Page 122 of Bailey

“Jerry, this my boyfriend, Reeves Durham.”

“Yes, of course,” he said diplomatically. Cecily would be so proud. “I think my wife mentioned that you had a new boyfriend.”

Bailey trilled out a light laugh. “We’ve been dating for six months now. It’s not terribly new.”

Jerry gripped the handles of the walker and took a shuffling step toward the entrance of the bowling alley.

“Daddy.” Tex’s chastisement sounded too loudly in Jerry’s ears, and he practically rolled his eyes as he turned toward his oldest son. “You said you’d wait for me.” He shot sunshine toward Bailey and Reeves. “Though I can see you’re in good hands.”

He laughed as he moved over to shake hands and give hugs. “I’m so glad you came.”

“Well, by the time I got the fifteenth text, giving in seemed like my best option.” She rolled her eyes, but her voice said she wasn’t that upset.

“I didn’t text you,” Jerry said.

Bailey looked at him, blinked, and tipped her head back as she laughed. “You’re right, Mister Young.” She moved up to shuffle-step into the bowling alley beside him. “You didn’t text me, but do you know who did?”

Jerry set his sights on the entrance to the alley, knowing what waited for him beyond those glass double doors. Disco bowling. Loud music. All of his sons, their wives, and his grandchildren.

Heck, Jerry had some great-grandchildren now, and his heart swelled with love for his family.

“My wife?” he guessed, though he knew Cecily had texted Bailey, specifically to invite her to this quarterly birthday party. OJ was born in December, and on this, the second weekend in October, they were celebrating all birthdays in the final quarter of the year—October, November, or December.

Joey had brought up Bailey first, actually, and she’d said, “She should be invited. She’s practically part of our family, and it’s OJ’s big family party.”

Of course, Bryce had piled on after that, and even Otis and Georgia had said it was a good idea.

Jerry didn’t truly mind, but he had the grumpy grandpa role to play—at least until Leigh put a baby in his arms. Then Jerry had no hope of keeping his frown on his face.

“Your wife, yes,” Bailey said, stepping ahead of him to open the door. “And Joey, and Adam, of course, because he just wants Joey to be happy.”

“Of course,” Jerry murmured, though he loved Joey and Adam with his whole heart. Their little girl was the cutest thing on the planet, and about as far from a Young as anyone could get in the family, since both Joey and Adam had light features. Their darling Eliza had wispy, blonde hair that stood straight up on her head, and Jerry had spent a whole afternoon holding the baby and lightly brushing his fingers through it.

“Georgia,” Bailey said, blocking the entrance and holding up a third finger. “Otis. OJ—and he invited me four times. Four.”

Jerry grinned at her. “Well, he’s got spunk, and he has a lot of his parents’…tenacity.”

Bailey cocked her head, even as Reeves eased to her side. “We’re not upset we’re here, right?” he asked. “I mean, it’s a private birthday disco bowling party, with people who won’t care I’m the Teton Mountain Man.”

Jerry sized up the man, and the way he settled Bailey. Her shoulders deflated, and she nodded her agreement.

“You’re right,” she said.

Reeves leaned closer, a smile playing with the corners of his mouth. “Maybe stop blocking the door then.”

Bailey started, and Jerry grinned at the two of them. “Yes, of course.” She moved out of the way, and Reeves pulled open the other side of the entrance.

“In you go, Jerry,” Reeves said.

Jerry really liked the man’s energy, and he moved past him and into the bowling alley. The weather had started to turn in the past couple of days, and Jerry sure was glad to get out of the wind.

“Gramps,” Joey called. “We have a place for you on lane seven.”

“Lane seven, Daddy,” Tex practically bellowed, and Jerry wouldn’t be able to simply shuffle over there, take a seat, and watch Gabe’s boys throw strikes. Between here and lane seven, no less than six of his sons loitered with their wives, children, and the “extra” aunts and uncles.

The bowling alley had twenty lanes, and his family alone could fill them. Cecily had planned this birthday party with Abby and Cheryl, and Jerry wasn’t surprised to see four tables set out in front of the shoe rental, each of them covered with cupcakes.

Morris and Gabe had been born in November, and they’d sponsored the café here at the bowling alley. Anyone could go get something to eat off the menu, free of charge.