Book 1 - Complete
Book 2 - Ongoing
If you asked their family, they'd tell you Thomas and Maude were surely soulmates. The two had a bond so strong, that anyone who believed in reincarnation, would tell you that they were certain, Thomas and Maude lo...
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V. Extraordinary general meeting.
While Ana decided to stay back in Small Heath to look after the children, both her own and Maude's, Maude left for Charlie Strong's yard with Lizzie. The two women walked side by side through the muddy ground of Charlie's Yard. Men were drinking and talking and dinner was being prepared right there in the yard.
Maude sighed. They were truly back in Watery Lane now.
They approached one of the tables where Arthur was filling glasses and cups with Rum. As Maude and Lizzie approached, Arthur handed both women a cup with Rum in it. "Toast to my brother, John, raise your glasses all of you," Arthur spoke over the table as he raised his glass in the air. "Raise them up, all of you." he insisted and everyone raised their glasses and cups. "John Shelby." he toasted and everyone cheered.
Maude toasted for John before putting her cup down on the table. She rounded the table, approaching Tommy who grabbed one of the chairs and dragged it right next to his. She took the seat next to him and his hand instinctively found her thigh. "Where are the children?" he asked as he raised his eyebrows.
"With Anna." She replied as she placed her hand over his. "She's agreed to look after them while we're here, whenever either of us can't look after them," she explained.
Tommy nodded as he let out a soft grunt. "They're in good hands with her," he muttered and Maude hummed as she nodded her head.
After the long day of John's funeral, Tommy and Maude returned home to Watery Lane. While they took Amelia home with them, Charlie insisted on being allowed to play with his cousins a little longer, and Maude agreed to leave him with Ana and Daniel.
She spent most of her day around the house, cleaning the place they had not set foot in for a few years now. When she stepped into the nursery that used to be Charlie's, now used for Amelia, she found Tommy in the rocking chair, cradling his sleeping daughter against his chest.
She smiled when Tommy's blue eyes met hers. "What are you two doing?" She asked softly, quietly kicking off her heels before walking across the room, leaning over to gently run a hand over her daughter's head.
"Having a nap," Tommy whispered as his arm wrapped around Maude's waist, pulling her to sit on the armrest of the rocking chair. His arm remained around her waist as his gaze drifted towards his daughter. "She's had an extremely tiresome day." He mused softly.
Maude let out a silent chuckle as she stared down at her little girl with a smile. Her gaze turned towards Tommy and she reached out to cup his cheek, noting the dark bags forming under his eyes.
"You should have a nap as well, my love." She suggested softly.
"There's no time for sleep now., Tommy replied as he slowly shook his head. "Our actions have caught up to us." He commented and he gave Maude's waist a sudden squeeze. "I want you to say close to either me, Arthur, or your brothers." He demanded firmly.
