The Best Time Comes

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They carried their suitcases with them around, trying to find the nearest exit. Across them, there was another man leaning against one of the pillars, evidently waiting for his fellow cronies. He stood there and then suddenly waved at them after he realized both were his old friends. They were obviously delighted to see each other when Joe Owen lifted his arms in a hospitable gesture and approached them.

"Good to see you, James. Woah, Victor? Didn't know you've got a beard with ya." He cried as they shook their hands in a brotherly comrade.

James nudged him beside, with a spark of laughter in his silvery eyes. "See, Vic? Even he gets to comment on your beard!"

"For crying out loud, will you stop making a fuss over my beard? You're lucky you've got time to shave yours before the flight, James." Victor snorted, rolling his eyes.

"Aha, same old Victor, I see." Joe lifted a grin. "So, how was the journey? Tired, no?"

"Tuckered out. I hate to say this but booking a ticket for our train just last-minute was a hell of a job." James laughed. "But we're glad to be finally back."

"Good to hear. I might have to help you put the suitcases in my trunk. I'll give you guys a ride."

"Many thanks, Joe." James returned.

The air was full of fragrance outside the train station, filled with the earthy scent of fresh nature from the poplar leaves. One could tell the familiar scent of it if they were not an outsider of any kind. It would have been too foreign for anyone if they never actually lived in this town before. A herd of birds momentarily fluttered and swooped down on the lake.

Shortly after the help of Joe, the three gentlemen got in for a drive and admired the picturesque mountains afar. They haven't had this feeling of comfort and solace for quite a while. It was this moment when they got a chance to return home where they actually belong.

An hour passed by, and the wind became slightly moody for no particular reason.

Some minutes later, Joe parked the car in front of his family's garage and the three men got out to carry their suitcases from the back of the trunk. Not long did it take for them to reach the porch, Joe unlocked the door and opened it as it gave a homely view, ushering them inside the parlor where it was swarmed with Joe's family photographs.

"I can't imagine we haven't seen each other for a long time. Especially James. Eight solid years for us." Joe breathed a sigh once he closed the door behind him and switched the lights on. "Which reminds me, we haven't contacted Nolan and Hailey yet. I wonder what profession they are in."

"No jobs I bet," Victor surmised and briskly added, "Not that it's a bad thing, I say."

"Come on, don't jump into conclusions, Vic." James reproached and his forehead fell to a frown when his loyal side was shone. He was rather upset by the harsh assumption Victor had said about his old friends.

"What? It was a joke. I'm aware they're not a bunch of lazy teens anymore." Victor took out his jacket in which Joe allowed him to hang it on the rack. "Besides, I admit I used to be a slacker back in our days. We've always spent our times setting up some pranks in our youth. It was stupid."

"Yeah, I know. But looking down on our friends isn't the way to go either." James retorted. "We don't know if Hailey or Nolan might be more successful than any of us in this room."

"Highly doubt it." Victor gruff and took a swig of water bottle from his bag once he fell back on the cozy sofa.

Joe settled down in the armchair and intervened the short silence while Victor was still drowning the water down his throat. "By the way, If any of you are thirsty, I have plenty of drinks if you want. I can take a glass of it."

It was a sudden alarm for Victor since he halted, set the bottle on the wooden table beside the ashtray and leaned forward with full of eager eyes. "Wait, really?" The thought of it even propelled him immensely.

"What he meant to say is—if you are thirsty, he'll give you a glass of water," James explained, arms crossed while standing by the window.

"Bummer. I thought for a second Joe meant a bottle of champagne or somethin' that's strong." He leaned back with a hint of disappointment in his tone.

"Sorry to break it to you, buddy. We gotta remember Joe's family lives in this house." James replied and walked over as he gave a slap on his comrade's back.

Victor pointed at the shimmering glass of ashtray on the wooden table. "Apparently smoking is completely fine, but when it comes to drinking, no?"

"My dad has a few guests who smokes," Joe chuckled at the irony. "But it's on rare occassions."

"Right. Well, I can't seem to help it. I'm a desperate man in need of a drink— Nonetheless I'm all good, I guess." Victor dropped his hands upon his lap.

Joe smiled inwardly. Then he wondered what his fellow cronies have been up to lately. They stayed in the same city for the past couple of months, or so he had been told. Joe Owen brought up the question afterwards.

"So, how did you guys meet?"

James, who seemed to be lively when his friend mentioned this, moved forward fervently and raised his sturdy hands as if something rang his boyish spirit once again. "Long story, Joe. But I don't mind sharing you the story of our first meet up when we met in the—"

"We work in the same office, basically." Victor cut in roughly, gritting through his clenched teeth. "Happened to meet each other on the same day of my interview."

"Hey, you spoiled it," James glanced down at his direction, hands landed on his hips. "Anyhow, that's not the whole story. We had our fun walks around the city. Discussing where we left off, just like those good old days. We managed to get a cab and oh boy, you should see his apartment. His lady friends too, damn."

Victor brushed his tawny curls aside.

"Enough of that already."

"I was joking, man." James chuckled at his friend. "You know I'm not having any serious relationship with anyone, Vic."

"Except your precious little high-school sweetheart, that's for sure," Victor added with a smirk. "Just think of it—out of all the city girls that we've met, no doubt they were petite and attractive. But what did you choose? You pick a town girl instead."

"Wait a second, what am I missing here?" Joe was lost, puzzled in a land of questions during the midst of their conversation.

"James is planning to propose to a girl we once hung out with in high school. Remember our schoolmate Lena Foster?"

"Ah, hold on. I am trying to remember her face." He squinted and lifted his finger against his chin. He was trying his best to recall anyone by the name of Lena Foster but in a few minutes, he gave up. "Nope, sorry I can't remember."

"Can't believe you're that old, Joe." Victor raised his brows.

"That's fine," James chimed in. "You guys probably didn't know I was close with her. It was a long time ago, anyway." James paused for a moment and went on saying, "Although I do need a favor from you guys."

Immediately, both of his buddies leaned a little closer and steadily fixed their gaze on him.

"Anything for you, man." Joe smiled.

Together the two men gathered and listened attentively to their friend's plan. As he spoke before his listeners, James' starlit eyes sparkled in the room and perspiration began to cascade down from his forehead. He was rubbing both of his hands together and cleared his throat. "So, here's what we are going to do first-"

Serena Foster came down from Ever-Flora with dog Axel on a windy afternoon. Her red shoes dangled over her little shoulders, walking barefoot upon the pavement because she couldn't even bear the pain any longer. It was old and tight, but she could still handle it without her shoes on. As long as her weary legs could carry her, it was still bearable enough for her to stand on her two feet.

This time, however, her family happened to know where she was, since Serena had already asked her father's consent before her short travel. Even in the afternoon, the wind rocked the trees, flowers, bushes, and grass. Especially where it momentarily sent her hair flying off in flowy rhythms. The wind whistled in her ears, pinched her fair skin and made her feet cold.

Meanwhile, dog Axel trotted along her side, wagging his tail, and raising his fuzzy head in a proud air under the clouds. Dog Axel looked cool and composed which made her even look silly! She walked on in spite of the humiliation she was in. Anyone around the block could come out at any moment and see her in this dreadful state.

In less than an hour, Serena and dog Axel finally stood in front of the doorway of her house. When she grasped the knob, she opened it, and her vision was blinded by the dark room. Serena barely able to detect anything ahead of her, since the light was not embracing the full entryway. She expected her father would be at home. But not a second passed, the lights were suddenly switched on.

"Surprise, Surprise! Oh wait, wait," Mr. Foster burst out and was stunned when he discovered his youngest daughter had arrived in the house earlier than his eldest. "My bad gentlemen, I got the wrong daughter. This is my little girl, Serena." Mr. Foster introduced her to the guests in an apologetic tone, forgetful that he had another child. Behind him, there was James and followed by two young folks she'd never met before. The young men were standing before her with bright faces.

"Daddy, is today my birthday?" The red rose in her cheeks were almost the same color of her shoes. She was curious yet shy by the attention of some of the strangers eyes.

Mr. Foster shook his head. "No, no. This is a misunderstanding, my dear."

Serena gasped in an instant when she finally understood what this was all about. "Oh! This is about Lena's wedding? Are we going to celebrate her wedding soon?"

"Yes, and no," Mr. Foster's answer was a vague one, but showed no signs of hesitation. "Mr. Allan had already decided and we discussed it thoroughly if he can propose to your sister today. She needs a place for our remembrance. A very special place."

"Yes, I know just the place, dad! Ever-Flora. It's the place where me and Lena used to go up the hill and see the flower fields. She'll love it!"

Before anyone in the room could respond to her hearty prospect, a bark interrupted from the front door.

"Hey, Axel my boy! Come here, come here," James was standing between his friends in the background. He knelt down upon one of his knees and stretched both of his arms. Axel ran to him, licked his owner in sheer joy and thumped his tail on the ground.

Serena was staring in awe at the sight of these two. It was too sweet for her as she clapped her chubby hands, crying out with great triumph of,

"Hurray!"

James stood up and petted the husky dog again. "Hey, Serena. I'd like to know where this Ever-Flora is. Can you show my friends the place you've just mentioned? I think it's a really good idea. We can surprise her over there."

"Ever-Flora? Yes, I can. If only I finished getting rid of these shoes and wear my new ones," Serena groaned and turned in his direction. "Are you really going to marry my sister by the way?" She asked with her brown eyes ever so slightly wide under his gaze.

There was a touch of his charming smile across his face. "The question you should ask is— if your sister wants to marry me." He winked at Serena.

Mr. Foster clapped his hands for a wake up call. "Alright, boys. No time to waste," he gave a pat on Mr. Allan's manly shoulders when the other men were about to depart. "James, before you take my daughter's hand, I'd like to give you a ring for her. It belongs to my wife. But don't ever tell her." Mr. Foster beckoned the young man and led him into a quiet spot in the house.

Author's Note