The Falling Man

Chapter 20

Tommy POV

I sit looking at Ethel observing her reaction to my admission. It was true. She has not left my thoughts since we reunited in her bar that night and well before that actually. The thoughts just weren't as frequent as they were now. It was actually getting quite exhausting the constant thoughts of her face, the memories of her in France, the sound of her Irish accent. Most of all the memories of the kisses we shared in the past and how they made me feel. I sit here looking at her as she smiles back at me.

John had told me tonight he wanted a shot at seeing her, no way in hell I was going to let that happen and I said that to his face. I assume he tried to embarrass me and that is why he bumped into my back resulting in the spilled wine. I also assume he sent Arthur in as a wingman when me and Ethel were talking earlier, and he came up raving about the cake trying to get us away from one another so John could swoop in. In all honesty what John doesn't understand is he doesn't have a chance.

I can feel the connection with Ethel everytime we look into eachothers eyes. The feeling it brings me is almost indescribable. Like a rush of cold air inside my lungs. I would never tell my brothers this because they would most likely laugh in my face. Polly had inquired about the brown eyed girl a couple weeks ago. Apparently they had shared a meal together that day she came with the papers. I didn't give much away, just told her she has family in The Squad and has started working for them on the legal and business side. I suppose she read me quite well and could tell I wasn't giving her all of the information. "She's a pretty little thing." Polly responded. To which I nodded. She then told me I should leave her alone, she's too innocent, too kind for a man like me. "She wouldn't even kill the dirty mouse that ran through our kitchen, she picked it up and threw it out the back." Polly told me. "She's too pure Tommy. If you were the same man you were before the war, I would tell you to go for it. But your not that man anymore." This angered me and Polly could tell as she looked at me knowingly.

But as I sit here in front of Ethel there is no one else I would rather be sitting across from. It's confusing as we really do not know eachother that well. We moved quite quick in France and I can't help the feeling of wanting to go back to those moments. It never felt rushed though, those interactions, they felt right. As I stare at her now and glance at her lips, I think of my next move.

"I would like to see you again soon." I tell her breaking the silence. She simply nods at me. I take in her perfect appearance. To say she was the most beautiful woman in the room was an understatement. She had her short blonde hair slightly curled, her defined cheek bones cutting across her face, with light makeup over her cheeks, her doe eyes continue to bore into mine. I quickly stand up and gesture for her hand. She follows my lead and puts her tiny soft hand in mine as I lead her to somewhere more private. I assume she was thinking similar thoughts to me as she didn't ask questions. I look to my left and see John glaring at me while Arthur shoots me a thumbs up and toothy grin. I ignore them and continue leading Ethel out of the busy room.

I don't know exactly where I'm taking her but we are now in a hallway. I am turning and pushing on the door knobs while walking waiting for one of them to give away and open, while Ethel's heels click behind me. Finally one opens, I see it's a storage room for booze. It's about the size of my bedroom. I pull the string on the light above as light now takes over the room and lightly pull Ethel in front of me before closing the door.

As I turn to face her once more we look into eachother eyes for a moment before she takes a step forward towards me. I softly place my hands on the black lace covering her hips. We are quite close together now and I find my mouth falling slightly open as she places the hand once enclosed in my own on my cheek, running her fingers on the line of my jaw. She leans forward to connect our foreheads as I find my breath hitching slightly. She takes her hand off of my face and leans back slightly to look at me. "I can come to Birmingham in one week. Meet you at the address you gave me." She tells me. I bring my hand up to rest on her cheek now missing the feeling of our skin touching. "I'll finish my work here then join you." She goes on to say while looking at my lips. I lay my palm flat against the back of her jaw, thumb in front of her ear and fingers reaching to the back of her head as I look into her eyes. She's staring up at me through her eyelashes, the same as she did when we were this close years ago. In this moment it feels like no time has passed at all.