Clay won’t leave his sister’s side. He loves Ivan more than anything in the world, but Brittany is his sister and she has been there for him through real difficulties and he would not abandon her in her time of need. His sister was left petrified by the experience with the Red Father and she has cowered in her room since the incident, afraid of what might be waiting to kidnap her. There have been multiple nights when Brittany wakes up screaming from a nightmare, and though Alia and Ivan want to help, only Clay can soothe her, usually by curling up next to her in bed and reminiscing with her about their past in the lowcountry. Remembrances of that past would pacify her and Clay would imagine that once she finally sleeps, she dreams about their childhood zipping around in her grandfather’s boat.
But one thing has become abundantly clear to Brittany; her life with her brother and his lover would not be the life they had become accustomed to and even though she had enjoyed their new life together, it is apparently impossible for them to know what new dangers will emerge in the future to threaten them.
It has been about a week since the conflict with the Red Father, and after Clay does his morning workout, he knocks gently on Brittany’s door. She answers with a weak smile and Clay tries to coax her out.
“Ivan made breakfast,” Clay says, but Brittany isn’t interested.
“Can we talk,” she says softly and the two sit on the edge of the bed. “Don’t say anything, but I’ve been doing some thinking and I talked with our Aunt Bernadette down in Bluffton. I’m gonna go stay with her. I can transfer my job, and I won’t be paying any rent or anything, just helping her out with stuff, so I’ll send you money to help out, but I need to leave for a little while.”
Clay feels like a failure. He had been working hard since he found his first job at fourteen to make sure that his father’s house was always the roof over his sister’s head. She took the loss of their parents the hardest and Clay had figured, correctly, that staying in her parents’ home would make things as easy as possible for Brittany as she coped with the loss. But life has sent him down a dizzying path that had somehow made his mission impossible.
He can’t say anything, but he looks his sister in the eyes like a sad puppy.
“This will always be my house,” Brittany continues. “I just think the break will be good for everybody. You and Ivan have so much going on, and I just get in the way. And now you have Alia…”
Clay stares down at his thighs as the tears sting his eyes. His new life is pushing her out.
“I love living with you little brother. And that won’t change for good until I start my own family. I think you feel the same. It’s just time you admit that you might have found your new family and figure out what you want. You’re a superhero, brother. I’m so proud of you. Living with you makes me feel safe. But,” Brittany sighs and thinks for a moment. “But, it’s complicated and they’re your questions to answer. This is more your house than mine, you break your back for it. If y’all need this house, it’s yours. Especially now that all I can think about is the water and granddaddy.”
She kneels in front of her brother as tears roll down his cheeks and he can’t look at her. She wipes his face with her hands and then hugs him.
“I don’t know what’s happening to you, but keep saving the world little brother. I know you’ll always be there for me too. Take care of your family. I know I don’t have to say that to you, but it’s important. Come visit me soon.”
Brittany plans to leave in a couple days, and over that time, the house is cozy. The four of them play board games and drink, cook and eat food, watch movies and talk through them. It is hard for Brittany to leave at the end of it, but she is most honored to leave her brother to his new friends, his new family who would care for him.
“I will be back soon,” she says sincerely as she hugs them goodbye. They help her load her things and then she is off.
Clay watches her leave, determined to save the world, just like she had asked.
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