Nothing Left To Break

18

LANI HESITANTLY WALKED THROUGH THE DOOR IN THOMAS'S COAT. She called out for Ada but there was no reply. Thank god. She couldn't deal with her shouting right now, it would ruin her good mood that she is insistent on keeping.

Closing the door behind her she begins to head upstairs, excitement filling her and she looks forward to going away with Thomas. She wanders along the long corridor before coming to a halt.

That was when she heard the cry.

Karl was sitting, alone in his room. He was curled up in a ball in the corner, crying his eyes out.

Ani's face fell. Where the fuck was Ada.

"Karl bach. Where's your mum?" She pleads with the crying child.

"Gone" he cries. His screams fill the room as Lani fails to calm him down. She doesn't know what else to do. She can only think of one thing. Thomas. But she can't. Ada would hate her if she called her brother to help.

No. She had to be rational. She had to call Ada first, and the library. She would answer. She would have a reason for this. She picks up Karl who was lying on her lap and carries him downstairs into Lani's office.

She gently put the screaming child into her comfortable red office chair and handing him a Teddy and wrapping a coat around his shoulders. After doing this she realised that it was Thomas's coat, so it was way too big for him. More of a blanket than a coat.

Snapping out of her daze she goes to the phone on her desk and dials the library's number.

"Good morning, Marjorie speaking" the old croaky voice speaks on the other side of the line.

"Good morning. Is Ada Thorne there?" She asks calmly. Well, as calmly as possible with an inconsolable child sat beside her.

"No I'm afraid not dear, she is off sick today" Marjorie says kindly.

"Thanks" she says, suddenly cold. She then hangs up the phone and paces around the room.

Where the fuck was she. She had left her son, alone. This wasn't like her. Karl is her life.

Had she been taken? Karl hadn't said anything. Just that she was "gone", so there was no mention of brutality.

She walks to the child and kneels down beside him.

"Karl I need you to listen to me and answer my questions, can you do that Baban bach?" (Little baby) she asks softly, reaching for his arm and stroking it gently.

He nods weakly.

"Was there someone else in the house this morning?" She asks, not breaking eye contact with the child.

"No" he whispers, tears still steaming down his face.

Lani quickly wipes away the tears.

"Did mummy say anything before she left?" She asks again.

"Alfie" he mutters.

Alfie?

Without hesitation She gets up and takes the coat off Karl's arms and wraps it around herself, picking up Karl and putting him under the oversized jacket so they could both be warm.

"We're going to go and find her, okay cariad?" (Love) she says reassuringly.

----------------

If Karl was right then this would be a very difficult interaction.
She had not wanted to see either of those people, who she had regarded as the closest people in her life. Turned sour.

The men at the door had learned from their previous mistake and let Lani in as soon as she came into eyesight, averting eye contact, of course.

----------------

"You can't let this happen. Nothing good will come of this" Ada's faint voice sounds from inside of Alfies office. For fucks sake.

"I know for fucks sake. That's my sister" Alfie pleads. Ada had obviously been giving him a hard time.

Lani didn't want to hear anymore of it. She turned to one of the guards behind her.
"Call Thomas Shelby and tell him to get here as soon as possible" she instructs.

"But, miss-" the man tries to argue.

"I wasn't fucking asking" she snaps.

Momentarily forgetting that she had a child on her hip. She looks down at his worried expression and gives him a smile.

"It's okay Karl bach, we've found her" she consoles him.

Without another word she knocks on the door.

Not that she gives any time for the two to answer the interruption.

Both of their faces fall as they see the girl. And the clearly tear striken face of the infant.

"Ada. Would you like to explain why I got back today and your son was a crying wreck on the floor. All alone" she asks, a smile plastered on her face as to not worry the child. Although to the two adults in the room, she just looked terrifying.

"Lani-" Alfie tries to argue. Not that his argument was heard. Karl cries out once again and goes into a fit of tears.

Out of instinct, Ada goes to take him from Lani. A move which did not agree with the toddler, who was clinging to his Auntie Lani with all of his might.

"Mummy gone" he cries.

The look on Ada's face was one of full regret and sadness. She had failed her son. For a selfish reason that did not even involve her.

"Karl, come to mummy. I'm not going to leave again. I'm so sorry baby" she whispers, trying once again to detach her son from her best friend. If she could even call her that anymore.

Karl reluctantly leaves Lani's side and goes to his mother.

"This has gotten out of hand" Lani states to the two.

"Who I see is none of your business. I am a grown woman and I will not take this disrespect and treatment like I'm a child. This is a complete disregard for my privacy and boundaries and you are both acting selfishly and cowardly, plotting against mine and Thomas's relationship" she speaks harshly and diverts her gaze between the two.

"We're just trying to protect you" Alfie says, a look of worry on his face.

"Well, that's not your responsibility anymore" she says calmly before taking a breath and composing herself before continuing "I need some space from both of you, don't try to contact me. And for God's sake Ada, never do that again. Karl is your son and your responsibility, not mine" she says this while going up to Ada and stroking Karl's arm softly, before kissing him on the forehead.

"Hwyl fawr cariad" (goodbye love) she whispers with a guilty smile on her face.

Not saying another word she leaves that godforsaken office and leaves the building.