The engagement's letter.
While they have been engaged for a few weeks, Oliver and Shane are invited to Joe's on a Sunday afternoon. This story is a sequel to the story With a little help, but can be read independently. The characters belong to the talented Martha Wiliamson.
Shane McInerney was eagerly awaiting the arrival of her fiancé. Once again, She was looking at herself in her bedroom mirror when she heard the sound of a car parked in front of her house. Shane came down the stairs, opened the door and smiled.
"Hello my love. You knew I was already here ." Oliver said before kissing her tenderly.
"Hi Oliver. Yes, I can recognize the engine of your car from miles away." Shane said with a wink.
"It's perfect. If Miss McInerney wants to get in the car and hold that box for me." Oliver said with a smile.
"What's that?" Shane asked.
"It's a beautiful box of pastries courtesy offered by Mr. Fry in the Brown Palace Hotel. I was about to order some pastries, when he came in and told me he was taking care of everything. He sends his best wishes for our engagement." Oliver replied with a smile.
"It's really adorable. Tell me, did you say your dad wants to speak us?" Shane asked as Oliver started the car.
"He told me they wanted to invite us to tea and that he had something to tell us . I guess it's about the wedding. But you know that my father likes you very much. You know he's already talked to the whole O'Toole family about you." Oliver said.
"Wow! What an honor, Mr. O'Toole. Our wedding is obviously eagerly awaited. You think we're going to be famous." Shane laughed.
"It's possible, at least you already are."Oliver said with a smile.
As they walked towards Joe's house, Shane hadn't taken her eyes off her engagement ring. The postal detective noticed it, took a quick look to see if the street was empty, then stopped to take Shane's hand in his.
"Is everything all right? You look pensive." Oliver noticed.
Shane then had a small laugh, and smiled at length.
"I just remembered your proposal. It was so beautiful. I really like this ring. Since you put it on my finger, I've never taken it off." Shane replied.
"I'm so glad you like it so much" Oliver, declared,relieved.
"You're relieved, Mr. O'Toole. We should go because Papa Joe is waiting for us." Shane, said laughing.
They then rang the doorbell at Joe's, who greeted them with his usual good humor.
"Hey, welcome to my house. Hi, Shane, you're okay." Joe said, kissing her on the cheek.
"I'm very well, thank you. Thank you for your invitation." Shane thanked him.
"Shane, this is your home. It's a pleasure to have you both here." Joe added.
"Hi Dad !"Oliver, giving him a hug.
Joe brought them into the living room. Shane had noticed that a lot had changed since his first visit, when Oliver and Joe were lost in the mountains.
He brought coffee, tea, the box of pastries and some sweets.
"So, how are you two doing? You've already started thinking about the wedding preparations." Joe asked with a smile.
"With Oliver, there are some topics we want to discuss. We realize there's a lot to do, but we wanted to take our time to think about it and the issue of commitment is very important to us." Shane answered.
"Yes, that's exactly it and to think about the foundation of marriage, which is sacred. It's something that is very important to us. It also involves changes that we are willing to accept. But we're thrilled to get married. For now, we enjoy spending a lot of time together. You just have to trust the timing. " Oliver says with a smile.
"I understand very well. Take as much time as you need. I will always be there for you two. Shane, how's your family?" Joe asked as he took a cup of coffee.
"Very well. They're overjoyed, of course. My sister, Alex, has subscribed to every wedding magazine she can find, and my mom keeps watching wedding shows. Looks like they're the ones getting married." Shane laughed.
Oliver smiled at her as he looked at her and then turned his face towards his father.
"Oliver, could you bring the bowl of nuts I left on the kitchen table." Joe asked.
"Yes, sure." I'll be right back." He said.
"He loves you very much Shane, just look at his face." Joe said in a low voice and then smiled.
"What do you mean?" Shane asked smiling.
"He looks at you with admiration, tenderness and love, I can see it in his eyes. You're a rare gem, Shane. You bring to him what no one has ever brought him before." Joe declared.
"Oliver brings me a lot too. I love our love story. I never told you this before, but I love Oliver with all my heart. I want him to be happy and nothing means more to me than his happiness." Shane said.
As Oliver walked, he stopped in the hallway, touched by Shane's words. He was praying and thanked God that he had met such a wonderful person like Shane.
Smiling, he entered the living room.
"And here it is. Tell me dad, on the phone you said you wanted to show us something." Oliver said before sitting down.
"That's right, it's about the engagement ring." Joe added.
"The engagement ring?" Oliver asked, surprised.
"When I brought the ring to you, I was pretty sure there was a letter with it. This week, while I was tidying up, I found it again. Thank God, it's still in excellent condition." Joe said as he took out an envelope.
"Is that a letter for me?" Oliver asked.
"No, it's not. This letter was meant for the person you were going to propose to. It's for you, Shane" Joe said, holding out a letter and smiling.
Surprised, Oliver and Shane looked at each other, intrigued by this letter, then Shane gently took the envelope and opened it.
Dear Miss,
You don't know me, and I will probably already be gone by the time you read this letter.
I am honored to offer you my engagement ring.
I wore this ring for over fifty years. I hope from the bottom of my heart that you will wear it for as long, if not longer. I have lived such wonderful years with Chester, a life based on faith, love and family. I wish you the same happiness alongside Oliver.
I know you would love the proposal wedding he will propose to you.
Oliver is a gentle, caring, dreamy, romantic, generous, fair, sensitive and a loving person. I am sure that he will make you very happy too, just as Chester has been with me. I didn't know you, but my heart tells me that you are a wonderful person. I wish and pray that, together you will both share moments of joy and happiness and build a beautiful family.
Dearest Miss, I wish you all the best for your marriage and a happy life.
Very sincerely.
Mary O'Toole.
Shane put the letter back in the envelope, and tears of joy ran down her face.
"Shane is everything all right ?" Oliver asked.
"I love this letter. Oliver, your grandmother is a wonderful woman ". Shane exclaimed, wiping away her tears.
"That's right Shane. She was a wonderful person who loved everyone and her family. She loved to write letters. Can I read this letter, if you don't mind." Joe asked.
"I'd love to, Oliver, you can read it too. I think I love the O'Toole family even more." Shane said, smiling as she handed them the envelope.
"I understand. You're already going to spend your whole life with one O'Toole, that's not bad ." Joe said with a smile.
That's when everyone laughed.
"Kids, I hope you stay for dinner," says Joe with a smile.
"Joe, it will be my pleasure." Shane exclaimed with a big smile.
Oliver then walked Shane home and they sat on the porch swing.
"So?" I hope you enjoyed this long afternoon." Oliver asked with a smile.
"Oliver, it was perfect. You know how much I love your father. He's a wonderful dad." Shane exclaimed as she took his hand." Is everything okay?" Shane asks
"I can't believe Grandma wrote a letter before she left us for heaven. I'm so touched." Oliver replied, tears in his eye.
"Oliver, my love. There is a time for everything. I think your grandmother loved you very much if she wrote this beautiful letter. This letter is for me, a beautiful engagement gift. Your grandmother would be so proud of you today. And I think one of her greatest joys is that you fixed things your father back. You have to trust the timing." Shane says with a smile.
Oliver moved his face forward to kiss her tenderly.
"Wow, that means something."Shane exclaimed.
"Yes. Shane, you are so gentle, true and kind. Unintentionally, I heard what you said earlier. Your words touched me very much. I love you so much. And I'm so happy to marry you. You know I always keep my promises. I promise to love you forever, to cherish you and to watch over you. I will always be a gentleman." Oliver said with a smile.
"Absolutely, Oliver. I know you will be a wonderful husband." Shane said with a smile before kissing him back.
The end.
Author's note: Thank you all for reading this story. I wish you all a good day. :)