It's All Relative(162)
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.