt Gryffin lost interest in the toy he'd been chewing and stuck his head in between them. Shane laughed.

"He really has lousy timing," Oliver said frustrated.

Shane leaned over and threw Gryffin's toy out into the room to distract him. "He did interrupt some pretty smooth-talking moves," she said as she ran her hand through Oliver's hair.

"I originally came in here to ask if you were ready for lunch." He said running his hands down her back and legs not ready to let go.

"Sure, you did," she said teasingly. "I can help you fix lunch." Gryffin dropped his toy in between them with Raven joining them to see what she was missing. Since it had become overly crowded in the closet, Oliver helped Shane up and they went to start lunch. While eating they talked about storage needs in the closets and garage before moving on to what was happening during the next week.

They attended church for the first time as a married couple on Sunday. Since Oliver had missed the last few choir rehearsals, he sat with Shane instead of joining the choir. Afterwards they picked up different organizers for storage at the house and finished unpacking more boxes.

The early part of the week was spent helping Norman and Rita catch up in the DLO. They spent a fair amount of time routing letters with sketchily written addresses from first time campers at some of the Colorado summer camps.

Wednesday afternoon they met with the lawyer and started signing paperwork to add each other to their houses and bank accounts. While Oliver had joked about signing their name repeatedly, Shane's hand hurt just half an hour into signing documents. The lawyer leaned over pushing a bowl next to her, "Do you need to take a break? Nuts?"

"Thanks, I'll pass." As the lawyer went to get more documents off the printer Shane asked Oliver, "What is it with her and nuts?"

"Maybe because she has to deal with so many of them as a lawyer," Oliver answered dryly continuing to sign papers.

Shane laughed and started signing papers again. "I hope you're still making me laugh 20 years from now. That's how long it's going to take to finish this pile."

When they got home, Oliver asked as he was leashing the dogs for their walk, "Do you officially feel like an O'Toole now?"

"I'm getting there." Shane kissed him on his way out. She went to work on reviewing the research information on the latest case from the CBI regarding laundry mats and dry cleaners in the greater Denver area. Once she finished, she sat on the porch swing. Oliver found her there reading on her tablet. He let the dogs off the leash and sat down next to her.

"Learning about dry cleaners?" Oliver said smiling.

"It is amazing how many there are in the greater Denver area, but I moved on."

"To?"

Shane avoided his gaze hoping he'd let it go, "I got a new book."

"About?" His curiosity piqued with her reticence.

"It's a devotional for wives." She said uncertainly still a little uncomfortable talking about matters of faith.

"Shane are you embarrassed?" He asked running his hand through her hair before gently cupping her neck.

"I don't know if embarrassed is the right word. Uncertain maybe. When I was younger, I always had all these plans and goals. My life has become indelibly different from what I planned. I've changed so much from when I first came to Denver. I don't regret letting go of those plans and goals. I'm happy with where we're at and what we're doing. I thought, 'Leaning not on my own understanding,' might make it easier to stay open and available for what God has planned for us next. Meeting you and working in the DLO has made me realize that what he has planned is greater than any plans I could develop."

"Look at you, quoting scripture." He ran a finger down her cheek. "Many are the plans in the mind of man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand. Shane you're not alone. I have dogs, a wife and a computer hive doing only God knows what in our guest room. I got a devotional for husbands before you moved the first box in when we were engaged."

Shane laughed feeling somewhat relieved. "Other than when the doodles ate our dinner, most of the time you look like you've completely got things under control."

He put his arm around her on the back of the swing. "I pray that I do the best I can everyday Shane. That's all any of us can do. My life changed dramatically when Holly left, when I met you, and when my father I never knew died. The journey throws bends in the road but we decide how we handle the curves. I've learned that when we don't handle curves the way God prefers; he tends to throw in other curves to teach us what we should have done. Sometimes the curves have nothing to do with us and God's using us to teach others."

Comforted by Oliver's take on life, she leaned her head on his shoulder watching the dogs chase another squirrel. "We probably need to give the poor guy a break."

They brought the dogs inside. While Oliver fixed dinner, Shane fed the dogs and checked her computer programs. Several results were back, she started working again until Oliver let her know dinner was ready. Having learned the dogs were creative in trying to get food, he left everything well back from the counters edge.

When they sat down to eat, Shane told him, "It's going to take a while to go through the results tonight. I think the operation is more sophisticated than they originally thought. I keep getting back to shell corporations that are owned by other shell corporations."

"I have some business I need to go through as well." Oliver said.

Even working on opposite sides of the house, they both were comforted by the thought of the other's presence knowing they were under one roof.