Kylie & Jack 1: Humble Beginnings

61. Team Brookes

Saturday night was a mellow affair for Kylie and Jack, who just sunk into the cushions, watching the Saturday night movie on TV. As yet another ad interrupted the James Bond movie, Jack's phone buzzed loudly on the coffee table, flashing 'Mum'.

He reluctantly reached forward the second the phone lit up and answered the call, putting his mother on speaker phone. Jack rested his phone on his knee, leant back into the lounge and wrapped his arm around Kylie's shoulders.

"G'day Mum, what's going on?" he said, muting the TV.

"Hello dear. Not a lot – how are you? How's Kylie?"

"Yeah all good here," Jack said, closely followed by Kylie saying hello.

"Oh hello, Kylie! You sound tired?"

Yawning at the mention of the word 'tired', Kylie tried to laugh and say "yeah, just a bit," but the need to yawn was too great.

"So, what's been happening?" Jack asked her again, smirking down at himself to see Kylie rest her head against his shoulder.

"Just organising your father's birthday –"

"– crap! I forgot to post his present!" Jack said suddenly, running his fingers through his hair.

"Oh I wouldn't worry too much, sweetheart. We're actually going down to Melbourne to visit his sister –"

"– far out Mum, you're taking Dad to see Aunt Sue for his birthday? Bet he's loving that!" Jack laughed at his mother. Kylie smirked through her tiredness and tried to smack his chest. All she could manage was a gentle pat over his pectoral muscle.

"Well she's not as bad as she was ... and she is his only sister. Besides we were wondering ..." Kerryn paused for a moment, as if wondering if what she was about to ask was too much.

"What? You still there, Mum?" Jack asked.

"Well, we were wondering, if you two are home on, say, the Tuesday evening, that we might stop in on our way to Sue's for a quick catch up?"

"We're usually home by about five, can go out for tea –" Kylie said, only to have Kerryn tut at her for making a fuss.

"– no, no darl don't fuss –" Kerryn tutted and was cut off by Jack who just couldn't help laughing at his mother and Kylie.

"– you know you're as bad as each other?"

"Jack, stop teasing your mother! Kerryn, really it's no drama. There's a pub down the road from here that does an amazing chicken parmi and we've got a spare room, cause you don't wanna be driving all night –"

"– no, no, sweetheart, we'll be fine –"

"– Mum, you and Dad are staying here for the night. It's already sorted." Jack declared with a smirk and playful lilt to his voice.

Kerryn finally accepted their offer to stay the night and after checking with them that it wasn't an inconvenience, began to fill them in on the family.

Kerryn told them how Isabelle was fascinated with her reflection, was driving Tommo frantic with putting things in her mouth, which in turn was driving Paula ratty. She told them how Robbie and Tayla were, that they were thinking of finding another place to rent because they wanted to adopt a rescue dog but couldn't keep pets in their Leumeah apartment. There were comments about Jack's grandparents, his cousins in Melbourne; the garage where Tommo worked, the salon where Paula and Tayla worked ... and then Kerryn mentioned Damien.

Kylie sat up straight, frowning at Jack who had instantly tensed up at the mention of his brother. Except, it wasn't the mere mention of him ... it was a memory. As soon as Jack heard his brother's name, he could see him crystal clear. He was screaming in Jack's face, his fist raised and already splattered with dots of blood.