Getting there...

I'm expanding a section of APoS-NWFO, where Brendan find his way back to himself by repairing an old Peugeot 404 convertible. It's in a junkyard where he gets parts for his Montesa motorbike and is just wasting away. He convinces the owner of the yard to let him exchange fixing it up for parts for his bike. His main intent is to save money...but he gets deep into it and for a few hours a few days a week, it's like he's found a moment of peace.

He already knows his mother has cancer and is being dragged to treatments by his sister, Maeve. But word is, it's going well. He tells himself he doesn't care. He's been proclaimed dead and thought it would be a relief to be cut off from the family, only it's not really working out that way. Though he won't admit it to himself. He still keeps up with everyone in every way he can.

Meanwhile, his uncle has shown hostility to him and wants him gone, but cannot send him away until he's no longer a legal threat to the Houston family. He overstayed his medical visa by a year, so would be deported if caught. Even worse--he was brought into the US on a false passport, and its date has expired. So it's useless. They have to go through the whole mess of working up another to replace it, and that is taking time. But it's that or all kinds of legal hell.

So it's rebuilding that car that brings Brendan his feeling of zen. As Joanna once mentioned to him, that's how he copes with issues. And he becomes so involved in it, that when he learns his mother's cancer, once thought ended, has returned and she's given a short time to live...he's able to accept it.

That means he's being called back to Derry, but has to go as Brenna McGabbhin, his new name. It's been more than eight years since he vanished from the city, so it's hoped no one will notice who he really is. Wishful thinking.

And that will be volume three--Home Not Home.