The Girl Behind the Counter

Chapter 6

"My God you are beautiful!" John exclaimed when he eventually found Michael and Maxie. "Maxie, this is my cousin John." Michael once again grumbled his introduction. "Pleased to meet you." She smiled. "Oh no sweetheart, not as pleased as me!" He smiled right back. Michael cleared his throat awkwardly, just as Finn walked up. "Oi Finn! This is Maxie, and Maxie this is me baby brother Finn." John said while wrapping an arm around Finn's neck in a rough housing manor. "I'm not a baby." Finn mumbled. "I do believe you and I have met before Finn." Maxie said. Finn nodded while looking down at his feet. "I remember because you found your shoes to be very interesting then too." She coyly smiled. "Oi Finn! Look at him blush!" John teased, and Maxie was pleased to see that even Michael smiled. "Hello, hello, don't tell me this is the flower shop girl our Michael is mad for? It can't be! You must be some sort of angel who fell all the way down from heaven to grace us with your presence!" Arthur walked up and joined the group. "Maxie, my oldest cousin Arthur." Michael introduced. "Hello Arthur. May I suggest sticking to being a gang member and leave beautiful sayings to the poets?" She teased, causing everyone to laugh. "Alright, alright, I admit I might have been a bit cliche, but I meant it. You are absolutely beautiful." Arthur told her. "Yeah." John pipped up and Finn nodded in agreement. "Oh, well, thank you. That's very kind." Maxie blushed. Michael had had enough. He didn't like the idea of any other man making her blush. "Alright, 3 out of 4 brothers down. Any of you seen Tommy?" He asked his cousins. "Yeah, he's back over there with Aunt Pol." Finn pointed the two out. "My God look at that! Finn has a face! And its not too bad to look at either." Maxie winked at the littlest Shelby, causing him to turn bright red, to his brother's delight. Michael smiled too at how flustered Maxie's tease had made him. They walked away as John and Arthur were still choking on laughter. "Oh that was mean of me, I just fed him to those wolves of brothers." Maxie said in hindsight. "Finn has spent his whole life as their chew toy. It's why they love him so much." Michael assured her. "Maxie! Marvelous to see you again dear!" Polly greeted as the couple walked up. "You as well, our last meeting seemed to be cut a bit short." Maxie clearly aimed this statement at Michael. Polly smirked and Michael tried to ignore them. "Maxie, this is Thomas Shelby, Tommy this is Maximiliana Larsson" It was the most formal introduction Michael had made amongst the family. "A pleasure to meet you Mr. Shelby." She extended a hand, not to be kissed as Tommy expected, but to be shook. "Please, call me Tommy. I must say that is a very sturdy hand shake you have." Tommy had, once again, assumed wrong when he thought her hands would be soft and delicate. "My grandfather used to tell my uncles that a man should always have a firm handshake, and I thought it silly for that rule not to extend to women." She explained. "Oh I like you." Polly smiled. "I like her too, be careful you don't fuck this up Michael." Tommy warned. Michael was the jealous type, though he would never admit to that. He heard Tommy's words as a threat and his jaw clenched. This did not go unnoticed by the three around him. Tommy waited to see in what way Michael would be ridiculous, Polly waited for the war that was obviously about to go down between the two men, but Maxie stroked Michael's arm and laughed while saying, "He's done well so far." Michael and Tommy's attention was subsequently turned to her and the tension was gone. Polly stared at her in amazement at how easily she had handled that. After mingling for a bit longer Maxie  saw that Michael's short fuse was growing shorter so she suggested that they say goodnight. Michael was only too happy to agree with her and head home. Once they had left, Tommy and Polly turned their conversation to her. "She's pretty. Very, very pretty." Tommy said between the cigarette hanging on his lips. "And clever too. She reads people well. She handles people well. She's good for Michael." Polly said. "I agree. Did you notice, there is something wild in her too? She'll give him the hell he deserves." Tommy smirked. "She's Rosemary Lee's granddaughter." Polly informed. "Well I'll be dammed. Honey's granddaughter. Michael is a goner then, isn't he?" Tommy lightly laughed. "Yes, though I'm not sure either of them know it yet." Polly answered.