Chapter four

Waking up to reality

One week later

Two days to Christmas

Shane and Rita, during their second week of poker games they were planing Shane's Christmas wedding. They were going to the over 100 things to do before a wedding list. At the same time, Ramon was teaching Norman and Samuel, and Ruth on their poker face. Shane and Rita were going over five more things to do on the list, but they proved to the most difficult to complete.

The last five things on the list were the following no particular order;

1. Writing the vows

2. Booking the church

3. Getting the wedding bands

4. Booking honeymoon

5. Prepare for your new married life

This was so much to handle all at once in a short amount of time, especially during a holiday. The most difficult was the booking of the church. No church was available to perform their ceremony on Christmas, even Oliver's church. This was the one she needs Oliver's help and assistance in. She didn't know how she would tell him that no church on this side of Denver would perform the wedding. Shane thinking of can't plan their wedding, how could they prepared their life together.

Rita came with hot cocoa and her famous cookies. Good practice. Rita had gotten better with cooking classes after work before Samuel and Ruth came along. But seeing Shane so stress, she asked,

"Is this Christmas wedding is what you want, Shane?"

Shane was caught off guard by Rita question as she replied,

"This what Oliver wants, and I want."

Rita sits the cocoa and the cookies down sit by Shane, holding her hand, telling her,

"I listen. I love Christmas as much, Shane but isn't asking a lot of you to plan such a wedding at this time, especially without Oliver. There is no need to rush look at Norman and me. We took it all in embraced what we want for our wedding together."

Shane admired and trusted Rita's wisdom. Yes, she wished Oliver was here to plan their wedding to help her. But Shane wants what Oliver wants. They are a team, and she loved the fact of getting married on Christmas. Shane felt like she lived in a Hallmark Christmas romance movie that every woman like her dreams about. Most importantly, she trusts but her faith in love for the new foundation and everlasting love of the lord and Oliver. Their Christmas wedding would happen when God would want it to.

So Shane confessed to Rita,

"I thank you. As my friend, for your concern, love, and support. But I want to married Oliver Christmas, whether be this Christmas or the next. All I know I can't wait to marry this man who has changed my life and heart for the better."

"Ohh, Shane," Rita sighs, then rushes to hug her and tells her, "that was beautiful. You should add that to your vows."

She was writing those into a laptop into a file called a wedding. Then Shane began to wonder if Oliver had worked on his vows.

Two days later

Christmas Eve

After a long full two weeks of delivering dear Santa and God and watching his angel friend sulk in the fact he has not heard or seen Gabriella since their meeting and delivering their letter to her. Oliver was trying to cheer up his angel by giving cheer to others. They offered 1,000 answered prayers and wished to many. But Oliver noticed his efforts to cheer up Jordan wasn't working. That is why Oliver was waking up with a lot on his mind

But all that seems to clear when Oliver opens the blinds of his hotel room to a marvelous snowy view. Oliver was getting out his phone, trying to remember his darling taught in taking a picture and sending it via text message. But at least she was able to call her before they went to sleep, each sharing about their days; Shane would tell him how the first week of poker club was going well, learning from Rita and Ramon. As Norman, not the card was playing mood, would play Lincoln logs instead. Shane also updated Oliver that she got her wedding dress picked out and his tux for the wedding, and she could wait to walk down the aisle and see him.

Oliver was telling Shane that he could not wait for their Christmas wedding. He also told Shane about Gabriella and her story and the current status of delivering the letter. Shane felt Gabriella wait for the answer she wanted from her child. Shane told Oliver she wishes there with Oliver to tell Gabriella she knows how she feels, but God always answered, and she loved and prayed for.

Shane's thoughts moved Oliver for Gabriella. Oliver and Shane would end phone calls telling one another how they loved and pray for one another before they both fell with wedding dream filling their minds.

Oliver was shaking his disbelief that he was using the cell phone to take pictures no less, but it was for him, and he was happy to share a photo of the marvelous snowy sight he was watching. Shane was about to head into the DLO whenever she got an incoming coming text from Oliver. Shane saw a picture with Snowy view of NYC as she read The text from Oliver,

Snowy winter wonderland in New York compares to nothing without you here

Xoxo Oliver.

Shane smiles as her heart melts with their first of many heartwarming texts from her husband to be as she responds,

DLO is nothing without you here either, but I will always be here to come home missing you xoxo Shane.

Oliver got the reply with a picture of home missing home more than ever. Oliver on the verge of calling Shane but was stopped with pounding coming to his door. Oliver open the door to find a panting and distraught Jordan telling him,

"We must go. Gabriella wants to see us."

Oliver reply, "Now?" And asked, "Where is she?

"The NY memorial Hospital."

Oliver and Jordan left and prayed for Gabriella's well being.