{Thursday}

Thursday was busier than usual at the DLO. Oliver and Shane got there before the Dormans. There was already a growing pile of mail to sort.

"Ms. McInerney, I have received word that I have a mandatory attendance security meeting tomorrow at 2:30. Thus, I will be unable to deliver Annie's letter with you." Oliver looked concerned. "Considering the emotional nature of the case, I prefer you not go alone."

"I love that you still call me Ms. McInerney, even when we are the only ones here." said Shane, amused, as she dropped several letters into a bin.

"It's simply a reminder to myself that although you look very beautiful, especially in the color you happen to be wearing today, I am at work and it is not permissible to kiss you whenever I feel inclined," he looked at Shane, "which is quite often."

Shane laughed, flattered. "Fair enough, Mr. O'toole. But back to the topic at hand, I'll ask Rita if she would be able to go with me to deliver Annie's letter, but I really don't mind going alone. It's only a twenty-five minute drive from here."

Norman and Rita walked in just then, holding hands and smiling. "We're sorry we're late…" said Rita as she glanced at Norman, "It's been a very exciting morning."

Norman looked a mix between terrified and excited. He cleared his throat, "Rita and I have an announcement." He paused and stood a little taller, smiling at Rita as she hooked her arm through his. "She is...we are…," he took a deep breath, "we are going to be adding to our family. Rita is pregnant. With a baby." Rita was absolutely glowing.

Shane nearly tripped as she went to hug them both and kept saying "Yes! Congratulations!" over and over. Oliver hugged them both as well.

"When can we expect the newest Dorman to join our Postables clan?" Oliver asked, clearly surprised, but very happy for his friends.

"Oh, we don't know yet exactly. We have a doctor appointment tomorrow afternoon. Sometime in the fall." Rita replied, smiling at Norman.

"Oh, tomorrow afternoon? Hmm…" said Oliver.

"Yeah, at 2:30." said Norman. "Is that okay? We planned on using some of our time off and…"

"Oh yes, it's fine. Ms. McInerney has a letter to deliver and I was hoping that one of you would be able to accompany her, as I have a mandatory meeting to attend. Perhaps I could cancel my…"

"Oliver," interrupted Shane, "I can go to deliver Annie's letter by myself, Norman and Rita can go to their appointment, and you can attend your meeting. Then, we can all gather together here by 5:00 and have a celebratory dinner at the Mailbox Grill!"

Oliver was about to object when Rita exclaimed, "Oh! That sounds wonderful!"

Shane glanced at him reassuringly, "Great! It's a plan!"


Oliver was on his way back to the DLO after being called to the main office for some news. He had been gone longer than expected, and knowing it was a busy day, picked up his pace.

He walked through the double doors to find Norman reading something at his desk. "Norman, are you engaged in research regarding a letter?"

Norman jumped, startled that he wasn't alone. "Uh, no." He paused awkwardly, "Did you know that chimpanzees instinctively know how to take care of their young, just like humans. It's instinctive…"

Oliver was slightly perplexed, but trying to make sense of this random tidbit of information. "Oh, um, that's…"

"I'm terrified of becoming a father." Norman blurted out as he began pacing in front of his desk. "But Rita told me she was scared too and I thought we shouldn't be scared at the same time...but I am uh...really not breathing very well." Norman looked slightly panicked.

Oliver paused to gather his thoughts, "Norman, I have yet to experience fatherhood, but from what I have observed, parenthood appears to be one of the greatest gifts life has to offer. I've seen you with children, and I know you will do just fine, my friend." Oliver gave him a reassuring pat on the shoulder.

Norman let out a sigh, looking slightly less nervous than before. "Thank you."

"Now, where have our colleagues gone?" asked Oliver.

Norman looked relieved to have a change of subject. "Oh, they went to talk to Hazel."

Shane and Rita came bursting through the door, both breathing hard.

"Guess what we just heard?!" exclaimed Rita.

"Evaluations will be next week, starting on Monday!" announced Shane.

Norman looked concerned.

Oliver looked surprised. "How did you know that? It was just announced at the meeting not half an hour ago."

"Hazel!" Shane and Rita said in unison.

"But how…?" began Oliver.

"Oh, Hazel knows everything before everyone else! I'm not sure how she does it." shrugged Rita.

"Are you worried, Oliver?" asked Norman.

They all looked at him. Oliver was not troubled. He really felt that things would work out somehow. "No. We will work hard today and tomorrow to get the DLO in tip top condition, and then come Monday, we'll let the cards fall where they may." He nodded reassuringly. They all smiled back at him hopefully.


Shane had insisted on driving after work, but refused to tell Oliver where they were going. They drove in silence for fifteen minutes or so. Oliver kept glancing over at Shane. She had a slight smile on her face and he made a commitment to himself right then to do everything he could to keep her smiling, always.

"What is it?" said Shane, noticing he was staring.

He just smiled. "Are you going to tell me where we are going?"

Shane shook her head. "If I tell you, then it wouldn't be a surprise!"

"But I may not be properly attired, since it appears we are leaving the city." replied Oliver.

Shane laughed. "You are definitely "properly attired." Just be sure to bring your gloves. I'm the one likely to freeze. This definitely isn't skirt weather." Shane slowed and signaled a right turn. She entered a plowed, nearly empty parking lot.

'We're here!" she announced.

Oliver looked around. There was a small building with an obscured sign in front of it. There were several plowed paths visible, but mostly all he could see were trees and mounds of snow.

"Are you taking me on a hike?" asked Oliver incredulously.

"Hmm...more like a short walk." Shane smiled as she grabbed her gloves and hat, "That must be Tom." An elderly man had just exited his truck parked near the building and was walking towards them. They quickly got out as he approached.

"Hello, folks. I'm Tom." He glanced down at a slip of paper in his hands. "Are you Shane McInerney?" he asked, looking at Shane.

"Yes, that's me." Shane smiled, "And this is the groom-to-be, Oliver O'toole."

"Good to meet you." he said, shaking hands with both of them. "So I plowed the three main paths, the center one will take you straight there, but they are all connected and will lead you back here. Should only be about a five minute walk."

"Thank you so much, Tom! I know it was your day off." said Shane.

"It was no trouble, miss. Anything for true love. Take your time." He grinned and headed back to his truck.

Oliver was confused. Shane grabbed his arm, "C'mon, I have something to show you!"

They started down the center path. "He plowed this just for us? How did you…"

"You'll see, Oliver! We'll be there soon!" Shane said excitedly.

The path had thick trees on either side. After a few minutes, they took a small turn to the left and Oliver gasped. There was a huge clearing, surrounded by trees. In the middle there appeared to be a piece of a statue or a fountain of some kind sticking up through the snow. The sun was setting and the light shining through the tops of the trees made everything breathtaking.

Shane had stopped walking and was looking down at something. Oliver shifted his gaze. There was a small sign with fancy lettering that read: Welcome Friends and Family of Oliver & Shane O'toole.

He looked up at her. The sun was to her right and made her hair glow. She was grinning from ear to ear as she shifted her feet, trying to stay stay warm.

He put his arm around her and she leaned in. "Shane, what is this?"

Shane began talking excitedly, "I know we talked about having the reception at the Brown Palace, but I saw this place during an online search and couldn't get it out of my head. It's in high demand, so I went ahead and put a deposit down without seeing it first. But I wanted you to see it before I told you. Surprise!" Oliver didn't say anything, just kept looking at her intently, so she continued. "Of course, you'll have to imagine June weather, and a large white tent with open sides, and white tables and chairs, and…"

"And a bride to dance with?" said Oliver as he pulled her in close.

Shane smiled up at him. "So you like it?"

"I do. It's a beautiful location. I especially like the words on the sign." Oliver said as he leaned in to kiss her.

Shane threw her arms around Oliver's neck and went up on her tiptoes, returning the kiss. She suddenly felt warm, regardless of the cold. She leaned back to look at him. "Shane O'toole does have a nice ring to it. Although…"

Oliver raised his eyebrows, "Although?"

"I am going to miss you calling me "Ms. McInerney." I find it very endearing. Maybe you could every once in a while, for old times sake?"

Oliver smiled warmly. "Hmm...perhaps. But I think I am going to like calling you Mrs. O'toole much better."

Shane smiled her biggest smile. She had written 'Mrs. Shane O'toole' many times, had even said it out loud to herself, but this is the first time Oliver had said it to her.

"I do like the sound of that." she murmured, as she leaned in for a hug. A slight breeze began to blow and Shane shivered, in spite of being in Oliver's arms.

"Let's get you someplace warm, Shane." Oliver took her hand and started back down the path. He paused and looked around, grinning and then gave her hand a squeeze, "Thank you for the surprise."


Oliver and Shane sat snuggled up on Shane's couch, fire in the fireplace, warm herbal tea within reach.

"I'm so excited for Norman and Rita!" said Shane. "It's like we're getting a new niece or nephew!"

Oliver nodded, "I was surprised at the timing, but they will be wonderful parents."

They snuggled in to watch the fire. As much as Shane loved to talk, she also loved that they could sit quietly together without any sort of awkwardness. She started thinking about when they first met. Oliver had been so confusing to her then! She had never met another man like him. He seemed so stiff and she subconsciously became determined to find the heart underneath the formality, to see if he really lived up to the beliefs he claimed. She caught glimpses, but he was so determined to keep everything on the surface. It had taken time, but the more she got to know him, the more she liked him. Frustration quickly gave way to respect and admiration. Friendship naturally came next. And then...

"What are you contemplating, Shane?" Oliver asked quietly.

"Hmm...just thinking about my first week at the DLO. You were so confusing and frustrating to me!" They both laughed out loud.

"Well, I hope that has passed," said Oliver. "Shane, when did you first know your feelings were changing towards me?"

Shane smiled slightly. "You mean when did I know I was falling in love with you?" Shane paused, pondering. "I felt it long before I acknowledged it." she smiled, "I found you quite dashing our first day of work together. But love? I suppose I knew when you cancelled our dance lessons."

Oliver was surprised. "Why then?"

"Because I wanted to run. You were off limits, Oliver. You were also my boss. My married boss whom I was taking dance lessons with as a favor, but was enjoying a little too much. The whole situation was messy and I didn't see how anything good could possibly come from staying. But I couldn't run, because…" Shane's eyes threatened tears as she took a deep breath, "...because the thought of waking up everyday and not seeing you made me feel physically ill. So I told myself that I could keep things professional and that there was a small thread of hope. I clung to that thread as tightly as I could."

Oliver's eyes were red. He was still in awe that somehow he was sitting next to her right now, that she had stayed and waited.

Shane broke the silence, "How about you, when did you know?"

Oliver smiled, thinking back. "Well, I noticed you were beautiful at the coffee cart. And very easy to talk to. But my heart was focused elsewhere."

Shane nodded understandingly.

Oliver thought for a moment. "When I first realized I was at risk of crossing lines that could not be crossed, I focused on keeping things professional as well, but our friendship grew anyway. I suppose I first mentally acknowledge my feelings inside the bank vault. You were the one I thought of as we read Jonathan and Katherine's letters. I didn't know what to do with those feelings though, so I tried to not think about you as much as possible. But…"

"But what?" Shane asked, dying to know.

He pulled her in for a hug "But at some point, you became my first thought in the morning and my last thought as I fell asleep at night. I never dared hope that we would end up together." Oliver paused, shaking his head. "You may recall I struggled a bit knowing how to...to court you, in the beginning." He grimaced slightly. "The failed attempt to hold your hand on our first date really made me feel as if I missed my chance."

Shane quickly looked at him. "What failed attempt?"

Oliver realized for the first time that she didn't know. "Across the table at Montaldo's. During the love song. I knew the night hadn't been what you expected, but I wanted you to know it wasn't your fault and I did care for you. I reached for your hand, but you moved it just before I could grab it. You looked so sad in that moment. I didn't know what to do. I felt frozen."

"Oliver! I missed that entirely! I sat there assuming my greatest fear was real. That you saw me as a good friend, nothing more." Shane shook her head. "Good thing we tried again."

Oliver squeezed her hand, "Good thing you gave me another chance."

Shane sighed as she leaned and laid her head on Oliver's chest. "It's all really a miracle, isn't it? Every time I was ready to give up, something would happen to keep me hanging on just a bit longer."

Oliver nodded. "Thank you for waiting and for...for always coming back home." His voice was quiet, but serious.

Shane sighed. It was a beautiful love story, and it was theirs. "Oliver, what will we do if we lose the DLO?"

"I don't think that is going to happen."

How could he be so calm? Shane sat up to face him. "But what if it does? Norman and Rita are having a baby. This is no time to relocate! And I can't imagine doing anything else. We work so well as a team! And…"

"Shane," Oliver said softly, as he grabbed her hand, "Life has different seasons. If our season at the DLO is coming to a close, we will find something new to pour our hearts into. I honestly don't think the DLO has seen it's final days yet, but when it does we will look forward together. We can do anything together. And Norman and Rita will do the same. It will all work out for the best."

She sighed and sat back down next to him on the couch, leaning her head on his shoulder and grabbing his hand with both of hers. Oliver had a way of making her feel hopeful. He was so steady, so sure. "I suppose your right."

He released his hand from hers and put his arm around her shoulders. She laid her head on his chest as she relaxed against him. They just seemed to fit together. Oliver felt Shane relax and her breathing deepen. He glanced at the clock; 9:15. They had a bit of time. He glanced down at her for a few minutes. She looked so angelic when she was sleeping. He said a silent prayer of thanks and leaned his head back, watching the fire.