Staring at the liquid in Pol's small tumbler, Elizabeth gulped and looked away. She turned her gaze out the window onto the quiet, leafy street. Pol hadn't moved, despite the firm growing richer. She liked her house in the respectable neighbourhood. It was her own space. It was everything that she had wanted. Pol chewed down on her lip for a moment as she watched Elizabeth. Pol could feel herself becoming light headed. She didn't care. She needed this. She wanted to forget what had happened. First, her son and then her fiancée. One had left her and one had been taken from her.
"What are yer goin' to do?" Pol finally asked, refilling her glass with more whiskey as Elizabeth swirled her cup of tea, watching the brown liquid move from side to side as she shrugged her shoulders.
"I told him I wanted a divorce," Elizabeth said and Pol let out a sharp laugh, the noise high pitched and harsh. Elizabeth looked to her as Pol shook her head and downed more of the liquid.
"And do yer really?"
"Want a divorce?" she checked. "Of course not."
"But yer 'ave 'ad enough," Pol said. "How many times did I think that yer were the only one who could get him to see sense?"
"I thought that I could," Elizabeth replied. "I thought that I could talk to him and get him to listen, but I could only do much. Tommy won't give up this life and I don't want to be a part of it anymore, Pol. I want to leave and get out. I want to take Charlotte with me and live somewhere where I can raise my daughter in peace and not worry about her being hurt or my husband being shot."
Pol understood that. She understood that more than Elizabeth knew. If she could turn back time she would never have left her children. She would have raised Michael. She would have done that for him. It would have given him a better life. She would have made certain of that.
"He isn't goin' to give yer a divorce," Pol said to her. "Yer know that."
"Then he does not give me a divorce," Elizabeth said nonchalantly and shifted in her seat, raking a hand through her hair as she held her teacup in the other hand. Leaning her head back, she closed her eyes. "But I am not staying with him. I am moving on."
"And if yer find someone else?"
"Pol," Elizabeth complained in a long drawl, rolling her eyes as she finally sat up straight and looked to the woman. "I doubt that will happen."
"Yer never know what will 'appen in the future," Pol said. "Yer might not be able to think about it right now, but that time will come. I know it will."
"I don't," Elizabeth said. "All I need to do now is find out where I am going to go. I want to get away from Birmingham-"
"-Liz," Pol said, interrupting her. "Do yer think he will let yer leave Birmingham with Charlotte? Tommy might love yer and swear that he would do anythin' for yer, but he won't let yer take Charlotte away from him. He won't do that."
"I know," Elizabeth admitted and went to stand up, placing her cup of tea on the coffee table before going to close the curtains, letting the darkness envelope them for the evening. "But what do I do?"
"Let me 'elp yer," Pol said. "Stay 'ere. Live in this 'ouse with me…because…well…I don't know if I 'ave any idea of what I am goin' to do. A part of me wants to get out, Liz. I want to go with my son to America. He is 'avin' a baby and he is all I 'ave left now…but I know what he did."
"I can understand," Elizabeth said to Pol, going to sit back down on the chair, perching on the edge of it. "If you want to go and be with Michael then do it. He is your son. He loves you and he…what he did was wrong and the way he spoke to Tommy in the meeting was horrible, but he is still your son. You never know, perhaps you can talk some sense into him?"
Pol snorted. "I doubt it," she responded, "but I am not stayin' and workin' for this company. I am leavin' for a little while before I decide what to do. I need some time away. I want a 'oliday."
"And you are sure it is fine for me and Charlotte to stay here?"
"More than fine," Pol said. "That little girl needs some stability, Liz. Yer 'ave to give it to 'er."
"That is my plan."
….
Elizabeth knew that Tommy had men watching the house. She didn't pretend to ignore them, shooting them glares whenever she walked out of the house. Charlotte had gone back to school and Elizabeth had managed to persuade the school to give her a teaching job. She was lucky that they were short staffed. She would go to work and return with Charlotte, hearing people whisper about her as they walked out of the school gates. She hated listening to them, but she tried to be the better person.
It had been four weeks since she had seen Tommy. Pol had gone on a vacation to Monte Carlo and had sent a postcard. She had no intention of returning anytime soon. Elizabeth only hoped that she was fine. She knew what grief could do to people. She knew the power that it had.
Knowing that she would see Tommy, Elizabeth still had to go back to the house and collect her belongings. She had asked Finn to get Tommy to pack a case, but he had not packed everything. Besides, she had to talk to him. She had to know how this arrangement was going to work.
"He misses yer," Finn said as he stood in the hallway of Pol's house after Elizabeth had asked him to come and look after Charlotte while she went to see Tommy. "Liz, he 'asn't even left 'is study for three days. He doesn't do anythin'."
"Finn, we cannot keep having this discussion," Elizabeth said to the young man who had seemingly deemed it acceptable to now visit her since she had left Tommy. "I am not going back to him, regardless of what he says. He is too far gone. He…he needs someone, but it isn't me."
"Yer wrong," Finn said. "It is you."
"I don't think so, Finn," Elizabeth said, placing her gloves onto her fingertips. "I shouldn't be too long. Charlotte is in the sitting room and there is some stew on the stove that chef is cooking for dinner. Eat without me if I am not back."
"Alright," Finn said and Elizabeth left the house.
She climbed into the car that Finn had driven. She was thankful that Johnny Dogs had agreed to drive her to the manor. He didn't talk much, only offering pleasant conversation. She reciprocated and drummed her fingers on her thighs. All she could think about was what she was going to say to Tommy. What did she want? Where did she begin? She bit the inside of her cheek as the mansion came into view and they drove towards it. Pulling up outside of it, Johnny Dogs stopped the car and Elizabeth stepped from it.
Wandering up towards the house, Elizabeth pulled her hat from the top of her head. Opening the door as Johnny waited outside and lit up a cigarette, she saw Frances in the hallway. The maid offered her a kind smile as Elizabeth walked in. Frances inclined her head as Elizabeth placed a hand to her shoulder, squeezing it gently.
"It is good to see you, Frances," Elizabeth said.
"You too, Mrs…" she trailed off and Elizabeth managed a smile at her, the motion forced.
"It is fine, Frances," she said to the woman. "I am still Tommy's wife."
"He misses you," Frances said and Elizabeth did want to roll her eyes then. Everyone was telling her how much he missed her. Did no one think that she missed him? Did no one think that she wasn't hurting just as much as he was? "He is in the bedroom."
"I will go and see him," Elizabeth said. "Perhaps you can come and visit us when you have a day off, Frances? Charlotte misses you."
"I would like that," Frances nodded her head.
"Excellent," Elizabeth said. "I will see you later, Frances."
Moving up the staircase, Elizabeth left her hat hanging on the bottom of the bannister. She pulled her gloves from her fingers and dropped them into her coat pocket as she wandered along the landing and toward the bedroom. The door was open wide and she could see Tommy's back. He was pulling his suit jacket onto his body. Elizabeth felt a sense of longing inside of her as she watched the back of him and stood in the doorway.
He turned around after a moment and saw her stood there, straightening out his jacket. "Liz," he spoke her name.
"Tommy," she responded and the two of them lapsed into silence.
He looked well. He didn't look as gaunt or exhausted as when she had last left him. Stepping into the bedroom, she saw that things were still the same. Her jewellery was all left on her dressing table. Her nightgown was even at the foot of the bed. Tommy had told Matilda to leave it after she had begun tidying in their room. He still lived in hope that his wife would come back to him. The photograph of her still sat on his bedside table and the picture of Charlotte stood proudly on the dresser.
"I need to pick up some things," Elizabeth said to her husband and stepped into the room and went to the wardrobe. Opening it wide, she pulled out the trunk and placed it on the stool to her dressing table. "I shouldn't be long so don't worry."
"Take as long as yer want," Tommy responded and watched his wife move into the wardrobe and pull out some clothes.
"Are you going out today?" Elizabeth asked, unable to stand the silence. "You are dressed very smartly."
"I have to go down to London," Tommy said to her and sniffed. "I have business with Churchill."
"I see," Elizabeth responded. "Well, you should have said. I would have come tomorrow when you had gone."
"To avoid me?" Tommy asked her.
"To avoid this," Elizabeth replied.
"This?"
"This atmosphere between us," Elizabeth clarified for her husband and folded her blouse up, dropping it into the trunk. She managed to steal a glance over to him. "I hate this, Tommy."
Tommy shrugged. "Yer chose it," he responded to her and she scoffed and rolled her eyes.
"I am not getting into this," she responded. "We are both adults, Tommy. We both need to put Charlotte first and so we should discuss what is going to happen. All we do when we discuss things is argue and we need to stop it. It isn't conducive."
"Conducive?" Tommy said back, hands in his pockets as he rocked back and forth on his heels. "Really, Liz?"
"What?" she asked him, standing up straight. "Are you trying to goad me into an argument?"
Tommy shrugged again. "Usually used to work," Tommy said to his wife. "That's how it used to be, wasn't it? I provoke yer, we argue, then usually yer let me fuck yer."
Elizabeth almost choked as she swallowed then, her cheeks reddening as Tommy watched her for any hint of emotion. He watched her to see if the old Liz was still in there.
"And you think that would work this time?"
"Worth a shot," Tommy responded.
"You are unbelievable," she said, hand going to her forehead as she clasped hold of it, rubbing her temples. "And speaking of you being unbelievable, can you please stop your men from watching Pol's house?"
"No," was all Tommy said.
"No?" Elizabeth responded.
"No," Tommy said again. "It is pretty simple, Liz. They are not going anywhere. Yer still my wife and Charlotte is still my daughter. I still 'ave enemies out there and I don't take risks when it comes to yer two."
"That is ironic," Elizabeth mumbled under her breath so that he could not hear, unable to refrain herself. "Fine, leave them there if you must. We do need to talk about what is going to happen in the end."
"Well, it seems like yer 'ave yer life sorted, Liz. I 'eard yer got yer job back and Charlotte is back in school."
"Charlotte is the only priority here, Tommy," Elizabeth said to her husband. "I was committed to leaving Birmingham and taking her with me to start a new life."
"I would never let yer do that," Tommy said to her.
"Pol said as much and I knew as much," Elizabeth said, "and that really pissed me off to begin with…the thought that you had a say on what happened, but…you love Charlotte. Despite everything…you love Charlotte and she loves you. I can't take her away from you."
"So what do yer propose?"
"You can see her whenever you like."
Tommy chuckled. "Very good of yer, Liz," he said, "lettin' me see my daughter when I want."
"She is staying with me, Tommy," Elizabeth said, voice determined. "She is not leaving me, do you understand me? I know that you have powerful friends in high places who could take her and leave me with nothing. I know that…but there is a reason why I took her, Tommy. I took her to escape this life. Do you want her to be a part of this? Do you want her to have any knowledge of what goes on in your life?"
Tommy said nothing then. He knew that his wife was speaking sense. His daughter was better off away from him. He had told Ada that about her unborn child. They were all better off far away from him.
"I love her, Liz," was all Tommy said.
"We both do," Elizabeth responded. "And that is why I think this is the best option, Tommy. We need to protect her and we both know she is better protected with me, but she is still your daughter and I want you to be with her."
"Alright," Tommy said with a nod. "I'll come and see 'er when I get back from London."
"How long will you be gone?"
"Four or five days," Tommy said. "I 'ave to talk with Mosley once I 'ave finished with Churchill."
Elizabeth frowned. "Does he not know what you planned to do?"
"If he does then he 'as kept it close to 'is chest," Tommy said. "I'm waitin' to see 'ow it plays out."
"Be careful."
"Yer don't need to worry about me anymore, do yer, Liz?"
"Don't do that," Elizabeth urged and went back to packing her trunk. "You know that I love you and would never want anything to happen to you. You know that."
Tommy heard his wife's voice break slightly and he nodded as he watched the back of her. "I know," he responded.
Elizabeth looked down at her finger and felt the weight of her engagement ring. She stood up straight then and moved to slip them from her fingers, but Tommy moved quickly towards her. His hand went to stop her, his fingers tickling against her flesh as he bowed his head, his forehead almost brushing hers as he let out a sharp breath, eyes closed. His warm breath his her cheek and she dared to lean in closer, feeling his forehead against hers.
"Don't," Tommy begged her.
"It was your mother's ring," Elizabeth said in a whisper. "It is yours, Tommy."
"No," he said and kept his fingers on top of hers.
"Tommy, we know that it is over," she said to him. "How can we come back from this? You are still involved in business with Churchill and Mosley. You are too far gone to change."
Tommy didn't even deny it. He couldn't deny it. He was too far gone and he didn't know how to get out of it. He had so many businesses going on that he didn't know where to begin to get them to stop. He didn't know how to do it. He had always promised his wife that he would stop, but he didn't think he could. He just never thought that it would drive her away from him. He never imagine she would actually leave him. He should have known. He should have stopped before he got in too deep.
"If yer give that back to me then there is no 'ope," Tommy said to her. "And I never 'ad 'ope, Liz…I never 'oped for anythin', but you."
"You didn't need hope," Elizabeth said, moving to take his hand from her as she looked him in the eye and he watched her back for a few moments. "All you had to do was come with me in Margate."
Tommy could only watch as she removed the rings from her finger. Turning around, she placed the wedding ring and engagement ring on the dressing table. She finished packing quickly and closed the lid to the trunk. She had forgotten things, but she would return the following day when Tommy was gone. She picked the case up and Tommy watched her move to the door. He grabbed hold of her by the wrist, stopping her from going anywhere.
He moved quickly, his arm wrapping around her waist as his hand dipped into the small of her back. He bent down, his lips enveloping hers as she bent back slightly at the forceful motion, a hand going to his chest and resting there as she moved her lips against his. He pulled back after a few moments and she moved her hand to his upper arm, holding it as she caught her breath.
"Look after yourself, Tommy," she urged him.
He remained mute as she pulled her herself free from him and left, moving down the staircase and away from her husband. Standing in the doorway, Tommy caught his breath as he watched her leave, his eyes remaining fixed on her and he wondered just what was going on in his mind to let her walk away like that. Would he ever win her back? Would he ever be able to give this all up? Could he ever have both again? He didn't know. He just didn't know.
…
To be continued….
A/N: Do let me know what you think. This is probably the last quick update before we have a new series to see where things go. Thanks so much for everyone who has been reading and has been reviewing. Do let me know what you think!
