Chapter 5 Telling the Parents

It was approaching the end of the day on a Thursday. Norman was examining a package trying to use his solution to retrieve an address while Rita had stepped out to pick up the latest unattached items. Shane was researching bird rescue centers in the Mexican Gulf for a lost letter. Oliver was supposedly reviewing the letter but kept losing his place as he was really contemplating how to broach weekend plans with Shane. He didn't want to assume they'd get together, but he also didn't want to miss an opportunity to spend time with her by not planning. The dinner at his place recently was a nice change. He found it easier to talk when they were not surrounded by other people. After hearing Shane sigh for the third time, "Ms. McInerney, are you running into difficulty?"

"Not really, I've managed to rule a couple places out. Why?"

"There seems to be a lot of sighing accompanying the typing," Oliver responded.

"Oh, it was looking at all these bird sanctuaries and seeing the trees."

"You find trees depressing?" Norman asked perplexed.

Shane laughed, "No, Norman. They reminded me my yard has a massive amount of leaves I need to pick up this weekend. Before moving to Denver, I always had apartments living out east. I forgot how much work a yard is when you have a house. It's always fun the first hour and then the novelty quickly wears off somewhere between the fourth or fifth bag."

Envisioning his plans of spending time with Shane over the weekend getting buried underneath a pile of leaves Oliver asked, "Ms. McInerny, with your love of all things electronic do you not have a leaf blower?"

"No, I've looked at them online but wasn't sure which one to get. There's a couple I've narrowed it down to with reviews, but I can't decide."

"Reviews?" Oliver asked.

"Yes, other people say what they like and don't like about it after they bought one."

Oliver suggested slightly mocking, "I have a radical idea. We could venture into an actual hardware store; I'd be happy to accompany you. Seeing them in person might help you decide. Say tomorrow evening. We could go to dinner afterwards."

"You wouldn't mind?" Shane asked fighting a smile.

"Not at all. We could go after work." Oliver tried not to smile.

Norman was shaking his head internally as both Shane and Oliver were trying to act nonchalant while both were sporting large grins as they returned to work. He told Rita later that he'd never seen two people so pleased to make plans regarding a shopping trip for a leaf blower.

That evening Oliver's dad called asking him to go to an action movie Friday night with him. "Sorry dad I would but I'm going shopping for a leaf blower. Maybe we could go Sunday afternoon."

"I thought you already had one?"

"Oh, it's not for me. Shane's having a hard time keeping up with the leaves in her yard. She looked online and narrowed it down, but I offered to go with her to look at them in the store."

"That's awful nice of you."

"Well, I thought that was the type of thing one did for one's girlfriend." Oliver said with a little bounce and a smile.

"Girlfriend? When did that happen?" Joe asked hearing the joy in his son's voice.

"Recently," Oliver replied pleased.

"I think you need someone like her. She's outgoing, fun and intelligent." Joe said seriously.

"She is isn't she." Oliver said. "She makes me laugh. She understands me even when sometimes I don't understand myself." Oliver grinned a little wider, "She's also beautiful."

Joe smiled at how completely Oliver had fallen, "That she is. Tell her I said hello."

Leaving after work to go to the hardware store Oliver mentioned his dad, "My dad called last night. He said to tell you hello."

"How's he doing?"

"Good. We're going to a movie on Sunday. Some type of action picture."

Shane smiled, "I'm not the only one branching out this weekend."

Arriving at the store they looked at the leaf blowers checking out the pros and cons of each. "This one isn't bad for doing light snow as well." Oliver mentioned. "One of my neighbors owns one."

After finally picking one out Shane asked, "While we're here do you mind if we look at their outdoor furniture area. I've been wanting to get some outdoor cushions for the porch swing."

Carrying the box for her they ventured over to the furniture area. Oliver sat on a bench trying out a cushion while Shane stepped away to look at another. One of the store employees stopped and she asked him if they had a matching cushion in the same color. Oliver realized when her phone rang, she had left it sitting on the box next to him. Seeing it was her mother he picked up the phone to take it to her and accidently answered. Flustered he had no idea what to do.

"Shane, Hello, are you there?"

"Er, Mrs. McInerney, this is Oliver O'Toole. Shane stepped away for a moment."

"Why, Hello, you're working late tonight." Holding the phone awkwardly not accustomed to using a cell Oliver accidently switched it to Facetime from the phone call.

"Actually…uh…we're at the hardware store. Shane needed to pick up a leaf blower."

Trying not to laugh she mentioned, "Oliver you switched the call over to Facetime I can see the video now."

"Face what?" Oliver asked.

Shane had mentioned he wasn't very technologically savvy. She patiently responded, "I can see the side of your face. Move the phone around to look. Oliver you switched it to a video call."

Embarrassed Oliver started turning red and looked at the phone. It startled him to see an older version of Shane in the video. "Well, this is different."

"Shane's always spoken highly of you. It was nice of you to go with her to the store. She's still getting used to taking care of a yard."

Oliver hadn't a clue what Shane had told her mother regarding their relationship and unsure what to say, Oliver tried unsuccessfully to stall, "Well you see…the leaves…they were getting…rather out of control." What makes your girlfriend's family make your brain freeze, I'm sounding like Norman talking to his future in-laws Oliver thought.

After they'd looked around the furniture, the store employee told Shane he'd have to look in the back to find what Shane was requesting. Shane let him know, "I'll wait over there by my boyfriend."

Shane's mother asked puzzled, "Did I hear Shane correctly?"

Oliver felt like he was fifteen years old asking a parent if he could take their daughter on a date. He started turning red even more and finally stuttered out, "Mrs. McInerney, I can explain."

Turning around Shane saw Oliver using her phone and asked shocked, "Oliver what are you doing with my phone?"

Letting him off the hook, "Oliver why don't you pass the phone to Shane and let me sort this out with her."

"Yes, Mrs. McInerney."

Shane approached him whispering, "How and why are you facetiming my mother?"

"It was an accident." Oliver hissed not able to hand the phone over quickly enough.

Shane heard her mother, "Crackers I'm still here." Shane took the phone uneasily switching it back to a phone call so that others in the store couldn't hear, "Mom, how are you?" Oliver sat back down loosening his tie as if it were suddenly too tight. Wiping his brow as if the store suddenly got twenty degrees hotter, he ran his hand through his hair leaving it rather disheveled.

"I'm fine. So, things have changed between you and Oliver?"

"It's been a recent development."

"I wish you would have told me. I've only got one question. Does he make you happy?"

Shane looked at Oliver leaning back on the bench with ruffled hair and tie askew. "He does make me happy mom. Oliver is a good man." He held his hand out to her and she placed hers in his. "We're in the middle of a hardware store. Can I call you tomorrow?"

"May I speak to him again?"

Shane looked at Oliver handing him the phone. He took a deep breath taking the phone. "Ms. McInerney, I'd hoped to meet in other circumstances."

"I imagine," She responded laughing.

Oliver looked right at Shane while trying to reassure her mother, "We've spent time getting to know one another before changing our relationship. I care about your daughter and I look forward to getting to know you." Shane bit her lip trying not to cry.

"I look forward to getting to know you as well. You two have a good evening."

Oliver handed the phone back to Shane when her mother hung up. The store employee brought back the cushion, "I found it." Looking at the two holding hands, the guy looking like he'd been through the ringer and the woman trying not to cry, he wondered what happened in the short amount of time he'd been gone. "Are you two ok?"

Shane looked at Oliver, "I think we need a nice Brunello."

"Donatello's?" He asked. Shane nodded.

The employee looked confused. "Still want this?"

"Yes, thank you." Shane said taking both cushions. Oliver picked up the box. They were both quiet checking out. When they got into the car Shane looked at Oliver uneasily, "Oliver I wasn't hiding our relationship. I haven't talked to my mom very frequently since getting back."

He glanced at her pulling out of the parking lot, "I can understand. You've had a lot of things to catch up on since you got back."

"That's not the only reason." Shane said looking out the window. Oliver, thinking she was going to say more, waited to comment.

After ordering he finally asked, "What did you tell your mom about us?"

"When I first mentioned we were going on a date, I told her I've wanted our relationship to change for a while. She was concerned because we work together. You're technically my supervisor. You were married when we first met. I'd already moved partly because of a man. She never liked Steve and didn't want it happening again. She doesn't know you." Shane sighed, "With everything that's occurred with Alex, things have been complicated between the three of us. I love my mom but sometimes it's difficult to separate her from the situation with Alex."

"I can understand her concerns and the complications." He smiled slightly, "It's comforting to know I already have something in common with your mother."

Confused Shane asked, "What's that?"

"The opinion that your previous choices in men left room for improvement." Oliver said smirking.

Shane rolled her eyes aware of his feelings regarding Steve. "Oliver, do you really want to discuss previous relationships?"

"If it makes you feel better the one time my dad met Holly, he really didn't care for her. He said she reminded him way too much of my mother," Oliver said thoughtfully.

Not even knowing where to start with that piece of information, Shane changed the subject. "How on earth did you accidently facetime my mother?"

"The phone rang, and I saw it was your mother. I was going to bring it to you and must have accidently hit it exactly right to answer when I picked it up." He looked confused shaking his head, "Then somehow switched it to video. I couldn't do it again if I tried."

Thinking back Shane started laughing, "You should have seen the look on your face. You're very cute when you're flustered."

Oliver smiled at her comment before he took her hand, "Shane I meant what I said."

Shane looked at him tenderly, "I know you did. I care about you as well and I appreciate you trying to reassure her."

Running his thumb along the back of her hand, "Would you like help with the leaves tomorrow?"

"You don't have to do that." Shane said looking at him in surprise.

"I know I don't have to. I thought we could break in the new leaf blower and make sure the cushions work on the porch swing. It does work better with two people." Oliver was still holding her hand as the waiter brought their food.

"I could make dinner when we get done." Shane offered as he let go. They spent the rest of dinner catching up on Norman and Rita's wedding plans and Shane asked about how the Foundation was going.

Later Oliver dropped Shane and her new purchases at her house helping her put everything in the garage. Standing in her entryway as he was leaving, "I'll come by after lunch tomorrow." He slid his arms around her waist pulling her closer as she slid her hands up around his neck. Brushing his lips gently against hers he could feel her hand start to play with his hair. As he deepened the kiss, Oliver thought that the weekend was definitely getting back on track.