When Jake's sister arranges for him to attend her aloha party, a kind of Christmas in October, he is sad and concerned. Lynn has cancer and this may be the last time he will see his beloved older sister. In an effort to heal some of the rifts in their family, he calls his estranged brother Ron and tells him about Lynn's condition.<br><br>Lynn asks Jake to keep her brother-in-law Mitchell company for the duration of the visit. When he arrives, Jake is first stunned to discover Ron there, he and Lynn having made up their differences. As an extra bonus, Jake is absolutely smitten by the gorgeous Mitchell.<br><br>A few weeks later, Mitchell flies out to visit Jake. Although their mutual attraction can't be denied, Mitchell is several years older than Jake, which may be a problem. By the time Christmas rolls around, Lynn is very weak and Jake and Mitchell rush to her side. Will there be good news to share with Lynn? And does she have one more surprise for Jake, too?

Aloha Party

He was right there with Mom and Dad when they let me know in cold hard terms that no son of theirs called himself gay and stayed part of the family. I’d thought coming out would lift a weight, but instead it added concrete overshoes to my pretty plain wardrobe.


“I haven’t heard from him and don’t know how to get in touch with him. Anyway I doubt he’d care.”


I couldn’t imagine that they not have a chance to reconcile before she died. “Mind if I try to track him down, just so he knows? If you say no, I’ll just leave it.” I could tell from the pause that she would like the chance.


“Anyway, e-mail me the itinerary and I’ll get things cleared at work. See you in a few weeks with the ugliest Aloha shirt you will have ever seen.”


Chapter 2