Angel

19

            I fixed my dress, buttoning it back up as I strode out of the box, running down the stairs to the bar, where I ordered another whiskey, downing it all in one drink. "Elena?" a familiar voice called, and I turned to see Grace. "Grace," I greeted her. "Have you seen Tommy?" she asked me, and I shook my head. "What are you doing here, Grace?" I sighed, and she swallowed hard. We had been good friends once, close even, but then she just...disappeared. "No doubt Tommy told you. I'm pregnant. It's his," she said quietly. "And? Are you going to marry him then? Or stay married to your American man and let him believe it's his?" I asked as we fell into our old candid way of speaking to each other. It was almost like hardly any time had passed and she'd never left in the first place. She shrugged. "I love him, Lena. I never stopped. But I couldn't forgive myself for what I did to him, so I left. And now that there's a child involved...I want to be with him. But I don't know what he wants. He was supposed to meet me here with his decision. Are you sure you don't know where he is?" she asked, and I shook my head. "He could be anywhere by now," I replied, lighting a cigarette.

            "I'm sorry for not keeping in touch," she whispered to me, her green eyes locked on the floor. "I'm sorry too. I was upset when you disappeared. We Shelby's know how to hold a grudge," I replied softly. "I didn't think you'd still want to talk to me. I betrayed Tommy to an Irish officer, after all," she whispered. "If I had a bob for every time someone betrayed my family I'd be the fucking queen of the country," I chuckled, and Grace smiled. "It's good to finally talk to you again," she said, and I smiled at her. "You have no idea how much I've missed you, Grace," I said softly, and she reached out a hand to clasp mine. "Well, you know I'm pregnant with Tommy's child, and I'll hopefully soon be filing for a divorce. What about you?" she asked. "What do you mean, what about me?" I asked. "Oh come on, Lena. No need to be coy with me. You are a stunning woman, there's got to be someone special in your life by now," she chuckled. I hesitated a moment before answering, knowing if she knew about Alfie she'd be sure to tell Tommy. "There's a lawyer. In London," I lied, and Grace squealed, "Calm down, it's nothing too serious yet, we've only just begun seeing each other. I want to keep things low profile for now." "Oh Lena, I'm so happy for you," she said, and I matched her grin. "I'm happy for you too," I replied, placing a hand against her stomach as we chuckled for a moment. We fell into a content silence, happy to be reunited. A moment later Tommy's horse trainer, May, suddenly approached us, leaning back against the betting cage. "I guessed and then John confirmed it," May said, and I rolled my eyes as I took a drag. "Guessed what?" Grace asked coldly, turning to face May.

            "Who are you?" Grace asked. "I'm May Carleton. I train Tommy Shelby's horse. And you're the woman who he said was going to sail away," May replied, sizing Grace up. Grace looked her up and down, shock etched into her features. "I see he didn't tell you about me," May guessed, and I rolled my eyes. "That's my cue to fucking leave," I mumbled, giving Grace's hand a quick squeeze walking away from the two women who were about to fight over the affections of my brother. I walked until I saw an empty table and sat down, taking another long drag. "Look at this place. We own it!" I heard Arthur shout, "Put your money away before I take it off ya!" "Fucking clear off!" John yelled. "Get up!" Arthur yelled at a man sitting at the table next to mine. "We won," John smiled at me, and I chuckled. "We fucking won," I laughed. "We fucking took Epsom. We kicked the cockney's fucking asses," John laughed. "We fucking beat them," Arthur added, "Tom didn't even shoot his gun! We're kings! Kings of the fucking world!" I rolled my eyes, and it suddenly hit me like a ton of bricks. I didn't want to be there. I didn't want to celebrate sitting alone at the races. I wanted to be somewhere else. With someone else. I'd felt uneasy about Tommy's plan all day, and came too close to being raped. Comfort was what I craved, and I knew just where to find it. "I'm going to Ada's. I'll be back on Sunday," I lied, rising to my feet. John and Arthur nodded at me. "See ya in a few days," John waved a drunken goodbye, and I tore off walking briskly out of the racing arena, and down a few streets, toward a most familiar building.