Author's Note: Here it is, the conclusion to my two-story series that started almost a year ago. To say that I'm going to miss this Alternate Universe is an understatement, but I'm excited to see what lies ahead after our watching the newest movie A Tale Of Three Letters. I'm sure I will find inspiration for more stories. I'm also working on something else SSD- related that I hope to share soon. Thank you all for your amazing support and encouragement. It means more than you can imagine. A special thank you to my soul sister Jan Miller who has been there to bounce ideas with me throughout the series
You'll note I have used some of Martha's dialogue because, well, it's so good, I couldn't resist. Thank you to her and our amazing cast for bringing these characters to life.
Epilogue
When Oliver called the Molly Brown House about meeting Helen Benziger, they didn't realize that the letter's delivery would be included in the media coverage of Margaret Brown's 150th birthday celebration. The house, now a museum, was built in the late 1800s and used as the family residence and at one time a boarding house. The imposing stone facade and expansive front porch gave it a grand appearance, yet inside, it was a series of cozy, intimate rooms adorned with dark wallpaper and lavish velvet curtains.
Oliver huffed as the four POstables were shuffled into position along with Helen Benziger behind a titanic-sized sheet cake with the inscription, "Happy 150th Birthday, Molly Brown!" Helen stood in the middle, flanked by Norman and Oliver on either side, then Shane next to Oliver, and Rita next to Norman. He quietly hissed his dissatisfaction to Shane. "It's not right that Norman and I are in the middle, and you and Rita are on the outside."
Shane snickered. "Why does that bother you, Mr. O'Toole? They want you in the middle so you can easily hand Mrs. Benziger Esther Hart's letter."
Without thinking Shane put her hand on Oliver's arm in an attempt to squelch his irritation. "I appreciate your desire to always be chivalrous, but there is no reason that an archaic custom from the Middle Ages of the man taking the outside position should be followed here. We're not even out on the sidewalk." Shane took her position on the far side of Oliver despite his protest.
They were in front of the fireplace in the living room of the house. Shane's left hand, hidden from the view of the crowd that had gathered, slipped behind Oliver and rested on his lower back. Her thumb massaged slow circles in an effort to relieve whatever tension might be building there. A slow, knowing smile took over her lips when she felt the slightest quiver from him under her touch.
Shane subtly leaned into Oliver, movement barely noticeable to the unknowing eye, and whispered. "Don't worry, Oliver, I'll let you hold the car door for me later."
She smiled as she heard his "hmph."
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Helen Benziger was a lovely, stylish woman of about seventy. The four were able to meet her privately before the festivities, and she shared with them stories of her great-grandmother's achievements that had been passed down through the generations.
"Do you really have a letter sent to my great-grandmother?"
"Yes, it came into our possession several weeks ago. "The timing couldn't have been more perfect for you to be here this weekend so that we could personally deliver it to you." Oliver turned it over to her so she could read it privately before they made a show of handing it to her in front of the camera.
She gently opened the envelope, pulling out its contents. A smile crossed her face as she studied the newspaper clipping that accompanied the letter.
"O'Toole?" She squinted at the picture before glancing up at Oliver. "Is this?"
Oliver nodded. "Yes, that is my great-grandfather."
"What a small world it is." Her eyes shone bright with tears.
"I believe the Almighty brings people and situations into our lives when we need them the most." Shane smiled at him as his eyes lifted and locked on hers as he spoke.
A serene expression graced Ms. Benziger's face. "I share that belief, Mr. O'Toole," she said calmly. "It's always been important to me that people know my grandmother as more than Molly Brown, a survivor of the Titanic. She was a great philanthropist and advocate for women's rights."
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Once they were arranged, Oliver handed Helen Benziger the letter, and the camera clicked its preservation of the moment. Before they could disband, Helen asked to have another picture taken of her with Oliver. "A reenactment of the photo our great-grandparents took over ninety years ago. What do you think, Mr. O'Toole?"
Oliver smiled. "I think that's a splendid idea."
Shane stood off to the side, watching Oliver proudly take his place as his great-grandfather had so many years before. He looked incredibly handsome in his blue-grey plaid suit, tailored to perfectly fit his athletic physique. Love shone in her eyes, and her fingers went to her lips as the memory of his kiss when he picked her up earlier sent a frisson of excitement rushing through her.
"He reminds me so much of my father," came a voice over her shoulder.
Shane spun around and came face to face with Oliver's dad. "Mr. O'Toole, I didn't realize you would be here this morning."
"Oliver told me about it, and I thought it might be fun to see him in action." The pride in Joe's voice was evident.
Shane smiled. "Well, I'm glad you came. It's nice to see you again."
"What was the scuffle up there before the picture was taken? Oliver didn't look pleased there for a minute."
"Oh, well, he wasn't happy about the arrangement for the photo, but I calmed him down."
"I daresay there are few people who can calm Oliver down as quickly as you did. You must have a special touch." His eyebrow arched, not unlike Oliver's when he was questioning something.
Shane stammered, eyeing Joe carefully, wondering what he knew or didn't know. "I, well, I've found that acknowledging his frustrations and then trying to smooth things over usually works well."
Joe chuckled, and the twinkle in his eyes suggested he saw more than just Shane's ability to calm Oliver's nerves. "Uh-huh, okay."
Oliver rejoined the group, introducing his father to Norman and Rita, who were surprised, not having been told about the family reunion Shane had orchestrated.
"Shall we go to lunch?" Oliver asked the group. "My treat."
Rita piped up. "Norman and I can't go."
Shane gazed at her friend with a puzzled expression. "Why not?"
Rita shot a look at Norman, whose face had turned a deep crimson.
"Norman and I are going to Dinosaur Ridge to search for dinosaur tracks," Rita bubbled.
Shane smiled at them both. "Well, that sounds like a great way to spend a Saturday afternoon." Finally, she thought. Maybe now Norman and Rita were on their way to acknowledging the spark that she'd seen between them from the first days she'd known them. "Have fun. I'll look forward to hearing all about it on Monday." Shane's mischievous wink prompted Rita to flash a radiant smile, instantly brightening up the entire room.
Oliver and Shane arrived at the Mailbox Grille together. On their way there, they chatted about Joe being at the event.
"My father called last night to see what I was doing this weekend. I told him about our event and the letter we were returning."
"And you asked him to join us?" Shane asked.
"I told him everyone was welcome."
Shane casually rested her hand on Oliver's as it gripped the gear shift. "Oliver, did you say anything to him about you and I, well, us?"
Oliver turned his head to look at her, his eyes questioning. "No. Why? Did you say anything?"
"No, no, no...it was just something he said to me. Actually, it was how he said it."
"Really, what was that?
"He must have seen us when you were bothered by the arrangements for the picture. He commented that I must have a special touch to be able to calm you down."
Oliver laughed and brought Shane's hand to his lips. "Well, it is true that you can calm me down like no other." The electrifying touch caused Shane's breath to catch and sent her heart racing.
Joe was already at a booth when Shane and Oliver arrived but rose as they approached. Oliver's father had the same manners as his son, waiting until Shane was seated before returning to his own. She surmised that if Oliver got those traits from his grandfather, Joe must have gotten them from his father, too.
Meals had just been ordered when Shane started the conversation. "So, Joe, how do you like being back in Colorado?"
"I love it. I feel like I'm back home again." His eyes rested on Oliver.
Shane noticed a fleeting moment of what she imagined was guilt wash over Oliver's face. She reached under the table in search of his hand. She found it and gave it a reassuring squeeze.
"That's great. I've been here less than six months, but it already feels like home to me." Her eyes glistened as they met Oliver's, and they shared a brief smile between them.
Shane sat back, quietly listening and watching as Joe reminisced about Oliver's childhood, stories of the post office, and lessons learned from both Chester O'Toole and his wife, Margaret. She could see that Oliver was hesitant, at first, to join in the stroll down memory lane. But when Joe touched on a particularly fond memory, Oliver relaxed and soon was sharing stories of his own.
Witnessing Oliver and Joe's reconnection brought Shane great joy. She knew she would never have the opportunity to have a relationship with her father. However, seeing that Oliver had that chance helped her find acceptance and peace with her circumstances.
They ate in between bouts of laughter as Joe regaled them with tales of USPS supervisors he'd worked with during his time.
"I think a prerequisite for the position is that you have a cantankerous disposition," said Joe.
They capped off lunch with coffee and, for Shane, a slice of the Mailbox Grille's decadent chocolate cake.
"So. You two." Joe's tone was straightforward and serious.
The fork full of the sweet, gooey confection stopped halfway to Shane's mouth as she and Oliver both turned their attention to him.
"What's going on?"
Oliver reverted to his nervous habit of playing with his napkin, folding it in a myriad of ways. "Excuse me?" He reached for Shane's hand under the table.
Joe chuckled. "You're not fooling me. I may not have been around for a while, but you're still my son, and I can still read you. Not to mention, I would have to be blind not to notice how Shane looks at you. Something is going on, so spill it."
Shane felt a surge of guilt, not unlike when she was a kid, getting caught poaching her mother's secret chocolate stash, and she quickly glanced at Oliver.
Reassurance settled over her as he gently grasped her hand and brought it out from beneath the table into his dad's full view.
Her smile reached across her face as Oliver boldly declared, "Shane and I are in a relationship."
Joe's face lit up. "I thought so, and I couldn't be happier for both of you."
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SIX MONTHS LATER
A gentle breeze stirred the spring air as Oliver hurried around Shane's porch. The season of new beginnings was upon them. Plump, unopened flower buds gently weighed down the bushes in her front yard, ready to share their beauty. On the porch, Oliver had filled the space with pots of vibrant flowers, each one bringing a burst of spring beauty to the surroundings.
He knew Shane wouldn't be home, giving him time to make his arrangements. He'd sent her off with Rita on a spa day in celebration of her birthday. Everything had been carefully arranged, but Oliver still puttered nervously. He continued to make minor adjustments and wiped down the porch swing numerous times, determined to ensure all was perfect.
His stomach stirred when he heard the crunch of Shane's tires on the drive in front of her house. He flew down the steps, reaching her door before she could open it herself.
"Oliver, what are you doing here?" Shane looked surprised but not unpleased to see him. "I thought our dinner reservations weren't until later. Am I late?"
Oliver drew her to him and swiftly brought his lips to hers in a slow, tender meeting. He felt the weight of her leaning against him, and he held her tighter as he moved his lips over her cheek. She gasped when he found the spot on her neck that dipped just below her jaw.
Shane's porcelain cheeks flushed a delicate shade of pink as Oliver cradled her face in his hands, his thumb tracing over her bottom lip. He kissed her once more and whispered, "Happy birthday, my love."
Oliver tucked her hand into his arm, covering it with his own. Their kisses went a long way to calm his nerves, but as they walked up her porch steps, his stomach began to churn slowly.
His loving gaze was on Shane as she looked at the surprise he'd set up on her porch. Her eyes brightened, and a smile spread across her face. Her little porch table, which sat in front of the swing, was laid out as beautifully as a table at Montaldo's.
"Oliver, it's wonderful, but you didn't need to go to so much trouble. You already gave me a spa day with Rita."
"Nonsense. Who said a man can't spoil his girlfriend on her birthday?" This is just a little pre-dinner celebration."
"What are we celebrating?" Shane dropped her bag by the front door and took a seat on the swing.
Oliver lit the candle next to a small vase filled with miniature yellow roses. "You, my love. We are celebrating you." Oliver twisted the cork from a bottle of champagne until it popped. He poured the bubbly liquid into two glasses before taking a seat next to Shane on the swing.
As they touched their glasses together, he lost himself in the blueness of her eyes, "To you, my darling." They swayed gently as the early spring breeze wrapped around them.
Oliver took a larger sip than usual as his heart raced. His hand rested on his jacket pocket.
"How was the spa today?"
"Oh, my goodness, Oliver, it was wonderful. First, we had massages. Then they did our nails, hair, and even our makeup. I felt totally pampered. Thank you again." The scent of champagne lingered on her breath as she leaned in closer to him. Her lips were soft against his, and if he wasn't holding a champagne flute, he would have grabbed her and pulled her to him.
He settled on putting an arm around Shane, drawing her close until she was nestled into him and he could smell her signature perfume that never failed to raise goosebumps on his arms. He set down his glass and took a deep breath.
"Shane, you know how much I love you, don't you?"
Shane smiled. "I think I do, Oliver, and I love you just as much."
He laced his fingers through hers, and he turned to face her. "When we met, I was at such a low place in my life. I was starting to give up hope that I would ever find someone to love who would love me back." He lifted her hand to his lips.
"From the start, I knew you were extraordinary. It wasn't just because you're beautiful and brilliant. I saw how kind and gracious you are and how you take care of the people who are important to you. You light up a room just by walking into it."
Oliver took a quick sip of his champagne.
"Shane, with you by my side, I was able to close those chapters of my life that needed closing. But, now I want us to start a new chapter together. I don't want to experience life without you by my side." He rose and pulled a small black box from his pocket.
Shane's eyes widened when she saw the box in his hand, and she shifted her attention to Oliver's eyes. "Oliver," she rasped, but her words were cut off as Oliver knelt on one knee.
"Shane, I love you more than I thought possible. You make every part of my life better, and I don't want to experience a single day without you in it. Will you marry me?"
As soon as the words were out of Oliver's mouth, Shane's eyes filled with tears that quickly overflowed, streaming down her cheeks. Her answer was quick and filled with confidence. "Yes, Oliver, I will."
Oliver flipped open the box and took out a ring. "This ring was my grandmother's. She was the finest woman I ever knew until you."
Oliver slid the ring onto Shane's trembling finger. It fit as though it was custom-made for her. He rose and pulled Shane to her feet.
They closed the space between them. Their lips met in a tender kiss, a perfect blend of love, excitement, and the promise of their shared future.
Peace washed over Oliver. After so many years, he'd finally found the one his soul loved.