The Monroe Legacy - G.1. Chapter 14 - Double Trouble

It was all go in the Monroe house; Brody was practicing chess, Marlie's belly was expanding at an alarming rate, the twins were finishing their last ever middle school project and Hallie was just trying to learn how to walk, talk and pee in a potty.

A trip to the doctors to check on Marlie's pregnancy threw a spanner in the works when the doctor announced that Marlie was once again expecting twins. Brody was thrilled, hoping for boys to help balance the genders in the house but Marlie quietly cursed whoever in her family had passed on the twin gene - one baby was more than enough for any woman's womb.

Upon realising that their brood would soon grow from three to five it became clear that they would need more space. With Christmas coming up Brody would be able to pull a lot of overtime and Marlie could get a few seasonal shifts at the bookshop, bump and all. This along with the money they'd been saving should be enough for the remodel they so desperately needed. In the chaos of packing up the house for the refit there was barely time to celebrate the twins birthdays.

Ben had mailed them a voucher each for a new outfit and they were both excited to start at the high-school though for very different reasons. Belle wanted to meet boys and form a band, Lola just wanted to get through it as quickly as possible and get away from the crowded corridors.

Lola tried to celebrate alone but her family were too used to her loner ways to let her escape their traditionally raucous chorus of Happy Birthday. She grew in to a beautiful teen but continued to hid behind her hair and started to dream of meeting her Prince Charming as every hopeless romantic does.

Belle was the opposite, she wanted to be the centre of attention, yelling so loudly as she transformed that it looked like her jaw would dislocate. 

She became a daredevil which surprised nobody in her family - she'd always loved to shock them! As she grew her features strengthened and she developed a striking face and smouldering gaze which combined with her personality was sure to get her noticed by the boys at school!

And take notice they certainly did! From the very first day Belle and Lola were a hit with their classmates.

They soon realised that Lola was happier left to herself but Belle was the life of every party. From the time she shinned up the school flagpole in her underwear to the night she horrified Marlie by inviting over three boys and refusing to wear anything but a bikini, Belle Monroe was a high school legend.

At first Lola was happy to bask in her sister's reflected glory, she found a part-time job at the spa and helped to care for her little sister whilst Marlie rested.She spent hours reading classic romance novels in her room, wondering if she might one day meet a man such as Heathcliff or Mr Darcy.

Everything changed the night that Belle came home from Mia Copper's fancy dress party with Carson in tow.

Carson was everything Lola had been looking for, he was tall, dark and handsome and his clothes were expensive so he was probably wealthy. Best of all he was intelligent and soft-spoken - nothing like the noisy jocks that Belle usually brought to the house.

 Belle was so caught up planning her next prank that she didn't notice the longing glances passing between her sister and her date. When she finally caught on that Lola was actually talking to a boy, she was too surprised to think anything of it. Belle told Carson that she was tired and sent him on his way - he was a little straight laced for her tastes, before going to bed with a mind full of daredevil pranks.

 As he left Lola mustered all her courage and followed him out of the door.

'Carson' she said timidly, unable to look him in the eye. 'Do you think we could be friends?'

Carson smiled saying, 'I think we already are!' and left casting a longing look over his shoulder.

 The next day it was finally time for the big  remodel. The whole family went to stay with Brody's parents up in Vermont, a treat they could rarely afford and spent a cramped but joyful month trekking through the woods and lounging by the fire. Lola spent much of the trip wandering around alone which was not unusual but her cell-phone bill was enormous that month, Marlie wondered who she had been calling.

They returned refreshed and ready for the new arrivals who were due in a month. The house was transformed and truly looked like a family home.

 Brody had had everything designed with his family in mind. From the red front door to the new wallpaper to the trendy shabby chic room for the twins, this was a family home to be proud of.

 He'd even found room in the budget for a second tiny bathroom to surprise Marlie, she had grumbled about the idea of staggering upstairs every ten minutes to go to the toilet with her enormous bump in the way.

But the bathroom was not the only surprise which was waiting for Marlie. A plain white envelope had been slid under the front door, unmarked except for Marlie's name on the front. Scooping it up she locked herself in the bathroom to read the short message;

Marlie,

It's finally become safe for us to come back. If you are still looking for answers then come to the house this Sunday. Come alone and tell nobody.

NJ

Marlie felt a thrill run through her - finally a chance to put this mystery to rest. 

When Sunday came she made an excuse about needing more diapers and slipped out of the front door, hailing a cab to take her to the mysterious home of the Jeans family. 

This time the gates opened for her when she rang. Approaching the foreboding front door Marlie began to feel nauseous, she shouldn't have come, what if they meant her harm. Nobody knew where she was!

But it was too late to reconsider. As Marlie began to leave the door swung open to reveal a voluptuous and impeccably groomed woman.

A flash of recognition shot across Marlie's face, she made a startled noise and span around to leave. She didn't know what else to do. As she waddled as fast as she could away from the house the woman sprang after her grabbing her hand and saying in a voice that had haunted Marlie for years.

'Marlie, wait! Please!'

 Marlie paused, her heart racing. This was impossible. It couldn't be. She turned to look again at the face of the woman who was still holding her hand.

'You look just like your photographs Marlie' the woman said with a wry smile, 'the old ones as well as the more recent I've seen.'

Marlie still hadn't found the words to make sense of the situation. She just looked the woman dead in the eyes and said,

'Hello, Marilyn'.

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Find out what happens next in The Monroe Legacy - Chapter 15 - Finding Marilyn