The Shelby woman

Beach

It's silent, the only noise is coming from the gentle waves lapping against the shore. The sun is blinding, shining directly into Charlottes eyes making her unable to see much in front of her.

Alfie makes his way out of the water, the golden retriever follows. Standing in front of Charlotte reading a book, making her look up. She's in awe of what she sees. Water dripping down Alfie's bare torso, the sun shining behind him casting a golden glow; forming a sort of halo around him. He looks like an Angel. Her Angel.

"Think I got fucking sand up me arse crack love" Alfie grumbles, disrupting the silence. Making her think twice of her thoughts.

"I ain't getting it out for you Alf, you're on your own."

Eyebrows furrowed Alfie asks. "Why not? You're me wife ain't ya? Sickness and health... all that shit."

Rolling her eyes Charlotte replies "Me sticking my fingers up your bum isn't what I signed up for." Just the mere thought of that makes Alfie become uncomfortable.

"Piss off, your fingers aren't going anywhere near this. Ever." Alfie points to this arse then continuing. "Besides, you're the one who likes a finger up the bum ey love?" Unable to keep the smirk off of his face.

"ALFIE!!" Screams Charlotte, slamming her book closed him horror.

_________

Absentmindedly throwing a piece of driftwood for Abe to catch. Charlotte fiddles with the pages of her book, nervous to bring up whats been on her mind for weeks- months even.

"I want a baby." Charlotte turns to Alfie.

"Ya wot?" Comes the sound of Alfie, mouth full of food.

"A baby Alfie. I want one."

"Alright then." Alfie swallows.

"What? Do you want one? Like now?" They've talked about children before, only briefly. They both know that they wanted them... but it's never been the right time with Alfies business taking up a lot of his time.

"Yeah sure. Ain't getting any younger am I?" Alfie's 30th birthday is getting closer by the day, something he is not looking forward to. Charlotte on the other hand has only just had her 26th birthday. Although the age gap isn't too big, Alfie finds himself unable to keep up with Lottie... most of the time.

"When my mother was my age she already had two children." Arthur and Thomas. Charlotte was closest with Thomas as she grew up, even coming up with her own nickname for him. Tomma. She first started calling him this when she was just shy of her 3rd birthday; unable to pronounce Thomas. Lottie and Tomma were as thick as thieves... it was just unfortunate that their relationship didn't last, and the mere thought of Thomas make her angry, sick and frustrated. The thoughts of her late mother always makes Charlotte incredibly sad. She, along with her Aunty Polly had been there when she passed. It's something that she'll never be able to forget.

"My father had three by the time he was mine." Jakob, Alfie's father. A hard Russian man... but loving none the less.

"You do realise what this means if we do end up having children Alfie." He would have to start taking more time off of work, for the family. The days of him working for weeks without a day off would be gone. This is something he could do, he promised himself that we would. He would not give his children the childhood that he did; a father that was never there, always busy with work. The lack of time spent with his father made him become reckless in his youth, acting out to get his attention. Unfortunately even ending up in jail could't make his father look at him twice. It was his mother who was there for him, bless her soul.

"Yeah, I know love dun't I. I'll 'ave ta get more people in. Maybe give Olie more work." He says that so quietly that his cockney accent becomes even thicker. If Charlotte wasn't so used to him speaking, she wouldn't have been able to understand a word he said.

"I've stopped taking my herbs." Queen Anne's lace and ginger root are both natural types of birth control. Queen Anne's lace is the type you drink when you have sex during 'fertile' days. Whereas ginger root is what you drink to bring on menstruation. Both usually take just under a week to take effect. Many unmarried women, and the whores of London will come to Lottie for these. Not willing to take on the responsibility and the burden that a child would bring them. This is just one of the many things she helps the unprivileged.

Alfie pulls Charlotte on top of him and puts his hands on her hips as she straddles his waist. The beach is empty. Perfect. He looks at Charlottes with a smile, running his hands up her dress. "Why don't we start here then hmm?"

"Here? There might be people who can see. Besides, I thought you didn't want sand up your arse." Not that she doesn't want to, it's the thought of being seen having sex here that scares her. Who knows who could watch them. The fucking King could walk by and watch them if he wanted to.

"That's the fun of it love now innit." Bringing Charlottes dress around her hips. "Now, climb aboard the Alfie train. Choo choo"

Charlotte smirks at his immaturity. Leaning down so her face hovers above him, looking him directly in the eyes. She kisses him. "You have the maturity of a 12 year old." She says between kisses.

"But I ain't hung like one am I? I'm hung like a fucking horse... and yer my jockey getting ready for the races."

Kissing her way down, stopping at his chest. "Let's hope that I finish first. For both of our sakes."

"Mmm" Comes the animalistic grumble from Alfie. "Pretty sure I can manage that."

"You better, otherwise sand isn't the only thing you'll be picking outta your arse."

The only thing that can be heard is Charlottes giggles, getting carried by the wind.

Sorry for not updating. I've just started back up at uni and it's taking up most of my time. I'll try and get an update up every Sunday (NZDT).

Thank you for your patience,

:)