The Monroe Legacy- G.2. Chapter 23 - Letting Go

Life was never quiet in the Monroe house these days. Hallie sometimes wished for the old times, for the silent house where she and Cai would create in their separate places and then come together. Then she'd see her children playing together or catch Cai's eye as he read a bedtime story and realise that she wouldn't change what she had been blessed with for anything.

The time was approaching for the triplets to start school and it was hard to accept that her babies would be growing up and becoming more independent. With Violet at high-school, socialising whenever she had a chance and Gray holed up in his room Hallie knew it would be another big change. No longer would they be her little babies, they'd be out in the world and growing up without her there for every small step.

She and Cai had decided against a big party for the triplets, it would be enough of a struggle to get them all to a cake without having to host their enormous extended family too!

When their birthday came around Hallie set up the cakes before hiding in the bathroom to have a little cry. It was the end if an era, they'd never have babies in the house again and when she emerged, her eyes a little red, Cai held her close, they could both feel time beginning to slip through their fingers.

As the eldest, Jet was first  blowing out his candles and then insisting they be lit again for Rocky. Hallie exchanged a worried look with Cai, they had hoped he would grow out of the imaginary friend stage but apparently their son wasn't ready to let go of the fantasy world yet, he was as absent minded as ever.

Sienna was next, clapping and laughing as her candles were lit. She looked more like her dad than ever though her hair was her mother's, a deep raven black. Sienna opted to cut her hair shorter, she loved to dress in neat little outfits like the heroine of her favourite children's book, Madeline although she was a good girl and never got into messes like Madeline did.

When the time came for Saffron to have her cake Cai couldn't find her anywhere. As they scoured the nursery and the surrounding rooms they heard singing from the studio. Naughty little Saff had somehow climbed over the stair guard, down the stairs and was singing herself happy birthday next to Hallie's easel.

Saffron became a striking child, her long auburn hair loose around her face and her temper hot enough to match. Hallie and Cai knew she was going to be a handful especially when she instantly demanded that they sign her up for drama and ballet classes.

Too soon the youngest members of the Monroe clan were off to school, Cai slightly at a loss as to what to do now the house was empty all day. He started freelancing for the local paper and working on an adult novel for the first time in years.

Hallie spent increasing amounts of time tinkering at her bench. She'd invented a few little widgets and felt like there was a big idea trying it get out, something she'd discover if she just kept on trying.

As her mother tried to master a new technology Violet was making the most of the technology of the moment. She was constantly glued to her phone when at home. Cai had to keep a close eye on her homework as half the time she claimed to be studying she was texting or blogging away, blushing and giggling over some of her texts. She had a constant parade of interested boys at the door but never seemed to have a boyfriend, Cai was just relieved he didn't have to have "that" talk with a serious boyfriend just yet.

Everyone was as surprised that she went to prom solo as they were un-surprised when she was crowned prom queen! Violet loved to pose in her crown and even started a blog documenting her teenage domination of the school. 

Gray was still something of a loner though Hallie had finally persuaded him to join the scouts. He seemed to enjoy the new skills he learned as well as getting dressed up in his uniform. He also began taking an interest in the little toy oven they had pulled out of the attic, he loved to cook up muffins and cakes and sell them outside the house. Gray often amazed his mom with all the creative ideas he had for new recipes.

Sienna often helped Gray out, he was the easiest of her siblings to get along with and the two became quite close. By the time Gray started high school they were thick as thieves.

Gray's birthday and elementary school graduation were a quiet affair, he received his scouting trophy and blew out his candles with little fanfare. Gray was developing into a handsome young man, though Hallie kept trying to persuade him to cut his hair, he always looked like he was hiding behind it. 

Now that he was old enough to use the kitchen he started to cook for the whole family, loving to learn new recipes and dreaming of becoming a chef, he was a natural!

Less natural was the truce that existed between the triplets. Though some days would find them playing nicely together there was a real divide between Sienna and Saffron. 

Jet was an easy going boy, often away with the fairies but he was affectionate enough, his grades were okay and he had a few friends at school even if he did still claim that Rocky, his doll, was his best buddy. He'd disappear for hours into the garden or hide around the house, talking seemingly to himself, Hallie tried not to worry, he'd grow out of it when he was ready.

Sienna was a bit of a goody-two-shoes, already on the honour roll and always punctual with her homework. She loved to please while Saffron preferred to shock! They usually argued around homework time when Sienna would try to focus and Saffron would start singing or talking about how her life would be when she was famous.

Hallie and Cai had made it clear to the girls that there would be consequences for this bickering so the children split down the middle most of the time, Sienna and Gray spending time quietly together whilst Jet and Saffron would play elsewhere, Jet usually too caught up in his daydreams to be annoyed by his noisy sister.

Violet was usually off on her own with her friends though she still didn't have a boyfriend. She did seem to blush and get giggly over her texts sometimes but her parents didn't want to check her phone to find out why, they had to trust her! 

Hallie knew that all she could do was wait and try to teach them right and wrong. With children as different as her five were, the future was bound to be full of surprises.

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Read Chapter 24 - Let It Be now!