𝐁𝐀𝐂𝐊 𝐓𝐎 𝐁𝐋𝐀𝐂𝐊 ʲᵒʰⁿ ˢʰᵉˡᵇʸ

- 𝟎𝟏𝟕

𝐁𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐓𝐨 𝐁𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐤
-𝟎𝟏𝟕-

"Thank you, Isiah." Valerie thanked as she held Francesca's hand. He nodded at her through the window. Valerie and Francesca walked along the gravel and into their home. "It's so lovely to have you home, Mrs Shelby." Mary greeted them at the door.

"It's lovely to be back." She smiled at the woman.

"I had the chef begin preparing dinner when we heard you'd be coming home. It'll be out on the table shortly." She said.

Valerie nodded. "If there's enough you and the others can eat too. I can imagine he's cooked something nice for our return." She joked slightly.

Mary's expression remained serious. "He always does, Mrs Shelby. We all respect you in this house." She said.

Valerie placed a hand on her chest. "Thank you, Mary." Valerie said. "Come on, love." She ushered Francesca along. The brunette girl held onto her mother's hand as they walked to the drawing room.

"Will daddy be home tonight?"

Valerie shook her head. "He's staying with your Auntie Ada tonight, my girl. But maybe he will be back tomorrow." She said, going over to pour herself a glass of gin. "If he doesn't fuck anybody.." She whispered to herself.

-

Tommy opened the door, stepping inside and waiting for Grace to enter before closing it behind him. She walked in cautiously. "Is this your house?" She asked.

"Yes." He lied. "Have a seat."

Grace sat opposite him. "Do I not get a drink?" She asked. He put a cigarette between his lips. "Please." He nodded in allowance. "You want one?" She stood to go to the drinks tray. "Yes." He answered simply. "Still whiskey?"

"Yes."

"What other things have changed? I saw vans with your names on them at the docks." She spoke. "Yes, some things have changed." He said, eyes angled toward the floor. She handed him a drink.

"You're still married?" She asked when seeing the ring on his finger.

Tommy hummed. "I am." He nodded once. "You have a child." She said. He clicked his tongue off the roof of his mouth. "Do I?" He raised a brow. Grace looked away, brushing his answer off and being unsure what he meant.

"Tommy, I really wasn't sure about coming tonight." Grace admitted

"Lit a fire in the bedroom upstairs. My plan was that we would sit here for a while, talk about old times, drink some whiskey.. and I was gonna tell you I hadn't spent a day without thinking about you and we were going to go upstairs and sleep together." Tommy told her. "Just now on the way to opening the door I changed my mind. So just have one drink, tell me how happy you are in New York and then you can go."

"You changed your mind?" She sounded offended. He hummed. "So you can go." He said. She scoffed. "As a matter of fact I am happy in New York and I am married."

"Oh, yes. He's rich, I know."

"And he's sweet." She scowled at Tommy. "And he's kind to me so what makes you think i'd have gone to bed with you after one whiskey and some conversation."