Tommy sat in his office, slowly drinking the small glass of whiskey that Pol had just brought him as he poured through the accounts for the day, making sure that everything was in order, particularly so since Pol had asked him if she could, potentially, hire another secretary. Tommy had grumbled, complaining about the extra cost it would have, but then Pol had reminded him of the profit margins they were making and he seemed to go quiet.
"I 'eard a rumour," Pol said, once she had sat down in the office and Tommy drained the alcohol, not particularly enjoying talk of rumours as he looked over to Pol from over the books in front of him, his hands lacing together on the wood.
"And what would that be?"
"The Kimber house is up for sale," Pol said, lighting herself a cigarette and Tommy shrugged.
"And?" he asked from Pol.
"None of us knew yer wife was sellin' it," Pol said.
"She ain't," Tommy replied. "Billy left her money in her will, but she told 'is wife to sell the 'ouse. Apparently she's got 'erself and man and they're movin' over to France. Liz told her to donate the money or keep it. She doesn't want it."
Pol's gaze widened then as she let the smoke puff out of her mouth, holding her cigarette daintily above her body as Tommy watch her, wondering exactly what she was thinking about, but he chose to remain mute, his hand going to pick up the empty glass and pass it between each hand.
"Is she mad?" Pol demanded from Tommy.
"She ain't like us," Tommy said. "She's 'ad money all 'er life. She sees it as her brother's and father's inheritance and she wants nothin' to do with it."
Pol scoffed then, her chin jutting in as Tommy watched her with intrigue. "She wouldn't be sayin' that if she were poor, would she?"
"No," Tommy said. "But if she donates it then she will 'ave 'elped someone. She…to Liz, the money is not just money. It is the point of where it comes from. I don't know. Yer know she makes her own mind up."
Pol kept her tongue held as she looked off to the side, wondering exactly what Tommy was saying, but she knew better than to question him when it came to Elizabeth. To him, his wife could hardly do any wrong.
"Her choice," Pol merely said. "Just that I think she's mad."
"Well, think what you want," Tommy replied through clenched teeth. "It doesn't particularly matter anyway, we don't need it, do we? If we can afford a new secretary then it don't matter."
Pol smirked then, taking another sharp inhale of her cigarette before blowing out again. "So we can 'ave one then?"
"As long as she's 'ard workin' and doesn't cost us too much," Tommy agreed, leaning back in his chair and resting his hands on his head as Pol stood up, stubbing out the cigarette in Tommy's ashtray before picking up his empty glass and sauntering away, only for the door to burst open as she went to reach for the doorhandle.
"Finn!" Pol yelled as the young boy entered the room, his cheek's tinged red as he panted for breath, clearly after running somewhere.
"Sorry, Aunt Pol," he spoke, looking to her for a fleeting moment before looking back to Tommy. "Tommy, you need to go to the school where Liz is."
"Why?" Tommy demanded, remaining seated, but leaning forward, wondering what Finn was talking about. "And shouldn't you be in school?"
"Yeah," Finn said sheepishly for a moment before continuing on with his story. "But I left as soon as I 'eard. All the teachers were called out to 'elp. It's Elizabeth…they kept sayin' that she was 'aving the baby!"
Tommy did stand with haste then, launching himself to his feet as he picked up his cap and slipped it onto his head alongside stuffing his arms into his coat while Pol looked to Finn, her brow furrowing.
"She's not due for another good few weeks," Pol said. "Yer sure it's Liz?"
"Yeah," Finn said with a determined nod. "I 'eard 'em."
"I'm goin' down there," Tommy said. "She needs to go to a hospital, not be in a bloody school. I told 'er to wait until the baby was born before workin'. I bloody well told 'er."
"She can work and be pregnant, you idiot," Pol sniped at Tommy, following him out of his office with Finn in tow. "She was due to give it up anyway. She only 'ad another week."
Tommy didn't reply, rushing through the offices until he came to the car that sat on the street. He wasted no time fishing his keys from the coat pocket and then moving into the vehicle. He was more shocked that Pol was climbing into the passenger seat, her eyes fixed on Tommy as he looked at her with confusion.
"Finn, go inside and tell yer brothers where we've gone," Pol said as she slammed the door shut and the little boy walked off with a nod. She turned her attention back to Tommy when she realised that he hadn't started the car up. "What?" she snapped. "I've 'elped deliver babies before if there's no midwife there. Besides, I bet I'll be much more use than you."
Again, Tommy didn't snap back. Instead he focused on driving through Birmingham, making his way through Small Heath until he finally came to where Elizabeth was working. Thankfully it was only a ten minute drive that Tommy had been accustomed to doing after dropping Elizabeth off on his way to the office and then picking her up on the way home.
He abandoned the car on the street and jumped out, his foot directly heading into a puddle and splashing up on his trouser leg as he resumed stuffing his hands into his pockets. Pol followed him into the school, noticing that all the children were outside on the concrete, amusing themselves as some teachers watched over them from the main door to the school. There were two women, each of them stood with a cup of tea in their hands as they whispered to each other, only stopping when they saw Tommy approaching.
"Mr Shelby, I presume?" one asked, her long blonde hair hanging down her back as she looked at him with a smile.
"Aye," Tommy said. "Where is she?"
"The staff room," she said. "She's been in labour for a good half an hour, but we 'aven't 'eard anythin'. Come on, I'll show yer the way."
The woman handed the other woman her cup before pulling the wooden door open and leading Tommy through the building. His feet were heavy on the wooden floor as he struggled to notice anything around him, barely realising that this was his old school. Pol was behind him, completely on his heel as they turned the corner and then he heard her.
Tommy didn't need the woman to open the door for him to know that his wife was in there. She pushed it open anyway, holding it wide for him to walk into.
"Thank God," the headmaster, the man who Tommy knew well from his time in the shop gambling. "She's been in labour for ages. We called for an ambulance, but we haven't had anything yet and the doctor is on another call out. Busy day for women going into labour."
"Tommy!"
She shrieked his name and he moved with haste. She was laid down on the long sofa, her knees bent as two other teachers stood there at the end of her legs, clearly keeping an eye on the situation. Tommy knelt on the stained carpet by her side as her hands flailed towards him, clearly reaching for his. He caught them inside of one of his as his other hand went to her cheek, stroking her hair from her face as he felt the sweat pool from her face. The top three buttons to her blouse were open, clearly so that she could cool down.
"I need water and a towel," Pol's voice snapped as she shooed the two women away from Elizabeth, taking their place at the end of the sofa and pushing Elizabeth's legs further apart so that she could look. "We're not goin' to 'ave long by the looks of it."
Elizabeth gulped, the pain enough to make her scream as she swallowed the noise, instead of letting it out as she shook her head, her gaze searching Tommy's gaze.
"It can't," Elizabeth said with determination. "It isn't due for three weeks."
"Well, babies don't really wait until they're told, Liz," Pol said. "But I'm goin' to need yer to push, yer got it? You've got to push."
"Mr Shelby," the headmaster's voice echoed into Tommy's ears and he turned his head over his shoulder to look at him. "We have a spare classroom if you would care to wait in there. I know that fathers do not typically-"
"-I'm fine 'ere," Tommy said, interrupting him from saying anything as Elizabeth yelled out once she had pushed and Pol placed her hand's on the girl's knees. There was no option of Tommy leaving her. How could he when she was in such a state? The thought sickened him. Keeping silent, he could only hold her hand and wipe the sweat from her forehead with the back of his hand.
"Tommy," Elizabeth mumbled his name as she closed her eyes and Tommy bent down to kiss her on the cheek.
"Yer alright, Liz," Tommy whispered to her. "I've got yer."
"Keep pushing, Elizabeth," Pol urged her.
"It might not be early, eh?" Tommy whispered to her. "The doctor said there might be a few weeks out because we don't know exactly when you were pregnant…it'll be fine, you'll see."
Elizabeth didn't share his optimism, but she said nothing, knowing that there was no point in arguing, especially when all she wanted to do was scream loudly and curse.
Pol let the two women she had ordered to bring a towel leave the room, telling them that she didn't need their help as Pol let her hands wander down Elizabeth's thighs and she spotted it.
"I can see the head, Liz," Pol called out to her. "This will be the 'ard part, okay? Yer need to keep pushin', got it? Yer need to make sure yer get the head out."
"How?" Elizabeth asked and Pol pulled her legs open wider.
"Squeeze 'is 'and and yell," Pol instructed her. "Yer need to do it, Liz, then it will be over."
Elizabeth took a sharp breath as her hair clung to her face and she struggled to do as Pol had asked as she yelled loudly and Tommy's hand went white as she cut circulation off, no doubt. He said nothing, probably knowing that she would not appreciate his complaints as she leant forwards slightly, her yells running through the room.
"Nearly there!" Pol yelled, her hands ready to catch the head of the baby as Tommy waited with patience before he heard Elizabeth begin to gasp in relief, her pants short and laboured as she rested on her back and the yell of a baby entered his ears.
Tommy beamed as Pol wrapped the small babe into the towel, holding her in her arms as Tommy moved to kiss Elizabeth on the forehead, his hands going to her forehead and wiping her hair from her face as she managed to peer up at him.
"Well, you seem to 'ave a little girl," Pol spoke and Elizabeth let her eyes widen as Tommy helped her to sit up. He perched on the sofa behind her, letting her upper half rest against his as his arms encircled her waist and his chin rested on the top of her head.
"A girl," Elizabeth whispered as Pol handed her the baby, the umbilical cord still attached.
"A little girl," Tommy whispered.
"I need yer to stay still, Liz," Pol said, a smile on her face as Elizabeth tentatively held the baby in her hands, clearly unsure as to what she should do as she watched with a smile lighting up on her face. "We need to wait for the ambulance to come and cut the cord and then make sure yer alright."
But Elizabeth wasn't listening. She was too intent on watching her baby in her arms.
….
His family had tried to persuade him to go out that night and celebrate, but Tommy had told them to go ahead without him. Instead he had been with Elizabeth to the hospital to make sure that everything was well. Their daughter had been declared healthy and ready to take home. The doctor had told Elizabeth to rest for the next few days with her babe if she had no intention of staying in hospital, which she did not.
Tommy had wrapped his wife into his coat as they stepped out of the hospital towards his car, Elizabeth holding the baby as Tommy kept an arm around her shoulders.
He helped her into the car, unable to take his eyes away from their daughter as he went around to the driver's side.
"She's perfect," Elizabeth whispered and Tommy smirked.
"Aye, that she is," he agreed and Elizabeth looked over to him before he moved to peck her on the cheek.
"We have not even picked a name," Elizabeth said as Tommy began to drive along the dusky streets and back towards their home in the country. He was extra careful, going slower than usual and turning corners with a steadiness. He always glanced over to Liz and the baby, making sure that they were alright.
"No," Tommy agreed with her. "Did you 'ave any ideas?"
"Not particularly," Elizabeth told him. "I am sure we have all night to think of one."
"You 'ave all night to sleep," Tommy told her. "Doctor's orders, remember?"
She didn't contest that, instead she went back to watching their baby for the remainder of the journey home. Tommy pulled up outside the house eventually, quickly climbing down from his side and moving to hers, helping her down with his arms around her to make sure she didn't tumble. Moving towards the house, Tommy unlocked the door and made his way inside, flicking the light switch on.
"Good job we got the nursery finished, aye?" Tommy said.
"Can she not stay with us this evening?" Elizabeth asked of her husband. "We can bring the cot into our bedroom…just for a while?"
"Course," Tommy agreed, moving to kiss her quickly. "Why don't yer go upstairs and I'll move the cot after I've sorted the post."
"Thank you," Elizabeth said and began to move, but Tommy gently stopped her with a hand on her arm, his gaze set down on their daughter as he moved a large palm to cradle the back of her head tenderly.
"Perfect, isn't she?" Elizabeth spoke to her husband and he smirked before looking at Liz.
"Just like 'er mother," Tommy mumbled and quickly moved to kiss her, his lips resting on hers for a few moments.
Elizabeth smirked at him. "Flattery will get you nowhere near my bed for a while, Mr Shelby," she teased him. "Especially so after today. If I'd have known how difficult childbirth was I would never have let you anywhere near me."
Tommy laughed lightly at her teasing as she pecked him on the cheek before moving to the staircase, talking in hushed tones to the baby in her arms while Tommy went to pick up the post that sat on the mat near the doorway.
His smile remained on his face as he flicked through, looking at the seals and checking whether it was anything important. It was only when his eyes landed on a postmark from London did he frown, wondering if his day of bliss was about to come crumbling down.
….
A/N: Thank you so much to everyone who has been reading thus far. It would be amazing if you could let me know what you think! What's the letter about?
