Oliver and Shane spent a couple of hours on the swing. He filled her in in regard to what had happened with Holly. He didn't ask Shane why she was quitting the DLO. She was grateful he didn't bring it up because by the time he left, she was over the moon! This was her dream come true! He would be available, it was just a matter of time, and they could have a chance to be together! Obviously, he'd need time to heal, but she was going to be there for him, or at least, those were her intentions.
Oliver was a man who'd had his share of hurt since he was very young. His mother, a free-spirited woman, who wasn't ready to be a mother, left him and his dad when he was 8. She came back for a few years, but left again for good when Oliver was 13. Abandonment was a HUGE issue in his life. Years later, while they were at the postal museum in DC, his wife left for Paris, leaving Oliver completely devastated. Abandoned by his mother and then by his wife froze him up. He never ever wanted to feel that kind of pain again. Oliver decided the next time he opened his heart, if in fact he ever would again, he was going to be more careful. He wasn't going to jump into a relationship as quickly as he did with Holly. He was sure he felt something for Shane, but needed time after his divorce to lick his wounds and heal. He needed to understand what these feelings were and whether these feelings were reciprocated. Was she still interested in him? Would she instead follow her friend Rebecca's advice and start stomping in Denver? He really hoped she wouldn't. He had to admit he had kept her at arm's length for quite some time now. Oliver would have to be careful to protect himself from further pain.
Shane was a woman with many wonderful traits. She was curious, caring, and imaginative when it came to her work. When it came to Oliver, she was also very patient. Over the weeks and months after Holly left, Shane developed what she liked call the patience of a Tibetan monk. She understood Oliver needed to take things slowly. He needed to heal from what had happened with his marriage. He had bottled up so much, she knew he needed to relearn how to really feel things after being adrift in emotional limbo for years.
A few days later, she met Oliver's father. Oliver was horrified to see him in the post office. He was so angry he couldn't see straight! Shane thought Joe seemed nice, but she really had no clue what the issues were. All she knew was, for some reason, she was in the middle of it all, as she delivered a message to Oliver from his father. She witnessed a furious Oliver, acting like a child throwing a tantrum.
Curiosity got the better of her, of course, thus becoming a very important cog in a wheel that set into motion a reconciliation between father and son. She was very proud of that.
The whole situation with Oliver's father had shown Shane something very important. Through all the hard times Oliver had to endure after Joe showed up, she was the person Oliver turned to when he needed moral support. On that awful day when Oliver's past changed in an instant, she was the person beside him through it all. It had been a lot to take…for a few hours he thought his dad was dead, only to learn that Joe O'Toole wasn't his biological father. The truth about his parentage revealed he had inherited a fortune, dropped on his lap by a man he never knew. Shane held him when he thought he didn't deserve it. She gave him advice, comfort and perspective when he was filled with grief: for a mother who tried but couldn't stay, and for the loss of a name he was proud of. Shane encouraged him to see and feel Joe's unconditional love for him so he could finally begin to build a new relationship with the only father he knew after 15 years of estrangement.
Finally, when they celebrated Shane's birthday at the Mailbox Grille, Rita, Norman and Joe gave her presents while Oliver popped the cork on a bottle of champagne. Everyone had cake. It was a very happy ending after a very rough couple of days. No chocolate was needed that evening! Shane was glad about that because she had been eating more than her fair share of it and needed to change up her exercise routine to account for the extra calories she had consumed.
Shane knew they were headed in the right direction, but slowly. She had a much better understanding now of why Oliver was cautious and wanted to take his time.
A few months passed and then it was time to head to DC to support Rita in the national Miss Special Delivery pageant. While in DC, Oliver met Shane's old flame, Steve Marek, and just like at the Christmas postal Ball, the green-eyed monster showed up. Oliver quickly realized he was even more jealous this time. Steve was a real danger to him and his feelings for Shane. Steve was the domestic version of James Bond. He was a spy, yes, but worse than that, he had a previous long-term relationship with Shane. Shane ended things with him because he was married to his job, but Steve was still interested in getting her back. Oliver was annoyed by the way Steve hugged Shane at the outdoor bar that afternoon. He was even more annoyed when she left with him! He couldn't shake from his mind the way Steve greeted Shane with such familiarity, the kind of familiarity Oliver realized he longed to have with her. At the bar later that evening, Shane assured him the only reason she called Steve was to ask for his help with bringing Lt. Amidon home from Afghanistan. The POstables ended up deciphering a coded letter Lt. Amidon got sent to the US. The team then presented and defended their findings to a special hearing convened to decide whether to approve a rescue mission or not.
After returning from that trip something started to brew within Oliver. He was still scared and gun-shy, wanting to protect his heart. He felt like he had to slow down and take even more time. He had to move at a pace he was comfortable with. He just prayed Shane wouldn't tire of waiting for him while he worked out his fears and insecurities.
Soon it was the Christmas holiday rush once again. Shane spent Christmas with her mother and he spent his first Christmas with his father in years. He was happy to have him back in his life. Joe encouraged Oliver to finally ask Shane on a date for Valentine's day. The day was approaching very quickly! Oliver, encouraged by his dad, felt ready to try, so he planned on sending an invitation to Shane; a handmade Valentine's card that was going to be delivered by regular US mail.
What transpired after the card left Oliver's hands was almost a disaster. Both he and Shane made incorrect assumptions; both hung up on their insecurities and fears. Neither one was able to communicate effectively either. Oliver was sure she was rejecting him by denying she had received a valentine. She said in no uncertain terms she didn't get any, not even one from her mother. Each of them spent what could have been a romantic evening alone.
That night Shane was so frustrated. She thought for sure Oliver was going to ask her out. Since their trip to DC and their improvised dinner on the steps of the Lincoln monument, she was hopeful he was going to ask her out for Valentine's Day. Her Tibetan monk's patience was running thin and her intake of chocolate had increased the last couple of days. Could it be Oliver was not interested? Or was it something else? She had spent hours thinking, rethinking and overthinking when or how he was going to ask her for date! Her chocolate drawer was in much need of quick replenishment!
Deciding to shake her frustrations with a workout, Shane changed into her jogging clothes and running shoes. She threw on a jacket and a warm hat because it was a chilly night. She did her stretching exercises outside her fence, chose her "4 running motivational" playlist, and was about to take off when she saw a very happy couple obviously enjoying what looked like a perfectly romantic Valentine's walk. Shane's heart almost dropped to her feet! She stood there wondering what Oliver was doing. Would he be on a date? She stood there thinking for a moment… should she casually run by Oliver's house to see what he was doing? She checked her phone for his address. It wasn't that far away. It was perfectly plausible to head in that direction while jogging, right? She'd have an excuse just in case she bumped into him, right? Why not, I'll go to his house and face the truth, she thought. What's the worst that could happen? Oliver on a date with someone else? That would be awful!
She started her jog while her thoughts headed towards heartache and disappointment. She had waited so long for Oliver... maybe she forgot to make sure he knew she was waiting? Maybe she did, but didn't he see the signals? Maybe there would never be a right time for them. She was about to turn around to go back home, knowing that going by Oliver's house, today of all days was a huge mistake. That's when she saw the house with the sign outside confirming it was Oliver's. She looked up to the one window that was lit up. There he was with a record in his hands looking at the sleeve. She saw him put the record on his record player and place the needle to start the music. She heard the familiar piano chords and was stunned! It was And So It Goes! Billy Joel's voice poured out of his open window. Shane was glued to the sound. The image of him pouring a glass of wine, sitting alone with her music, and a book in hand that held no interest broke her heart. He was looking through the window lost in thought. Shane couldn't help but think, in the darkness of the night, maybe he was remembering our dance?
The mystery was solved! He was the one who took her record. But why? She couldn't think straight at the moment. All she could think was he was listening to this song, from her record, the one she took to the DLO to pitch for their showcase dance, the record he stole! She looked at Oliver's face once more and her heart pounded. The memories of their dance in the DLO came rushing back as if a door in her mind had been opened. She could feel his body near hers again, she could breathe in his scent… all the emotions she had bottled up after that night flooded her entire being. She remembered everything! She had felt so secure and protected when she was in his arms. She loved that feeling, she loved being near him, she loved him! It was hard to acknowledge this truth. She knew it had been brewing within her since their simultaneous answer of "theoretically" to Andrea, her very first day at the DLO.
Tears were rolling down her cheeks. He had to remember that dance as well. She knew it now. Why else would he have stolen her record? Shane wondered how many times he had listened to it. But… could it be? Was he playing the song again? Shane stood transfixed, watching Oliver get up, stop the record player, and place the needle so the song could start anew. Ohmygoodness, she thought, this is his vintage version of playing a song on a loop!
Shane was so confused, but at the same time she was excited, happy, sad…! She dried her tears, took one last look at Oliver, and walked back to her house. So many emotions washed over her as she walked back home in autopilot. In what felt like the blink of an eye, she was on the front steps of her house. She needed a shower and sleep, but she was standing still by the front door thinking about what she saw as she tried to process it all. HE took her record, HE listened to the song, HE had it on a loop, HE remembered! She started getting ready for bed, hoping sleep would come. Maybe a hot cocoa would help? She was sorting out how to act around Oliver tomorrow at the office. "Act cool," she said to herself. "Just act cool like you saw nothing and know nothing." She took shower and went to bed. Tomorrow was going to be interesting.
As it turned out, the Valentine's Day mix-up was a comedy of errors… Hazel gave the card to Rita, who put it in a box of decorations, which she then gave to Shane, forgetting to tell her friend the valentine was inside the box. Shane lugged the box to the DLO and eventually, it ended up in the dumpster.
In the end, with help from Norman on a fateful February 15th, Shane found the card and decided to go to Oliver's church to talk to him… She needed to tell him she found the card and wanted to ask why he stole her record.