Thwarted - 45. Chapter Forty-Five

“So, what are you going to do?”

Trey wasn’t asking anything Mark hadn’t asked himself numerous times, unfortunately, he still came up with the same answer. He couldn’t go to his mother’s funeral because of his bastard sperm donor.

“There’s not much I can do.” Mark tightened his grip on the phone. “I’d like to think Mom would understand.”

“I’m sure she would, but are you going to be able to live with that decision?”

“I don’t have much choice.” He’d have to live with it, it was the only thing he could do. “I know he’ll get some satisfaction from keeping me away, but I think he’d get even more from calling the cops if I did show up.”

“Are you sure it’s not an empty threat?”

Mark chuckled at the mere thought of his dad spouting off an empty threat. He gritted his teeth. He needed to remember to quit thinking of David Bailey as his dad. He’d never truly been a father to him. In fact, Gary had been more of a dad to him in the short time Mark had known him than his own sperm donor ever had been. Gary was the one who truly deserved the title of Dad.

“It’s not. If he says he’ll have me charged with assault, he will.” It was ridiculous, but then again, so was most of the crap that David had said and done throughout the years.

“Fuck this. You need me there with you and, damn it, I’m going to find a way.”

“Trey, I’ll be fine.” The last thing Mark wanted was for Trey to do something that would get himself in trouble. He told him as much. “Don’t do anything that’s going to get you in trouble. You’re so close to being able to get an honorable discharge, don’t jeopardize that.”

“Don’t you get it?” Trey sounded frustrated. “I’m willing to face whatever consequences I have to in order to be there. You’re more important and I’m not going to let you go through this bullshit alone.”

“I get it, I do.” Mark couldn’t say he wouldn’t be feeling the same as Trey if their positions were reversed, but he needed to make Trey understand. “But, I’m not alone. Your parents, and now Brent, have made sure of that. I’d never be able to forgive myself if you screwed up your discharge because of me.”

“It wouldn’t be because of you.”

“It would be for me, same difference.” He hoped he was getting through to Trey. If Trey was still insisting when they got off the phone, Mark would have Gary call him. Surely Trey’s dad could talk some sense into him. “I love you. I know you’re worried about me and, as much I’d love to have you with me right now, we need to look to the future. We just have to get through a year and then you’ll be done and we can do everything we’ve already talked about. Having that to look forward to will get me through this.”

“But—“

“You know I’m right in this.”

“I know. It sucks though.” Mark heard Trey’s sigh through the phone. “Are you sure you’re going to be okay?”

“I’m sure.” Mark hated knowing Trey had been dragged into his family bullshit and decided it was time to put that topic to bed. “Are you guys still scheduled to leave in the morning?”

“Nice subject change.” Trey chuckled. “And yes, the plane will leave at oh-six-hundred.”

“And you’ll be on it, right?” Mark had to be sure. He’d seen what happened when someone went AWOL and he didn’t want that for Trey. He held his breath as he waited for Trey to answer.

“As much as I hate to, yes, I’ll be on it.”

Relief flooded Mark and he released the breath he’d been holding. “You’ll let me know you made it safely?”

“As soon as I can.” Trey cleared his throat. “So, I was talking to Dad….”

“Should I be worried?” Mark knew better. Gary had been nothing but supportive of him through the entire ordeal of coming home.

“No, not at all. He wanted my opinion on something.”

“Whatever it is, it can’t be that bad.” Trey’s apparent nervousness was starting to transfer to Mark. “Quit hedging and just tell me.”

“Well, he knows you’re looking for something to do. He was asking me what I thought about you going back home with them and helping him out with the cabins.”

“I….” Mark thought about Brent and everything he’d be going through with Matthew. Could he just pack up and leave without any thought to his brother-in-law? It didn’t seem right. He appreciated everything Gary had done for him, but Brent would need him and there was no way Mark could just turn his back on him. He hoped Trey and Gary would understand. “I don’t think I can. Not right now at least.”

“Can I ask why?” Trey sounded disappointed, and that tore at Mark’s heart. He hated to let Trey down.

“Brent and Matthew.” He was glad Brent had given him privacy to make the call to Trey. As great as the offer from Gary was, Mark didn’t want Brent to know that him and Matthew were the reason he felt he had to pass. It wouldn’t be fair to put that burden on him with everything else he had going on. “I can’t just leave them to face this alone. They’re my family and they need me right now. Maybe when things have settled down a little bit.”

“Do you think Brent would want to get away for a little while? I’m sure Mom and Dad would love to have them as well, and they’d probably adore Matthew.”

“I don’t know. Even if he wanted to, I’m not sure he could with work and all.” Mark scratched his head. One thing Trey hadn’t mentioned was if Gary just wanted his help temporarily, for a couple weeks or so. “How long did your dad want me to come for?”

Trey mumbled something Mark couldn’t make out.

“Wanna say that again? Without mumbling?”

“Until I get home.” Trey grew quite for a minute. “He was thinking that you could help him with all the cabins, but focus on getting the one for us ready before I came home.”

“Wow.” That word seemed inadequate, but Mark was stunned.

“Would you at least think about it? Even if you didn’t go up there right away, it would help you out as well as them.”

Mark nodded and then shook his head as he remembered Trey couldn’t see him. “I’ll think about it.”

If he did decide to move up there, he’d have to come to an agreement with Gary on rent. He wasn’t about to freeload on Trey’s parents. Though, just from what he knew of Gary, it would be a battle to get him to accept anything. Either way, he’d most likely be paying less than what his current apartment cost him.

“That’s all I ask. Hold on just a sec.” Trey was talking to someone, but must have covered the phone with his hand, because Mark couldn’t make out the words. After a second he came back on the phone. “I hate doing this, but I have to go.” Trey sounded completely deflated.

“It’s okay, I know how it is.” Mark didn’t really want to let him off the phone, but knew he had to.

“I’m not sure if I’ll be able to call you in the morning before I leave. You sure you’re going to be okay?”

“I will be. Don’t be worrying about me. Focus on staying safe so that you come home to me.” Mark knew what could happen and prayed that nothing happened to Trey. “I love you.”

“I love you, too. I’ll call you as soon as I can.”

“I’ll be waiting.” Mark forced his fingers to hit the button that would end the call. He refused to tell Trey good-bye.

Good-bye was too final.