Angel of Small Heath

ten.

1919

By the time Tommy and Eden had gone to save Grace from Kimber's house and made their way back to Small Heath, it was nearly night time. Not a lot was said on the way home, Eden sat in the back fiddling with her dress and Grace stared out the window. It had been a long day for everyone. They dropped Grace off at her house before making their way to Watery Lane.

Tommy held the door open for Eden as they entered the house. Eden stopped suddenly when she saw John sitting at the table nursing a glass of whisky. Eden heard Tommy close the door behind her, and she felt the tension in the room increase ten fold.

John made the first move. He sat his glass back down on the table and stood up - pushing the chair back. The cascade of events occurred so rapidly that Eden didn't have time to think. Tommy pushed past her and slammed into John - his hands curling around the collar of John's jacket. While John was slightly taller than Tommy, Tommy was stronger and hauled John against the wall. He was up close to his younger brother, cold eyes and tight hands.

"What kind of shit were you trying to pull eh John boy? Kissing my girl." Tommy ground out. John scoffed his hands coming up and pushing Tommy away from him.

"Right, forgot Eden was always yours." John pushed away from the wall, wiping a hand over his face. "You possessive prick." He spat at Tommy.

Eden acted quickly and jumped between the two boys. Her hands held up in front of her, stopping Tommy from jumping his brother.

Eden couldn't think of any words, but her presence between the two boys seemed enough to calm the situation down slightly.

"Tommy, I'll meet you upstairs yeah?" Eden said, pressing a quick kiss to Tommy's cheek before ushering him upstairs.

After she watched Tommy disappear upstairs she turned to John who was still angrily pacing. She just watched, before putting her purse on the table and turning to fill the kettle. "Tea John?"

She called behind her, trying to reach for two cups out of the cupboard. Eden knew she was short but even she was frustrated with not being able to reach the cups. She froze as she watched a hand reach over hers and grab out two cups.

John passed them to her silently before sitting back down at the table where he had been before her and Tommy had entered.

Eden hummed quietly while she prepared the tea. She was finally ready, placing one cup in front of John as she sat down beside him.

John just looked distasteful at the steaming cup of tea in front of him, pushing it away from him slightly. Eden sighed, "what's going on Johnny?"

John just grunted in response. "John," Eden paced on hand on his forearm, "what's been chewing at you hey?"

John threw his chair away from the table again, standing up frustrated and unable to sit still.

"I don't bloody know Eden!" He finally exploded, "I've been struggling so much with the kids. I was never good at looking after them and with Martha gone I'm even worse." Eden wanted to interject but knew it was better to just let the boy vent.

"And then today, you walked out and you're gorgeous and stunning and we grew up together. And I just had to kiss you." John made his way back to Eden, dropping onto his knees beside Eden's chair.

"I love you Eden." He declared, "I want to be with you and I want you to be mine! We get on so well, we always have! And-" John was getting desperate, his eyes wide and his hand tight on Eden's.

Eden placed her cup down gently, turning to face John directly and placed her hands on his cheeks. Her thumb brushed away a stray tear that had escaped. "You don't love me Johnny. Not in the way you're trying to convince yourself you do."