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CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE: SUN BLEACHED FLIES
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TOMMY WAITED THREE DAYS to invite their family around to Arrow House. He insisted that Helen stayed in bed for those unrelenting hours, which Helen didn't mind until sunrise of day three. Her limbs ached from the overwhelming urge to move. Florence's crying disrupted her every other moment, reminding her of the sleepless nights she and Patrick once spent doting on James.
Both her boys had been gems since coming home. James promised her he was alright, that he was happy, and it certainly seemed that way when he held his little sister and giggled with glee. When he wasn't with Helen and Florence, he spent as much time as he could following Tommy around. Helen was glad to hear her husband-to-be indulged him, and that his wonder for Florence never faded. Deep down, a part of her had worried it would, for some of his happiness had faltered, making her wonder if it was about his proposal. Did returning to the house he used to share with Grace make him change his mind?
Just as Helen feared the doubt would eat her alive, he'd do something that contradicted everything she'd constructed in her head. Bringing her breakfast in bed, singing an old lullaby under his breath to soothe a wailing Florence while Helen used the bathroom, kissing her knuckles where her engagement ring glistened whenever he thought she was sleeping. It really was going to be them against the world.
Helen and Florence were surrounded as soon as the family had gathered in Tommy's office on the morning of day three. There was Arthur, John and Finn, who wasted no time in greeting her with eager kisses on the cheek before they bundled up Florence like she was a jewel taken from the Russians themselves. Then there was Michael, Polly and Ada. Helen was yet to see Michael in person, so she made sure to hug him tight.
"Thank you," was all she said. She had no other words to express just how grateful she was for him.
Following behind the core family was Esme, Lizzie and Linda. The latter's baby bump was visible beneath her green dress (Helen was surprised to realise she didn't even know Linda was pregnant) while Esme had her son curled up against her chest. Alongside them was Charlie, Curly, Johnny Dogs and Isaiah, who sat in the back row of chairs while everyone else turned to Tommy.
He kept the distance of the table between them, staring at the money he'd split into rolls for each person. Occasionally, he'd glance over and see one of his brothers trying to rock Florence in their arms before eventually giving up and returning her to her mum when she started to cry. But Tommy waited until they eventually found their places around the room.
"Before I begin," he said. "Helen and I have an announcement to make."
John whistled under his breath. "Don't tell me you're pregnant again already, Nel."
She swung her foot towards him without thought, jamming her heel sharply against his toes. John yelped and rocked back in his chair, glowering at her as the others laughed. "I should be asking you that," she said with a pointed glance at Esme.
