"A new life" is a sequel of "An anniversary like no other", but it can be read separately.
The story takes place after "A tale of three letters" and Shane's announcement to Oliver.
All these wonderful characters not belong to me, but to the very talented Martha Williamson. Thank you to Eric Mabius, Kristin Booth, Geoff Gustafson, Crystal Lowe and Gregory Harrison for portraying them the way they do.
A new life
Chapter 2
The day after, Oliver woke up early with the birds singing. He had had a hard time falling asleep. He had missed the presence of Shane by his side. She was used to falling asleep in his arms and the bed had seemed much too big for him alone. It was early, but he wanted to spend as much time as possible with Shane and the tiny one before going to the DLO. He stood up whistling and walked with a light step to the bedroom next door to contemplate the little cradle that was sat in the middle of the room. This evening, his son would sleep in it for the very first time of his life. A smile lit up the new daddy's face.
.
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Denver Mercy Hospital
"Knock knock", Oliver said passing his head through the half-open door.
"Tell me, my sweetheart, who can be coming to visit us?" She asked to a Matthew who was barely finishing his breakfast in his mommy's arms.
"Come in, handsome stranger», she answered in direction of the door.
"What a welcome! I should come more often", Oliver replied laughing.
"Don't waste too much time, darling. I don't think I will stay here very long", she smiled back to him.
"Soon my love, or, actually, my loves. We will be all together at home soon."
"What time do you think you will leave the office today?" she asked her husband with impatience in her look.
"The earliest will be the best. I will come in the afternoon so that we don't arrive at home too late. I'm looking forward to spend the evening with my dearest wife and our lovely tiny treasure.
When the time to go to work arrived, Oliver tenderly kissed his two loves and walked backwards to the exit of the room so that he could contemplate them until the last second. When he finally reached the door, he suddenly rubbed his back with a little grimace.
"Is it painful?" Shane worried.
"Don't worry, my love. No door handle will ever hijack me from my wonderful wife."
"Glad to hear that! See you later, Oliver", she replied to him laughing at her husband "collision" with the door.
.
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At the DLO
"Norman, Rita, good morning! How are you on such a beautiful day?" Oliver asked as he entered the DLO.
"Good morning, Oliver. You are in a splendid mood! Fatherhood suits you very well", replied Rita with her usual enthusiasm.
"Good morning", Norman only said.
"How not to be happy? The sun is shining, it is hot, and I am bringing Shane and Matthew to home this afternoon", the happy daddy added. "What do we have today?»
"Uh, not much for now", Norman answered somewhat embarrassed by the unusual state.
"Just a little sorting, but no particular mission", Rita specified.
"We could perhaps do some tidying in the DLO. What do you think about that? It will be a quiet day…Unless an urgent letter arrives during the day", Oliver suggested.
"Good idea, Oliver. I just found a brand-new series of old stamps and I would need to review a little the classification of my collection."
Oliver took off his jacket, hung it on the coat rack next to his desk and sat down thinking of what he had to do today. He took his bag and put it in front of him. When he opened it, his eyes began to shine with wonder. He put his hand inside and took off a little sock. It was so tiny. For the last weeks, Shane had had fun making him all kinds of winks. One day, he had found a feeding bottle at the place of his "Dark of Night" award, as he arrived at the office. Another day, he had found Dumbarton "sleeping" under the blanket in the little cradle which was still empty. At that precise moment, the DLO didn't matter anymore. Only this tiny sock was mattering for Oliver, or rather the one it belonged to. Turning her look to him, Rita noticed her section leader and friend involved fully in daydreaming and contemplation. She felt so tender that she took her phone and discreetly took a photo of the daddy and sent it to Shane. The mother immediately wrote back: «Go to see Oliver and tell him to open the massage I 'm going to send to you". So said, so done, Rita walked to Oliver and handed him her phone.
"Oliver, you've got a message", she said enigmatically.
In his thoughts, Oliver didn't hear her.
"Oliver", she said a little louder, having some scruples about getting him out of his bubble.
Suddenly, he realized that she was there, in front of him.
"Sorry Rita. Were you talking to me?"
"Yes. I was saying that you had received a message", she repeated as she handed him her phone. "Press "OPEN"", she felt obliged to be precise.
Oliver obeyed and, as soon as he opened the message, a photo of Shane holding Matthew in her arms filled the screen of the phone.
"Oh, Rita! Thank you so much! Can I have the picture?" Oliver ventured.
"Well, truth be told, it is Shane that you will have to thank", she said to him with a little smile. "My phone is not linked to the printer, but you can watch it as much as you want", she added with a tender smile facing this new Oliver she once knew so rarely demonstrative, and who now couldn't contain his joy.
The day went without incident, between tidying up, organizing and daydreaming. At lunch time, Oliver, Norman and Rita went to Ramon's restaurant to eat a fast meal. Ramon was pleased to see "Ovileer" again. These last weeks, Shane and Oliver had been used to go back home for lunch time so that the future mommy could have a little nap to be rested for the afternoon work. After a fast meal, our three friends went to the hospital to give Shane and the baby a surprise visit. Before leaving, Norman and Rita quietly went to the corridor to give them a little privacy. Oliver would have loved to hold Shane in his arms, but he couldn't do it as long as she was laid in a hospital bed. He could only kiss her, but he made this moment last as long as possible. Knowing he was being waited upon he had to put an end to this sweet contact. A little cuddle to the tiny sleepy face and he left.
The day had been very long for Oliver. He had only thought, through the hours, of the moment he could finally go to take his wife and his son, or actually THEIR son, to bring them home.
Oliver's watch indicated 4pm.
"It is the time", he joyfully announced to Norman and Rita.
Norman offered him a warm hand. He remembered how he had felt the day he had been told that his adopted daughter was born.
Rita hugged him. She was so happy to know that her best friend was about to come back home and start the most beautiful adventure of her life.
Before going to the hospital, Oliver made a stop at the house to take the car seat for the baby, and as well as his baby-stroller. He and Shane had found an agreement concerning the car. Shane's was more suitable and more comfortable for a family. He would keep the Jaguar for when they would be only the two of them. He thought it would probably not happen very often, at least for now. Entering the house, he caught the keys Shane had left in the lobby. Right away, he settled the seat on the back of his wife's car, then he put the baby-stroller in the car trunk. This morning, he had left everything in the hall so that he wouldn't waste a minute.
.
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Denver Mercy Hospital
Oliver parked the car as close to the hospital entrance as possible so that Shane wouldn't have to walk too far. Then, he went to take the baby-stroller out of the car trunk. Finally, he took the seat out of the car and tried to settle it on the stroller and checked it to be sure the little one would be secure in it. How did he manage to bend it this way? And now, what did he have to do to open it so that it can receive Matthew? Shane had shown it to him several times and both of them had trained to be ready when the time would come. Well…the time had come and Oliver was incapable to make it have an appropriate position. What to do?
"I know!" Oliver thought.
He put the baby-stroller back in the trunk and he quickly walked to the telephone booth at the entrance of the hospital. The phone had barely time to ring.
"Rita, save me! I am in the parking lot of the hospital. The baby-stroller is rebelling!" He begged.
"Don't panic, Oliver. I'm coming."
A move here, a move there. As soon as Rita arrived, the baby-stroller was operational.
"Wonderful! What a great idea the two of you had to choose the same type of baby-stroller!" He said thankfully.
"My pleasure. I need to hurry up. Norman is waiting for me so that we can go to see our baby", she told him, smiling as she went back to her car, ready to visit her little one at the hospital where she was undergoing treatment for a heart condition.
The stroller being ready with the added car seat for safety, Oliver walked with a determined step to the reception, pushing the empty vehicle. He smiled thinking that in a few minutes, his son would be comfortably set in it. He reached Shane in her room. She was standing and bestirring herself gathering the few things he had brought her. When he saw she was not in the bed anymore, he couldn't resist. He rushed to her without saying a word, put his arms around her and put his lips on hers.
"Good afternoon, my love. I missed you so much", he said releasing his grip.
"Didn't it cause you too much trouble?" She asked looking at the baby-stroller.
"It is a child's play", he answered with a little doubtful smile.
"Did you think of thanking Rita?"
"Rita? Do you have so little confidence in me?" He replied with a hint of disappointment.
"But yes, of course I have confidence in you, darling! It is just that those modern machines are usually not your friends…and I saw the two of you through the window", she said, tenderly caressing his cheek.
"May I remind you that I set up two porch swings, and several times?" He replied proudly.
"Touché!"
After that, they kissed tenderly.
"Are you ready to leave, my love?"
"Yes, I finished gathering my stuff right before you arrived and I have received our discharge documentation. We are free to go home".
"What about you, my sweetheart? Are you ready to come with daddy?" He softly said to the tiny one.
"I've just breast-fed him. He burped. He was only waiting for his daddy to give him a big hug", Shane answered for him.
Without wasting a second, Oliver took the tiny Matthew in his big hands, put a sweet kiss on his forehead and covered him with wave of love. When he set him in his baby stroller, he seemed to get lost, he was so tiny.
"Can we go?" Shane asked, looking forward to being back home.
"We have your discharge papers. So yes, all the lights are green", he answered joyfully.
Oliver took the suitcase under his arm and started to push the stroller.
"Oliver, I'm not made in sugar. I can carry my suitcase. It is not very heavy."
"Of course you can. You are the strongest woman I've ever known", he said nodding in direction of the newborn. "But you need to rest and I am looking forward to us to be at home so that you can relax".
Arriving at the car, Oliver set the baby in his seat and, turning around to his wife, he asked her:
"Do you want to drive?"
"It depends. Can I drive and admire this tiny wonder at the same time?"
"I get it!" He answered laughing. "I'll drive."
"I think it is more cautious, indeed", she added the same way as her husband.
Oliver helped Shane to comfortably sit in the car and he was about to close the car door.
"Ah, I almost forgot. Thank you, my love", he said, bending down to kiss her.
"My pleasure, darling. You can thank me this way whenever you want. But what is it for this time?"
"Thank you for the picture of Matti and you that you sent to Rita", he answered, sparks in his eyes as tears began to flow.
The journey was short and silent. Both of them felt as if they were on a cloud, mix of tiredness and euphoria.
.
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At the O'Tooles'
Oliver parked the car in front of the house, then he walked around it to open the passenger door. Shane took the baby-stroller out of the trunk and didn't have any trouble opening it. Oliver thought he would take remedial courses from his wife. The mommy delicately put her newborn in it and, hanging on to Oliver's arm, she drove the teeny one to the house door. Once in the lobby, she took Matthew in her arms and the two parents led him upstairs. Oliver kept his arm around his wife's shoulders during all the way. Arriving in front of the cradle, Shane delicately put him in it. The couple stayed leaning over this wonderful sight, and they gazed at him for a long moment.
After a few minutes, they decided to go to the living-room to enjoy a short private moment. They didn't want anything, just being together. Sat on the couch, Oliver passed his arm around Shane's shoulders, and she almost immediately fell asleep in his arms. He took the opportunity to tighten his embrace and to caress the blond hair that tickled his face. He didn't dare to move to not awaken her.
"Is he awake?" She asked in a whisper.
"No, my love. Rest."
As soon as he said that, they heard crying through the baby monitor put in front of them.
"Did I sleep so long? Is he already hungry? I'm coming, sweetheart", she said as she suddenly stood up, all of a sudden wide awake.
"Take your time, my love. I'll prepare the dinner", Oliver replied.
He walked to the kitchen while Shane went upstairs in a hurry. She came back downstairs about half an hour later.
"Did he eat well?" Oliver inquired.
"I assume he did", she answered. "I'm not sure yet what he is supposed to swallow, but he burped and he looked delighted with his dinner. Talking about dinner, what good meal did you prepare? I'm starving."
While she was walking to the kitchen, Shane noticed through the frame of the living-room door that her laptop had been set up and opened on the coffee table.
"What does it mean?" She asked Oliver.
"You should go to see", he simply answered.
As she looked what was on the screen, she saw Becky's face, and a video call ready to be launched.
"But what does it mean?" She asked again.
"She is waiting for your call. I told her that you had something important to tell her. And for your information, it is my dad who showed me how to do that", he answered to her with a playful smile.
Shane sat facing the screen and launched the call. At that moment, Matthew began to cry.
"Stay here, I'm dealing with it", Oliver hurriedly said before Shane had time to get up.
"Shaney!"
"Becky!"
Oliver walked away as he heard his wife and her friend shouting with joy because of their reunion. They hadn't seen each other for so long. Oliver needed a few minutes to calm down the baby. Then, when the newborn had got soothed, he went to his mommy in his daddy's protective arms. When Oliver came to the room, he took the conversation along the way.
"How long since we've seen each other?" Shane asked her friend.
"We face-timed a while after your wedding. You called me in video to show me some photos. You were gorgeous, I mean you were both gorgeous. You had tried to convince me that I was wrong, but I absolutely knew that you were crazy about him", Becky answered.
"Yes, and you had told me to find myself another Oliver, an available one. But there wasn't any other one I wanted. It would be Oliver O'Toole or nobody else", Shane asserted, devouring with her gaze her husband who was still listening from the door frame.
"Oliver called me and told me that you wanted to share something with me."
"Yes, that's true. I have something to announce to you", Shane started with a fulfilled expression.
"No, Shaney! Don't tell me you are pregnant!" Becky exclaimed.
"Okay, I don't tell it to you. I am not", Shane answered, smiling to Oliver. She nodded then to her husband to come closer. "Becky, there is somebody I would like to introduce to you".
Oliver showed his face in front of the webcam.
"Good afternoon Ms. Starkwell".
"Good afternoon, Oliver. I am delighted to see you again, but I think we have already met before. And you can call me Becky now", she said with a wink.
Oliver sat next to his wife and took the baby in his hands to introduce him to Becky.
"Here is Matthew, our little treasure. He is not 2 days old", Oliver said proudly.
"Oh, Shaney and Oliver, what a wonder you have there! I absolutely need to come to Denver very soon to see this little treasure!"
"You can visit us whenever you want. You are welcome at our place", Shane assured.
"I second that", Oliver confirmed.
"Agreed. Let's take a call very soon to plan that", Becky promised with a big smile.
"So, what are we eating, Oliver?" Shane asked while her belly started gurgling.
"Sit down comfortably and wait for me. I'm coming back", he answered putting Matthew in his mommy's arms.
Shane delighted in looking at this little one resting against her. Oliver quickly came back with, in his hands, a tray full of different bowls. He put it on the coffee table, after asking Shane to move her laptop away. Then, he went back to the kitchen and came back with two big bowls of salad.
"Since we are experiencing new upheavals, and the loveliest ever", he said looking as his son sleeping against Shane, "I told myself that it was the perfect moment to try again a little scientific experiment as you have the secret", he continued looking at his wife with a playful eye. "I asked Ramon what we could put in a salad, and he prepare an assortment for me".
"Do you think you will survive this? You didn't seem to enjoy it the first time", she said laughing.
"I would drink a honey-ginger-kumbacha smoothie if it can make you pleased".
"Kombucha, Oliver".
The two of them burst out laughing. Suddenly, Oliver's face changed.
"And I would walk on embers for you. I want you to be happy, my love". Oliver's look, as he said those words, became deeper and gave evidence on the limitless love he had for his wife. His smile had faded to give way to the seriousness of this moment.
"Oh, I am, Oliver. I could not be happier than I am with you and our tiny treasure."
Shane moved her face towards Oliver, who was still standing. He then bent to her and kissed her tenderly.
Our two lovebirds ate together, under the supervision of Matthew, who hadn't left his mommy's arms.
The night had been interrupted by Matthew's awakenings. When Oliver opened his eyes in early morning, Shane was not on his side. He didn't have any trouble imagining where she could be. So, he stood up and found her in the bedroom next door. The soft light of the Summer morning enlightened the room. Shane was breast-feeding the little one, sat on the century-old O'Toole's rocking-chair.
"Good morning, my love", he said to her, kissing the top of her head. "And enjoy your meal, my sweetheart".
"Good morning, darling", she answered him, obviously tired because of the lack of sleep but fulfilled.
"Motherhood suits you very well, even if you already were the most beautiful woman I've even seen."
Shane began to blush.
"I'm going to prepare breakfast. What would please you?" He asked.
"Hot chocolate and some toast, please".
"Your desires are orders, Ma'am."
When Shane arrived in the kitchen, the chocolate was steaming in the pan and toast was in the toaster. The young mother placed the baby in his small baby bouncer, which was set on the table in the eating area. Then, she sat down on a chair not far from him.
"I had almost forgotten what it was to have my two hands available", she exclaimed with a smile, as she took her mug with one hand and her toast with the other.
The day has been pleasant. Oliver and Shane were glad to be able to stay at home for the rest of the week. Norman, Rita and Charley would get by very well without them for a few days.
The rest of the week was pretty busy. Norman and Rita visited them. They were impatient to introduce their little daughter to her new friend, but she was at the hospital. She still had to see specialist doctors before her parents could come to take her home.
"Can you imagine them playing together?" Norman exclaimed his eyes full of sparks.
"They will be like siblings!" Rita added with her usual enthusiasm.
Our four friends were sat in the living-room while the tiny Matthew was set in his baby bouncer, under the caring and protective look of his parents.
"Look at us", Oliver declared. "When we first met and we started working together, could you have imagined that we would be there today? You, Norman and Rita, married and waiting to bring your little girl home. And you, my Shane, my love, who offered me what I would have never dared to hope even in my craziest dreams. You promised to love me forever. And now, you offer me the most beautiful treasure, our little Matthew.
"Oliver, if you wanted to make me cry, you are successful", Shane declared, trying hard to hold her tears back.
"I think all of us should cry", Norman added with tears in his eyes.
"You always know how to find the words", Rita replied.
The Saturday was sunny. Oliver and Shane had planned to spend a pleasant afternoon with Joe in the garden.
"Oliver, are you ready? Hurry up, your dad won't be long", Shane shouted from the living-room.
"I'm coming in a minute", he answered from their bedroom.
Oliver went to look in his closet, and he hesitated. "Come on, Shane will be pleased", he thought. He caught jeans and put on the T-shirt Norman and Rita had offered him the day before. He walked to the mirror to see how he looked and he couldn't help but laugh when he saw the words "Super Daddy" flanked on the T-shirt.
"Shane won't be able to say that these clothes are not casual", he thought.
"That's it, I'm ready", he just said coming in the kitchen.
Shane couldn't help but burst out laughing.
"I see it, Super Daddy!"
The couple then heard the newborn crying.
I breast-fed him barely thirty minutes ago. It is not for that. He probably needs his diaper to be changed", she announced.
"Carry on what you are doing. I'm going", the daddy hastened to proudly care for his son.
"Good morning, my sweetheart. Are you going to be a kind baby with daddy?" He asked the teeny.
He took his son out of his cradle and inspected the diaper. He couldn't retain a grimace.
"Oh, Matti. I love you, but you stink more than Uncle Norman and Auntie Rita's potato!"
He immediately took him to the changing table which had been set up in the room. He prepared everything he would need: wipes, clean diaper, bin. He really wanted to make efforts to help Shane. He carefully removed the adhesive fasteners of the dirty diaper and then, taking it off, he couldn't contain his disgust.
"It is really because I love you. But how can you do that? I thought you only drank milk?"
With a big effort, he wiped his son before cleaning him. When Oliver caught the clean diaper, he didn't have enough time to put it at its place, a little jet went from the teeny and reached his daddy.
"Oh no!" He blurted out.
"How can such smelly things come out of a being as cute as you?" He asked to a Matthew who didn't stop looking at his daddy struggling to take care of him the best he could.
Oliver cleaned again the newborn and finally changed his diaper. When he finished, he put him back in his bed to go to take another T-shirt. Turning his face to the door, he saw Shane who was smiling to him, amused and tender at the same time by what she had just witnessed.
"Are you okay, daddy? Have you got the upper hand? I heard you in the baby monitor", she asked her husband.
"I am fine, but my beautiful T-shirt didn't survive the process", he answered turning himself to her.
"Oliver, my courageous husband! Don't worry. A short step to the washing machine and it will be as new again. I heard that little boys enjoyed doing that. You must be happy that I told you not to wear on of your suits today! Ask Joe. I am sure you did the same thing to him when you were as young as Matthew. Here, put this on", she told him, handing him a clean casual plaid shirt to change himself.
The afternoon with Joe was very pleasant. Shane couldn't help but tell her father-in-law the misadventure her husband had lived the morning.
"Oh honey! If you knew all he put me through when he was little!" he declared talking about his son.
"Son, I am sorry to tell you this, but you are going to have to learn to get dirty", he informed him.
"Oh, I don't think…"
"Yes, darling", Shane interrupted. "The time of your suits at home is over, unless you want to change them all the time. You will have to keep them for work."
Shane took Oliver's hand and hit hers in a high-five.
Oliver and Shane had to go back to the DLO on Monday. So, they were in the final preparations to be sure everything would be prepared for Matthew. They decided all together that Joe would come at his son and his daughter-in-law's first thing in the morning to take care of the teeny. He was in heaven to take care of his grandson. Joe noticed the young mommy's worried face as she was holding tight the little one against her.
"Are you okay?" He made sure.
"Yes…uh…yes. It is just that Matthew is so tiny. I'm afraid that he believes his mommy doesn't want to be with him anymore. It is silly, I know, but…"
"…but nothing. Oliver and you are both crazy in love with this little treasure. You are not the first mother who works. My grandson and I will spend man time together. And don't be worried, we will come to visit you at the DLO in the morning. You will see, you will be so busy that you won't see the time flying by."
Shane smiled to him as a response.
The evening, once Joe was gone back home and after Matthew was settled for the night, Oliver walked to the record player and put a record on it. Then, he offered a hand to his wife.
"Would you do me the honor of granting me this dance?" He invited her.
"With pleasure, my dear", she answered to him, her eyes full of sparks as she heard the first notes of "Moon River".
"Do you remember?" Oliver asked, embracing his wife.
"How could I forget? This is on this music that we danced together for the first time", she said kissing him tenderly.
"The most beautiful day of my life is when you came into it. We couldn't be together at that time", he started with a hint of sadness in his voice remembering this period. "But I knew that I would never be happy if I couldn't be with you. If I hadn't met you at this coffee cart, and if you hadn't been so patient with me, I would have never found this happiness".
Shane passed her arms around Oliver's neck, laid her head on her husband's shoulder, then the two of them danced again and again at the rhythm of the music.
(To be continued)