Chapter Fourteen: Kite


One week later,


Kate has finally made enough of a profit to pay Abigail to take over as a manager for the restaurant. She is a bright girl, good with the books and always has a solution to every problem. Christopher had been her childhood sweetheart and now that they were working together, it was becoming obvious that they had feelings for each other. Kate did allow workers to court, as long as they had their parent's approval and kept their relationship professional at work.

In spite of Betsy's threat, the business had exploded. They were busy all around the clock and Kate was starting to find it exhausting. Christopher had suggested raising the prices a little bit, to slow people down. She did as he suggested, but it hadn't done that. People still kept coming. The Shelby brothers, regularly ordered food to be delivered to their illegal betting shop. John, ordered dinner for him and his children a few times a week and Kate always gave him a discount.

This morning, she tapped on the door of John's residence on Watery Lane. He had sent a message requesting that she show up, saying only he'd needed her support for an issue. Intrigued, Kate had agreed.

"What are you doing here?"

Kate spun around at the sound of Thomas's voice right behind her. She exhales, trying to gain control over her rapidly beating heart. "I don't know. John asked me come over."

Thomas frowns as he reaches past her for the doorknob. "He called us together for a family meeting."

Kate blinks. "Family meeting? But I'm not family." She didn't like the sound of this.

"I know." he states. "You'll be the first non-family member invited."

The blood drains from Kate's face. "Dear God."

"No worries Kate," he says teasingly as opens the door and lets her in to the house. "he's not gonna propose to you."

"How do you know that?" she hisses as she steps inside. "He's been talking about wanting a mother for his children. And he comes over to restaurant more frequently than you and Arthur!"

Thomas is silent for a moment as he closes the door. "Because, if he does," Thomas's voice almost sounds threatening as he walks down the hall. "I'll break his nose."

Kate stares at him, unsure how to interpret that remark or his attitude. She decides to ignore it and follow Thomas to the dining room where everyone's waiting for them. Polly's brow arches as she sees her walk into the room. "What's this?"

"I am sorry," Kate says uncomfortably. "I had no idea this was a family meeting. John invited me."

"Well," Polly says with a faint smile. "we'll make an exception this once."

"John," Kate moves to sit down at the table, but Thomas grips her elbow and leads her to stand beside him at the counter. She frowns slightly at this gesture. "there's only one man guarding the house, what's troubling you?"

John clears his throat and addresses Polly first. "Polly, you know what it's been like since Martha died."

"God takes the best first." Polly says assuringly.

"The truth is… my kids have been running bloody rings around me." the sadness in John's voice tears at her, knowing that kind of loss herself. "Running barefoot with the dogs till all hours."

"Pol, give him ten bob for some new shoes." Thomas says dryly. "Is that it John?" unable to stop herself, Kate smacks his arm, causing him to glower at her. "Don't do that again."

"Thank you Kate." Polly says tersely. "Tommy, maybe we'd be better to do this without you?"

"Now, what's your point John?" he asks.

"What the kids need is a mother." John inhales. "So, that's why I'm getting married."

Kate glances at Thomas, his blue eyes are slightly narrowed, as if her daft suggestion at the doorway this morning suddenly makes sense. "Does this poor girl know that you're gonna marry her," Polly inquires. She appears to have already picked up on Kate's nervousness and Thomas's defensive stance. "or are you just gonna spring it on her all of a sudden?"

Kate inhales sharply, squeezing her hands together. Praying that John isn't about to propose to her in front of his whole family.

"I've already proposed." John's words cause her to relax and return to breathing normally. "And she said yes."

"I think there's a shell about to land and go bang." Thomas says, a faint smile tugging at his lips.

"It's… Lizzie Stark."

Kate blinks in surprise as almost the entire Shelby family erupts into laughter. "John," Polly struggles to discuss this as civilly as possible. "Lizzie Stark' a strong woman and I'm sure she provides a fine service for her customers-

"I won't hear the word." John says tightly, the anger apparent in his voice. "Understand? Do not use the word."

"What word is that John?" Thomas asks, purposefully baiting him.

John won't even turn to acknowledge Thomas. "You know what the word is."

"Everyone bloody knows." Arthur crows.

"Everybody can go to hell." John snaps.

"Whore?" Thomas asks. "That word? Or prostitute? How about that one?"

"Alright, I want it know if anyone calls her a whore again, I will push the barrel of my revolver down their throats and blow the words back down into their holes." Kate's mouth drops open in shock at those words.

"Oi." Arthur says. "We have a lady here John."

"Men and their cocks never cease to amaze me." Polly's words cause Kate to stare at her in surprise. This family clearly said everything that was on their mind! "John, Lizzie stark never did a day's work vertical."

"She's changed, alright. People change." John states as he stands up. "Like with religion!"

"Oh, Lizzie Starks got religion, eh?" Arthur teases.

"No, no, she doesn't have religion but well she loves me." Kate frowns slightly as John approaches Thomas. A few things start to come together and Kate starts to see that this marriage between Lizzie and John would be a disaster. "Now Tommy, I won't do it without your blessing."

Thomas chooses that moment to address her. "Kate, John brought you in here for support. What's your opinion to this whole thing?"

Kate shakes her head. "I can't, I'm not family and-

"Just speak your peace." He says. "Before your mouth starts bleeding from you trying not to say whatever it is you want to say."

Kate stares at him before exhaling deeply. "Alright, John, I do support that you have the right to marry whoever you love." He grins and everyone glowers at her. "However, unlike with Ada and Freddie, I don't support this marriage."

Thomas smirks slightly as John turns to her. "What?"

"Ada and Freddie belong together; I don't see this with you and Lizzie. I think I, like the rest of your family didn't see this thing coming!" Thomas smirks, reaching into his pocket for a cigarette. "Like, you two don't even eat at the same table when you're in the restaurant together! Not ideal for an engaged couple." She inhales before stating calmly. "You're also looking for a wife who'd also be a good mother for your children. In this case John, when your daughters becomes old enough to start seeing boys, are they going to respect Lizzie's advice because of her previous profession? From what I know, everyone, including the children are aware of what Lizzie does." John's face stills. "Are you willing to completely bury Lizzie's past behind her, or will it rise during an argument between the two of you in the future? How are you going to handle previous clients talking to her when you can't take your own family's thoughts? Are the children going to be exposed to anything?"

"Well," Polly tacks on. "she's already pointed out several very valid things; we should bring her in here to family meetings more often." Polly shoots her a smile. "It helps to have a second woman's opinion against these men."

"She's not even been married." John tacks on. "Her opinion isn't worth that much."

"Yet," Thomas states pointedly. "you felt she knew enough to bring her into this meeting."

For a long time, everyone is silent. Kate adds. "Before I go, I'd also like to state that the main reason I don't think Lizzie should marry you is because, I believe that she's in love with someone else." All heads turn to look at her as she confesses. "Fredrick."

John's eyes narrow. "Who the hell is this Fredrick?"

Kate's silent for a moment before saying "The man who comes in and joins her at the table when she's having lunch and they wind up talking for hours. He always pays for her meal and pays me to send her a dinner to her place on occasion." She shakes her head. "It all makes sense now."

"What does?" Polly inquires.

"I asked him if he wanted to court her, he said yes but there were complications that prevented him from doing so. You're the complication John."

"Does he know what she is?" John asks.

Kate nods. "Yes, and he doesn't care."

"Lizzie ain't said anything about him to me."

"I think…she's afraid to reject you and she's going to marry you out of obligation to protect the man she really loves. You are a Shelby after all and…let's just say no one wants to ruffle any feathers." Kate turns to Thomas. "Fredrick is a friend of mine, now, I don't want-

"I know, I know. No violence." He turns to John. "If what Kate says is true, you should let Lizzie go and see what happens. If there's nothing there…you've got nothing to worry about."

"I don't think you truly love her John. You're just looking for someone to fill a hole in your life and for now…Lizzie is the closest thing."

"Tell me," Polly inquires. "how did an intelligent lady like you wind up in this hellhole of Birmingham?"

Kate's silent for a moment. "I just happened to run into Thomas's stable during a rain storm."

"Well, you picked a good spot to run to." Polly shoots all of them a glance. "If any of you three men had any sense," she shoots a long look at Thomas. "one of you would make her fall in love with you marry her."

Kate laughs in embarrassment and shifts uncomfortably. "I'm terribly flattered, but I'm not the marrying kind."

"The ring you're wearing around your neck, says you were at one time." Kate exhales as she touches the ring. "What happened to the man? If you don't mind my asking."

Thomas shakes his head. "She does mind."

"She can answer for herself Thomas." Polly looks at her, waiting for an answer.

Kate was silent for a bit before speaking. "He was shot on our wedding day."

Everyone, except for Thomas reacted to those words. "What?" Polly was shocked. "On purpose?"

"In the middle of the vows." She rubbed her finger against an invisible stain on her sleeve. "Never found out who did it, though." Kate clears her throat. "I've got to get back to the restaurant."

"Of course." Polly stands up and gives her a hug, surprising her. "You hang in there." she says softly in her ear. "The pain's almost gone now."

Kate returns the hug, holding onto Polly a little tighter than she should since she wasn't family. "Thank you."

At that moment, Finn runs in the room. "We've been done over!" Everyone responds by running quickly out of the room.

"Can I use the phone?" she shouts after them.

"Yes!" Polly shouts over her shoulder.

Kate picks up her phone and dials the pub. Harry picks up. Hullo?

"Harry? I need you to go next door and have Abigail run my medical bag down to the Shelby house. There's been an accident." Kate hangs up abruptly and hurriedly follows them. She knows she is running into danger, but after speaking her piece in a family meeting, she knew she had to be on hand for what was coming.


Idcam: If she remembered, she'd certainly understand where her feelings suddenly came from! Yes, that's what 19 will be.