10 years ago
An elderly man sat at a desk, writing a letter. When he finished, he picked up a photo and folded it around the letter. He placed the letter in an envelope and slid it into the long package that leaned against the table. Taping the box closed, he picked up the package and headed out the door.
Present Day - Monday, November 30
Shane closed her laptop, put it into her purse, and stood up, stretching her arms above her head. The last day of the month. Nothing in the "pending box". All bulk mailed de-bulked. Impossibly Ripped & Mangled and Unattached Items Bins, empty. The DLO was ready. The annual "Dear Santa" project started tomorrow, the busiest time of the year for the Denver Branch of the US Post Office.
She looked over at Oliver. He sat at his desk, leaning back in his chair, watching her with his gentle, loving eyes. Oliver stood up, lifted Shane's coat from the rack, and brought it to her.
"Shall we go?" he said, holding the coat open so Shane could slip her arms into it.
Rita and Norman came in from Norman's laboratory.
"Doing anything special this weekend?" Rita asked Shane.
"Buying proper Christmas decorations for Oliver's house." She smiled and looked at Oliver with twinkling eyes. "All he has is a little table-top tree."
Shane looked back at Rita. "What about you?"
Norman brought Rita's coat and helped her into it. "Norman and I are volunteering at the Washington Park Children's Home this Christmas. We have a meeting with the director this evening," Rita said.
The four POstables walked to the parking lot together. Rita and Norman got into their car. Rita waved at Shane and Oliver. "Have a good weekend," she said.
"Are you sure I can't talk you into buying a real tree?" Shane asked Oliver as he turned the car in the direction of Larimer Square.
Oliver looked sideways at Shane, nodded his head slightly, and turned his attention back to the road.
Shane laughed. "I know. Too messy."
Shane's cell phone rang. "It's your dad," Shane said, looking at the caller ID. "Hi Joe," she said and listened for a minute.
Shane reached over and touched Oliver's arm. "He wants to know if we can meet him at the Mailbox Grille. He has something for you."
"What about our shopping expedition?"
"We can go later."
"Very well."
Shane spoke into her phone. "We'll be there in a few minutes."
Joe sat waiting at the back table. "I took the liberty of ordering dinner."
Steaming bowls of Ramon's famous 'Priority Mail Pazole', salads, and fresh, hot, garlic breadsticks sat on the table.
"Smells delicious," Shane said, sliding into the center of the booth. Oliver took his place on the opposite end.
"Have any special plans this weekend?" Joe asked after they finished their meal.
Shane smiled and winked at Oliver. "Tonight, we're buying a proper Christmas tree for Oliver's house."
Joe lifted a box from the seat and handed it to Oliver. "Here are a few things you might want to put on that tree."
Shane slid closer to Oliver. Oliver picked up tissue paper, laid it aside, and looked into the box. "Dad! You still have these?" He lifted a small snowflake-shaped ornament from the box, handed it to Shane, and rubbed his eyes with his fingers.
"I knew one day the time would be right to give them to you," Joe said.
Shane touched the center of the ornament gently. A picture of Joe holding Oliver as a baby filled the center. Other than the two photos on Joe's refrigerator, she'd never seen pictures of Oliver as a child.
Oliver laid other snowflakes on the table. Eighteen in all. Shane looked at each one, smiling at some, laughing outright at others.
"You were a cute kid," Shane said. She held up the last one. "And a handsome young man." She put the ornament next to Oliver's head. "You haven't changed much since high school."
Oliver took the ornament from Shane's hand. "I do believe I am a 'bit' older since this was taken."
Shane looked at Oliver with twinkling eyes. "Still just as handsome."
Oliver's cheeks turned pink. He gathered up the ornaments, put them back in the box, and closed the lid without comment.
"We should be going," he said, reaching into his suit coat for his wallet.
Joe shook his head. "My treat."
Oliver gave Shane his hand to help her out of the booth and into her coat. Joe stood up, hugged Oliver, and kissed Shane's cheek.
"Good to see you," Joe said. "Enjoy the tree hunt."
"Oh, we will," Shane said.
Oliver picked up the box and offered Shane his arm.
"Thank you for these," Oliver said. "Bye, Dad."
Shane had promised herself that Oliver could pick the decorations he wanted, whether she liked them or not. She wanted him to choose, to reflect 'his' style. They went to the back of the store where the trees were displayed. After walking the length of each aisle, Oliver turned to Shane and asked "Which one do you like?"
"I want you to pick," Shane said. "It's your tree. Your house."
Oliver faced her and took her hands in his. "I've been contemplating, and I believe you should assist me." His eyes softened to a deeper blue. "The house, and the tree, will be ours after we are married."
Shane's eyes glistened and a single tear slid down her cheek. Oliver smiled, reached up, and wiped the tear away with the tip of his finger. "Shall we begin?" he said.