Between The Devil and a Good Man

Chapter Four

Tommy had travelled down to London on the Thursday evening to meet her from work. They had planned for Rose to return to Birmingham with him the following day to spend the weekend with him and his family in Small Heath. It was something that unsettled him to his very core, and it wasn't just because he was worried that Rose would think of him differently but rather how his family would take to him bringing home a girl. His main concern was that of Aunt Pol's reaction, as he knew she wasn't one to hide her true feelings.

And though Rose hadn't known him before the war, she only knew the Tommy he was now. The Tommy he was before was kinder, more trusting, and tolerating of all. But now, he was harsher, wounded and dangerous. And he knew Rose only knew him so much, and he wasn't sure if love blinded her from seeing the true Tommy.

The train had arrived soon after they had arrived onto the platform, and they had found their seats in the carriage. As he stared somberly out of the large train window as fields and the countryside whizzed by him in a flash, he felt Rose's hand reach for his. His eyes met hers, and it was then that he allowed his façade to slip. Rose knew the real Tommy, and he hadn't needed to say a word for she knew. They allowed their attention to be taken by the beautiful countryside until the train pulled into the station.

The station was heaving with people as they stepped off the train, and Tommy reached for Rose's hand protectively and led her out of the station. She kept close to him as he weaved them in and out of crowds of people until they were on the street outside, the mad rush being left behind as they stepped out into the street hand in hand.

Small Heath welcomed him home once more, and he wondered how many times it would. The coal dusted houses, the sound of his men working filtered through the air as they closed the gap between themselves and his street. He felt her hand tighten around his and he threw a worried glance over at her. She offered him a nervous smile.

"I'm so nervous," she whispered to him. "I hope they like me."

Tommy pulled her closer, wrapping his arm around her. He felt the nervousness cause a shiver to pulse through her body. "They're going to love you, I promise..."

He had called for a meeting before leaving for London, telling them that he needed to speak with them about the possible future. He had instructed them to be there at a certain time for their arrival. He knew it was time to introduce them to Rose, for she was an important part of his life and future. And though a part of him was worried at how they would find the news, he knew that it was time for her to be accepted into his family. He loved her, and she loved him, and the only thing standing in their way now was his family's acceptance.

They stopped outside the door and he turned to Rose. It took a moment to look up at him but when she did, she offered him the widest smile, albeit a nervous one. He grazed his thumb across her bottom lip for a moment, and watched as she took a deep breath. He planted a kiss on her forehead before knocking on the door.

As Tommy entered the house, seeing the faces of his family stare back at him, he felt relief wash over at him at the knowledge that his family would always be there for him whenever he needed them to be, no matter if the matter was a pressing one or not.

He noticed their gaze switch immediately and focus on Rose. He felt Rose's hand grip his hand tighter, and he gently rubbed his thumb across her knuckles. Rose glanced around the room at the new faces that watched her. She was able to identify them by the descriptions Tommy had given her in the conversations they had with each other.

Aunt Pol was stood by the kitchen; one hand on her hip and the other holding a cigarette, her narrowed gaze burning into her soul and brow furrowed.

Arthur–a man she had met briefly in France–sat by the warm fire, his eyes distant, with a bottle of rum gripped tightly in his hand, the bottle half drunk.

John–the second youngest Shelby brother–sat at the table, a cigarette in his lips, cap on his head with his eyes intensely watching her.

Ada sat beside John, a book open on the table in front of her, and her soft eyes watched Rose carefully. Her dark hair was short, cut to just above her chin.

"So, you're the business Tommy has been doing whilst in London," Aunt Pol mused, a hint of accusation in her voice. Her eyes were narrowed in on the auburn hair woman who stood close to Tommy. She saw Rose falter at her words, taken aback by the sharpness of her tone.

"Put your claws back in, Pol," Tommy said, his voice stern as if it was a warning for her to tread carefully. Once he saw Aunt Pol sigh in response and shrug her shoulders a little, he continued. "This is Rose... she was a nurse on the frontline with us men."

Arthur turned his attention over to them then, a hint of remembrance flashing across his face. He remained silent as his family inspected her appearance; the smart high waisted dress skirt and white blouse she wore underneath a maroon colored coat; her auburn hair styled with loose curls; her make-up was simple and serene. Tommy felt relief wash over him as she was accepted by Polly, the matriarch and backbone of the Shelby family, who simply nodded in her direction. For a woman like Polly, mused Tommy, that was enough for her to be recognized.

"Ada wants to be a nurse, don't ya, Ada?" John interjected, blowing the smoke of his cigarette up in the air above them.

Ada nodded, her eyes meeting Rose's. "It was a passing dream..."

"It's rewarding if you do pursue with it," Rose responded kindly. "Tough but incredible all at once."

"How long have you been nursing for?" Ada asked, her curiosity peaked.

"Five years," Rose answered. "I graduated a year before the war."

Rose fell silent in that moment, before adding. "Every day feels like the first day on the job though."

Ada nodded and smiled in her direction, her mind being made as the woman spoke with her. She had always wanted to be a nurse; it was something that young Ada had always wanted to achieve. Her caring nature had proved to her entire family that going into medicine would be where she would end up, but circumstances had somewhat prevented her from achieving that goal. As Rose and Ada spoke about nursing, Ada understood that the passion for helping people never went away.

As Tommy watched his love and his sister speak with each other, he moved over to Arthur. Arthur had turned his attention back to the fire as the glowing embers leaped and twirled in a fiery dance. Tommy took a seat in the armchair beside him, his eyes moving to his brother.

"How are you holding up, brother?" his voice was low enough for only Arthur to hear.

Arthur shrugged in response before speaking. "Every day is the same, Tommy."

"Are you sleeping better?"

"Nah, but this sure helps," Arthur lifted the bottle up and gave it a small shake, the liquid sloshing against the glass. "That and the warmth of a woman on some nights."

Tommy furrowed his brow then.

Arthur turned to his brother when his comment was met with silence. "Are you sleeping better, brother?"

Tommy ignored his comment that was laced with sarcasm. He bit his tongue and sniffed. "I've been thinking, Arthur... I want to promote you in the business. More responsibility, more money... but there's one thing I want you to promise me."

"Anything, brother."

"I don't want you to piss your life up the wall," Tommy said, his voice stern. He saw his brother tense at the tone of his voice, knowing that Tommy needed his full attention. "I don't want you to rely on that bottle to see you through the day. I want you to heal... we all do..."

Arthur faltered then, before he nodded. He knew that the war had changed him more ways than he thought would ever be possible. He was harsher, angrier, and that wasn't him.

"Would you be my right-hand man?"

Arthur's face lit up then at Tommy's proposition, and he nodded profusely. He placed the bottle of rum on the floor next to him, as if discarding his urges for what was right. Though Arthur's reaction was everything he wanted it to be, Tommy could still see the pain knitting his brows together and the fact that his smile never reached his eyes, just like it never did with him.

"Brother..." Arthur began, his voice strong albeit a little drunk. "It would be an honor."

"Don't let me down," Tommy warned.

"Wouldn't dream of it, Tommy," Arthur said, shaking his brothers hand.

"Good..." Tommy replied. "Because we start Monday."