Thwarted - 32. Chapter Thirty-Two

“Hey, where you taking off to?” Trey joined him and Mark led the way up the stairs.

“Nowhere. Just figured I’d double check that I didn’t forget anything.” Mark stepped into the room they’d been sharing, his eyes immediately going to the bags sitting on the foot of the bed.

“I thought we both did that before we went down to dinner.” Trey moved over to sit on the side of the bed and looked at Mark. “You want to tell me what’s really going on here?”

Mark leaned against the wall and studied Trey. He needed to keep his distance, otherwise he was going to let Trey talk him into going back down and he felt, down in his bones, that Trey needed the time alone with his parents.

“You okay?” Trey started to stand but Mark motioned him to sit back down.

“I’m fine.” He sighed and raked his fingers through his hair. “I’ve had a great time up here.”

“But?”

“I just”—Mark caved and moved over to sit next to Trey—“I know how much it’s going to suck for me knowing you’re leaving for a year. I can only imagine how tough it is on your parents. I really think that tonight, you need to spend some time with just them. I was trying to give you guys that and make myself scarce.”

“You don’t need to do that.” Trey sounded so sure about it.

“Yeah, I do. I’ll still have time with you once we leave here, but this is the last chance you have to spend time with them before you leave.” Mark twisted on the bed to face Trey and smiled when he saw him watching him. “It would have sucked to have lost this time together, and it’s been great meeting your parents, but for tonight, go spend time with just them.”

“You sure?”

“Yep.” Mark stood and walked over to his packed bag and dug around in the bottom of it. “I came prepared.” He pulled out a book and held it up for Trey’s inspection.

Trey stood and walked over to him. He looked at Mark for a moment and pressed a fleeting kiss to his lips before turning and walking to the door. Trey paused and looked back.

“If you change your mind, or get bored—“

“I know, now go and enjoy your time with your parents.” Mark waved him out the door. After he left he moved the bags off the bed and lay down, his back propped against the headboard, and opened his book. He wouldn’t get bored, but even if he did, he wasn’t going to interrupt Trey’s time with his folks.

“I already know the answer, but I’m going to ask one last time. Are you sure you boys can’t stay just a little bit longer?” Diane’s eyes pooled with tears as they all stood next to Mark’s truck.

Mark wanted to cave and agree to stay a few more hours, but he knew they really did need to get on the road. Besides, a couple more hours wasn’t going to make Trey’s leaving any easier.

“I’m sorry Mom, I wish we could.” Trey reached out and pulled Diane into his arms.

Mark stood back and watched the goodbye and had to fight his own tears as he saw Diane’s shoulders shake. Gary stepped forward and wrapped his arms around both his wife and son and held them close and Mark had to swallow down the lump in his throat.

He’d known it would be hard on Trey’s parents, but he hadn’t realized how hard it would be to watch. He waited quietly until the three separated and Trey’s gaze met his own to hold up the camera Trey had brought.

“One more picture?”

“Oh yeah.” Trey smiled and reached up to wipe away the few tears that had managed to escape. Gary wrapped an arm around Trey’s shoulder and Trey turned Diane so she stood in the middle in front of him and his dad.

Mark snapped a half a dozen pictures to make sure he’d gotten a good one before nodding and moved to set the camera in the truck.

“Oh no, that thing has a timer on it, I want one of the four of us.” Trey took the camera from him and moved everyone back away from the truck a bit. He maneuvered everyone, leaving a Trey sized space between Diane and Mark, and then jumped up into the bed of the truck. He fiddled with the camera for a minute before he set it on the bed rail and climbed carefully back out of the truck. Trey moved back to the camera and glanced over his shoulder before pushing the button and darting over into the space he’d left.

Mark nearly jumped as a hand settled on his shoulder but forced himself to keep looking at the camera as the light started to flash, slow at first and then faster. He heard the click and a second later Trey moved away and back to the truck.

“Yeah, that’s a good one.” Trey nodded and handed the camera to him.

He looked down and swallowed the emotion. He hadn’t realized that Diane had once again moved more to the front, leaving Trey right next to his dad. One of Gary’s large hands rested on his wife’s shoulder, but the other one reached past Trey and rested on Mark’s.

“Okay, now let me take one of you and Trey.” Diane reached out and plucked the camera from his hand. Mark wasn’t going to object, but a part of him wondered if taking different pictures was Diane’s way of keeping him and Trey there just a little bit longer.

Trey stepped close and wrapped his arm around Mark’s waist.

“You know what she’s doing, right?” Trey grinned at him and Mark smiled back.

“Yep, but can’t say as I blame her.”

“Yeah, me neither.” Trey looked back at his mom and smiled for the camera, but it took a second for Mark to do the same.

He definitely couldn’t blame Diane. He was going to have a hard time watching Trey walk out the door when they got back, knowing that there was always the risk that it would be the last time he’d see him. He fought back the fear and forced a smile to his lips as he faced Diane as she clicked away with the camera.

Only once Diane had lowered the camera did Trey step away.

“Guess it’s time to go.” Trey walked towards his parents and took the camera from his mom. He wrapped her once more in his arms and kissed her cheek before releasing the small woman and turning to his dad.

“You take care of yourself.” Gary reached out and pulled his son into his arms.

“I will, Dad. Promise.” Trey pulled back as Mark walked over.

Mark gave Diane a hug and held out his hand to Gary. He was surprised when Gary used it to pull him in for a hug as well.

“Don’t forget, you’re welcome here anytime.” Gary released him and stepped back.

“I won’t, and I’ll see you in a couple weeks to get you set up with the webcam.”

“Oh, that one”—Gary pointed to Trey—“talked me into a new computer, providing you’re willing to help set it up and show us how to use it. Might take a few days.”

“I’ll plan on a few days then.” Mark smiled and stepped away. He watched Trey give a final goodbye to both his parents before turning and climbing into the truck. Only once they were both buckled in did he start the truck and pull away. He risked a glance in the rearview mirror and could see both Gary and Diane watching the truck drive away.

His heart broke for them. In only another day, that was going to be him.