𝐍𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐄 ᵖᵉᵃᵏʸ ᵇˡⁱⁿᵈᵉʳˢ

𝟎𝟔, dealing with the issue

VI. 1919

And finally the lock clicked as the handle was pushed down, he walked inside, "Alright?" Thomas greeted the two woman in the kitchen. It had been about twenty minutes since tea and Vivian had been getting bored. Polly stayed still, smoking her cigarette and drinking as the Shelby girl was sat at the table looking out at the den.

"Are you armed?" Polly questioned, looking into nothing. Thomas turned to her taking off his cap, and took a drag of his cigarette.

"No" Vivian didn't turn to the two as she was unaware of where this conversation might go, or if she was even mentioned. She had tried to leave before he returned but Polly's glare made her think twice about moving.

"Then I'll tell you . . . Ada and Freddie Thorne were married today. They defied your orders, they haven't left the city." Her aunt watched his expression, seeing if there was any visual reaction, but nothing, "and your other sister here, was the maid of honour."

Tom walked around the table, leaning on the chair across from Vivian. She watched as he sighed heavily, taking in the new information before looking at Vivian furiously.

"I'll deal with it" Polly said, walking over to her nieces chair. Tom stared at his sister, or more like through her, as if she wasn't there. He was deep in thought, which of nothing new to be fair.

"Thomas, I'll deal with it" she spoke again, after not receiving any acknowledgment from him. He had heard her but he obviously wasn't going to listen to her.

"Where are they?" He asked finally looking to Pol.

"Freddie's comrades have safe houses. Why do you want to know?" Why did he want to know? She thought. He either wanted to hold Freddie at gun point and threaten him or kidnap him and physically throw him out of Birmingham. Either way it wouldn't be good, and it would not make Ada any happier.

"I want to send them flowers. What do you think?" He retorted, then glanced at his sister, looking for an answer but she just stared right back at him.

"Would it be so bad if they stayed?" Poll questioned.

"I promised I'd run Freddie out of town" Vivian rolled her eyes at his answer.

"Promised who?" Polly asked as her and Vivian looked to the man. He checked behind him before answering but Polly was already a step ahead when she closed the green doors.

He looked to his sister before speaking, "I told the coppers, Freddie wouldn't come back. It was part of the deal."

"God, can't you handle not being in control of people's lives for one minute? Your sister's life?" She mumbled quietly but her voice travelled through the silent kitchen, earning glares from her aunt and brother. But neither responded as they turned back to each other.

"What bloody deal?" She was obviously sick of Tom not sharing business, family business. Everyone was sick of it. "What happened to family votes? What happened to meetings?" She said, calming down a bit before she went on, "if you let me deal with Ada and Freddie it'll end it peace."

She saw the way Polly paused, not looking in Tom's eyes like before, thinking about her next words, "Christ knows you've had your fill of war."

"You get Freddie out of town, Pol. Or else ill deal with it myself." He said before making his way upstairs. The two women listened to his footsteps; left foot, right foot, left foot, right foot. Polly stayed quiet as she looked out the kitchen window.

"Just threw me under the bus there, didn't ya?" She spoke, her voice filling the silent kitchen again.

—