Shelby Madness

Chapter 41, 'I told you I could tell the time'.

4th April 1920, Small Heath, Birmingham

The new year had been and gone and the festivities had died out as life retund to normal in Small Heath.

It had been Isaiah's Birthday in Early January which was when Libby first slept with Isaiah and since the pair had been caught in a world that only they existed in, they had nearly been caught on numeracy occasions either in the betting shop, Isaiah's bedroom or Libby's. The problem was the pair had no privacy.

Libby wanted to move out of John she had lived there nearly a year now and with John and Esme pregnant with their first together, their family was going to be expanding and with the way John and Esme shagged once they had one kid, Libby doubted they would stop. John and Esme had persisted that it wouldn't change anything and although Libby believed them she just wanted her own space.

She could always move back in with Tommy although she felt too claustrophobic there the first time so why would the second be any different. The twins were in a good place with their father and Libby didn't want that to change.

James had already moved out of 13 Watery Lane and into Emily's house as her mother had passed away a mere two months ago and she was on her own. Her father had fought alongside John in France but had been one of many that never returned.

Libby would be turning 16 in 5 months so decided that she and Isaiah would look for their own flat, Isaiah had already turned 16 and wanted out of his father's house, even it if was just the two of them living there.

Tommy was heartbroken over Grace but tried to hide it as he did with everything; Libby had found the letter Grace had sent him and asked why he never left with her. Tommy knew he couldn't leave his kids so soon after he had just gotten them back and there was always the business but he was confident he could leave tomorrow and come back in 5 years and Libby would have taken over and made a successful, legal business.

Ada and Freddie had taken Karl to London for a better life away from the Shelbys. Libby was gutted but had visited every other weekend and stayed Friday night to Monday morning. She and Freddie had gotten to know each other quite well and she understood why her mother and father had once trusted him so much but she just couldn't figure out where it had gone wrong in their relationship for the amount of hate and animosity there was between her father and Freddie.

Today was one of the quieter days in the betting den where, Libby, Charlotte and Emily now had full-time jobs there. The only girl they were still Friends with was Mary but she had taken over her family's bakery with her older sister Mandy. The boys left in their group were James, Isaiah, Robert and William who were all junior Peaky boys. Their group had dramatically decreased but they were happier and it was so much easy to plan things now they all had jobs and worked similar if not the same hours.

Libby had just come back from London visiting Ada, Freddie and Karl. Isaiah had accompanied her down and they were thankful to be away from Libby's overbearing dad and uncles even if Freddie could be just as bad as Arthur at times.

Tommy had called a family meeting after work, meaning Libby and James would have to stay at the betting den at half 5 when it shut for however long this meeting was going to last and Libby was not excited about it, she and the girls had plans to go to the Garrison and have a couple of drinks. They were meeting at seven and Libby just hoped the meeting wouldn't overrun the usual hour they lasted.

"Twinny," James shouted over the roar of the lunchtime rush in the betting den.

"What do you want,J. I'm busy," Libby answered back, her head buried in a book that had no relevance to her work at all, even if it was a good book.

"Clearly," James remarked, "Anyway John wants you outside."

"For fucksake, what does he want now. I only spoke to the bloke  an hour agan." Libby stood up and put her coat, which was hanging on the back of her chair, on, "where is he?"

"Outside the door," James replied. "Char, will you let Pol know I'm on business with John if she asks." Charlotte nodded and with that Libby was out the door.

John however was not outside the door like James had said, a big sigh escaped her lips. He had to be joking with her. Libby was in half a mind to go back inside out of the chilly April air.

Deciding she needed a drink instead of waiting for John or returning back to work, Libby headed towards the Garrison for a glass of gin and Lemonade.

"Ah, miss Shelby. What can I get you?" Harry asked as Libby swung the Garrison doors open.

"A glass of Lemonade and gin, please Harry," Libby asked with a smile, that was definitely forced.

"What you doing drinking this early in the day, Loo," John asked, walking out of the snug with a glass of whiskey.

"Says the boarding alcoholic." Libby snaps back.

"I was wondering how long it would take you to find me," John said taking the seat next to Libby at the bar.

"I wasn't looking," Libby mumbled, taking a swig of the glass of lemonade and gin placed in front of her by Harry seconds ago.

"Right well, finish your drink we have business to do," John said drawing his glass in one.

Libby sighed again before copying John and finishing her drink in a mouthful.

"Thanks for the drinks, Harry," Libby said while placing a coin on the bartop to pay for her drink. She knew Harry wouldn't accept it if she has paid first but he would if they left the money before leaving the pub.

"Right John, what business do we have?" Libby asked  walking next to John. It was weird to watch the Shelbys walk at first, they held such power as they strode down the streets, they commanded attention and held authority. People looked at them with fear but also respect. It was a weird thing at first until Libby and James had adapted to it. James walked like Tommy whereas Libby held her head high and walked like she was in charge. It was something John had said to her not long after Lewis had left his dents him her, 'walk like a king or walk like you dont care who the king is' and that's what she did.

"So, what can you do, Like obviously you can read, write and do maths but what else?" John asked, curious about her education.

"I do all those things better that you, Arthur, Finn and James put together. But I can tell the time." Libby smirked.

"Tell the fucken time. Is that why you always late then?" John remarked.

"Well," Libby said pulling Johns's pocket watch out of her pocket.

"How the fuck did you do that?" John asked, wondering how she had the pocket watch that he used to check the time a mere 5 minutes ago.

"I told you I could tell the time." Libby laughed.

"Your some girl, I'll give you that." John laughed, pulling his niece in for a side hug as they continued to walk towards the betting den. In all honesty, they were meant to do a job but John had completely forgotten about what they were meant to be doing. 

He would get a brated later of either Polly or Tommy but It would be forgotten about by the time Monday rolled sound as long as he didn't forget about it again.

A/N:

And we are nearly at season 2. I have four more chapters planned before I start season two but I'm thinking they might be longer than 1 chapter each so we will see how it goes.

Also, I'm thinking of making another story, so basically the actress who plays Libby and it's her real life.
I either want it to be a jack grealish fan fic or maybe even Sam fender because their simply are not  enough of them. So let me know if you would be interested.