Polly's Boys

The Grand Re-opening

_______________________________________________________________-

"There are my girls!" Polly walked away from Ada at the bar and ran to greet her daughter- in- laws. With London being so far and all three ladies having careers, get-togethers were rare.

Polly wanted all the family she could to rally around her tonight. She was still mourning Anna and was livid at her Nephew for refusing to allow her to see her son, Michael.

She desperately wanted her family to be complete. The ladies were providing song and dance tonight to help with Arthur's grand re-opening of the pub.

"Hey, the entertainment finally made it!" Arthur called out, causing the bar to shift and holler for the two show ladies. Peggy and Winter dressed in red beaded gown dripping with golds, furs and pearls for the event. They almost couldn't hear each other over all the clatter and chatter.

"Where are your men?" Polly yelled over the excitement. She was surprised when they'd shown up together. THe girls seemed to hold no animosity towards each other but she knew Neither of ehr boys liked the others spouses. Winter had annoyed David at the orphanage with her tryst with his brothers and little devilish antics. Peggy was a whore prior to being a dancer and seemed to have bewitched David with irked his brother. She shook her head remembering the old adage," There was someone of everyone."

"Coming separate!" The ladies said in unison and laughed. Polly grinned. She needed happy, lively young people around her tonight. War burderned soldiers with grand schemes were getting on her nerves lately.

"We'll obviously." She said looking around. " They didn't walk in with you two." She laughed and hugged the girls.

"They have a surprise for you." Winter leaned in, yelling at the elder woman. " You're going to be thrilled I promise!" She grinned and bounced off to the stage to help the band set up.

"I'm not sure I'm up for surprises tonight. Tommy already invited Ada to get me to talk." She said addressing Peggy, the raven haired enchantress who'd snagged her eldest twin son.

"Stay with me, I'll take care of you." She wrapped her arms around her mother in law.

"Thank you so much for that gorgeous porcelain girl. I have her on my mantel." Polly added. She has truly been touched by the gift. She also knew Peggy generally felt left out of the family. She wanted to change that.

"I'm so glad you like her." The younger girl smiled at her beaming from within. Peggy could be thoughtful.

"So, how are things really between Devlin and Winter?" Polly asked instantly, regretting it when she saw Peggy's annoyed face. She knew it wasn't aimed at her. The girls had most likely talked on the three hour car ride here.

"Fine I guess. Hey, Let's get some drinks, I'm gonna need to get loosy goosy to dance." Peggy quickly changed the subject and turned to the bar, getting them each a gin. Women after Polly's heart.

"You and me both, Peggy. Otherwise I don't dance anymore." Peggy raised an intrigued eyebrow. This she needed to see. She also wondered why the other women didn't dance, life perhaps?

"Arthur, start her a tab." Polly called out to ehr busy Nephew. He was on something tonight. She could tell. She watched him for several moments since the ladies were busy. She was angry when she heard Tommy mutter something about Tokyo. Fucking cocaine on a night where he should remeber it. She turned, giving Tommy a frosty look. He rolled his eyes and walked past her.

He was moody tonight, she knew he'd received postal correspondence from Grace. She knew it wasn't over between them.

She knew once the boys got her, he'd ignore her. Something about his cousin, even after his successful business deal with Dev, kept Thomas Shelby at bay.

"Hey!" A loud ruckus erupted from the door. She bounced off the bar stool and pushed people gently out of the way. She knew those voices again.

"Look what the cat dragged in from the muddy streets of London." She called as she Hugged David first. He hugged her tightly and winked at her. She tilted her head, he was up to something she could feel.

"Mum!" Devlin called out as he hugged her tight. "Gotta a gift for you. Mum, this is Michael. Have a good night." The boy of seventeen, looked just like his father stood before her nervously turning his hat in his hand.

"Oh, my go..." She cried and threw herself into his arms. Gratefully he caught her.

Devlin and David exchanged glances with each other and their girls. Smiling faces went all around the room.

Except for one face. Tommy had emerged from a back room somewhere behind the thick red velvet curtains, the shows still clinging to half of his face menacingly.

He locked eyes with Devlin who just flipped him off and smiled tilting his peaky hat as he made his way over to Lizzie at the bar.David tipped his hat at his older cousin and joined Esme and Ada in conversation.

They'd intentionally defied Thomas Shelby.

_____________________________________________________________

If you comment, I respond