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Thomas' ride back home was anything but quiet. His mind was racing and loud, his thoughts running from one and to another, all of them leading to one Birdie Hepburn — or whoever she was. After some thinking, Thomas had come to the conclusion that the little bird had been lying to him. He didn't know which tales had been lies and which had not but he was determined to find out.
Taking a look outside, he saw dark clouds approaching with the wind. It was going to rain soon and though it wasn't possible, he wished the rain would wash away all the troubles on his way.
"And my first?"
That question has haunted Thomas since it was asked. He could still remember the hopeful look on his aunt's face — how her dark eyes had shined with excitement and trust. Thomas had promised her to bring back her children and when he made that promise, he had meant Sallyanna and Michael. He was only able to bring back Michael. Polly's daughter was dead and buried oceans away. Initially Thomas had ignored his aunt's question and my first one?
He wasn't sure why he chose to ignore it. The question wasn't a riddle to be guessed but a simple one. Polly has asked him to bring her first child back home too, he was sure that's what Polly had meant, but he didn't know she had other children besides Sallyanna and Michael. While he did remember far enough in the past when little Sally and Michael had still been in the care of their mother, he couldn't be sure if there had been a third child. But the name Elizabeth Stone did bring some memories.
Elizabeth was Polly's given name and Stone was a name Thomas remembered. A man who used to live in Small Heath had the name Stone but he was long gone if not even dead. Before confronting Birdie Hepburn two days ago, Thomas had paid the hospital a visit and asked what was it that the stranger with red hair had wanted. She had wanted Elizabeth Stone.
Instead of going home, Thomas found himself driving towards his aunt's house. It was his duty as the head of the family to deliver all kinds of news — whether or not they were good or bad. He had no idea what this was.
Polly's days were slow. So slow that sometimes she thought two days have blended into one before realising she was still on day one. Michael was still in the hospital which worried her beyond words. The Changrettas were roaming around the streets of her city, killing her nephews and family. And all along she was having dreams of Anna, her sweet girl who was dead.
When Polly's children were taken from her, she fell into a black hole. She spent days in bed, refused to eat and only drank from the liquor cabinet. After three months her brother had dragged her out of bed, making her face reality where she had no one to look after. Polly never knew how her brother must have read her mind because he left not too long after, leaving Polly to take care of her nephews and niece. It brought her some comfort, some sense of importance she needed and longed for.
