Trust the Timing - Chapter 3
The first few weeks after Holly left, Oliver was consistently irritable, impatient and just plain nasty. His team struggled, trying to keep their spirits up in spite of their section leader being in such a bad mood all the time. One day Shane had a meeting with Rita and Norman to talk about what was going on. After that, she invited Oliver to have a drink after work. At first, he said no. Shane continued to insist and he eventually agreed.
"Thanks for accepting my invitation, Oliver. It's important for us to talk."
"Ok, what can I do for you, Ms. McInerney?" Shane swallowed hard and began. "I'm speaking on behalf of your whole team."
"Yes?" He seemed to be as impatient as usual.
"First things first. Please stop being so snarky."
"I beg your pardon?"
"You heard me, Oliver. You've been treating your team very poorly. Norman and Rita are now as scared of you as they are of Andrea." He gasped. Shane continued. "I know you're going through a tough time, Oliver. However, this is not who you are. You've been impatient and actually quite mean; pushing away the only people who actually care about you."
Oliver blinked rapidly, as if he was waking up from a long sleep.
"I must say, you've been particularly nasty towards me. Trust me Oliver, all I want is to be your friend, yet you've been treating me as if I'm the one who poisoned Holly against you and then took her away."
"Oh, no!" He said, softly.
"We all have problems Oliver, and we all deal with our problems differently. Treating your team as if we're your enemies is not helping anyone and it only serves to alienate them and isolate you. Is that what you want?"
"No, Ms. McInerney, it's not." He cleared his throat. "I apologise, Ms. McInerney for how I have been behaving since coming back from DC. You're right. None of this is your fault. The fact you just happened to be in DC when Holly left was providential. In fact, you were a huge help to me when I needed it the most. The Lord knew I was going to need a friend and he selected you."
Shane smiled kindly. Oliver continued. "I don't know what I'd have done without you during those sad days. You were there for me. I realise now I've been treating you as if you had something to do with my wife's decision to abandon me. You did not, Ms. McInerney. What happened in DC was the result of months of her overall dissatisfaction with our marriage. It had nothing to do with you."
However, Oliver knew exactly why he had been particularly nasty towards her. It was to protect both their hearts because he knew they could easily fall for each other. He just could not abide any thought of getting involved in a love affair while he waited for his wife to return.
"Please forgive me, Ms. McInerney. It was not my intention to alienate any of you. I shall apologise to Norman and Rita as well."
She reached out and grabbed his hand on the table. "There's no need for apologies. All we want is our Oliver back."
Her words pulled at his heartstrings and he smiled at her, feeling a warmth he hadn't felt in months.
"I will apologise, I need to. Thank you, Ms McInerney for your friendship. A true friend's rebuke is more precious than flattery."
She knew he was quoting scripture, which was his go to place for comfort. "You're most welcome, Oliver."
Oliver did apologise to his co-workers and he received hugs from both Norman and Rita. They truly loved him. Shane however, remained seated at her steampunk desk and just nodded at him. The barriers they needed to have between them were firmly in place.
Months passed and Oliver relaxed, obviously adapting to his new reality.
Rita had broken up with Bob. It appeared she was besotted with Norman! However, he was oblivious to the longing gazes she cast in his direction, even when he wasn't looking. Shane, wanting to give them a chance to spend time together, started to organise outings for the three of them. Oliver heard from Norman what she was doing and he asked to join them.
Shane was pleasantly surprised to have Oliver join in the fun and now the quartet was complete. It soon became a weekend routine for all four of them to spend time together. They often went to a football or baseball game, followed by a meal at various cafes or restaurants around town. They were thoroughly enjoying each other's company and the four of them got along very well.
"How's your western novel coming along, Ms. McInerney? He asked her, while Rita and Norman were playing shuffleboard.
"My what?"
"The fan fiction you were going to write about me. The Postmaster! Right?" He looked at her, amused.
"Ah, wouldn't you like to know?"
"Yes! I would. That's why I'm asking."
She laughed. "Right! I'm not telling."
"Why not?"
"You wouldn't like it." She said teasing him.
"Really? What have you done?" He said, trying to sound stern. "Can I read it?" He asked.
"Yes! However, since you don't have a computer, I don't know how you will manage that."
"Well, you can show it to me."
"Nope, I don't think so." She said, laughing.
"Now you've made me really curious." He said, trying to hide a smile.
"Oh really? Mr. O'Toole, curious? What's happening to the world?"
"It must be my proximity to you. Your character is rubbing off on me." They looked at each other and his eyes did not waver away from hers. She blushed. She could feel the heat rising up in her face.
He cleared his throat and asked. "Ms. McInerney, I have a favour to ask you."
"Yes?"
"I need a dance partner."
"You what?" She said, putting her drink down.
"Yes! I lost my dance partner, Louise and I need a new one."
"What happened to Louise?"
"She eloped!"
Shane laughed. "Oh my goodness, I wish I could elope."
"She's 85!"
"So?"
"We're all very worried about her! She's not being rational."
"Poor Louise! Leave the old lady alone." She said, chuckling.
He couldn't help but laugh at her. "So, will you do it?"
"Do what?"
"Be my partner?"
Oh, Oliver, I'd love to be your partner. She thought, looking at him and getting lost in his eyes.
"Yes?" He asked again, bringing her back to the present.
"Well, tell me more about it."
"Well, it's ballroom dancing and we are practicing for a showcase coming up in three weeks' time.
"Showcase?"
"Yes."
"Do you think I can do it?"
"Well, I've danced with you before and you're not entirely without grace." "Oh, be still my heart." She said, laughing. "You certainly have a way with words when you're trying to charm a woman."
He gave her a slight smile. "Sorry." He said, but he certainly didn't look it.
"Why don't you ask a nice lady from your church? She might even have more grace than me." She said sarcastically.
"No! I don't want a nice lady. I want you."
"Do you just?"
Again they looked at each other. Their eyes said a lot more than their words did.
"Yes! I will, Oliver."
"Thank you, Ms. McInerney."
###
It was the first day of dance practice for Shane. It was very intense and she was very nervous.
"Give me your hand." He extended his hand towards her and she placed her hand in his. He pulled her towards him, "Don't look down," and he started leading her through the steps.
His warmth spread to and throughout her body, as his confidence grew stronger as he guided her.
"You're good at this." She said, as they glided across the dance floor.
"As I said, you're not entirely without grace." He whispered near her ear.
"Do you want me to carry on or do you want to find another Louise?"
He laughed. "No! I don't want to find another Louise. As long as you don't decide to elope on me, we should be fine."
"Well, if you find another 85 year old man ready to elope, let me know… I'm in the market for eloping." They both laughed.
The hour went by far too quickly. Before they knew it, it was over. He then invited her to join him for dinner, as it was now past their regular work hours and he was hungry. She agreed and they went to a small Greek restaurant in the Denver suburbs. He didn't want to expose either of them to any potential gossip by going to dinner together at the Mailbox Grille.
They decided to order a platter to share. It came with pita bread with taramasalata, hummus, olive dip, kalamata olives, sun-dried tomatoes, feta cheese, harissa rubbed mini chicken skewers, bbq eggplant, lamb sheftalias, peppered calamari, squid, and prawn manti with chargrilled capsicums and loads of Greek yogurt. It was a real banquet.
"Wow! You may have to carry me out of here, Oliver. What have we done?" They ate while they enjoyed their easy banter.
As the days went by, they grew comfortable being with each other outside of the office. They danced every evening and ate out at different restaurants, cafes and diners. As they danced and spent more time together, their friendship slowly morphed into something else, with feelings neither of them were ready to deal with or even acknowledge.
Oliver didn't even realise how happy he was or that Holly was slowly and steadily fading from his memory. It had been well over a year since she left. She hadn't yet kept her promise to send her forwarding address, but Oliver wasn't surprised. She wasn't exactly keeping her promise when it came to their vows either.
Shane was now the woman who came to his mind when he woke up each day and the person who was in his mind when he fell asleep at night. Her scent lingered on his clothes. Her perfume drove him crazy. The scent of her hair as they danced clung to his nose. He often took a deep breath of it as his nose rubbed against her hair during practice.
She was filling all the empty gaps in his life.
As for Shane, she was more aware of her feelings than Oliver was. She knew she was in great danger of falling completely in love with him. Their easy camaraderie filled her heart with longing for a long term relationship with a man just like him.
The differences between Oliver and Steve were glaring! Oliver was completely present with her when they were together, as opposed to Steve who was always focused on something else. Always in a hurry! Always unable to completely relax in the moment, as he was seemingly waiting on the edge of his seat for his next assignment; which always came without fail, especially when he was with her.
Dancing with Oliver had given her another perspective of what a caring man should look like. Oliver was the epitome of caring. He made sure she was always well hydrated during practice when the room got really hot. He treated her as if she was the most precious thing in his life, instead of just a colleague helping him with his dance classes. She hadn't expected to enjoy the dancing classes as much as she was. She suspected it was all due to her dance partner.
The only thing Shane was not keen on was the song he had chosen for their showcase. The night before the showcase, Shane had one more song to present for his consideration. She had tried quite a few other selections and now it had become a running joke! Some of the songs she selected were either completely inappropriate or mainly intended to tease him.
After Rita and Norman left for the day, Shane put on the record to play and they started dancing.
Oliver finally relaxed as he started to enjoy the song she had chosen. They smiled at each other, initially just having fun. As the routine intensified, they were slowly swept away by the melody and rhythm. As the song continued, they became acutely aware of each other and everything else faded into the background. It was just them, dancing, feeling the music. Time stopped, suspended in the wave of feelings overtaking them; threatening to crush them both under the sheer weight of it.
As Oliver pulled Shane back up out of a dip towards him, they stopped dancing. Their eyes locked. Their lips were mere inches from each other's. They could feel the warmth of each other's breaths on their faces.
"Shane!" He whispered.
"Oliver!" She whispered back.
He wanted to kiss her so badly he could almost taste her.
She closed her eyes in anticipation but she didn't move. If he wanted to kiss her, he was going to have to take the initiative.
He let go of her hand that he had pressed against his heart and touched her soft face with the back of his.
"I can't!" He whispered, his mouth almost touching hers.
She opened her eyes and looked into his. His were filled with tears.
She nodded and stepped away. "I understand." Her own tears started streaming down her face. He wiped them away with his thumbs.
"We shouldn't have allowed this to get to this point."
"Unfortunately, our hearts didn't get the memo, Oliver."
He nodded. "I should go now." Oliver stepped back from her. He turned off the music; an unearthly and melancholic tune about broken hearts and missed opportunities. It was as if what he was feeling in his own heart at this very moment was being translated into song. He grabbed his jacket.
"Good night, Ms. McInerney."
"Good night, Oliver."
Oliver arrived home utterly heartbroken. He had been careless. His heart had slowly defrosted and he hadn't even noticed. Even if he had noticed, he doubted he'd have been able to stop it from falling in love with Shane. It was too late now. He was hopelessly and completely in love with her! He had no idea what to do. He finally allowed tears to run down his face. It was obvious to him now that it had been inevitable he was going to fall for Shane. She was his perfect match, his intellectual equal. What did he expect was going to happen to his heart after spending all that time holding her in his arms? It had never been a matter of if. It had always been a matter of when. What on earth was he going to do now?
Shane arrived home in a daze. She didn't even remember leaving the DLO and driving home. She made a beeline for the freezer and grabbed a whole tub of chocolate ice cream. Her tears wouldn't stop running down her face while she ate the ice cream. She knew she had allowed her heart to fall for Oliver. If truth be told, she started to fall for him at the coffee cart, where they met for the first time, almost two years ago. What surprised her tonight was the realisation he had also fallen for her as well. It was written all over his face and in his beautiful blue eyes. The way he looked at her tonight, full of longing and knowing their love was forbidden, was heartbreaking. What on earth was she going to do now?
The following day, it was obvious for all to see that something had shifted between Oliver and Shane. They barely made eye contact. How were they going to dance together? They were awkward around each other. Shane caught him looking at her quite a few times with an odd expression on his face, when he thought nobody was looking.
When Norman and Rita left for their lunch break, he approached her desk. "Ms. McInerney, we need to talk."
"Yes, Oliver, we do."
He took a deep breath and then he spoke. "Ms. McInerney, I'm so sorry to do this to you, but we can't dance together tonight."
"What? Why?"
"Because… ahhh... because I've already achieved what I had set out to do."
Shane crossed her arms over her chest and asked, annoyed, "What is that, Mr. O'Toole?"
"Well, I wanted to learn how to dance, so I can dance with my wife when she comes back."
"I see."
"Yes! She gave me the dance lessons as a gift and I believe my reluctance to accept them may have contributed to her overall dissatisfaction."
"Well," Shane got up, grabbing her bag and jacket. "You keep telling yourself that, Oliver. Good luck to you."
She left him standing there, dumbfounded.