Calm before the storm

I love her Pol.

Adjusting her coat to fit her snugly Catherine rushed towards the Shelby household hoping to catch Polly before she left for mass. Rounding the corner of Watery Lane Catherine spotted the older lady making her way towards the chapel. "Pol, Pol!" Catherine began to run after polly as everyone in the street stopped to watch her, "bloody hell, how deaf are you?" Catherine rested her hand on her chest to try and catch her breathe. Polly chuckled at the state the young girl was in, "oh I heard you" and with that she smirked and continued walking.

After mass Catherine decided to head back to the Shelby's with Polly, "Ada still in bed?" the young girl looked up at Polly as she spoke, "no, she actually left the house in rush this morning" "I think its a boy Pol, but I haven't found out who yet" Polly chuckled, "not like you Catherine, your usually the first to know about everything that happens in small heath." The two women entered the house in a loud fit of laughter, "oi, whats so funny?" Catherine smiled when she seen John sitting at the kitchen table with a cigarette between his lips, "your face Johnny Boy" the young girl continued to laugh as John pulled a face at Polly. "Well I better go," "and where would you be going?" polly cast the young girl a questioning gaze, "oh umm, im just gonna go look for Ada I haven't seen her all day" smiling Catherine turned to get her coat "I'll call back later, see ya Johnny Boy" john couldn't help but smile as the loud girl left the house, Polly was too busy watching the young girl leave she just missed the shy smile that graced John Shelby's lips. Polly couldn't help but wonder why the young girl had lied to her, she usually told her everything.

Catherine skipped along the cobbled road as the Lee family's wagons came into view. The young girl decided it was too good of a day to spend it stuck in the smoke of Small Heath, visiting her friend Johnny Doggs would provide the breathe of fresh air her lungs longed for. "Bloody hell, is that Catherine Martin" the loud voice of Johnny Doggs filled Catherine's ears, with a cheeky grin on her face she turned to the man "is that Johnny Doggs" Johnny ran over and wrapped Catherine in a friendly embrace "haven't seen your face in I don't know how long, how the bloody hell are ye?" Catherine chuckled, she always loved Johnny's loud and cheeky personality "I'm good, alls good in Small Heath. What about you? See your traveling with the Lee's now" Catherine cast a glance over her shoulder at the crowd of lees watching her and Johnny from a distance. Johnny noticed her discomfort "only for a while, until I can sort myself out. And don't worry I'll not let them do anything to you my little birdy" Catherine smiled at the nickname Johnny had called her for as long as she could remember. "Come on, let's take a walk down to the river. The lees have a few new fouls down there" the young girl shook her head as she ran after Johnny in the direction of what she presumed would be the horses.

The shelbys.
Tommy hadn't seen Catherine all day, which was odd because you could usually hear her from three streets over. Walking into the family kitchen he noticed Polly was sat by herself smoking a cigarette, "haven't seen Catherine all day, any chance you know where she is?" Polly looked up at her nephew as he stood in the door way "no, haven't seen her from this morning. Disappeared, said she was going to look for Ada." She put her cigarette out as Tommy took a seat "but Ada has been in the betting den all day," the older woman chuckled "I know, so I don't understand why Catherine would lie to me." Arthur came through the double doors that led to the betting den "alright Tom, pol" polly cast him a look "and where have you been?" Arthur took his peaked cap off and sat at the table "took Finn up to the fields, he said he wanted to see the country" Arthur laughed "and you'll never guess who I seen with the Lee family" Tommy raised an eyebrow at his brother waiting for him to go on, "cat and Johnny doggs, I didn't know they were friends" Arthur scoffed, polly slowly turned to look at Thomas and immediately noticed his jaw was clenched. "Arthur you wouldn't mind running to the pub for me would you? I fancy some rum" Arthur looked at his aunt in confusion of her sudden demand, "alright, I'll go down and get a bottle of Harry now." Arthur had just closed the door when Tommy decided to speak "Johnny Doggs, fucking Johnny Doggs what is she playin' at especially around the Lee family" Polly watched in amusement as her nephew began pacing up and down the kitchen "it's women's business, why are you so annoyed" Tommy stopped and looked his aunt in the eye "you bloody well know why" Pol raised an eyebrow at the young man as if daring him to go on, with a sigh and a shake of his head he finally said it "I love her Pol."