The Monroe Legacy - G.2. Chapter 19 - For Better, For Worse

The triplets were six months old before Hallie had any further communication from her blackmailer. It had been six months of chaos and exhaustion, an endless string of screaming children and dirty diapers with Hallie and Cai sleeping in shifts to see to their needs and take care of the older children.

Violet was demanding, she had always sought attention and now that her parents had less time for her she used different methods to shift the spotlight on to her. Pranks and tantrums became regular fixtures of Cai and Hallie's existence and caused friction as they disagreed over how to handle their daughter's bad behaviour.

Little Gray often faded into the background, he was a quiet soul and not demanding, Hallie often lay awake worrying that he didn't get the attention he deserved. When she wasn't worrying about that she worried about her marriage, with the stresses of their family and their exhausting list of responsibilities it had been months since she and Cai had had a proper conversation, let alone made love.

When the journal finally arrived Hallie thought for a moment that it was over, that one worry could be checked off her list. The relief lasted until she spotted the missing pages, the whole section relating to Marilyn's confession was missing and a note rested in its' place.

In sprawling handwriting it said simply,

Just in case.

There was no further demand, no accompanying threat but Hallie couldn't help but feel that whoever had written the note was far from finished with her.

The veiled threat hung over Hallie as the months slipped by and her children grew. Until the journal was stolen she had never felt guilty about keeping her mother's secret from Cai but now, as it once again dominated her thoughts, she could feel the secret drop into the widening gap that their lifestyle was opening between them.

Things went from bad to worse as the promotional cycle kicked back in for the second Violet movie's premiere and the publication of the third book, Violet and the Cookie Caper, approached. Cai had certain obligations he could not avoid which would leave Hallie to manage alone and while rationally she understood she couldn't hide her dissatisfaction at the timing of it all.

The press had backed off a little as it became clear that the family would not be allowing access to the newborns and retreated into their gated home. A few had however returned, knowing that the press junket was approaching and when Violet pulled a poorly timed prank with the automatic gates they rushed in just in time to capture Cai slamming the door and a screaming Hallie, spitting mad and covered in baby sick chasing him out.

The resulting pictures and Cai's solo attendance at the events catapulted the Monroes back to the top of the gossip columns inches.

When Cai flew back for the triplets first birthday their friends and family had had enough of Cai's stand-offishness, Hallie's emotional fragility and the tabloid speculation. It was time for an intervention.

Outside Lola plied Cai with booze then listened as he poured out his stress and sadness over Hallie's distant behaviour. It became clear that his main issue was his hot temper and a lack of communication. Lola's job was harder.

She'd rushed to the party from surgery to find Hallie a tired, emotional wreck. Lola knew that her sister tried not to pay attention to the rumours but after Cai's less than enthusiastic homecoming, she was obviously doubting herself.

Hallie was desperate, she loved Cai but she knew they weren't going to survive if things kept going the way they were. As embarrassing as it was she whispered her worries to Lola, telling her sister everything, from the non-disclosure of the Monroe secret to their drought in the bedroom. Lola's eyes widened, she hadn't realised it was this bad, and when Hallie took a deep breath and admitted being blackmailed and not telling Cai she couldn't smother the gasp.

Before Lola had time to dig further Cai interrupted with a strained expression. It was time for the cakes.

As they brought each of their children to their cakes and sang Happy Birthday both Hallie and Cai silently wished that they would find a way back to the blissful family life they had lived before the combination of raising triplets,stress and the media had created a rift.

Jet blew out his candles first, he was growing into a handsome little boy and Cai was delighted that his son had his hair. Jet was a quiet baby who loved his own company and his favourite toy, a weird looking doll he called Rocky. He often spent his days on the porch in the heat where he was often followed by Sienna, they were both sun worshipers and Sienna was in awe of her brother, easily-impressed by everything he did.

Sienna went next, Hallie smoothing down the dark hair that was so much like her own though her daughter's features were more like her daddy's. Catching Cai's eye over Sienna's head Hallie cracked a small smile which her husband tentatively returned.

Last to go was little Saffron who had now caught up with her siblings growth and sported very fast-growing auburn hair which must have come from her granddad. She was the spitting image of Hallie with Cai's eyes and loved to play xylophone with her big sister Violet. The only leftover symptom of her low birth weight was a few coordination problems which made her a little clumsy.

As the guests left , Lola quietly promising to return the next day, Hallie stood in the full nursery and admired her sleeping family. She knew that she and Cai needed to talk and she was just trying to work out how to begin when she felt warm arms encircle her from behind.

Sighing she felt the tension slowly ebb away and she relaxed wordlessly into her husband's chest, revelling in the comfort of his long-absent embrace.

'Cai, I'm sorry I've pushed you away.' she stuttered. 'There are a lot of reasons, none of them really good enough but please give me a chance to explain. I need you...'

Cai breathed softly against the top of her head and turned her to face him. 'I'm sorry I let you push me away sweetheart, I know this year hasn't been easy and I'm not always patient when things are hard. But I'm not going anywhere -I just need to know that you trust me enough to tell me what's bothering you so I can help shoulder the burden.'

Hallie nodded and buried her face in his shoulder, she had missed his smell, the feeling of his hair on his cheek. It had been so long.

'I trust you and I know we need to talk,' she said, 'but tonight will you just hold me?'

Cai nodded.

They went noiselessly to their bedroom, undressing quickly and slipping under the covers. Hallie turned off the light and Cai pulled her into his embrace, fitting her back into the space she'd so missed, the safe haven he made for her between his solid chest and arms. As they drifted off to sleep neither of them thought of the serious discussions to come or the threats and complications they would face in the light of day, they were where they belonged.

------------------------------

Read the next chapter now - Chapter 20 - A Burden Shared