A sign of love.
For Shane McInerney, sometimes, a sign of love can be more than just a shoe size. This short fiction is inspired by the movies, The vows we had made and Higher ground. The characters belong to the talented Martha Williamson.
Shane's house.
"Welcome home, Mom." Shane exclaimed as she opened the door to the house.
"It's really nice here at your house, Shaney." Sharon remarked.
They both entered the kitchen.
"Thank God we went shopping. Your refrigerator really looked like a desert." Sharon added.
"Thank you, Mom. Don't worry, now there's even enough dessert." Shane noticed as she grabbed the shopping bags." By the way, did you do anything with my Venetian blinds?" She asked as she put some produce in the refrigerator.
"I did. I started vacuuming them. Then I also intended to fold your laundry that was in your room, but Joe took me to the DLO." Sharon replied.
"You're still such a neat freak." Shane remarked while her mother had now slipped into the living room.
"What's that? A box of letters!" Sharon exclaimed, opening a box full of letters that she took from a drawer.
"Mom! Please, it's confidential, don't touch it!" Shane exclaimed, as her mother picked up a letter to read it."No,no, no. What's the sam hill." She whispered, dejected
My love,
I don't go a day without loving you.
I don't spend a night without thinking of taking you in my arms.
I don't pass a single moment without thinking of our tender kisses exchanged on the swing.
True Love is boundless and immeasurable.
You are in my heart and my prayers.
I hope you know how much I love you, and how happy you make me every day.
I am so happy to marry you.
I promise to love and cherish you forever.
Oliver O'Toole.
"All of these are Love letters ! This Oliver is really passionate. So, how was your very first kiss with him?" Sharon asks as she puts the letter back in the box.
"I... Mother, this is a really intrusive question... How about, to eat right now, before dinner gets cold." Shane remarked to change the topic of discussion.
"Before dinner gets cold? You bought sushi for dinner tonight." Sharon remarked.
Joe's House.
"There you go! Cannelloni with ground meat and garden vegetables. Buon appetito, son. I'm glad you came here for dinner tonight. I can see you looked preoccupied, recently." Joe says as he sets down plates.
"Yes, I'm. The letter we have to deal with is really sensitive. The wedding is just a few days away. I was getting a little anxious. I also have to find a gift for Shane, but I don't know what. And you know I'm not very good with wedding traditions. "Oliver confessed.
"Are you kidding? You don't follow wedding traditions, and you yourself say you live in the 20th century !" Joe laughed." Son, you don't have to be afraid. You'll know what to do when the time comes. Oliver, you have everything to be the wonderful groom and husband that Shane expects. For the gift, think of something that symbolizes the love you both have for each other, and all the time you've spent together." Joe explains.
"The time." The postal detective whispered in a low voice as he glanced at his pocket watch." Dad, you know that you are the best father in the world." Oliver remarked with a smile.
"Maybe. But one thing I know for sure is that you and Shane are my two favorite people in the world." Joe added with a smile.
Shane's House.
"This dinner was absolutely good. You didn't mention you had a second swing set. Was it another birthday present?" Sharon asked after placing her glass on the table.
"No, not exactly. It was a really nice surprise gift." Shane remarked smiling as she looked at the swing.
It was then that a memory came back into her mind.
~Flashback.~
Oliver and Shane were sitting on the couch at the DLO.
"I really enjoyed listening to each of your letters ." Oliver said.
" I knew it would take us all night to read these letters." Shane smiled
"Yes, and I had a delightful moment. It's going to be daylight soon. You must be tired and would like to sleep." Oliver remarked as he tucked the letters into the pocket of his suit jacket.
"I am. I'll look for a hotel room. My house keys are at my neighbor's, and Rita has my spare keys." Shane added.
The postal detective smiled, stood up, rummaged through his satchel, then pulled out a set of keys, which he handed to Shane.
"When I started to care of your rosebush, Rita gave me your spare keys. I'll drive you home, Shane. Before you fall in the sleep literature,I must show you something. I have a surprise for you." Oliver says, smiling.
Shane then smiled at him at length.
As they entered the house, Shane closed her eyes, and Oliver took her hand, guiding her through the different rooms. They stopped, then Oliver whispered in her ear.
"You can open your eyes now."
Shane, opened her eyes slowly. Surprised by what she saw, she could not contain her joy.
"Oliver... It's so beautiful. You set up a swing here. And it is also you who put its plants, flowers and yellow roses!" Shane exclaimed, with tears in her eyes.
"Yes, I hope you like it and it's not..." Oliver began.
"I love that place. It's a wonderful surprise, thanks you so much." Shane smiled.
"I'm glad you love it. My dad helped me set it up." He explains.
"I hope that it wasn't 2 a.m., Mr. O'Toole." Shane said with a wink.
"Not at all. It was 2 p.m" Oliver added with a laugh." I'm so glad you're back. I missed you so much." He said smiling to her.
~End of flashback~
"What a sweet story. The sleep of literature, Oliver always a lot of things like that. Shaney? Can you hear me." Sharon asks.
"Sorry, I was somewhere. Yes, Oliver often says that dreams are the literature of sleep." Shane replied.
"Perfect, then it's time for me to walk through the illuminated darkness of the literary night.!" Sharon exclaimed as she stood up.
She looked at her with a smile, then went to the kitchen.
Shane then went to take out the trash. When she returned, she found Oliver sitting on the swing on the porch.
"Wow Oliver ! if I was expecting to see you, what a surprise, you are giving me !" She smiled.
"Good evening Shane. I went to my dad's house for dinner. Before I got home, I wanted to see you." Oliver said with a smile.
"Darling, you are so cute!" She exclaimed as she sat back down on the swing.
"So, did everything go well with your mother?" Oliver asked.
"Yes, although, the only thing I share with her is shoe size ." Shane replied.
"I'm sure you don't mean that. You and your mom are two different people, that's true. She loves you, even if she doesn't say it every day. The box of macaroons for your birthday, a card for Valentine's Day and the roses are also signs of love that she send to you. Time and love are the two greatest gifts a parent can give to a child. And that's what Shane, your mom, has never stopped giving, until now." Oliver states.
"Oliver, you're so wonderful..." Shane whispered before starting to kiss him at length.
"What were thy lips the worse for one poor kiss? . . . Give me one kiss, and I'll give it thee again, and one for interest, if thou wilt have twain." William Shakespeare, Henry VI." Sharon exclaimed, standing at the doorstep.
Shane quickly stepped aside.
"Mother... What are you doing here ? I thought you were asleep." Shane exclaimed, embarrassed and disappointed.
"Not yet. I was reading my book, and then, I saw Oliver through the window. I just wanted to say hello. Good evening, Oliver." Sharon remarked.
"Good evening, Mrs. McInerney. I hope you're having a nice evening."Oliver said, shyly.
"Yeah, it wit. A beautiful romance movie, performed by two lovely people, who are getting married on Saturday. Good night to you both." Sharon exclaimed, smiling, before leaving.
Oliver thanked her and Shane smiled.
"You were really right about my mom, Oliver. I don't think I ever realized that she loves me in her own way. Well I guess after Rita, Joe, my mom is our third fan." Shane noticed.
" They are not the only ones who believed in our love story." Oliver admitted with a small smile.
"Wait, Ramon knew too. Who else? Norman ?" Shane asks with a laugh.
"No, Eleanor from passports. She always thought that, you and I would get together. Remember the note she left me when we found Gabe's letter?" Oliver remarked.
"Yes, I remember that. You didn't read the end because ..." Shane began while Oliver handing her a note.
"Go ahead." He smiles.
Curious and smiling Shane gently took the note to read its contents.
Oliver,
This found its way to my inbox.
Obviously intended for the DLO.
Check out the postmark and return address.
Cain't wait to hear the story behind this !
Speaking of which, I hope your date on Saturday goes well and you are doing well.
Hoping that this dinner could be an opportunity for you to declare your feelings.
I'm sure that this date will be the first of many and can lead to something very beautiful. For the future, my wish for you two is : A happy marriage forever.
In any case, I look forward to hearing the rest of your love story with the beautiful Shane.
Sincerely.
Eleanor.
"I love it! She had seen right about it. Eleanor was such a great woman. I miss her so much. I wish she was still here to see our wedding." Shane exclaimed, wiping away tears as Oliver comforted her.
"I know, my love. She will be in our hearts. And you know, a happy marriage forever, that's the most beautiful wish she gave us." Oliver states.
They smiled at each other for a long time, before kissing.
The end.
Author's note: Thank you all for reading this story. Have a great day :)