Hi guys! As always thanks for reading! This next chapter is Fredric's return. Enjoy!
Alcina continued to keep a tight leash on the girls. They were allowed outside, but now had three guards standing by. Helena did not complain while Josie had much to say about it. There would be times when she would try to sneak out and go to the pond. This would always end with her being escorted back inside by Aresian, or Alcina herself. Once inside the argument would begin. A shouting match between mother and daughter.
"You are not being fair! I feel like I am in some kind of prison!"
"Do not talk back to me, young lady! At this rate, I will see to it you will not go outside at all!"
"You don't need to! I won't go outside ever again!" She roared. "If Papa were here he would let me! I hate you."
"Josie!" Alcina shouted after her, but she was already gone and running to her room.
Helena bothered by Josie's hurtful words, entered into the bedroom to find Josie on her bed, crying.
"Josie, you should not speak to Mother like that," Helena said, taking a seat on the bed. "She is doing her best."
"It is not fair."
"I know it's not, but you must realize this is only temporary. Soon we will be able to venture out to the pond alone."
"Do you mean that?" Josie rubbed at her eyes, sitting up to look at her sister.
"Yes, knucklehead," Helena said. "Just try to have patience."
"I will do my best…"
"Good, now come along. You need to apologize to Mother."
Josie took her sister's hand and was led back to the study. Helena was just about to knock on the door when she heard their mother speaking.
"What?! What do you mean the shipment was attacked? Who?"
"What's going on?" Josie whispered.
Helena shook her head in just as much confusion, leaning closer to the door to hear more.
"Bandits attacked the car and destroyed the barrels. I see. Yes. Thank you."
Helena jumped back at the sound of something crashing to the floor, followed by the rapid 'click-clack' of her mother's heels headed straight for the door. Pulling Josie away before the door nearly hit them, the two stood on the opposite side of the hall and stared at their mother, whose countenance was twisted into one of rage.
"What are you two doing?" she snapped.
"We…, we…" Helena stuttered, trying to come up with the right words. "Mother—"
Josie then launched herself at Alcina, burying her face into the front of her dress and hugging her firmly.
The action surprised Alcina for a moment before her countenance relaxed, a faint smile starting to form on her lips.
"Oh, Josie," she hummed, stroking her digits through the girl's thick cascade of curls.
"Mother," she said, looking up at her. "I am sorry for my unkind words to you. Please forgive me."
"You are forgiven, pretty girl," she whispered. "You are always forgiven."
Helena smiling at her mother still noticed the lingering fear in her eyes. The stress of the conversation they had overheard lingered in the back of her mind. How urgently Helena wanted to help her mother. To eliminate what was causing her discomfort.
"Come, my girls, I have important news to share with you about your father."
"Papa?!" Josie said, pulling away from her mother, excitedly. "What is it? What is it?"
"He is coming home."
Josie clapped in delight, jumping up and down 'hooraying' as loud as she could.
"That is wonderful news, Mother," Helena said.
"Yes, but there are some preparations that must happen before his arrival, and I have a rather specific and important job for you, Helena."
Helena already knew what her mother was going to have her do.
"Make sure Josie is kept calm?" she ventured.
Alcina laughed, patting her cheek.
"Yes, darling."
{-}
The day of Fredric's arrival had finally come. It was late at night and the rain was coming down in sheets. Soaking all who ventured out in a matter of seconds. Alcina stood just outside the door, watching two men helping Fredric out of the car, while another took out a wheelchair and was carrying it behind the others.
"Fredric," Alcina whispered, having finally been told by the doctor he had sustained an injury to both his legs, leaving him unable to walk. The doctor believed he'd soon be able to walk, but it would be a long and painful road ahead…
"Alcina."
Alcina barely recognized his voice. Weak and hoarse. Even his appearance had changed. He always wore his hair shoulder length and now it was cut right off. His face once full and tan was now pale and gaunt. And yet his green eyes were just as sharp and alert.
Painfully he started to raise his hand to her, which she took in both of her own.
"Welcome home, my love," she said, remaining by his side as he was wheeled out of the Main Hall and into what had been the living room—to what would now be his bedroom.
Once he had been settled down into the bed, Alcina took a seat in a chair beside the bed and remained with him the rest of the night. They would talk on and off about the girls, the business and other small talk until he had fallen asleep. Tomorrow she would get the girls and try to keep Josie perfectly calm. She didn't need the girl jumping on poor Fredric and causing him more injury.
The thought of her daughter's excitement made her grin.
Early the next morning, Alcina quietly left the room and made sure the kitchen staff prepared a grand breakfast for Fredric. The smell of the cooking filled every square inch of the great manor, drifting all the way upstairs into the girls' bedchamber and waking Josie first.
"Helena? Helena, can you smell that?"
Helena grumbled, shifting in her bed and remaining fast asleep.
"Helena!" Josie said, annoyed she was being ignored and launching her pillow over at her. Remarkably it hit her right on the head, making Helena turn around with an equally annoyed countenance.
"What?"
"Can't you smell that?"
"Yes," Helena said, starting to close her eyes. "And we shall eat it soon enough…"
"I want to go now," Josie said, climbing out of the bed.
"No Josie," Helena said. "You will stay right there."
"Or what?" Josie said.
"Mother," Helena said.
That made Josie stop and reconsider.
"Mother will come and collect us soon enough…"
And Helena was indeed correct. Alcina had gone into the chamber personally to inform them their father was home.
"Wait and listen, Josie!" Alcina said, managing to grab her around the midsection and pull her quick girl onto her lap. "Your father is weak and needs his rest. I also cannot have you two being loud around him, nor bouncing off the walls."
"Is there anything we can do to help him, Mother?" Helena asked.
"Everything I just said will help your father and I greatly," she said, feeling Josie start to squirm with impatience. "Now, let's go and see him, shall we?"
{-}
The three quietly entered the dimly lit room. The curtains had been drawn and a few candles were lit. Josie remained right by her mother's side, nervously. Helena started to walk forward and then stopped, glancing back at her mother.
"Go on." Alcina gently nudged her forward.
Helena approached the bed and came to another halt. Seeing her father propped up in the bed. He looked older and thinner than she last remembered. Carrying some bruises on his face and a nasty scar across his forehead.
"Helena."
She jumped, not recognizing his voice at first.
"Hello, Papa," she said, uncertain whether to approach or not.
"Come here," he motioned for her to step closer. "Let me take a look at you. My, my. You have gotten taller." He chortled, saying more to himself than Helena. "The spitting image of Alcina."
Helena's face reddened at the compliment, and from behind her Alcina's lips cracked into a smile.
"I have heard you've been a great help to your mother running the business."
"I have been trying," Helena said.
"That is all any of us can really do," he said, reaching out and lightly tapping her on the nose.
The gesture caused a sudden; overwhelming reaction in Helena. She bit her bottom lip. No, she would not cry! She hated crying in front of people, especially her mother and father, but the tears rolled down her cheeks.
"It's all right, sweetheart," her father soothed, taking her hands into his. "It's been hard, hasn't it?"
All she could do was nod.
"Yes, I agree with you Helena. I do. These past years have not been easy, but we're managing, aren't we? Are foundation has been shaken and rattled; nonetheless, we have remained strong. Unbroken. Right?"
"Yes, Papa," she whispered, looking straight into his emerald eyes. "I have missed you."
"I've missed you, Helena," he said, leaning forward and embracing his eldest. "Oh, how I have missed all of you," he continued, staring straight at Alcina—whose cheeks glistened with the tears she had shed—he smiled and threw her a wink.
'Idiot.' She mouthed at him, rolling her eyes when he wiggled his eyebrows at her. She turned her attention down to Josie, who was still standing by her side.
"Josie," Alcina whispered.
She looked up at her mother, who motioned with her head for her to go over and say hello.
"Josie?"
She whipped her head in her father's direction upon the call.
"No, that cannot possibly be /my/ Josie. She looks far too grown up. There must be some kind of mistake."
"It is me, Papa," Josie said, taking a step forward.
"No, I just don't believe it."
"It is me!" Josie insisted.
"Come closer and prove it to me, then."
Josie puffing out her cheeks, stormed straight up to him and snapped:
"Well?"
"Ahh! Josie it is you!" He smiled, pulling her into a great hug. "My not so little girl. How old are you now nineteen?"
"I'm eight, Father!" Josie giggled. "And Helena is twelve."
He slapped his forehead.
"I'll be dam- darned," he quickly corrected upon Alcina giving him a stern look.
The three continued to talk and joke while Alcina stood by and watched the interaction with deep love in her heart. Fredric was a wonderful father. When she had announced to him she was pregnant with Helena, he started to buy all sorts of things in preparation, and made sure Alcina's every need was met. He would even go so far as to carry her up and down the stairs.
And when the due date had finally arrived, he refused to leave the room. Remaining right by her side through it all.
'She's beautiful,' he had said, tears in his eyes. 'Oh, Alcina, she is so beautiful.'
"My lady?"
Alcina turned to see Phoebe standing by the doorway, she turned and listened with a grave countenance.
"Thank you, Phoebe," Alcina said, slipping out of the room and making her way into the parlor room to answer the phone. 'Damn it all. At this rate…' she shook away the thought. 'No, just stay focused. I will deal with this on my own.'