December 22 - Afternoon and Evening

Shane checked her computer the minute she, Oliver, Norman and Rita returned to the DLO after lunch. The search she'd programmed had finished. She breathed a sigh of relief.

"Uncle Mike didn't show up in the obituaries. At least he's still alive."

Oliver sat down at this desk and studied the letter.

"Perhaps we could locate Officer Martin. He might be able to tell us something. Your uncle lived with him for a year. They surely talked of many things."

"There have to be thousands of police stations in Chicago," Shane said. "I need a specific area."

Oliver consulted the letter again.

"He liked to walk along the lakeshore. That should narrow it down. Rita, zip codes for the eastern side of Chicago, please."

Rita looked up from the pile of 'Dear Santa' letters she was sorting and thought for a minute.

"60201 through 60210."

Shane keyed in the inquiry. A few minutes later, she retrieved the information from the printer.

Norman walked over and took the print out from Shane.

"I'll start calling."

Shane joined Rita at the table.

The rest of the afternoon passed quietly as each of them focused on their specific tasks. A few minutes before 5, Shane printed the lists and Rita gathered the letters.

Norman hung up the phone and sighed.

"I found him."

"Great!" Rita replied.

Norman shook his head.

"Officer Lawrence Martin retired from the police force five years ago, and died a year later. He never married and has no other living family."

Shane returned to her workstation.

"I'll start searching the DMV in every state west of the Mississippi River. I can find him through the license plate for his car."

Oliver lifted their coats from the rack, and then walked over to Shane. He laid his hand on her arm.

"Tomorrow."

"At least let me program the first few states."

"Tomorrow," he repeated gently.

Rita and Norman exchanged looks. Norman nodded and they put on their coats.

"Have a good evening," Norman told Oliver and Shane.

"You as well. Good night," Oliver replied.

Shane remained silent. Rita walked over and gave her a hug.

As soon as they left, Shane looked at Oliver with tear-filled eyes.

"I can't face Mom without something encouraging to tell her."

"You have something encouraging to tell her. Your Uncle Mike is still alive."

He held her coat open. She put it on reluctantly.

"Come for dinner tonight," Shane invited. "That way we can tell Mom together. It will help. Please!"

A single tear slid down her cheek.

He wiped the tear away tenderly, then took her hands in his.

"Of course."

"Do you like meat loaf?" she asked.

"Actually, I do. Dad used to make it."

"It was one of my favorite meals when I was a little girl. That's probably what Mom prepared for dinner tonight."

"It sounds quite appetizing."

Oliver put on his coat and offered Shane his arm.

"Shall we dine?" he asked.

"We shall."

Shane and Oliver stepped inside. Chris walked into the entry before Shane closed the door.

"Did you find anything?" she asked.

"He is alive," Shane told her.

"Thank God," she said.

"We haven't been able to find him yet. We located the Police Station where Officer Martin had been employed, hoping he might have some information that would help, but he died four years ago and left no immediate family."

Chris drew a deep, shaky breath. "Now what?"

"Tomorrow, I'm going to start a state by state search for his car through the DMV databases."

"Dinner's ready," Alex called.

She glanced at Shane as they entered the dining room. Shane shook her head slightly.

Oliver looked at the meat loaf and nodded slightly at Shane. Besides the meatloaf, the meal consisted of red potatoes, green beans, and garlic bread.

"Alex and I will clean up," Chris told Shane after they completed their meal. "You and Oliver go into the living room and relax."

"Thanks, Mom," Shane said.

"Mom took the news better than I thought," she told Oliver as soon as they sat down.

"Your mother is a strong woman."

"She's had to be. Everything she went through with Alex." Shane shook her head.

"As I remember, you once told me to 'leave the past in the past where it belongs'," Oliver reminded her gently.

Shane sighed. "I know."

Shane needed Oliver to put his arms around her, to hold her, to assure her that everything would be OK, but she knew he wouldn't express any signs of affection with her mother and sister in the next room.

She stood up.

"I'll put on some music. Would you like vocal or instrumental?"

"Instrumental, please."

Shane sat next to Oliver on the sofa. Chris and Alex came in from the kitchen. Chris carried a tray with coffee and dessert.

Alex glanced at the record player.

"A phonograph? Records?" she asked Shane.

"Oliver prefers vinyl."

Shane looked at the tray.

"Chocolate mousse?"

"You always ate chocolate when you were stressed," Chris said.

"I still do. Thanks, Mom."

"Cream or sugar, Oliver," Chris asked him.

"Black, please."

Chris handed Shane her cup.

"Plenty of sugar."

As soon as they'd finished, Chris reached for the tray.

"Mom, I'll take care of that. Why don't you go to bed?" Shane suggested.

Chris breathed out a long sigh and pushed herself off the sofa.

"I believe I will. I'm still feeling the effects of 'jet lag'."

"I'll join you," Alex told her.

Oliver stood up.

"Thank you for dinner, Mrs. McInerney."

She smiled at him. "My pleasure."

Chris and Alex left the room. Oliver sat down next to Shane again and wrapped his arms around her, holding her close. She laid her head on his shoulder.

"We are going to find him?" Shane asked him.

"Of course. 'Trust the timing'."

"Trust the timing," Shane echoed.

Oliver stood up, removed his coat and tie, unbuttoned the top button of his shirt, and held out his hand to Shane.

She smiled and allowed him to lead her to the middle of the room.

"It's been awhile," Oliver whispered against her hair. "Do you still remember?"

Shane nodded.

Chris passed by the living room on her way to the bathroom. Movement caught her eye and she paused discreetly out of sight as Oliver and Shane began their dance. Chris was fascinated. If love could speak, this dance was its language. She watched until Oliver lifted her daughter out of a dip and slowly turned her around. Oliver was facing Chris as they stopped. He lowered his face towards Shane's and Chris turned away. Oliver was old-fashioned and very proper and unlike any man Shane had ever dated, but Chris could see his love for her daughter shining in his eyes. She whispered a quick, thankful prayer that God had sent this wonderful man into Shane's life.