The road of life.
Norman and Rita are on their honeymoon. Meanwhile in Denver, newly engaged Oliver and Shane are also taking a new step in their relationship. Between Surprises and miracles, each tries to cross the road of life. This fictional story contains references to Signed Sealed Delivered. The characters belong to the talented Martha Williamson.
Chapter 1: A new horizon.
Oliver O'Toole walked towards a house smiling before taking a deep breath to breathe in the fresh air, and then sat down on the swing.
No sooner had he thought of something than the front door opened to let Shane out, smiling as he saw his fiancé.
"Good morning Oliver!" She exclaimed before kissing him on the cheek." This is so sweet, you brought me...
"A hot chocolate... Good morning, my love."
"Perfect. It's very sweet of you to pick me up for work." she said as Oliver handed her his hot chocolate.
"My pleasure. I hope you got some sleep this weekend." The postal detective asked.
"Not really. I was so happy. I couldn't stop thinking about your wedding proposal, texting on my phone and looking at my engagement ring. Even when I woke up this morning, I checked to see if the ring was still on my finger. How about you, Mister O'Toole?" Shane asks with a smile.
"Proposing to you was a great joy, I must admit. Well, I guess it's time for us to get on the road to work."Oliver said with a smile.
Somewhere along the road.
"Norman, you're a real champ, you're doing great!" Rita exclaimed.
"Yes, as Oliver taught me, it's all about balance and respect." Norman remarked as he drove the recreational vehicle. "Look, we're being escorted by a police car and an officer is waving at us !" Norman exclaimed as he looked in the rear view mirror.
"Norman, I think they're asking us to stop." Rita explains.
"Why?" Norman asked.
He stopped in the roadway and they went out to see the police officer.
" Hello, this is your vehicle?" The police officer asked.
"Hello ! Yes, its name is NoRita. Do you like it? It was a gift from my father-in-law." Norman replied, smiling.
"Yes, we got married yesterday. We are on the road for our honeymoon. Is there a problem, officer?" Rita asks.
"You've just exceeded the speed limit a little. Be careful on the road. Congratulations on your wedding. I wish you a nice honeymoon. Goodbye." The officer said before leaving.
"Wow! A police officer congratulating us on our wedding, Wow! I feel that this trip will be exciting!" Rita exclaimed, very excited.
Dead Letter Office.
"Here you go, Oliver! I've finished the inventory of those files. This afternoon, we can try to solve the mystery of more lost letters. This office looks really empty without Rita and Norman." She said as she approached Oliver's desk." At least, I'll have you all week, just for me." She whispered in Oliver's ear.
The postal detective smiles for a long time when suddenly, the doors open and a young woman, smiling, comes towards them.
"Hi, I just heard the news on my phone by a text from Rita. Wow! You two are engaged! I love it, it's really beautiful. Congratulations!" Hazel exclaimed.
"Hello Hazel. Thank you so much for your congratulations !" Oliver said .
"And when are you getting married?" Hazel asks
"Hazel, we're not getting married right away. And I think Oliver and I want to enjoy our engagement a little longer." Shane replied.
"Perfect! Then you'll have plenty of time to read all this, from Postal Living : 20,000 Things to Do Before a Wedding. Here." She said as she handed Shane a stack of magazines." I'm so happy for you two. I have to go, I still have work to do. By the way, your new office is really nice. See you later!" Hazel exclaimed before leaving the office.
"Wow!" Shane exclaimed.
"Yes, that's a lot of reading time. It's three times longer than Jules Verne's novel, Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea." Oliver remarked with a small smile.
She then put the magazines on her desk before turning back to the postal detective.
"Oliver, are you making fun of me?" Shane asks, with a mischievous smile.
"No, Ms. McInerney. I'm just working on my sense of humor." Oliver replied.
Shane burst out laughing.
As they were leaving the DLO for lunch, they were called out by someone.
"Shane, Ovileer! How nice for me to see you. Allow me to congratulate you on your engagement. It's a very big step, since your first dance class. And, if you ever need someone to marry you two, I would be honored...
"Ramon, that's really kind of you but I think..." Oliver began.
"No, no, no. Ovileer, stop thinking. Listen to the music and let the dance of love tell you where you have to go. Well, I have to go, for lunch it's an all-you-can-eat buffet at Bistro Ramon. See you later!" Ramon exclaimed as he walked away.
"My goodness. Everyone knows." Oliver whispered.
"I'm really getting hungry. Let's go eat at the Mailbox!" Shane exclaimed as she walked quickly.
Then Oliver took her hand and pulled her gently towards him, looking at her shyly. Shane then understood the message of his embarrassed look.
"Oliver, I know you're discreet, and you don't like to be in the spotlight. And I know that right now, you're not too enthusiastic about having lunch at the Mailbox Grille." Shane noticed.
"It's that obvious ? Sorry, it's just..."
"I know you well, Oliver. So, we need somewhere quiet, familiar and traditional at the same time. I have an idea!" Shane exclaimed as she picked up her phone.
Very puzzled, Oliver made a face.
In a home in Denver.
"There you go, garden vegetables, potatoes and roast chicken. It's nice to have you here for lunch." A male voice remarked as he placed plates on a table.
"We're really sorry for the late call" Shane remarked.
"No worries. Since I'm retired, I'm taking even more of my time, even cooking." Joe remarked with a smile.
"Wow, Joe, this is really delicious," Shane exclaimed.
"Thank you. It's not every day I have my son and future daughter-in-law over. But, you should try Oliver's cooking. He's doing really well." Joe laughed.
"Interesting. And is there anything else I should know about Oliver?" Shane asks
"If you want to know everything, the photo album is downstairs in the living room, first drawer to the right of the dresser." Joe whispered.
Shane burst out laughing.
After lunch, the postal detective seemed elsewhere, and Joe noticed it as he cleared the dishes.
"Joe, I'm going to take a look at the photo album downstairs." Shane said,winking at Joe.
"Please, you're at home, Shane." Joe replied, understanding her message.
Shane walked down the stairs and Joe went to sit across from his son who had poured himself a glass of yoo-hoo.
"You want to talk about it son? I know when something's bothering you." Joe notices.
The postal detective let out a deep sigh before answering.
"I... Dad, everyone knows we're getting married." Oliver confessed.
"It's a good thing. You're not going to hide your wedding from the whole world. And then a wedding is also a lot of joy and love to share. Son, I understand how you must feel and that you have a little scared. I don't blame you for that. It took a lot of courage for you to propose, and a little help from me." Joe laughed." But today, the most important, more than the planning of the wedding, it is the union of the two of you,in faith, joy and happiness on the road to love. A radiant life awaits you both." Joe states with a smile.
Touched by his father's words, Oliver let tears of joy run down his face.
"Dad, thank you so much... You always find the right words." Oliver said, wiping his tears.
"Oliver, son, I am happy to be your father. And soon, I'll be happy to be Shane's father-in-law." Joe added, smiling.
They looked at each other and laughed together.
On the stairs, Shane could not hold back her tears as he heard the scene.
On the road.
"And we're in Bayfield, Wisconsin. It's really beautiful!" Rita exclaimed as she drives.
"It's really nice, not having to make any reservations, just being on the road and being carried along. You know Rita, I think the recreation vehicle could be our family vacation transportation. I mean, I imagine a bunch of kids in the back, playing board games and asking each time: Mommy, Daddy, Are we almost there ?" Norman remarked
"Are you serious?" Rita asks.
"Yes, very serious. Tell me, do you think everything is going well for Oliver and Shane with the DLO?" Norman asks
"Norman, I love you so much. Don't worry. Oliver and Shane are both great romantics. I'm sure they must be spending time together." Rita replied with a smile
Dead Letter Office.
"We've already delivered about 15 letters without any special treatment." Shane said.
That's when she started to laugh and then smile.
"Why that smile?" Oliver asked as he put the empty box away.
Shane walked over to him and took his tie with a smile.
"I've seen some really nice pictures of you as a kid. Even a picture of you in your very first suit. You were really charming." Shane remarked, winkling.
"Was I? Because today, I'm not charming anymore?" The postal detective asked with a laugh
"Yes, you're. I just wanted to hear you say it, Mr. O'Toole." She whispered in his ear.
The postal detective smiled at her widely.
"So, today wasn't so bad and we finished emptying the big box of mail, just in time for the fortnight of the month." Shane said.
"My goodness, is it the fifteenth of the month?" Oliver asked.
"Yes, Monday the 15th, why do you want to throw a bachelor party?" Shane asked
"No, never! It's just that every fifteenth of every month I do something. I have to go now. I'll meet you at Washington Park around 6 p.m?" Oliver asked.
"Fine. But wherever you go, don't stay there too long, because I'm looking forward to spending time with my fiancé. See you later." Shane replied with a smile.
Somewhere in Denver.
Oliver took a deep breath, pulled an envelope from his pocket, and knocked on a door. A woman opened the door with a smile.
"Hello, is this the St. Clarissa's auxiliaries office?" The postal detective asked.
"Yes, it's here. What can I do for you?" An orderly asked.
"My name is Oliver O'Toole. I work at the Denver Post Office. Every month of the year, I make a donation to a charity. This month, I chose the St. Clarissa's auxiliaries. I hope that's enough." Oliver said, handing over the envelope with a check inside." The postal detective replies.
"That's really very kind of you. You are our second special delivery of the day. Would you just like to see our director, she really enjoys thanking the generous donors. It will only take a few minutes. I'll go get her." The woman said as she let him in.
"Very well." The postal detective added.
He waited a few moments when ...
"My goodness! Oliver O'Toole!" An elderly woman exclaimed with a smile.
"Mrs. Genzinger, what a surprise!" Oliver exclaimed with a smile.
"Ladies, this is Oliver, he was one of my best students in Sunday school. Thank you so much for your generosity. God bless you my boy. So what have you been up to?" She asks.
"I'm still working at the post office. And I'm getting married soon, Mrs. Genzinger," Oliver whispered.
"Congratulations my boy! What is the name of the lucky lady?" Mrs. Genzinger asked.
"Shane McInerney. You met her at the living nativity scene we held for little Hannah at Denver Mercy Hospital. She played the role of the angel." Oliver explains.
"Wonderful! Speaking of angels, I have something for you. Your arrival here is truly a miracle." She remarked.
"A miracle?" Oliver asked, surprised.
"Yes, I was supposed to give you this, but I wondered how it could be possible."Mrs. Genzinger said, looking longingly at the envelope she handed to Oliver.
Flashback.
A few hours earlier.
"Here you go, for you Mrs. Genzinger. This is medical equipment." A man said with a smile.
"I've never placed an order before." Mrs. Genzinger said, a little embarrassed
"No, this is a delivery from heaven. It was my pleasure. By the way, please, you might give this to Oliver O'Toole when he comes to see you. Tell him to open it when he really needs it. I know Oliver well, we have delivered mail together before. See you soon." The man declares.
"Wait, sir. How do you know Oliver will come here?" Mrs. Genzinger asks
"You just have to trust the timing." The man exclaimed before leaving.
End of the flashback.
"And when I saw you, I thought, this is a real miracle. I don't know this gentleman." She said.
"You know, Mrs. Genzinger, in Denver, too, there are angels." Oliver says with a smile.
Washington Park.
Oliver O'Toole and Shane McInerney were walking through the park.
"Rita called me earlier. She and Norman have arrived safely in Bayfield, Wisconsin. They were about to visit the caves on Apostle Island." Shane told.
"Amazing! I would love visiting that place!" Oliver exclaimed.
"And I would love knowing where my fiancé... went...Excuse me." Shane said, picking up her cell phone that had just dinging.
"Is everything all right?" The postal detective asks, a little worried.
"Oliver, do you mind if I take a few days off starting the day after tomorrow, Wednesday?" Shane asks
"What's going on?"
"Well, my mother and sister are coming to Denver tomorrow night." Shane said.
TBC
Author's note: Thank you all for reading this first chapter. I wish you all a nice day :)