Letters - Michael Gray

It all comes to an end

It was the morning of the opening of the Grace Shelby Institute for Children. Michael was just getting up as he heard his wife vomiting in the bathroom next door, but before Michel even had chance to check on his wife she came back into the bedroom looking ill.
"Are you alright love?" questioned Micheal as Valarie got back into bed
"Yea, just not feeling well. I've felt like this the past week" replied Valarie "I don't think I'll be well enough for today. I'm so sorry"
"Don't worry. Everyone will understand, I'll phone mum and Tommy to tell them we're not going" said Michael as he was getting up.
"No you go, go for both of us. It will look worse if we both don't go"
"True. Only if you're sure"
"I'm positive" reassured Valarie
"Well I'll make you a cup of tea" said Michael as he left the room. Valarie couldn't help but wonder what was wrong with her.

Later that day Valarie had just made herself a cup of tea and was going back to bed just as the sound of the phone ringing echoed through the house. Without hesitation Valarie turned around to answer it. She found it odd that someone was phoning as Michael's family knew she was ill and she had spoken to her dad earlier.

"Hello" answered Valarie carefully.
"Hello, Valarie" the sound of her mother in law filled Valarie's ears "listen I'm not gonna stay on the phone too long because I might get another call, but please come to the betting shop something bad has happened" without thinking Valarie put the phone down and put her coat and shoes on, she didn't even care that she was in her nightgown, and ran to the betting shop.

It didn't take long for Valarie to reach the betting shop. She was banging the door while trying to catch her breath and was let in by Polly.
"What's happened?" questioned Valarie. Polly sat her down and told her everything. Even though Valarie was expecting this to happen she was still shocked.

"Anyway, let's forget that for a moment are you alright? Michael said you were ill" asked Polly
"Yea, I've been vomiting the past few mornings and when I smell certain things. Like whiskey, I've had to throw it all out the house" said Valarie
"Are you late?" asked Polly. Valarie didn't know what to think. Should she be speaking of this to her mother in law and was she late? .... yes she was.
"Yea, only this month though" Valarie said quickly like she knew what Valarie was going to say.
"You're pregnant" that's all it took for Valarie to break down crying. This was the worst time ever. Her husband is literally about to kill someone and she doesn't know what could happen or how should could tell him.
"Trust me love, I can sense it" she didn't want to believe Polly but deep down she knew she was right.

The door suddenly burst opened taking Valarie from her thoughts. Michael entered carrying Charlie covered in blood. Although Valarie knew the circumstances, there was something about Micheal holding Charlie that made her smile inside. Valarie went to her husband but he just turned and didn't even acknowledge her. It stayed like that for the rest of the night.

The young couple had woke up to a phone call from Tommy asking if they could go to his.

That was where they were now. Valarie was sat in between Michael and Ada. Valarie had only spoke to Michael briefly this morning and they still hadn't talked about what had happened last night.
"Before I begin, I want to let you know I made a mistake, I made a mistake"said Tommy as he was starting to stand up "and I want to apologise to all of you. Arthur," Tommy was now looking at his older brother "you warned me against getting involved in Russian Business. And you were right. I doubted your wife. For that I'm sorry. Linda, I have £3,000 here in the hope that you'll forgive me." Linda got up and took the money from Tommy.
"Apology accepted" said Linda

The room fell silent again. "Esme, I doubted you as well" said Tommy.
"Now John's got innocent lives on his conscience. Ordinary working men..." said Esme without caring what Tommy thought but she was soon cut short by John "yea, alright, Esme. Got it"
"No she's right" started Tommy "and you and Arthur are gonna have to share that burden. But I hope the house that you can buy with this can become a place of contemplation. Perhaps redemption"

"Charlie, for the lost tools, dangerous goods and Curly's wise words" started Tommy again while looking at his uncle and friends "Johnny, for board and lodgings."

"Lizzie" Tommy tried to give her money but she pushed it back at him.

"Michael" started Tommy, Valarie was interested in this "for the killings. £5,000 for the cutting and £5,000 for the shooting" Valarie wanted to scream she knew about one person but not two, but she kept quite.
"No Tommy" said Polly as she stood up.
"What?... tell me. This is who I am. And this is all I can give you for what you've given me. Your hearts and your souls" screamed Tommy " yesterday I nearly lost my son. You should fucking understand that. For what? For what? For this? For this? And I know you all want me to say I'll that change. That this fucking business will change. But. I've learnt something in the last few days. Those bastards, those bastards at worse than us! Politicians, fucking judges, Lords and Ladies. They are worse than us. And they will never admit is to their palaces no matter how legitimate we become. Because of who we are. Because of who we fucking are, because of where we are fucking from. Isn't that right Ada?. Our Ada knows she got smart about the revolution. And she knows you have to get what you want your own way. Lizzie, I want it known that money was for you because some nights it was you who stopped my heart from breaking. No one else. And the rest of you, you took the King's shilling. You took the King's fucking shilling. When you take the King's shilling, the king expects you to kill. Right Arthur?. That's how it works, Right John?. That's right Pol. That's fucking right" Tommy finished.

"Tommy, you've had a bad time. We understand. So at an alternative time, when we have all recovered" Polly was saying as she was taking the money from Michael "I would like to put before the family an alternative view of the Future of the Shelby Company Limited. A more hopeful view"

All of a sudden the sound of John and Esme's baby crying filled the room. Valarie couldn't help but think that it would be her and Michael soon.

"Which I for one would quite like to hear" said Ada
"As would I" said Esme standing up
"As would I" said Lizzie
"Come on, Arthur. The train for the dock leaves in one hour. Then we'll get the boat to New York and it'll all be in the past" said Linda while looking at Tommy. Soon enough everyone was saying their goodbyes to Arthur and Linda. Everyone except to Tommy.

"I'll be off then Tom" said Arthur "I'll see you. I'll see you brother"
Tommy couldn't even look at his brother.
"You can go but you won't get far Arthur" said Tommy while smoking a cigarette.
"Alright Tom" Arthur thought that his younger brother was joking.
"I spoke to Moss last night. He told me that the Chief Constable of Birmingham has issues a warrant for your arrest. Murder, sedition, conspiracy to cause explosion. John, they're coming for you as well. Murder, conspiracy to cause explosion. Michael, for the murder of Hughes" Valarie couldn't hear what else Tommy has to say as she had collapsed in Michaels' arms screaming.

"No, no, no it was all meant to be perfect I only found out last night" said Valarie without even thinking.
"What tell me now Val" asked Micheal even though he was in shock.
"I'm pregnant" and before Michael even had time to register the news the police had burst though the door and was taking the family away.
"Val I love you and our baby. I'll be out to see you both" shouted Micheal and he was being taken away.

After they had gone Valarie couldn't control her emotions and it wasn't due to her hormones. She ran towards Tommy and started to hit him.
"You did this, you promised my dad you wouldn't let anything happen to me now I'm alone and pregnant. You did this how could to your own family, you monster. I'll tell my dad, you've lost everything in London now Tommy. I wouldn't even bother to show my face there if I were you" she screamed as she continued to hit Tommy. Tommy just stood there and took it. In the end Valarie had to be dragged off Tommy by Ada and Lizzie.

That was when Valarie broke down. What was she meant to do now?.