Polly, Michael, and Elsie sat in front of Tommy as he scribbled down on a piece of paper. None of them dared break the silence. Elsie looked down at her hands, not thinking she bare looking at him.
"How are the books, Elsie?" he asked, not looking up at her.
"Unaffected," she breathed out.
"Up slightly," Michael added. "There's also been a threefold increase in donations to the Shelby Foundation charity. The councelor suggested naming the new school "The Grace Shelby Institute."
Tommy dropped his pen and then very aggressively smushed out his cigarette. Elsie and Michael side eyed each other, before glancing at Polly.
"Tell the counselor the name "Grace Shelby Institute is acceptable to us." Tommy began to fold up a piece of paper. "This is a list on the other things I want done. That's all."
Elsie hesitantly took the envelope and stood up with Michael to leave.
"Tommy," Polly said gently, walking up to his desk.
"That's all Pol," Tommy grunted. Polly sighed and followed the pair out. Right before they could leave, Tommy threw a stack of papers across the floor.
Polly, Michael, and Elsie stood there in silence.
"Well done, all of you," Tommy said, knowing they had just witnessed.
They saw Arthur and John sitting around the fire as they walked up.
"Right, let's go," Arthur grumbled as he stood up.
"Uh, we've already seen him," Polly said quickly. Michael awkwardly looked down when he saw the looks his older cousin gave him.
"He wanted to see people in a particular order," Ada said sheepishly, attempting to ease the tension.
Michael nudged Elsie to walk away as Polly spoke, "I can normally read him, but he's difficult to read, so be careful."
"I thought it was a fuckin' family meeting," John sneered, not breaking his glare at Michael and Elsie.
"Nevertheless," Polly said. "We need him back. Sabini and Solomans have already sent condolences and flowers, so it won't be long before they come trotting up the A1 like wolves."
"Go on, there's a timetable," Ada urged. Arthur began to walk away, but John gave Elsie and Michael one last glare before joining him.
"Michael and Elsie, you make a phone call to Sabini and Solomans. Use incentives and no direct mention to bodily harm. Go on," Polly urged.
Michael and Elsie walked away to the second office where the phone was.
"The way he looked, Michael," she sighed as she sat on the desk.
"Yeah...I think he really did love her," Michael said, staring at the paper he was given. "I couldn't imagine it."
Elsie sat and listened as he gave a speech that was similar and words to both Sabini and Solomans.
"C'mon," Michael said, intertwining his fingers with hers. "Let's get back to the kitchen."
"Why are you holding my hand, Henry?" she giggled as he pulled her out of the room.
"Because you'll probably get lost, little lamb," he teased, not releasing her fingers.
They turned the corner and abruptly halted in front of John. Michael released her hand and kept walking while John pointed a bottle of wine at Elsie's face.
"You dealt with it then?" Polly asked.
"Incentives, no threats," Elsie said matter-of-factly.
"Implied consequences without specific reference to physical harm," Michael added, pouring himself some tea.
"That's why young Michael and Elsie are the bosses," Arthur grumbled. "They know better words, right, Pol?"
"Since when was I your boss, Arthur?" Elsie asked, rolling eyes.
"Well, Elsie, first the boss meets you. Then the workers meet you."
"When did either of you two do a days work?" Finn joked.
"In the old days, Finn," Arthur said, glaring at Michael who was taking off his coat. "Family meetings used to be all of us together."
"Arthur, shut up," Polly said, rolling her eyes.
Arthur sighed and poured himself some whiskey. "Now me and John...we're just fucking bin men. Whose duty it is to obey."
"So what are we gonna do all night, eh?" John complained. "Climb fucking trees? Maybe Elsie here will find a new man that we can cut up."
Elsie rolled her eyes as Finn walked passed her to go get some cigars.
"John, stop swearing in front of the kids. And who said you were staying the night?" Polly said.
"Yeah, John, maybe Elsie will go find a new boyfriend. Then we could take turns shooting whichever man she brings by. I hope he's a pheasant, we'd be out shooting pheasants all night," Arthur joked, faking shooting a gun. Elsie scoffed and turned away.
"Let's go get the guns out," John laughed with his brother.
"Elsie, I'm going to blow every boyfriend up that you have because of this shit you started. Since you and Michael are my bosses now," Arthur cackled.
"Fuck off, Arthur," Michael said, puffing on his cigar. Elsie shared a worried look with Polly, as Arthur sat back in his chair.
"Fuck you just say to me?" Arthur sneered.
"Elsie didn't mean for any of this to happen. And we didn't ask for separate meetings today, alright?"
"No," Arthur mumbled. "No, what the fuck did you just say?"
"Oh Jesus," Elsie sighed, watching as Arthur stepped up to Michael. Nobody got away with talking with Arthur like that.
"I didn't fuckin' hear you right," Arthur said with a menacing tone. John quickly stood up and pulled his brother back as Michael turned to get into Arthur's face.
"We didn't ask for separate meetings today, alright?" Michael repeated, not backing down from Arthur.
"Stop it," Elsie told him.
"Fucking pheasant!" Karl yelled out.
"Karl, you can't say things like that," Ada chided as she scooped up Karl.
John broke into snickers, as Arthur and Michael both smiled.
"Alright then, brother," Arthur said, putting his arm on Michael's shoulder. "It's just the whiskey talkin'."
"Leave Elsie alone," Michael said, turning serious again.
"Alright, shut up," Polly ordered. "The pair of you, sit down."
Michael slowly walked away, taking his seat next to Elsie. He squeezed her hand and lazily threw his arm around her.
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...
