Molly Shelby

Chapter 11

I woke up early the next morning and we went straight to the shop. I saw Uncle Arthur straight away and ran straight to him, he chuckled and leaned forward in his chair, "how's the new house then Webley?" I smiled "it's nice but too quiet" I replied which made him smile and grab me pulling me towards him and tickling my sides, I squealed and laughed squirming. "Someone's glad to be back" Polly said as she entered the room, I jumped to my feet and ran towards her, she smiled and crouched to hug me. "Molly I'm going out I'll be back this afternoon" my dad said grabbing his coat and kissing the top of my head on his way out, I nodded and moved to sit on one of the chairs in the shop.

I sat on the chair and watched as everyone went about their day, I was sat quietly looking at the pages of a book not really reading because I found it hard. "You're awfully quiet today" Polly said as she approached and sat in the chair next to me, I looked up and gave a small smile before closing the book. "How's the house?" She asked, "it's alright" I answered and drew small patterns on the book cover with my fingers, "tell me what's wrong sweetheart" she said moving a strand of hair out my face. I thought for a second, "I don't like the house, I want to be here with everyone" I said sadly causing Polly to nod understandingly "I know sweetheart but it's for your own safety, you'll be back in this madhouse in no time" she said with a soft smile.

The doors flew open and my dad was carried in by several men and lay on the table, he'd been shot. "DAD!" I yelled and got up to run towards him but Finn grabbed hold of me and dragged me out the room, I cried and tried to fight out of his grip but he was too strong. "Hey!, calm yourself down he's gonna be alright" he said holding my shoulders and looking me dead in the eyes. I said nothing just hid my face in my knees, Wolf sat next to me watching cautiously.

It had been hours, Arthur entered the room and placed his cap on the side then approached me and crouched in front of me. "Tommy's awake, you can see him if you like" he asked me softly, I looked at him and nodded before getting up and following him in to another room where my dad was laying, he looked pale and tired. I stopped near him and looked at Arthur with a worried look, he nodded at me and I walked over to the bed he was on, he had no shirt on because of the wound that was patched on his shoulder. I climbed to sit next to my dad as he watched tiredly, "does it hurt?" I asked peering at the large bandage, he used his good arm to pull me in to his side "only a bit" he said and planted a gentle kiss on the top of my head as I played with the bracelets on his wrist,  "do you miss uncle John sometimes?" I asked him not making eye contact, he paused and leaned forward to look at me "of course I do, why do you miss uncle John?" He replied, I looked up at him and nodded causing him to pull me tighter in to his side "sometimes the people you love very much can't be here forever in person but they're always here in spirit" he said. I didn't say anything just rested my head on his good shoulder.