Chapter 28 (Brady): Morning After, Sullivan Secrets & Small-Town Fears
⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.
Summary
The morning after their night together, Brady wakes to find Collins gone, triggering his anxiety over being abandoned. She returns quickly, apologizes, and sits in his lap, reassuring him that their encounter was not a one‑night stand. She explains she went early to Toades, which she describes as being in bad shape—so bad that she now understands why her parents might want to sell. She and her sister Clarke are okay again.
Collins then asks Brady to finally explain Sullivan Enterprises. He reveals that the company’s “small‑town revitalization” is a propaganda front: they buy midrange properties adjacent to prime real estate (like Wilkes Farm) to pressure the owners into selling. After construction, jobs disappear, rents skyrocket through contract loopholes, and businesses are sued when they can’t pay. Brady admits he wrote the algorithm that identified potential target towns, and his ex‑fiancée Jackie was the field agent who closed the deals.
Brady presses Collins about whether her parents have signed anything. She says they received a second offer but haven’t responded. He urges caution but agrees not to worry until they know more. Collins plans to go home and tell Clarke everything.
Key Events
- Brady wakes to an empty house and expresses his fear about Collins leaving without notice.
- Collins returns, apologizes, and physically reassures him by sitting in his lap, confirming she wants a continuing relationship.
- She reveals she visited Toades early and found it in severe disrepair, deepening her understanding of her parents’ potential willingness to sell.
- Collins initiates a detailed conversation about Sullivan Enterprises.
- Brady explains the company’s predatory tactics: fake revitalization, property pressure, rent hikes, and lawsuits.
- He admits he developed the algorithm used to find towns like Sweetwater Peak, and that Jackie executed the on‑site deals.
- Brady asks about the status of any offers; Collins confirms they received a second offer but haven’t responded.
- Collins decides to go home and share everything with Clarke.
Character Development
Brady – For the first time, he openly voices his insecurity about being abandoned, a direct result of his history with Jackie and his guilt over his former job. By explaining Sullivan Enterprises’ methods in detail, he shows he has come to understand and regret the harm he caused. His willingness to be fully honest with Collins marks a turning point in his arc from secrecy toward vulnerability.
Collins – Her decision to go to Toades alone demonstrates her initiative and commitment to her family’s well‑being. She is no longer avoiding hard truths. By pressing Brady for the full story, she positions herself as someone who seeks clarity and is ready to protect Sweetwater Peak. Her physical and verbal reassurance of Brady (“I do [want to be here]”) shows a mature, steadying presence.
Jackie (mentioned) – Even off‑page, Jackie is painted as ruthless and skilled, seeing deals as a game. Her relationship with Brady continues to shape his guilt and distrust.
Clarke (off‑page) – Collins reaffirms their bond, noting that sisters are “always okay, just not good sometimes.” This underscores the family loyalty that will drive the next phase of the story.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
Trust and Transparency – The chapter revolves around Brady coming clean about his past work. Collins’s direct questions and his honest answers build the foundation of trust needed for their relationship to survive.
Predatory Capitalism – Sullivan Enterprises’ “revitalization” is exposed as a cynical strategy that destroys small towns. The algorithm, the contract loopholes, and the lawsuits form a symbol of corporate greed disguised as progress.
Home and Belonging – Toades bar and Sweetwater Peak represent a threatened home that both Collins and Brady are fighting to preserve. Brady’s past actions endangered such homes; now he actively wants to defend them.
The Weight of the Past – Brady cannot escape the consequences of the algorithm he created. His early‑morning fear of abandonment echoes the emotional damage from his previous relationship. Both his professional and personal histories catch up with him here.
Why This Chapter Matters
Chapter 28 is the book’s central expository chapter for the novel’s main conflict. It turns Brady from a vaguely mysterious outsider into a character with a clear, regretful past. It also raises the stakes for the entire town by fully revealing Sullivan Enterprises’ tactics. Collins’s decision to act on this information (by telling Clarke) propels the plot toward direct confrontation. Additionally, the intimate morning‑after scene cements Brady and Collins’s relationship as a committed partnership, not a fleeting affair.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Brady react so strongly to finding Collins gone when he wakes up?
Brady’s anxiety stems from his past with Jackie and his deep‑seated fear of abandonment. He connects Collins’s absence to the emotional trauma he suffered when his previous relationship ended, as well as the guilt he carries from his work at Sullivan Enterprises.
2. How does Brady’s description of Sullivan Enterprises’ “revitalization” strategy reveal the company’s true nature?
He explains that the company buys adjacent midrange properties to isolate prime real estate holders (like Wilkes Farm). After construction, they raise rents via loopholes, sue struggling businesses, and leave buildings empty. The label “revitalization” is deliberately misleading propaganda—a cover for predatory expansion.
3. What does Collins’s visit to Toades reveal about her priorities and character?
Despite the tension with her sister the previous day, Collins goes to Toades early to assess the damage herself. Her concern is not for the property’s value but for Clarke’s emotional attachment. It shows that Collins values family bonds and is willing to face unpleasant truths, setting her up as a proactive ally in protecting Sweetwater Peak.