Sunshine

Part 4

When Alice finally came to again, she was startled but many faces looming over her. Polly, Ada, and some other girl were all looking relieved yet still worried at the same time. "Oh thank God." The nameless girl sighed.

"Thank me." Polly snapped. "God had nothing to do with it." Alice realized that she had fallen from the chair and onto the floor. Why had she done that? Shaking her head, Alice tried standing up. The three woman eagerly helped her sit back in her chair.

Looking around the table, Alice realized that none of them men had bothered even standing up when she fainted, except for the youngest one that she had heard Arthur call Finn. He look more worried about her then the other guys.

Looking to her left, Alice suddenly remembers why she fainted. There, in the doorway stood Henry. She had not seen him in over a year and he looked very different, but it was definitely him. He stared at her, analyzing her. He was just as surprised to see her, but had no plans on letting anyone know that they knew each other.

Alice was surprised to find that Henry was actually rather scary-looking. He had grown some and looked stronger. That, on top of a new air about him that she could not place, made her uneasy. He did not look like a boy any longer. Henry was now a man. He also was dressed much differently than she was used to. He dressed like a Shelby, not in his casual farming clothes like she remembered him. It made him look powerful, like he was in control of everything around him. His facial expression looked like a mix between amused and annoyed, maybe even snide. It was clear by the look in his eyes, he did not want her to tell the Shelbys that they knew each other.

Alice could barely even form complete thoughts because her head hurt so badly. She must have hit her head when she fell. Finn brought her a glass of water that she smiled at. She gratefully drank it all quickly. Thomas even asked her if she was feeling better, but she didn't answer. She tried focusing more on the conversation they were having about the Garrison, but was still so confused as to why Henry was there.

Before Alice could get a better grip on reality, Polly told the other girl, Esme, to help her get fixed up properly. Esme kindly helped Alice up and ushered her into some sort of wash room. Esme pulled some things out of a cabinet and told Alice to sit down. She went to work, quietly cleaning Alice's wounds. Alice winced and held back tears the entire time. Esme wrapped one of her feet that had been cut deeply by glass. She even pulled some more out.

Alice had never really been terribly sick before, let alone hurt badly, so her pain tolerance was low. After she had finished, Esme left for a while. When she came back, she had some clothes that she told her used to belong to Ada. It was just a simple blouse and skirt. Esme also brushed her hair for her, and pinned it back some.

"Thank you," Alice spoke up for the first time. Esme smiled back at her.

"You're welcome. It's alright. I've done this loads of times for those blockheads." She laughed, but it only made Alice more confused.

They went into a parlor room where the others were talking, but as soon as they entered, a hush spread over the room. They had all been whispering about something. Ada and Esme exchanged odd glances and Esme lead her to a chaise lounge.

After Alice had taken a seat, Polly had everyone introduce themselves awkwardly. Everyone just smiled and gave their names which she already knew. Then, Polly introduced Henry as her son, Michael. Alice stared at him, but he wouldn't look her in the eye. His face was nonchalant and she was growing more and more confused by the second.

Why would Henry change his name and why did Polly call him her son. Was he her son? Alice shook the thoughts from her head and then Tommy addressed her again. "Alice, I know you've been through an ordeal this morning, but could you tell us everything that happened?" His words were kind, but his voice showed that he really didn't care.