Chapter 5 - The Graveyard Promise

Mark found Austin sitting under the stone awning near Ben Carter's grave.

A police cruiser idled by the path.

Officer Daniels stood ten feet away, giving the boy space.

Austin's jeans were soaked to the knees.

He looked smaller than fourteen.

Mark stopped several yards away.

"Austin."

The boy did not look up.

Daniels walked over.

"He wasn't doing anything dangerous. Groundskeeper found him after closing."

"Thank you."

The officer studied Mark's face.

"He said there was a family fight."

Mark nodded.

"There was. I caused it."

Daniels lowered his voice.

"Then don't make tonight about getting him into the truck. Make it about getting him to trust the next sentence you say."

Mark swallowed.

The officer moved away.

Mark stepped closer to the grave.

"Your mom is scared."

Austin stared at the name carved in stone.

BENJAMIN CARTER.

LOVED HUSBAND. DEVOTED FATHER.

"I texted her," Austin said. "I told her I'm safe."

"She wants to see you."

"I know."

Rain tapped the stone roof.

Mark sat on the wet bench, leaving several feet between them.

"I'm sorry."

Austin's mouth tightened.

"You already said that."

"I know."

"So what now? You buy me shoes?"

Mark looked down.

Sarah had predicted that exact thing.

Austin gave a bitter little laugh.

"Yeah. I thought so."

"No."

Austin finally looked at him.

Mark forced himself not to reach for the boy.

"I was going to. Before I understood how stupid that would be."

"Cool."

"I was cruel to you."

Austin stared at the grave again.

"He died before he could mess it up."

Mark felt that in his chest.

"Your dad?"

"He never got the chance to decide I wasn't worth it."

"Austin—"

"You did."

The boy's voice cracked.

"You chose me for six years. Then you un-chose me in six seconds."

Mark shut his eyes.

There was no defense.

"You're right."

Austin seemed almost angry that Mark agreed.

"Then why should I believe anything else you say?"

"You shouldn't. Not tonight."

That made Austin look at him again.

"What?"

"Words are cheap right now. I made them cheap."

Mark pointed toward the truck.

"Come home because your mother loves you and because it's cold. You don't have to forgive me. You don't even have to sit near me."

Austin wiped his face with his sleeve.

"And tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow I start doing the work."

"What work?"

Mark looked at Ben's grave.

"Figuring out why I became the kind of father I swore I would never be."

Austin stood slowly.

For a second, Mark felt relief.

Then Austin asked a question that stopped him cold.

"Does Lily know who her real father is?"

Mark's face changed.

Austin saw it.

"You do know."

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Mark looked away.

And Austin realized there was still another secret in the family.