Page 2 of Never Say Yes To Your Brother's Best Friend

“You’ve been missing family, and you’re going home?” he asks kindly. “John, by the way. So you know who you’re talking to.”

“Aspen.” I swipe at my eyes. “Like the tree.” I don’t tell him my last name. But it’s Oak. Yes, truly. Aspen Oak. I’m not messing around here. My parents might have thought it was cute, giving me a double tree name, but people don’t take me seriously, and right now, I’m not up for having a discussion about it.

“I always did like aspens. They’re mighty good trees. But then, I never did meet a tree I didn’t like. They’re good stuff all around, you know?”

He’s right. Trees are good shit. All of nature is good shit. Jace loved being in it more than he loved anything, even his job. If he’d lived long enough to retire, he might have bought a cabin in the middle of nowhere and spent the rest of his years in solitude and peace.

God, maybe he did that, and I didn’t even know about it. I didn’t know where he even was half the time.

I don’t want to think about the reality of him being nowhere now, at least not on this earth where I can find him, so I imagine him teaching bushcraft and doing some survival thing with kids and adults alike. He always had to be doing something.

“Sorry.” I brush at my eyes again. “No, I’m not going to see family. I actually live in Atlanta.”

“Oh? I’m the opposite. I live in San Jose, but I was visiting my son and his sons and their sons in Atlanta. I’m ninety-four this year. They think I’m too old to fly, too old to drive, too old to do anything. They want me to come back out there, but I always loved San Jose. That’s where I wanted to retire, and I’ve done it and lived there for thirty years now. It’s my home, andI probably won’t be leaving it even after I shuck off the mortal coil.”

“Oh! Don’t do that!” I reach for his hand before I can stop myself. He lets me put mine on his and then pats it with one that’s gnarled up and full of crepe-thin skin and very blue veins.

“When you get to my age, dear, it’s more of a reality than it is anif. I’ve had a good life. No, I’ve had agreatlife! I’m still traveling, still mobile, and I still have my independence.” He does a huge wrinkly face grin again and taps his head with his free hand. “And at least most of my faculties.”

That makes me smile a watery smile because John isn’t forcing it. He’s naturally melting my heart. I can tell he’s a good man, and I want to sit here all day and hear his stories. I’m sad we’re going to be landing in half an hour or less.

Thirty minutes.

I have thirty minutes to get my shit together.

Okay, maybe a little longer because I have to get my bag and a coffee, go get the rental car I booked, and then take a freaking breath before I punch in the address I memorized from the second neatly typed sheet of paper the lawyer gave me.

“I don’t doubt it, John. You’re sharp as a brand new tack.”

His grin deepens, as do his wrinkles. He’s mostly bald, except for a few spare hairs behind each ear. It makes his ears look extra huge and a little bit saggy, which just makes him look infinitely adorable.

“So you’re going to visit friends down here? It’s very nice. All of California is. The beaches are marvelous, dear. You’re in for a great vacation. And you’ve come during the extra hot season. July is sometimes unbearable, but at least the nicest parts of the beach aren’t so crowded. The college kids have long come and gone. Oh, unless it’s debauchery you were hoping for. There’s still plenty to be had, no doubt.”

“No!” I gasp, laughing softly. “Not debauchery.” My hand is still on his. I give it a squeeze. “Well, not—I don’t think so. I’m going to San Jose to meet a man I’ve never met. He was my brother’s best friend. They…uh…workedtogether. My brother died last year.”

“Oh.” John’s face crumples and his eyes mist over. He can’t cry. If he cries, I’m finished. “I’m so sorry, dear.”

“Me too.” I’ll never stop being sorry. I’ll never stop missing Jace. There are a lot of days where it hurts more than I think I have the capacity to bear. “I got a letter from his lawyer yesterday. It was to be given to me the day after the one-year anniversary of his death. My brother wasn’t like that. He wasn’t into easter eggs or playing games or drama like that, so it really shocked me.”

“I see.” John can clearly tell there’s more coming. At his age, he’s learned patience.

“In his letter, he told me about his best friend. I never met him. I never even knew about him. They had a job where…where they couldn’t really talk much about it. Anyway, this friend stopped doing what they were doing—I don’t know if retired is the right word—a few months before my brother wrote the letter. I know I’m not going to make any sense, but basically, he told me he wanted me to find his best friend and look after him.”

“Oh. Oh, I see. That’s quite a thing to ask.”

I haven’t told him the most shocking part. Maybe I don’t want to admit to myself that my brother would ask me to do it.

I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone who I thought would be a better match for you in every way. Give happiness a shot because life is far too short, and it runs out on all of us sooner than we’ll ever think.

“His best friend never had anyone, I guess. He had no family, not even when he was young. He’s alone. Without Jace, I’m an only child, but I’ve always had my parents and my friends.”

“He no doubt wanted you both to find happiness and give it a real shot.”

Yes, he said that. Almost word for word. It was a little bit jarring to hear it from the mouth of a stranger.

I know this might be a touch crazy and a whole lot idealistic, but you’re two people I care about very much. I’m worried about you both. If you can find love, give it a shot. With each other. Nothing would make me happier than if you both got married and made a go of it. Have a family. Be each other’s best friend. Be each other’s special person. Learn to love him if you can. He’ll learn to love you the same. I know it.

Something about this sweet old man prompts me to tell the truth. “I think I’m going to San Jose to marry a man I’ve never even met just because my brother thought it would work out. It’s kind of his last wish ever, so how can I not do it?”

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