AUTHOR'S NOTE: Sorry for the delay in updating, I couldn't access the site. Many thanks to everyone still supporting this story, it's greatly appreciated!
Monday morning comes around and Brax gets up like usual at seven o'clock and gets ready for work.
Deciding to let Casey have a slight sleep-in; having finished his days at the restaurant, Brax makes his way into the kitchen and makes a cup of coffee and decides on making a breakfast burrito for a change.
Brax gets out what he needs and begins cooking the bacon and hash brown in the pan then cooks a chopped tomato before moving on to cook a scrambled egg.
Once all ingredients are cooked, Brax heats up his tortilla wrap then places it on a plate and puts all ingredients, along with some shredded cheese, inside the wrap and rolls it.
Brax sits down at the table with his breakfast and coffee, enjoying some quiet time.
The time reaches seven-fifty and Brax cleans up his breakfast dishes and puts aside some cooked bacon, scrambled egg, and shredded cheese for Casey's breakfast then makes his way to the teen's room to wake him up.
Brax gives Casey a shake and the teen groans.
"What time is it?"
It's just before eight-thirty, Champ. I'm just about to head to work so you need to get up and have some breakfast," Brax informs.
"But I thought I finished my punishment at the restaurant," Casey says, pouting.
"You have..."
"Then why can't I sleep?" Casey moans.
Brax sighs.
"I've let you sleep enough and you still have extra chores. I want you to rake the garden and clean the kitchen today; so it's time to get up, Champ," Brax instructs gently and scratches Casey's head.
"Fine," he groans and pulls himself to sit up.
"Good kid; I've left you some ingredients ready in the fridge for you to make a toastie for breakfast," Brax says and gives Casey a gentle slap on his upper arm before exiting the room.
Casey gets up and without tidying his bed, heads straight out into the kitchen in his pyjamas and opens up the fridge, seeing the bacon, cheese and eggs in separate bowls and turns to smile at Brax who is getting organised to leave.
"Thanks Brax," Casey says in appreciation.
Brax smiles and gives a nod, before grabbing his keys.
"I was thinking with Kyle coming home today I might make one of everyone's favourite meals: roast pork tenderloin with some mash and grilled veg," Brax says, offering to make a rare meal that isn't cooked often enough due to being costly.
Casey's eyes light up.
"Kyle's coming back tonight for real?" he asks.
Brax chuckles, "You're not excited about the special dinner?"
"Yeah: that's yum too," Casey answers with a slight blush.
"I have to get going but I'll see you tonight, just remember to do as I've asked," Brax requests.
Casey nods and gets the ingredients out of the fridge to make his breakfast.
"Have a good day," he states before Brax leaves the house to head next door to the flat.
Brax knocks on the door of the flat and Heath answers.
"Morning big fella; what can I do for you?" Heath greets and allows Brax to come in.
Brax sees Bianca standing in the kitchen wearing one of Heath's shirts.
"I'm here to take Kyle in for his final working day," Brax responds as Heath makes his way into the kitchen and wraps his arm around Bianca's waist.
Brax raises his brow at the loved up couple.
"Good morning Brax," Bianca greets.
"Morning, I assume it was a good night then?" Brax asks and looks over at Kyle who is sitting at the table eating a piece of avocado on toast with tomato and turns to greet the oldest.
"Yeah could say that: it was a fun night with dinner, a board game, and movie and hanging with people who mean the world," Heath replies cheerfully and leans over to kiss Bianca on the cheek.
Brax rolls his eyes and approaches Kyle and runs his hand through his hair.
"How are you doing?"
"Good thanks, Brax," Kyle replies and takes a small bite from his toast.
"I hope you had more than just this one piece of toast?" Brax questions as he raises his brow sternly.
Kyle stares down, knowing Brax knows him too well.
"That's what I said when I saw him make it, but he's insistent on saying he's still full from last night with dinner, dessert, and snacks," Heath states; flicking the kettle on to make a coffee for himself and Bianca.
Kyle shoots Heath a glare for dobbing him in.
"One piece of toast is not enough; no matter what you have on it. I've told you before about making sure you eat enough," Brax scolds, leaning down to glance at Kyle's face which Kyle had deliberately turned away to avoid Brax's gaze.
Kyle stops eating and swallows the nervous lump in his throat; blushing from the embarrassment of being scolded by his big brother over his eating habits.
"Told you: you need to listen to us, Ky," Heath comments.
Bianca rests her hand on Heath's chest to tell him to butt out.
"I do. I was just full," Kyle mumbles in a bare whisper.
Brax huffs and stands back up; squeezing Kyle's shoulder.
"Well I can say that doesn't sit with me and you can have something more when we get to the restaurant," Brax says sternly.
"But," Kyle starts to quietly protest, only to be cut off.
"I don't want to hear it. You're a growing boy and you need to eat more food; remember how Sid said he could give you medication if you didn't eat properly?" Brax implies.
Kyle's cheeks become flushed again as he gets more uncomfortable discussing his eating habits and the threat of medication.
"I don't need that," Kyle grumbles.
"Finish up then and go and get ready," Brax dismisses, giving Kyle a firm pat on the back.
Kyle takes the final bites of his toast and leaving his plate on the table goes to brush his teeth.
Heath chuckles as Brax takes Kyle's plate and hands it to him.
"Teenagers; I don't know how you put up with heaps of them every day, Babe," Heath comments and gives Bianca a squeeze.
Brax sighs and rolls his eyes.
"I'm planning to make roast pork tenderloin for dinner tonight for Kyle's homecoming, you are both welcome to join us," Brax says.
"Sounds yum; count me in bro!" Heath quickly announces.
"Hmm, sounds lovely but unfortunately I can't, I have to help Irene plan a surprise birthday party for Leah,"
"But Babe: you don't know what you're missing," Heath argues.
"I promised. I'm sorry," Bianca replies.
Brax gives a shrug and Kyle returns from the bathroom.
"Have a good day, Bubs!" Heath calls out.
"Bye," Kyle calls out quietly.
"It was lovely spending time with you last night, Kyle," Bianca states.
"Thanks," Kyle mumbles.
"Come on, before I'm late," Brax beckons as he waits by the door.
Brax farewells Bianca and his brother then shut the door after Kyle slips out.
As they walk down to Brax's Ute, Brax wraps his arm around Kyle's shoulder.
"What's up, little man?" Brax asks.
"It's nothing," Kyle mumbles.
"If this is about me having a go at you over your breakfast: you know I'm not mad at you, Kyle; I just care," Brax reassures and squeezes Kyle's shoulder in comfort.
"I know," Kyle mumbles and gives Brax a weak smile.
Brax unlocks his Ute and both boys jump into the front. When they get to the restaurant, Brax opens up and gets the restaurant organised with Kyle's help.
"Henry should be here soon and I'll get him to make you something," Brax informs Kyle.
Kyle slumps his shoulders, knowing Brax wouldn't forget what he said.
After Henry is settled, Brax instructs Kyle to take a seat at one of the tables and goes into the kitchen to request a meal from the restaurant's breakfast menu.
A short while later, Brax returns, placing down a plate with a breakfast burger; consisting of: bacon, egg, spinach, and tomato and a bowl of fruit salad containing: peaches, apples, grapes, strawberries, and kiwi fruit.
Kyle mildly groans at the food in front of him.
"Eat that up then I'll get you back into working," Brax instructs.
"Brax, I know you said I had to eat more but this is honestly too much. I really don't want all this," Kyle complains, looking up at Brax.
"Tough: you need proper energy for the day."
"Can't I just have the fruit salad then?" Kyle protests in a quiet voice.
"No; a small bowl of fruit is not going to fill you up enough to sustain your working ability. I need you to cooperate, Kyle, and not be difficult," Brax says, raising his voice slightly.
Some customers begin to pile in and Brax watches them, not wanting to make a scene with his brother refusing to eat what he is given.
"Do as you're told, Kyle. I'll be back shortly to check on you, but I want you ready to help soon, so you don't have all day to eat; meaning don't pick at the food," Brax tells Kyle sternly; knowing his little brother too well.
Kyle sighs, knowing it was no use protesting or arguing with Brax for it always ended up in Brax never backing down and he'd seen it so many times before when Casey argued with Brax: it never ended well.
Kyle reluctantly takes a bite of the burger and watches as his big brother serves customers.
Brax returns back to Kyle about half an hour later and Kyle briefly looks up sheepishly.
He'd managed to finish the fruit salad and just over half of the breakfast burger.
"I'm honestly sorry but I can't eat it all; please don't make me," Kyle pleads.
Brax huffs, "What do you take me for Kyle? I just want to make sure you stay healthy. At least you've eaten most and that's all I'd ask of you."
Kyle turns away, feeling judgmental.
"I didn't mean...I'm sorry for being difficult; I know you do your best in looking out for all of us," Kyle says solemnly.
Brax nods.
"I appreciate you acknowledging that. Anyway, no need for apologising, just get yourself organised and I'll get you straight into serving," Brax says.
Kyle stands up and goes to the bathroom to clean up before returning, ready for his workday.
Brax gets Kyle to work until two then calls him over to the side of the bar.
"Have I done anything wrong or do you want me to do something?" Kyle asks.
Brax shakes his head.
"No, you're officially finished working for me at the restaurant as part of your punishment," Brax informs.
"Now obviously I don't finish here until four-thirty, so you are free to hang out in the back office and read if you like?"
Brax always kept a couple of comics, books, and games at the restaurant for whenever his brothers had to stay with him whilst he worked and although it wasn't something that happened much anymore, Brax just never bothered to take the items home.
Kyle shrugs and looks around the restaurant at the still busy tables.
"Um, Brax, I know my punishment for this is up but I'd like to help until you finish if that's okay. I like working here," Kyle says.
Brax smiles and slaps Kyle on the upper arm.
"Sure, Trooper; I'd really like that," Brax praises.
Kyle smiles in return and continues to clear tables and serve.
About half an hour later, Heath fronts up on his way from his midday gym training classes.
"Hey, mate; you finished for the day?" Brax greets.
"Yeah, only had a couple of classes booked today and Olivia's doing the closing shift today," Heath replies and leans up against the bar.
"Where's little bro?" he asks.
"Kyle's out the back, likely getting some supplies," Brax informs, to which Heath furrows his brow.
"What gives? I thought he was only having a half day today; you overworking him now?"
"No, Heath, it was actually Kyle's request to continue working until the end of my shift. I said he didn't have to but he insisted."
"Don't know what goes on in that kid's head sometimes; he's such a workaholic; perks of being a geek," Heath chuckles.
Brax frowns, "No, more like perks of being a hard worker. Anyway if you haven't got anything better to do, can you go to the shops and get the ingredients for tonight's dinner?"
Brax pulls a list from his back pocket and hands it to Heath.
"And how am I paying for said ingredients?" Heath says.
Brax groans and pulls out his wallet and hands Heath two fifty dollar notes.
"I wouldn't expect you to pay, Heath," Brax implies.
"Alright, it was just a suggestion, and it's: keep the change right?" Heath jokes.
"No; I want my change back, thank you," Brax replies in a slight unimpressed tone.
"Drop it at the house once you're done," Brax continues.
"Okey-dokey, guess I better get to it. See you at home later, big fella."
"Goodbye, and thank you for getting my groceries," Brax replies.
Heath salutes and leaves the restaurant just as Kyle returns from the kitchen.
Back at the house Casey is finishing raking the garden and does not hear the front door open with Heath walking in with the requested groceries.
Heath spots Casey through the kitchen window and after putting away the groceries opens up the back door and yells out.
"Keep up the good work; haven't seen the yard leaf free for ages!" he chuckles sarcastically.
Casey startles and spins around, dropping the rake on the grass.
"What do you want?" Casey asks, slightly scared and with a hint of worry in his voice.
Heath leans up against the backdoor frame with his arms crossed.
"Well hello to you too, baby bro."
"What do you want? If you do anything I'll tell Brax; he should be home soon," Casey mutters while Heath laughs.
"Relax, would ya. I only came around to drop some food off for Brax's meal he's cooking tonight. Anyway: why'd you ask; have you done something?" Heath snickers; teasing his youngest brother.
"No," Casey quickly defends, but still in a scared tone.
Heath shakes his head.
"Stay out of trouble, and make sure you rake up all those leaves, including the ones you've just trampled back into the grass while walking backwards," Heath laughs.
Casey hadn't realised he'd been reflexively moving backwards as he was watching Heath and kicked his nicely raked pile back into a mess of scattered leaves.
Casey sighs with relief as he watches Heath leave to go back into the house.
He gives it a few more minutes before sneaking into the house to make sure Heath has completely gone.
Casey grabs himself a drink and quick snack before heading back outside to finish his raking.