Chapter 21

With the beginning stages of the annual Dear Santa Project starting up, Oliver and Shane started working longer hours that week. Becky, Audrey, and Shane had already planned out which Christmas events the doodles should attend for the Denver branch. Shane kept Oliver's, her own and their joint schedules color coded on her phone but always printed out a paper copy for him to put on the fridge at home and his desk at work. Oliver shook his head when he saw the Doodles now had their own calendar color. Joe started swinging by the house later in the afternoons to let the doodles out if they weren't with him in case Oliver & Shane didn't make it home at their usual time.

Norman and Rita usually left to take Nathan up to the hospital to see his mother after work. She was doing better and getting discharged on Friday. They were going to stay at a local women's shelter until their lawyer could sort out temporary custody agreements and a more long-term restraining order. Then they were hoping to move in with an aunt that was in Florida.

Thursday, Shane took a long lunch to go to her follow up doctor's appointment. Returning to the DLO, she saw Oliver reading a letter trying to disguise the fact he was pacing impatiently looking worried. Knowing he wouldn't ask at work, she immediately let him know. "Everything is fine. I'm fine." She squeezed his hand when he helped her out of her coat. "Back to work Mr. O'Toole." He looked at her wanting to wrap his arms around her. Holding back because they weren't alone and were at work, he gently ran his hand down her arm before returning to his desk.

Norman brought over a mangled package. After not finding any identifying information on the outside, Shane and Rita opened the package. Inside was an intricately carved wooden advent calendar. There was an envelope with a card inside the package with the calendar.

"This advent calendar always brought joy to our family during the advent season. You loved to take turns with the girls opening the doors when you stayed with us as a child. Since they're no longer here, I'm hoping your girls will find as much joy in the tradition. Love, Aunt Lilly."

"What do you think that means 'Since they're no longer here?'" Rita asked speculatively.

"I'm hoping not what you may think. I can try to research the stationary it looks custom ordered. Look at the crest on the front of the card. Are there any markings on the back of the advent calendar maybe the company it came from?" Shane asked.

Norman started looking at the box. "Here there's an engraved stamp on the back."

Shane wrote down the information. She got to work researching the company and found a phone number for Rita to call before starting to work the stationary angle. Oliver heated up leftovers for a quick dinner before they kept working.

Norman and Rita had already left when Oliver stopped to leave for choir practice. Shane was still working on locating distributors for the stationary.

"Don't stay too late." Since they were alone, he relaxed enough to kiss her on the top of her head on his way out knowing she had been using work as a distraction.

"I won't." She promised. "After hitting this many dead ends, I'll leave soon. I need a break."

After choir Oliver arrived home to a quiet house. A year ago, that wouldn't have been strange. He realized he'd gotten used to Shane playing music in the background or talking to the dogs. Walking into the kitchen he noticed a red card on the counter with his name on the front. Inside was a Christmas card 'To My Husband, Meet Me Under the Mistletoe.' When he opened it, there was a note from Shane. 'Thank you for the support you've given me while taking such loving care of me. Tonight, let me take care of you. Love, Shane' Inside the card was also a note from her doctor on a prescription pad. 'Shane's completely healthy. She can resume all normal activity. Merry Christmas! Dr. White'

Curious he went looking for her heading towards the bedroom. Walking down the hallway he saw mistletoe hanging at the door, soft jazzy Christmas music floating out the door towards him.

"You really had your doctor write a note?" He asked amused walking through the doorway still examining the note. Glancing up he was taken aback by her curled up in a chair waiting for him in red velvet lingerie in the candlelit bedroom. He felt like the breath was knocked out of him. A green robe was loosely wrapped around her shoulders for warmth. He leaned against the doorframe for support while he collected himself.

She put the book down she'd been reading. "I was afraid you wouldn't believe me." Shane said looking at him tenderly standing when he came towards her. "I've missed you." While Oliver might hold back at work due to professional boundaries, since the day they were married outside of work he very frequently very thoroughly demonstrated physically how much he loved Shane. After the ER visit, while still affectionate, he'd been entirely focused on taking care of her.

Reaching her he tucked her hair behind her ear. "I've been right here."

"You know what I mean," Shane said smiling wryly playing with his tie.

Leaning his forehead against hers, "Shane, you're so strikingly beautiful." He sighed, "I haven't…I don't want to do anything to hurt you." He nuzzled his cheek against hers.

"You can't hurt me by loving me," She said kissing him while slowly taking off his tie. "Oliver, you've been wonderful taking care of me." She started unbuttoning his shirt, "Let me take care of you."

He let her take off his dress shirt and the shirt he had on underneath before attempting again, "Shane maybe it's too soon to..."

"Shh…I'm perfectly healthy. I got it in writing." She said teasingly running her fingers across his lips. "Let me love you." She got distracted running her hands over the muscles on his arms and chest not realizing her focused admiration was a seduction itself. Brushing her lips against his shoulder and moving back up to his mouth, he struggled to remember his objections hands holding onto her robe to keep from touching her.

He was hesitant despite the doctors note. Barely able to keep his thoughts together he stopped her cupping a hand behind her neck before asking. "Shane. Are you sure you're ready?"

Smiling at him, "Past ready." Remembering her words from their wedding night, it took everything he had to relax and let her lead the way. She put her hands on his chest gently pushing him back towards the bed until he felt the back of his legs hit the side and he sat down. Leaning over him she ran a hand through his hair before teasingly brushing her lips against his. Dropping the robe from her shoulders, the last of his reticence disappeared. He cherished every moment of being sweetly pleasurably made love to by his wife.

Waking up the next morning, Oliver looked at Shane sleeping and thought about how much his life had changed in a year. He slipped out of bed to let the dogs out. After making coffee, he took out a mug that said 'I can live without a lot of things. Hacking is not one of them.' Bringing it to Shane he placed it on the nightstand, and he kissed her gently waking her up. "Morning."

"Morning to you too." She said sitting up taking the coffee. "Bless you, Mr. Steamboat."

Oliver smiled, "You're welcome."

Shane started to get up, "I'll take the dogs out for a run."

"Are you sure…"

Shane stopped putting a finger over his lips. "Oliver, I know you, hence why I obtained the Dr.'s note. He meant all normal activity. Thank you for taking such good care of me but I need to get back into a routine." He knew she meant she needed things to get back to normal.

Uneasy talking about what had happened Shane paused for a moment taking a sip of coffee. "Dr. White mentioned when we can try again. I told him we hadn't been trying and explained I got sick." Looking at him uncertainly she took another sip of coffee playing with the handle on the cup, "When we were engaged, I know we said we'd wait 6-12 months to sort out the houses. We've gotten everything moved and rented out the other house. I am going to take the dogs for a run. Could we talk tonight?"

Knowing he could rarely stop her when she'd made up her mind and realizing he was probably being a little overprotective. "We can talk tonight. Be safe and please don't go to far." He said kissing her forehead.

While they managed to make it in on time, Rita and Norman were a little late after dropping Nathan off with his mom at the hospital where she was getting discharged.

The woodworking company Rita had contacted the day before called back. The grandson had inherited the company from his grandfather and had kept all the records. He said it may take a day or two, but if they could send pictures, he may be able to find when the advent calendar was sold. Shane took multiple pictures of the piece before emailing them to the owner. Setting aside the advent calendar for the next week, they continued other work.

With the extra volume at Christmas, there was often less space in the DLO with all the extra packages. Rita was skirting a pile when Norman was coming out of his lab. Neither seeing the other they were about to crash when Oliver turned, "Norman, Rita watch out." Rita tried to step back tripping over the packages. Norman managed to catch her before she fell.

"Nice catch Norman." Shane said from across the room.

"I enjoy catching Rita." Norman said with a tender smile looking at Rita.

"I enjoy being caught." Rita said smiling back. Shane grinned at Oliver shaking her head at the two before returning to her research.

"Norman why don't you and I try to work on some of these so we can get them out of the way." The guys spent the rest of the afternoon working on the packages that had lost labels.

After dinner Shane brought their wine into the living room by the fire Oliver had started. She sat on the sofa watching him stir the fire stalling. Oliver wasn't sure how to express all the feelings whirling around inside. Seeing his worried face Shane asked concerned, "Oliver, have you changed your mind about wanting to have children?"

He knelt next to where she was sitting on the sofa putting his hand at her waist looking into her eyes. "Shane the moment you agreed to be my wife, I started to imagine what it would be like to watch you grow with my child."

"You've imagined me as a butterball?" Shane said tearing up while putting her hand over his.

"You'd be as beautiful as the day I met you." Oliver assured her. He leaned his head against her shoulder having difficulty looking at her when he told her, "Whenever I imagined it there was never fear overshadowing the joy. I've been praying trying to hand it over to God. I don't know that I could live with it if anything happened to you."

She ran her free hand through his hair cradling his head against her, "Oliver, after what happened last month, I know I'll be scared at times as well." Rubbing her cheek against his hair, "I'm asking that when the time comes if we can be scared together, keep trying to cast our cares on the Lord, praying for the peace he can give."

"I'll be even more overprotective." He said looking up at her in warning.

"I'll be even more emotional." She countered.

"When did the doctor say it would be safe to try again?" Oliver asked.

"Next month. We can wait if you need more time Oliver."

"I don't know that more time would change how I feel." Oliver said quietly.

"What are you saying?" Shane asked her hand gripping his that was still resting at her waist.

"I'm always going to want to do everything I'm able to protect you." He sighed, "We'll keep praying together."

Shane smiled nodding and wanting to hear him say it, "Are you in or out?"

"I'm in." Oliver smiled back recalling the first time she asked that question. He had no idea back then the changes that would come by agreeing to that one question.