Ties Stronger Than Blood

Notes: Cristy (Christy) Lane is a well-known gospel singer, whose best-known songs are probably Footprints In The Sand, and One Day At A Time.

Chapter Seven

John and Luther were up before the others, as usual. They found Marko sitting cross-legged on the hood of the bus, watching the sun make its way up the sky.

John was still feeling stressed after the dressing down, then cold silence he'd received from Ruth the night before, but seeing his two favorite people still brought a smile to his face. Then he saw Marko's expression, and thought, *No one that young should look that serious. My God, the boy isn't even eighteen, and he has such old eyes. He's lost so much of his childhood, and if Ruth has any say in it, he'll lose the rest of his life to her--just like I did.* "What has you so solemn so early?"

Marko looked down at the two men, and smiled. "Just thinking." He slid down off his perch, landing lightly. "Going for breakfast?"

Luther sighed. "I know I should economize, but honestly, I can't face another donut and coffee breakfast."

"I know a good place down at the boardwalk. Let me join you, and I'll clue you in."

"Good food and good company. What more could a man ask for? Is it nearby, or do we need to take the station wagon?"

"We could walk it, but why don't we take the station wagon? Maybe Ruth will want to go somewhere, and we can tick her off."

Luther laughed. "You have an evil mind, and you're going to hell."

Marko's smile faded slightly. "When you say that, I know you're teasing me. With Ruth..."

John put his hand on Marko's shoulder. "Let's not think about her right now," he said quietly, squeezing the boy's shoulder. "After all," his voice lightened, "we don't want to spoil our appetites."

Marko tuned the radio to a rock and roll station as they drove to the pancake house. Luther and John smiled indulgently as Marko sank into the music, nodding and shifting his shoulders slightly to the beat. He didn't know much of the music, since he was so seldom able to listen to anything but gospel, but he was a quick study.

At the restaurant, the waitress had a smile for Marko. "Back so soon?"

He gestured toward the others as they took their seat. "And I brought you more business."

She laughed, then said flirtatiously, "You can give me the business any time."

They made their order. After she left, John said teasingly, "Looks like you have an admirer, Mark." Marko shrugged.

Luther said, "I'm not surprised. You're a handsome, charming young man, Marko. You'd have your pick of girls--under other circumstances." Marko shrugged. "No, I mean it. I've seen how the girls at the fellowships and at the shows watch you. God will forgive me for saying this, but not all the fervor in their eyes is because of the message you bring." He hesitated, and his voice was a little worried as he said, "It isn't that you aren't... that your sincerity isn't..."

Marko waved. "Don't apologize, Luther. Maybe you didn't mean it, but it's true. Most of the time when I'm singing it's the music and emotion that carries me--not conviction. Do you suppose it bothers God much that I'm thinking mostly about pitch and rhythm when I sing His music, and not the message?"

"I... Mark, I didn't mean..."

"I know, Luther. Don't be upset. I don't need someone else to question my vocation--I do that myself."

"It's too nice a morning for heavy thoughts," John broke in. "We were talking about the fact that you're too much alone, and you shouldn't have to be. I need to talk to Ruth about letting you date," he smiled, "so you can find yourself a girl."

Marko looked at John, then said quietly, "It doesn't bother me, John."

John looked puzzled. "But Mark, aren't you lonely?"

"I didn't say I wasn't lonely. I just mean that... I don't feel the need to start dating," he hesitated briefly, "girls." There was a moment of silence. The two older men exchanged glances, then looked back at Marco warily. "Not everyone chases women," he said. "Some people have reasons--good reasons. Some people have never had a woman give them any good reason to make the pursuit attractive."

"Mark--I don't know what to say," said John helplessly.

Mark reached over and patted John's arm, then Luther's. "We don't have to talk about this now. I just wanted you to know... I just wanted you to know." He smiled. "And I am meeting people my age. I met some last night."

"Nice boys?" asked Luther.

"I like them. They seem to like me." He bit his lip. "I don't think they'd hurt me."

"Good," said John. "That's important. You shouldn't be hurt, Mark." His eyes were sad. "Life has hurt you enough."

*That's John,* Marko thought. *He's been being kicked in the teeth most of his life, but he only sees other people's problems.* "Don't worry about me." He smiled tightly. "It won't be for much longer, right? I have my birthday in four months. I'll be eighteen, and then she has nothing--nothing--to say to me."

John sighed. "God, boy, I wish I'd had your strength when I was younger. Things would have turned out much differently. But I can't entirely regret what I've been through." He laid his hand over Luther's looking at him warmly. "Some pains are worth going through for what waits on the other side."

The waitress came back with part of their order, and Luther quickly moved his hand, reaching for his water glass. John shook out his napkin, laying it across his lap. There was no hurt from the sudden distancing in his expression--only sad understanding. Marko felt a pang. It sucked that two such gentle men didn't dare to express their love in public.

As they ate, John said, "Well, we have a real treat today. Ruth is going to be gone, and we can't set up till Sunday afternoon."

Marko drizzled syrup on his pancakes. "What's going to keep her out of our hair?"

"Oh, I don't know. Something legal, and she's going to be meeting with some of the church ladies. I really don't care--I'm just grateful for the breathing space.

"Something legal? That could be anything. I'd say you should have found out what she's up to, but I know her--she doesn't tell anything unless she's ready to."

John took a sip of coffee. "Well, what does it matter? It isn't as if she can sink her claws any deeper. She has her name on all the papers. If we were a few centuries back, I would have been the chattel." He sighed. "I don't mind all that much. I've never wanted a lot--just a full belly, clothes on my back, some sort of bed with a roof over it, and the chance to sing." He glanced at Luther. "And someone to care about me, and let me take care of them." He looked at Marko. "It took me most of my life, but I finally have all that. So, we're free men today. What are you going to do, Marko?"

"I think I'll just hang around the boardwalk. People watch."

Luther took out his walled and removed a couple of bills, offering them to Marko. "Here."

"I can't take that, Luther--I know what she pays you."

Luther laid the money on the table in front of Marko, putting away his wallet. "Take it. Just consider it an early birthday present. A boy like you shouldn't have to go to someone for every dime. If there was any justice, Marko, you'd have been on salary a long time ago. We all know that you're the lynchpin of the group."

Marko's denial was immediate. "No, Luther! John..."

"Marko," said John firmly. "He's right. I was the focus for a long, long time. I didn't mind too much, since all I had to do was sing. She tried to make me an evangelist, but even she gave up--and you know how stubborn that woman is. You became the group's focus the moment you joined us, and the only time you haven't been was when your voice was changing. A child with the kind of tone and power you had is next door to a prodigy, even without your recitation abilities. And now..." he waved at Marko, "take a look at yourself, son. You're young, handsome, and talented. That's what draws people, and as much as some might deny it, our business is still show business--at least in a way. Why do you think Ruth was so hot to get her hands on you?"

"I thought it was mainly because she simply can't stand to see anyone living out from under her thumb."

Luther almost choked on a sip of water, but it was from laughter. John patted him on the back, offering him a handkerchief. "You're a very perceptive boy. I'll grant you that's most of it--the driving force. If that woman could manage it, she'd rule the world." His expression hardened. "She has ambition and ruthlessness to rival Lucifer's own. Marko, I never told you this--I was too ashamed of myself for not doing anything. Do you know the reason your mama ran away?"

"Ruth didn't approve of Dad, and wouldn't let them get married."

"That's true, as far as it goes. But if that's all that it was, Mary could have just stayed put till she turned eighteen, then did as she liked. Marko, Ruth had chosen a husband for her. She hand picked an up-and-coming young evangelist, and arranged it all with the boy's father--who is just as bad as she is, from what I've seen. They agreed that with his preaching and her singing, they could gain international fame." His smile was sour. "I think they believed they were going to have something like what would have happened if Billy Graham had married Cristy Lane. I also think that both of them were secretly thinking that THEY were going to be the one running things behind the scenes. Lord, wouldn't that have been a soap opera?"

Marko frowned. "An arranged marriage? I can't believe... No, wait--this is Ruth we're talking about. Of course it's possible--with her."

"She knew Mary was in love with your daddy, but Mary was still under age, and couldn't get married without parental permission. I could have signed the papers for her, and they probably would have been able to go ahead and marry--back then the father still had the most weight in a decision about their minor child. God forgive me, I just didn't have the guts to stand up for my baby girl."

"She understood, John," Marko assured him. "She never said a word against you. She loved you a lot."

He nodded. "But it doesn't change the fact that I didn't do anything, not even when Ruth fired your daddy and ordered him to stay away. She said that if he came around, she'd charge him with indecency with a minor, since he was over twenty-one. He wouldn't give up, though. So one night your mama just up and disappeared." He smiled. "She managed to send me word through one of the band members. They got married in Las Vegas, then hid out. Ruth filed charges, but I had a private talk with the detective in charge, and he sort of put the case on the back burner. By the time they were located, Mary was of age, and you were well on the way." He smiled. "You've heard of a hissy fit?"

"Yes, but I don't think I've ever actually seen one."

"You would have if you'd been there when Ruth got the word there was nothing she could do." He smiled nostalgically. "I had a hard time keeping the grin off my face, but I didn't care to be the next target, so I managed. She was so angry..." he started chuckling, and it grew stronger as he tried to finish the sentence, "she... she... she puh-punished them..." Luther started laughing, too. Apparently he knew what John was getting at. "She wanted to... to make them suffer, so... Luther, I can't." He sat back, covering his eyes as his big body shook.

Luther had a little more control. "She punished your parents by refusing to speak or contact them for the next few years."

The waitress wondered what sort of joke could have gotten all three of the men howling with laughter. She came over and refilled the coffee cups, saying. "Tell me--I could use a good laugh."

Marko wiped his eyes, grinning at her. "It's sort of a private joke. You have to know the whole history to get it."

She gave him a teasing smile. "Well, then I wish I'd been around, so I could understand."

His smile faded. "No," he said seriously. "Really, you don't."