Tommy was already awake by the time Elizabeth surfaced. Slipping from the bed, she reached for her nightgown and slid it onto her body. Yawning as she stretched, she ran a hand through her hair, ruffling it even further as she padded out from the bedroom. Moving down the landing, she had expected to walk downstairs and find Tommy in his office, but she heard his voice from the other side of the landing. Frowning, she saw that Charlotte's door was open.
Moving over to it, she wandered into the bedroom and stood in the doorway. The curtains were still closed and the small lamp in the corner was the only source of light. Tommy was dressed already, but he had his jacket at the bottom of his daughter's bed as he sat up with her. Leaning against the headboard, Tommy had his arm around Charlotte's shoulders as her head rested on his upper arm. His other hand held a washcloth against her forehead as the little girl struggled to keep her eyes open.
"What is going on?" Elizabeth asked, noticing Charlotte sweating, her face red and her cheeks slightly puffed. Moving to the other side of the bed, Elizabeth sat down as Tommy shook his head, trying to soothe his wife as she placed a hand on Charlotte's cheek, feeling how warm she was.
"She was just ill in the middle of the night," Tommy said to Elizabeth. "She came into our room, but yer were asleep. I didn't want to wake yer."
"You should have."
"I just have a bad tummy," Charlotte said to her mother and Elizabeth looked at her with wonder, hoping that that was all it was and nothing else. She didn't want her daughter to be sick with anything serious. The idea frightened Elizabeth more than she cared to admit.
"Are you certain that there is nothing else?" Elizabeth urged for her to speak.
"No," Charlotte said. "Daddy stayed with me while I was sick."
Tommy nodded as Elizabeth looked at him, a sense of adoration inside of her for the man she had married and the father of their child. Despite all of his flaws, he was a good man. Elizabeth knew that. He loved them more than anything.
"Held 'er 'air back and everythin'," Tommy said wryly and Elizabeth almost chuckled, but kept herself composed.
"Do you want anything, Charlotte?" she asked her. "Do you want a glass of water?"
"I am fine," Charlotte said. "I am feeling tired."
"Are yer sure yer not goin' to be sick again?" Tommy asked from her and she shook her head. "Okay, well yer go to sleep, but if yer feel ill, yer shout for us, alright? Or yer come and find us downstairs?"
"Okay," Charlotte agreed. "I think I will be fine. I just feel sleepy."
"Then get some sleep," Elizabeth urged her daughter, bending to kiss the top of her head. Tommy uncurled himself from her side, standing up as she slid down the bed and closed her eyes, almost falling straight to sleep. He managed to smile softly as he also kissed her on the side of her head, pulling her duvet up to her chin and covering her. Switching the light out, he grabbed his jacket from the bottom of her bed and began to make his move.
Closing the door, but not shutting it, he looked to his wife and shrugged. "Might 'ave been somethin' she ate?" he suggested as they moved along the landing and down the stairs. "Or she could 'ave picked it up from school. Yer know what it's like. Kids pass things on."
"I know," Elizabeth responded, entering the study with Tommy as she tugged her dressing gown tightly around her body. "I just worry about her. You know that."
"Eh, we both do," Tommy said, kissing her on the forehead as he ran his hands up and down her upper arms. "But she'll be alright. She's goin' to stay off school for the rest of the week and just sleep it off."
"Good idea," Elizabeth admitted as Tommy went to sit down at his desk and she remained stood, a hand going to her chin. "So, you stayed up with her?"
"She came to get me at about two in the mornin'," Tommy said. "I took 'er to the bathroom and stayed with 'er as she was sick. I got changed while she was dozin' at about five."
"You're a good father, Tommy," Elizabeth said to him.
Tommy shrugged. "Don't feel it sometimes," he admitted to Elizabeth, leaning back in his chair and clasping his hands onto his stomach. "Don't feel good enough for either of yer."
"Well, you are," Elizabeth responded forcefully.
"There were explosives outside our 'ouse, Liz," Tommy responded. "I 'ave no idea who put 'em there. The business…I wanted to go legal…but the crash…I 'ave to make money somehow. I 'ave to keep us afloat."
"Hey," Elizabeth whispered and went around his desk. Crouching down, she remained by his side, her hands holding onto one of his thighs. "Listen to me, Tommy, none of it matters. We can get through this. How much have we had thrown at us before? All of it was worse than this. The money is just money, Tommy. You know that Charlotte and I would be happy with just a snippet of it because we have you. You are the only thing we both need."
Tommy moved his hand out to cup her cheek, holding it tenderly. "I know," he admitted, "I know."
"Then do not put so much pressure on yourself. Do what you can, but just come back to us…always come back to us…"
Hauling his wife up, he moved her until she was his height, kissing her forcefully as his hand wrapped into her hair. He bit down on a moan when he felt her bite down on his bottom lip, her own hands going into his hair and clawing at his scalp. The motion was harsh and raw. There was no tenderness to it, but Elizabeth didn't seem to be complaining. She only pulled back when she needed air, gasping loudly and Tommy wondered if he had taken it too far.
"Liz, I know yer need time-"
"-No," she interrupted him with a shake of his head as she stood up straight. Spreading his thighs, Tommy made room for her to stand in between them as she reached for her dressing gown tie, pulling on it until the material parted and she remained in her nightgown. "I want you, Tommy…if…if you want me."
Moving to his own feet, Tommy reached for her, pushing the dressing down from her shoulders and grabbing the back of her thighs. Hauling her up, he rested her on the edge of his desk as he stepped in between her legs. Bending down, he kissed her once more, this time the motion a bit more tender as his hands went to gather her nightgown up her legs, his fingers trailing along her skin.
He pulled back after a moment, looking her in the eye. "I'll always want yer," he responded. "Now lay back."
Elizabeth kissed him once more briefly and did as he had asked, hoping that no one came into the office for the next hour.
….
Looking to Pol, Elizabeth saw that the woman was in no mood for pleasantries of games. As she asked Tommy and Arthur if they were armed, Elizabeth wondered if she genuinely thought that either of them could shoot Michael. Arthur made a show of emptying his gun, the shells dropping to the floor as Tommy simply placed his gun on the bar.
The Garrison was empty and, for once, clean. Elizabeth hadn't seen it this clean in a long time. She shrugged out of her gloves and placed them in the pocket of her coat. Tommy leant back against the bar, his hand moving down his wife's back, tantalisingly close to her backside. She peered up to look at him as he smirked and she rolled her eyes. Pol picked up on the interaction.
"I take it you two 'ave put aside yer differences?" she asked of them.
Elizabeth bit down on her tongue and Tommy shrugged. "We're fine," was all he said.
"So yer sleepin' better?" Pol asked and Elizabeth looked away for a moment, knowing that her husband was having troubles sleeping. Everything was getting on top of him. Her pulling away had driven him to distraction and they had both nearly imploded, destroying each other. She hated that she had done that to him.
"Still 'avin' dreams though, Pol. 'Ad one about a black cat last night for the couple of 'ours I did sleep," Tommy said to her and she watched him. "A black cat dream means there is a traitor nearby. Yer taught me that."
"Could mean a lot of things," Pol said. "Can mean yer 'urin' yerself…betrayin' yerself. Are yer seein' things, Thomas?"
"Yes, I am," Tommy said and reached for a cigarette from his pocket as Elizabeth heard a car pull up. Pol went to the main door as Tommy lit his cigarette and she took her opportunity to take his hand into hers, dragging his gaze down to her as he watched her.
"You didn't tell me."
"It's just…yer know," Tommy shrugged. "I'm convinced Michael is out to betray me after that phone call."
"I see," Elizabeth agreed with him on that matter. She didn't entirely trust Michael herself.
The door slipped open and Michael walked in, but he wasn't alone. He was dressed in a beige coloured coat, a dapper suit covering his form as Pol led the couple in. He had his arm behind a young woman with short blonde hair that curled just by her chin. She was pale and her complexion was fair. Her features were distinct, particularly her jawline and her eyes were piercing. Elizabeth remained stood by Tommy's side, her husband putting out his cigarette as he eyed the new woman who had walked in.
"Tommy," Michael said and Elizabeth looked slightly stunned at his ability to speak so boldly. "This is my wife, Gina," he said.
Tommy didn't even look at the woman. "Sit down, Michael," he urged from him.
"Tommy, I know that I betrayed you," Michael said.
"Michael," Pol warned him and took a seat.
"I only betrayed you in my heart," Michael said and turned his head to the side, looking away for a moment before looking back to Tommy. But Tommy was looking to the side, clearly acting nonchalant. "There was a lot of money in the bank in America and I wondered if I could leave…move to California. Invest in Hollywood instead, but Gina stopped me. Gina said-"
"-I told yer to sit down, Michael," Tommy replied, voice curt and demanding. Michael did as he was told, taking a seat as Arthur looked down. "Now tell me what 'appened on that ship in Belfast."
Michael sighed. "We got married on the way back from New York. We had to find a witness. We found someone from Belfast and we became friendly, but this purser had friends who ran a distillery who wanted a way of getting their whiskey into America. I said that he should invite them on board. He lied to me. They weren't Irish and they didn't make whiskey. They were Scottish and from Glasgow. They started swearing…so I asked Gina to leave and then they asked me about you, Tommy…said you were spent…said that you were a politician with nothing left…with a broken marriage that had broken you. They said it would be a good time to go in, but I didn't want to be in on it. They said that you were going to kill me anyway for what I had done in America…losing the money."
"So what did yer say, Michael?"
"I didn't say anything," Michael replied. "The police came, but they…well…they were IRA…not coppers."
"And the men from Glasgow?"
"Billy Boys," Michael said and Arthur cursed under his breath. "They run ever coal mine east of Glasgow. They have ties with Belfast, UVF…they also have a go in politics acting as muscle for fascists."
"But yer didn't know who they were, did yer, Michael?" Pol double checked with her son.
"No," Michael said. "I was too busy looking forward to coming home and giving the good news. The reason why Gina and I got married in a rush is because Gina is pregnant."
Elizabeth almost felt herself choke at that. The young woman looked so smug as she placed a hand on her stomach and her other hand on Michael's shoulder. Pol looked slightly shocked as Michael held Gina's hand. Tommy said nothing, his hand went to his wife's back as he spoke.
"Okay, Michael, I believe you," Tommy said. "Welcome home and congratulations…but remember that everything you said has been said in the presence of your unborn child-"
"-Thomas!" Pol snapped.
"Tommy," Elizabeth whispered and he looked down to her as she shook her head. "He isn't worth it."
Michael moved to his feet and closer to Thomas, but Arthur stopped him. He grabbed hold of him by the collar and kept him in his place as Elizabeth kept her hand on Tommy's forearm.
"Isn't worth it?" he echoed back at her. "Like I'm someone not worth your attention?"
"You ignored my husband," Elizabeth said. "You ignored what he asked you to do, so yes, you are not worth him getting upset over."
"Elizabeth," Pol complained and Liz shrugged as Tommy nodded and then looked back to Michael.
"You owe this company a lot of money, Michael. There are things you can do…risks yer can take. We were close before. I trusted yer…but I don't trust yer…but I want yer close. I want yer closer than before."
"Michael, honey," Gina finally spoke, pressing herself against his side. "Look at your cousin, huh? He needs you. He needs your help. His wife has been through a lot. I am sure she is just lashing out."
"Excuse me?" Elizabeth demanded from her and she shrugged.
"Michael told me about the miscarriages," she said. "And then drinking and issues in your marriage."
"Did he?" Elizabeth asked, looking at Michael and then back to Gina. "Well, I suggest you keep your nose out of other people's business. You have no idea what you are talking about."
"I didn't mean to pry," she said.
"You should leave," Elizabeth replied. "Go."
"Tommy, are you going to let her-"
"-Yes," Tommy interrupted Michael. "She is my wife. She has never betrayed me. So do as she has asked and leave."
Leaving the pub, Gina and Michael said nothing else and Pol followed them, glowering at Elizabeth and Tommy as she went.
The door slammed shut and Arthur shook his head. "Never easy," he complained.
"Did yer expect it to be?"
"Never do," Arthur said with a shrug. "So what do we do, Tommy?"
"Keep an eye on 'im," Tommy said. "We make sure we know exactly what he is doin' and he pays me back for what he has lost. Yer should go 'ome, Arthur. Go back to Linda."
"What are yer goin' to do?"
"Go 'ome. Charlotte's ill so we don't want to be gone for too long."
"As you are, Tom," Arthur said. "Bye, Liz."
"Bye, Arthur."
Arthur left the pub and Elizabeth let out a long breath that she had been holding in. Shaking slightly, she leant forward, resting against Tommy's front as her head went to his shoulder. Tommy wrapped his arms around her, holding her tightly.
"Do you think it was them who planted the explosives?"
"The Billy Boys?" Tommy asked.
"Um-hm," Elizabeth hummed.
"Pretty sure," Tommy responded, his cheek resting on top of her head.
"What are we going to do?"
"I'll think of something," Tommy said. "I always do."
"I know," she replied. "But I don't like Gina."
Tommy chuckled and kissed the top of her head. "Funnily enough, I got that feelin' from yer too."
…..
A/N: Thanks to everyone reading and reviewing. Do let me know what you think!
