“You could call it that.” That cryptic answer had them all curious.
“Jamie, darling, why is this the first we’re hearing about this?” Charlotte cried.
“It wasn’t a big deal.” Jamie drowned his discomfort in the last of his lilikoi cocktail, then poured himself another one. “I didn’t want to upset you guys.”
“Well, I am upset. The idea that you endured a heartbreak without any family support, well, that breaks my heart. You can tell us anything, I hope you know that.”
From the look on her brother’s face, Mathilda could tell exactly what he was thinking. We can’t tell you anything because you’re perfect and we’re not.
“Mom, let it be,” Mathilda said gently. “Jamie doesn’t have to tell anyone anything unless he wants to.”
“Well of course, sweetheart, but…” Charlotte looked to her husband, who was already there, patting her hand, soothing her distress.
Same as it ever was. The two of them never really needed anyone else. Which, as their child, had always been a difficult thing to absorb.
“It’s okay,” Jamie said abruptly. He caught Mathilda’s gaze, then shot a look at Duncan, then looked back at the table. “I can talk about it.”
Duncan pushed his chair back. “If you’d like me to leave…”
“No, you’re going to be part of the family, aren’t you?” Jamie shrugged. “You can stay. Unless you don’t want to be part of family drama…”
“Are you joking? I live for family drama. Mine has none because we’re all too old and tired.”
“You’re barely in your twenties,” Mathilda pointed out.
“I’m an old soul, always have been. Even at Eton, I spent more time with the resident teachers than the other students. But let’s not take away from Jamie’s moment.” He gestured for Jamie to take the floor.
Charlotte clutched Mark’s arm as if their ship was about to hit a reef. “I’m already bracing myself. Was it that vegan chef we hired for a time? I never trusted her. How can you trust someone who eats seaweed at every meal? And those sprouting jars she kept everywhere. I thought she was simply hiding my hazelnut creamer from me, then it turned out that she threw it out, along with every other trace of dairy in the entire?—”
“I’m gay,” said Jamie flatly.
“Kitchen,” Charlotte ended, the word landing limply in the sudden silence.
Mathilda’s mouth fell open. She’d honestly never considered the possibility that her brother might be gay. Jamie had always had girlfriends hanging around.
“Since when?” she asked, then winced. That had not come out the way she’d intended. “I mean, when did you realize?”
“It’s been coming on.” Jamie’s gaze was still fixed on the table. “It never really felt right with any of the girls I dated. Then I, uh, got to know a boy in my calculus class and, well, that’s when I thought about leaving the country. I was confused.”
“But you’re not confused now?” their father asked gently. Charlotte was still frozen in shock, hanging onto his arm.
“No. I mean, not about that. I’m definitely gay. I’m sorry it?—”
“Don’t be sorry,” Mathilda cried. “That’s not something anyone should apologize for!”
He frowned at her, silently telling her to back down, this was his scene, not hers. “I was going to say, I’m sorry it took so long to tell you guys.”
“We’re fine with it,” Mark said, leaning across the table to pat his hand. “We always would have been.”
“Yes, I know. I wasn’t afraid to tell you or anything like that. I wanted to tell everyone at once, that’s all. That hardly ever happens anymore.”
Mathilda was struck with a pang of guilt. That was her fault, wasn’t it? Loving Hawaii so much, being so caught up in her projects that she didn’t get home very often.
“Also, I thought, uh, Duncan should know in case that changes anything with the, uh, bequest.” Jamie was staring at the table again, looking slightly mortified.
“Well, it better not,” Mathilda declared. “If it does, I want nothing to do with it.” She turned toward Duncan, whose face was still unreadable. She wished he’d take those sunglasses off.
“Of course it doesn’t.” Charlotte finally found her voice. “Why would it? Darling, I’m glad you told us. Thank you.” She flitted around the table and dropped a kiss on the top of his head. “Thank you, sweet boy.”
