Wrapping up 'The Impossible Dream'. This is only a little one to get our heroes back to Denver. I think I might need to do a fill in (off-screen) one next. I mean, there seems to be room in the chronology for it.
A Day for Miracles
Today has been an amazing day. I woke up this morning in the best of moods. I feel like I have a ridiculous grin plastered on my face! Yesterday was epic, and last night was fraught and then wonderful, and I am determined that today is going to be fabulous!
I smile as I ready myself for the day. I grin as I eat my room-service breakfast. I smirk as I remember walking home with Oliver from possibly the cheapest, but certainly the sweetest date (yes, I am calling it a date – pretty sure that Oliver isn't, but hopefully he will catch up in the near future). I am gleeful as a remember Oliver walking me to my hotel room door, our shared laughter over his request for the return of his suit coat (with a sly tease about my habit of stealing his belongings) and an awkward goodnight where neither of us was sure how to bring things to a close. I admit that a kiss would have been wonderful, but I didn't really expect one, I mean Oliver has made taking things slowly into an art form. I did mean what I said to Steve though, a solid friendship is a great place to start. Know that I am going home to Denver with my best friend brings a curve to my lips too. I beam as I check my phone and read a message from Rita that tells me that she needs to talk to me and spill some wonderful news (I can't burst her bubble and tell her that I already figured it out).
I positively dance for joy when I read Steve's message that says that Randy will be home by 11 o'clock, and that we are to bring Harper and Phoebe to Andrews Air Force Base for a surprise reunion.
Oh, seeing Randilynn, Phoebe and Harper reunited was such a privilege. Steve really is a good guy – I mean I definitely don't want to date him, but he is handy to have around in an international incident! Seeing this family so joyously unified made driving through half of Maryland and the District of Columbia seem worthwhile.
I even smiled when Oliver decided to be mysteriously secretive. You can always tell when he is up to something – he gets this look, eyebrows raised and lips twisted. I think he is hoping that he looks inscrutable – I think he looks like a naughty child caught taking cookies without permission. I must hand it to him though … I had no idea what he was up to! He bought my house! Well, where my house had been, but still! He bought it! The site of my house is going to be a home for postal workers! Only Oliver O'Toole would think of it, and I love it.
Finally, we were on our way home. Rita and Norman were sitting in the seats across from Oliver and I, and I felt like a proud parent, watching them hold hands and giggle like the cute couple that they are. Even though there had been some (microscopic) progress in our situation, there was nothing couple-ish about our conversation. Instead, we sat and talked (okay, I may have done most of the talking). For a long time, memories of my house were tied up in grief over losing my dad, anger at Alex and frustration at Mum. Today, on this day of miracles, I could talk about some of the good things. Gardening with Mum, playing in the yard (with Alex, but I still can't mention her without combusting so I don't), and climbing trees (which I think just might have horrified Oliver). But that was the past. Now, I am heading home to Denver. My present, and if I have anything to say about it, my future.