Summer Bay Beach
"Weren't you meant to have finished the boot camp an hour ago?" Casey asks his older brother, wondering why he hadn't seen him for a while.
"Yeah but Tyler called me and asked me to cover the rest of his shift." Heath replies, having just finished and was packing up. "He told me what Brax said about Kyle. Apparently Lucas was upset by it, so he wanted to go and join them."
"Yeah, it's a tough one. I never knew how much it was affecting Kyle, he just seemed happy most of the time." Casey sighs.
"Now we know it was just an act. I might go and see him later, I need to make things right over the conversation I had with Bianca." Heath sighs.
"Did you mean what you said?"
"No, and I've tried telling him that. He's our brother, but you have to admit, we have more in common with Tyler and Lucas." Heath says.
"Yeah, but now we have to find things in common with Kyle. He's not going to get through this by himself, we need to find something new that all of us can do." Casey says. "That meal wasn't enough, so it has to be something different."
"Like what?" Heath asks. "I asked Bianca what she thought and she was going to see if Kyle had told Irene anything."
"We can't pry, Heath. I think he'd have to tell us." Casey says.
"But that's the problem, he wouldn't tell us and now it's led to this. I'm not waiting around for him to think of something for us all when we both know he'll say 'it's fine' or 'you don't need to change anything'. Well things are going to change, Casey, and either you help me, or stick to hanging around waiting for the answers." Heath snaps, knowing he shouldn't be taking his anger out on Casey when he was the one who messed up in the first place. "Sorry, I just want Kyle to know he's wanted here and he can rely on us."
"We all want the same thing, we just have to be careful about how it's done. If he feels like we're forcing things, what good is that going to do? Brax went to Kyle's first counselling session this morning, maybe he could pick things up during the sessions for us to work with." Casey suggests.
"Brax sat in on the session?" Heath frowns.
"Yeah, that's what he said."
"What else did he say?"
"Not a lot, just that Kyle did really well and he's hopeful things will start getting better soon. He also said Kyle's counsellor agreed that Kyle being at work will help, as long as it's not stressful or long hours." Casey says. "Brax is giving him half days starting on Monday. Lucas was happy to take the lead and is managing for a while to help Kyle out and Ricky said she'll cover when needed as well."
"Do you think Brax would be free to tell me more about Kyle's session?" Heath asks, wanting to know if Kyle mentioned anything about him, so he could also work out how to apologise to him.
"I wouldn't go near him if I was you. He told us to leave him and Ricky alone because they've got wedding planning to do. Apparently they're now behind their schedule because Ricky has been looking at honeymoon places instead." Casey says.
"Then why isn't Brax planning stuff as well? It's their wedding, not just Ricky's." Heath frowns.
"You should have been there to see it." Casey smirks. "Brax said he was going to plan where he could and Ricky got a bit bossy because she doesn't think he'll do it properly. Apparently everything ends up linking in to each other so has to be perfect."
"So she's becoming a bridezilla?" Heath smirks, getting a nod in reply.
"Oh and if you do see them, do not mention mum." Casey says.
"Let me guess, mum is trying to take control in what happens at the wedding?"
"By what I could gather, she doesn't even know yet because Brax is too scared to tell her." Casey says.
"Then how about we invite mum to dinner?" Heath smirks. "Me and Bee were going to go over tonight to tell her about the baby, so why not invite her here so she can have double news?"
"You can be so evil." Casey shakes his head, but also thinks about it. "Fine, but don't bring me into it when Brax finds out." He says, walking back up the beach.
Braxton House
"I was surprised you invited me here after warning me against those twin brothers of yours." Cheryl says, taking a seat at the table.
"They're triplets, and they've taken Kyle to dinner in Yabbie Creek." Brax says.
He'd gone to check on Kyle after the wedding planning and Lucas and Tyler were still there. Kyle had asked them to stay longer after finding it nice hanging out with them alone for a change. He could see a difference since the counselling session, Kyle was taking charge for a change and was not pushing himself too far. He was also the one to suggest the meal, although Brax had to make it clear he couldn't have alcohol with the antidepressants he was on.
"So I wouldn't have to see them?"
"No, because they need time to themselves." Brax rolls his eyes as Ricky places a salad bowl in the middle of the table.
"So what's this news I came here for then?" Cheryl asks. "Heath said he had news, and you had news."
"Well why doesn't Heath tell you his news?" Brax says, glaring at his brother as Ricky sits down to join them.
"We're having a baby." Heath grins, taking Bianca's hand.
"I'm going to be a grandmother?" Cheryl asks, getting nods in reply. "Well congrats, I think it will be good for you both."
"Thank you." Bianca smiles, having expected a different reaction.
"So what's yours?" Cheryl asks Brax. "You're not expecting as well are you?"
"No, I'm not pregnant." Ricky says, not having thought of a way they were going to tell her. "We've set a date for our wedding."
"Now that is exciting, when is it?" Cheryl asks.
"It's…" Brax says, glaring at Heath before focusing back on their mum. "It's in three weeks."
"What?" Cheryl shouts. "You're getting married in three weeks and you're only just telling me?"
"We've only just decided ourselves!" Brax defends them. "You said it was exciting news, don't change that now."
"Who the hell decides they're going to have a wedding in three weeks? I thought you had half a brain after what you've made for yourself here. I can't believe you're being so stupid."
"We're happy with the date, mum. Why should it have to matter how close or far away it is?" Brax complains, feeling like he was being told off like a child. "It's happening whether you like it or not. If you're going to complain about it, then don't come!"
"You won't invite your own mother to your wedding?" Cheryl stares.
"If you're going to be like this, then no. You end up ruining everything else, I won't have you ruining Ricky's wedding." Brax says, forgetting his family were sat with them as he was now too angry at her for questioning his decisions.
"Well I'm sorry I'm too much to have around. The disrespect you show your mother like this, maybe I won't go."
"Fine. You'd be better of not coming with the arguments you end up making wherever you go, no wonder the boys always argue as well." Brax shakes his head.
"Don't bring my boys into this. If you've got a problem with me, you keep Heath and Casey out of it." Cheryl glares.
"I do have a problem with you. Everything has to be okay with you for it to happen, well guess what, it's not about you. This is about me and Ricky taking the next step in our lives and we are happy when it is. You weren't there for me when I was a kid, I don't need you here now. You'd do your same old party trick of getting drunk and slagging everyone off and I can do without it." Brax huffs.
"Oh is that what you think? That I was never there for you?"
"No, you weren't. You cared more about where the next bottle of alcohol was coming from than where the next meal was. I was the one who kept Heath and Casey fed, not you. And if you were such a great mum who was there for us, where were you when dad was beating the shit out of me?" Brax asks, Cheryl staying quiet. "Exactly what I thought." He mutters shooting out of his chair before storming out, Ricky running after him.
"Casey, can you drive me home?" Cheryl asks her youngest son.
"Sure." Casey mutters, glancing at Heath before standing up.
"See you soon." Heath says as they leave.
"Never plan things again, it never ends well." Bianca says.
"That wasn't my fault!" Heath says, deciding not to let the food go to waste, so puts some on his plate.