Chapter 32

A week later Shane asked Rita how it was going with Cassie living with them. Norman and Rita were staggering their hours so one could take her to school and the other picked her up. "She's a good kid. It's like having a little adult in the house. She's had to grow up pretty fast with both parents deployed periodically."

"Did anyone ever get in contact with her parents?" Shane asked.

Norman answered, "Christmas Day her mom managed to get through. Randilynn caught her up on recent events. We've been able to talk to her mom on and off since then to give her updates. Now that she's back in communication they can email more regularly as well. Cassie's grandmother had her surgery and is doing well. They think she'll be able to move to a rehab hospital faster than they thought."

Rita chimed in, "Cassie and Phoebe both had so much fun with the Dear Santa project they asked if they could help again next year."

"It was fun having them around." Shane said. "They were a huge help keeping up with the doodle's schedule."

"Mrs. O'Toole if one only knew how hard that was going to be." Oliver said rolling his eyes.

"Right." Shane said choosing to ignore his sarcasm. "Speaking of schedules, I forgot to tell you I got an email back from the facility on becoming support dogs. They got a slot at the end of next week. I was going to come in late Friday after taking them. I'll work late on Thursday since you'll be at choir anyway. Also, we're having dinner with Dad and Leah Saturday night."

"Dad's place or ours?" Oliver asked.

"Leah's actually." Shane said. "She invited us over to her place."

"They seemed pretty cozy at Christmas. It's nice to see Papa O'Toole happy." Rita said smiling at Shane.

"It is." Shane said eyeing Oliver to see if he was going to comment. She knew Oliver was aware his dad was in love but didn't know if he realized how serious Joe and Leah were getting.

Leaning over Rita asked Shane under her breath. "So, are there going to be wedding bells in the not so distant future?"

"I wouldn't be at all surprised." Shane responded. "He certainly doesn't move at Oliver's pace."

They both went back to working on a stack of lost letters.

The Friday that Shane took the dogs for their appointment she was surprised how nervous she felt. Oliver had decided to go with her since the dog's appointments were back to back. She had nothing to worry about as both dogs passed with flying colors. They received their certificates and Shane and Oliver got information on where to get the vests the dogs were supposed to wear when volunteering as support animals. Going to work afterwards seemed a little anticlimactic.

"I was sure they were going to be fine." Rita said. "They're both so smart."

Oliver thought it was sweet of Rita to humor Shane when she treated the doodles like her children.

Saturday night they arrived at Leah's a little late due to traffic being a little backed up in the area because of a local event. "Sorry we're a little late. We forgot traffic would probably be bad getting over here." Shane said handing Leah a bottle of wine before taking their coats off. "I love your flowers. Are they from anyone special?" Shane said teasingly looking at Joe.

"They might be. Am I special Leah?" Joe asked tilting his head at Leah smiling.

"You are to me." Leah said shaking her head at the two.

"Anything we can do to help?" Shane asked.

"Have a seat while Joe opens this. We've got everything ready." She said while starting to put food on plates.

After catching up on work, Joe asked Oliver, "You checked your snow tires out lately? There's supposed to be a big storm coming next week."

"I checked them both a couple weeks ago when we got the last batch of snow. I was thinking it might be time to trade in Shane's car and get something a little safer."

"And what would qualify as safer?" Shane asked curiously. Leah & Joe could see Oliver was about to step in it from a mile away.

"I was thinking something with four-wheel drive and a better safety rating," Oliver said thinking he was being perfectly logical.

Shane got the look on her face Joe and Oliver had both come to know as her debate face. Joe tried to nonchalantly scoot his chair slightly away from Shane and towards Leah attempting to get out of the line of fire. Oliver involved in his meal didn't notice the look on Shane's face as the wheels were turning that this would be an excellent opportunity to point out some things about his own car. Very carefully Shane forked a piece of food and took a bite slowly chewing while looking at Oliver. Finally, she said, "That's an excellent point Oliver."

Oliver looked up from his food realizing at this point he might have made a tactical error.

"I believe if we pulled the safety ratings on both our cars mine would probably come out ahead seeing as it's not an antique." Leah took a drink trying not to laugh noticing both Joe's movement and Shane placing a great amount of emphasis on the word's we and antique. "If I recall your car doesn't have four-wheel drive either. Maybe we should be considering replacing your car?" Shane asked innocently bating her eyes. "Seeing as we drive your car to work just as often. You know if we were really concerned about safety ratings."

Oliver realized by now he'd backed himself into a corner. "Now Shane my car may be a classic, but it hasn't reached antique status yet."

"Yet. Really Oliver that's the best you can do son?" Joe asked. Leah couldn't contain it any longer and started laughing. Getting up Leah grabbed a couple bowls, "Anyone like seconds before the next round?"

"I'd love some Leah." Joe answered watching Oliver and Shane hoping Oliver realized he wouldn't win a second round either.

"That would be delightful Leah. Shane and I can certainly finish this boring car conversation later." Oliver said trying to bow out gracefully.

"Excellent idea O'Toole." Shane said smiling. "Dad did Oliver tell you we got the doodles certified as support dogs yesterday?"

They finished dinner catching up on the Foundation and what Joe and Leah had been doing since the holidays. Watching them go Leah asked smiling, "So, how long will it be before Oliver has a nice new SUV with four-wheel drive and an excellent safety rating?"

"Six months tops. One or two if Shane's pregnant anytime soon." Joe said laughing.

"Are they trying?" Leah asked leaning against him.

"Originally, they were going to wait until the spring, but I find it hard to believe that they'll wait that long after what happened before Thanksgiving. Also, she didn't drink any wine at dinner." They walked back into the kitchen and Joe started helping her clean up from dinner.

"They seem to be doing better. I didn't know them that well at Thanksgiving, but I can see the difference in them now. They were both a little melancholy on the run up to Christmas."

"The holidays were so busy I don't really think they had time to process things until that week after Christmas. I'm glad Shane decided to stop working for the CBI. If she gets pregnant, she's going to have her hands full dealing with Oliver."

"What do you mean?" Leah asked.

"Every woman that's ever meant anything to Oliver has either left, died or both. Shane means everything to him. He was incredibly protective of her even before Thanksgiving."

"Which was why he was going on about the safety rating on her car."

"Exactly. I can't even start to imagine what he'll be like when she's pregnant." Joe said shaking his head.