Chapter XVII: Love, ageless and evergreen
Spice Meter: 5 flames
The scene that unfolded in Joseph Lindley O'Toole's home was one for the ages. Oliver never imagined the tribute to his great-grandfather would cause the fracas it did. All because of one woman's deviousness!
First it was Norman who arrived, quickly looking for Oliver. Oliver was about to give Ms. Dos Santos a piece of his mind, along with the new lay of the land, when Norman quickly opened the door and asked Oliver for a word.
While Lydia fretted and paced in her 4-inch high Louboutin stilettos, Oliver stepped out. Norman hadn't yet started to speak when Shane and Rita arrived.
"Oliver, I have to tell you something," Norman said nervously.
"Oliver! Rita told me something you should know!" Shane exclaimed.
"Norman! I'm sorry I blabbed, but what could I do? Shane's my best friend!" Rita cried out.
It took quite a bit of strength to keep himself in check, but Oliver held his tongue. Perhaps for a second or two he thought about getting his hands on some clams and red wine, but it was only for a few seconds. Shane, Norman, and Rita were talking over each other. He heard words thrown around… words like vixen, tramp, Operation Copacabana, wealthy bosses, tramp once again, bookended by the phrase "Shane was right from the beginning".
Heavens above. If he didn't put a stop to this, he was going to have a nasty headache!
"Quiet, everyone," Oliver said in such a deep, profound tone, they all immediately stopped talking and clamped their lips shut. "Could you all please trust me to do what's right?"
"But Oliver… I think you should listen to Norman and Rita…," Shane said quietly.
Oliver regaled his wife with one of his gentle smiles. "I don't need to." He took Shane's chin and drew her face close for a tender kiss on her cheek. "I know what needs to be done. Please, Shane, come with me. You should be by my side when I tell Lydia the news."
Rita and Norman looked at each other, wondering what Oliver was up to. Shane looked at her friends, her features clouded by confusion. She turned and let herself be led by her husband. As they walked into the house, Lydia's face fell when she saw Shane.
"Now that I have you both here, there's something I need to say. Lydia, Shane, I'm stepping down from this project," Oliver announced.
Shane gasped, "But Oliver, this museum is your dream!"
"Yes, my love, and that's why I'm handing it over to you," Oliver said, as he laced his fingers behind his back, a small bounce accompanying the gesture.
It was Lydia's time to gasp with surprise. "But…"
Oliver interrupted her. "Ms. Dos Santos. There's nothing more important to me than my wife and her happiness. It's true, I got carried away by my excitement for the museum, to the point I didn't see what was right in front of me. I won't articulate what that was, because my gentleman's code of ethics won't allow me to speak in such a manner to a woman, even if she was the instigator of a sordid situation. However, let it be known, Ms. Dos Santos, my wife has full control of this project as co-president of the O'Toole Foundation. Going forward, you will answer only to her, and I won't be accepting any further communication from you."
Both Lydia's and Shane's mouths hung open.
Oliver turned to Shane. "Will you accept the position…. and my apologies?"
Shane melted at the look in her husband's eyes. "How about we talk about it further? Tonight maybe?" Her eyes shone and her tone was flirtatious.
Oliver felt relief wash over him. He curled his arm around Shane's waist and drew her to him. After dropping a kiss on her temple, he addressed Lydia. "Interfering with the sacred institution of marriage is deplorable, but what really sent me over the edge was you calling my wife inconsequential. My legal counsel advised against firing you, Ms. Dos Santos, but I trust if you aren't able to find a way to work with my wife, you can return to wherever you came from."
With those words, Oliver and Shane departed the premises, leaving a fuming Lydia behind. As they walked out the door, Shane called out, "Lydia, you can reach me at Oliver's number. He won't be needing that cellphone anymore!"
###
It was a day filled with successes and the gang couldn't be more pleased. First, Lydia Dos Santos had gotten her due. Operation Copacabana was a triumph! Even though it caused the kerfuffle it did… Rita and Norman would do the same thing all over again if it meant protecting their friends. Shane was ready to work with Lydia… she might not enjoy it, but at least she was in charge. At the end of it all, she wanted Oliver to see his vision of his great-grandfather's home as a museum come to fruition.
The icing on the cake was finally delivering the pearl necklace found in the unattached items bin. After following a lead from the jewelry maker, the group delivered the necklace to its intended recipient. Her grandmother, who had Alzheimer's, passed away a few months ago. In one of her last semi-lucid moments, she had packed the necklace into a stamped unaddressed envelope and dropped it in the nearest mailbox. Charisse St. Clair couldn't have been happier to receive her grandmother's pearl necklace. It was a cherished family heirloom and she felt forever indebted to the Postables. Charisse told them whatever she could do for them in the future, they could reach out and she'd do her best to help.
Feeling elated, the foursome went back to the DLO to tie up some loose ends before calling it a day. They decided to meet up for a celebratory drink over the upcoming weekend. Rita and Norman were sensible enough to understand Shane and Oliver needed time to themselves.
They walked hand in hand to the parking lot. Oliver had forgotten they drove to work in different cars that morning. Not wanting to leave Shane's side, he suggested they leave her SUV in the parking lot and drive home together.
The second they sat inside the Jag, Oliver grabbed Shane and kissed her feverishly. Shane was caught by surprise, but after all the recent heartache, Oliver's lips devouring hers was exactly what she needed. He gentled the kiss for a second, babying her lips with soft nips, but Shane needed more. Just one night of not having him sleep next to her had made her feel bereft. She laced her fingers behind his neck and deepened their kiss in such a way that Oliver's heart started racing.
Her lips, her tongue, her skin, her taste, her touch…it was all intoxicating to Oliver. The way she gave herself to him and how she responded to his touch was as overwhelming as the first day they were together like this. He could lose himself in her embrace so easily… but reason took over and reminded him they were still in the USPS parking lot.
With a small smirk, he said, "As much as I'd like to continue this, I think it'd be best if we head home. I have a surprise for you."
"You mean this wasn't it?" Shane asked innocently.
"No, this isn't it," Oliver laughed, pulled her again into his arms for a swift, hard kiss, and then fired up the Jag.
As they drove away, Rita and Norman looked upon their friends from a distance. "I think we did well," Rita said, fingering her owl necklace.
"We did," Norman said, with his characteristic sweet, but humble smile. "Oliver's my brother. I had to take care of him."
"And Shane's my sister." Rita's eyes misted over. "Norman, we always need to look out for them. The world just wouldn't be right if Shane and Oliver ever lost their way from each other."
"I agree, my dear Rita. I agree."
###
Oliver had called upon Joe and Vivianne to prepare the house for his evening with Shane. When they got there the lights were dimmed, yellow roses adorned every surface, music was playing, and the table was set for two. Valentino was sporting a dashing red bow tie collar. That certainly had to be Vivianne's doing!
Champagne was chilling in a silver bucket and the seafood paella Oliver had ordered from Rioja was warming in the oven. He hoped dinner would bring back memories of the time they spent in Spain during their honeymoon.
"Thank you for this, darling," Shane said, leaning over for a soft, light kiss. "Let me give Flynn and Valentino their dinner and then we can sit and have ours."
"Whatever you say, my love." Oliver sighed, fully content now that his world was back on its proper axis.
Shane prepped Flynn's and Valentino's food bowls. Valentino came immediately to scarf down his dinner, but Flynn was nowhere to be found.
"That's odd. That little fur ball can sniff food in his dinner bowl half a mile away." Shane thought out loud.
"What's the matter?" Oliver asked.
"It's Flynn… he's usually here in a flash when I start prepping his dinner," Shane said, worry permeating her words.
"He's probably hiding somewhere. Let's look," Oliver said, trying not to let the cold frisson that went down his spine overcome him.
They both set out to find Flynn, calling out for him, but he was nowhere to be found. They looked under the beds of the guest rooms and master suite, inside the tubs in the bathrooms, behind and underneath furniture. Oliver was growing more and more distressed by the second!
"Shane, I can't lose that cat," Oliver's voice broke. "Do you think he might have gotten out when Dad and Vivianne came over with dinner?"
"Oh Oliver, I hope not! Let's keep looking! Why don't you go outside and I'll continue searching inside the house. There must be a corner we missed!"
They set to divide and conquer. Oliver dashed out to the back porch and patio, while Shane looked again on the second floor of the house. While looking for Flynn in the den, Shane decided to grab some paper from Oliver's desk. It wouldn't hurt to write out a lost sign for Flynn if they didn't find him, although she fervently hoped it wouldn't come to that! Just as she was grabbing Oliver's pen, what looked like a list fell on the floor. Her insatiable curiosity getting the best of her, Shane picked up the piece of paper and read it.
Things I want to do with/for Shane:
Travel to Argentina after becoming proficient with the tango.
Dance in the rain.
Finally have a worthy Valentine's Day date.
Learn the foxtrot.
Create a treasure box with letters.
Gift her love letters for our first anniversary.
Go on a Mediterranean cruise. (Maybe a few days in Santorini? She does love Mamma Mia…)
Finally take Shane ballooning over Stockholm.
Host the best Thanksgiving ever with our entire family.
Show her every day how happy she makes me.
Shane noticed Oliver dated the list. He had written this a few weeks ago. Tears spilled down her cheeks and her heart clenched in her chest. She could never ever doubt the love Oliver felt for her. How could she ever doubt a man who wanted to gift her love letters for their first anniversary? How could she not desperately love this man who wanted to host the best Thanksgiving ever for their motley crew of a family? She plopped down on the floor, sobbing silently, as the stress of the last few days, and the agony over Flynn took their toll. Suddenly she heard a soft mew.
Flynn? Shane wondered. "Flynn, is that you?" She heard the gentle mew again. Shane stood as silently as she could, not wanting to make any noise. The muted meowing she heard intensified. Where the heck was that sound coming from? Shane wondered. It was too far away, so it couldn't be inside the den. Shane padded slowly to the corridor, and the sounds got louder. The linen closet! How could she have missed it?
Sure enough, she opened the linen closet door, and there was Flynn, cozied up in a cocoon of freshly washed towels. He must have gotten stuck in there this morning when she put away a load of laundry. Poor thing! In her emotional state, she hadn't double checked the closet before closing it, even though she knew Flynn had a habit of hiding in it.
"Flynn, you almost gave us a heart attack!" Shane cried out, as she held the cat to her chest. Flynn was perplexed, but he let himself be loved. "Come on, let's go see your dad!"
Oliver was still outside frantically looking for Flynn, tears mingling with the big fat drops of rain that were falling from the sky. He needed to find that cat! He couldn't be lost! He needed his family to be complete. When he saw Shane run out of the house into the pouring rain with Flynn in her arms, it was all he could do to keep himself together and not burst into sobs.
"Oliver, he's alright! I found him in the linen closet!"
Oliver crushed both Shane and Flynn against his chest, finally letting go of all the repressed emotions of the last few days. Flynn, who was a cat after all, was feeling smothered, so he let out a screeching sound and jumped to the ground. After what Shane swore was a wink, the hooligan dashed into the house, seeking warmth and shelter from the rain.
Both started laughing, easing the built-up tension, as they stood on their patio completely soaked. They sought each other's arms and hugged and kissed, forgetting the rain and just relished their embrace. They could faintly hear the music playing from the house… it was Barbra Streisand's Evergreen.
"That's such a gorgeous song," Shane said passionately.
"Dance with me?"
"You want to dance in the rain?" Shane's heart flipped, remembering the list she had found.
"Please," he said, as he held out his hand.
Oliver held her close to his chest, and Shane laid her head on his shoulder as they swayed gently, the lyrics washing over them, much like the rain falling from the sky.
…Like a rose under the April snow
I was always certain love would grow
Love ageless and evergreen
Seldom seen by two
You and I will make each night a first
Every day a beginning…*
"Could we do that, my love? Make each day a new beginning?" Oliver held Shane's gaze, his lips close to hers, desperately wanting to take them and luxuriate in the passion only the two of them could create.
"How about we start out by making each night a first?" Shane replied.
With a rush of want, Shane and Oliver came together in a kiss like no other. Joyful tears mingled with the raindrops on their faces. Oliver pressed Shane to him, and she met his embrace with equal force, trying to make up for their recent lack of physical contact.
As their lips broke apart, they looked at each other, soaked to the bone, and laughed. "Come on, let's dry off," Oliver said, with a glint in his eye.
###
Once inside the house, they hurried to the master bedroom. Oliver immediately wrapped a towel around Shane, rubbing her arms softly, never taking his eyes off hers. Shane looked at him dotingly. She paused him briefly, and in one swift movement, took off her dress.
Oliver's heart thudded rapidly in his chest, the blood buzzing fiercely in his veins. Would he ever not find Shane perfectly exquisite? He immediately took off his jacket and tie, followed by his vest and suspenders, letting Shane take over as she fiddled with the buttons on his shirt.
Shane was always taken aback by Oliver's good looks. She knew she would always find Oliver insanely attractive, no matter how much time passed. She bit her lower lip as she took in how the soaked shirt molded to his firm torso. Finally, she coaxed it off his shoulders. When she started fluttering her lips over his chest and up to his neck, Oliver stopped her. "My love, tonight is about you. Let me cherish you."
Shane swallowed, nodded, and let herself be loved.
Oliver spanned her waist with his warm hands, sending frissons of heat down her spine. Everywhere he touched she came alive, and he couldn't help but softly squeeze her as he ran his hands up and down her sides. He pressed his lips to Shane's, gently coaxing them apart, running his tongue over the seam of her lips. She opened her mouth to his teasing tongue, and their breaths caught at the intimacy of the moment. With slow movements, Oliver led them towards the bed, never breaking their deeply sensual kiss.
Shane felt the edge of the bed behind her knees. Her legs felt so weak. Oliver's kisses had her trembling… she felt deliciously warm everywhere his lips landed, only to feel cold and shivery whenever he chose to pay attention to another spot on her body. When he took her mouth once again, in yet another deep voracious tangle of tongues, her legs gave way and she plopped on the edge of the bed, almost bringing Oliver down with her.
Was that a wicked gleam in his eye? In the steamy haze of their mutual passion, Shane saw Oliver smile to himself. "Trust me, my love," he said in an almost whisper. He gently laid her back as he kneeled on the floor facing her.
Shane couldn't help but gasp as Oliver finally divested her of her underwear and dedicated himself to the pleasure only he could give her. He was slow and loving, and all those things that made an encounter with the love of your life so ultimately mind-blowing. Shane grabbed the sheets in an effort to control the mounting waves of pleasure, but Oliver simply wouldn't let her.
Oliver loved her like this, resolutely and inexorably. She felt so sensual, so feminine, so deeply his, he had to take her to the utmost pinnacle of desire. Maybe just one more stroke…just one more flutter of his lips…and then, Shane shattered.
She couldn't help her moan of fulfilled ecstasy, nor the short breathy gasps that convulsively escaped her lungs. Finding her voice she said, "Are you going to let me recover?"
Olivers answer was a simple no.
Taking off what was left of his clothing, he slid up against her, covering her body with his. He continued to love her, cherish her, revere her, because she was simply Shane, his heart's treasure.
###
"We forgot all about dinner, my love," Oliver said as they laid side-by-side on the bed.
"You do have a tendency to make me forget about food," Shane replied, chuckling.
"Even if that were true," Oliver laughed, "I'm sure Flynn's disappearance and getting distracted in the rain didn't help."
"Darling, hold that thought… let's eat in bed, and we can continue talking."
"Well, I am hungry, and there's a paella in the oven. It's still on the proper temperature so it's safe to eat. Oh, and we should get a tablecloth. To avoid crumbs."
Shane laughed and rolled over on top of Oliver. Covering his face in kisses she said, "Please, never change." Oliver slowly fingered her spine, following the beautiful line of her back. "You'd better stop that, or I'm going to forget about dinner again."
Planting soft, nibbling kisses on her neck, Oliver said, "We do need our sustenance… although this is highly entertaining."
Shane could feel his smile, as she squirmed to extricate herself from his arms. "Come on, Oliver, I need food!" She exclaimed, bubbling with laughter.
"Alright, my love," he sighed dramatically, "don't let it be said that I don't feed my wife."
Laughing, they dressed quickly, Shane in one of her silky honeymoon robes, and Oliver opted for a pair of sweatpants. Once in the kitchen, they loaded up a couple of trays with the seafood paella, some bottled water, and the champagne. Back in the bedroom, Shane mentioned that even with the scuffle surrounding Flynn's disappearance, she was happy in a way. She loved the moment they had dancing in the rain.
"I have been wanting to do that for the longest time. Tonight, it happened organically. It was almost an answered prayer."
"Why do you say that?" Shane asked, genuinely intrigued.
"Because for the longest time I have wanted to wash away that painful memory of us standing in the rain, in front of the mailbox."
With a lump in her throat and her eyes wet with tears, Shane said softly, "I have never cried so many tears of joy since I married you, Oliver. You overwhelm me in the best way possible."
"As long as they're happy tears, my love," Oliver leaned over and gave her a sweet, tender kiss.
"Oooh… I'm just so happy everything's solved! Oliver, I hated sleeping alone last night. I even had nightmares."
Oliver gazed at her lovingly. "You didn't. I slept by your side because I couldn't fathom sleeping alone. You just didn't notice."
Shane's face was a poem of realization, amazement, and delight. "So that's why I felt comforted in my dreams."
"I only was able to find restful sleep with you beside me. I even held your hand through the night."
"Oh Oliver. I hope we don't ever go through something like this again." Her tears were flowing in earnest now.
"Shane, my love, I don't believe it's realistic to think that we won't have our ups and downs. Life will always throw us curveballs. Like we talked about on our honeymoon, we just need to face everything together and trust each other."
"It was just so difficult… you were so oblivious around that woman…"
"Shane," Oliver said as he lifted her chin with his finger, "you do know the reason why Lydia never affected me, right?"
She looked at him intently, waiting for him to respond to his own question.
"I don't see anyone else the way I see you. You are my one and only."
Shane smiled softly. "I think I have always known that other women would be a non-issue… but it really hurt me when you didn't trust me when I said Lydia was up to something."
"I will always regret that, my love. Thankfully, we are at the other end of this conflict without being any the worse for wear. I vow to you right now I will forever trust your judgement. No questions asked."
"No questions asked? Even if I hire a Henry Cavill lookalike to work at the museum?" Shane asked, her spunk alive and well.
"Who's Henry Cavill?" Oliver asked, baffled.
Shane felt laughter bubbling from her chest, until she burst out into a fit of giggles. "Oh, darling, please, please, please, never change!"
And so, my gentle reader, Shane and Oliver emerged triumphant from the Lydia Dos Santos drama. Her name should really be Lydia De Satan, but let's not dwell on that... (wink).
The ill-reputed, gold-digger Brazilian temptress finally resigned from her post as curator when she found herself the target of Shane's infamous snark. It was all very proper, because of course, Shane is a lady. Once Lydia realized Shane wasn't an inconsequential little wife, she handed in her resignation.
Charisse St. Clair came to the rescue and recommended a cousin who had just completed a master's degree in fine arts to take over for Ms. Dos Santos. Stephan St. Clair was Clark Kent's doppelganger and adored working with Shane. The day Oliver met Stephan his eyebrow shot up, and Shane might have heard a gurgling in his throat, but he decided not to comment. Oliver would indeed forever trust his wife's judgement.
However, this Author caught Shane giggling. She withheld a tiny bit of information from Oliver regarding the gorgeous Mr. Stephan St. Clair. And that, my dear reader, was that Mr. St. Clair couldn't care less about women, if you catch my drift.
A/N: Barbra Streisand has always been one of my favorite singers/songwriters. In a recent conversation with my dear friend Vero, we realized Evergreen was a song that suited Shane and Oliver perfectly. Hope you enjoyed the little nod plus the dancing in the rain bit. Also, thank you for sticking around, even though I know that a lot of you love having Shane and Oliver in a perpetual state of bliss. For a writer, it's imperative to have some sort of conflict…BUT, I do promise their love will always conquer all!