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- 11/05/2014
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Note: While authors are asked to place warnings on their stories for some moderated content, everyone has different thresholds, and it is your responsibility as a reader to avoid stories or stop reading if something bothers you.
Thwarted - 41. Chapter Forty-One
Mark couldn’t believe it. His sister had just outed him to their father. He jerked his gaze to his dad and wasn’t surprised to see him scowling, his face flushed and his jaw tight. Before he could say anything, Mark’s phone started ringing in his pocket.
Shit. He’d been so preoccupied he’d forgotten to call Trey and let him know they’d made it. He couldn’t answer, not now. Mark slipped his hand in his pocket and silenced his phone, sending the call to voicemail as he faced off against his dad. Seconds later, Gary’s phone started ringing, confirming it had probably been Trey calling. Gary’s hand disappeared from his shoulder and his phone fell silent. When Diane’s phone started ringing, Mark risked taking his eyes off his dad and looked down at his mother-in-law.
“It’s probably Trey. Please Diane, go outside and answer.” He hoped she could see the begging in his eyes. He didn’t want her to see what he was sure was coming. “He’s going to freak if he can’t get ahold of any of us.”
Diane looked at him briefly before nodding. She released her grip on his hand and pulled her phone out just as it stopped ringing.
“Go ahead and call him back, I’ll stay here with Mark.” Gary met his gaze and Mark nodded. Gary didn’t want Diane in the room any more than he did. He wished Gary would go too, but there probably wasn’t anything he could say, or do, that would convince the other man to leave. He watched Diane leave, the phone to her ear, and turned back to his dad.
“You’re a fucking fag? Being a military drop out wasn’t enough for you?” His dad started towards him.
It took everything in him to keep from flinching. His dad angry was never a good thing; he always ended up hurting afterwards. If not physically, mentally.
“Answer me!” His dad’s voice echoed in the room. “You a fucking fag? Shouldn’t be surprised.” His dad stopped in front of him and shoved at his chest.
Mark stumbled back.
“I didn’t think you could disgrace this family anymore than you already had.” His dad shook his head and shoved him again. “I’m just glad your sister waited to say anything. At least your poor mother never knew how disgusting you are.”
“Dad….”
“I’m not your dad.”
“You’re right, you’re not.” Gary stepped in front of him. “I am. You touch my son again and you’ll be dealing with me.”
Mark blinked back the tears that threatened to spill out.
“He always was a fucking pansy, I shouldn’t be surprised.” David Bailey chuckled. “He wasn’t strong enough to be a marine. The only armed forces that would take his pathetic ass was the army.”
Mark couldn’t stop the hurt. He’d known, long ago that there was no love lost between him and his father, but the pure venom spewing from his dad’s lips shocked even him. He didn’t know what to say, but before he could say anything, Gary reacted. Mark didn’t even have a chance to stop him as Gary’s fist connected with his dad’s jaw. His dad stumbled back as Gary turned to him.
“C’mon son, you don’t need to listen to this anymore.” Gary grabbed his shoulder and turned him, guiding him towards the door, just as Diane came back in.
“Trey asked for you to call him as soon as we leave here.” She glanced past him and then looked up into his face. “Are you okay, Mark?”
“He’ll be okay, Diane. We’re leaving though.” Gary kept Mark moving towards the door.
“But what about the funeral?” Diane looked perplexed but fell into step beside them.
“We’ll take Mark by the funeral home so that he can say good-bye to his mother properly.” Gary glanced over his shoulder. “I’m sure she would understand if Mark didn’t attend the funeral itself.”
“There’s no point in going to the funeral home.” Jackie’s voice sounded behind them.
Gary tried to keep them moving, but Mark stopped and turned. Jackie was watching them, her hand on her father’s arm. He agreed with Gary, his mom would have understood if he said his good-bye to her in private.
“Why’s that Jackie? I can see her and say good-bye just as well at the funeral home as I can at the funeral.” His gaze slipped to the man who used to be his father. “At least then none of you will have to be in the same room with me.”
“I asked you to drive down with us. Told you that you needed to be here, but you insisted that you needed to wait and see Trey off.” She took a step towards them, but stopped. “You made it clear that he was more important than your own family.”
“Obviously he cares about me more than my own damn family.” Mark glared at her. “That’s not going to stop me from saying a proper good-bye to mom.”
“No, I know.” Jackie grinned. “Next time, maybe you’ll do as I ask. As I said, going to the funeral home and having your own personal viewing won’t do you any good.”
“You can’t stop me.” Mark turned and started towards the door again. Hopefully his dad and sister wouldn’t call and tell the funeral home to refuse him access.
“Maybe.” Jackie didn’t sound too concerned. “If you really wanted to say good-bye to her, you should have driven down with us.”
She was taunting him, he knew it, but couldn’t ignore it. Especially since her voice was suddenly coming from right behind him. He stopped and turned, looking down into his sister’s eyes.
“You’ve made your feelings clear. That doesn’t have anything to do with whether or not I go to the funeral home so that I can see her and say good-bye.”
“You’re right”—Jackie shrugged—“unless I’m forgetting something. Oh, that’s right. You’d have gotten the chance to see her, if you’d gotten here before we had her cremated. You’re about six hours too late.”
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Note: While authors are asked to place warnings on their stories for some moderated content, everyone has different thresholds, and it is your responsibility as a reader to avoid stories or stop reading if something bothers you.
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