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Friday: Love Never Fails

It has been a rough night. Sleep has not come easily. Day breaking through the window wakes Shane earlier than she intended. Her neck is a little stiff from sleeping on the couch. Coffee. Coffee is the answer.

"What if he brings, me a…even if he does I will just have another cup."

Sipping her morning coffee she is haunted by one exchange more than any other. "Norman has found the love of his life….Not everyone can say that." Maybe it is Oliver who can't say that. Oliver tried to talk his way out of it; she gave the loving, perfect response. Was he revealing what was really bothering this week?

Again there is no time for pondering or self-pity. Besides, she will see him soon and have a better understanding of how he is doing now that the bachelor party is finished.

To her disappointment she does not see him first thing this morning. He is not waiting for her with a cup of coffee. He is not at the DLO when she clocks in for work. She thought perhaps he would be there. No, she hoped that he would be there. Before he arrives she and Rita leave. She must focus on the task at hand.

Shane and Rita are two women on a mission, a mission of reconciliation. It is a beautiful day, not a cloud in the sky as they reach the picturesque home. Nevertheless, Shane feels a cloud hanging over them as the two women enter the house.

Jessica's response is understandable yet regrettable for Shane. For Rita it is unbearable. Shane's heart breaks not only for Jessica but also for Rita as she articulates how being too late truly feels. Rita has gone forward with wedding plans so bravely unaccompanied by her mother. Rita's companion is grief's ever-present shadow. Already starting the day with too little sleep and missing Oliver more than she wants to acknowledge, Shane finds tears come far too readily.

Shane thinks of the shy ingénue wearing an apron that they met at the DLO when she first came to Denver. She has not been replaced; she has flourished. Every lovely aspect of Rita has bloomed like the proverbial flower. She is still humble and kind and brilliant. But it is magnified. The bravery and humble boldness she wrote about in Renita Hayweather Frontier Duchess is now incarnated in her.

The women leave with the first part of their mission accomplished. Rita uses Shane's phone to call the DLO and alert the men to meet them at the Brown Palace. As the two women drive to the hotel Shane wonders what contemplative mood Oliver may be in today. She hopes this reunion will bolster his spirits and affirm his divine delivery theory.

"Be patient, be kind, be understanding," she tells herself. "Get through the wedding. Next week things will go back to normal and you will have ample opportunity to talk."

The practice of patience, kindness, and gentleness really isn't difficult where Oliver is concerned unless fear steps into her heart. It is only the spirit fear – the fear of losing him – that makes it difficult. A lack of sleep doesn't help.

As soon as she sees him in the lobby and they exchange their hellos she realizes that he is still guarded – quiet. But they have a reunion ahead of them – others on which to focus. This is the Postables doing what the Postables do.

With introduction made, Annaliese is escorted to her daughter. Shane instinctively takes Oliver's arm. "Did he offer or did I just take?" she briefly questions her action. "Oh well." But then she looks across the room and sees Jessica – in the dress. She smiles. Jessica is beautiful. The reunion is deeply moving.

And to think that this is in part the result of her wanting that dress – that the letter is found – that mother and daughter reunite. She isn't disappointed about not getting the dress that she wanted. She isn't even focused on the moment Oliver found her wearing it. She is lost in the satisfaction of what is before her – a divine delivery, a job well done. Once again the Postables deliver more than lost letters or lost packages. They deliver hope and second chances.

Leaving the tearoom she is perfectly content. It is as if every divine delivery they have made together binds into one. It is enough that Oliver is by her side. It is enough that Rita and Norman are instrumental in this party of four. She is proud of their work together. The words just roll off her tongue like butter. "I love us."

Everything stops. She and Oliver don't just stop walking - time stops. Once again in this contemplative, crazy week Oliver does something completely unexpected. If his buttoning that dress caused her to gasp this may cause her stop breathing all together. She is stunned. Her face flushes.

She joyfully confesses her love for "us" and he raises her one. "And I love…I love you." She knows there are other people in this room. But all she knows is him. She is sure other people are talking all around her but all she can hear is him saying "and I love…I love you."

Definition of us: four DLO employees known as Oliver, Shane, Norman and Rita

Definition of you, singular: Shane McInerney

He looks simultaneously proud of himself and cautious. You can see it in those expressive eyes. He even takes back a little protective control of the moment. "And I'm still contemplating what to do about it." He is like a little boy who punches her in the arm and waits to see if she will punch back.

The adoration in her eyes reveals her feelings – if he had any doubt. These are the words she delights in hearing. Finally she gets to deliver the words her heart bursts to say. "I see. Does it help if I mention that I love you so…."

These are words she has said in a thousand different ways on a thousand different levels. She respected and affirmed him as her colleague; she encouraged him and was steadfast as his friend; now she declares that she loves him uniquely as no other.

She is sure Norman said something about skunks. But he said, I love you. She continues to look at him. Her eyes will his heart to receive her words, her true words. If the world would stop she could relish the moment and let his words continue to envelop her. She does not want to turn away.

Yes, there is another wedding crisis - another dilemma. The foursome must regroup – change plans - again. The talking continues but she is lost in his eyes. Her pull on him is so strong in the moment that he doesn't know where to focus - first to her, then to them, then to her again. Finally it is as if the reality of the dilemma shakes her by the shoulders – snap out of it – SKUNKS!

"Norman, what are we going to do? First it was the flowers, then the minister, now the church!" says Rita.

"We are going to do something. I'm not sure what exactly but we are going to do something," replies Norman.

"Think Norman, think!" Rita pleads.

"It is going to be difficult to secure a public venue this late on a Friday," Oliver says, looking at his watch. "Norman, do you have a cousin with connections to a location or a large open room perhaps?"

"No. The largest space most of my cousins have access to aren't places you want to get married."

"Large space! That's it! The barn! We can have it in the barn!" says Rita.

"The barn?" questions Norman.

"Yes, at the farm," confirms Rita.

Still focused on Oliver, Shane answers Rita and Norman's panic. "That's a great idea."

She is perfectly calm. Her voice is soft. "Don't worry," Shane says beaming. "It will all work out." Rita and Norman assume that comment is meant for them.

Oliver returns her smile.

"We need to call the florist, notify the guests," continues Rita in overdrive.

"The guests. Who's going to tell the cow?" Norman responds.

"I'll Google and see how to get what we need. We can work together to notify everyone. It will be fine." Shane the planner kicks into gear.

As they drive out to the farm Shane may be on her way to recreate a barn into a wedding venue but her mind is still back in the lobby of the Brown Palace. Of all the ways and places she thought - dreamed – hoped - that he would say those three words, a spontaneous declaration in the Brown Palace on this day was not one of them. It matters not. The only thing that matters is that he has put into words that he loves her. It is a barrier broken. It is a step of faith she longed to make. She joins him there.

The rest of the day is a rush of activity. They hurry and scurry but she is moving in a golden haze. Even when they don't physically touch she feels connected to him. It is like a grand dance. She can't take her eyes off him; she does not stop smiling. He does not leave her side. Laughter comes easily.

He lowers her from a ladder and the touch of his hands on her waist feels somehow new and thrilling. He is close enough for her to feel his breath on her face. She has to remind herself that there are other people in the room. He brushes her hand to help her hang lights and she wants nothing more than to hold that hand and never let go. She is surprised by how comfortable they are with each other.

Perhaps it is the lack of sleep or the sheer emotional roller coaster of the week. It could be the thrill of his saying "I love you." She is all the more vulnerable to him.

A bolt of white tulle, a few strands of twinkle lights, chairs, and a makeshift arbor from two old ladders – the transformation is almost complete. With the help of Joe and Bill the crew of six transforms a barn into a wedding venue. The men go to pick up a couple of tables giving Rita and Shane a chance to stop for a few minutes.

In the corner of the loft they spread a blanket on some hay and collapse.

"Rita Haywith, you are remarkable," declares Shane.

"Aw, I don't feel remarkable. I feel exhausted," said Rita with a chuckle.

"No, you are. What you said to Jessica today took real strength. You were wise and kind and true. The way you handle love and loss and planning a wedding and re-planning a wedding. You are remarkable. I am proud to be your maid of honor."

"Oh Shane," says Rita as she reaches for Shane's hand.

"Having you as a friend has made it so much easier. So much changed after you came. You have been a divine delivery for us all," said Rita.

"I'm pretty sure it was mutual," said Shane with a smile.

"And I'm sure that something's different," said Rita.

"I hope so. After all this work this barn is transformed into your new, beautiful, wedding venue."

"No, with you. You and Oliver."

"You think?"

"Oh I'm sure of it. You two can't keep from smiling at each other."

The two women giggle.

"Oliver... Oliver told me that he loved me today."

"Shane."

"We were leaving the tearoom. I'm not sure he meant to say it when he did. But when he does say something he means it."

"Absolutely. And what did you say?"

"I told him I would give it some thought."

"SHANE"

Shane cannot help from laughing. "No, I was in the middle of saying I love you so much when someone said the word "skunks."

"Ou. I'm sorry."

"It's fine. Don't worry about it. You were the one who lost her church 24 hours before the wedding. I think he got the point."

Rita leans into Shane and whispers, "Like I said, we will be going shopping for you soon."

Shane shakes her head and smiles.

"What did you say to me once about curling Norman's cummerbund. You will buy something to curl Oliver's cummerbund."

"Rita Haywith! What has come over you?"

"Exhaustion."

They both laugh.

"Nerves," says Rita quietly. Shane grips her hand.

"Oh the guys are back." The two women rise from the blanket to finish the task of barn transformation.

Today still ends without that stolen moment - no passionate kiss, no warm embrace. There is only the squeeze of her hand just before she leaves. But that is enough. That is more than enough because of his words – I love you. They will carry her home and hold her until he does.

"I will see you tomorrow," says Shane.

"Tomorrow," says Oliver. His eyes and gentle smile say so much more.

She will sleep well tonight.