For the Good of the Family

Last Chance

The whole family, minus Micheal who was still in his hospital bed, sat around the kitchen of our family home on Watery Lane. Polly, Ada, Lizzie and Finn sat around the table. Arthur and Tommy stood in the doorway whispering to each other, baby Billy sleeping in his father's arms. Karl and Charlie were playing by the fire in front of Linda who sat away from the rest of us. Charlie, Curly and Johnny Dogs stood next to the china cabinet behind the table no doubt making bets on who would be the first to begin shouting.

I was hovering over the stove. Distracting myself from the tension in the room by making everyone tea. I had memorized each person's tea preferences, Arthur liked cream no sugar, Tommy one spoon of sugar no cream, John cream and extra, extra sugar. Skipping John's tea order caused a lump in my throat and brought tears to my eyes. I breathed past my grief to Polly's usual of plain strong brewed tea. Ada and Lizzie took it the same way, a drop of cream and two spoons of sugar. Finn young as he was liked it just as John did milky and sweet.

"Fuckin' hell Liv, it's just tea, pour it and sit down will ya?" Arthur's gruff voice broke the quiet of the room.

Anxiety ran through me as I finished pouring tea for Curly, Charlie and Johnny. "I don't want anyone to get thirsty now do I?" I brought the carefully organized tray to the table, passing each individual their cup and saucer, purposely leaving Linda out.

"We just want what's best for you love. Are you sure you want to go through with this? You barely know the boy!" Polly's voice was just slightly raised, not enough to be yelling but definitely louder than necessary.

I looked around at my family taking in their expressions of concern. "I've already explained it. I'm a grown woman, I can choose who I wish to marry."

Lizzie leaned forward her torso pressed to the edge of the table top. "But you don't know the man Livy. He's a blinder now and the Gold's are being paid well for their work with the Italians"—

I cut her off before I was forced to once again hear that I didn't have to go through with my decision to marry Bonnie Gold. "I've already said it. I've been having dreams ya' know, of marrying an Italian man. Waking up in a cold sweat every morning thinking I'm in New York. Last night was the first time in months my dreams have stopped. After tomorrow I'll never dream of an Italian again." I turned away from the table to face my older brothers. "You trust him to kill and die for us but not to be my husband. I understand why you were so overprotective when I was with William, but this marriage is a business contract. How did we benefit from any of your marriages eh? What did Linda and Grace bring to the table? Esme brought soldiers and peace. Bonnie will bring soldiers and blood. That's what we voted on yea? Vendetta against Luca Changretta for killing our brother."

Tommy stepped closer to me offended by the mention of his wife. "Money will buy us the Gold clan. Your marriage to the boy brings nothing we didn't already have. We voted to set aside the law of the bullet"—

"That's shit! We all know that you have a grand plan you're not telling us! I know you planned on using me to end this war, I may not see things like Polly does but I know it! I'd rather they come and kill the whole family than marry any Italian man!" My chest rose and fell rapidly to match the rage boiling under my skin.

"Yeah? Maybe that's gonna happen now eh! You were all for letting John marry Esme to end that war, now you refuse to do the same! If anyone else dies it's on you Olive Shelby." Tommy and I were nose to nose both too angry to back down. His icy pale eyes would make normal men piss themselves in fear, they only made me angrier.

"There was no spilled blood between us and the Lee's, no dead to haunt them. If I hadn't offered myself to Abarama Gold,  John's ghost would haunt me the rest of my days. I'd have followed mums footsteps and drowned myself in the cut." I was practically snarling in his face as he flinched at the reminder of our mother's suicide nearly eighteen years ago when Finn was just a babe .

"Take it easy Tom." Arthur pulled on Tommy's shoulder causing him to take a few steps away from me. "Look Livy, you don't want to marry an Italian, no one's gonna make ya, yeah? Do you like this Gold boy? Think he'll be good to ya?" His eyes were steady on mine as he spoke. Gentle and gruff as he always was with Ada and I.

"Bonnie already adores her. At the garrison yesterday he knocked out one of the factory workers with one hit for talking about Olive. That's when Isiah and I pulled him into the snug for a drink." All eyes moved to Finn as he spoke. He twitched uncomfortably at the attention of his older siblings. "All of the Peaky Boys like him, though I don't think he's met Michael yet. I think he'll be good to ya, Livy."

I felt the anger slowly cede from me, my gaze softened for my baby brother. He's always been the sweetest Shelby, the rest of us were too angry.

"The boys got a good fist on 'im. And he's already using it for our Livy, I say it's gonna be alright. He's a good kid Tom. Alright?" Arthur clapped him on the back, shaking him for good measure. Tommy stood stoically for another moment before nodding his consent.

"Well now that, that's settled. Can we celebrate now? We skipped this part of my wedding." Ada held up an expensive bottle of whiskey, smiling at me as cheers erupted throughout the room.

"Princess Shelby is gonna be Princess Gold now eh?" Johnny Dogs threw his arm over my shoulders, squeezing me tight to him.

A wave of relief washed over me. Though I don't need the blessing of my family, it does feel nice to have.