It's All Relative (67 page)

Smiling brightly at the romantic imagery, she made a condescending noise. Jessica looked up at hearing it. “Nonsense, I won’t let him say no.” Smiling crookedly at her suddenly pale granddaughter, Millie gave her as sage advice as the old woman could. “Life is short. You need to seize the opportunities as they arise.” She raised an eyebrow at Jessica Marie, just so she’d be aware that Millie was speaking of her own life, as well as Kai’s.

Jessica finally sighed and nodded, and Millie felt victorious as she carefully sat down on a stool near the counter and instructed her granddaughter on all the other life lessons she’d learned. The slight ache in her hip as she shifted in her chair reminded her that she wasn’t as healed as she would like to believe. It also reminded her that life was indeed short, and before she left this world, she was bound and determined to see her family happy.

It was the least she could do, after all the happiness they had given to her over the years.

(Cut scene #6. This is at the end of chapter 20, when Mason tells Kai the truth.)

M
ason was staring at the papers on his desk, but not seeing a word on any page. He had tons of journals open, each bursting with fascinating, meticulously detailed facts and statistics on his favorite winged subject. Some of the things he’d discovered could be vital in determining the reason behind the strange die-off happening among hives worldwide. Somewhere in his mounds of research, could be the key to preserving the tiny, seemingly unimportant creature. But all of life was connected, and the decline of this one small species could perhaps spell out the demise for all life. That was how important his work was. But at the moment, as he stared through the massive amount of data piled in front of him…none of it mattered.

None of it mattered, because of his son. A son that, less than a year ago, he hadn’t known was his. A son who he could not deny parentage too…not after seeing those carbon-copy eyes. And as he’d grown close to Kai over the past few weeks, working long days with him as he played the role of eager assistant, ready and willing to do any task Mason required of him, Mason had begun to develop a certain…fondness for the boy.

After being burdened by Nate and Leilani with the task of informing Kai that he was his biological father, Mason hadn’t been able to show much in the way of warmth to him, but he had definitely grown to look forward to the time they shared. At first, he had merely appreciated Kai’s eagerness to learn and respect for the work. Kai shared many of the same life views that Mason did. And while he still hadn’t felt comfortable enough to engage in long conversations with the young man, he’d overheard him talking to his colleagues and he was quite impressed.

If Kai were a normal employee, he would try to convince him to join him in his important research. He would convince him to be his partner, and perhaps publish their findings together; he respected Kai’s intelligence and insight that much.

But Kai wasn’t just a talented employee. Kai was his illegitimate son, born out of a reckless affair that had permanently driven a wedge between three close friends and colleagues. Mason could scarcely look at Kai without being reminded of that fact. Just seeing his face brought back startlingly clear memories of the woman Mason had loved dearly for a time, possibly even still loved. And when Kai smiled, that ache was scoured open so completely, that Mason almost always had to walk away from him.

Mason was sure Kai didn’t understand his coldness towards him, but he couldn’t tell him the real reason yet. How could he break the boy’s heart? How did he tell him that the man he’d loved and respected all his life, was in no way related to him? For the millionth time, Mason wondered how Leilani could have asked this of him.

She’d called Mason a few times since Kai’s arrival. As always, just the sound of her voice had him agreeing to things that his rational mind would never normally agree to. She always stressed that Nate was growing impatient, that he would tell Kai soon if Mason didn’t. Mason always told her that it
should
be that way, that Kai should be hearing this hard news from the people he knew as family. But then Leilani would cry, telling him that she couldn’t do it…and Nate would paint her in the worst light possible.

Mason sighed at hearing that. He knew Nate and Leilani still managed a cordial relationship in the work place, but outside of it was a different story. They put on a friendly front for Kai, but Mason knew that Nate had stopped loving Leilani the instant he’d found out Kai wasn’t his. That had been Nate’s breaking point with her. Mason knew…because Nate had called him recently, too.

He’d confirmed much of what Leilani feared, that he would be as straightforward with his son as he had to be, even if that meant destroying the endearing vision Kai had of his mother. Nate had told Mason that only Mason could really explain to Kai what had happened between Mason and Leilani, so the revelation would be much softer, coming from him.

From his tone, Mason had understood that Nate was in no way trying to be malicious or spiteful, as Leilani had feared, he was just…being Nate. He believed in the truth, and in speaking it as plainly as possible. It made him excellent in his career, but for matters of the heart, where a bit more…finesse could be helpful, Nate came across as overly harsh. The phone call with him had ended in much the way Leilani had said it would. Mainly with Nate telling Mason to do it soon…or he would. Surprising himself, Mason had begged for a few more weeks…until the end of the year. Nate had given him until then, but no longer.

But even still, with that deadline looming, Mason balked. There was no class he could take to learn how to tell someone who their true parent was. There were no lectures he could sit in on to learn the precise way to break the news. He had no idea how or when to bring it up with Kai. And he’d tried. He’d almost done it not too long ago, when Kai had seemed so tired and distracted that Mason had been positive he knew something. He’d subtly brought it up to Kai, by asking him if he was happy working here. Kai had replied that he was, that his mood was because of a personal matter, and that he would do better to not let it interfere.

By the professional look in his inherited eyes when he’d said it, Mason was sure he didn’t suspect the truth about the two of them. He wasn’t exactly sure what Kai’s personal problem had been, but it wasn’t about Mason. Curious, Mason had almost asked for more. He’d almost asked Kai to open up to him…like an actual father might. But then his uneasiness with the situation had closed off his throat, and he’d quickly walked away.

He might be the boy’s father, but he wasn’t the boy’s dad. He couldn’t just start acting like he was.

Sighing at all the mountain of work that wasn’t getting done, thanks to the internal war in his stomach, Mason heard laughter right outside his door. It was followed by muffled words, words that sounded like they’d come from Kai. A pause followed and Mason stiffened, hoping Kai would continue on his way, and not come into his office while Mason was busy brooding about him. But luck was not with Mason today, and a light knock sounded a few seconds later.

He sighed again. Kai
did
want to speak with him. Preparing himself to see his son again, he wearily said, “Enter.”

Kai stepped into the room and softly closed the door behind him. Mason couldn’t help but note that the boy seemed different, resolved, yet torn too. Mason steepled his fingers over his desk, wondering if this was the moment. Should he tell him? But just the thought…Kai would surely be angry and flee back to Hawaii to confront his parents. Mason would lose him, as an employee…and as a son. He’d probably never see him again. He had no reason to return. It wasn’t that Mason loved the boy, he didn’t. Thanks to Leilani, Kai was practically a stranger to him, but he certainly respected him, respected his work ethic, his bright inquisitiveness, his enthusiasm for life. Mason was developing a warm spot for Kai and surprisingly, he didn’t want that to end…just yet.

Not wanting to give away any of his thoughts, Mason remained silent as he watched Kai approach and nervously sit in a chair across from him.

Tension blanketed the room, filling Mason with dread. It was too late…he already knew. Mason was positive. He knew. Nate must have caved, must have confessed everything to him. He couldn’t imagine what the young man was thinking right now, as he stared at the person he had never realized was his true father. It was probably much like the way Mason looked upon him, although, it would be much more painful for Kai, due to his complete ignorance on the matter. At least with Mason, the shock had been somewhat minimized, since he’d always been aware of the slight possibility that he could be Kai’s father. He’d just never really thought he was.

Running his hands over his slacks, Kai cleared his throat. “Um…Mason, I need to talk to you about something…and it’s sort of hard…”

Mason sighed as he sat back in his chair. The sound came out with a bit of relief to it. And Mason supposed he was relieved. Kai knew, and the burden that Mason had been carrying around for weeks finally started dissipating. A surprising knot of sadness welled up in Mason. He couldn’t bear the thought of not seeing his son anymore once he fled back home. The warmth he felt for him was much stronger than he’d realized.

Confused that he actually felt so strongly about him, he shook his head. Irritation at Nate flared to life. He was the one who had put them in this situation, but oddly enough, he was the one who had ultimately told Kai the truth. Nate hadn’t given him enough time…and he’d promised he would. “He told you, didn’t he?” Mason shook his head again, his voice incredulous. “I can’t believe he actually told you. After everything…I can’t believe he was so impatient, that he couldn’t give me just a few more weeks with you.”

His son’s entire demeanor changed. His brows bunched together, and his mouth dropped open. Mason couldn’t tell if he was angry or not. Surely he had to be, although, he looked more confused than anything. “He? Sir?”

Mason sighed, running a hand back through his hair. “After all he did to get you out here with me, just so I could tell you…then he goes behind my back and tells you anyway.” Looking up at the ceiling, he smirked. “I really shouldn’t be surprised. That’s just like Nate, he always was impatient.”

“Nate?” Kai’s irritated voice returned Mason’s attention to his son. His brows were definitely scrunched in anger…although, the confusion was still there, too. Mason really wasn’t sure what he had to be confused about at this point. Maybe he just couldn’t accept that almost everyone he knew had spent a good chunk of his life lying to him. Mason could see why that would be confusing.

Kai shook his head. “My dad, Nate? What are you talking about? What does my dad have to do…with anything? And what would he need
you
to tell me?”

All of the blood drained from Mason’s face. Oh…God. Did he misinterpret Kai’s reason for walking in here? Did he just make the one mistake that all scientists strive to never make? Had he just assumed a piece of knowledge without any proof to back it up? Had he just inadvertently clued Kai into the fact that a “job” was not the real reason he was here? Oh…no.

Shaking his head, Mason tried to redirect the conversation. “I’m sorry, what did you want to talk to me about, Kai?”

His son was no dummy and wasn’t deterred by such a flawed form of diversion. Like any well-trained researcher, once he saw a nugget of what he wanted, he followed that path until he got an answer. It was one of the things Mason respected about him. But now, it was sort of a pain in the ass. “What does my dad have to tell me, that you’re supposed to tell me first?”

Mason sighed and tiredly rubbed his eyes. He could try to convince Kai that it was nothing, that he was exhausted and talking gibberish, but he was certain the boy wouldn’t buy it. Plus…Mason needed this burden off his chest. He hoped Kai didn’t react by running away, but he couldn’t withhold the information in fear of the outcome. He hadn’t gotten as far as he had in life, by fearing outcomes.

Letting his hands fall to his lap, he said in as professional a voice as he could muster, “Just over twenty three years ago, your mother and I fell in love, and carried out an illicit affair behind Nate’s back.” Kai’s eyes widened as he listened, his face shading to a lighter tan than usual. Tightening his stomach in preparation, Mason continued, “While we were together, Leilani became pregnant.” His hands splayed out to indicate Kai. “You are the result of our union,” he whispered.

Kai shot up out of his chair. He tilted his head at Mason, his eyes still wide with fear…or maybe denial. “What are you saying?”

Mason slowly stood from his desk. Walking around it, he said, in a much calmer voice than he ever believed he could, “I’m saying…that I am your biological father, Kai.”

Kai started shaking his head and backing away from Mason. Mason wanted to sigh, but he understood. It was a lot to spring on someone, unprepared. Maybe all three should have sat down together with him. Maybe a united front would have been easier…for Kai.

“No…you’re demented.” He pointed a finger at Mason; it was shaking. “Nate Harper is my father!”