The Days of Mail and Roses

By Felicia Ferguson

Author's Note:

This one is actually a four-fer, if you can believe it! It's Christine's (mamalabo) big fill-in-the-gap request for what happens with ShOliver during the almost seven months between Impossible Dream (July 18-21, 2015) and From the Heart (February 13-15, 2016). It also draws on Jan's (heartiejan) request for probing Oliver and Joe's relationship between Truth be Told and One in a Million. And for me, I get to play with a minor character I've been wanting to explore and do more skill building (for fun: writing using symbolism; for the current novel-in-progress: writing long time jumps). So, win-win-win-win!

And with this story, the request list has now been whittled back down to BTA III (which is not looking likely since Love & Tempests and Family Ties covered a good swath of that ground), Shane and Kimsickle at Montaldo's (the muse has to be in the right mood, lol), two ficlets the muse has had her eye on for a while, and now a possible continuation of Second Thoughts that is percolating thanks to popular demand. Which means, the request list could reopen as soon as this fall, so keep a list of your ideas, POstables!

Writer-girl's processing starts here (feel free to skip to the story): The biggest thing that struck me as I was researching the plot for this story (e.g. rewatching ID, FTH, OIAM, and LWY multiple times—such a sacrifice for art, lol), was the disparity between the Shane and Oliver we see at the end of ID and the Shane and Oliver during the entirety of FTH.

The last scene of ID shows them contentedly being early ShOliver, saying "I love you" without words and both seemingly on the same page with the current state of their relationship (i.e. friendship but with a desire for more).

But then in FTH, Shane is irritated and hurt that Oliver didn't ask her out on the most popular date night of the year. She downplays the possibility of their romance and even tries to backpedal from their chemistry in the discussion with Rita (none of us believe you—but nice try, Shane, really.). Then she goes on to drop hints to Oliver that she was expecting him to ask her out.

Oliver, on the other hand, painstakingly hand-makes his valentine ("somebody really cares about someone") and is tremendously proud of his formal dinner invitation. He is obviously distressed about her reaction to Valentine's Day in general. Then later, he is deeply hurt when it appears she's blowing him and his gentlemanly act off by "lying" about not receiving any valentines.

And of course, when we finally get to the date in OIAM (don't get excited—I'm not tackling that with this piece), there's the discussion of the rose cutting and Shane's subtext of its progress—or lack thereof and possible death—mirroring their relationship. (Oh, Martha. Genius. Just genius.)

So, looking at all of this as a whole, I believe Shane and Oliver had to have very different interpretations of whatever happened during the almost seven months between ID and FTH. Which sets up some delicious opportunities for discovering the origins of the aggravating misunderstanding between our beloved couple in FTH.

Pulling out these and other story threads and exploring how those seven months might have passed while fitting the story into canon has been incredibly challenging. Add in the time jump and symbolism skill building, and I think this piece has stretched me craft-wise more than all the rest combined (although emotionally, BTA I still holds that honor, hands-down). But stretching is growth—which is a very good thing, lol. At any rate, I hope y'all enjoy the effort! I'm going to go find some serious chocolate now and recuperate.

As always, I own none of the SSD characters and canon. They belong to the gifted and talented Martha Williamson, Eric Mabius, Kristin Booth, Yan-Kay Crystal Lowe, Geoff Gustafson, Gregory Harrison, and Sherry Miller. I do, however, claim the letter mysteries and my fleshing out of the rose storyline and an off-camera character.

I love reading your feedback—it's like coffee and dark chocolate to a writer—so let me know what you think! Enjoy!

July

Shane McInerney dropped her purse on the kitchen table and her rolling suitcase in her laundry room without a second thought as she clutched the plastic bag filled with love and a rose cutting. Oliver had bought her family house lot. Even hours later, her head still whirled at that reality. But it was her heart that felt the greatest upheaval.

Just like with the porch swing, he had heard and absorbed her heart's cry then answered it with another thoughtful and, yes, loving act. He'd taken a cutting from her beloved rose bush and wrapped it in wet paper towels so she could once again savor the first and last roses of summer. If she hadn't already been head-over-heels for him, she was a now complete goner. Surely, he was as well. After all, no man except a man in love would even do one of those things for a woman.

Shane caught her reflection in the hall mirror as she made her way to the back door and cringed. She should change out of her dress, but the cutting was already several hours old and needed to be planted as soon as possible to ensure it would grow. Making a mental note to avoid the odd brushing up against anything, she kicked off her heels and padded barefoot through the grass to the storage shed and her collection of pots and potting soil.

Hand shielding her eyes to help them adjust to the dark confines, she stood in the doorway and scanned the metal shelves filled with garden tools, half-full bags of soil, and varieties of plant-specific fertilizer. "I know you're in here somewhere."

Setting the cutting in a safe place on an empty shelf, she pawed through the bottles of grass and weed killer and insecticides until her hand landed on thin plastic. "There you are!"

The black temporary nursery pot was left over from her most recent container plantings and was the perfect size for rooting the cutting. "Now, soil." Mindful of her dress, she scooped a heaping amount of potting soil into the pot, then searched her collection of fertilizers. She glanced back to the plastic baggie, and her brow furrowed. As much as she had planted and grown flowers over the years, she'd never actually rooted a cutting. Was there more to the process than simply sticking it in soil, fertilizing and watering it, then waiting?

She grabbed the pot, taking care to lay the baggie gently on top of the soil, then headed back to the house and her phone. A quick google search confirmed her instincts, and she began a careful study of the process. She nodded as she reached the end of the online article then sent it to her printer for a hard copy. It would take care, time, and patience, but rooting a rose cutting wasn't impossible.

Much like a relationship with Oliver.

Her lips lifted at the irony even as her heart turned over. After so much emotional upheaval, it seemed as if they were finally on the same page, their hearts equally open and ready to pursue the connection they each felt. Spring was finally here, and all the signs pointed to a beautiful unfolding for them as a couple.

Joy flooding her, Shane checked her watch, grabbed the print out, and headed out to the garden store. She had some purchases to make.

##

An hour later, Shane plopped the shopping bag on the back porch table, opened the bag with the cutting, and held it gently in her hand ready to do whatever it took to bring it to full growth and bloom.

She tugged on her gardening gloves, uncapped the hormone growth concentrate, and poured a spoonful into a red SOLO cup. She'd snagged a two-liter of Diet Coke on her way home and promptly dumped the contents down the drain. She'd never been a fan of the stuff, but according to the article, that plastic container was the perfect temporary greenhouse. After washing it well, she cut out the bottom as the online article directed. Setting it aside, she gave the soil a thorough soaking, then dipped the cutting into the hormone concentrate.

Shane searched the stripped-off end of the stalk carefully, making sure it was well-covered in the liquid. That was the secret according to her reading. Without a thorough dunking, the roots wouldn't grow and Oliver's sweet gift would come to nothing.

Taking in a quick breath, she slid the cutting into the soil and packed it tightly to keep it upright. Finally, she covered it with the two-liter bottle and set it on a plant stand by the back door. It would take a day or two for the humidity to build up, but the indirect sun would keep the cutting from getting cooked while it rooted.

Pulling off her gardening gloves, she pressed a kiss to her fingers then tapped the plastic confines of her future rose bush. "For luck."

And for love.

Shane pursed her lips as her gaze flicked from the pot to her backyard. Based on the research, it would be at least a month before she'd see roots. In the meantime, there were hydrangeas to prune and grass to cut. And that she could do something about.

Smiling, she headed off to change clothes and enjoy the rest of her afternoon.

##

Monday morning, the team gathered at the round table in the Mailbox Grille for breakfast. Shane handed the menus to the server as she recorded the last order with a nod.

The server flashed an easy smile. "The coffees'll be right up, and I'll put your food order in now—shouldn't take too long."

Norman grinned and nodded. "Good, I'm starving."

Rita patted his arm, her lips lifting in a fond smile.

Oliver folded his hands in front of him as his gaze moved among the group. "Well, given our time away, I believe we will need to prioritize—"

"There she is!" Hazel beamed from near the bar and, with a giggle, charged over to their table. "Ms. United States Special Handling!"

Rita's mouth dropped open as Hazel's exclamation drew a round of applause from the rest of the patrons. She glanced to Norman and then to Shane and Oliver as she pushed her glasses back over her ears. "Oh, ah. Thank you."

Hazel bounced with glee, tugging on Rita's arm, as Amanda from International Misdirects joined her. "You've made us all so proud, Rita."

Amanda pushed a pen and napkin in front of Rita. "Can I have your autograph?"

Pink stole across Rita's cheeks, and she flicked an uncertain glance to Shane. Shane grinned and nodded her encouragement. Rita took in a quick breath and sketched her name onto the napkin, the pen nub breaking through the paper. "Oh, I-I'm sorry. I can do another one."

Amanda shook her head. "No, this makes it unique from everyone else's—a Denver Main Branch collector's item."

Rita's cheeks reddened even further, and she flicked a pleading gaze to Oliver.

Oliver shot Hazel and Rita a dark look, but thankfully the server returned with their tray of coffees before he could call them to task. With another giggle and a brief wave, Hazel tugged Amanda away and they began a deep discussion of Amanda's new prized possession. The server set out the coffees and confirmed their food order was next in line then headed off to another table.

Oliver shifted in his seat, and, Shane stifled her grin as she imagined his heels lifting under the table. "As I was saying, I believe we should prioritize the misdirects and no zip codes and get them processed before beginning a new dead letter."

Shane nodded then glanced across the table. "I'll handle locating the zip codes if Rita and Norman will do the misdirects."

Norman fidgeted with his coffee mug, but smiled. "Be happy to, right, Rita?"

Rita's cheeks had cooled, but the adoration in her gaze ramped up a few notches. "Of course, I love it when we team up, Norman."

Shane grinned as she absorbed Rita's genuine joy at returning to their usual postal duties. Like Oliver's inheritance, Rita's new-found popularity wouldn't change her. Shane's gaze returned to Norman as he nodded with quiet delight then patted Rita's hand.

It would be fun watching their relationship bloom. Maybe they'll be engaged next year? But if wealth and fame hadn't changed the POstables, would engagement and marriage? Shane's heart warmed at the thought. Only for the better.

While Norman and Rita discussed the best place to start their sorting, Oliver took a long sip of his coffee then offered input into Norman's plan. Shane's gaze drifted to him as her thoughts began to wander. Norman and Rita were well underway, but what about her and Oliver? He obviously cared for her and was certainly interested in more. But what would that more look like? And when would it happen?

He'd only been divorced for a month, but would his hesitant dinner invitation become something bolder in the coming weeks now that he was completely free to pursue her? Would they actually have a real first date instead of an impromptu sandwich-splitting on the steps of a monument building?

The night had been rife with worry and concern for the mission, for Randilynn, for Phoebe. But it was also one of the sweetest evenings she and Oliver had ever shared and had bonded them on another deeper level. They had subtly turned toward each other as Oliver checked his timepiece, drawing strength and comfort while the mission unfolded halfway around the world. Then he'd filched the sandwich at the reception and wrapped it in a red cocktail napkin, escorting her outside and up the steps of one of the Capitol buildings. She had to admit there couldn't be a better dinner view in Washington D.C., even though neither of them fully appreciated it.

The server appeared again, but this time her tray was laden with breakfast dishes. Pancakes for Rita and Norman, French toast and eggs over medium for Oliver, and a veggie omelet for herself. Shane leaned forward to take her plate and caught a whiff of Oliver's cologne. Lips lifting in a quick smile of thanks for the server, she set her plate down and flicked a glance toward Oliver. His suit of the day was a light gray check and accented by her favorite lavender tie. Her mind faithfully replayed the memory and feel of his jacket draped around her shoulders as they sat on the steps.

She had shivered once and, before she could say a word, she was surrounded by his warmth and the sweet whiff of his cologne as it rose from the fabric. When she'd returned to her hotel room and undressed, she'd buried her nose in the neckline of her dress, savoring the faintest hint of the scent's transfer.

Like their evening together, though, it was too brief. And Shane wanted more. More of Oliver. His time. His attention. His heart.

But she'd already pushed him too fast during their dance in the DLO and had run head-long into the invisible brick wall named Holly. While Holly was no longer an issue, Oliver still needed time. He had to figure out who he was apart from his vows to Holly. Needed to learn what he really wanted for himself and in a relationship. And to feel secure in Shane's interest, love, and commitment to him. Shane's heart melted as she watched him precisely slice his French toast. And committed to him she certainly was. She couldn't imagine her future without him in it.

She turned her gaze back to her own breakfast before he caught her stare. They ate in a comfortable silence, allowing their easy camaraderie free rein. A few minutes later, the server offered refills of their coffees. As she turned to get Shane's skinny vanilla latte, another postal employee, napkin and pen in hand, slipped through the patrons making her way toward their table. Shane's lips turned down in a sympathetic frown as she glanced toward Rita.

Rita ducked her head then grabbed Norman's hand and tugged. "Norman, why don't we head on to the DLO while Shane and Oliver finish up?"

Norman's brow flickered with concern and his mouth dropped open to object, but as he followed her gaze he nodded. "Yes, we have a lot of mail to sort through. It would be good to get started."

Rita sighed her relief and flashed a quick glance to Oliver and Shane. "That is if you're okay with it."

Shane's cheeks curved with understanding. She flicked her eyes to Oliver then toward the oncoming employee.

Oliver caught her silent explanation and nodded. "Ah, yes. Perfectly fine. Ms. McInerney and I will join you shortly."

Rita and Norman beat a hasty retreat, Norman sweetly turning to shield Rita from the curious onlookers as they made their way to the exit.

The server replaced Shane's empty mug then cleared Norman and Rita's plates with a nod. Shane sipped her latte and watched the crestfallen postal employee as she returned to her table. "Wonder how long it'll take for Rita's new stardom to wear off around here?" A wry tone wrapped around her words.

Oliver's shoulders lifted, but he made no further reply. Instead, he returned his attention to his empty plate and dwindling coffee.

Shane's brows flickered. Was he uncomfortable being alone with her? And if so, why? They'd met and discussed letters here in the Mailbox Grille by themselves previously.

She caught his quick glance toward her and the pinking of his ears, then swallowed her dawning realization. Yes, they had been alone here together, but that was before he'd bought her house lot and given her the rose cutting.

But surely, he wasn't embarrassed by the gifts? He had to know she not only appreciated them, but loved them. Shane's lips thinned with consideration as she studied his face, their gazes meeting yet again. This time they held for a moment, and she read the worry flickering in his eyes. No, he wasn't embarrassed, but he probably thought he'd overplayed his hand.

Her gaze warmed, sending him comfort and understanding. Time and space, Shane. Give him time and space. Trying to heed her own advice, she searched for a neutral topic to ease his discomfort. Unfortunately, the only thing she could come up with was the McInerney House itself. Taking a quick breath, she barreled onward. "Once we get to the DLO, I'll start searching for the blueprints for my old house. Have you picked an architectural firm yet?"

Oliver flicked another uncomfortable glance to her and sniffed.

Shane winced. So much for easing his concern. She longed to squeeze his hand, touch his shoulder, or even cup his cheek. But unlike their embrace in the DLO that night, she was certain none of those acts would be acceptable in such a public location as the Mailbox Grille. Instead, she flashed him an encouraging, but innocuous smile, hoping that might relieve the building tension.

Oliver's shoulders did ease a bit, and Shane swallowed her thankful sigh. "Ah, no. Ms. Bullock has handled the purchase arrangements. I've entrusted the architect selection to her as well."

So that's how he purchased the lot so fast and under the radar. Her eyes narrowed as she thought back to the morning of their D.C. departure. He had been late for breakfast with the team and then disappeared again as soon as their plates were cleared, only to return just in time to join them for Randilynn's airport reunion.

Oliver drained the last of his coffee, and his eyes returned to her as if drawn without thought. The air thickened. Awareness stretched between them.

She tried to remember what she'd mentally told herself moments ago. Something about time?

Oliver opened his mouth.

Would he ask her to dinner again? Shane's pulse skittered. Her yes poised to once again fall from her lips.

But all he said was, "Well, I … ah … believe if you're finished with your coffee, we should … join Rita and Norman. Lots to catch up on this week."

Her heart clenched. Smothering her disappointment, Shane nodded. Yes, time and space were a definite must. She chugged the final swallows of her coffee, then scooted out of the bench. Oliver paid their tab, and when their eyes met again, the professional wall had returned. It was back to business.

Patience, Shane. He's worth the wait.