It's All Relative(134)
Mason had a way of painting their relationship that made it easy to see why they’d fallen so deeply for each other, even though it was wrong for them to do so. Jessie couldn’t help but steal glances at Kai throughout Mason’s confession. While she and Kai couldn’t be together for entirely different reasons, the heartache they’d all shared was the same. Jessie found herself sympathizing with Kai’s mother. She couldn’t imagine being torn between two lovers like that, and then having to leave one behind for the sake of the child, a child who could have been fathered by either one of them. That was hard to picture, but she could easily understand being in love with someone who was forbidden.
When Mason was finished, Kai hung his head and nodded. He seemed to better understand the turmoil his mother had gone through. As Jessie rubbed his back, she hoped that when Kai saw her again, he wasn’t too hard on her. Her choices hadn’t been the best, but her decision to stay with Uncle Nate had in large part been for Kai’s benefit. Either way, her decision must have been hard.
April emerged from her room to leave for work. Having heard parts of Mason’s tale, she gave Kai a swift hug and a light kiss on the cheek. Jessie was a little surprised as she watched the affectionate moment between them that she no longer felt any jealousy over their contact. Maybe that was because April and Kai’s relationship had shifted into an easy friendship, or maybe it was because Jessie was now bonded with Kai so firmly that she had no question where his heart was; he showed her every chance he got. Or maybe, it was just because she’d gotten to know Kai over the last few months, and she was certain he’d never stray. That just wasn’t who he was. He was loyal and trustworthy, loving and honest. He was devoted to his family, and there for anyone who needed a hand. Inside and out, Kai was just a good person. And besides being the man who occupied her bed and her heart, he was also her best friend. Her soulmate. As Jessie waved goodbye to April, she was certain that, unlike his mother, Kai would never find himself in a position where he had to choose between two lovers. Jessie was absolutely certain that Kai’s heart was hers…and only hers.
Jessie stood to make the father and son cups of coffee when the conversation shifted to lighter topics. Mason seemed genuinely curious about Kai, about who he was and what he enjoyed, and he endlessly expressed his regret over seeming standoffish to him upon his arrival. The whole situation had completely thrown Mason off, and he wasn’t someone who liked to be off-track. He’d been struggling with the task that had been given to him from day one.
After giving the pair their coffee, Jessie kissed Kai’s forehead and gave him some privacy so he could truly get to know his father. Hearing Kai laugh while he described the numerous bee stings he’d hidden from Mason on his first day at work made her smile. Slipping into her room, Jessie crawled onto her bed. With the scent of Kai still on her pillows, she listened to his deep voice as it drifted throughout her home.
It filled Jessie with a surprising amount of warmth that he was making an attempt to bond with Mason. Maybe that was because if Kai bonded with Mason, it would only reaffirm that Uncle Nate wasn’t his real dad, reaffirm that it truly was okay for them to be together. Jessie knew in her heart that being with Kai was the absolute right path for her, and she knew they were strangers, in that sense, but still, having him develop a close tie to someone who didn’t share a branch on the Harper family tree was a good thing.
Smiling, Jessie closed her eyes and let the image of Kai’s sea-green gaze sweep her away into slumber.
Kai smiled as he shook hands with Mason. That had gone better than he’d ever thought it would. Now that Mason wasn’t sick with dread over having a conversation with Kai that he didn’t want to have, he was easier to be around—open, curious, and eager to form a lasting bond with Kai. Kai wasn’t sure if he was ready to include him in family functions yet, but he definitely felt more comfortable about returning to work.
“I never thought I’d say this, but thank you for coming here and talking to me,” Kai said as he walked Mason to the front door.
Mason let out a noise that was half amusement, half disbelief. “It was something I never imagined myself doing it…but I’m glad I did. You’re an amazing young man, Kai, and I’m happy that you’re giving me a chance to get to know you. It begs the question though…will you be staying with us?”
While Kai was a bit flustered by a person he’d always assumed hated him suddenly calling him amazing, the thought of what his future held now made him smile. “Yes, I’m going to stay here…in Denver.” His gaze drifted to Jessie’s bedroom, where the girl of his dreams was waiting for him. When he returned his eyes to Mason’s, there was happiness and curiosity on the man’s face, but no disgust. He knew about Kai and Jessie, and he didn’t care. Kai hoped it went as easily with the rest of their family. “This is home now, and so is the center. I’d be honored to keep working with you and the team.”
Even though Kai was fairly certain Mason wouldn’t turn him down, nerves still flashed up his spine. He really hadn’t wanted to give up his job. He loved the work, and he’d never really wanted to leave. Mason’s expression instantly proclaimed his answer, even before he said it. Smiling brightly, he nodded, “Good. You would have been impossible to replace.”
The warmth of Mason’s praise swept over Kai. He wasn’t at a point where he needed to impress the man as a son, but as an employee, it was extremely gratifying to have his hard work acknowledged. Kai immediately relaxed. He still had Jessie; he still had his job. It almost seemed too good to be true. He wasn’t about to complain though. Suddenly remembering what he needed to do made Kai cringe. “I hope you don’t mind, but I need a little more time off. I need to see my parents.” The thought of having those conversations filled him with dread again.