"Come on, Rita!" Bill said. "Let's see what our girl can do."
"Okay, Daddy!" Rita approached the lane with excitement, Norman following Oliver's example and carrying Rita's ball to her starting position as well. Joe and Bill exchanged bewildered yet amused expressions at the men's behavior.
After visualizing a few different techniques, Rita finally turned sideways and tossed the ball down the lane with both hands. She managed to knock down two pins and almost appeared proud that she had left more pins standing. Norman commended her and then tried to explain the best, most scientific way to bowl successfully. She heeded his advice and did slightly better with the next throw, knocking down four more pins.
The men bowled after Shane and Rita, each of them scoring well—better than Rita but not with the success that Shane had had. When it was Shane's turn once again, Oliver followed her to the return and retrieved her ball before she could.
"Oliver, you don't have to keep doing this," Shane quietly assured him. "I can get the ball from the return myself."
"I know, but I don't mind delivering it to your address," Oliver informed her as they walked to the approach, then chuckled to himself, quite pleased with his pun.
Shane made a face as she took the bowling ball from him. "Well, you don't have to go that far. The house is a few miles away."
Oliver smiled, amused. "Shane, your address—in bowling—is your starting position." He gestured to where she stood.
"Oh! It sounded like you were confusing work with fun again," she teased with a giggle, and Oliver made a face.
He stepped away from the approach as she prepared to throw.
"I'm glad to see that you and Shane resolved your conflict," Joe remarked, as Shane's first throw traveled down the lane.
"Peace is essential," Oliver stated simply. "Especially in a marriage."
"That is true," Joe agreed. Oliver handed Shane the ball for her second throw and returned to where Joe stood. "And as an added bonus to peace, those conflict resolutions can lead to some pretty great make-up sessions." Joe grinned and slapped a hand on Oliver's shoulder. "But you are probably well aware of that by now."
Oliver shook his head and laughed. "Honestly, Dad, Shane and I haven't had too many disagreements in our marriage. But lately...just in the last couple of weeks...things have become rather challenging. We seem to be embarking upon unchartered territory."
Joe nodded thoughtfully but remained silent as Shane returned. She had knocked over seven pins then got a spare. Oliver was up next, knocking down six pins and then two.
"You're putting me to shame," Oliver told his wife, sitting down beside her as Joe prepared for his turn.
"Ahh, your score isn't looking so bad, honey." She patted him lovingly on the knee. "We're still the winning team. However, Rita is no longer throwing granny balls, so who knows what can happen now."
He chuckled. "She is gaining some momentum, but I don't think it will be enough to catch up to you. I never knew that you're such an exceptional bowler."
"Wait until you see my skydiving skills," Shane teased.
"I will put my foot down about skydiving."
"You don't have to worry about that," Shane assured him, chuckling.
He paused for a moment and eyed her seriously. "Are you feeling okay? You're sure you're not overdoing it?"
"I promise you, I'm fine, Oliver," she reassured him. "I bet I'll sleep soundly tonight, though. This has been a fun and memorable day, to say the least."
"It certainly has. And it's not over yet."
They grinned at each other, and Oliver attempted to steal another kiss, but not before his dad turned around and caught them once more.
"You're up, Shane," Joe informed her, giving the couple a smirk.
Shane backed away from Oliver just as their lips brushed. "Oh!" Blushing, she placed a hand on Oliver's knee and raised an eyebrow at him. He understood that she was telling him to stay put, so he refrained from escorting her to the approach.
Not surprisingly, Joe noticed the exchange. He grabbed Shane's bowling ball from the return and handed it to her, his eyebrows raised, as she laughed and rolled her eyes.
"What am I going to do with you two?" she asked with a sigh.
Joe grinned. "You know you're pretty special—to both of us."
Shane smiled, feeling a lump in her throat, and narrowed her eyes at Joe. "Are you trying to mess up my game?"
Joe laughed. "Not at all."
Shane grinned and prepared to throw the ball down the lane.
Joe walked back to where Oliver sat and took the chair beside him. "What's going on, Ollie?"
"What do you mean?"
"Is Shane okay?" Joe questioned.
"She's fine," Oliver replied. He shrugged a shoulder. "Why?"
"I've been thinking a lot about her—and you—lately. You sure are paying your wife extra special attention tonight." Joe grinned. "What's with the PDA and the extreme chivalry?"
"PDA? Chivalry?" Oliver sounded genuinely confused.
Joe shrugged his shoulder. "You're not usually so openly affectionate. And you've been handing the ball to Shane as though she is not capable of lifting it and carrying it herself. Yet I just picked it up, and it can't be more than eight pounds."
Oliver nodded wordlessly, watching Shane.
"And when you first got here, it seemed as though you didn't want her bowling at all, like you were afraid it would be dangerous or—"
Joe halted as Shane turned around. She watched them curiously for a couple of seconds, unaware of the conversation between him and Oliver but sensing its importance. Joe smiled and turned to Oliver, who bit his lip with a smirk so slight it was hardly noticeable, but nothing got past Joe. Shane's ball appeared and Oliver scurried to deliver it to her for the next throw.
"He knows," Oliver whispered to her on the approach, "and I think he's about to tell me he knows."
"Let's make him second-guess himself so we can surprise him. I have a plan." Shane spoke through her teeth, raising her brows. "But your constant bowling ball delivery services aren't helping our cause."
He sighed. "I can't help myself from helping you."
"I know," she chuckled. "And I love you for it. But it's really not necessary!" she added in a singsong voice.
Oliver smiled satisfactorily and returned to where Joe was still sitting and grinning from ear to ear.
"Come on, O'Toole," Joe prodded. "Does all this mean what I think it means?"
Oliver tried but couldn't hide his grin. His father's smile was infectious, but his own joy was unsurpassable.
"Woo-hoo!" Shane exclaimed as she turned around. "I got another spare. How are those scores looking now, gentlemen?"
"Well, you are definitely glowing, Shane," Joe stated, still beaming.
"Thank you, Dad," Shane replied, shaking her head and laughing to herself at his double meaning.
Oliver handed the ball to her one last time and she studied the lane ahead of her for a few moments before throwing. To her delight, she knocked all ten pins down.
"Another strike! You are a natural, my dear," Oliver commended her, pulling her close and kissing her forehead.
"I'm pretty happy with that score," she remarked, eyeing the screen, "considering how out of practice I am."
"You did amazing, Shane. You should join league bowling—maybe in the Fall?" Joe suggested.
Shane laughed. "Thank you, Joe. I'll give it some thought."
"Well, no matter what, we should definitely make this a regular thing," Joe insisted.
Shane opened her mouth to agree, when a strange motion caught her eye and she gasped.
Rita was just past the foul line and into the slippery lane. She was sliding, one foot after the other, and could not get any traction, her arms flailing. Norman rushed to her and just as she was about to succumb to the floor, he caught her.
"What the Sam Hill," Oliver remarked as Joe laughed in amazement. Shane and Bill stood speechless.
Norman held her for a moment, and they looked each other in the eyes, much like when Mr. D'Lorman had come to Renita's rescue in the fictional romance book Rita had authored.
"Rita, are you okay?" Norman inquired.
She nodded. "I feel a little foolish but I'm okay."
"Don't feel foolish, Rita. You just had your eye on the target and stepped right over the foul line. It happens."
"Thank you, Norman."
"You're welcome. Do you think you might be able to stand up now? Apparently I need to do more squats every day." Norman grimaced.
"Oh! I think I'm good now," Rita replied. "Well, as long as my feet are on the right side of that line."
"Well, I'll make sure of that, sweetheart. Here we go," he told her, carefully helping her to stand and place her feet on solid ground.
"Nice save, Norman!" Bill told him as they turned around and started walking back to the group. "I never realized you could run that fast. And Rita, I don't think you noticed how many pins you knocked down."
"No, Daddy, I didn't think to look," Rita said, and they all chuckled. She glanced at the screen. "Wait...a strike?"
"Yep! On your very last frame."
"But I fouled." She winced.
"Ahh, who cares about that. At least you're okay, right?"
"Yep! Never been better."
Norman helped her to a chair. "Are you sure you're okay, Rita?"
"I'm fine! Go bowl. I'll just sit safely in this chair," she told him with a giggle.
As Norman and Oliver went to bowl, Shane sat down beside her friend.
"Rita, I am so sorry." Shane spoke quietly.
"What? Why?"
"Because I convinced you that bowling was safe." Shane was sure that Joe and Bill couldn't overhear.
"And it is, Shane. I'm the one who was not playing it safe," she chuckled. "I should have never crossed that foul line."
"I suppose boundaries can be a good thing," Shane said, watching Oliver with a far-off look in her eyes. "I don't set enough and Oliver sets too many. Not sure how we're going to manage this parenthood thing together." She sighed and chuckled with a shake of her head.
"Don't doubt yourself, Shane. The two of you might see some things a little differently, but it will all balance out. You'll see."
Shane nodded. "Thank you, Rita."
"Absolutely," Rita replied. She paused for a couple of moments, then pondered, "Do you think it's wise for us to tell Daddy now?"
"You don't think he should know?" Shane questioned, knitting her brow.
Rita shrugged her shoulders. "I haven't even been to the doctor yet, so I don't have confirmation like you do. I don't want to get his hopes up."
"Oh, Rita." Shane bit her lip and thought for a moment. "Try to have a little faith. I don't believe there is any reason to worry. Besides, I would think that your dad would want to be there for you, no matter what."
"That is true. Thank you, Shane," Rita said graciously.
"We'll get through this," Shane told her. "You know, I truly believe that if we can handle Oliver and Norman right now, we can handle anything."
They laughed.
"Tell me about it," Rita agreed, rolling her eyes.
Norman and Oliver finished their frames and Bill and Joe took their spots on the approach. As the two younger men walked back to their wives, Norman had a worried look on his face.
"Rita, are you hurting?"
"My lower back is aching some—I think I must have pulled it a little—but I'm fine."
"Are you sure? Do we need to go get you checked out?"
"No, Norman, it's okay. I can wait it out till tomorrow."
Norman didn't appear to be completely satisfied with her answer, but he stopped prodding.
"Are we all set?" Oliver inquired.
Shane smiled as Rita and Norman exchanged glances of confirmation.
Norman responded, "I believe so."
No one seemed concerned about the final scores of their game. As Joe and Bill walked back, Norman spoke up.
"Dad."
"Yeah, Norm?" Bill answered.
"Rita and I were wondering if you would be willing to do us a favor."
"Name it," Bill responded.
"Daddy," Rita said. "We'd like you to build something for us."
"Sure, honey," Bill replied with a shoulder shrug. "What do you have in mind?"
The couples shared a smile, and Rita turned back to her dad.
"A cradle."
Bill paused. "A cradle? For you two?"
Rita nodded, tears in her eyes.
Joe looked back and forth from the Dormans to Shane and Oliver, puzzled. Shane held her phone, recording the special moment between the Dormans and Bill, while Oliver watched proudly. The two were reveling in excitement for their friends.
"Are you serious?" Bill asked, shocked.
"Oh, we're serious. Very serious," Norman answered while Rita nodded again.
"Yes, Daddy!" she exclaimed. "You're going to have a grandchild."
"This is the most exciting news I've heard in a long time!" He rushed over to Rita and picked her up, spinning her around, while Norman watched helplessly.
"Oh, um, Dad—" Norman attempted to stop Bill in his excitement.
Bill set her down and apologized. "I'm sorry. I got a little carried away."
"I'm okay, Daddy," Rita informed him, grinning.
"A baby?! I just can't believe it. Congratulations, sweetheart!" Bill kissed Rita on the cheek, then turned and approached Norman, who had a slightly worried look on his face. Bill chuckled and said, "Don't worry, son—I won't take you for a spin." They all laughed, Bill and Norman exchanging a heartfelt hug. "Congrats to you, too, son."
Norman smiled proudly and thanked him.
"Congratulations!" Joe hugged Rita and then shook Norman's hand, hugging him as well. "This is terrific news! I gotta tell you, there is nothing that compares to having a child." He glanced at Oliver with nostalgia gleaming in his eyes and Oliver smiled slightly.
"Thank you, Joe," Norman replied, as he put his arm around Rita's waist. "We are very excited."
"I know you are. But I don't think anyone's more excited than Bilbo here. Congratulations to you, Gramps!" Joe reached out his hand to Bill and they exchanged a hug.
While the Dormans and Bill chatted excitedly, Joe turned back to Oliver and Shane.
"Wow," Joe remarked. "That certainly took me by surprise. Honestly, I thought it was—." He stopped and chuckled, shaking his head. "You know what, never mind."
Oliver took a deep breath. "Dad, were you...hoping for...similar news from us?"
"Well, I—," Joe stopped and chuckled. "I might have misread some things and jumped the gun a little. I'm sorry for making an assumption."
"Aww, Dad, you have nothing to apologize for," Shane told him, her eyes tearing up. "And don't discount yourself—you have always had very good intuitive skills."
Oliver nodded in agreement. "That is true."
"In fact, we could use your help with this package, if you don't mind," Shane requested.
"Sure! I'm surprised that Oliver let it out of the DLO," Joe remarked with a chuckle, and Shane grinned.
Oliver handed the unmarked bundle to his father, then he and Shane watched with quiet excitement along with the others as Joe opened it. He pulled out a photo frame that held four pictures and knit his brow as he recognized three familiar faces in the frame. The first was a photo of Oliver's grandfather, followed by one of Joe, then Oliver. The fourth spot was left empty for the next O'Toole in line. Joe looked up at Oliver and Shane with a questioning gaze.
"You know how important family is to me—to us," Oliver stated. "We want you to know that one day, we do hope to fill in that fourth frame for you."
Joe teared up and nodded.
"Until then, though, perhaps this will be an appropriate placeholder." Oliver bit his lip to keep from smiling, mischievously handing Joe a slip of paper that Shane had pulled from an envelope in her purse.
Joe studied the piece of paper in his hands. It was an ultrasound photo, with the name Shane M. O'Toole at the top of the image. "I was right?" He looked at Shane and Oliver in shock.
"You were right, Dad." Oliver beamed.
Joe gazed at the precious first image of his grandchild for several seconds, his eyes misting, then he looked back up at Oliver and Shane. Wordlessly, he pulled his son into a bear hug. After a few seconds, he spoke in a raspy voice just above a whisper, still embracing Oliver.
"I could not be more thrilled for you, son."
He finally released his hold, and as Shane looked on, she caught glimpses of happy tears in both men's eyes. She shed her own tears watching the heartfelt father-son exchange. Rita and Norman looked at each other and smiled, as Bill watched with joy, overwhelmed by the revelations of the evening.
Joe turned to his daughter-in-law and gently wrapped his arms around her. "How are you feeling?"
Shane nodded in response, momentarily unable to speak. Joe backed away and looked at her, his hands on her upper arms.
"I'm good," she told him. "A little emotional at times and nauseous at other times—and occasionally both at the same time—but I suppose that's normal." She shrugged her shoulders and laughed through her tears.
"That sounds pretty normal to me," Joe told her with a grin, then hugged her again. "I'm glad you're doing okay. You know, Oliver had me worried about you there for a bit."
Oliver inched closer to Shane's side and wrapped his arms around her, kissing her forehead. Shane knit her brow and looked up at Oliver questioningly. "Oh he did, huh?"
"I, uh—I might have called him a few times over the last couple of weeks, you know, for, uh..." Oliver shrugged his shoulder and the others chuckled.
"Moral support?" Shane inquired.
"Something like that, I suppose." He paused momentarily to carefully consider his words. "Under the extenuating circumstances of our latest mystery, you were exhibiting behaviors not natural for you—or perhaps behaviors that I did not recognize as natural for you, given the unique additional circumstances to which I was not privy at the time." Shane tried to hide her yawn and Joe stifled a laugh as Oliver continued. "Therefore, I was disconcerted and sought the advice of someone whom I believed would have the wisdom and expertise to assist me through the complexities of the situation."
Joe glanced back and forth at Oliver and Shane with a questioning look and a slight chuckle. "I could use a translation."
"He couldn't figure out what was going on with me and asked you for help," Shane rattled off matter-of-factly.
Joe finally let go of his laughter. "Now that's what I recall. And I'm ashamed to say that I didn't even consider this scenario until I saw you yesterday, Shane."
Oliver smiled and looked lovingly at his wife. "Shane and I didn't discuss it ourselves until after you left. We would have loved to have told you yesterday, but the timing just wasn't right."
Joe shook his head. "It's okay, Oliver. Always trust the timing. I'm not saying I had any doubts at all, but if I didn't believe in Oliver's Divine Delivery Theory before, I certainly do now."
"Oh?" Oliver inquired, raising his eyebrows at his dad, glancing down at Shane, who was a good bit shorter in her bowling shoes.
"I mean, you just tracked down the owner of a baby book, which probably made you all seriously contemplate the idea of parenthood, and now both of you have discovered that you're having your own little miracles, at the same time? I don't think any of this is coincidental."
"Neither do we, Dad," Oliver agreed.
Shane shook her head in agreement, tears inching their way down her cheeks again. "The timing was perfect."
Oliver gazed adoringly at his wife and wiped her tears with his thumb. "It always is."
