Sister protection program

33 • two moms

"Three million dollars?!" Luke repeats setting his hands flat on the marble counter while leaning forward.

Liz nods stirring her tea over the kitchen island.
Luke spins around the barstool with his hands through his hair.
"That's right" she sighs. "a million dollars to do an exclusive interview with us, and 2 million in hospital compensation." she says in a voice that is difficult to tell her opinion on the matter.

We've refused to do an interview with any news casting station, so their offers get higher and higher to be the first station to cover the ~amazing~ story of a girl with health problems and dealing with the loss of her brother and a crazy mother finds a safe haven with her new family and long lost twin.
It's the most exciting thing to happen in Sydney in a long time.

"Lillian, love, you haven't said anything" Liz asks and snaps me out of my haze.
"I- that's a lot of money"
"Yes, of course it is, but-" she puts a hand on my shoulder.
"You could expand your restaurant, pay for the repars and open another location across town on the lot that you wanted" I say looking at her.

"Love, don't think about the money, or me, or my restaurant. I'll be fine. Will you be fine if we do this? We won't force you into anything you're not comfortable with"
I take a deep breath. "Yes, I'll be okay. We'd be stupid to pass on that money."
Liz comes around and hugs me.

We stay and finish our coffee enjoying our morning with Liz before Luke and I got into his car to leave. It's still awkward between Luke and I since that day of the confrontation. Calum won't even look at me and it breaks my heart that I broke his.
Luke has apologized daily and I forgive him, but it's still just not the same, it's still his fault.
We haven't told Liz and we set it to the side when we're around her for her sake.

"Calum is going to come around" Luke blurts going down the road, almost like it was something he was thinking in his mind but he lost control and said it out loud.

"I don't want to talk about it, Luke" I mumble off a warming looking out the window.
"I don't know how else to tell you that I'm sorry, okay? What else do you want me to do?" He says raising his voice half desperate half frustration.
"To stop talking about it" I snap.
He presses his lips inward and changes his grip on the steering wheel.

We get to the house to find everyone sitting around eating breakfast. "Hey where were you guys?" Micheal asks. "Mums" Luke simply responds reaching in the box of doughnuts. Micheal nods. I look to Calum sitting on the counter, we make eye contact then look down.

"Surfing?" Ashton asks the room.
Luke shrugs "sure"
"Actually I have plans" Calum says looking at his watch hoping off the counter.
"Oh? Since when does Calum Hood make plans this early?" Ashton asks sipping his coffee.
"A brunch date" he shrugs and I notice his nicer-than-normal clothes.
Calum walks out and the boys look at me awkwardly.

"Lillian are you-" Micheal starts but I cut him off "you know what? I think I left my phone at Liz's, I'm going to go get it" I say and walk out of the kitchen but Luke follows me out and comes up and grabs my wrist and pulls me into a hug. I don't hug back but he mumbles
"he's an ass." And hands me his keys.

I turn and walk out still and go to Liz's.
It's the only place I know to go to.
I need mom advice. I run inside to find Liz on the phone. She sees me and pulls the phone away putting her hand on it.
"Is everything alright, love"
I stand for a moment unsure of what to say.
I shake my head no and feel tears threatening to fall.

"I'll call you back, Susan" Liz says into her phone and comes in for a tight hug.
"Common I'll make you some tea."

I tell her everything that happened, even Luke, especially Luke. We talk and talk and for the first time in months, my life felt normal for just a moment.

I spent near the whole day over there, it was the first time I've ever been alone with my mother, my actual mother.
We have tea and talk about everything.

While talking we look over to my phone on the table lighting up, there are several missed calls from Luke.
"Poor boy hasn't had someone to care about before now, this is all new to him" she explains setting a hand on top of mine.
"He cares a lot for you, Lillian." She says.
"He  just has to get used to balancing protective and controlling."
I nod. "Go talk to him" she says and I nod and stand up.

It's a long car ride home. I practice apologizing out loud. What if he's like Calum and doesn't want my apology? What if I waited too long?
I walk in the door "guys?" I yell out.
"In here Lil!" Ashton yells from the kitchen.
"Hey you alright?" Micheal asks.
"Yeah, I just decided to spend some time with Liz"
The boys nod.
We hear a knock at the door
"I'll get it" I say walking out of the kitchen since I was the only one still standing.
I swing the door open and feel ice shoot through my body.

"Mom?"