Promises Not Kept

51

            At Leah's request, the move back to England would be a gradual one. They weren't going to just pack up and skip town overnight. They waited until Charlie and Johanna were excused from school for winter break. Before then, they worked on packing their things and selling the flat.

But soon the day came and the Shelby family was ready to head out for the docks. Leah said goodbye to her friends and promised to ring as often as she could. Johanna was sat atop a trunk on the sidewalk, ready to move on again.

Charlie was a little reluctant but tried not to make it too clear. He sat on the front stoop watching his sister as Leah chatted with her friends and Tommy made sure they'd gotten all their belongings.

"Alright?" Tommy sat down beside his son and pulled out a cigarette. He'd noticed how quiet his boy had been the week leading up to the move.

"Yeah," Charlie mumbled.

"You know you can talk to me, Charles, I'm your father."

"I don't get why we have to move again." He replied grumpily. "We just got here."

"You don't want to go back home?" Tommy asked. "I thought you said you were alright with it."

His son rolled his eyes and rested his elbows on his knees. "I am, I just don't want things to go back to the way they were. I like going to school with other kids."

It was something Tommy had noticed. How bubbly Charlie was when he came home from school. Chatting about what games he played on the schoolyard with friends. How he begged Leah to go out and play football on the streets. When dusk fell, it was hard to bring him back in for supper. He always wanted to stay out a little longer with his friends.

"We can discuss that." Tommy was less than keen on allowing his son to attend a regular school instead of at-home tutoring. He liked having his children at home where he knew they were the safest. No doubt, he would worry if they were away from the home six hours a day, five days a week. He couldn't control how the teachers or other children treated his son and daughter. Couldn't ensure their safety. It made the hairs on the back of Tommy's neck stand up.

Charlie simply sighed and stood up. "Alright."

~~~~~~~~~~~~

It was a Christmas gift for the whole Shelby-Gray family when Leah and the children arrived home early December. Tommy planned to have the holiday celebrated at Arrow House, calling ahead to invite everyone and make preparations. But he was cautious. Mosley was still on his case and he didn't want the man to know they were returning. It was all he could do to keep them hidden away from the madman.

It was late by the time the Shelbys got back from the port. The trip was exhausting and Leah couldn't wait to get the children to bed so she could fall asleep. She prayed that Molly wouldn't put up a fuss.

"Time for night-night, Cyril!" Johanna patted the mastiff's head and lead him inside.

"Poppet, can you take mummy's bag?" Leah handed Charlie her purse so she could scoop up Molly.

Charlie yawned and went inside behind Johanna.

"Happy to be home?" Tommy tentatively asked his wife.

She smiled slightly. "I'm hopeful."

It was a good enough answer for him. He wrapped an arm around her waist and kissed her cheek as they walked inside.