If Gray slept any better in the year which followed it was only
because he was too exhausted to stay awake any longer. Between Flynn's cries,
Lillia's shrieking gaggle of friends, worry about Casper and his dreams it was
a wonder that he got any sleep.
Rachel looked just at tired and they were
talking more seriously about selling the restaurant, though it had long been
their dream the funds would allow them to send Casper to a school where his needs would be met, they
could both work shorter hours too if they worked for somebody else.
The decision was made for them when a celebrated European chef
moved to the city and approached them offering more money that they had dared
hope for. By the time Flynn turned one the paperwork was final and Gray and
Rachel were saddened but quietly relieved. The restaurant had been like their
fourth child and just now they could barely handle three. Rachel picked up a
breakfast shift at a local brasserie whilst Gray was interviewing for a couple
of head chef jobs at upmarket restaurants.
Their new flexibility had partly been set up with the idea that
they could help Eva with childcare and enable her to go to college part time,
but Eva had other ideas. When Rachel brought up some Afternoon classes and her
availability to babysit, Eva kindly but firmly refused.
'Flynn is my son and I want to teach him what he needs to know. I don't want to be one of those teen moms who lets their parents handle everything.'
Rachel shrugged 'Eva
you're a great mother and Flynn is a wonderful boy but you deserve more than a
high school diploma and endless play dates.'
Eva smiled fondly at the woman she had come to view as both a mother and a best
friend.
'I know I do Rach, and I'm not giving up on me. Hayden gave me
two good things; Flynn and the idea that I can do better than community
college. I'm studying while Flynn naps, every day I learn more and realise how
much more I'm capable of. Once Flynn is in school, I'm going to go to an Ivy
League College, I'm going to chase a dream that I didn't even know I had until
it was threatened.'
Rachel could see the steel and determination in the young mother's
eyes, not even 21, Eva had dealt with more than most people did in a lifetime
and she was so strong, she hoped that her children would grow up to be as
courageous as their big sister.
Lillia certainly wasn't a shrinking violet, every day she seemed
to become more popular, the play date requests were constant but Gray found that his daughter
refused most of them, she rarely socialised without the Flowers in attendance.
When his daughter returned from her first unsupervised shopping trip, an eleventh
birthday treat with Rachel on standby in the coffee shop, he was staggered by
the change effected by a day and a hundred dollar gift card.
Gone was the little girl who had brightened up his dark moods
when Eva was missing. Gone was the big-sister lookalike who wanted nothing more
than pink stripes in her hair and to play soccer every day.
This Lillia was a beautiful teenager and a complete stranger to
him. Standing slightly self-consciously between her chattering, giggling
friends she looked for a moment like she would rather be anywhere else, her
shoulders tight and her eyes flickering from side to side. As Daisy began to
talk about some cute guy at the mall, Rose nudged Lillia unintentionally and
the mask snapped back down. The threesome were soon tucked up in their
customary places on the sofa and chattering away as only teenage girls can,
everything bright, exciting and wonderful.
Gray wondered if he'd ever see that quiet, sweet natured girl
again or whether this sparkling, larger than life character was who his
daughter had always been waiting to be.
Gray hoped that maybe a little of Lillia's social ease would rub
off on Casper but if anything the constant presence of the Flowers in their
home seemed to cause the shy child to keep more to himself than ever. Gray and
Rachel tried to make him as comfortable as possible, limiting Lillia to hosting
her friends once a week and continuing to build the structures that Casper's
behaviourist insisted would help him learn to manage his obsessive behaviours and
feel secure in social interactions.
Sometimes they felt as if they had turned a corner, he would come
willingly to dinner and voluntarily talk about his latest potion idea or
something he'd noticed at school (while quiet he was very perceptive). But the
next day he would get frustrated with not being able to find the book he wanted
or find himself in a situation at school he didn't understand and then he would
shut down, withdrawing to the comfort of Tia's company and his books.
Casper's move to Oakfield Prep school in the Autumn helped in
some ways, the class sizes were small and they had tutors who had worked
extensively with autism spectrum disorders as well as the academic faculty.
Casper's intelligence was quickly spotted and found space to flourish here, he
also loved the fact that everyone was in uniform and it was like Harry Potter!
After a term, Gray was a little disappointed that Casper hadn't made any friends, or even
mentioned any of his classmates by name. Rachel kept reminding himself what their
doctor had said, there was no "cure" for Casper, no linear path for
improvement or change, he was a perfectly normal kid who found different things of value
and different things intimidating from his siblings. It wouldn't do to measure him against anyone else's ideas of success and failure, he'd create his own rules.
For now they could celebrate that Casper would reach his academic
potential and that he was continuing to bond with his family. These things alone were a
huge triumph.
Despite the financial stability that selling The Lonely Cactus
had brought them, Gray and Rachel missed that restaurant. The new owner had
changed the name, refurbished and although it stood in the same place it always
had it was no longer the place they'd dreamed of. Rachel had ideas to become
stakeholders in the little bistro she was now working at but Gray felt as if he
had to secure the children's futures before he could decide what was next for
him. Eva was already a woman and a mother and Lillia was growing so fast. Even
Caspar seemed to be an old head on young shoulders and the time had come to
plan for them first and himself second, running any kind of restaurant was crazy difficult.
Gray had though that choosing his heir would be impossible, as if
he were choosing a favourite but actually in the end it had been simple. His
mother had told him that she hadn't struggled in the end, he'd never believed
her but now he understood. There was one of his children who would both benefit
the most from the legacy and who needed it most. One who would use this
opportunity and this challenge to see themselves more clearly.
As Eva's 21st birthday was approaching he decided to wait on the
announcement, she'd had so many milestones missed or overshadowed by other
events that she deserved the day to herself. Even little Flynn was well-behaved
and quiet as they sang and lit the candles.
After thinking a while on her wish, Eva made it, hoping only for
happiness and success for her and her son. Later that night she walked out in
the garden alone, she couldn't escape the feeling that everything was going to
change now. She was an adult, she had a son, it was terrifying but also
exciting.
Eva was so caught up in her thoughts that the voice from the gate made
her jump.
'Hey. Happy Birthday Evie.... You haven't changed at all.'
Her heart racing she turned slowly and locked eyes with Hayden.
Eva felt those old butterflies stir even as she strode towards him, jaw set and
eyes blazing.
'What the hell are you doing here.'
Bless Gray. He's probably been one of my favourite heirs, but if I'm honest I think he's doing the worst job as a parent! (Is that bad of me to say?) I feel like Lillia is becoming a bit of a lost cause, yet the most interesting of the three. Also I wish I knew a little more about Rachel, I know it isn't her legacy, but I sometimes wonder what her thoughts are!! Or maybe I'm not reading into it enough.
ReplyDeleteI'm excited for the next generation, if it is who I think it is then I'm sure it will take a really different direction.
Also, boooooo that Hayden is back!
I loveGray but he certainly has a hard time of the parent thing... It wasn't panned that way but that how it turned out. I guess having those learner years with Eva taken from him and then having to deal with her return while the other two were toddling meant he never really got to grips with how he was going to do it, he parents from one crisis to the next, containing the damGe but never catches up to anticipate where things might be headed.
DeleteLong way of saying no... I don't think you're wrong! Funny you say tHat about Rachel, I've had to rewrite chapters which became too much from her perspective... I guess writing a woman is easier for me but obviously I did too good a job of removing her from the foreground!
I'm excited too.... and yes....Hayden
Poor Gray. He's had to much to deal with and his kids all have such different issues to deal with. It doesn't matter who the heir is, all their stories will be interesting. I hope that Lillia gets away from the 'flowers' they aren't a good influence on her.
ReplyDeleteCan't believe Hayden showed up like nothing happened. Hello you have a child that's a year old! Don't blame Eva for slapping him.
Poor gray indeed! I never planned for him to get so much drama! funny where our stories can take us to . Lillia certainly has a tendency to follow, and it could get her into trouble!
DeleteHayden's appearance is certainly a shock and Eva is going to have so e pretty choice words!
Does this mean Eva won?? Hayden needs to take a step back honestly. She was doing great without him. The flowers are the classic mean girls and I'm hoping Eva is the good big sister and intervenes before things get too far with them. As for Casper, he's off to boarding school now? I hope everything works out!!
ReplyDeleteSure doesn't... I'm being a big old meanie and not revealing it yet. I had planned to but I hadn't reached the right moment story wise so it'll be next chapter (should be tomorrow)
DeleteHayden's motivations are t what you might expect but Eva won't stand any nonsense from him, especially with. Flynn to think of. Lillia could certainly use some guidance, let's hope she finds it somewhere before any harm is done. And I'm not sending Casper Way to school in game just an imagined prep school :)
Ahh ok! Fingers crossed for Lillia then! I sent Noah to boarding school in my game for my legacy but it was a pain because I had to wait before he came back before I could advance the story with him, so imaginary prep school seems like a good idea lol!
ReplyDeleteYeah the only kid I've sent was Jet because he kinda bored me - I don't like losing control of my sims!
DeleteHaha, is she slapping Hayden in that last picture? XD
ReplyDeleteOoh, how exciting for Caspar that he gets to go to a school just like Harry Potter! LOL, I bet that's making it even more of an incentive for him to learn. :)
Sure is - you don't mess with Eva Monroe!
DeleteI love Casper, he kinda reminds me of me. the Harry Potter thing is basically my school fantasy!
DANG! I just wrote this whole long thing and the stupid browser erased it. I loved how Eva slapped Hayden at the end, but I'm moving on. :)
ReplyDeleteAww I hate when that happens!" Eva sure can stand up for herself.
Delete