love knows no bounds | thomas shelby

family meeting

"right! i've called this family meeting because i've got some very important news," said arthur shelby.

eveline showed up to the family meeting with tommy. they both stood in the corner of the room, while arthur, the eldest brother, was front in center.

"...they were in a pub on the Shankhill Road yesterday, and in that pub there was a copper, handing out these."

eveline took the piece of paper that john had in his hand, her eyes scanning the words. the message on the paper was concise yet cryptic.

"if you're over five feet and can fight, come to birmingham," read eveline. 

the words hung in the air, leaving the girl with more questions than answers. it was clear that this message held significance, but the meaning eluded her.

with a deep breath, eveline looked up at arthur, a trusted confidant within the family. 

seeking further clarification, eveline pressed arthur about what it meant.

arthur shelby stood tall in the room, arms crossed over his chest, his gaze shifting between the family members gathered around.

"they're recruiting protestant irishmen to come over here as special, ev," arthur stated, his voice firm.

"to do what?" asked ada.

thomas stepped foward, holding the piece of paper that has been passed around the room.

"to clean up the city, ada. he's the chief inspector. the last four years, he's been clearing the ira out of belfast."

eveline turned her head, her eyes fixed on thomas, eager to hear his explanation.

with wide eyes, arthur looked at thomas, his disbelief evident. he couldn't help but ask, "how do you know so bloody much?"

tommy then met his brothers gaze, his voice calm and confident.

"because I asked the coppers on our payroll."

eveline listened closely, her eyes shifting between the two shelby brothers. 

after talking further about the situation, the eldest brother then asked polly for her insight.

"what do you think, aunt pol?"

polly sat there, a cigarette delicately held in her left hand, taking a moment to gather her thoughts before responding.

"this family does everything open," polly began with her voice carrying authority and wisdom. she continued, addressing thomas directly, "you have nothing more to say to this meeting, thomas?"

thomas looked down briefly, his expression unreadable, before locking eyes with polly. he shook his head, a hint of resignation in his voice. "no. nothing that's women's business."

eveline, who held a deep love for tommy, felt a sting upon hearing those words. she looked at him with disappointment. she couldn't help but speak up, her voice laced with the struggles the woman faced while the men were gone.

"women's business? what do you mean by women's business?" eveline retorted passionately. "we practically kept this whole operation running while you left us." her words carried a sense of defiance, reflecting the strength that she, ada, and pol had displayed during those difficult times.

aunt polly nodded in agreement, her eyes reflecting a shared understanding.

"i agree with ev. this whole enterprise was women's business while you boys were away at war."

eveline shook her head. "that's fucking right."

eveline turned to look at thomas, who was still standing right beside her, her eyes were searching him for answers.

"so what's changed, tom?"

thomas raised an eyebrow. "we came back," he responded firmly, as if it were a simple explanation.

the weight of his words caused eveline, polly, and ada to exchange glances.

they had faced hardships, carried their fair share of the burden, and made sacrifices during the war. the women had proven their capabilities and resilience, and now they found themselves grappling with a newfound dismissal of their roles in the family's operations.

after the family meeting had come to a close, the shelby boys left the room, leaving polly, ada, and eveline behind. eveline adjusted her dress, ensuring it was neatly in place, before making her way to sit beside the two women she respected.

polly and ada had always been a guiding presence in eveline's life. they taught her strength and provided her with a sense of hospitality. the bond they shared ran deep, and eveline cherished the moments when they could engage in girl talk.

as polly blew out a puff of smoke from her cigarette, she unexpectedly turned her attention to eveline.

"so ev.. when do you think tommy's going to pop the big question?" she asked, her tone filled with genuine curiosity.

eveline was caught off guard by the question as it made her cheeks turn slightly pink. she looked down at her fingers with a smile tugging at the corners of her lips. the prospect of marriage was something that had crossed her mind many times, but it was still a topic that carried excitement and uncertainty.

ada, ever protective and fiercely loyal to ev, chimed in with a hint of playful threat.

"he better do it soon, or else i'll rip his balls off." she then continued to say, "he sees a lot in our eveline."

her words were accompanied by a mischievous glint in her eyes, demonstrating the strong bond between them.

eveline looked up from her fingers, her eyes meeting polly's. the scent of smoke filled the air, but the atmosphere was filled with warmth and affection.

"i don't know how you can handle that man. some days i just want to knock some sense into that brain of his."

"it's hard, trust me," eveline confessed. "but he makes me happy in a way no one else can. i've loved him since we were six years old. he better propose soon. i've been waiting for too bloody long."

the table they sat at suddenly filled with laughter. as they laughed, their voices intertwined, eveline felt a sense of comfort and belonging. in the presence of polly and ada, she knew she had found women who would always have her back, guiding her through life's trials and celebrating its triumphs. and together, they laughed, cherishing the unique connection they shared as they awaited for the next chapter.

--

how cute are they? i love how this story is coming along!

trust - coming up, there will be more interaction between tommy and eveline. it's slowly progressing y'all but we'll get there!