An Eternity of Change

Chapter 3

June 12th, 1809

            Jaylyn was spending her afternoon free time staring out the window at the soft clouds while her father took a break from work and her home schooling to spend time with Alice, or better known to Jaylyn as his girlfriend. Lately he had been spending less and less time with her, or Jane who had moved out to a house, or rather an apartment, nearby. Though she did visit everyday if the weather was good, like it had been a lot recently. No sooner had she been actually contemplating what was keeping her sister from showing up, probably her husband to be, more specifically Mark Forester, though she would never admit that, when her sister ran in calling her name out excitedly while babbling on incomprehensibly about something.

            “What is it Jane, speak clearer will you? Don’t tell me it has something to do with Mark again… that’s the only person you ever talk about.” She asked, turning away from the bright blue sky that had scattered white clouds lazily floating across it.

            “No!” Jane’s light brown eyes sparkled in joy as she plopped down on the chair beside Jaylyn and grabbed her shoulders. “Father is getting married!”

            She froze and stared at her sister in confusion, though a small part of her had seen this coming, she felt that she needed to ask. “M-married? To who, why?”

            “To Alice, you remember her yes?”

            Of course Jaylyn remembered that woman, her father had told her as a child how Alice had helped to raise her after her mother’s death and was still helping him over it. But she didn’t quite understand how her father could just move on from their mother’s death, though at the same time she did admit, he had been happier since spending more time with the auburn haired woman.

            “Yes, I remember.” Jaylyn admitted finally while pulling away from her sister’s clutches. “How did you learn this information?”

            Her sister sat up proudly as she answered her younger sister. “He told me himself and said I was going to plan it all out with Alice."

            “Alice is okay with you helping her?” She tilted her head to the side in shock. “She doesn’t seem like that kind of person.”

            “Our new mother trusts me. Who knows maybe you can get her to like you if you actually tried.” Jane jabbed jokingly in the familiar sibling rivalry.

            Jaylyn frowned at the comment. It was true, she didn’t like Alice for stealing their father from them, but that didn’t mean she hated the woman. Jane seemed to sense the nerve she’d hit and smiled at her sister reassuringly.

            “Some day you will figure out why Father is doing this.” Jane told her kindly. “Just wait and see.”

            “Why he’s doing this?” Jaylyn inquired. “You mean when I fall in love with someone?”

            “Yeah.” She replied as if it were obvious. “You’re coming to that age, I’m sure you’ll fall for a man soon... That Thomas boy you used to play with when you were younger perhaps?”

            “Thomas moved away, besides, I barely remember that.” She told her sister dismissively.

            “So… that doesn’t mean anything.” Jane purred. “Besides all you have to do is start talking again like I-”

            “Like you did with Mark.” Jaylyn smirked mischievously as her sister’s eyes widened, after all, Jane had never told her that.

            Jane lightly smacked her on the arm. “When did you find out about us?”

            “I have eyes, I can see how you look at each other in public.” Jaylyn continued to grin. “It doesn’t help when you let him walk you to the door, or when you make every conversation involve him, the list goes on… shall I continue?”

            Jane let that slide. “The point is that you will learn what it’s like and why father is doing this.”

            “I still don’t like the idea of Father getting married again.” Jaylyn’s grin faded and she looked back outside. “He loved our mother.”

            “Come on Jay… you never even knew our mother.” She copied her sister’s movement. “You should consider Alice your mother.”

            “I know… but I won’t call her that.”

            “That is your choice.” Jane replied easily.

            “So, when will they be married?” Jaylyn asked as she watched a cloud drift over the sun for a moment.

            “A few months, perhaps a year if the church is booked.” Jane informed her. “You can help Alice and me, it would go faster… You could also bond more with her.”

            “I have to live with her until I’m old enough to leave like you, I have plenty of bonding time.” Jaylyn rolled her eyes.

            She laughed. “Of course you do Jay. Just remember, time flies, one day you’re a child, the next an adult living with your husband and children and looking back on your past, remembering how silly you were.”

            Jaylyn gave a sound of disbelief. “Sure…”

            “When it happens I’ll be sure to tell you… I told you so.” Jane got up and walked towards the doorway, it was about time for her to meet Mark again.

            “Jane wait.” Jaylyn called out, the cheeky look back on her face. “When are you going to tell Father about your marriage with Mark?”

            Jane’s face went red as she turned around. “We have only dated for a year! I’m not marrying yet! You better not tell him that, he’ll have my head!”

            “I was only joking sis… for now.” Jaylyn laughed before turning away again and letting her sister go about her day while she hummed the next thought to herself. “But one day you’ll tell him…”