Chapter 5: 2.5

Winter 1904, Exeter, New Hampshire.

Madelynn

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Winter cast its icy grip outside, rendering the world beyond my window bleak and uninviting. I exhaled, watching my breath fog the glass as I traced a sad face with my finger.

"Madelynn, dear, would you like to help me make cookies?" My mother's gentle voice broke through my melancholy. I turned to see her smiling warmly at me from the doorway, a beacon of comfort in the chill of the season.

I followed her to the kitchen, where we began shaping the dough into festive shapes. As we worked, my mind drifted to my sister Adelynn, who had left months ago to start a new life with her husband. I still missed her terribly, wishing I could have gone with her despite my mother's protests.

"You know, when you're older, you'll have your own life to build," my mother said, her voice soft but firm. "You'll learn to cook and care for your own family."

I nodded absently, the ache of Adelynn's absence weighing heavily on my heart.

As we cleaned up, I couldn't shake the question that had been haunting me since Adelynn left. "Where's Papa?" I asked quietly, hesitating as I saw the pain flicker across my mother's face.

"He's... he's in heaven, Madelynn," she replied, her voice catching slightly. I moved to embrace her, offering what little comfort I could.

After reassuring me that she was alright, my mother left to check on the cookies, leaving me alone with my thoughts. I wandered into the living room and picked up the phone, dialing my sister's number.

"Hello?" Her voice sounded tired, strained.

"Hey, Adelynn, it's Madelynn."

"Madelynn, is everything okay?" Concern laced her words.

I assured her that Mother was fine before getting to the real reason for my call. "What was father like?"

There was a pause on the other end, filled with tension. Then, her response came, guarded and terse. "He was alright. Not the best father, but he treated Mother right, and that's what mattered."

My curiosity piqued, I pressed further, "Why wasn't he the best father?"

There was a muffled noise in the background, and then Adelynn's voice, strained, "I'll explain tomorrow, okay? I've got to go."

I nodded, even though she couldn't see me. "Okay."

As I hung up the phone, a knot of worry settled in my stomach. But for now, there were cookies waiting in the kitchen, a small comfort in the midst of winter's chill.