The Broken People [Book 2]

Chapter Seventeen: Focus

"Good morning," Mark said and kissed the crown of Thomas's head. Thomas had woken up a few hours before Mark and he had gone to the living room to sit on the couch and play with Kenzie.

"Practice was canceled for today and tomorrow," Thomas said. He paused for a second and looked up at Mark. "Tomorrow is the funeral".

"I'll be there," Mark assured him with a half-smile.

"Are you leaving?" Thomas asked him, noticing that Mark was already dressed. He sounded so weak that it broke Mark's heart.

"Only for a bit. I have some errands to run. I need to go to the office to hand in some photographs and my boss texted me that he needed to talk to me, so I need to be there. I won't be gone for long," he said while putting on his coat. "What do you want for lunch? I can go grocery shopping on my way back".

Thomas shrugged and that made Mark stop short. He let out a heavy breath want up to Thomas, scratching Kenzie's ear when she turned her head to him. He crouched down next to where Thomas sat and drew his gaze by placing a hand on his cheek.

"Try not to think about it. I don't know, watch something on TV, read a book maybe. Keep your mind busy. Don't overthink it," Mark told him and caressed his cheek. "I love you," he added, kissed Thomas on the forehead, and reluctantly left.

***

About half an hour later he was waiting outside his boss' office chatting with his secretary. She was a mousy girl, maybe a couple of years younger than himself, with blonde hair that was tied in a braid and long nails that clicked against the keyboard when she typed. She hadn't really been able to look at Mark in the eyes during their conversation and even though she had makeup on, her blush could be detected.

The door to the boss' office opened just as she was about to take a sip from her coffee, making her sit up straight. Lily Weathers walked out of the office and Mr. Folkner stepped outside.

"McGregor!" he said with a huge smile on his face. "Come in," he said and let Mark go inside the office.

Mr. Folkner was about ten years older than Mark, with the wrinkles around his eyes to show for it. Mark had admitted it to himself the day he met his boss that the guy was attractive. He had black hair and a short beard and piercing blue eyes that saw through your soul. He also seemed to work out daily despite having a job than consumed almost all of his time and a family.

"I have a new assignment for you, Mark," Mr. Folkner said after they sat down on opposite sides of his desk.

"A new... but I haven't finished the one I'm already assigned to," Mark said confused but the older man's words.

"I'm fully aware of that. But I am in fact more impressed with your concert photography than your sports photography. Not to say that your photographs of the Portland Scouts are not impressive. To be honest with you, what I'm offering you is not a new assignment. It's basically a new job. You'll still work for me, but a friend of mine, who happens to be a singer, loves your photographs and would like for you to photograph the North American leg of her tour. It will be for the next two months and if you accept you will have to leave by the end of the week. I realize that you need to talk to your manager before accepting anything, but-"

"I can't accept," Mark interrupted him. Folkner just let out a soft chuckle.

"If you're worried about your current assignment, you shouldn't be. In time, I will find a replacement for you that can match up your abilities," he said, sitting back in his chair.

"That's not why I am declining. While I loved the two years that I spend in my past going on tours and I can picture myself doing it again, I cannot leave Portland right now. Not for two months," Mark said. Mr. Folkner seemed to think Mark's words through and eventually, he nodded, giving up.