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a matter of time before his life held sails and endless
water, but after today he wasn't sure he could leave. He felt
responsible for James; could he leave him here alone and never look
back? Brant knew that if he left he couldn't come back for years.
James would be grown up by the time he saw him again. Was that
something he could live with?
    Brant fell
asleep amid tumultuous thoughts of running away to the ocean or
staying and living up to his father's dreams so that he could be an
older brother to James. It wasn't a decision he could make in one
day, or even in one lifetime. He had a month minus a day before
school started. Brant knew that by the end of that time a decision
had to be made. If he went back to school that would be it. If his
father won this time around it would likely never change.

Chapter
Three
     
    Christmas
morning was no different than any other morning at home. The two
boys and their father had breakfast together and then Calvin went
into London to attend to business of some kind. Nothing stopped for
the Commodore. Work, work, work every day and that was all that
mattered.
    James and
Brant spent a lot of time together. Going for walks, rides, or
working on James’ schooling. Often, after their walks, they’d enjoy
hot cocoa in the kitchen while Maggie prepared dinner. Brant had to
admit that when his father wasn’t around, he was really enjoying
being home.
    On December 27 th , Leo rode up on his large
standardbred stallion. Markus took the horse and led him away to
the stables while Leo strode across the yard towards the large
house. Brant, who had noticed his arrival, walked down the steps to
meet his friend who was pulling off his gloves and blowing warm air
into his cold hands. “Hello, Brant! How’s your holiday
going?”
    “ Oh, as good as can be expected. My father either locks
himself in his study or is in London all day working, so at least I
don’t have to see him. But come inside, you must be
freezing.”
    ” Just a little.” Leo followed Brant into the house where they
sat down in chairs beside the crackling fire in the parlour and
warmed their chilled fingers.
    “ And how are your holidays? Missing the city yet?”
    “ Immensely. It’s so dull now that the Christmas festivities
are over and New Year’s hasn’t arrived yet.”
    “ There isn’t a whole lot to do here either. James and I spend
most of our days taking walks or reading.”
    “ I think we both could use a little fun.”
    Brant
chuckled, eager to hear what his friend had in mind.
    “ Can you get into your father’s liquor cabinet?”
    Brant’s
excitement immediately switched to wariness; he couldn’t forget the
mess Leo was in just before holidays and alcohol seemed like the
last thing he needed. But, it was dull and Leo always knew how to
have a good time. “I can. One moment.”
    Brant left the
room for a few minutes and was back with two tumblers and a bottle
of whisky. He poured the amber liquid and handed a glass to
Leo.
    “ I don’t know if I’ll be coming back to school,” he stated,
matter-of-factly, as he placed the bottle on the table between
them.
    Leo sputtered,
choking a bit on his drink and looked and Brant, shocked. “What do
you mean? Did something happen?”
    “ No, nothing happened. I’ve just realized if I’m going to
leave I have to do it now.” Brant surprised himself a little with
the conviction of his words. He’d thought of little else these past
couple of weeks, but he hadn’t come to a decision. Saying it out
loud to Leo had been is way of testing the waters, to see how he
really felt and he realized that his mind really was made up. He
would leave everything behind for the chance at the life he
wanted.
    “ Brant, this is insanity! You have everything you could ever
need for the rest of your life.”
    “ You wish you had the freedom to be with Claire and to change
her life for the better, don’t you? Well, I wish I had the freedom
to do what I’ve always wanted to.