The Pier Diner
"You know you said our mum left, well she hasn't." Tyler says to his older brother.
"What're you on about? I saw her leaving." Heath frowns, glancing over at the counter where Kyle was talking to Irene.
"It must have been a trick or something, she's known to do that." Lucas says. "She's staying at the motel."
"Great, so how do we get rid of her for good?" Heath asks.
"When she gets into moods like this, there's nothing anyone can say to get through to her. Her mind is set on what she wants, we just learnt to suffer through it." Tyler says. "She tried getting me to leave again, but then you called saying to meet you and Kyle here, so I left." He says as Kyle walks back over to them.
"No need to go quiet on my account." Kyle says, sitting down in the spare chair next to Lucas.
"Mum hasn't actually left and is staying in the motel." Lucas says, getting a glare from his two older brothers. "What?"
"Right, well thanks for being honest with me Lucas." Kyle says, glancing at him. "And I'm sorry if you felt like I was ignoring you because of it all, that wasn't my intention."
"It's okay. I know this isn't an ideal situation to be in but you don't need to worry about who I'll choose, because it will always be this family." Lucas smiles.
"Same here, who needs parents when you have brothers?" Tyler smiles. "This is a great family to be part of."
"Well I actually have some news." Kyle says, them all looking at him. "I've just been speaking to Irene about it, and I'll be coming home next week."
"For real?" Tyler asks.
"Yep, I'm ready." Kyle nods, Lucas hugging him.
"I can't wait to have you home." Lucas grins as Casey runs in.
"Sorry I'm late, what've I missed?" He asks as he pulls up a chair to join them.
"Kyle's moving back home next week." Lucas smiles as he turns to face.
"Yes, finally!" Casey smiles. "I thought you were never coming home."
"I haven't been gone that long." Kyle smirks, feeling better about it after their reactions.
"It feels like it. At least a few weeks isn't it?" Casey asks.
"I'm not sure, it might be." Heath says. "Maybe a bit longer."
"Well I'm coming home, so you don't need to think about renting my room out." Kyle jokes. "It's going to be pretty busy around the house again, but it means I can see Emily more as well."
"How's she going on the victim support worker course?" Lucas asks.
"She started training properly the other day and she's really enjoying it. Her supervisor said she's got real potential and is looking forward to how much she learns." Kyle smiles, having seen a real change in her now she had a job she really enjoyed and would get more from. "It does take up all of her free time though, so we haven't seen each other much lately."
"Aw Kylie, are you missing your girlfriend?" Heath smirks.
"No, and don't call me that!" Kyle says.
"What're you going to do about it?" Heath challenges.
"Well I might have to twist things a little when I talk to Brax and make out like you're being really horrible and bossy." Kyle says.
"You wouldn't lie to him and you'd be over it by the time he gets back." Heath smirks.
"I'd hardly call it lying and he actually calls me every couple of days to check in, so I wouldn't need to wait until he gets back." Kyle grins. "And he knows I'm moving back home next week, he's looking forward to it actually. For some reason he thinks that you'd bribed Lucas into lying about what you're really getting up to, so wants another pair of eyes around the house."
"He actually said that?" Casey asks, laughing as Kyle nods.
"Lucas, what the hell have you been saying?" Heath glares at him.
"Nothing, I was telling him the truth!" Lucas quickly says. "He probably thinks otherwise from the drunk phone call I had with him but I honestly haven't lied about anything."
"If I find out you said other stuff about me on that phone call, we're going to fall out." Heath shakes his head, Brax having been mad enough at him over a lot of it.
"I honestly don't think I mentioned much other than mum being here." Lucas says, trying to remember what was mentioned.
"But you can't remember much apart from that." Casey says.
"I need to get to work." Lucas says, quickly walking out.
"He wasn't on shift today." Kyle mutters.
"Lucas!" Heath shouts, running after him.
"Well now I know not to tell Lucas my secrets in case he tells them when he's drunk." Kyle laughs as they all follow their brothers out.
"Don't you reveal your secrets when drunk?" Tyler smirks.
"Well I can't get drunk with the meds I'm on, and it's not like I've got any secrets anymore." Kyle smiles.
Summer Bay Beach
"I honestly haven't said anything bad!" Lucas says as he faces his older brother, their other brothers having now caught up with them.
"That you can remember." Heath says. "Brax is going to go mad at me when he comes back if he thinks I've been taking advantage of being the boss around the house!"
"I'd hardly call you the boss, Brax put me and Kyle in charge of a few things to make sure nothing bad happened." Lucas says.
"Little brothers don't get put in charge, we all know that." Heath says.
"Heath, leave him alone. It's not his fault you're feeling insecure about your skills to be in charge." Tyler laughs.
"I'm not insecure!" Heath glares as faces Tyler.
"Just think, this is good practise for when your kid comes along and I personally think you've got more to worry about on that front." Casey scoffs.
"So do I." Tyler nods.
"Shut your mouth." Heath shouts, not liking them picking on him for a change. "When did you all become… Well whatever this is between you all?"
"Since we grew up a little and became good brothers. It also helps being very close in age. No offence, but you couldn't keep up with us in your old age." Kyle grins.
"Counselling changed you, you used to be nice." Heath glares at him.
"Cause I never wanted to put a foot wrong and be kicked out of the family, but counselling made me realise that it was never going to happen because I do belong here." Kyle says.
"Yeah you do." Casey nods.
"Boys, glad I found you down here."
"Mum." Lucas whispers as she walks up to them.
"I've been looking everywhere for you, I've sorted a few things out so we can leave now." Shelly says.
"We're not leaving with you, we've told you this loads!" Tyler groans, noticing Kyle back away a few steps. "If you want us in your life, explain to your youngest son why you abandoned him as a baby." He firmly says.
"I didn't abandon Lucas." Shelly stares at him.
"Not Lucas, and you know I wasn't on about him. I'm on about Kyle, our triplet. Tell him why you did it!" Tyler asks, starting to feel angry, despite having worked hard in his anger management sessions to work through emotions like this.
"I don't have to explain myself to anyone. Now I've got a flat lined up here if you won't come back to Cairns with me, am I making an offer or can we leave this place?" Shelly asks.
"No, we're not leaving, but you are. And I want you gone for good this time." Tyler says. "And if you don't go this time, I will report you for harassment." He says, not wanting to go to the police on his own mother, he just wanted her gone so they could carry on with their lives.
"You wouldn't dare."
"Try me." Tyler glares.
"Fine, I see how this is." Shelly says, shaking her head before storming away.
"You handled that well, good on you." Heath says, glad he didn't have to get involved.
"Why isn't she getting the hint?" Casey asks.
"I don't know. I've never seen her this persistent before." Tyler mutters.
"I'm going to meet Bianca at the school, why don't you boys hang out or something." Heath suggests.
"Yeah, how about we go into Yabbie Creek?" Casey says. "A few of the boys were going for drinks, I just wasn't sure if we'd be free."
"Yeah okay." Kyle nods.
"No alcohol for you, and I will be getting Lucas to make sure of it." Heath says before walking up the beach as his phone goes off.
"I've actually got some things to do, but you still go." Tyler says.
"You won't come with us?" Lucas asks.
"I've never really got on with your friends, they don't seem to like me. I'll be fine, it'll give me a chance to catch up on some stuff." Tyler says.
"Okay." Lucas nods as they walk up the beachfront, going their separate way from Tyler at the top.