𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐁𝐄𝐀𝐔𝐓𝐘 𝐎𝐅 𝐁𝐈𝐑𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐇𝐀𝐌 ~ 𝐋𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐡 𝐒𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐛𝐲

Wedding

"Polly you know what it's been like since well-
Martha died." John started.

"God takes the best first." She sighed as Arthur slid me a shot of whiskey, downing it in an instant.
"I'm getting married- to Lizzie Stark."

The family erupted into laughter, poor John looked like he was about to burst into tears. "Men and their cocks never cease to amaze me." Polly giggled.
"John boy, she's a who-

"I don't want to hear it! I am going to marry her," he silenced. "Tom I need someone,the kids need someone!" John pleaded. Suddenly Finn burst in-

'Tommy we've been done over!'

~

"Here Scudboat, let me help." I insisted, dabbing a towel to his bleeding forehead. "They left these," Tommy held up a pair of wire cutters. "Why would they leave wire cutters?" Polly stressed and started pacing.

"I think our friends are playing a game, nobody move." Thomas explained that he fought with one of the Lees in the war, and something about a grenade. I wasn't listening, my mind was too busy processing all of the other information.  "They set up this trap, just for you Tom." He looked up to meet my eyes.

"The car." We said in unison, before running out the door.

"Finn, stay exactly where you were." Tommy calmly ordered.  "I was just pretending to be you Tom, what's wrong?' The boy asked concerned.

"Finn you need to climb out of that car, exactly the same way as you climbed in." I told my frightened brother. The grenade was in that car- one wrong move and everything could go wrong.

Finn slowly tried to climb back out of the car, but his foot slipped. Seeing the grenade fall, I grabbed it in a haste- throwing it overhead.

"CLEAR!" I cried as the explosion went off .
Tommy pulled me and Finn into his chest, holding onto us tightly.

"That's why you never pretend to be me."

~

"Gentlemen- and Ladies. I have in my hand a legal betting licence issued by the board of control." Tommy spoke, "The Shelby family has its first legal racetrack pitch." He finally announced as everyone erupted into cheer. "Well done Tom- we're so proud of you." I whispered to my brother, hugging him tightly.

~

John didn't know it yet, but he was going to get married to a young Lee girl.

"What are yer' all starin' at me for?" He asked.

"Good, let's go." Tommy ordered, lighting a cigarette. We came to a halt, it was time to break the news to our John. "Lilah, what's going on?" My poor brother asked worriedly as I hugged him.
"I'm sorry." I whispered into his ear.

"Smile John, it's a wedding." Thomas announced. As expected, John started to kick off.  "Tommy I'm not marrying SOME BLOODY MUSHROOM PICKER!" He cried.  "If you marry this girl John, the war with the Lees will be over." Tommy reassured him.

The wedding ceremony was finally finished, Esme was the girls name. She was gorgeous- too good to have been married off to bloody John.

"Tell Ada to slow down." Polly told Thomas, who huffed in annoyance. "You think she'll listen to me?"
The two watched as Ada fell into her younger sisters arms, who struggled to support her weight.

...

"Oh God Ada- Tommys coming over." I warned my older sister, who followed my gaze.
"Ada c'mon, have a rest. Slow it down." Thomas told her lowly, I knew what was coming next

"COME AND LOOK ESME! LOOK AT THIS FAMILY YOU'VE JOINED! COME LOOK AT THE MAN WHO RUNS IT. HE CHOOSES HIS BROTHERS WIVES!" Ada spat. "HE GETS HIS YOUNGEST SISTER BEATEN UP BY THE POLICE, HE TRIED TO KILL HIS BROTHER IN LAW!" Ada screamed, pulling me into her arms.

"Ada that's enough." Tommy told the drunk woman. "AND NOW HE WONT LET ME HAVE A FUCKIN' DANCE!" I tried to calm my sister down- who started to breathe heavily. "Holy shit- HER WATERS!" I yelled.

~

"You know what boys, I think it's that pretty barmaid out there that's made our brother go soft." I giggled as Tommy pulled me closer to him.  "And I, think you've had too much to drink tonight." He chuckled.

"It's a boy." Polly burst into the Garrison, running up to Tommy and punching his chest. "The police came and took his farther away- YOU LIAR!" Our aunt yelled, walking back out the garrison.

I looked at my brother, sighing. "I know you didn't do this Tom." He looked down at me, his body relaxing a slight bit. "So I'm going to help you clean up this mess, okay?" I told him.

~

𝐄𝐬𝐦𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐟 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫! ꨄ