Candy [THOMAS SHELBY]

Chapter Forty-Three

Finally, after months and months of planning and work, the orphanage was finally finished and that weekend they were having the opening of it.

After a lot of thought, Josephine and Tommy had decided to name the orphanage after their mothers and the home was officially called;

The Mary Shelby and Diana Lindholm Institute for Orphaned Children.

It was a bit of a mouthful but it meant so much to both of them.

Currently, Josephine was getting ready for the opening when Tommy joined her in the bedroom, his arms snaking around her waist. Ever since they had started trying for a baby, he had become much more affectionate and Josephine would be lying if she said she didn't enjoy it immensely.

"You look gorgeous" Tommy pressed his face into her neck as he spoke, causing his words to come out muffled.

Josephine smiled and patted his hands that rested on her stomach, " Thank you. This dress you got is beautiful ."

Tommy pressed a kiss to her neck before he pulled away and locked eyes with her through the mirror that was in front of them.

"Everyone should be here soon. You ready?"

Just as the words left his mouth the doorbell chimed and the house was flooded with noise as the housekeeper let their family in.

Josephine quickly spritzed herself with perfume before she stood up and left her vanity and made her way over to the door where Tommy was waiting for her with her purse in his hand.

"Let's go"

The couple made their downstairs and met up with their family before they headed out to the orphanage.

Josephine unconsciously played with her fingers, the nerves getting the best of her but Tommy placed his hand on top of her, an action that stopped her fidgeting and the reassuring grin Tommy shot her soothed her nerves.

When they pulled up, Tommy gave her hand one last squeezed before they left the car and made their way to the front of the building where the photographer was waiting for them, their family trailing behind them.

They came to a stop in front of the camera, Josephine and Tommy in the middle with everyone else surrounding them. When Tommy's hand slipped around her waist, Josephine was reminded of their wedding day and how they stood similarly for that photo. She was excited about the future of the orphanage and how it would grow and help children.

Josephine and Tommy made their way into the main hall where a few people had already arrived and welcomed them and made small talk until everyone else had arrived. They had invited notable people of Birmingham as they had wanted to create new and stronger affiliations and connections.

When everyone arrived, they all took their seats, Josephine and Tommy in the front throw, the rest of their family behind them and Polly at the podium.

"Welcome to the opening of the Mary Shelby and Diana Lindholm Institute for non-insured children of the poor," Polly spoke to the crowd with a smile, "I would very much like you to join me in thanking the man that made the founding of this establishment actually possible. Ladies and gentlemen, Mr Thomas Shelby."

Tommy stood up as everyone applauded but when John and Arthur stood up, so did everyone else, including Josephine.

"Speech! Come on, speech!"

Tommy pressed a kiss to Josephine's cheek and she hoped he knew how proud of him she was because she simply couldn't put into words.

"Say it, Tom. Say it to 'em!"