Stepbrother (Sequel to Stockholm Syndrome)

63

"Well, honey, you could come to New Zealand," I woke up on the couch the next morning to a woman's voice. As I gained awareness, I noticed I was on the hotel couch and someone had set my near empty cup on the footstool.

Noticing Luke on the opposite side of the couch and recognizing the voice at the same time, I leaned hard to my right and my head flopped onto Luke's lap. I smiled wide for the camera.

"Well, I guess she's up," Luke laughed, looking down at me and directing the hair out of my face as he held his phone up to get both of us in the frame.

On the other side, Melissa smiled and waved at me.

"How are you doing, Madeline?" Melissa asked, waving at me. From the tone she asked me that in, I had no doubt that Luke had told her about Travis.

"I'm alright, actually," I replied, a sizzle of joy running down when I realized I was being genuine. A soft smile crept onto the edges of Luke's face as he listened and finished fixing as much of my hair as he could.

"That's good," Melissa replied. "I know I'm not supposed to say this," she glanced at Luke and quickly stuck out her tongue, then turned back to me in more seriousness, "but I am sorry... and that's not me playing the pity game, I just know you deserve so much better and I want to make sure you know that as well," she explained.

I nodded.

"I appreciate that. I know... I'm working on knowing it," I assured her, giving a closed mouth smile.

Luke cleared his throat of some morning stuffiness before speaking.

"Anyways, Mum," I elbowed Luke when he called her that to prove the point, I had been making last night. Luke giggled and continued with what he was saying. "I did just want to fill you in because I know you worry when I don't. I'd rather you wait in New Zealand while this all gets figured out; until we figure out the level of disruption all this Travis shi..." he trailed off, glancing at me, "stuff... causes, then I don't want to come or go."
Melissa and I both nodded.

"That being said, Madeline, if my mom is ok with it," he spoke slower, glancing at Melissa when he mentioned her, then turning back to watch me intently, "I think it might be good if you stay with her for a while if you're willing."

Once I processed what he was proposing I shook my head.

"No."

Luke opened his mouth to defend his case, but I cut him off.

"No... No offense to you, Melissa, because I would love to see you, but," I turned back to Luke, "I'm not comfortable leaving you in this situation alone."

"Madeline, I can't think if you're here,"

"And you think that would improve if I was halfway across the world?" I replied.

"Well..." Luke trailed off.

"Luke, do you remember that time we slept on the couch and you said you liked holding me because you knew you could protect me?"

He nodded sullenly.

"If that's still important to you, I don't see how it makes sense to send me to New Zealand. Besides, I won't go even if you still want me to because it doesn't make sense, and this is more my battle than yours so I'm not going to leave you to clean up my mess again."

Luke just nodded in silence for a moment.

"Ok," he seemed to accept the validity of my point. Then he turned his attention back to Melissa. "I'll keep you updated on what happens."

"You swear?" Melissa gave Luke a look that only moms are capable of.

Luke stared at her for a moment through the phone, hesitating.

"I swear it."

"I'm trusting you," she warned him. "Madeline keep him accountable," she smiled at me teasingly.

"Of course," I smiled back.

"Alright, baby," Melissa clicked her tongue with light regret, "I'll let you go." She blew a kiss to the screen and Luke pretended to catch it, smiling softly at her.

"I love you," he said, extreme sincerity present in his tone.

"Love you both!" she replied.

Luke and I both smiled and then hung up the call.