Chapter 25 Better Together

The next day Oliver and Shane arrived at the DLO a little early. They jumped immediately into working on mangled packages. After processing a few, Shane opened one that produced a wooden box. Carved into the top of the box were otters playing in a stream. When she opened the lid, music started playing. Hearing it Oliver approached looking over her shoulder. "That carving is quite intricate," Oliver commented as Shane pulled out a note unfolding it to read.

Sorry I missed your birthday Princess. It wasn't safe to fly out with all the storms. These little guys can be seen in the rivers around here. You'd find them entertaining. I'll send you some pictures & videos through email. Looking forward to being home next week.

Love,

Dad

Oliver placed a hand on her shoulder. "Why don't I take this one?" He asked knowing a father missing his daughter's birthday was hitting too close to home for Shane.

She folded the note back up returning it to the music box. "I'm fine Oliver. I can look up where flights were grounded by storms recently. Otters are mostly found in North America and Canada, right?"

"I do believe that's correct."

"The box was headed to Oregon. It's a starting point." He glanced at her worriedly before returning to his desk to work on another package.

A couple hours later he noticed her packaging up the box to resend. "Ms. McInerney, please tell me you didn't hack into the airline reservation system."

"While that would have made things easier, I preferred not to spend our honeymoon in jail for committing a federal crime. I'd rather spend it in a more pleasant environment," Shane said grinning. "You know maybe the beach or the mountains. Once I found where flights had been grounded, I googled shops in the area. One had hand crafted music boxes. After emailing the shop a picture of the item, they remembered who purchased it. He'd paid by credit card and they sent me his contact info."

No longer concerned about her hacking, Oliver smiled at her mention of their honeymoon. "Do you have a preference between the beach or the mountains?"

"After a long cold winter, I enjoy soaking up the sun and listening to the waves hit the beach," Shane responded dreamily thinking about how the weather was getting colder every day.

"That sounds…utterly delightful."

Something in his voice made Shane glance up from her package. She grinned seeing the speculative look on his face. "You're contemplating the swimsuit situation." Shane stated hazarding a guess.

Oliver looked at her startled, "How did you know?"

"You're a man Oliver." She dropped the completed package in a bin and swinging by his desk patted him on the cheek. "A lovely one but still a man. I believe I have several two pieces with little excuses for straps that could possibly make an appearance."

"Straps you say. What color?" Oliver asked not able to help himself.

"I don't like a lot of tan lines. They're easily loosened when I'm tanning." Shane explained smiling a little wickedly letting her finger trail along his cheek. "I have a red one and a navy blue."

"You're trying to torture me, aren't you?" Oliver asked clearing his throat knowing he'd have difficulty returning to the box he was researching.

"Trying to give you something to look forward to Oliver," Shane walked away smirking as she picked up another package from the mangled bin to research.

They decided on take out from a deli on the way to Shane's house after work for dinner. Sitting down to eat Shane was quiet. Oliver slid his hand over hers, "What are you thinking about?"

"Your mother, my father…and our wedding." Shane sighed. "Knowing they won't be there…" Shane trailed off not knowing how to articulate how she was feeling. "It's complicated."

"So many relationships are," Oliver responded. Oliver thought it was even harder on Shane not having a father to walk her down the aisle as he asked, "Have you thought about where to have our wedding?"

"I assumed we'd have it at your church Oliver," Shane said in between bites. Oliver looked at her warmly before suddenly getting a concerned look on his face. "What's the matter?"

"I wonder if the pastor knows if any skunks live in the area. I'd rather not go through moving an entire wedding again."

Shane laughed, "Oliver I hadn't realized you'd been so traumatized by the experience. I'm sure lightening…er skunks…wouldn't strike twice." She got up to refill her drink and brought back their dessert. "I forgot to ask if you'd told anyone at work yet?"

"I haven't. It's difficult to get a word in during those parking caucuses. Who knew how passionate people get about parking? What about you?"

"I haven't been outside the DLO much the last two days and haven't seen Hazel. She must be busy with her route." Shane paused for a moment, "I talked to my mom. She's booked her flight and coming out in a couple weeks for a long weekend."

Oliver could tell by the way she relayed the information she was unsure about the visit. "Are you nervous about her coming?"

"We haven't spent any time together since I moved to Denver," Shane said uncertainly.

"Then it's good she's coming. I'm looking forward to getting to know her better."

Something about the way he said it suggested he had more than one motive. "You plan on asking her all kinds of questions, don't you?" Shane said suspiciously.

"It's only fair after you spent hours with my dad meandering through family albums," Oliver said with a grin. Seeing she was done with her dessert he took their plates and helped her clean up the kitchen. Not sure what she'd told her mom about the time she was out of the country he felt he needed to know before her mom arrived. He leaned back against the counter waiting for her to finish putting the last remnants away. She turned to find him looking at her oddly.

"Oliver?"

He took her hands in his bringing her closer. "What does your mom know about your time away?" He asked feeling her getting tense with his question.

Shane sighed knowing it was a subject she did her best to avoid. "She knows I had a contract job that required me to be out of communication since it had to do with national security. Since we hadn't been talking frequently, she wasn't aware of how long I was gone or even that I left the country."

Oliver had assumed Shane had talked to her mother more about what happened after she returned. Knowing she mostly avoided mentioning anything about that time with him he became more concerned. He took her face in his hands gently tilting her face up to look at him, "Shane, my love, other than the night we read through your letters have you talked to anybody about what happened?"

Shane looked at him uneasily, "Maybe…a little…once…or twice…with Rita." She could see the concern written all over his face.

Oliver watched as Shane struggled not to tear up. "Shane, love, do you remember when we were in the café, talking to Rachel about baggage following you?" Shane nodded slightly. "It doesn't have to be with me…"

Knowing what he was going to say, she put a finger gently over his lips to stop him. "Oliver…I…I think I'm ready. To talk…to hand it over…I want it to be you." He softly kissed her on the forehead before pulling her close for a hug.

They moved into her living room sitting on the sofa. Shane curled up next to him asking, "Will you hold me?"

"Of course," he said as he moved his arms around her.

Shane started to talk haltingly at first until she got going. She let it all out. The uncertainties, the fears, the long days, the even longer nights when she didn't think she was going to make it home. He had suspected she'd just touched the tip of the iceberg the night she returned. There were days she'd arrived at the DLO looking like she'd not slept well. Now he knew for sure that there had been so much more she'd not let go. He rubbed his hand down her back as she told him about the nightmares she'd had since getting back pulling her onto his lap needing to feel her closer. She nestled into him tucking her forehead into his neck as he rested his head on top of hers.

Feeling secure with the knowledge of his love and commitment made it easier for her to discuss the difficult parts of that time. Even the betrayal she'd felt being lied to by someone she'd cared for and trusted. The longer she talked the more Oliver wished he'd never let her go. When he could tell she was winding down, they prayed together. Oliver thanked God for bringing her home and for their relationship. He asked God to bring her peace as she attempted to put that time behind her.

"Oliver thank you for being patient. There was so much that happened…I needed time." Shane said trying to explain.

"I know. Will you be able to sleep tonight after talking about all this?" Oliver asked running a hand through her hair hating to leave her alone after rehashing some of what she discussed.

He could feel her nod slightly against his chest. "It's helped talking…but you know what's helped even more?"

"What?"

"Being here with you, in your arms, feeling your love for me." Shane replied contently.

Oliver smiled rubbing his cheek against her hair, "Anytime my love. Anytime."

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The next Monday Rita and Norman had returned from their honeymoon. Shane was helping Rita sort through the mail from the weekend. Norman was sorting through bulk mail and Oliver was working through letters at his desk. Chatting with Rita, Shane had noticed Oliver humming in the background. She hadn't paid attention to what he was humming until Rita finished sorting the last letter. They'd finished in a third of the time it had taken her the previous week.

Shane suddenly realized Oliver had been humming Kari Jobe's Miracles. She walked towards Oliver with a smile, "Mr. O'Toole you wouldn't be suggesting a miracle was needed to sort the mail again?"

Oliver abruptly stopped humming seeing her smile. Grinning boyishly, "Ms. McInerney, while I believe in miracles, I would never be so foolish as to suggest you need one to sort mail again." He nodded towards Rita, "Although gifts from God should always be appreciated."

She leaned over close to him, "They should, shouldn't they. All of his gifts." She ran a hand through his hair and patted his cheek before walking away. As she headed back to Rita, Oliver turned back to his letter and Shane heard him start humming My Girl. Shane grinned hugging Rita before picking up a couple packages to take back to her desk. Rita looked at Shane with a raised eyebrow questioningly. "Next time you leave town you may need to leave me your roller skates," Shane said laughing. "Sorting the mail last week was a bit of a struggle. Missing you and Norman reminded me why the Postables are better together," Shane said.

Rita hugged Shane, "The Postables are always better together."