What About Us | John Shelby

CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE

1919, Small Heath, Birmingham

"Mom, look how fast my train goes" The kids, Finn and Tessa were in the living room of her house. After the accident with Finn and James the boys were cleaning the betting shop up while Tommy and Polly went to sort out business with the whole accident.

Tessa took all the kids with her to her home, to keep them safe for now and look after them while everyone cleaned up the after mess.

"Aunt Tess" Finn called out to the girl, sitting up next to her on the couch "Yes, love"

"Did we do bad today?" He questioned her. Tessa bit down on her lip, how would she tell him that he and his cousin could have died just an hour ago.

She turned her body to the boy, placing her arm around his shoulder "Both you and James should have probably been more careful. You Finn more than James knows the sort of things your brothers do, that this is a dangerous world we live in. Some of us just have to be more cautious than others, alright" She smiled down at his sweet little face, he may only be eleven years old but she couldn't face telling him the whole truth it wasn't her place to either.

"Hello" A voice could be heard from the front door, that voice was very much coming from her father "Da" Tessa shouted from the living room.

"Féach ar mo theaghlach beag" (Look at my little family) Johnny Dog's winked holding out his arms wide waiting for a hug. Katie, James and William stopped what they were doing and ran into their grandad's arms.

From behind her father, Edward stood watching the interaction. Tessa stood from the couch and embraced her brother.

Johnny spoke up after all the hugs between the family "In the kitchen, the two of you" Johnny pointed between both of his kids. Edward followed his father out of the living room. Tessa turned around to look at the kids "Stay here all of you ... including you Finn"

Closing the living room behind her, she made her way into the kitchen to be met by Edward and Johnny dogs sitting down at the table. Tessa stood against the kitchen counter crossing her hands over her chest "I'm guessing we're here to talk about what happened this morning"

"We wait till Will is here with the whole family .. alright" Johnny said towards Edward and Tessa.

"I suppose we can have a drink, while we wait" As she grabbed two bottles of rum from the cupboard beside her, placing some glasses in front of the two and filling it up with rum, when Will's presence was shown apologizing for being late.

"Now that we are all here together ... we need to talk about our family and the Shelby's" Johnny looked at his three kids.

"We are all in the shits right now, the four of us. Myself and Tess are both linked with the Shelby's by marriage for her and me being a Peaky Blinder" Will spoke up for himself and his sister.

"Me and da are linked with the Lee family. Da has been traveling around with them for some years now and I have started recently" Edward spoke up.

"What are we to do, the Shelby's and the Lee's are at war right now and have been for some time. The four of us are stuck in between their shit" Tessa explained her side of this meeting.

"We are all parked up the road a bit, the whole family. I brought Tommy up to meet with Zilpha Lee" Johnny leaned in closer to the table "Apparently herself and Tommy are going to make a deal to bring peace between the two families"

"What is it that they're going to deal upon?" Tessa questioned her father. Johnny shook his head, not knowing that much of their little meeting they had a while ago.

"All I am gonna tell you kids ... is to expect peace between the families in the coming days, things should go back to normal for all of us ... and we can be on our way again" Johnny smirked, with the news he had to tell his family.

Johnny clapped his hands together "Right ... does anyone have anything to add to this meeting?"

"I do, when will you actually get married Will?" She stared at her brother, knowing that Anna was desperate to get married as soon as possible.

Will scratched the back of his neck "With everything going on lately ... it will be a while before we actually get married"

Johnny patted his back "You take your time son marrying that girl .. you take your bloody time" Tessa rolled her eyes, she hadn't known about this. From what she knew Will was just waiting for the right day to hold the wedding, not leaving it off for another time to do.

"Right then .. let me go see those grandkids of mine" Johnny smiled to himself standing from his chair. Tessa grabbed hold of his arm, making him turn around in his own two feet.

"You know, you and Edward could stay in the house you used to live in before the war" Tessa suggested the house to him. Johnny shook his head at her.

"Nah, I'm not used to living in a house anymore I don't think I would enjoy that ... and anyway if the Lee's found out myself and Edward weren't camping up with them, God only knows what would happen"

"Alright then, but the house is always there if you ever do want it" Tessa said.

"That place must've not been touched in over five years, by now" Johnny was surprised by the house still being there and not lived in.

"It is technology your's. Tommy made sure that, that house was not to be used by any other people and to be kept under your name at all times"

Johnny laughed out loud "Lucky me, I guess ... now let me see those grandkids of mine" 

-CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE-

-PEAKY BLINDERS-