Chapter 9

They slowly settled into their own routine. Shane would run with the dogs in the morning giving Oliver quiet time to start his day reading the bible. They'd eat breakfast together. After work Oliver would take the dogs out to give Shane time to read or work on CBI cases in the evening. Most weeks were busy with Oliver still practicing with the choir on Thursdays, dog training classes on Saturdays and church on Sunday.

With Bill having started training the dogs, they seemed to pick up on everything in their class very quickly. Once they were sure they were house trained, Oliver and Shane stopped leaving them in the utility room at night. Joe came by a couple times a week and took the dogs hiking or gardening at the community garden with him.

At the end of June, Dale called with an arson case. There was some pressure to close it before the fire season fully started.

After several late nights, Oliver woke to find the space next to him in bed empty. He found Shane in front of a laptop in the kitchen snacking on popcorn. She jumped when he put his hands on her shoulders. "What are you still doing up?" He asked.

"I'm almost done."

He started rubbing her shoulders, "Tomorrow is the fourth. We've got plans you're going to end up sleeping through." Moving to work on her neck, "You need to get some sleep." She nodded caving. He took her hand leading her back to the bedroom. He sat down watching her get ready for bed still fascinated by the time it took her and the number of products she used. When she sat next to him, he kissed her. "I'll finish loosening up your back." While he rubbed her shoulders and down her back, she quickly fell to sleep. He turned off the light and wasn't far behind.

It was dark when he woke later to find Shane asleep with her head on his chest and an arm wrapped around his waist. He cherished knowing she reached for him in the night. Brushing her hair back off her face he went back to sleep. Early in the morning he woke to feel her running her fingers absently across his chest. Not fully awake he ran his hand over her hair, "Morning."

"Oliver?"

"Hmm…"

"What time do we have to be at Dad's?"

Oliver smiled hearing her call Joe Dad. "Not until after lunch. You can sleep longer if you'd like. Shane, I do love nothing in the world so well as you."

"Oliver dear, I love you, but really Shakespeare before breakfast?" Shane said brushing a kiss on his cheek before turning over to go back to sleep.

After lunch they headed to Joe's. He had invited everyone over to his place for July 4th. Norman & Rita were there with Bill. Shane and Oliver had finished sorting out wedding pictures and brought them to show everyone. They gave Joe a framed picture of the moment the photographer had caught the new family in front of the stained-glass window with the dogs surrounding them.

Gryffin & Raven adored all the attention with plenty of people to play fetch. Shane stopped to ask Joe, "How did they do last week at the garden? We haven't had any issues with them digging."

"They were great." Joe answered with a grin. "I'm going to have to take them every week. It's a great way to meet people."

Shane laughed, "People as in the ladies." He shrugged noncommittedly grinning.

Joe played the guitar by the fire while they watched the sun set. After a couple songs Rita looked at Norman before saying, "We have something to tell everyone. Last week we started the adoption process. It takes a long time, so we also signed up to go through foster care training. After working with the Safe Haven shelter, we realized we don't want to wait to help a child that needs a safe place. It takes about 4-6 months to get approved."

"I spent time in good foster homes and some not so good foster homes," Norman said. "We think we can be one of the good ones."

Oliver leaned over to put a hand on Norman's shoulder. "We know you can be one of the good ones."

Shane got up to hug Rita. "You'll be such a good mom. You have the support of everyone here."

On the drive home Shane was quiet. Oliver glanced over several times before asking, "Are you tired?"

"A little." Shane answered quietly looking out the window.

"Shane is something bothering you?" Oliver asked as they were getting into bed.

"I was thinking about Norman and the work we've done at Safe Haven. Growing up even though my dad left my mom was there. Being a single mom, she may not have always had as much time for me and I learned how to be independent early. I never felt neglected or unsure about having some place to go. I knew at the heart of it she'd always be there if I really needed her. Not everyone has that."

"No, they don't." Oliver sighed. "My life could have been drastically different if I hadn't stayed with my dad. My mom didn't have it in her to settle down. We were both fortunate."

"We still are." Shane said laying down next to him to go to sleep.

The Postables were scheduled to attend the ribbon cutting for the updated playground at Safe Haven the next day. Norman and Rita had worked with the staff at the shelter to keep work going while Shane and Oliver were on their honeymoon. They were all excited to see the finished project.

After cutting the ribbon, they watched the children rush around to play on the equipment. Norman & Rita were talking to one of the shelter staff regarding signing up to be foster parents while Oliver was talking to a mother of some of the kids playing. Shane noticed one little girl had wandered to the edge of the playground more interested in watching a family that was walking a dog across the street.

"Do you like dogs?" Shane asked.

"Yes. I miss my dog. He died right before we came here."

"I'm sorry. That had to have been hard. What was your dog's name?"

The little girl told Shane about her dog before asking, "Do you have a dog?"

"We just got new puppies a couple months ago. Would you like to see pictures?"

Shane showed her pictures of the doodles on the phone telling her about them stealing their fish and chasing squirrels. The little girl laughed and asked more questions. When her mother came over, she gave her a hug and ran off to play.

"That's the first time I've heard her laugh since we got here. What were you guys talking about?"

"Dogs. I noticed she was interested in the one across the street and showed her pictures of ours. She mentioned your family lost yours recently."

"She loves animals. I'm sorry to say losing the dog got us here."

"What do you mean?"

"Most shelters don't allow pets. I knew things were getting bad at home, but I couldn't make her give up what she loved most in the world. When the dog died, I could finally get us out."

Oliver and the director joined them. Shane asked her, "How often does a pet keep a family from coming to a shelter?"

"Frequently, pets are part of the family. We're not set up currently to deal with pets. Few shelters are. A lot of women and families end up living in their cars because they're not willing to let them go."

Shane looked at Oliver thinking of the Denver winters. Oliver knowing the look asked, "What would it take for the facility to be able to allow pets?"

"A relationship with a vet and animal trainer as well as individual family rooms that had well more room to start. Then we'd have to look at insurance policies and put rules and protocols in place. We'd need to talk to a shelter that allows it and see what's worked and what hasn't."

By this time Norman and Rita had joined the conversation. With Shane, Norman and Rita all giving him the look, Oliver sighed, "It appears we've found our next project if the board approves." They all raised their hands. Oliver turned to the director, "If your amenable it appears the board just approved to research the feasibility of adding pets to the shelter as well as possibly fund any of the changes needed."