Chapter 9 – How to Buy an Ugly Tie

The pounding of hammers in the background was intermittently interrupted by the sound of a saw. Joe and Oliver had come to the Kelser farm to check on the progress of the renovations for the Educational Center. Between the renovations they'd completed at the DLO when Shane had broken down the wall and Joe helping with the changes at the Kelser Farm, Bill and Joe had quickly become friends.

The three men stopped for a drink watching the work progressing for a moment. Joe noticed Oliver had been watching the young girl Abby running around with her friends and the farm dogs as they were listening to Bill give updates. Oliver seemed distracted. "Ollie you got something on your mind?" Joe finally asked.

"How did you both know when you were ready to start a family?" Oliver asked watching Abby's mother call them inside for lunch.

Bill and Joe chuckled while exchanging looks on where the conversation had veered.

Bill answered first, "Sunny and I fell in love when we were young. Starting a family wasn't something we took any time to think about or plan. We just jumped in with both feet. Oliver we never looked back. Having Rita was one of the best things we've ever done."

Joe sighed, "Oliver the fact that you're asking means you are ready. Have you talked to Shane about having a family?"

"No. It's early yet. We haven't been dating that long." Oliver said taking a drink.

Bill and Joe exchanged another look before Bill grinned, "It's been my experience women are usually light years ahead of wherever a man happens to find himself. You'd probably be shocked at what Shane's already thought through."

One of the construction workers came up to ask Oliver a question. Bill leaned over to Joe, "He's got it bad and hasn't a clue. He has no idea Shane's probably got the nursery already planned out."

"You have no idea." Joe shook his head, "It will still take him awhile to move things along."

"What is it with this generation?" Bill asked.

"I'm not sure. In our day once we knew what we wanted we went for it." Joe said with a smile.

"Right," Bill agreed emphatically. "How long did it take Norman?" He asked bemused.

"About four years. I wouldn't be surprised if Oliver took that long. I better get the tie just in case though. I don't see Shane sitting back and waiting. Knowing her she'll find some way to nudge things along. She's extremely creative." Joe said it almost proudly. When Oliver told him stories of things Shane had accomplished at work, he realized she had a way of moving the entire DLO department along in a way that occasionally reminded him of himself at that age.

"The tie?" Bill asked.

Joe could hear Oliver wrapping up his conversation. "I'll explain later," Joe said.

"I need to go with them to sort out a question on the plumbing," Oliver said turning back to Bill and Joe.

"We need to run to the hardware store to get a part," Joe said. "Do you mind if we take your car?"

"Go ahead," Oliver said going off to look at where they were putting a sink.

On the way to the hardware store Joe told Bill about the O'Toole family tradition of wearing an ugly green tie to propose. "It was easy to find an ugly tie when I proposed. Almost everything was in garish colors back then. It may be harder now. Also, it can't be too ugly or knowing Oliver he'd refuse to wear it," Joe mused.

"Good luck with that," Bill said. They managed to find the part and made their way back to the farm.

The next Monday Oliver picked up Shane for work. The mornings had started to turn chillier. Oliver admired how she looked as she came down the stairs towards the car in black pants, high heeled boots with a dressy silk red shirt under a leather jacket. Now that she was his girlfriend, he let his thoughts wander into territory he'd always forced himself to stay away from before. When he held the door open for her, she leaned up to quickly kiss him good morning before getting into the car. She was pleasantly surprised when he stopped her from moving into the car by cupping his hand around her neck to prolong the kiss. "I missed you this weekend." Oliver explained while his other hand moved to the small of her back under her jacket to nudge her closer enjoying the feel of her in silk.

"Did you now. Would it help knowing I missed you as well?" Shane said smiling faintly.

"It would." Oliver said seriously before taking her mouth in another mind melting kiss. By the time he finally let go, she barely had the presence of mind to gently wipe her lipstick off his lips. "You look amazing today." As she finished running a finger along the edge of his lip, she cupped his cheek with her hand hesitating to let go, sensing he was needing something, but not knowing what it was she finally turned and sat down. While he came around and started the car, she fixed her lipstick in the car mirror.

Leaning over to turn on his audio system in the car she was shocked when Simon & Garfunkel's 59th Street Bridge Song blared out.

Slow down, you move too fast
You got to make the morning last
Just kicking down the cobblestones
Looking for fun and feeling groovy
Ba da-da da-da da-da, feeling groovy

Shane turned it down not even trying to hide a smile, "Oliver have you been feeling groovy?"

Oliver chuckled shaking his head, "Bill and my Dad borrowed the car to go to the hardware store this weekend. They must have left the CD in there."

"Sure, they did," Shane teased still grinning. "How'd the barn look?"

"It's coming along. They should be done by the end of the week."

"I spent time this weekend researching the animal training facility we talked about last week. They've got their fingers in a lot of different areas. We should meet with the director to get more information," Shane recommended. She filled him in on what she'd found on the way to work.

Meanwhile Joe was researching men's stores on the internet. He found several places and made a list to start shopping. The first store didn't have any ties that were primarily green just several that had hints of green. The second store had several green ties. Looking at them Joe turned to the sales guy, "These are too…"

"Are you looking for something nicer or less expensive?" The salesman asked trying to figure out the problem.

"Less appealing." Joe said sighing.

"Excuse me?"

"I'm looking for something that's not overly appealing." Joe said attempting to be diplomatic.

"I don't think I understand."

"I need an ugly tie." Joe finally caved.

"I'm sorry we don't sell ugly here." The salesman said haughtily.

"Got it." Joe said resigned. "Thanks for your help."

At the third store they had several ugly ties but again none of them were green. Starting to get frustrated Joe headed into the fourth store. He immediately saw potential on a display. "Does that come in a green?"

"Yes, several shades of green." The salesman answered showing Joe where they were in the store.

"This will be perfect," Joe said thinking it was nice material but in a pattern Oliver would never pick himself. "I'll take it. Do you have a box that I could store it in?" Joe asked.

"Sure. Is it a gift?"

"In a way yes and I'm not sure when I'll actually be able to give it. I'd like it stored well." Joe explained. After checking out he put the box in a bag and left it in his glove department in the car so it would be ready whenever the time came. Life is short hoping you don't end up sitting there for two years Joe thought turning his car out of the parking lot.