An Eternity of Change

Chapter 6

October 5, 1816

            Jaylyn had only been gone from family life for a year, as her sister had gotten married a year before, and now she was being forced back home after finding out Alice had disappeared on her father and five year old sister Maddie. When she got there she found the house empty minus the sound of Maddie's miserable crying that was coming from what used to be Jane's room. Jaylyn coughed half from the dust and half from a slight cold she'd managed to pick up, like she seemed to every time one came around, before following the noise and entering Maddie's room.

            "I heard what happened." Jaylyn spoke up softly.

            Maddie looked up at her from where she was lying curled up on her bed. "H-how c-could she j-just leave?"

            She didn't exactly have an answer to why Alice would leave, last time Jaylyn had seen her stepmother she'd been happy living here. "I'm not sure, but listen, I'm going to be here to help you out okay? I know I can't replace Alice but we're still family."

            "I wouldn't mind if you replaced Daddy too." Maddie whimpered as she sat up.

            Jaylyn frowned at that. "Why would you say that?"

            "After Mom left he started acting weird... He wouldn't come home until early in the morning, he smelled strange as well." Maddie's voice wavered. "It scares me."

            "Is that were he is now?" Jaylyn could already guess the answer to that however.

            Maddie nodded, confirming Jaylyn's suspicions. "Just like everyday. It wasn't this bad at first but he kept getting worse... What if he doesn't come back either?"

            "He'll come back, he might not seem to show it now, but I'm sure he still cares about you."

            "What if he doesn't?"

            Jaylyn sighed and fought back another cough. "He will."

            Maddie gave her a look that told Jaylyn she didn't believe that. "He's been so distant..."

            "I doubt he means to be." Jaylyn replied though the faint memory of what Dr. Treen had been arguing about with her father came to mind.

            They lapsed into silence with Maddie finally dozing off into a fitful sleep after Jaylyn told her about her life in France, which in Jaylyn's opinion wasn't that exiting, but Maddie seemed to enjoy it. Afterwards Jaylyn decided to examine the rest of the dusty house. It hadn't changed much, if you didn't count how neglected it had become in the recent months. Still, that didn't seem to change the depressing mood that was now settled there. Finished with her examination, she walked back to the living room to wait for her father to come home. When he finally did, it wasn't a pretty sight. Jaylyn jerked out of her dozing at the loud sound of a door being opened and someone stumbling through it drunkenly.

            "Don't forget!" A stranger's voice called from outside. "Tomorrow's plan!"

            "Yeah, y-yeah." Daniel grumbled. "The plan."

            Jaylyn stayed where she was until he closed the door and actually noticed her.

            "What're you doing here?" He questioned. "I thought... you where in... the country."

            "That's Jane, Father." Jaylyn reminded him.

            "Then why are you here?"

            "You sent for me. Or do you not recall that?" Jaylyn asked as she examined his deteriorated state.

            Her father scratched his head before stumbling into the kitchen. "I-I think I might."

            "Do you know why she left?" She knew it could be a touchy subject, especially in this state, but she had to ask.

            "Of course not!" He growled angry before continuing a bit softer. "Alice, she... she just took up and left! Didn't say a word! Good riddance... if you- if you ask me."

            "Maddie seems upset."

            "She'll get over it." He shrugged off the thought as he stumbled towards his chair. "Everyone does eventually."

            "You haven't yet and neither has she." Jaylyn accused. "As the adult you should help her."

            "As... the a-adult... I say; she can get over it." Daniel slurred.

            Jaylyn knew she'd get nowhere with her father tonight, if ever considering his take on drinking, and changed the subject. "What was the plan your friend mentioned?"

            "Non of your con...concern." He replied defensively. "It's between me an' them."

            That led her to believe it was something bad. So, like the woman she was, Jaylyn nodded and let the topic drop; or at least stopped talking about it. "Well then, I'll let you get your rest Father. I'll check on Maddie."

            He grunted in response as she left the room and passed by her half-sister's, seeing that she was still sleeping. With that Jaylyn went to her old room and got ready for a night's rest herself, hoping tomorrow would go better and perhaps she'd even get the chance to figure out what her father was involving himself in besides drinks at the bar.