Chapter 5: Is this what my life has come to?
Since there is not much information about John's kids, apart from that one girl is called Katie and she has 3 siblings, i have made some information up so it suits the story. Enjoy! - QueenNothingness
I'm not a perfect person
There's many things I wish I didn't do
You would have thought that Marie's life would change much in the months after getting married to someone she barely knows. And it does in a sense.
She is supposed to take care of a bunch of kids she doesn't know, and who are not excited nor accepting of her. They make it very clear they do not want her in their home, nor in their lives.
Her youngest stepson, can she even call them that?!, is barely four. He is a bit more accepting of her, since the death of his mother is less fresh in his mind than the other kids.
The other children,... Well, it's best she does not elaborate on that.
And there is also the other part that makes her married life less than joyful. Johnny boy himself.
He has barely spoken a word to her since they have been married, and though she did not expect him to proclaim his undying love for her, she had at least hoped they could be civil towards each other.
He is barely home, and somewhere she is happy for that, but it does mean she is left more often than not alone with the kids.
I'm sorry that I hurt you
It's something I must live with everyday
And all the pain I put you through
I wish that I could take it all away
In the beginning they ignored her but now, since they see their father does not intervene, the oldest ones can be downright mean and bratty. It's starting to wear on Marie. She understands where they come from, she really does, but her patience is wearing thin.
Marie tries to ignore the whispers of the people around her, as Katie and the second oldest child, a boy named George, run ahead of her, screaming and not having a care in the world.
Milly, the third oldest girl, is pulling on Marie's hand, trying to break free. Marie bites her lip, trying to keep quiet, as she really does not want to start shouting at a five-year, almost six-year old in front of a bunch of strangers.
The only who is sitting quietly on her left arm is Arthur, called Artie for short, the four-year old still snoozing from the rude awakening of his siblings that morning.
'Milly, please.' Marie whispers, as Milly starts crying harder, stomping her feet and pulling on her stepmother's fingers. 'We are almost at Aunt Polly's, yeah?'
'Marie!' The blonde-haired girl looks up when she sees Reinke and Eva approach, and she is so happy to see them she almost wants to burst out in tears than and there from sheer exhaustion.
'That bad, huh?' Reinke asks in their native tongue, Eva's eyebrows going up in confusion as Marie nods. Eva is quick to call the oldest kids to her, dragging them inside Polly's house, Finn letting out a happy shout when he sees her coming in.
'You look worse for wear, Marie.' Polly says, her gaze falling on Reinke's best friend. 'I had a trying morning. I am not used to caring for such small children.' Marie mutters, allowing Arthur to climb into Polly's awaiting arms.
'Thank you for looking after them, Polly.' The twenty two-year-old eventually whispers, taking her keys and coat. 'That's fine. You go and work, yeah?'
Reinke shouts a goodbye to Eva, dragging Marie outside to Hannah's shop. Marie has reduced the hours she is working, since she cannot work a full-time job and look after four kids.
But she does make enough money on her own, enough so she can put some aside for emergencies. She does not want to live off of John Shelby's money, even if he makes enough to provide for her and his children.
I've found a reason for me
To change who I used to be
The Saturday flies by, and Marie feels like she can breathe again, even if only for a short while. When she and Reinke approach Polly's house that evening, she is happy to see Reinke's uncle and Ada, with little Karl.
Ada has by far been the nicest to her, and she would even call her something close to a friend. Ada gives her a warm smile when Marie and Reinke enter, Finn and Eva running into their arms.
They are all quick to join the Shelby's for a family dinner, though Reinke and Marie are both more than happy to eat and listen to conversation flow around them.
'We went to the Cut today!' Eva tells excitedly, Reinke giving her younger sister a tired smile. 'Be careful of the water if you take the younger children, Eva. I don't think Milly and Artie can swim.'
'Yes, it's better to be careful, you never know.' Marie adds to the warning, Eva nodding in understanding. 'Are you saying we c an't swim?' Katie at once shouts over dinner, a silence falling over the table.
'That's rich coming from you. You're not even from around here!' George adds, a snort leaving John.
'Are they always this rude to you?' Reinke's lips curl back in disgust, a sneer appearing on her face. Peter's worried gaze falls on Marie, who shakes her head.
'But why? You did nothing wrong!' Eva sputters, an angry look appearing on her child-like face, as she stares at Katie and George.
'Mind switching back to English, love? Like civilized people?' Arthur asks, Reinke's posture going stiff. 'Civilized people, you say?' Marie's friend lets out a bitter laugh, gearing up for something big to leave her mouth.
'Reinke.' Marie whispers, pleading eyes going to her friend. 'Please. There is no use in fighting about something so trivial. Let it go.'
The blonde-haired woman scoffs, but nods, taking a gulp from her glass of wine. 'But...' Eva sputters, Marie giving her an unreadable look.
'Let it go, Eva. Let's enjoy dinner, yeah? Lord knows I am horrible at cooking. For the one time we eat something decent.' Polly gives her an unreadable look, but the harshness is gone from her eyes, so Marie wonders if maybe she has risen a bit in Polly's good graces.
They stay the night at Polly's house, and for once Marie once more shares a room with Reinke and Eva, and just for that one night, she can pretend her life has not changed that much.
The days bleed into weeks, as Marie tries to get better at her new life. She will never be a house princess, but at least she has gotten better at cooking, and the house looks at least decent.
It is not sparkling clean, but it is liveable.
The children are still well, not exactly the friendliest, but she can see they are less mean and rude. A routine has been established and though she is nothing close to a mother-figure, she can tell a woman in the house does them good.
Katie and George are still somewhat difficult, but Milly and Artie have more or less accepted her, she can tell. And it makes her feel a bit better.
As for John ,well they do not talk much, but the obvious hostility is at least gone.
'Why do we need to go to school, again?' Katie asks, dragging her feet. Marie chuckles, Milly trotting calmly next to her. 'Education is important. You can be whatever you want if you can read and do math.'
George snorts but keeps quiet, a shout making Marie turn around. Eva and Finn come running to them, Reinke not far behind. Without a word she takes Artie from Marie's arms, so her friend is not so weighed down with the little boy and Milly on her other side.
'Have fun at school!' Marie shouts, waving at the children, a small surprised look crossing her face when George and Katie wave back.
They drop Artie and Milly off at Peter's, who is working from home that day, the hours flying by as they work at Hannah's shop.
I'm not a perfect person
I never meant to do those things to you
And so I have to say before I go
That I just want you to know
Marie has just finished working as she walks to the Cut, going to get the kids so they can go home and eat dinner.
'MARIE!' Someone yells, and it is to her shock Katie that is running to her. She can see the girl is crying and that makes the woman in front of her nervous, her heart starting to race.
'What is it?' Marie asks, trying to get the girl to calm down through her hysterical sobbing. 'Milly fell in the Cut!' The girl's eyes widen as her heart starts to hammer in fear. 'Eva tries to get her out, but she she is not strong enough. George and I cannot swim!'
Marie stumbles behind her stepdaughter, taking off running, a surprised shout leaving Arthur and John when they see her pass.
She stops at the Cut, and sees Eva struggling to keep Milly afloat. It is clear as day the twelve-year old is starting to tire quickly. Eva lets out a shout of fear as she starts to sink, the four-year-old in her arms desperately clutching her.
'MARIE!' She hears Reinke call out in shock, Finn and her friend coming running from the other way. Marie does not hesitate and jumps into the water, her dress, stockings and coat filling with cold water in seconds.
Marie swims to the other side, just in time grabbing Eva underneath her arms. 'Marie!' Eva sobs, but Marie holds her up, her legs keeping them afloat. 'Give Milly to me. You hold onto my back.'
Marie grabs the little girl in her arms, Eva grabbing her back as she swims back to shore. Reinke is quick to hoist Milly up, wrapping her up in her coat.
Marie drags Eva out of the water, lying down and taking her breath for a few minutes, ignoring the mud that has drenched her clothes and hair. 'Are you okay, Eva?' Reinke asks, her little sister grabbing her around the middle.
'You did good.' Marie compliments her, and even though they are drenched and cold, Eva gives her a grin.
John's children are silent as Marie sits up, shivering and coughing some of the water out of her lungs. George and Katie are silent as the woman who just saved their sister stands up, and motions for them to follow her.
Milly is sitting on Marie's left arm, Katie grabbing her right hand, George walking silently next to her. Reinke takes a shivering Eva by the hand, Finn not sure what to say as he runs ahead of them to warn Aunt Polly.
The woman lets them in without a sound, asking Finn to fill the bathtub. Marie tells Eva and Milly to go first, but the little girl is insistent Marie stays with her, so Eva goes first.
Marie sips from her glass of wine later that evening, the stress and nerves from that day finally leaving her. She listens to the music playing from the gramophone Polly was so nice to put in her room, stretching her legs.
Milly has been left with Reinke, and for now she is calm. Though Marie suspects that the girl will be scared of water for a while.
'What the fuck are you going on about, Pol?! Milly almost drowned? Where's bloody Marie?!' Polly snaps something at John, and Marie hears the voices diminish as they go back downstairs.
Reinke gives John an unimpressed look, bristling as he is. 'If you would stop shouting for a moment, than your children can explain.' Reinke says, John fuming as she throws him another unimpressed look.
'Milly almost drowned.' Katie admits, a blush appearing on her cheeks. 'Eva told us to be careful at the Cut, but before we knew, she had fallen in.' George nods, trying not to get scared of his father's angry look.
'Eva tried to save her, but she was not strong enough. Marie, she saved them.' Katie whispers, the angry look her father had on his face turning into one of disbelief.
'Marie is taking a bath, since she was muddy all over.' Reinke offers, taking another sip of her glass. 'I think your children need to learn to swim as soon as possible, just in case. And maybe keep Milly and Artie away from the Cut for awhile, until they are older.'
John sits on one of the couches, sighing as his hands go through his hair. 'Yeah, you're right.'
'Do you need help with dinner, Polly?' A voice pipes up, a freshly washed Marie appearing in the doorway. The Shelby woman gives her a soft smile, shaking her head. 'No, you take it slow, love. I'll manage.'
The evening progresses quickly and as Marie puts the children to bed that night, there is no fight unlike other nights. She gives Katie and George a small smile as they thank her again.
'Try and get some sleep. I'll sleep with Milly for tonight, just to make sure she does not have any nightmares. Don't hesitate to wake me up if you need me.'
I've found a reason for me
To change who I used to be
A reason to start over new
And the reason is you
Marie has just put Milly to bed, as she goes downstairs for another sip of water before bed. John is sitting at the table, quiet, as if he is mulling over something.
'Want something to drink?' Marie asks, John looking up at her entering the kitchen, his eyes stormy with emotion.
'No, I'm good.' His wife nods, sighing as she looks outside, the moon giving the street an eery look.
'Well, goodnight.' She is almost at the stairs when she hears John call her name, her husband seemingly not knowing what to say.
'Thank you, for saving her.' Marie gives him a blinding but tired smile. 'Don't mention it.' She takes another step and than turns again.
'Want to come to bed? I am sure Milly will feel better if you sleep on one side and I on the other.' John seems to hesitate for a second, a devious grin appearing on his wife's lips.' I won't take advantage of you, I promise.'
John snorts at that, but he follows her up to their bedroom. They had been sharing a bed for months, due to lack of space, but they had always kept a distance, John even going as far as putting a line of cushions in between them.
The mattress and bed creaks when they both lie down, Marie biting her lip to stop herself from letting out a giggle as to not wake Milly up.
The last thing she sees is the lazy smirk on her husband's lips, eyes going soft as they bore into hers, when she falls asleep.
And if the next morning, she wakes up pretty much in John's arms with Milly squished in between them, they do not mention it.
And if starting from that moment on, John always tries to come to bed at the same time as her, more often than not ending up with Marie softly snoring in his arms, than that is nobody's business but their own.
I've found a reason to show
A side of me you didn't know
A reason for all that I do
And the reason is you
