My Brothers Best Man (editing)

Thirteen

Riley

Stepping out my apartment, after locking the door, I walk over to Mr.Dollie to say hi.

"Hey sweetie, how ya doin?" He grins as he waves his shaky hands, I sit down on the adjacent rocking chair, might as well sit and wait for Axel to arrive.

"I'm doin great, how are you?" I place my hand on his, he's the sweetest man I have ever met. Always making the neighbors smile, we all come together to take care of him and make sure he's good.

"Ive been better, I miss my old lady. Ive been meaning to tell you that I'm going to be leaving this place this weekend." A knot forms in my throat, he's been the neighborhood grandpa for years, always trying to take care of everyone.

"Where you headed?" I sit back and rock in the chair, to try to settle my nerves. He's gotta do what is best for him, his usually bright caramel eyes seemed to have lost some light, as if seeing him for the first time in weeks, I notice how much his body is shaking, how his face has sunken in, he lost some hair and doesn't fit his clothes quite right.

"I found a great hospice care about an hour away, I have Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis also known as ALS. I will make sure to send you mail so you have the address. you can visit whenever they permit it. I don't expect you to of course-" I shake my head before he can assume I wouldn't visit him.

"I'll visit whenever I can, you're like a grandfather I've always wanted. Do your kids know?"

He has two kids, I've only met them once, they seemed sweet like him. "Yes, they actually live by the hospice center. Easier for them to visit me, thank you for everything Riley, I consider you my granddaughter, you ever need anything just let me know okay?"

Tears form in my eyes, "okay, I hope you enjoy your time there, I am so happy they will get to see you more often, make sure to get that information for me okay? id love to visit every weekend if possible."

"Yes, I will do that this Sunday after I've settled in, Live your life sweetie, it goes by way too fast to be cautious. Better to have failed than never try at all." The sound of a car parking caught our attention, Our heads turned at the same time to see Axel getting out of a all black Ford F-150 raptor.

His dark green trekking shoe covered feet meet the ground and I hold my breath waiting to see him, as soon as he steps around the door and closes it the air whooshes out of me. He's wearing a forrest green t-shirt, and khaki cargo pants. Looking like he walked off the cover of Outdoor Magazine. Everything moved in slow motion, like one of those movie clips of the men walking out the water, shaking their head, so their hair moves with the motion.

I felt a tap on my foot, it was Mr.Dollies cane, "you're droolin girl." He snickered, it was more of a snort. I shook my head and smiled at him, "I don't drool," He cackled and smacked his knee, "I know I've seen a dribble falling onto your pants, you aint fooling nobody."

I laughed and didn't respond since Axel was a few steps away, I wasn't going to entertain that thought. "Hey Axel, Ready for the hike?"

He nodded before extending his hand out to Mr.Dollie, "Axel Decker, sir nice to meet you."

Mr.Dollies hand shakes as he takes Axel's, "Frank Dollie, you can call me Frank, I've told Riley many times Mr.Dollie was my father but she keeps calling me that." He chuckled after they retrieved their hands.

I stood up and bent of to give him a hug, "Bye, Ill be expecting your card Sunday."

He pats my back gently, "I will, have fun and be safe!"

I wave out the window after we got into the car and earned one back before our neighbor Janice walked over and sat down in the rocking chair I was just in.