To Be A Shelby

Chapter Three

THOMAS

Wearing a cast, Thomas went home. He came across Aunt Pol and Ada on his way up to Marie's room and they shot him a look.

"What new chores do you have for her now, Tommy?" Ada asked sarcastically, hands on her waist. Aunt Pol refrained her from smacking Tommy on the shoulder saying, "Now, now, Ada. Your brother is injured. And I think he knows better, he's going up there and he's appologizing, am I right Tommy?"

Thomas silently nodded and moved aside as Ada and Polly went down. He continued and when he was in front of her room, he stiffened for a second and decided to knock. "It's me, Thomas," he announced himself.

A few seconds later, Marie opened the door. She was very pale so Thomas put his palm to her forehead and said, "You're running a fever."

"It's okay, sir. I've been drinking something for it, I can be back at the Garrison tomorrow," she simply said with a small smile.

"You don't have to report to the Garrison for a day or two if you're not feeling well yet," Thomas sat down on the chair beside her and she sat on her bed, her head resting against the headboard.

Thomas took this as a chance to observe her. She was beautiful, that was no secret. His gaze drifted to her arm and saw that it was bruised.

"Did I do this earlier?" he asked, gently touching her arm then retracting his hand in fear that he might hurt her.

"You were in a lot of pain, sir. I understand," she answered.

"I'm sorry, and I said you could call me Thomas," he replied, looking out the window. He found it hard to look at her.

"It's alright, sir– I mean, Thomas," she replied.

Why did he hate her? Why couldn't he stand her? Why was it so hard for him to accept her?

He turned around to look at her and looked outside once again. Thomas couldn't believe what he was about to say but he said, "I'm taking you to the races next week, teach you a thing or two about the family business."

Even without looking, he could tell her face was lighting up and she had that usual smile on her face. The thought of it made him smile unconsciously and he scolded himself mentally when he caught himself smiling.

"Thank you, Thomas," she said in a happy tone.

"Wear something... red," he instructed and she nodded with enthusiasm.

MARIE

She noticed that Thomas was heading out the door then he went two steps backward and asked out of nowhere, "You cook, don't you?"

Confused, she replied with, "Yes, why?"

"Tell them you'll be at my place tonight, cooking and having dinner with me. Also, use taking care of me as an excuse to get out of work tomorrow," he said as if it was something he normally said then left.

Marie stared into nothingness for a while, thinking What just happened? Thomas was never like that but it seems now he's softening up to her and that made her feel happy.

Putting on a cardigan above her dress, she went out and went to Aunt Pol and Ada. She took her medical kit with her just in case she'll need it for Tommy.

"Aunt Pol, I'm leaving, don't wait for me when dinner's ready," she said and Pol replied with, "Where are you going? You're supposed to be resting."

"Actually, T-thomas asked if I could cook for him tonight and have dinner with him," she stuttered, not used to saying his name or even the fact that she was having dinner at his place.

"Are you fucking with me right now?" Ada appeared with a clear depiction of shock all over her face and Marie nodded shyly.

"Finally! Maybe that bullet knocked some sense into him," Ada commented which earned her a slight smack in the head from Aunt Pol.

"Go ahead, Marie," Pol said and she proceeded to leave.

On her way out, she met with Arthur and John. "Aren't you supposed to be resting?" Arthur said, obviously drunk.

"Thomas asked me to cook him a meal and eat with him," she answered timidly. Arthur nodded, gave her a pat on the shoulder, and left to find Polly. Meanwhile, John stood there looking like he was about to say something.

"I-I'm sorry, and thank you for watching the kids," was what he said which took her by surprise. She didn't feel like they owed her an apology but she was happy that they were finally treating her better than they did when they got home.

"It's okay, John. I don't mind," Marie gave him a smile and he also smiled at her in return. She was about to leave when John called out to her and said, "He loves pasta, so if you could cook that for him that would soften him up a bit more."

Once again, a smile came naturally to her lips. Johnny was also coming to terms with her existence, even Arthur and Thomas. She'd do her happy dance if she were alone by now. "Thank you, I'll keep that in mind," she answered briefly.

***

Thomas' place smelled of smoke and liquor. She put the kit on top of a cabinet and she quietly followed him to the kitchen.

"What do you have in mind?" he asked, breaking the silence.

She guessed that he was asking what she wanted to cook for dinner so she gladly answered, "Any pasta of your choosing."

For the first time, Thomas actually let out a laugh. It was short, like a laugh of surprise, followed by a genuine smile that showed his teeth. "I don't know who put you up to this, but I do love pasta," he said.

Marie smiled back at him, happy that for the first time since she got here, she made him smile. There was a fluttering feeling in her gut, like butterflies. She thought in that moment that despite his cold, violent demeanor, there was more to Thomas and she wanted to know all of it.

***

Special thanks to: KiraClarey for being the first to add this book to her reading list. I appreciate it a lot!

I hope to provide better reading experience for all of you.