by Zoe Piper
"Welcome to New Zealand. It's great to finally meet you all." Turning to Kyle's mother, he asked her, "How’s your ankle, Mrs Foster?"
The older woman gave Jase a tight smile that didn't reach her eyes. "Healing well. Thank you for asking, Mr MacKenzie."
"Please, call me Jase." Jase smiled at the group, noticing that Kyle was frowning slightly at his mother.
"Mama, no need to stand on ceremony." Kyle linked his fingers with Jase's. "I've told you how I feel about Jase. He's an important part of my life here." Jase tightened his hand around the one holding his and looked at the woman watching them with a guarded expression.
"Yes. Well, we'll see about that." She looked to her husband. "Shall we go and have lunch?"
"Wait a second, Mama. What do you mean? What is there to see about?" Kyle was looking confused, not understanding what his mother meant.
"Let's have lunch and then we'll discuss some matters that have come to light." Heather Foster got to her feet, and leaning on a cane, started moving towards a small private room Jase had not noticed earlier.
Kyle turned to him. "Jase, I'm sorry. I have no idea what my mother is talking about."
"It's okay." Jase assured him. "I'm sure she’s just being cautious. After all, she knows very little about me, only what you have told her."
"I meant it. You are an important part of my life here. The most important part." Blue eyes shone with sincerity and another emotion Jase didn't want to name, but suspected was the same one he had.
"Same for me." Jase smiled back at him.
"Kyle, buddy. You coming?" Luke's deep baritone called out to them, breaking the moment. With a sigh, Kyle nodded, and followed the group.
✽✽✽
Kyle wasn’t sure what his mother was up to, but he was determined to find out. He was not going to let her drive away the best thing that had happened to him. He loved Jase completely and was planning on telling and showing him how much later.
"Why are we eating in here rather than in the main area?" He asked as they took their seats across the table from his parents. Luke and Chloe sat together along one edge of the square table. Chloe was looking upset, but what about he had no idea.
"Your mother and I thought it would be better to have some privacy, so we can get to know Jase better." His father said, a gentle smile on his face. Kyle felt his father wasn't completely telling the truth, but decided to let it go for the moment.
Jase rested his hand on Kyle's leg, his touch calming his racing emotions. "What would you like to know?" He smiled at the older couple.
"Kyle tells us that you work for a non-profit organisation. Some kind of charitable foundation?" Edward Foster asked him.
Kyle watched his parents closely while Jase explained what the Sherwood Foundation did and about some of the mentoring he did with the recipients. His father seemed genuinely interested in what Jase was saying, but his mother's face was a closed book. He flicked a look at his sister and Luke. His best friend was whispering softly in Chloe's ear, his hand gently rubbing up and down her shoulder, as though comforting her.
His mother broke into the conversation. "So where does this Sherwood Foundation get its funding from?" She asked.
"We do some fund raising from various events during the year, but most of the money comes from a private trust." Jase explained.
"And who is behind this trust?" Heather Foster pushed. "How much does this trust contribute to the actual running of the Foundation?"
Before Jase could answer, Kyle spoke to his mother. "Mama. Why does that matter?"
"It matters, Kyle. Mr MacKenzie here hasn't been entirely honest with you." She turned her steely gaze onto Jase, daring him to contradict her.
Kyle frowned as he felt his boyfriend tense next to him. He had never seen the shuttered look that was on Jase's face. There was no sign of the mega-watt grin and dimples that Kyle loved so much, and the usually warm green gaze was cool as it looked across the table at his parents. "Jase, what is going on? What is my mother talking about?" The hand resting on his thigh gave a gentle squeeze before it was removed as Jase leaned across the table.
"I'm not sure I understand why you think I haven't been honest with your son?" Jase's voice was low and guarded.
"What my wife means, Jase, is that you haven't told Kyle everything about the trust and the foundation." Edward Foster replied.
"What is it you think I haven't told him?" Jase parried back. "He knows what I do there and what some of my plans are for the coming year."
"I do find it interesting that a man who is only thirty is heading up an organisation like the Sherwood Foundation." Heather said. Kyle was starting to get angry at his parents for this uncalled-for interrogation.
"Why are you asking these questions?" He glared at his parents. "Jase does a great job and his promotion is well deserved. Ask anyone he has dealt with. And I’m not much older and heading up BEC. How is it any different?"
"Kyle, I think you have been blinded by infatuation for a man who appeared in your life only a couple of weeks after you arrived here and who is best friends with your former PA. Surely, son, you can see we would be concerned after what happened before." His mother gave him a look that reminded him of when he was a child and he had done something he shouldn't have. She turned her gaze back on Jase who was now sitting stiffly in his chair, not looking at Kyle.
"My feelings for your son are very real, Mrs Foster, and between him and me."
"Are they, Jase? You are not a little bit attracted to the fact that my son is a wealthy man? That he could open doors for you, introduce you to people of influence and possibly greater wealth. And when he does, will you leave him for someone with a bigger bank balance?"
To Kyle's surprise, Jase laughed. It wasn't a humorous laugh, more a rueful one. "That's what this is about. You think I'm a gold digger. That I only want Kyle for his status and wealth." Kyle noticed his parents didn’t deny the allegation. Jase continued. "Nothing could be further from the truth. I couldn't care less if he didn't have a penny to his name. I love him for him. For the funny, sexy, intelligent man he is. He makes me feel like a million dollars just by being with me."
Kyle felt his stomach drop at Jase's words. He reached for Jase's hand on the table. "You love me?" He asked, not quite believing he'd heard the words right.
Jase gave him a smile, his eyes shining with emotion. "Yeah. I do. This wasn't quite the way I was going to tell you, but it's true. I've never lied to you, Kyle, and I won't start now." Kyle grinned at the man sitting next to him. He was just about to utter his own words of love when his mother spoke.
"That's all very well. You may not have lied to my son, but you haven't told him everything."
"Mama. Enough. Why can't you be happy for me? I've found the man I love," he grinned at Jase quickly, getting a matching one in return. "It doesn't matter who has more money. At least, it doesn't to me."
"Ask your boyfriend why three weeks ago he got a large payment from the Loxley Trust into his personal bank account?" His mother asked.
Kyle was taken aback. "How do you know about his personal finances?"
"Kyle, sometimes you are so naive. Did you not think that after Paul we wouldn't do a background check on anyone you were getting close to?
Anger roared through Kyle. "What about Luke? Did you do one on him, too, when he started dating Chloe?"
"Of course not. We've known Luke for years and are well aware of his financial standing." She waved a dismissive hand at her son. "What was the payment for, Mr MacKenzie? It was a substantial sum and I am aware that an even larger sum was transferred to the Foundation's holdings at the same time."
"You don't have to answer that, Jase." Kyle stood up, pulling Jase with him. "I’ve lost my appetite. We’re leaving, and we'll see you later when you’ve gotten over this silly witch hunt, mother."
Jase didn't move though, when Kyle tugged on his hand to leave the room. Kyle watched as the man he loved turned a cold burning look on his mother. I
n a voice Kyle hardly recognised, Jase ground out. "What are you accusing me of, Mrs Foster?" The sneer in Jase's voice was obvious. Kyle had never seen Jase angry. Sarah had told him once that Jase was a slow burner, but once the fuse was lit, be careful because when he blew, it was of nuclear proportions. He had a feeling he was not going to enjoy the next few minutes. "Are you suggesting that I have misappropriated funds, or even conned the money out of someone?" As Heather Foster went to reply, Jase cut her off, leaning across the table. "Be very careful what you say next, because I can tell you, whatever you think you know, could not be further from the truth."
"My source is very thorough. If you do not tell my son exactly what is going on I shall pass my findings to the authorities."
"I think you will find that if anyone gets charged for wrongdoing it will be you, for wasting their time and mine." Jase pointed a finger at his accuser.
"Don't threaten my wife, young man." Edward Foster rose to his feet. "If you have done no wrong then why won't you tell us why you got that payment."
"Really, Dad. Why are we squabbling over a few hundred dollars?" Kyle tried to defuse the tension in the room.
"Because it's not a few hundred dollars, son. It's half a million dollars." Kyle's father looked at him sympathetically as shock reverberated through his body. He turned to Jase, willing him to deny it. Jase didn’t say anything. He just looked at Kyle, judging his reaction.
"Why so much, Jase? I presumed you'd get a small bonus when you were announced as the new head of the Sherwood Foundation, but half a million dollars?" His voice tailed off, his mind trying to make sense of what he was hearing.
Jase rubbed a hand over his face and then gave Kyle a resigned look. "This was also not the way I was planning to tell you." Jase turned back to Kyle's parents. "How much are you worth, Mr Foster?" Kyle's father spluttered at the question. Before he could answer, Jase continued, "Ten, twenty million? What about you, Luke? I understand you are very wealthy. How much are you worth? Forty million plus or are you one of these new billionaires?"
"I'm not answering that. What business is it of yours?" Kyle's father angrily replied.
Luke joined the conversation for the first time. "No, I'm not a billionaire, but yes, you could say I am very wealthy. With all due respect, Edward, this is all rather unfair. You know Kyle. You know you can trust his judgement. After Paul, he wouldn't get involved with someone he didn't trust implicitly." Kyle smiled his thanks at his best friend. His sister was close to tears, he could tell. This was obviously dragging up horrible memories for her.
"Thank you for your support, Luke." Jase returned his attention to the older man. "No, it's none of my business how much you are worth, or how much Luke is worth, or anyone's business but their own as to how much they are worth. However, you have decided to make it the business of everyone here as to how much I am worth. So, because I believe in honesty, I will tell you. I am not worth half a million dollars. That is not even a fraction of what my net worth is."
"What do you mean?" Kyle was confused now.
Taking a breath to steady himself, Jase spoke quietly. "If you take into account everything that is held by the Loxley Trust and the Sherwood Foundation then I am worth about fifty million dollars, which is just under forty million in US dollars."
Kyle looked at his boyfriend, stunned. "How?" he managed to get out.
"I won the lottery when I was eighteen. I put it all into a trust which was set up so that I wouldn't have full access to it until I was thirty."
"And you turn thirty next weekend," Kyle whispered. Jase nodded.
"Because my birthday is during the traditional summer holiday shut down, everything was transferred before Christmas. I had a lump sum paid out and the rest will continue to be held by the Loxley Trust. I will draw on it as I need to, but will still need some approval from the board when I do." Jase turned to look at Kyle's parents. "So, you see. I don't want your money, or your son's. Hell, I don't even want my money."
"Why haven't you ever said anything?" Kyle asked him. "Why has Sarah never said anything?"
"Because like I said before, it's no one else's business but mine and also, no one but my lawyer, accountant and Peter Harris know."
Luke asked the next question. "You mean your parents don't even know?"
Jase shook his head. "There were other things going on at the time and I was so overwhelmed by it all I just hid it away and tried to forget about it."
Kyle was stunned. He was having trouble processing everything and he was angry with his parents for forcing Jase into telling him.
Jase moved close to him and Kyle found the green gaze looking at him with love and worry. "I meant what I said. I do love you and I don't care if you have two beans to rub together. I'm going to go now. You need time to think and you need to have a talk with your family without me here."
Kyle started to protest, but Jase stopped him by pressing a quick kiss to his mouth. Without saying anything else, he left the room. Kyle felt like a part of his soul was leaving. He wanted to get this sorted out with his parents quickly so he could go and reassure Jase that none of this mattered. Because to Kyle it didn't matter one little bit whether Jase was as poor as a church mouse, or, as it turned out, wealthier than himself. Turning to his parents, he found they had the grace to look ashamed and a little concerned.
"Just what did you hope to achieve with all that, mother? If Jase decides he wants nothing more to do with me because of this farce, then I will never forgive you."
"We were only looking out for you, son. We didn't want you hurt again. Not after Paul," she replied. She reached a beseeching hand to him, which he ignored. He began pacing the room, the anger and frustration he was feeling needing an outlet.
"When are you going to see me as a grown man that can make his own decisions? When are you going to realise that yes, I was hurt after Paul. I was taken in just as much as Chloe was by Asher, but I have learned from that mistake."
"Son, we apologise. You are correct; we should have trusted you. You obviously care for him very deeply and I truly hope that he will see that none of this was done maliciously, but out of love for you." His father came around the table to stand in front of him.
"I think it will take some time before either of us will be able to forgive and forget this, dad." Kyle was not going to give his parents an inch. They didn’t deserve it. "I need to go and find Jase. We may see you for dinner, but I'll have to see if Jase wants to spend any time with you."
"Okay, son. Let me know later."
Turning on his heel, Kyle left the room to track down his lover.
✽✽✽
Jase was so angry he was shaking. He wasn't someone who got angry often, so when he did, the adrenaline surge was strong. He went back to the cabin, his mind racing a mile a minute. He needed to get away. He couldn't stay, not with what had happened. He wasn't one to run from problems but if he stayed he may end up damaging things between Kyle and his family and he couldn't bear to do that.
Grabbing his still packed duffle bag from where he'd left it, he headed towards the road. He sent a text message to Kyle while he walked.
"Sorry, babe. Heading back to the city. Need some head space. Give me a call when you get back on Tuesday. I love you xx"
He hoped Kyle understood why he was leaving. He needed to tell his family everything. He found a taxi and reached the wharf with five minutes to spare before the last ferry of the day left. As he boarded he sent a message to the family group chat telling them to be at his parent's house in the morning. He then switched off his phone. He knew Kyle would try and ring the minute he got his message and he just needed some time to think.
Ninety minutes later, he was standing in his lounge, pulling on his running gear. He ran for twice as long as normal, trying to run away from the thoughts in his head and the pain in his heart.
The following morning, Jase pulled up in front of his parents' house. He could see from the cars in the street that his siblings and best friend
s were already here. Taking the large envelopes from the front seat, he went inside.
He was greeted by his mother at the door. "Son, what's going on?" She looked behind him. "Where's Kyle? Is he not with you?"
Reaching down to press a kiss to her soft cheek, he replied, "No. Kyle's not with me, mum. I'll tell you everything in a minute." They walked into the large, open plan lounge. All eyes turned to him as he walked in. "Hi," he greeted them, noting their looks of worry and curiosity.
"So, little brother, why have you dragged us here on a Sunday morning?" Matt asked, stretching back in the recliner chair he was sitting in.
Jase took the chair opposite so he was facing them all. Little Mia was asleep in her father's arms and Jase looked at them fondly. His best friends had taken to parenthood like ducks to water and he was so happy for them. Clearing his throat, he focused on his parents.
"I have something to tell you all. It's pretty important, and before I start, I want you to know that I love you all very much and hope that you can understand why I haven't told you this earlier."
A terrified look crossed Sharon MacKenzie's face. "You're not sick, are you?"
"Mum. No. I'm perfectly healthy." Jase rushed to reassure her. "Sorry, it never crossed my mind you'd think that." His parents glanced at each other and sighed in relief.
"Wait. Are you going to tell us that you're not actually gay after all?" Matt laughed at his own joke. Jase smirked at his brother.
"No. Definitely still gay."
"Where's Kyle, hon?" Sarah asked gently.
"He's on Waiheke with his family." Jase felt a shot of pain go through him as he thought of his lover. He still hadn't turned his phone on as he knew Kyle would be trying to get hold of him. He knew it wasn't fair to Kyle, but he had to deal with this first.
"I thought you were joining them?" his sister Jessica queried.
"I was. I mean, I did, but I came back last night." Jase rubbed a hand through his hair. This was getting off track. "Look, let me say what I've got to say and then we can discuss it. Please?"