Chapter Eleven

In the dark of night

Oliver made it in the dark of night at Denver memorial hospital. Oliver O'Toole rushed through the hospital doors as he found Shane waiting in the hospital waiting room. He wasted no run into her arms, holding her whisking up, twirling her around in the air. Shane's breathing was nearly taken away by Oliver's embrace, followed by a kiss.

He was here just before their wedding. All that matter was he was home, as Oliver told her after their kiss,

"I am sorry, my dear Shane, sorry for not coming home sooner; I love you so much. Any word on Rita and her condition? How are Norman and twins holding up."

Oliver was asking questions so fast as she could, his fast pace heart beating from the rush of getting here, that she calms down, taking her hands-on best to seat him down to relax as she sat with to tell him.

" No apologies needed, Oliver. I love you too and happy that you are home. Norman and Rita with the doctor right now. And twins are at home sleeping with Ramon watching them."

" Ramon babysitting now that is a sight to see."

Oliver started trying to ease the mood and try to be humorous. Shane giggles getting Oliver sense of humor as she takes his hand for wanted know,

" How did your trip go? Did you and Jordan do what was set out to do?"

Oliver sighed, thinking if Jordan could help Gabriella see the truth of the light of God's for her. But he remembers holding her, feeling her pain, her despair, and he couldn't help but cry over in leaning to Shane for the embrace of comfort and support,

" oh Oliver, you have to tell me, I trust Jordan, and you did your best that what happens God has the answer for it you taught me to believe that and that I love you so much."

Oliver was leaning below her lap, embracing her, thanking God for bringing this woman into his life. Sadly, the embrace was interrupted by Norman's clearing of his throat. Oliver and Shane were happy to see Norman standing in front of them, hoping for good news on Rita's delicate condition. Oliver was wasting no getting up on his to hug his friend in a time of comfort.

Norman popped in to see friends in a loving and comforting embrace. He hated to ruin it but Rita and want to give the news Rita's delicate condition. So he coughed as Norman wasn't expecting a rush grip embrace for Shane and Oliver holding so tight he couldn't breathe.

Norman trying to gasp for air and in telling them,

"We like to see you now, and we have some news that before should from us and not the doctor"

Shane and Oliver let Norman go to breathe and finish telling them,

"Sorry for ruin for your reunion. Whenever you ready is in room 333 down the hall waiting for you; thank you for always being for us and when you need you both. I love us the POstables what a family we are."

"One the best kind of family, Norman, give Rita and kiss and hug for us, will be along in a minute."

Norman nods and leaves Shane and Oliver alone for following him to meet with Rita and find about her condition.

"Oliver please don't tell me this last we will work together and without Rita. We need, I need her." Shane worried for their friend more like she loved Rita and worked alongside them every day was worrisome thought.

Oliver takes her hand, telling her. "Everyone needs Rita your life, but, most importantly, Shane, we must be strong for whatever the news will handle together as a family. I promise that."

"You are right, Oliver, as you always seem to be. I will be strong and be my sisters' side for her best friends beside you she will ever need. Are you ready?"

"As long as you are ready?"

"As long as I have you, I will be ready for anything."

Shane gives a quick kiss as they walk to the town hall, praying for good news.

Meanwhile, back at Norman and Rita's house. Dale was able to put the kids to sleep as she went downstairs to check on Ramon. Who was lying on the living couch with a wet towel covering his face? As she leans over the couch and asks,

"How are your eyes holding up."

"This wet towel is doing wonders but think I some salt in my eye."

Dale grabs the towel off from Ramon's face and moans wanted still on as he were some red and Blotchy. Dale got eye drops she got from the bathroom and placed them on the living room table.

Dale informing Ramon

"Eye drips will ease the redness and wash out the salt. I will up administer since you have trouble seeing."

Roman scoffs

"And who's fault is that?"

Dale apologizes again,

"I am sorry, Ramon. Despite hearing a lot about Shane and Oliver, I just never put a face to it, and …"

"And what do you think I am what you expected to be" Ramon asked as he was curious to know Dale's answer

"You surely think highly of yourself, despite all the good you do. You can contact a half decent person. But As far as what I think, now seeing you, you remind me of dashing Spaniard of sorts."

Ramon chuckles

"You find me dashing, Dale? More dashing than Oliver."

"Don't push it! Ramon! I am holding the solution to your eye problems in my hands, so be nice."

"My apologies, Dale, Oliver told me of your history quite an unrequited love tale."

"Love what Oliver and I have didn't love. More …"

"Wanting more what you can't have." Ramon added, speaking from experience.

"Yeah, I guess you've had a fair share of unrequited love in your life."

Ramon sighed as somewhat the painful memories and unrequited Love past ween their way back of his mind. He had seen nor spoke to Marisa in years after their love affair ending. But from time to time, especially the holidays, he would think of her.

Dale then asked what Ramon dreaded to answer

"What was her name?"

Ramon sighed, "Marisa,"

"Did you love her?" Dale asked

"Yes" Ramon answered

"Did she love you?"

"I thought she did" Ramon sighed, wiping the single tear from his face

"I am sorry" Dale told Ramon holding her on top of his

"For what, my red-eyes or my broken heart."

Dale reply taking her hand away,

"Both"

Dale takes the eye drops and says to Ramon

"let's get this over with, now stay still as you can so I can add the eye drops"

Dale puts two eye drop in each eye. And already Ramon complains of eye irritation as his eyes becoming very watery and itchy. Dale urges him not to rub or itch his eyes. So she takes matters into her hands. By literally taking her hands, placing her hands on Ramon's face, she pulls his face toward hers. She presses her lips together leans closer to Ramon's, telling him,

"Keep your eyes open, Ramon and be still and let me blow"

Dale blows around Ramon's eyes. Then, eyes locked on another seem to freeze and stop for a moment between Dale and Ramon. A feeling they would never find in another. Both of them were willing to explore it. They lean closer to each other. The magic and spark were inching closer and closer until reality set in.

The magical spell of sweet past as reality stuck. When Dale's phone rang, it was Shane. Dale shows Ramon gaps. He nodded to answer the phone. So she did and talk to Shane for a brief moment and then hang up. Ramon asked,

"Is everything okay?"

"Everything we need to wake the kids in about an hour?"

"Why." Ramon asked

"Because we are going to a wedding, and you are my plus one."

Ramon's eyes no longer irritated him, for eyes were bulging now for pure excitement. Not only going to the wedding but his first date with Dale. She just beat him to punch in, asking him out first. For Ramon believed Dale and him had spark something new and unique.