Alice: Recovered Memories

Introductions

I decided to go alone to go to Melody's house.  If I decided to introduce myself, I didn't want to freak her out any more than I already would.  I tried to scan the future for possible outcomes if I introduced myself to her, but for some reason, I was drawing a blank, probably because I hadn't made a decision just yet.  Prior to leaving, I popped in more brown contacts and freshened up a bit. 

Using the rental car's GPS, I was able to find her home and arrive in just under twenty minutes.  It was a cute one story bungalow.  I wasn't sure if she lived alone, though.  I parked my car on the street a few houses down and walked up to the house.  It had a small front porch and a few potted plants hanging.  A welcome mat was outside the door. The blinds were drawn on the front windows.  I crept around to the back of the house, through a small wooden gate, trying to be as quiet as possible.  I found a small flower garden in the back, and the dog from my vision.  He looked up at me and began barking.  Crap.  I ducked behind a bush on the side of the house, making sure I was out of sight.  I heard the back door open and a woman's voice. "What's wrong, Buster?" she asked.  I sighed quietly.  This was going to be more difficult than I thought.  "Want to come inside with me for a little while?" she continued.  I sighed with relief.

Once I heard the back door shut and I was sure both she and the dog were inside, I cautiously crept around again to the back yard.  The blinds on her back windows were partially open.  I saw her walk into the kitchen and pour what appeared to be dog food into a dish.  Then she stood up and I saw her profile.  If I had had a beating heart, I'm sure it would have stopped at this point.  She was petite like me, with the same raven black hair and fair skin, although her hair was to her shoulders.  It felt like looking at myself... if I'd been allowed to grow up.  My eyes pricked from the tears that would never come.  Without realizing what I was doing, i made my way to her front door and rang the bell.

Melody opened the door after a moment or two.  She stared at me strangely.  'Can I help you?'

Crap.  I hadn't thought this far in advance.  The words just started flowing. "Hi, my name is Mary McCoy," I said again, letting the fake southern accent flow. "I was wondering if you were interested in hearing about the new Jehovah's Witness church that's started here in town."

She smiled politely. "No, thank you.  I'm not really looking for a church right now." She smiled again and started to shut the door.  "I hope you have a nice night, though.  Good luck."

Knowing i couldn't lose this opportunity, I blurted out.  "That's not it." I lapsed out of my fake accent.  "I know this is going to sound weird.  I'm not a psycho or anything like that.  I really need to talk to you.  Are you the daughter of Thomas Phillips?"

She peered at me through the crack in the door. "Who are you?"

I sighed.  "I'm a long lost relative.  My name isn't really Mary McCoy.  My last name is Brandon."

She stared at me for a moment, a look of disbelief in her eyes.  "That can't be possible... that was my great-grandmother's name.  She didn't have any other kids..." She shook her head and closed her eyes.  "You must have the wrong person."

I started grasping at straws.  "Look, you have to believe me.  Your great grandmother was Cynthia Brandon, right?"  She nodded slowly.   "Please, just hear me out.  I promise I'm not crazy and I'm not here to hurt you.  Please just hear me out."

She seemed to pause at the door, thinking about it.  She finally opened it up.  "Come on in, I suppose." She led me into the dining room.  She motioned for me to sit down.  "If your last name is Brandon... how in the world are you related to me?  Are you telling me that my great grandmother had a child out of wedlock or something and you're related to her somehow?  That can't even be possible.  At some point,  you would have picked up your father's name." She squinted her green eyes at me.  "is this some kind of joke?"

I shook my head.  "Look at me.  We have the same hair, the same build.  The same skin tone.  We're related.  I wanted to get to know you.  i was... adopted and want to know some of my biological family."

"This still doesn't make sense.  How in the world...? I'd like to believe you.  I definitely see the similarities, but...but this just can't be possible."

I stared at her.  She didn't see hostile toward me.  Something inside me just HAD to tell her.  I knew she probably wouldn't believe me.  I knew the consequences of such an action could be serious.  I just had to risk it.

"So, what is your real name?  How are you related to me?  Just tell me, or I'm going to get really creeped out.  If you don't tell me, then just leave.  Don't mess with my head like this."

I just decided to jump right in.  "My name is Mary Alice Brandon.  I was adopted by the Cullen family.  i go by Alice.  I was your great grandmother's older sister.  I was born in 1901."

And with, she her face blanched pale white and she collapsed out of her chair.