Chapter Eleven:

This chapter begins with a birthday.

Just a couple of days after our young teens Emerald and Elijah grew up into teenagers, it was time for another birthday.

 

 Eddie was celebrating his birthday. He was glad to be leaving behind his young adult days, and looking forward to beginning again with his adult years.

Emerald decided that she would start contributing to the household as soon as she could. She got a job at the local spa. The pay was next to nothing, and the hours were most afternoons. But she felt good about being able to add a small amount to the household funds.

Unlike his twin sister Elijah was less inclined to work during his teen years. He spent most afternoons at home.

When she wasn't at school or work, Emerald loved to paint. The walls of the house were soon being filled by her creations.

Eddie was working his way up the law enforcement career. One of the more unfortunate tasks he had was to write up reports on the other residents of Twinbrook. The best way he had discovered to get the juicy information on the poor unsuspecting people was to go through their trash. Messy work, but hopefully it wouldn't be too long before Eddie was a special agent.

Emerald continued with her role as woman of the house.  Despite the extra work she was picking up at the spa, Emerald was still the rock of her household.

Eddie was working hard on his reports. Most nights he was out and about questioning as many people as he could.

Eddie was enjoying his life as an adult. Although he still wished things with Chloe had ended differently, he was now no longer heartbroken.

During one of his routine questioning trips, Eddie came across a newcomer to town. Layla Border had just moved over from the bright city lights of Bridgeport. She was instantly smitten by the older police officer, and found as many excuses as possible to see him.

Emerald had no time for frivolities. She worked hard and loved it. She was getting promoted quicker than most other employees at the spa and she made it on the honor roll at school.

 Eddie was pretty oblivious to the attentions of a certain young red-head. But that wasn't to say that he wasn't equally attracted to her as she was to him. Soon he too found himself making excuses to see Layla.

They flirted often. The beginnings of new love were in the air as the weeks went by.

It wasn't long before Emerald was promoted as high as she could go at the spa, so she could take a small break from the hard work and enjoy where she was in life. Needless to say she noticed the young woman, closer to herself in age than her father, hanging around most days. But Emerald was just glad that her father was happy.

Romance officially blossomed one night after a particularly nasty couple of days on a case made Eddie realise how fleeting life is and called Layla over to tell her his feelings.

Layla began spending nights with Eddie. Despite their age gap, which was nearly 20 years, the new couple were blissfully happy together.

Emerald wasn't so sure what she thought of her dad's new girlfriend. When Layla was just the young new neighbour, it was alright. But now that things were getting serious Emerald had some concerns. But being the dutiful daughter, she kept them to herself.

The past few weeks a series of burglaries had overtaken Twinbrook. Eddie was working hard on the case, until one night there was a major break. The burglar decided to rob Eddie's house. Bad move.

Eddie was promoted the next day. He had made it from the bottom of the police station all the way to one of the elite Special Agents on the force.

As the months went on Layla was spending more and more time at Eddie's place.

Noticing this Eddie decided to ask his young girlfriend to move in with him. He was so happy that she said yes.

Elijah and Emerald discussed their new housemate. But they eventually came to the conclusion that if it made Eddie happy, then they were fine with it.

Being the girlfriend of a special agent wasn't always easy. Eddie was always being called away and Layla had to watch him leave for dangerous situation nearly every night.

Luckily Eddie's kids were more than happy to provide company while they waited for Eddie to return. Layla got along quite nicely with Emerald and Elijah, and she didn't seem to mind that they were closer to her age than her boyfriend was.

As the months flew by Eddie slowly began to realise that he had been given a fresh start. His failed relationship with Chloe, although it had given him two beautiful kids, was doomed from the start. Maybe this time Eddie's heart would not be broken.

Eddie decided to renovate the backyard in honor of Layla's arrival. He added a nice wooden deck and pool.

Layla didn't have a job, and so she spent most days in the pool.

Meanwhile, over at the highschool Emerald and Elijah had a blast from the past. Cole, Fiona and Penelope, Will and Chloe's triplets, were starting at Twinbrook High. Eddie had filled his kids in on their half brother and sisters after Chloe left, but they didn't think they'd ever actually meet them. The triplets, luckily, weren't like their moody father at all and fitted in nicely at the school. The five siblings got along perfectly.

Layla loved her new life. Eddie made enough to support her, and with the kids at school she could spend her days relaxing by the pool in luxury.

The months went past and soon Eddie and Layla were celebrating their one year anniversary. And Eddie had a question for the love of his life.

Luckily for Eddie, Layla had been waiting for this question for the past few weeks, when Eddie dropped down on one knee and pulled out a ring, Layla immediately said yes.

Emerald's initial concerns for Layla had slowly dissapated and when Eddie told her that he'd be getting married, she was over the moon for her kind-hearted father.

Planning for the wedding quickly began. Layla already had her dress picked out and she spent her days in full bridal mode.

Elijah really couldn't care less about the wedding, but he was happy for his father and Layla anyway. He spent his time, like always, being the social centre of the school and was always off to someone's house or party.

The weeks were flying past. Layla was getting more and more excited for the big day as it loomed closer. The pool was a relaxing place for her to unwind after a morning of calls to florists and dressmakers, and her parents. She soon came to the conclusion that the only family she wanted at her wedding was Emerald and Elijah; other people weren't as understanding of the 20 year age gap.

The big day was only a few hours away. Eddie and Layla were on cloud nine. They talked most of that night, making plans for their life together. Kids were definitely on the table, along with plans to upgrade the house and make peace with Eddie's brother.

The household rose the next morning ready for a big day.

 Emerald was to be Layla's maid of honor and the pair had spent weeks getting together this look.

Layla was pretty nervous that morning. But Emerald was by her side to help with the cold feet, and they were soon getting the blushing bride ready for her big day.

Emerald was always the dutiful daughter and helping her soon to be stepmother get ready for the day was good enough for her.

Eddie was a little nervous too. But he didn't have time to worry too long about how many more lines he had on his face this time around. Emerald banished him outside so Layla could get ready.

Layla looked perfect. Her dress, a little less traditional, was absolutely stunning and Emerald spent about an hour doing up Layla's beautiful red locks.

Layla thanked Emerald and the pair prepared to make their way out to the garden, and to Layla's very soon to be husband.

Elijah and Eddie, typical men, stood around waiting for the blushing bride to emerge from the house.

The wedding was small. Just the happy couple and Eddie's kids. But it was perfect.

Eddie was more sure than ever before that marrying Layla was the best decision he had ever made. And Layla had exactly the same thoughts about Eddie.

A new chapter of their lives began that day.

Unfortunately for Emerald she had to rush off to work as soon as the husband kissed his new bride.

The rest of the family spent the day by the pool, celebrating their newest family member. 

And this is where this long chapter ends. Thanks so much for taking the time to read this. Leave me a comment if you want, you can also leave a link to your story.

Chapter Ten:

We begin this chapter a few minutes after Chapter Nine ended. Chloe has just given birth to triplets, Fiona, Cole and Penelope. The birth was pretty difficult, and things weren't about to get any easier for the new mother. She's now got no choice but to tell her husband that the long awaited babies aren't his.

Chloe's heart was breaking. A hundred different things were running through her head. As she laid her new babies in their cribs she had only moments to decide what to do. She could hear footsteps on the stairs down to the basement.

Luckily for Chloe it was Will, and not her husband, coming to check on her. Will looked at the blue babies. He had never been happier. As difficult as he knew the next few mintues would be, he had everything he wanted; the woman of his dreams and three beautiful healthy offspring. Eddie was on the way down, so the couple braced themselves and tried to find the words.

Eddie had been so happy as he decended the stairs to the basement, thinking that he would be greeted by a beautiful, happy wife and another healthy baby. Seeing the three new cribs, his heart skipped a beat. But the expressions on Chloe and Will's faces made him stop in his tracks. Time seemed to stand still as he looked at the babies. Blue. They were blue. Eddie's world came crashing down.

He couldn't find the words. Chloe immediately tried to calm him. But Eddie heard nothing. All he could hear was his own ragged breathing and all he could see were the glowing eyes of the babies that would tear apart his marriage. He asked his wife if Elijah and Emerald were his, and was relieved to hear that they were indisputably his.

Chloe got fed up trying to calm him down, and went on the defensive instead. A big argument raged. Will stood back and let 15 years worth of deception and lies come to the surface. Luckily the babies slept through without a peep.

As sad as it was to watch his brother's marriage end, Will was as happy as he had ever been. Eddie and Chloe argued for what felt like an eternity. Yet it was probably only an hour or so. It seemed inevitable that they came to the conclusion to divorce.

Eddie didn't have much to say to his brother. He just looked into the glowing eyes of the man that had destroyed his happiness, and turned to leave the basement. In last words he spoke to his brother and his wife he told them to leave.

As Eddie left, Will stood by Chloe's side. When they heard the back door of the house shut, Will told Chloe what he had been doing since he saw his grandmother. A house had been set up in the next town, ready for when they needed to leave. And in just a few minutes they could be on the way to a new life together with their babies.

 Will made some arrangements as Chloe got ready to leave. Will wished he could let Emerald and Elijah say goodbye to their mother, but he did not want to cause any more issues, and aware that Eddie was listening from his bedroom, Will silently got prepared to leave.

Chloe was upset that she had lost Eddie, no matter what she had done to him, she had loved him. As Will came to escort her and the babies from the house she was a little excited to be beginning her life again, this time with the right brother.

The house was deathly quiet that night as half the family left forever. Emerald and Elijah were none the wiser, having gone to bed thinking they'd awaken to a new brother or sister. Instead they would wake to find their uncle, their half brother and sisters and their mother gone, without even a goodbye.

Eddie slept restlessly that night. It was the first time since Chloe had moved in, that he slept alone.

 The next morning Emerald was the first to rise. She came out to the kitchen to see her father standing at the counter, tears on his face and a note in his hand. Chloe had left a note on the counter for her kids. It simply said 'Goodbye'.

His sister filled him in before Elijah had even got out of bed. Both kids were devastated that they never got to say goodbye, but there was some relief for them. At least they didn't have to hide things from their father anymore.

Seeing his father so upset over the next few days was hard for Elijah, but with a wisdom beyond his years Elijah knew that it was time for all the secrets to be over and now the small family could move on with with their lives.

Emerald and Elijah talked a lot as the time moved on. Had they been right in hiding this from Eddie for so long? Would it have saved so much heart ache if they had told him a year earlier?

But it did no good to dwell on past events, so after a month or so life began to function normally. Emerald and Elijah returned to school and soon the weeks were flying past.

Eddie also returned to work. He was quickly promoted up the ranks in the police force.

The twins watched over their father, hoping that his heart was healing.

Soon the divorce was finalised and Eddie bid farewell to that part of his life.

The twins were suprised when they came home from school one day to find a whole new facade to their home.

Eddie had added a second storey to the house for the kids to have more space. The basement remained as it was the day Chloe and Will left, and probably would for years.

A garage was added. Eddie got a motorbike, and the kids even got bikes.

The kids bedroom was repainted and a set of stairs added.

For the first time Emerald had her own bedroom. She was pretty artistic, so Eddie gave her the space to work on her passion.

Elijah was also pretty excited to have his own space.

Eddie worked hard, both at work on the cases, and on his reports at home. The months were absolutely flying past and soon Eddie's heart began to slowly heal.

Emerald spent her afternoons painting away in her bedroom. It was peaceful for her, and she could express herself  better through paint than she could in words.

Even though she was young, Emerald took over the reigns as woman of the house. She kept the boys in line and loved every minute of it.

It was the twin's birthday soon enough, and both Emerald and Elijah were glad to say goodbye to that turbulant time of their young lives.

Elijah was turning out to be a hot young man, looking more like his mother than ever.

Emerald was a stunning young woman, her good looks attributed to her grandmother's otherworldly beauty.

Eddie was proud of the young people that his kids were turning into. They hadn't had an easy time in their childhood, and he hoped that their teenage years would be more peaceful.

And this is where Chapter Ten ends. Stay tuned for Chapter Eleven and the heir vote that will alter the course of events. Don't forget to leave a comment, thanks for reading!