Page 11 of Forgotten Promise

John must have read the confusion on Kailani’s face. “Benjamin had a layover in L.A. last week prior to his business in Japan. We met for lunch.”

Kailani nodded, grateful for his explanation, even though she felt guilty for thrusting John into the middle of their drama.

“So…no word from the Grand Master?” John asked, addressing the elephant in the room.

Benjamin shook his head. “Not yet. If we don’t hear from her soon…”

He didn’t bother to finish. They knew time was running out. If they didn’t hear from the Grand Master within the next twenty-four hours, the three of them would be hopping on a plane bound for Boston tomorrow…to their wedding ceremony.

John’s expression was pensive, even troubled. Their two FaceTime calls had been surface-y. She’d apologized each time, and after that, the two of them had limited their discussions to work and personal interests such as favorite movies, reading preferences, and why Hawaiian poke was the greatest food on the planet. John, foolish man, insisted tacos were the best. They hadn’t broached the subject of the disastrous binding ceremony since Kailani’s in-person visit.

“What do we think the likelihood is that we’ll hear from them?” John asked.

Kailani shrugged helplessly because she had no idea.

“My working knowledge of how the Trinity Masters is run is limited. My actual experience begins and ends with the invitation, initiation, and basic orientation,” John confessed. “Because of my job, I haven’t had the opportunity to travel to Boston for the quarterly meetings, and I haven’t attended any of the gala events. There’s always been a case to work.”

Kailani reached out and grasped his hand. “I’m sorry this was your introduction to the trinity marriage.”

Benjamin made a sound between a scoff and a snort, but she refused to acknowledge it—or him—in any way.

John squeezed her hand. “I appreciate the apology, but it doesn’t solve the problem of what we’re going to do if the Grand Master says no to dissolving this trinity.”

“Devon said—” Benjamin started.

“Devon said he would talk to the Grand Master,” John interjected, “but—if you’ll forgive my paraphrasing—he also said the three of us need to figure our shit out. Which we’ve yet to do.”

“John,” she said, but he interrupted her, just as he had Benjamin.

“You’re both legacies,” he said, and while it wasn’t a question, Kailani nodded anyway. “What are your parents’ relationships like?” he asked.

Kailani smiled. “I have a dad and two moms, and the three of them have a very close, loving relationship.”

John rubbed his jaw. “All three of them?”

“Yes. They all share a bed.” She paused. “My moms have a romantic relationship with each other as well as with my father, if that’s what you’re asking. I have an older brother, and the two of us were raised as siblings, despite the fact we have different biological mothers.”

“That sounds nice,” John said, turning his attention to Benjamin. “Your parents the same?”

Benjamin shook his head. “No. I have two fathers and a mother, but all three of them have their own bedrooms. My fathers are best friends, as close as brothers, both in love with my mother.”

“I see.” John was taking in all that they were telling him, and Kailani realized just how wrong they were not to have had at least some of these discussions prior to now.

She shouldn’t have walked away after the binding ceremony, but the moment Benjamin took off that robe, a lifetime of pain and anger came bubbling to the surface. She’d needed distance to sort through all the emotions, but they wouldn’t give it to her.

So, instead, she’d run fast and far, licking her wounds and leaving far too much unsaid.

“My parents have a loving relationship,” Benjamin hastened to add. “But…well, my dads are straight, so I suppose their relationship is a bit different from the one the Iona family shares.”

“Different,” John mused, and Kailani got a sense he was trying to figure out what to say next. “Were you hoping for a relationship like your parents?” John asked Kailani.

She nodded. “I was. I dreamed of the day I would meet and fall in love with my partners, building a life, a family together. To be perfectly honest, I wouldn’t have been upset if the Grand Master had given me a wife and a husband. I’ve always been jealous of the closeness between my two moms.”

“And, Benjamin, did you want the same relationship your parents have?”

Benjamin didn’t respond immediately, then he admitted, “Not exactly like theirs. I always imagined I’d share a bedroom with my trinity.”

“Even if your trinity included another man?” John asked.

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