Game Of Bliss

(52)

"Where are you going?" Tommy asks, spotting Malachi about to walk up the stairs.

"Flo wants something from her old room," Malachi responds, not bothering to stop and continuing to ascend the stairs with a slight limp.

"Where are you moving?" Tommy questions, following Malachi up the stairs, "she's my sister, you agreed to help me try and make things right."

Mal scoffs, "I agreed to nothing of the sort. I told you that you'd figure it out if you wanted to fix things."

"You don't think I want to fix this?" Tommy asks.

"No," Malachi says, "if you wanted to fix this, you would've actively tried to stop fucking about in London, have you? No. Florence was hurt, and that wasn't enough for you to stop. You don't give two shits about anyone else no matter how hard you try to convince yourself and others that you do."

"So you're just packing up and moving? That's it? Neither of you want anything to do with us?" Tommy responds.

"No," Mal shrugs, "we'll still speak to Ada, to John, Polly and Finn."

"Why are you doing this?" Tommy asks, and Malachi sighs, "I'm just trying to keep my family safe. It's not safe here. It's not safe being associated with you."

"Florence is a Shelby, she'll always be associated with us," Tommy argues, standing in the doorway as Malachi looks through a drawer in Florence's nightstand, glancing at Tommy for a moment, "she won't be a Shelby for too much longer."

"Ada had that logic," Tommy replies.

"And it was your fucking about that got her injured," Malachi responds, "Ada was also alone, Flo won't be."

"You can't protect her alone," Tommy states.

"She shouldn't need protection, it's your fault that she does. I shouldn't have to protect her," Malachi says, "but I will, and people not knowing where we are should make that easy."

"Was this your idea?" Tommy says, watching as Malachi puts something into his pocket, standing to his full height as he turns to look down at him, "no, Flo wants to leave. She feels unsafe here, and I'll be damned if we stay somewhere she isn't comfortable."

"Where will she feel safe?" Tommy questions.

"She doesn't want you to know," Malachi shrugs, "so I'm not telling you... move."

"I thought things were getting better between us," Tommy says, blocking the doorway.

"You thought wrong," Malachi states, "and if you think I'd ever tell you something and betray Florence's trust, then you are more delusional than I ever thought possible... I won't tell you again, move out of my fucking way."

"You can't hide from me, you know that? I have ways to find out where you're going," Tommy responds.

"You're not getting it, we want nothing to do with you," Malachi says, "you won't be greeted warmly if you show up at our house, keep that in mind."

Malachi pushes his way past Tommy, walking down the stairs and out the door, never glancing back.

-

"Is this the place?" Malachi asks, looking at Florence who was smiling as she looked at the house, "isn't it beautiful."

"We're living here?" Elspeth beams excitedly, squeezing Eldons' hand, "come on, come on. Let's go explore."

"Why don't you go explore with Mal whilst Flo and I bring stuff inside?" Eldon suggests, helping Elspeth out of the car.

"Mal, don't argue, you've been shot, you're not lifting anything," Florence says, "why don't you go take a look at the garden?"

"A garden?" Elspeth smiles, bouncing where she was stood, "come on, Kai. Let's go, let's go, let's go."

Malachi chuckles, "okay, come on, trouble."

"I am not troublesome," Elspeth remarks, taking hold of Malachi's good arm, "I am the opposite of troublesome. I am peace."

"Oh, you are, are you?" Malachi teases, twirling her, making her giggle, as they make their way round the side of the house into the garden.

"Look, there's a river, like the one in Birmingham," Elspeth says, pointing to the bottom of the long garden.

"I'm sure it's a lot... cleaner than the one in Birmingham," Malachi says, following behind her as she skips down to the water. 

"Fish," Elspeth states, crouching to stare at the small fish that were swimming downstream, "it's wonderful here, Mal. I don't think I ever want to leave."

"All because of the fish?" Malachi teases, and she shakes her head, "no, because you all seem much more relaxed now. I haven't seen the three of you smiling at the same time for a while... not until today."

"We have a surprise for you, it's arriving tomorrow," Malachi tells her.

"You really like me, don't you?" Elspeth jokes, smiling over her shoulder at him.

"What's not to like?" Malachi replies, "you're wonderful."

"You have to say that," Elspeth says, standing up and walking up to him, wrapping her arms around his waist, "you're my dad."