A Tale of Two Dresses

By Felicia Ferguson

Author's Note: Oh, ShOliver, you make my heart sing! I just love telling more of your love story. Full disclaimers and details in chapter one. Hope y'all enjoy!

Chapter Two

April

Unfortunately, two weeks later, Shane's eyeballs were long past crossing, and Oliver still hadn't said anything about rescheduling their dinner. And thanks to having to reincorporate her usual postal duties, nor had she made much progress on the dress. The search for the style only narrowed the window of time from the latter half of the nineteenth century and all of the twentieth century down to mid-twentieth century.

Which left her the only other option, the lace itself. But as another week of searching in between rounds of redirecting misaddressed letters passed, she was now well into April with little to show for her dedication except a new talent for immediately identifying the difference between needle and bobbin lace. But thankfully those skills helped her narrow down the dress's lace pattern to a princess style. So that was some progress. But where she went from there had her stumped.

Shane set her purse down by her desk and took off her jacket as she stared at her computer monitor. Her lips twisted as she pondered the options. She really needed to bounce ideas off of Oliver, but given his absence from the DLO, he must already in one of the weekly section leader meetings. Shane again muttered a mild curse at the crazy wreck on Colorado Boulevard that had added an hour to her usual fifteen-minute commute.

After a moment, she fully absorbed the silence in the room, her forehead creasing as she tucked her arms across her chest. Oliver's absence was easily explained. But where were Rita and Norman? She glanced at her watch. It was a workday, wasn't it?

"Good morning, Shane," Rita called from behind the sorting wall.

Shane's heart kicked over. Her hand rising to her chest, she focused her eyes through the slots, remembering how effective a disguise it had been for her once too. Rita came around the wall with a box of letters and a bright, cheery smile.

Heart settling, Shane returned the smile. "Morning. I didn't know anyone else was here."

Rita shrugged. "Oh, well, Oliver's in a meeting, and Norman went to the Terminal Annex for this month's unattached objects."

Shane nodded absently as she looked back at her screen, lips pursing in consideration.

Rita set the box down on Norman's desk with a soft thump, then asked. "Is everything okay?" Worry laced her voice and wrinkled her features.

Shane flashed her a reassuring look then sat down behind the screen with a long sigh. "The wedding dress search is just not going well." She typed in her password and pulled up her web browser. "Did you know there are nine different styles of lace? And within each style there are several different sub-categories."

Rita joined her behind the screen and peered at the search results. "Oh, wow. I know a lot about fabric, but nothing about lace. This could take even longer than we thought."

Shane nodded as she tapped her fingers against the keyboard, hoping for some new revelation. "I did identify the type of lace that was used on the dress. And found out it was made in the mid-twentieth century, likely in the U.S."

Rita's face brightened with hope. "Well, that's something."

Shane shook her head. "Yes, but it isn't enough." She looked around the DLO, her gaze landing on Oliver's empty desk chair. Longing filled her voice. "I wish Oliver were here. I need some ideas."

Rita's lips thinned in a sympathetic, but knowing smile. Shane blinked. Did Rita hear more than a need for his brilliant expertise in her words?

Rita placed a light hand on Shane's shoulder. "He'll be back soon. Or so he said."

As if somehow hearing Shane's heart cry, Oliver pushed through the back DLO doors a moment later. The ever-present love and joy wicked through her, lifting her lips in a wide, engaging smile. Rita fixed her with a teasing look before returning to Incoming. Shane could almost hear Rita's silent comment about her thing with Oliver. Her cheeks warming at the thought, Shane cleared her throat and said, "Good morning, Oliver."

A moment later, she read the worry creasing his eyes and carving a furrow in his forehead. Concern flickered through her. What had happened? Would he tell her or simply head for the refrigerator and his comfort Yoo-Hoo?

Oliver stopped midstride, his gaze locking on to hers. The concerned furrow in his brow seemed to melt away. Relief banished the shadows in his gaze. Shane's pulse skipped. He'd been worried. About her. And was it her imagination, or were his eyes bluer than usual?

Heart melting, her lips softened into a comforting smile. "I … ah … I'm sorry I'm so late. There was a wreck. I was caught in traffic. Finally got rerouted …"

Oliver's shoulders lowered, the tension easing from him completely. His lips parted and he flicked a glance toward Rita, but his eyes continued to warm. Voice low, genuine care wrapped around his words. "I'm glad you're here now."

The icy wall puddled between them, melted under the warmth of his unspoken appreciation and concern. Heat stole across her neck even as the soothing sensation of relief slipped through her.

Rising on his toes, Oliver darted a glance to her computer screen, office formality once more infusing his tones, albeit softened by his earlier concern. "How is the wedding dress research progressing, Ms. McInerney?"

Shane nodded in silent acceptance. There was work to be done. She followed his gaze as her smile twisted with frustration. "Not well, I'm afraid." She updated him on what little progress she'd made, curious to see if he would encourage her to continue or halt the search.

Oliver listened and studied the screen as she tossed out the idea of tracking down the lace pattern of vintage wedding dresses to continue the search. She shifted slightly and watched him absorb the words, flipping them around in his brilliant mind until he turned just enough for mere inches to separate the two of them. His eyes again warmed, and then gleamed with the light that seemed to be reserved for her. A light she hadn't seen in weeks.

Shane sucked in a quick breath. She would love to kiss him. To show him just how much wanted to be with him. Forever.

Rita plopped an empty mail tote into her stack, audibly shattering air that sparked with silent longing.

Shane blinked. They were in the DLO with Rita a few feet away and Norman returning any minute. Shane couldn't, wouldn't, kiss Oliver here, now. Their first kiss should be like everything else about their love, private, special. And he would want that too, wouldn't he?

Oliver stepped back, understanding hummed between them.

One day. Yes.

He rose on his toes, sparing a quick look toward Rita where she continued to sort mail at her post seemingly oblivious to their verbal and silent conversation. "I, ah, believe since there is still a lead to pursue, you must continue the search."

Shane's lips flattened in a wide, grateful smile. "Thank you, Oliver. I will. And I'll let you know what I find."

"Please do." With a fleeting warming of his eyes, he turned and headed to his desk. Norman banged through the doors a few minutes later and the day continued.

But as the hours past, Shane caught Oliver's gaze more than once and each time the air between them warmed. Hope bubbled in her heart. The dinner rescheduling had to just be a matter of time now, right? Her birthday was coming up. That would be a perfect opportunity. She let her gaze drift toward him and softly study the familiar lines of his face. Her brow furrowed. Please, do not mail another invitation, Oliver.

But just in case, she'd make sure to check her mail as soon as she got home every day.

##

A few days later, Shane clicked on the link for yet another New York vintage bridal boutique ready to continue the search. She'd found a couple of possibilities and had sent the stores emails requesting more information, but so far there was no response. She clicked through the main page to the gallery of dress photos and began to scan. She made it through four pages tagging only one to return to for a closer look when Norman's chair squeaked.

Distracted, she clicked what she thought was the next page in the gallery. But when she looked back, a stunning pink cocktail dress glowed on her screen. Shane's mouth dropped open.

Oh. Wow.

Where had it come from? She scanned the page title and found she'd somehow clicked out of the wedding dress gallery and onto the company's party dress collection. Her eyes returned to the dress, and her heart hitched. The capped sleeves and flared skirt, a rich pink hue that seemed to glow with a light of its own. It really was beautiful. And with its classic lines, Oliver would love it.

Shane sighed. But it was way too dressy for work, and despite a return of their previous closeness, he still had yet to mention anything about rescheduling their dinner. She pulled her gaze from the photo, searching for another reason it couldn't be hers. Eyes widening, she found it. That price.

Well, that settles that.

She moved the mouse to click back to the wedding gown gallery, but her heart twisted. The pink dress was just too beautiful to forget and go on. Maybe she could use it as a model and find something similar, but less dressy and much less expensive. She smashed her lips together and, with a quick nod, opened another browser tab, and retyped her search parameters.

##

Over the next few days, Shane continued her search, the disappointing replies to queries mounting like snow on Pike's Peak. She should have given up the search weeks ago, but Oliver's ready encouragement and the continued warming between them kept her plodding on.

"Shane, what does PCI compliance mean?" Rita's confused question pulled Shane's gaze from yet another collage of wedding dresses.

Grateful for the break, she rolled her shoulders to work out the kinks. "Oh, well among other things, it's about keeping customer information like credit card numbers encoded so they can't be stolen. Why?"

Rita held up her phone. "I got an all-employee email about it. Is there something we have to do?"

Shane frowned. "Hmm … let me see." She clicked open her inbox as Rita joined her. She scanned the list of new mail and found the PCI email, making note that two more wedding dress sites had replied. She skimmed through it and flashed an easy smile. "Nothing big. Everyone just needs to start changing their email passwords every three months."

"Every three months? Norman has a hard enough time remembering the password he uses now."

Shane grinned as her eyes settled on Norman where he sat behind his desk, head buried in a book on stamps. She lowered her voice. "Well, then it's a good thing you know it."

Rita giggled and pushed her glasses back behind her ears as Shane closed out her email. "So how's the search going for the wedding dress?"

Shane swirled her mouse over the latest site. "Well, you remember I narrowed the type of lace used on the dress to the princess style from Belgium that was popular for wedding dresses."

Rita nodded. "Yeah. That was a good lead."

Shane sighed and shook her head. "Yes, but no. That was lace popular. Really popular. As in the most common design used on wedding dresses in the twentieth century."

"So a dead end."

Shane's lips flattened in a rueful line. "Yeah. Looks like." She clicked the x on the tab, deciding to focus on the email replies.

"Oooh, Shane, that's beautiful." Rita pointed at the pink cocktail dress, glowing from the screen.

Shane grimaced at the slip. "Oh, ah. Just something I ran across." She flicked a nervous glance toward Rita, but only found admiration in her eyes. Relief eased through her as her cheeks curved in a sad, but fond smile. "Isn't it?"

Rita glanced from the dress to Shane, curiosity lighting her eyes. "Are you going to buy it?"

Shane shook her head even as regret settled on her heart. "No. I can't justify it. It's too fancy for work. And there's nowhere else to wear it."

Shane bit her lip as she studied the piece of art in fabric form. It would just end up hanging in her closet, a costly piece of hope. Rather like the orange dress she'd bought to wear in D.C. She'd been so excited to wear that dress to dinner with Oliver—even if Norman was going with them. The body-fitting yet classic cut and thin belted waistline practically screamed Jackie Onassis.

But then, Steve had ruined it with his ambush. Though everything had turned out for the best, she couldn't bring herself to wear the dress again given its likely reminder to her present love of her past one. And yet, she also couldn't bring herself to part with it. It had been purchased with such care, such hope for an evening outside the familiarity of Denver where risks could be taken and relationships could progress.

So instead of selling it on Poshmark or giving it to Goodwill, it hung in the back of her closet. Out of sight, but certainly not out of mind.

She couldn't condemn the pink dress to such a fate. It was just too beautiful.

Rita placed a light hand on Shane's shoulder. "I don't know. I think it would be the perfect date night dress given how spiffy Oliver dresses just for work."

Shane's mouth dropped open. Her eyes widened. Was it just her or did Rita's words sound like she'd yelled them from the top of the building? Shane shot a searching look across the room. Had Oliver heard her? They'd just gotten past the misunderstanding of the valentine invitation. Even though it was only Rita, hearing a coworker basically gossiping about them could set them back further.

But thankfully, Oliver continued to be absorbed in analyzing their latest dead letter. Shane heaved a relieved sigh but narrowed her eyes at Rita. Rita, however, just smiled as she returned to Incoming. Shane shook her head as her pulse finally returned to normal. Being in her own relationship certainly had made Rita much bolder in her support of Shane and Oliver's … whatever.

Shane's eyes strayed back to the pink dress and then once again to Oliver. She bit her lip as hope rose in her heart. And yet, maybe Rita was right. The ice between them had melted, and that moment between them last week definitely held promise and a shared interest in much more. If this continued, she would need the perfect date night dress. She looked at the dress again, still glowing from the browser page. Thrill skimmed over her heart. Before she could talk herself out of it again, Shane clicked Add to Cart and pulled out her wallet.

Here's to hope and the future.

##

Shane practically skipped home later that afternoon, even though her credit card definitely felt heavier. When she reached her front walk, she slowed her pace. Would the rose stem kill the joy of hope and promise? Or would it finally give her a hope of its own?

Face the scary, Shane.

She set her purse on the porch steps and crouched in front of the stick jutting out from the mounded dirt. Running her fingers along the length, she carefully avoided the prickly thorns. But a moment later, she gasped. The tiniest nubs bumped up against her fingertips. The first hints of leaves and possibly even buds.

Shane closed her eyes against the welling tears. She swiped her fingers across her cheeks, pressed a kissed to them then tapped the top of the rose.

Progress. And yes, even more hope.

##

A few days later, still floating on the hope and promise, Shane sent off three more emails about the dress then pulled up her monthly report to Becky about their work to add in the final numbers for their delivery statistics. Oliver had mentioned a meeting with his lawyer, Ms. Bullock, after the earlier team breakfast and had remained behind while she, Norman, and Rita returned to the DLO.

Shane clicked print on the report and set it on Oliver's desk for his review and approval then looked through the box of pending dead letters. Only three. Not bad given the NIFTS had been more than usual this month.

The DLO doors squeaked then banged shut, drawing Shane's gaze. She winced. Would Oliver think she was prying again? She shook off the thought. They were long past Holly, although Dale and Oliver's past with her did still linger in the back of Shane's heart. "Oliver, the monthly report for Becky needs your review and signature. I just printed it and put it on your desk."

Oliver's gaze warmed, relaxing Shane's concern. "I have some news … and a request." He glanced around the room. "Rita, Norman, would you join us please?"

He smiled at each of them in turn, and Shane's eyes narrowed. While he wasn't as cagey as when he took them back to her home lot to show off his purchase, he was definitely up to something.

He rose on his toes and clasped his hands behind him, but the warmth remained in his eyes and his voice. "It appears I have been remiss in my duties as the founder of the O'Toole Foundation. Ms. Bullock stated this morning that in order for the Foundation to be considered a legitimate enterprise, I must form a board of trustees."

He paused and again looked at each of them. "Since there are no others whom I trust more than the three of you, Ms. McInerney, Norman, Rita, would you do me the great honor of assuming positions on the board? You will, of course, be compensated for your work."

"Wow. Oh. Wow." Rita's vocal surprised was equaled by Norman's shocked expression. Shane simply studied Oliver as fondness curved her cheeks and joy surged through her heart. Surely, he wouldn't make such a request if he didn't see a future for them. Maybe he finally was accepting she was planning to be a permanent fixture in his life?

Oliver sniffed as his cheeks pinked with embarrassment. "I will assume the role of the Board Chairman." His eyes settled on Shane as hope and a boyish eagerness filled their blue depths. "Ms. McInerney, if you wouldn't mind, I would like for you to be the Board Vice Chair and assist me in my duties, using your skills to research various projects for the Foundation to undertake."

Shane grinned and then nodded. "Of course, Oliver. I would be happy to."

His head bobbed in a brief, pleased nod then he turned to Norman. "Norman, I would appreciate your filling the Treasurer's position and dispersing the payments to those charitable organizations as I, with Ms. McInerney's input, deem appropriate."

Dumbfounded, Norman opened and closed his mouth before finally nodding his acceptance.

Oliver's lips spread into a full grin. "And Rita, I feel the role of Board Secretary would benefit from your photographic memory."

Rita fiddled with her dress then reached for the comfort of Norman's hand. "Oh, absolutely. Oliver. This is such an honor." She flicked a quick look to Norman who nodded. "For all of us. We will do our very best."

"I anticipate nothing less. Ms. Bullock will of course have papers for you to sign, but for now, I would like to adjourn to the Mailbox Grille for an early celebratory dinner." Oliver lifted his brows to a chorus of agreements.

##

Dinner finished, Rita and Norman continued to marvel over their new roles while Shane simply savored their joy. After a few more minutes of their discussion, Oliver's lips wrinkled as he glanced at the clock on the wall.

Shane flicked him a curious look. It wasn't Thursday, so he didn't have choir practice. But he was obviously wanting the dinner to end. Maybe he was embarrassed by all of the attention? Shane caught Rita's eye and then looked to the door.

Rita took in a quick breath, then patted Norman's hand. "Norman, why don't we go to the creamery? I'd love some ice cream."

"Oh. Okay."

Norman's innocent acceptance warmed Shane's heart. She watched them head out then grabbed her purse and glanced back to Oliver. "Ah, thank you, Oliver. For the position. I'm truly honored." She leveled a long, sincere look on him before scooting out of the bench seat.

"Ah, Ms. McInerney."

His quiet words halted her mid-scoot. Her gaze returned to him, a question wrinkling her brow.

Oliver's eyes darted around them, but he took in a quick breath and soldiered on. "I was wondering if I might … ah … walk you to your car."

Shane's lips spread in a slow, wide smile. "Of course. Thank you, Oliver."

Oliver slipped out of the bench then offered his hand. She took it, absorbing the warmth in his soft grip as he helped her to a stand. She blinked and he released her, but the warmth remained, tingling against her palm.

They walked to her car in silence, Shane giving him room to gather his thoughts into whatever words he wanted to say. But still her crazy heart skipped and tumbled in her chest. Was this it? Would he finally ask her out? That would be a perfect reason for why he wanted Rita and Norman to leave. Shane forced herself to take a calming breath.

They reached her car, and Oliver held up a hand. Shane turned, again allowing the silence to do its work.

After a moment, he sniffed then licked his lips. "There is something else about which I have been remiss, Ms. McInerney. If you are still interested … that is … I, ah, was thinking it is time to reschedule our Valentine's Day dinner."

Shane closed her eyes in a long blink as the words washed through her. Finally. She placed a light hand on his arm and peered into his eyes, pouring her elation into her own. "I'd love to, Oliver."

A slow grin spread across Oliver's cheeks. "Montaldo's, then? On the seventh?"

The first weekend in May. So not a birthday dinner. But the invitation was still the best birthday gift he could have given her this year. Shane nodded then turned and unlocked her car. Oliver held the door while she climbed inside. Buckled in, she looked up and found promise glittering in his eyes.

"I will make the arrangements … Shane."

Her heart puddled in her chest as he shut the door softly, then patted the window. Shane closed her eyes, incredibly grateful for the twin discoveries of one vintage wedding gown and another brand-new cocktail dress.