Elsie nodded politely as Ada drilled her on politics as they sat waiting for the wedding to begin. Michael laughed at her face knowing his best friend was probably bored out of her mind. Elsie smiled back at the sight of him playing with Ada's son, Karl.
"Oh God, Mickey, you look like you could actually father a child one day," Isiah chuckled, pushing the back of his head.
Elsie laughed at the image of him being a father and scoffed. "For his child's sake, I hope so."
Elsie took the paper the choir boy was handing out and held it between her and Michael.
"What's their problem?" Finn asked Ada.
"They're the fuckin' Calvary, that's their bloody problem, Finn," John snickered while glaring at the bride's side.
Elsie giggled at the boys, and watched as Arthur blew a kiss at Linda.
"Who's the blond one?" she asked Michael.
"Linda, Arthur's wife."
Elsie furrowed her brows and turned to him. "The other day didn't he-"
Michael put his hand over her mouth with a laugh. "Shh. Another time. Have one conversation with her and you'll know why he did what he did."
* * *
The wedding reception was interesting. Elsie felt the urge to physically cover her ears while the choir sang because they sounded God awful. She had never met Grace before, but figured she must be a strong woman to be able to wed Tommy. And several times Michael had to elbow her to get her to stop laughing at John's Calvary jokes. Everyone now gathered at Tommy's house for the reception and still Elsie didn't see Angel, who she assumed had stood her up.
"Where's Michael gone?" Elsie asked Isiah as she sipped her champagne.
Isiah shrugged. "Probably talking business with people. He doesn't know how to have fun anymore. Hey I just wanted to apologize for yesterday. I didn't mean for you to get your hands dirty."
"It's alright. I didn't want you to get hurt," Elsie said, pushing him slightly.
"Elsie, there's someone on the phone for you," Ada said as she walked up to the pair.
"Who?" Elsie asked curiously.
"Dunno," Ada replied. "Just said he needed to speak with you."
Elsie nodded and walked to the telephone.
"Hello?"
"Elsie? It's Angel."
"Oh. I 'spose you're going to tell me why you didn't come then?"
"The Peaky Blinders lit a fire to my restaurant last night. The back window was smashed in and it smelled of petrol. I'm sorry, amore. I wanted to see you."
"They did what?" Elsie seethed. She thought back and remembered how Michael had gone out the night before with John and Arthur.
"Yes, I'm afraid they don't support us seeing each other. I want to see you again, amore. Perhaps another time?"
Elsie quickly memorized his number as he gave it to her and stopped Polly as she walked passed.
"Have you seen Henry?" she asked. Polly read the angry expression on Elsie's face.
"Michael's out in the hall."
Polly stared as Elsie stomped towards the hall, clearly angered. She laughed to herself before finding her seat at the dining table.
"Henry! What the hell did you do?" she seethed, crossing her arms in front of him.
"What did I do now, Elsie?" he asked as he rolled his eyes.
"My man, you stopped him from coming didn't you?"
"Isiah told you, Peaky Blinders can't just associate with anyone."
"So you're saying I'm not allowed a man on my arm for bloody Peaky business?" Elsie scoffed, embarrassed as Arthur joined in the conversation.
"It's about your choice of a man," Michael explained, lighting himself a cigarette. "Tommy says that there are rules."
"Michael, speeches. C'mon," Arthur said, walking briskly passed them, before grabbing a bottle of bourbon off of a tray.
"Arthur, you know why he didn't come, don't you?" Elsie asked as the older man drank.
"Why who didn't come," Arthur responded.
"My bloody date!" Elsie scoffed.
"Oh, you mean the wop," Arthur chuckled. Michael walked to a mirror in the hall, making sure his appearance was put together.
"I just heard there was a fire at his restaurant last night and a smashed back window and the smell of petrol," Elsie complained, rolling her eyes as Michael admired himself in the window.
"Elsie, we tried to talk some sense into you. We did checks on him. He's had 5 different last names in the last 6 years and he's got connections with the Naples boys."
"Come on, kids," Arthur urged.
"What do you know about love, eh Henry? About when lightning strikes."
"So it was lightning then? Not petrol? Hmm?" Arthur asked as he and Michael began to walk away from her.
"Henry, you set fire to his restaurant last night to keep him from coming last night! You have no right to choose who I step out with on my own time!" Elsie yelled at him.
Michael rolled his eyes and looked at Arthur, before clearing his throat and turning around to walk back to Elsie.
Michael stepped nose to nose with Elsie, having to bend over a little since she was much shorter than him. "Elsie, you now work for Tommy. You got the order. Same as us."
With that, Michael licked his lips maintaining eye contact with her before waltzing away.
"Fuckin' bastard!" she called after him, before storming into the dining room again.
YOU ARE READING
wishing wells - michael gray
Fanfiction"God I hate that wishing well." "Blow it up then, Henry." Elsie and Henry grew up together. They both were in the care of the Holy Fathers and moved to the village together. They were inseparable best friends. Until one day Henry leaves town, with...
