The Monroe Legacy - G,2. Chapter Twenty-Four - Let It Be

Days sped by and became weeks, weeks became months and months years. Hallie watched as her children grew-up, often remarking to Cai that this precious time seemed to go past twice as quickly as the long months of potty training and night feeds!

 Cai could only agree, he could see it not only in his family but in himself, his joints were that bit stiffer and his hair a little greyer. The grey hairs were partly Violet's fault! The source of her mysterious texts had finally been discovered one evening when Hallie and Cai had returned from a gallery opening to discover their eldest daughter making out with the babysitter. Gray was at a cooking camp and Violet herself "had plans" and had recommended an acquaintance as a sitter.

Chadd was a college student who had come in to give a careers talk and been disarmed by Violet's big-eyed charm. Poor Chadd had no idea that Violet's parents didn't know about him OR their secret babysitting date. Cai let the terrified young man go home after some not very subtle threats as to what might become him if he behaved inappropriately or hurt Violet.

Violet did not get off so easily, she was smart enough that the extra project they assigned was not an issue but she did not like the two month grounding that accompanied it. Her blog posts that month were angry and infrequent, she was only allowed her phone to take to school and back.

While Violet was staging the teen drama to end all dramas, Gray was planning for his future. He was in and out of the bookstore looking for recipes, whipping up delicious meals in his free time. Hallie soon gave up on cooking meals altogether and retreated to her work bench, leaving her talented son to do as he wished.

As pleased as his parents were that he had found his calling they still worried that Gray didn't have much of a social life. He hung out with his siblings and occasionally did a group study at school but never seemed to have a good friend let alone a girlfriend. Hallie even spoke to Violet about Gray, Violet assured her mom that her brother was popular enough in school but never seemed interested in pursuing any relationships, preferring his own company.

Jet was another who preferred to be alone though he claimed that Rocky was always with him. Hallie and Cai had learned to tune the Rocky chat out, confronting Jet only seemed to make him angry as he tried to explain that only he could see Rocky. They didn't mind him having an imaginary friend as long as it wasn't his only friend, Jet had made friends with a little girl called Raylee at Scouts and the two often had play dates together.

Sienna was still the perfect child. She would always do her homework without being asked, she had no desire to stay up late and she mostly too, care of herself. She was a sweet, easy-going child, much to Hallie's relief, she had her hands full with the other four.

Sienna's only real vice was her inability to ignore her provocative little sister.

Saffron loved to ruffle Sienna's feathers, hiding her ballet kit, putting fake spiders in her bed, anything to break through the calm exterior. The two competed at everything, video games, playground games and especially ballet. Whenever a recital cam round the two sisters would battle for the lead role, the teacher switching between the two of them as they were so evenly matched.

Hallie wondered if Saffron was a little jealous of her sister, Sienna seemed to glide through life while Saffron was always tripping herself up. She was so hot-headed that it took a brave soul to be her best friend, she could be relied upon to drop whatever she was asked to carry, to somehow break any machine and to sulk when it all went wrong.

When it went right Saffron was a marvel. She was genuinely gifted in drama, she could put a smile on the most miserable parent's face in the school play and she was fiercely loyal to those she loved. When she caught a group of boys teasing Sienna about her short hair at recess she locked them in the girl's bathroom where they weren't found until lunch!

By the time the triplets had finished with elementary school Hallie knew she needed to start thinking more seriously about choosing an heir, she was beginning to slow down, to want to spend her evenings reminiscing with Cai rather than chasing Saffron round the garden or bribing Jet to do his homework.

She hoped that now they were becoming teenagers they'd all begin to find their ways, decide what they wanted to be so that she could make her impossible choice.

Jet was a good-looking young man but he was so absent-minded, making random plans and never seeing them through. His latest idea was to start a horse livery and become an equestrian. Hallie wondered if it would last and whether her mother's legacy would be secure with him at the helm.

Sienna was a calm and collected teen, positive about everything she could make the best of any season or situation. Hallie knew that Sienna would succeed in life regardless of her choice, she would be a great heiress, a responsible choice but did she really need the opportunity as much as the others?

Saffron was as wild as she was beautiful, she was passionate in her love and hate of things, determined to become an actress and a complete loose cannon. Hallie hoped that she would burn bright and achieve her dream but she knew the path of an actress could as easily make her wilful daughter burn out.

Perhaps Violet, flirtatious, frivolous Violet who hid her big heart under a big show of not caring.

Or maybe hardworking Gray, would he even want the responsibility or would his single-minded focus not allow him to make the family his first priority.

As the last cake plate was cleared and the family began to make it's way up to bed, Hallie sighed.

However would she choose?

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

Read the next chapter of Hallie's story now - Ch 25 - A Change of Scenery

Or if your decision is made....

Help Hallie decide by voting in the Generation 3 heir vote - now live!

The Monroe Legacy - G.2. Chapter 5 - Grey Areas

In the seconds that followed her impulsive move Hallie quickly sobered up. As Professor Petersen pulled away she stared at her toes, shuffling her boots in the dust on the ground.

Had she just jeopardised her university place on a juiced up kiss?

Watching from inside, Cai crushed the solo cup he'd been holding in to a ball in his fist, threw it violently at the door and ran up to his room.

The sound of a slamming door seemed to break the spell which had paralysed the couple standing outside. Hallie felt a soft touch on her chin as the professor raised her head so she couldn't avoid looking him in the eyes.

She saw a familiar mixture of hope and regret and braced herself for the harsh words she was sure would follow. Instead he just murmured, 'I need a week', turned on his heel and left.

Recalling that night Hallie was never sure how she made it inside, she remembered nothing until sunshine broke into her unsettled sleep and she surfaced to find herself in Cai's bed.

'Shit!' Hallie whispered, before clapping her hand over her mouth as her sleeping friend stirred. Moving slowly she shuffled to the edge of the bed and towards the door. 

 Hallie silently closed Cai's door behind her and scampered across the hall to her own room. There she curled up on her bed and wondered how everything had become such a mess.

A soft knock an hour or so later admitted Luna who looked both irritated and concerned.

'What on earth happened last night Hal?' She demanded.

'I... I'm not sure. I was drinking and then Professor Petersen was there and I was so mad. I kissed him. And then he ran. Then I don't remember. Why was I in Cai's room Luna. Tell me I didn't-'

'OH! No! Well I can fill in some of the gaps for you. I was flirting with that cute senior from Gamma Theta when that bald dude from down the hall came and interrupted saying you were losing it out front. 

By the time I got to you you'd downed a funnel that some idiot was running around with and were making no sense at all, rambling on about Professors and commissions and shame. The only thing I could make out as I hauled your drunken, sorry ass inside was that you kept saying Cai. So we went to his room, knocked for a few minutes and he eventually came out looking furious.

When he saw the look on your face he calmed right down, scooped you up and took you inside. I left him looking after you, you were barely conscious and went back to the party once I'd changed you into your pjs.

I checked in later and you were both asleep. So I went to bed.'

'Thank god! Hallie sighed. 'I already had one terrible decision to deal with from yesterday, at least things won't be awkward with Cai.'

Luna snorted, 'More awkward that they always are you mean!?'

Hallie just looked bewildered and Luna's face softened, 'You really are clueless aren't you Hal.'

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

Hallie skipped all her classes for the next week, immersing herself in art, though the almost complete Ruby Anniversary canvas lay untouched. Cai seemed to be tiptoeing around her but Hallie was too busy ignoring life to ask why.

With finals looming she knew she would have to go back to class and risk encountering Professor Petersen. She figured as it had been a week since what she was referring to as "the incident" and she hadn't heard from the college that he probably wasn't looking to have her thrown out. Steeling herself for the whispers she imagined would follow her Hallie made it to the library without incident, checking out the books she needed for revision.

The stack was so high that when a familiar voice stopped her outside her dorm she didn't have to meet the eyes of the person it belonged to, stepping around them and rushing for the door.

'Hallie will you please stop!' Professor Petersen begged. 'We need to talk'.

Reluctantly she put down her books and turned to face him.

'How can I help you, sir?' She replied, hiding her shame behind sarcasm and formality.

He had the decency to flinch.

'Hallie I told you I needed a week, will you please let me explain, it's not what it's looked like!'

Defeated Hallie sighed, 'There's nothing to explain. I acted out of turn, I'm so sorry. Now may I please go?'

'No! You can't! I mean... You weren't wrong last week. Your timing may have been but you were only doing what we'd both wanted to do for months. I should have stayed away but I couldn't. I was the one in the wrong. 

But I did want it. Want you.'

'I still do. I said I needed a week because I had some formalities to settle. You know that I was awaiting tenure here. Well I also applied for a job at NYU. Last week I was deciding between them, leaning toward staying. But then you kissed me and made up my mind.'

Hallie felt her heart sink. 'So you're leaving. Because of me.' She managed.

'Yes. Well sort of. But not for the reasons you think. If I go then we can see each other. I won't be your professor, there's no conflict if interest. I can be with you. If you'll have me.

Hallie,wont you say something?'

Speechless, Hallie looked up at the eyes which had haunted her for so long, she saw there a light and hopefulness that she'd never seen before. She was pretty sure her jaw was still on the floor and speech was a long way off so she just nodded.

With a smile that threatened to split his face in two he gently pulled her in into his arms. Hallie finally found her voice and pulling in a breath that it felt like she'd been holding all week she asked him something she couldn't believe she didn't know.

'Professor.... What's your first name?'

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

The remaining days of term slipped past like clouds in a summer a wind. Hallie spent every spare moment with Brian (yes- his name was Brian) though they had to meet in secret until he was officially no longer a faculty member. 

Rumours swirled, especially when Hallie aced the year, but she was too happy to care and Brian assured her he had had nothing to do with her marking.

The only dark cloud in her sky was Cai. While Luna had handled the news with indifference and a sly smile, Cai, the only other person Hallie had told, had stormed out.

 He was still speaking to her but where they used to spend hours sketching and talking about their dreams they now spent time playing video games or watching films, activities where they didn't have to talk.

The rest of the time Cai was locked away with his easel. Luna pointed out that the few finished pictures they'd peeked at were all of girls with blue eyes. 

Hallie brushed off the implied significance, she decided to believe Cai's excuses that he was just stressed about finals and cross that Brian had upset her with his miscommunication.

Too soon it was time to return home, where joyous news was waiting and Hallie soon had many things to distract her from her university worries. 

Once Brian was settled in New York he flew in to visit, Marlie liked him though privately she worried about the twelve year age difference and Brody didn't disapprove which was more than could be said for most men his daughters brought home, though Brian did have to sleep on the lumpy old couch while Hallie enjoyed her newly redecorated room alone.

Cai cancelled his long anticipated visit to Utah, citing family commitments to everyone's disappointment. They had met him on their visits to Boston and loved the quirky guy's company.

Marlie couldn't help but notice that the confidence Cai seemed to bring out in Hallie was missing that vacation, but she buried her doubts as Lola's due date approached.

Coralie Adele Dean was born three weeks early, small but perfectly formed. 

It had been so long since there had been a baby in the house that she barely spent any time in her cradle.

Coralie loved it best when her mummy would take her outside in the heat whilst her aunt Georgia played guitar. She was also a slob, anything she ate would soon find it's way down her pretty dresses.

The summer sped by, filled with love, family and long distance calls to New York and Hallie returned to Boston for her second and final year with high hopes for both her academic and personal life. Her old room beckoned, Luna had text to say she was there and had found a party and a Brian was coming up to spend the next weekend.

For ten minutes everything in Hallie's world was perfect until she ventured down the corridor to check on Cai. As she knocked his door swung open to reveal unfamiliar posters and a strange guy in a varsity jacket.

'Hi,' said the confused jock, 'I'm Tad. Can I help you?'.

Hallie couldn't form words for a good twenty seconds before she finally managed,

'But where is Cai?'

'The dude with the blue hair? He sub-let to me. I guess he's living off campus?'

Dumbfounded Hallie turned and wandered down the corridor where Luna came rushing out. Seeing the door of Cai- no Tad's room open her face fell.

'Hallie I was coming to warn you. I'm so sorry you had to find out like that.'

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

How will Hallie cope without Cai at her side. Can Brian and Hallie make long-distance work?

Find out now in Chapter 6 - All That Glitters Is Not Gold.

   

The Monroe Legacy - G.1. Chapter 21 - Daring to Dream

Marlie's announcement was followed by a period of unusual quiet in the Monroe household. That evening whilst she and Brody went about their usual routine, the children seemed to be thinking of how this news would affect their dreams of the future.

Well, when I say the children I mean all of them except for Georgia.

Georgia figured that at fourteen she had a while before she'd be having to make any choices so she just went and admired herself in the mirror. She wondered if Marlie would let her have some of her money in advance because she really wanted to get her teeth whitened. Marie Fox had it done and it looked so good, though of course Marie really needed good teeth to make up for the rest of her face!

Georgia decided that she'd just see what life threw at her so she went to bed with an easy mind.

Belle had taken her guitar outside to think. She knew that she wanted to be a huge star and the pressures of a family might not be compatible. Belle knew that she had time to think but she wasn't sure if she had it in her to put the family name ahead of her own dreams. She thought that maybe she'd make it great in another way - by seeing a Monroe at the top of the charts!

Belle decided she'd sleep on it - she had her first day on the job at the local studio the next day and she couldn't wait!

As Belle played, Hallie painted. She'd been working on a gift for her parents for a few days and as she lost herself in the brush strokes she wondered if she had a chance of  being chosen.

Lola was smarter and Belle was louder, Georgia and Oscar were pretty and popular, she was the odd one out. Even her hair marked her out as different. But she loved this place, she was proud to be a Monroe, maybe..... no, Hallie told herself that there was no point building castles in the sky.

Hallie sighed and went to wash her brushes and finish her homework though her mind was elsewhere.

As she watched Hallie daydream, Lola's thoughts went in rather a different direction. The money was a huge relief - with her academics and a decent scholarship she would be able to go to medical school. But to be the heir to a legacy - that was a responsibility which scared her. Lola put on her coat and headed out for a walk only to be jolted from her reverie by a familiar and unexpected face.

She stopped dead as Carson said,

'Sorry I missed your party, my plane was late.'

Lola's high-school heartbreak was now a handsome man of 23 and it seemed he'd flown in from Europe to be there for her birthday. He said he was leaving again the next evening.

Lola was stunned.

They conversed awkwardly on the doorstep for a while, avoiding the subject of their past or any current relationships until Lola felt the walls she had carefully built around her memories of him begin to wobble.

Sensing the danger, she asked him to come back the next day to see the whole family before wishing him a shaky good night. Lola knew that she couldn't do that again. That she needed to find somebody new, and if Carson kept looking at her like he had that night she wouldn't be strong enough to do the right thing.

The next day Lola left at 5am to go fishing and despite the pouring rain she didn't return until after dark, avoiding the questioning gaze of her mother as she hurried up to her room and the safety of her textbooks. She knew that she wouldn't always be able to run away from her problems but with Carson on the other side of the world she had a chance of healing enough to move on.

Lola knew that if she was chosen to be the heir, she would need to be braver than she was. She resolved to be more like Belle, her twin was the bravest person she knew.

Whilst Lola had been fishing Oscar had been blowing off steam. Hallie's friend Marisol had blown him off again and Georgia was being extra annoying, screaming with laughter down the phone.

Oscar didn't really even know why he liked Marisol, she wasn't popular or stunningly beautiful but she was the only person he'd really been able to talk to recently. All his friends were mad on sport and girls and he just wanted someone to talk to about the big announcement, someone who would listen and sympathise.

 His face must have been a picture because Georgia hung up the phone and with the sisterly concern that lurked behind her flirty exterior asked if he was okay. Reluctantly he told her about Marisol, sure she'd laugh and suggest a more preppy girl but Georgia just listened and then went to speak to Hallie.

With Hallie's help she hatched a plan to help her hapless brother out!

The next day they all went to the Spooky Day festival, Georgia was there with Oscar and Hallie was meeting Marisol. When Hallie was called away with a "work emergency" Oscar would be able to get Marisol alone for once. Despite Oscar's doubts it worked perfectly!

 Soon Marisol and he were talking alone together, forgetting that they belonged in separate cliques as they laughed the afternoon away. Oscar found his worries about the legacy melting away as Marisol pointed out that he didn't have to stress about it now, his mom wasn't expecting him to pop out five kids in the next year or two, he could just figure out what he wanted from life and if he became the heir - figure out how the two could work together.

When Oscar asked Marisol if she would be his homecoming date, she looked shocked before blushing and accepting. Emboldened by her answer Oscar asked why she'd been avoiding him.

Looking sheepish Marisol admitted that she'd thought he was flirting with her for a dare, she couldn't believe that a popular jock would be interested in one of the school's art freaks. Oscar was horrified and just so she knew exactly what he thought of her he walked her home and summoning up all his courage, kissed her goodnight!

Back at the fair Georgia had had a great afternoon. She'd made four new friends, collected two boys' numbers AND won a pie eating contest! She loved her life!

While the younger family members had been flirting and playing their evening away, Marlie and Brody had sat down with Lola and Belle to hear what they wanted their money for - both twins had said they were decided.

Ever impatient, Belle got straight to the point.

'Mom, Dad, I don't think I want to be the heir.  I'll tell you when I'm sure but you know me. I'm impulsive, I like drama and adventure. I want to travel and be a rock star and I don't know if I can do that and be here preserving the family name.

I'd like to have my money for an apartment. Once I've saved up some money from work I want to get a studio apartment in the city and chase my dream.

I hope you can understand'.

Marlie and Brody smiled knowingly at each other.

'Of course that's okay Belle', Marlie replied. 'We wondered if you might say this and we actually have a different kind of legacy for you. We'd like you to have my mother's guitar - you love music and so did she. We thought it should be passed to you.'

Belle leapt up and hugged her mom.

'Thanks mummy' she whispered, with tears in her eyes, knowing how precious the guitar was to Marlie.

'And how about you  Lola,' Brody interjected, knowing how carried away Belle was liable to get. 'What have you decided?'

Lola didn't hesistate, 'I want to go to college. To medical school. I've applied and they've sent me an aptitude test. If I pass as well as I should the money should be enough to pay for college.

I think I could be the heir, if I'm the right choice, for now I just need to stand on my own two feet and go after what I want though.'

Marlie and Brody looked proudly at the two women they had raised. Perhaps the next big thing and the next heir of the Monroe legacy were sitting before them. Whatever happened, they knew they had done their job, raised them to be individuals who would fight for their own happiness.

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

To read on and discover who becomes the heir to the Monroe legacy read Chapter 22 - The Changing of the Guard now!