It's All Relative (57 page)

Kai’s voice choked up completely as the stretcher was wheeled right past him. Jessie’s sobbing increased, but Kai could only gape in stunned disbelief. She can’t be dead. They had too much to tell her. He had too many questions. He wanted to know why she’d hidden the truth, why she hadn’t told him who he was the minute he’d arrived here. He wanted to tell her about his feelings for Jessie.

He
wanted…
He
needed…

Disgust at his own selfishness filled him. The world had just lost an amazing woman. Jessie had just lost her last relative in the city. His father, the man who’d raised him, had just lost his mother. And Millie Harper, the woman so filled with life and vitality that it was hard to picture her any other way, would never get to see another sunrise, would never get to play matchmaker for another grandchild, and would never get to see the tomatoes she’d just planted in her greenhouse come to fruition.

And they’d said heart attack. Was that because of him? Did he do this? Did he cause her so much stress and worry that her aged heart couldn’t handle it? Was all of this…his fault? God, why the hell hadn’t he called her?

Jessie twisted in his arms to cry against his chest, and Kai wrapped his arms around her, clutching her tight. This couldn’t be happening. How did he go from so incredibly happy to so incredibly sad in just a couple of hours? The men offered their condolences for the loss they saw before them, and a warm hand rested on Kai’s shoulder. The hand patted him consolingly as a familiar voice said, “Sad, isn’t it?”

Kai and Jessie broke apart at the same time and snapped their gazes to the person who had spoken. Kai felt all of the blood drain from his face as he looked over what could only be a ghost. Millie Harper stood before Kai, favoring her tender hip as she sadly stared at the ambulance doors banging closed. Sighing as she shook her head, she calmly looked back at him and said, “She came over for tea, then boom…dead.” Her gray brows bunched together as her wrinkled lips pursed. Her eyes, warm and very much alive, flicked back to the ambulance beginning to drive away. “Gosh…I hope it wasn’t the tea…”

Kai and Jessie slackened their embrace from around the other as Kai’s gaze darted between the woman he’d sworn was dead, to the ambulance obviously holding someone else. Focusing on his grandmother, he took in the handmade Christmas sweater, the khaki slacks, the slippers on her feet, and the slight dirt under her nails from endless plant pampering. He’d been so sure she was gone that seeing her alive almost didn’t seem real.

Smiling warmly, she stepped forward and embraced him. “Oh Kai, I’m so glad you are okay. I was so worried about you.” Her gaze turned sympathetic as she examined him. He could still only gape at her. He wasn’t even able to return her hug.

Jessie found her voice first. “Grams? We thought…” She grabbed her grandmother, knocking the woman back a step.

Confused, the older Harper stroked her granddaughter’s back. “Jessica, dear, what is the…?” Her voice trailed off as her eyes followed the leaving ambulance. “Oh, did you two think…?”

Kai’s eyes overflowed with tears as he nodded. “We thought you…had a heart attack.” Kai stepped into her, enclosing his arms around her and Jessie.

His grandmother, by nurture if not nature, shushed them both and patted their backs. “Oh, no, sweethearts, that wasn’t me. My ticker is just fine.” Kai and Jessie pulled back to take her in, still surprised that she was a living, breathing person and not an apparition. Smiling softly, she brushed dry one child’s cheek, then the other. Cocking an eyebrow, she said, “It will take much more than a leisurely cup of tea to end this old girl. I plan on going out in a blaze of glory…sky diving or something.”

Kai shook his head and inadvertently chuckled at her; the release felt wonderful. Thank God she was okay. Grudgingly letting go of her, so they didn’t accidently crush her to death, Kai asked, “Who was that then?”

Gran sighed as she looked across her lawn, to the neighbor who had helped Kai on his first visit to his grandmother’s house. “Betty…my neighbor.” Shaking her head, she returned her eyes to Kai. “She was centuries old, and really didn’t take very good care of herself. But she was sweet, in a nosey sort of way.”

She paused a moment as she reflected over the loss that had taken place in her home, then her expression brightened. “While I’ll miss that old broad, I can’t help but think that her home was a rental, and will probably need a new tenant now.” She gave him an endearing smile. “You could move out of your tiny little apartment. You could be my neighbor…if you’re staying, that is.” She raised her eyebrows inquisitively, waiting for his answer.

Kai had to laugh that she’d found a silver lining in all of this. But then he sighed, as he looked over the hope on his grandmother’s face. She was praying he would stay here, even knowing what he knew now. And he planned to, but not in the way she was imagining. His home was with Jessie, and his grandmother needed to know that, but his relief that she was alive evaporated his earlier nerves about sitting down and talking with her. He could get through this, because she was okay, and she was still going to be okay after he told her everything that was in his heart. They all would be.

Rubbing her shoulder, he told her, “Well, about that, Gran…” He glanced over at Jessie, then grabbed her hand. “Jessie and I have some things we should talk to you about. How about we go inside?”

When the trio walked back into the house, Kai easily spotted the evidence of today’s tragic events—an overturned chair in the kitchen, a shattered teacup on the floor. Gran sighed as she looked around. “She invited herself over for tea. I knew your father was speaking with you, Kai, since he called me this morning, so I welcomed the distraction. Plus, I liked Betty. She was a sweet old gal. I tried to help her when she collapsed, but there was nothing I could do.”

She sighed again, her face forlorn, and Kai patted her shoulder. “You did your best, Gran.”

Releasing Jessie’s hand, he got to work cleaning up the mess. Gran shouldn’t have to keep looking at the reminder. Jessie moved to help him, and Gran shook her head. “I can handle that. You two don’t need to.”

Her face sparkling with relief and love, Jessie smiled at the older woman. “We know you can, Grams, but we want to help. So please don’t be difficult and let us.”

Gran threw her hands up in the air, but there was a prideful smile on her face. While Kai and Jessie cleaned up the mess, she explained again everything that happened with her neighbor. As badly as he felt for Betty, Kai was still awed and amazed that Gran was fine; he’d been so sure that had been her on the stretcher.

After the kitchen was returned to normal, Gran lifted an eyebrow at Kai. “Ready for that talk now? I’m sure there is a lot you want to say to me.”

Grabbing Jessie’s hand again, for support and comfort, Kai nodded. Yes, there were several things he wanted to say. They moved to the living room, where everyone would be more comfortable. Kai and Jessie sat close together on the couch, while Gran took a seat in her favorite chair. Kai and Jessie were still holding hands, but Gran didn’t seem bothered by the affection. If anything, she seemed pleased that they were closer than ever after the bombshell Kai had just received; hopefully she’d still feel that way after she learned just how close they really were.

Kai stroked the back of Jessie’s hand while he tried to think of a good way to open the conversation. His grandmother watched the movement with furrowed brows, but then her expression shifted to concern. “Kai, dear, are you all right? What you learned about your life, couldn’t have been easy for you. It’s been difficult…for everyone involved.”

Kai had to agree with her assessment. This sham, this lie…it had stressed his relationship with his father, caused him to doubt his mother, and made him think for a long time that Mason hated him. He glanced at Jessie before answering his grandmother. She was the only bright spot to come out of it, and it was bright enough to shove the dark spots so far into the background, they didn’t hurt him nearly as much as they should. Returning his eyes to Gran, he calmly said, “Honestly, I’m fine, Gran.” He frowned as he considered that she wasn’t really his grandmother. “Do I still call you Grandma?”

Reaching over, she swatted his knee just as she’d swatted his bottom when he was a toddler. “Of course you do. Who fathered you doesn’t change the fact that we’re family.” Her aged eyes shifted from Kai to Jessie. “We are
all
still family.”

Jessie bit her lip, and she and Kai locked gazes. Kai knew just what she was thinking, since he was thinking it too. They had to tell her, and she’d just given them an opening. When they both looked back at her, Gran was clearly stumped over their silent conversation. Kai cleared his throat. “Um…Gran.” He worried his lip for a moment, unsure how to proceed. How did he explain that he was in love with the woman he’d been told was his cousin? “I…well, we…” He indicated Jessie with his free hand while simultaneously lifting their joined fingers. “We’ve decided…not to be family.”

Gran bunched her brows, deeply confused. Then her expression turned fiery. “Now listen here, Kai Harper, you can’t just decide something like that. You
are
family, regardless of what your blood says, and I won’t allow the two of you to think otherwise. You don’t abandon family, and you can’t choose to not be connected anymore. It doesn’t work that way.”

Kai grinned and a nervous laugh escaped him. “Well, no, we’re still going to be connected, Gran. Deeply connected…just not in a family sort of way.”

Still not understanding, Gran shook her head. Kai was about to try and explain further, when Jessie laughed and looped her arms around his body. Snuggling into his side, she said, “What he’s trying to say is that we’re dating. We’re boyfriend and girlfriend.” She turned to him and smiled so brightly, Kai felt it all the way to his toes. “We’re in love with each other.”

Kai peeked at his grandmother, to see her reaction. Many things fluttered across her face. Understanding, compassion, clarity, and curiosity. “Oh…I see,” she whispered. She seemed paler than before, and definitely shocked. She hadn’t seen that coming. Kai hoped the news didn’t send the ambulance back here.

While she looked like she was struggling with something more profound to say, Kai’s eyes narrowed in concern. “Are you…okay?”

He searched her for any sign of heart trouble, and she immediately snorted in irritation. “Well, of course I’m fine with it. Love is always a good thing.” She pointedly raised an eyebrow. “The world could use more of it.” Shaking her head, she added, “I will need a minute to adjust to the idea though. But…Kai isn’t blood family, so…I guess, I’ll get there. Eventually.”

Feeling more relieved than he ever thought possible, Kai leaned over and placed a hand on her knee. “Thank you, for understanding. Your support means the world to us.”

His grandmother was silent as she studied Kai and Jessie. She seemed to be gauging their happiness, and deciding what she could really be okay with. Kai tensed while he waited for her to change her mind, but then her expression softened and she patted his hand. “I always knew the two of you were good for each other…I just never imagined that you’d be good together in that way. But you are a perfect match, even I can’t deny that, and I’m thrilled to see you both so happy.”

Her absolute acceptance dissolved the lingering tension in his body. But his grandmother’s smile shifted into concern as Kai removed his hand and leaned back on the couch. “Do you understand, Kai?” When it was clear he wasn’t following her, she added, “Do you understand why I couldn’t tell you about your real father? Why I never wanted you to know?”

The smile fell off Kai’s face as his grandmother unknowingly battered his heart with a sledgehammer. “No, I don’t. Why would you hide the truth from me?”

She sighed as she adjusted her sore hip. “I suppose I was trying to protect you. In my head, Nate will always be your father. I didn’t see the point of you knowing, since the truth would only bring you pain.” Her lips twisted into a wry smile as she watched Jessie watching Kai. “I certainly never saw what a benefit the truth could be to you.”

Kai let out a soft laugh as he glanced at Jessie. “I suppose I can understand that. I just wish the news had come from someone I knew.” With a sigh, he hung his head. “I think that would have been an easier way to hear it.”

Leaning forward, Gran grabbed his cool hand with both of hers. When he peeked up at her, she pressed her lips into a firm line and matter-of-factly stated, “I will never keep anything from you again. I promise.”

Kai nodded then sank down in front of her chair and wrapped his arms around her body. Warmth enveloped him as he tightly held the woman who would always be family to him. Regardless of blood, fate had given her to him, and he wouldn’t let her go without a fight. And who knows, maybe someday he and Jessie would get married, and she would be true family again. It was a possible future that filled him with hope.

Like she was reading his mind, his grandmother murmured into his ear, “You’ll always be family to me, Kai. I love you.”

As he squeezed her back just as tight, he responded with, “Blood or not, I love you too.”

When he pulled away from her, she was sniffling but happy. She studied him with clear relief on her face, like she was glad he was handling the news so well. He was probably taking it much better than she’d ever imagined. While Kai knew there would be good days and bad days, he also knew he would make it through. Even though his parents had cracked his foundation…had fallen from the slim pedestals he’d put them on…he had his grandmother’s unconditional love, and he had Jessie’s, and there was an enormous amount of strength in their support.

As Kai sat back on his heels, Gran’s watery eyes shifted to Jessie on the couch. “Thank you, Jessica, for being there for him. I’m positive that your…love…is what got him through this.” Jessie placed her hand on Kai’s shoulder, and when he peeked up at her, there were tears in her eyes. They were happy tears though. Yes, she was definitely the reason he was still able to smile right now.