Chapter 16: Growing Up, part I

Mortimer and Bella spent a quiet morning in the garden.  Both had the day off and each of their five children was exactly where there were supposed to be; in school and learning something.  Well, they hoped they were learning something.  Cassandra did what she needed to do to get by, Jada had so many activities they didn't know how she managed to excel,  Alexander was too smart for most of the teachers, Floramaria kept getting caught daydreaming in the middle of lessons, and Damen had been to the principal's office too many times to count for playing pranks.

It seemed no matter the stage of life their children were in the challenges Mortimer and Bella faced as their parents were abundant.  Yet, they cherished each and every moment; working as a team, keeping it all in order.  Unable to escape the hustle and bustle of daily life Mortimer and Bella cherished quiet moments they could find with each other.  Since their children were more independent, they realized soon they were going to have even more time to themselves.  They doubted they would ever truly be empty-nesters, but Mortimer didn't feel like he should be tied to the Manor for all of his life.  Mortimer and Bella started toying with the idea of moving to a beach side condo once Damen became a young adult and Cassandra fully prepared to inherit the Manor.

Mortimer and Bella celebrated each day as if it were a holiday if they weren't contacted by the school about one of their children.  Bella always managed to whip up one of the best desserts for after dinner on those days. Of course, the children never caught  the correlation.    As close as they were, they were each caught up in their own world without one hint of how, sometimes, their parents were juggling consequences and guidance for all of them at the same time.  Mortimer and Bella maintained the individuality of each of their children and, unless the event was huge, created a sense of privacy within the household when it came to caring for each of the children.

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After their first date Jada and Cyriaque became inseparable.  They arranged to take the same classes, had lunch together, and spent unoccupied time on the phone or out on dates.  The only time they didn't seem to be together was when they were at their respective after school activities and jobs.  Any time Jada was home if anyone needed to find her they always checked the phone first.  Even if she was sitting silently doing homework, Jada still had the phone to her ear with Cyriaque silently doing his homework on the other end.  Despite Jada's phone curfew, Bella would often find the phone with an open line on her pillow after she fell asleep.  Once Cyriaque asked Jada to prom the phone calls were endless and usually excitedly loud with the planning of a perfect night.

Jada and Cyriaque had invited Alexander to go to prom.  Even though she was head over heels in love with Cyriaque she still couldn't imagine going through life's big events without Alexander there.  Jada knew he wouldn't just go by himself.
Alexander contemplated their proposal over breakfast.  He had only stared at them with an arched eyebrow before he conceded to thinking about it.  The last thing he wanted to do was be Jada's third wheel; standing around the punch bowl looking pathetic.  He knew no girls would want to dance with him and he wasn't going to be a charity case for his sister.  Alexander thought Cyriaque was a pretty decent guy and, though it was for Jada's sake, Cyriaque even tried to befriend him.  Having a friend who wasn't Jada was nice, but Alexander doubted Cyriaque wanted him tagging along.

A couple weeks before prom Jada and Cyriaque spent their date planning their special night.  Jada had heard the Riverview Philharmonic Orchestra was going to be performing a symphony the same night.  Famed conductor Ebenezer Clavier would be headlining the orchestra during the tour stop in Sunset Valley.

"So what so you think of seeing a symphony before heading over to prom?"  Jada asked.

"That's a lot to cram into one evening.  I kinda already made reservations for dinner," Cyriaque responded.

"Well it is just Hogan's, I'm sure they can move it.  They probably got confused when you asked for a reservation," she laughed.

"Well, you see, the reservations aren't at Hogan's," he replied sheepishly.  "I'm not going to be able to afford dinner and prom plus tickets for a symphony."

"You got reservations at the Bistro!" Jada squealed with excitement.  She beamed the biggest smile at her boyfriend.  "I guess the symphony isn't such a big deal, anyway"

Alexander was reading in the cattails by the pond in the yard when he heard Jada and Cyriaque walk up the path.  Jada was blubbering and repeatedly apologizing for ruining a surprise.  Alexander rolled his eyes.  She was acting like every other snivelling girl at their school. 

Alexander was surprised by the sudden silence.  They couldn't have made it to the house yet.  He peeked out from behind his book and saw them locked in a steamy embrace.  Alexander was suddenly flushed with embarrassment.  He was an unwelcome interloper in Jada's private moment.  Alexander knew he should have moved away or at least put his nose back in his book but he looked on in fascination.  He wondered what it would be like to kiss a girl; wondered if the feel of her lips would outweigh the germ exchange involved.  Alexander had a sudden desire to punch Cyriaque in the face.  Alexander didn't know if he could handle sharing the one person who knew him better than anyone with someone else.

Alexander retreated to the dining room before Jada realized he was around and he needed to stutter his way through an awkward excuse.  He had promised Jada and Cyriaque that they would work on homework together but Alexander got started anyway.

He was only a couple pages in and really getting into his zone when Floramaria broke his concentration skipping into the room.

"Whatcha doin'?" she asked in a sing-song voice.

"I'm doing homework.  Go away," Alexander muttered without looking up.

"Hey come outside with me."

"No, Flora, go away."

"Pleeeeeeease," she begged. "Why don't you want to go outside?"

"I just don't.  Go away."  Alexander refocused on his homework and ignored Floramaria.  She stood there stubbornly, hoping he would change his mind but she eventually gave up.

"I'm going to tell Mom you are being boring and mean!" Floramaria shouted, running from the room and blowing raspberries at him.

With less than a week until the big night Jada grew increasing restless and amped up her workout regimen.  She found she couldn't stay still enough to go to sleep with out a good cardio sweat first.  Jada also wanted to make sure she looked perfect in her form fitting dress she bought.

The only place with enough room to put on some music and move was in Cassandra's room.  After a bit of begging and deal making Cassandra allowed Jada to exercise there.  Cassandra wouldn't allow Jada to run through a full workout because she didn't want her room to smell like a nasty gym, but she couldn't say no outright because her parents would just force her to let Jada in eventually.

Cassandra stewed at the bottom of the stairs to her room when she heard the workout music blaring from her stereo. Jada was up there.  She was trying to avoid Jada until next week.  Cassandra was peeved that Jada was going to experience another "first" before her.  Sure, Cassandra could just stop at Jada getting to go to prom while she doesn't, but she knew better.  She had overheard Jada and Cyriaque trying to make plans for after prom.  Cassandra just couldn't believe Jada was going to have her first woohoo before she was. When Cassandra couldn't avoid Jada for whatever reason she became extremely competitive.  Heading upstairs Cassandra threw on some workout clothes and jumped in to outsweat Jada.

It wasn't long before Cassandra thought about giving up.  She knew there was no way to outdo Jada when it came to anything athletic.  Jada finished her workout and smiled at Cassandra, then wished her good night.  Cassandra let out an exasperated sigh after Jada left.  She wanted to fall to the floor in a sweaty puddle; instead she gathered up her laundry and headed to the laundry room.Cassandra took to doing her own laundry when she started buying her own clothes and she didn't want her parents or the maid to come across her skimpy lacy panties.  While she waited to switch loads she fumed over not being able to go to prom.  Cassandra had wanted Darryl to take her, but he was going to be working that night and she was not going alone.  Not to mention their relationship was still undefined; everything was still as before only they mixed it up with making out every once and awhile if they got bored.  

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The moment she had been waiting for her entire adult life had finally come.  Bella was an accomplished mother and wife; and soon she was going to be an accomplished chef.  Her life-time wish was about to be reality.  Bella rushed home.  She wanted Mortimer to be the first to know.  Bella rushed into the house and found Mortimer before she went to change out of her chef coat and pants.

"I've done it!  It is going to happen Mortimer!" Bella exclaimed.

Mortimer smiled, "You are talking about a new job at the Bistro, right?  That's what we are getting excited about?"  

Bella nodded enthusiastically.  Her eyes welled and she could barely form words.

"Chef Frio is retiring as the Five-Star Chef at the Bistro," Bella explained.  "I still have to seal the deal.  I need to submit a dish with a couple other applicants, but I have it on good authority that I'm up for the job and the taste-test is just a formality.

"I have the perfect dish in mind," she continued.  "I'm making Ambrosia.  We have the Life Fruit needed.  Now I just need you to catch me a Deathfish.

"I'll see what I can do Bells.  I'll put it on the top of my priority list," Mortimer told her and scooped her into a big hug.

Mortimer headed out first thing in the morning in search of the elusive Deathfish.  Since Floramaria was becoming quite the expert fisherwoman Mortimer decide to have her come along on the fishing expedition.  By mid morning they still had no luck.  Not only were they having a difficult time finding the Deathfish, it didn't seem like any fish were taking the bait.  Mortimer and Floramaria took a break for a picnic lunch on the beach while they discussed their options.  After lunch they decided they would move further into the cove to see if they could find better fishing spots in the deeper water.

Floramaria had better luck once they found a different location but the fish were still being dodgy.  It wasn't the best of fishing days.  Mortimer had barely a nibble.  Floramaria was mostly catching fish that were much too small to keep and released them back into the ocean.  Nothing was even close to perfect.  The excitement of the day came when Floramaria reeled in an Alley Catfish weighing ten kilograms.  Mortimer snapped a picture of his daughter with her prize and offered to send the fish in to be mounted.  Floramaria decided that she would rather bring it home and let her mom use it to make her birthday dinner in a couple days.

Floramaria was beyond excited on her birthday.  In her old family birthdays were no big deal and usually passed without much thought; often experiencing growing up happened alone and off guard.  Floramaria didn't remember becoming a child, but as child she watched her older biological brother become a teen as if it were nothing special.  Then her real family showed her what birthdays were all about.  Floramaria was going to get a special dinner made from her record catch and her mom was going to bake her a cake just to celebrate.  Even Cassandra got into the birthday spirit; acting more cheerful and ignoring her precedent of keeping her room off limits to everyone.

Everyone came home for Floramaria's birthday dinner.  Bella had decided to do a fish fry with the Alley Catfish.  Despite the casual dinner Bella pulled out the best dishes and everyone gathered in the dining room.  She was over doing the celebration a little but Bella felt Floramaria deserved her first celebrated birthday to be something to remember.  After a dinner filled with love and laughter everyone gathered in the kitchen for Floramaria to blow out her candles on the cake.  Everyone encouraged her to make a wish.  She closed her eyes and pretended to wish for something.  For Floramaria there was nothing left to wish for.  She had been given everything she ever wanted when Mortimer and Bella became her parents and Cassandra, Jada, Alexander, and Damen became her sisters and brothers.

The morning after her birthday Floramaria was up before sunrise to go fishing.  Her parents had given her permission to be out all day to fish without checking in.  They had given her a cell phone for her birthday, just like her older siblings, so she could call if she came across trouble.  Her brothers and sisters chipped in to buy her a top of line fishing pole , a new tackle box, and fishing gear.  It was everything she ever wanted.  Floramaria was on a mission to help her dad catch a Deathfish for her mom.  One way or another they were going to catch one.

By the end of the day she caught about everything she could but still no Deathfish.  Her day was relaxing.  Over the course of the day Floramaria came to the conclusion that she wanted to be a professional angler and have the perfect aquarium filled with fish she had caught herself.  She wanted to compete with other anglers for catching record holding fish.  Her day ended twice as well as it started.  First, she had caught the perfect Goldfish.  She was going to stop by the store on the way home to get aquarium supplies.  Then, just as she was about to leave her line snagged on something.  She doubted it was a fish because there wasn't enough drag on the line, but the hook was stuck on something.  Floramaria finally waded out to release the hook and found another treasure chest from Firebeard.  She couldn't wait to show it to her dad and Damen.

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Prom night had finally arrived.  Bella took Jada to get a mani/pedi at the spa.  At home Bella helped Jada with her make-up while Floramaria took pictures.  Bella and Jada had travelled to Bridgeport to shop for a dress.  Mortimer and Bella offered to pay for half the cost of the dress, which allowed for Jada to pick out something beyond what she had planned.  Jada settled on a teal floor-length silk gown by EA Designs.  She picked out some subtle earrings and styled her hair .  Cyriaque picked her up and they posed for dozens of photos.  After giving them a head start Bella headed up to the Bistro.  She sat silently on the patio while Jada and Cyriaque enjoyed dinner.  Bella was busted after Jada caught sight of her while looking out the window.  Jada excused herself for a moment to go beg her mom to leave.  Bella relented and went home.  She reminded her daughter to be safe and smart and left them to enjoy the rest of their evening alone.

After dinner Cyriaque and Jada decided to have dessert on the patio.  They shared a serving a Angel Food cake in the candle light while violin music played quietly from the Bistro's speakers.  Cyriaque got up and pulled Jada into an open area.  He pulled her close and began to sway to the music.  They became lost to the world around them; ignoring everyone.  Jada was so in love she thought her heart would surely burst from happiness.  She felt butterflies in her tummy and wanted to melt when Cyriaque leaned in and gently brushed her lips with a kiss.

Jada never wanted the moment to end but too soon the concerto was over.  She took Cyriaque's hands, "I suppose we should head over to the school."

Cyriaque smiled slyly, "Or we could stay here and dance to lovely violin music all night."

"I want to so much!  But we would miss prom and that is part of the whole night."

"Alright," he conceded.  "We'll go, but one thing first."  He kissed Jada gently. "I want to talk about our plans later tonight.  This is going to sounds stupid because I'm a teenage boy..."

"I would never think you are stupid"

"Well, you might.  I was thinking  that I'm not ready for that next step yet.  I should have said something sooner, but I was sure you would have thought I was a bad boyfriend."

"No, that's okay!" Jada responded with relief.  She had been having her own dilemma in the back of her mind.  "I think I was going to chicken out."  They smiled at each other, both relieved that waiting for their first woohoo wasn't going to cause a fight or a break up.  Arm in they headed to the car and over to the school for prom.  After prom they returned to the Manor and changed into pajamas to watch a movie.  Jada fell asleep snuggled into the crook of Cyriaque's arm and he rested his head against hers.

In the weeks following prom the senior class began preparations for graduation.  They took their final exam earlier than the other classes.  For senior skip day the parents bused them over to Appaloosa Plains for a day of horseback riding and track races.  Cassandra hung out with Darryl for most of the time, but she also made a new friend with newly outcasted Heather.  The rumor mill picked up wind that Heather was dating a much older man and had gotten pregnant.  Cassandra knew all to well what it was like not to fit in and she wasn't going to ostracize Heather over something like getting pregnant.  The were graduating soon and Heather could go on to do whatever she wanted.  They all could.  Cassandra thought it was pretty cold to shut out Heather.  It wasn't like they were freshmen anymore.

After senior skip day the juniors and seniors held the traditional candle light ceremony.  Cassandra passed the flame on to some juniors she didn't know then blew out her own candle.  The next day the senior class headed over to City Hall for graduation rehearsal.  While no one was looking Cassandra seized an opportunity and pulled Darryl into the judges' chambers.  The morning after prom Cassandra discovered her sister hadn't followed through with her plan when the family came downstairs and saw them snuggled, fully clothed, on the couch.  Cassandra wasn't going let this "first" slip through her fingers.  She was the oldest and she was going to be the most experienced.  Cassandra caught Darryl off guard and before he could object she kissed him.  She knew they got a little carried away when they started making out so she didn't stop kissing him until he was kissing her back with equal relish.  Cassandra manoeuvred behind the desk and pushed Darryl into a judge's oversized, plush leather office chair.   Stripping out of her skirt and shirt, she quickly undid Darryl's belt buckle and pants.  Without getting caught Cassandra had her first woohoo in the judges's chamber of City Hall.