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

Mitchell ordered a bottle of Pinot Grigio to go with dinner and after a light dessert we went to my room for more wine. We talked about many things; he gave up being a Phys. Ed. teacher when he began a real estate business that took off beyond expectations. He had a house a few hours’ drive south on the coast that he wanted to show me before I headed back.


“I’m guessing you have etchings?”


He put on a serious face. “I’ll get some if that’s what you want to see.”


I wondered if I should be blunt and decided what the fuck. “Does Leo know you’re gay?”


He smiled and nodded. “The whole family knows. The ones who don’t like it keep quiet because I have money, but the ones who matter most don’t care.”


I wondered if things would have been different if I was successful when I told my parents, and quickly decided no fucking way. They were too wrapped up in their crap to think any differently. I was surprised that Ron seemed to be okay now.


Chapter 5