CHAPTER 22
Triple the Love
So, where were Cliff’s daughters during this life transformation? They were right there, growing up at warp speed, each navigating her own unique set of teenage trials and triumphs.
Canvas, the eldest, was the quiet one, the girl who found solace in her own company. She had the full attention of her parents for the first four years of her life, which she spent bouncing between different cultures—Grandtown, Scholarland, Prosperland, and then Seatown. By the time Melody and Fable arrived, Canvas had already mastered the art of being an only child. The twins were a shock to the system, but she adapted, turning her initial jealousy into a determined effort to be the best big sister ever.
Well, most of the time.
As the years rolled on, Canvas found herself in an awkward in-between phase. One year, she and her sisters were thick as thieves, the next, they were light years apart in interests and maturity. Canvas found herself drifting back into the familiar comfort of solitude, pouring her emotions into her artwork. And boy, could she draw. Her anime characters were so detailed and expressive, they practically leaped off the page. But when exams rolled around, and her pencils gathered dust, the bottled-up emotions would simmer until they boiled over.
The first time she had an anxiety attack, Cliff chalked it up to normal teenage stress. But when it happened again, he knew it was time to step in. Therapy was a no-brainer for him—though he was surprised when Canvas didn’t just accept the offer, but practically jumped at it. The sessions worked wonders. Slowly, the storm clouds over Canvas’s head began to part. She became more at ease, more herself. Cliff also decided to ease up on the academic pressure. Straight A’s were great, but a happy Canvas was more important. With that weight lifted, she flourished—both in school and in her art.
Meanwhile, Fable was wearing her heart on her sleeve. Sensitive to the core, she was the first to give hugs and the last to let go. She was the quintessential daddy’s girl, always eager to please, and easily bruised by the opinions of others. Her emotions, unlike Canvas’s, were on full display, especially when it came to school.
Separation anxiety hit her hard. Every morning was a tearful tug-of-war between staying with her twin Melody and heading to her own class. It got so bad that Cliff had to enlist the help of a child psychologist. The solution? Bedtime stories—though these were no ordinary tales. What started as Cliff reading to Fable soon became Fable writing her own stories, each more intricate and heartfelt than the last. Before long, she was crafting entire worlds, her anxiety transforming into creativity on the page. Cliff was pretty sure she was going to be a bestselling author before she even hit high school.
And then there was Melody, the yin to Fable’s yang. If Fable was the right brain—emotional and intuitive—Melody was the left brain, logical and fiercely independent. She was the rebel, the one who didn’t just bend the rules, she twisted them into pretzels and made up her own. Tantrums? Check. Arguments? Double-check. But as she grew older, something shifted. The fire that had once burned so hot mellowed into a quiet strength. When everyone else was losing their heads, Melody was the one keeping cool, calm, and collected. She took up the piano with the same determination she applied to everything else in life. While Cliff was fumbling through the basics, Melody was mastering Für Elise and a dozen other classical pieces, making it look easy.
Three daughters—an artist, a writer, and a musician. Cliff often marveled at the fact that, somehow, he and Venus had created this unique, talented trio. Sure, there were the typical teenage dramas—slammed doors, late-night heart-to-hearts, the occasional sibling squabble—but overall, they were a gift. They filled the house with laughter, even when life was throwing curveballs. And no matter how chaotic things got, Cliff knew one thing for sure: they were his reason for everything. They made the rollercoaster of life worth the ride, even if it did sometimes feel like he was holding on by the edge of his teeth.
Recovery was happening, but it wasn’t the smooth, straight path Cliff had imagined. There were bumps, setbacks, and more than a few surprises along the way. Just when Cliff thought he had things figured out, life would throw him another curveball. And as he tried to navigate this new normal, he stumbled upon a book by an engineer who claimed to have cracked the code to happiness…
