Rebound // Alfie Solomons

16. Falling

'what the bloody hell is going on in here?' polly said looking around the betting shop only to see tommys smiling face. 'tommy!' she couldn't believe her eyes. 'oh I thought you were in london! when did you get back?'

'just got back right now, did you honestly think anything could keep us from celebrating your birthday pol?'

'how did you know it was my birthday, no one ever knows.' Pol remarked.

'this year is different pol. This year john, finn bring the car around. This year... just wait.' Tommy said wrapped an around polly leading her outside.

'where are we going?' pol asked.

'to unwrap your present of course.' Arthur told her.

When they arrived at the house Arthur tipped his hat at the neighbors and they all went inside.

'you said you were buying ada a house. Polly said looking around.

'I did buy ada a house...' tommy informed her. 'I had some extra cash left over...'

'this is ours?' polly asked.

'this is yours polly. Cause you deserve it.' john said.

'what would I do with all these rooms?' polly wondered.

'you could relax for one. It has gardens. You like gardens right pol.' Tommy suggested.

'roses you could grow roses polly and sunflowers!' john offered.

'I don't know... get a piano and have people round and they can have a sing song.' Tommy went on.

'God help the bloody neighbors.' John remarked.

'fuck the neighbors!' Arthur spat.

'welcome home polly.' tommy said handing over the keys.

'this is all mine?' polly said in disbelief.

'yep... boys give me a minute.' tommy said sitting down next to pol. 'polly people like us don't get to be happy very often. But you deserve all the happiness the world can offer. I love you, happy birthday pol... I know you told me not to tell anyone yet about your children but I found out that the contact we have in the police have contacts with the council who had contacts with the people how have the parish records...' pol sat speechless as Cora walked in.

"I told you to wait for me!" she snapped. 'Happy birthday Polly.' Cora said hugging her tightly.

"I didn't start.' Tommy lied.

"Go on then, our present, look at us Polly working together and I don't want to snap his neck.' Cora said sweetly.

'Right...' Tommy said licking his lips. 'records of adoption and the confidential forced removals...we can look at the paper work they never showed you... we can find Michael!' Tommy declared 'We are going to find him and bring him home. Where he belongs. Here with us. With you.' Pol nodded.

'I cant thank you enough Cora, and you Tom.' Polly said hugging them both.

++

'You have a place to stay?' Tommy questioned as they walked.

"Polly has a pretty big house now, maybe I could stay with her?" Cora mused.

"Have a drink with me.' Tommy requested.

'Tommy-'

'Cora.' He grabbed her hand. 'I miss you. I missed this, you and me.' Tommy told her.

"It's funny how now that I'm gone and moved on, found someone else you want me. you want my attention, you crave my touch, yet when you had me...' she tsked pulling her hand from his. 'I'm not falling for this bullshit again.' Cora told him.

"It's just a drink.' Tommy said innocently.

"It's never just a drink with you Tom.' Cora said taking another step back.

'Cora-'

'It's a drink and a shot and a joint and suddenly I find the idea of falling into your bed to be a great idea because you will say all the right things and make me feel special but that will fade, it always fades and I will hate myself in the morning.' Cora told him. Tommy didn't know what to say he reached out for her but she took another step back shaking her head. 'I want to be someone's everything again, not just someone's sometimes.' Cora said sadly. 'I can't do that if I keep falling back in and out of love with you.'

'Cora-'

'I will see you tomorrow.' Cora said walking off.