Mark of Cain by Kate Sherwood

Author:Kate Sherwood [Sherwood, Kate]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Samhain Publishing, Ltd.
Published: 2014-05-19T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-Eight

“So you’ve been keeping out of trouble?” Terry made a face. “Silly expression, sorry. I meant, what have you been doing with your time?”

It had been over a week since Mark had been put on leave, and there had been no word about how or if things were progressing at the diocese. So mostly he’d been spending his time trying not to go crazy, but he was pretty sure that wasn’t what Terry wanted to hear. “Reading. Praying. Visiting my father, helping my mother. Meditating. Exercising. I was planning on giving the apartment a good cleaning, but I honestly haven’t had the time.”

That was all true, but Mark left out the part where he’d been going out to Elise’s farm every day, spending several hours helping with the animals. The place was called a sanctuary for good reason, but Terry might not understand why Mark was voluntarily spending that much time with Lucas Cain. Mark wasn’t sure he understood it himself. But what he hid from Terry he’d had to admit to himself: the trip to the farm had become the highlight of his day. Neither the animals nor Lucas Cain had any expectations of Mark. They accepted what he had to give without conditions, and from Cain, at least, Mark could always expect a smile and quiet thanks. The animals tended to be a little less polite, but no less sincere.

“So, yes, keeping out of trouble. Have you heard from the diocese?” He tried to sound casual as he asked the question.

Terry seemed to need to think about how to answer it. “Not really,” he finally said. “A few phone calls asking for clarification, but that’s all.”

“I’ll just continue with my paid vacation, then.”

Terry ignored the bitterness in his tone. “I think so, yes. It sounds like you’re using the time well.” He leaned forward a little. They were sitting in his office and there was no one in the outer foyer to hear, but he lowered his voice anyway. “Mr. Wilson is continuing to agitate. He’s bypassed me now and is dealing with the diocese directly. I understand the bishop has met with him, and I think the bishop is speaking to…well, certainly to the metropolitan, and possibly to the primate.”

The primate was the national leader of the church. This silly issue, this paranoid nonsense from a homophobic father…this was going to the national level? Mark sank back in his seat. He tried to find his center, that calm and peaceful place he could reach after prayer or meditation, but he couldn’t do it. “It’s just so ridiculous,” he muttered.

“It’s a small part of the whole,” Terry corrected. “It’s difficult for you, I know, but this is part of a larger struggle the church is going through.”

“Well, I wish they could do it without me!”

“I’m sure you do.” Terry’s smile was wry. “I have a meeting in ten minutes. Apparently the choir needs new robes again. But do you have time to pray with me?”

It was a simple request, one Terry had made many times and Mark had never refused.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.