Grace drove to Brendan's, the boys were still sleeping and Brendan was preparing breakfast when the bell rang. Brendan opened to a ghost faced Grace. He let her in, made her some tea and got into the most uncomfortable conversation he could ever imagine having with his mother. All Brendan had to do for her was to confirm what she saw. Brendan simply nodded, and Grace felt compelled to ask, "What about you? Did he ever…," She couldn't complete.
Brendan shifted closer to her, held her hands, they were cold and shaky, "I wanted to tell you… so many times… you always believed in him so much… no matter what he did… I, I didn't want to ruin…" Brendan felt a catch in his throat.
"So you let me, our Cheryl live with him… that monster…," Grace was crying now, "you coulda..ye,…" Grace sighed heavily, unsure of what to say. He was the victim and she was blaming him. She felt like the worst mother for not knowing. She felt horrible that she couldn't protect her own son.
They sat down in silence for what seemed like forever. Somehow they wished that time would sweep away the day's revelations, and they wouldn't need to face Sheamus and nobody would just be so scarred.
Grace spent most of the rest of the day at Brendan's. She got the boys up and ready and after breakfast, she sat down and watched mindless cartoons with them. Brendan cancelled their plan for the day with Walker and Pete, and then just hung around the house wondering what was going to happen next. It took his mum long enough to find out, too long. And he didn't even know how she knew.
After a while, when Kevin realized they weren't going anywhere as long as their mum was here, he asked, "What are you doing here, Mama?" Grace looked at him; a look of concern took over her, followed by a tear-stricken face. She hugged him suddenly, pulling Steven in as well. She was just hoping the at least these two were untainted by Sheamus' dirty actions. She couldn't protect Brendan, but she needed to protect them. She needed to protect all of them. She suddenly remembered Cheryl.
Giving not more than a glance to Brendan, she grabbed her bag and coat and left, saying she was going to pick Cheryl. By the time she reached Lynsey's place, Cheryl had already left. So she drove to their house. With shaking and rushed movements, she managed to open the door, only to enter an empty house. She called out Cheryl's name, when nobody answered, she called her on her cell Cheryl picked up, all cheerful, "Hiya Ma, daddy just took me out at our favorite diner. He says you weren't home. You were at Brendan's weren't ya?... Ma?"
Grace could no longer process a word, she dropped the phone. Her eyes fell upon the couch; a memory long forgotten appeared in her head. She saw Brendan, nine years of age, so young, so playful. He was playing with a toy truck nana Flo had bought him. She then saw Sheamus coming, a little drunk maybe a lot, Cheryl in his arms. He put her on the sofa, sat up close next to Brendan, "How's yer back boy?" he asked with an evil grin. She saw Brendan turn around, his eyes searching for his Ma, but never finding her. His Ma is too busy, too busy doing… doing something insignificant! She should be paying attention to her son. She should notice the pain and confusion in his eyes. She should understand the subtle horrifying secret behind the words that came from that man's mouth! She should have seen how her Brendan changed from a happy playful kid, to a torn, troubled young man. All she saw was a troublesome kid, who hated his father, for reasons she didn't understand, or didn't want to understand. How could she not see?
But not anymore, she was determined to make it right now. She left the house filled with her son's haunted memories. She was leaving for good. They didn't need that man. To turn him to the cops, that was a decision Brendan had to make. She went up to her room, grabbed the tape. This was evidence for her husband's unimaginable actions. She would turn on him instantly if that's what Brendan wanted. She would do anything for him right now. She just wished Cheryl was alright because right now, she needed to be with her son.
Grace drove, aimlessly, wondering how to go about all of it. Her eyes fell upon the tape. Part of her wanted to destroy it, because that part of her was so thoroughly ashamed. But part of her was strong. If Sheamus had taken unholy advantage of some young boy, then he needed to be locked up. If he had done anything of sorts to her son, he deserved to rot in prison, to rot in hell!
In her frustration Grace drove at a speed she would never go at. Her face kept turning towards the tape. Her head filling up with images she witnessed. Her mind going in all directions that she didn't see the red light at a truck road. A big blue truck headed her way, crashed into her, leaving her with no more thoughts of anyone or anything, her mind going just blank.
Grace woke up to flashing lights, she was moving, floating, not sure mid-air or on something solid. She fell back into unconsciousness. She woke up, a doctor staring at her, examining her, asking her something but all she could say was, "Brendan… Bren..," her eyes rolled back in her head.
Brendan sat beside his mum. The day had gone from bad to worse. To save any further mishap, he had not yet told the boys about their mum's accident. The doctors had given up, said she had little time. She had asked for him, so he was here. He'd rather the boys remember their mum the last time as hugging them so tightly than lying on this hospital bed, helpless. Tears fell from Brendan's eyes.
Grace's eyes fluttered open. She looked at her son. She reached for his hand. Brendan noticed and immediately responded by holding her hand. He looked up, as if about to call for someone, but she tugged at his hand, pulling him closer. She whispered in his ears, half crying, stating this was it for her. Saying she was leaving him with a huge responsibility. Saying she was sorry for not being there for him, then just saying sorry. She began fading, Brendan's voice hitched with his mum's every last breath. He held on and just cried for dear life. Nothing could change now. Everything had changed now. His mum was gone now.