Chapter forty-one: James and the cold gun
The sound of crying, causes Thomas to pause. He'd never truly heard Kate cry before and he wasn't expecting the sound to pull at him. He silently pushes the door ope and looks inside the room. She's sitting on the window seat, looking out at the grey skies, wiping her eyes. There's a book fallen on the ground, so he knows that she tried reading before giving into the tears.
He looks at her and notices how tired and pale she looks. He wonders if she's been getting enough sleep, then he recalls how she's always awake when he has nightmares. Another twinge of guilt hits him. she's always there for him, never complaining and he's never noticed. Thomas exhales and steps away from the door. He leans over the stairs and shouts. "Oi! Have my car readied!"
"Yes Sir!" One of the staff shouts as Thomas turns and enters her room.
She's already wiped her eyes. She clears her throat as he approaches her. "Thomas, is everything-
He doesn't answer her. He kisses her deeply, pulling her against him. She lets out a moan, her hands rest atop of his shoulders. He doesn't want to lose her as he lost his other wives. He gently breaks the kiss, studying her face as she looks at him curiously. He exhales. "Let's get out of here."
She frowns. "Why? What's gotten," he lifts her out of her seat and into his arms. She shrieks as she grabs a hold of his neck quickly. "what on earth are you doing?"
"I," he shifts her in his arms and heads for the bedroom door. "am taking you out for lunch."
Kate stares at him. "Are you serious?" She stammers. "Thomas, you have work and-
"It can wait. You've been working too hard." He carefully trots down the stairs. "So, I'm taking you out for the day."
"Don't drop me!" She half-shrieks, clinging to his neck.
He shoots her a wounded look. "I've never dropped you yet."
"I know, but there's always the first time." The moment Kate says that, his foot slips out from under him a few steps from the bottom and he lands on his backside. Kate lets out a faint shriek, then a yelp as her foot hits the banister. Kate looks to him and asks. "Are you ok?"
He lets out a groan he adjusts himself and lifting her up into his lap again. "As I said, I've never dropped you yet, Mrs. Shelby."
She smiles faintly, he can see that she's been crying, but he's going to act like he doesn't notice. "Indeed, however, as sweet as that was, will you permit me to walk?" He helps her stand to her feet. He then guides her towards the front door. He pauses long enough to grab his coat and hers. As he helps her into it, she gasps. "I forgot my purse."
"I have my wallet."
"But-
"No Kate." He puts his hat atop his head before gripping her elbow and guiding her out of the door. They exit the building and the chauffeur has the back passenger door open. Thomas shakes his head. "Keys. You have the day off." Kate's green eyes widen in surprise as he catches the keys the chauffeur throws at him. "Inform Elton that my wife and I won't be back until tomorrow morning."
Kate jolts in surprise. "Thomas, what is-
He opens the car door for her and helps her inside. "I'll explain when we get there."
She's still stammering as he closes the door and heads to the front of the car. Kate shakes her head as he gets inside. "Thomas, what's going on?"
"I'm taking you out for the day."
Her mouth drops. "What? Are you serious?" He nods. "Thomas, that's not necessary." He ignores her. "What brought this about? Did Doctor Blake says something? I'm alright, I promise."
"You've been working too hard and prior to your surgery; I used to take you places. Dinner, dancing, the movies, on picnics and other things."
"We were courting." She stammers. "We're married now. There's no need for-
"I disagree." He looks ahead. "Doctor Blake made me realize that I don'w know you as well as I should. You're my wife."
She blinks. "You know me well enough."
"When's my birthday, Kate?" She blinks. "I don't know yours either. We should know each other better than this. If we'd had a honeymoon, there'd have been time to talk and know each other. I figure I still owe you a few more outings as far as courting goes." She bites her lip and looks out the window. "Kate, January is coming. You kept me from your bed because we both want to start our marriage right. Don't let me back into your bed while we're still strangers."
Kate is silent for a moment, he can see she's absorbing his words. She's sad, but there's a flicker of hope in her eyes. She's silent before stating. "I was born on December 24th. And you?"
He smirks slightly as he admits. "October 7th."
Kate stares at him. "But…that was the day we got married Thomas!"
He smirks at her. "I know."
Kate shakes her head. "Oh, I'm sorry Thomas."
"Don't be." He reaches over and places his hand on hers. She reaches up with her other hand and sneakily wipes a tear from her eye. Thomas brakes the car in the middle of the gravel road. She looks up at him in confusion. "Trust me Kate, you're the best birthday present I've ever got." She doesn't seem convinced. He inhales and confesses to her. "I love you."
Kate stares at him. This is the first time he's ever told her that he's loved her. She whispers. "You don't have to say that because-
"I love you Kate." He leans over and cups her face in his hands. "Look at me." She does and he can see her eyes scanning his face, desperate to believe his words. "I love you and I have no regrets in our marriage. Even though it was forced, I loved you back then as I love you now."
Tears started pouring down her cheeks as Kate inhaled and said. "I love you too, Thomas." He pulled her towards him and held onto her tight. She inhaled and her arms wound tightly around his shoulders. He could feel that she was still upset, but she felt lighter as if she'd needed to know that he loved her. His thoughts were confirmed when she confessed. "I'd been waiting to hear you say that to me for so long."
He simply kisses her and Kate clings to him. F**k, there's everything about this woman that makes him want her desperately. She lets out a faint moan and Thomas breaks the kiss. He studies her for a bit before stating. "So, this is what we're going to do. I'm going to take you shopping, get yourself something pretty and then I'm taking you to lunch. Afterwards," he studies her face carefully. "we're checking into a hotel room, where we'll spend the night after I've taken you out dancing. If you're not tired….we can talk afterwards?"
Kate nods and holds onto his hand tighter. "That sounds like a good day and night, Thomas." He still felt as if she were holding something back that was troubling her. But he could also feel that she felt He hoped that she'd tell him soon whatever it was that was troubling him. He turned his gaze back on the road and gripped her hand tightly.
Kate smiled as she admired the deep red satin gown in the three full-length mirrors. "This is lovely, but not for Christmas. However, it'll be perfect for Valentine's Day. I'll take it just the same."
"Excellent choice Mrs. Shelby." She smiles. "Your husband will be pleased."
"I hope so." She laughs. "He just sent me in her and said not to come out with at least four packages."
"Mr. Shelby sounds like a man who loves his wife."
She nods. "He does. He's taking me out dancing tonight, so, I'd like something for that."
"Shelby?" Kate turns towards a young salesgirl, her expression slightly hostile. "Any relation to Thomas Shelby?"
Kate nods. "Yes, he's husband."
Suddenly, the salesgirl grabbed the complimentary pot of coffee and threw it at her! Everyone screamed in horror as Kate ducked, the pot narrowly missing her head! the pot shattered, sending glass and hot coffee all over her! Kate inhaled sharply as the hot coffee soaked her new dress. Three assistant sales girls rushed towards the one who'd attacked her and restrained her.
The owner instantly went towards Kate. "Are you harmed Mrs. Shelby? I am so sorry."
"I'm alright." Kate assures her.
"Shelby scum!" The girl shouts. "Your f**king husband crippled my father!"
In spite of feeling sorry for the girl, Kate felt sympathy wasn't deserved in this case. She straightened upright and held the girl's expression. "Then you already know that my husband is a very dangerous man. One time," she says slowly. "I'm told that friend of his aunt's son was attacked in a bar. After beating the men…they burned the bar to the ground." The shop owner sank to the ground, face pale. "Now that was for a friend. I can only imagine how he'll react when he finds out that his wife was attacked."
"Please," the owner begged. "I need my business."
"In addition, my father is Gilbert Kovach." Silence reigned supreme. She understood why Thomas enjoyed the power that he had. She cleared her throat. "Now, I won't say anything to either of them, if this girl is dismissed immediately."
"She's fired!" The owner said assuredly. "Get her out of here!" The salesgirls immediately started to drag her out of the room. "No pay either!"
"I need a letter of reference!" She pleads. "I need this job!"
"You get nothing from me!" The woman screamed. "You jeopardized my company and all of my employees!" The owner turns back towards her. "Again, I am so sorry. I had no idea that she had a-
"Listen," Kate says gently. "I'm not like my husband. I won't say a word to my husband, I promise. I was only speaking that way to make sure that she reconsiders doing anything like that again in the future." The woman exhaled in relief. "I love your shop and attire. Now," she smiled gently. "since this dress is ruined, my I try on that lovely white velvet dress in the window?"
"Yes, it'll be on the house."
"I'm not like my husband." She shakes her head. "I'll pay 50%, for that dress though. You have to make some money."
Her smile was wobbly. "You really aren't like your husband."
"No. I'm not going to deny that he can be a ruthless man at times and I can't make excuses for him." She exhaled. "All I will say is he had a hard life growing up and then the war didn't do him any favors."
The woman nodded understandingly. "My husband came back a different man. He is now finally accepting help and he's becoming the man he was again."
"Mine won't take help, so, it's a constant struggle."
The owner actually feels bold enough to rub her arm. "You just hang in there. They're doing wonderful things since the war."
"Thank you." Kate exhales before asking hesitantly. "Do you have anything new in nightwear?"
The woman nods at her before smiling. "Yes." She turns to the two salesladies' and snaps her fingers. "Go fetch the white velvet dress in the window for Mrs. Shelby. Also, the blue French silk cape and dress by Jean Patou." She turns to Kate. "Once you're in the white velvet dress, I shall bring you what you asked for. I believe I have just the thing for you."
Fifteen minutes later, Kate was walking towards the car with her several bags of clothing. Thomas smiles approvingly from his seat in the car. He looked like one of the many husbands waiting patiently for their wives to finish with their shopping. "You're smiling, that's good." He drops his cigarette into the street and gets out of the car.
"Wait till you see what I bought." She says excitedly. "I love this store, the owner has such-
Suddenly, Kate goes flying backwards as someone grabs her by the hair and knocks her down to the hard pavement! "Hey!" Thomas shouts as he jumps out of the car. "Get the f**k away from my wife!" A sharp blow to her ribs causes her to instantly cover her stomach. Kate's first concern is for her baby. She catches a few more well aimed kicks, she manages to block her face.
Suddenly, a gun goes off and the person attacking her stops. "Get the f**k away from her." Thomas warns tightly. "I swear, I will f**king kill you." The person attacking her steps warily away as they realized that he's actually with sits up into a sitting position with a sharp inhale. Her rib cage hurts and she fears that it's broken. She looks up to see the the person that's attacked her and she realizes that it's the fired salesgirl. She stares at Thomas as he hits the girl in the face with his hat. The girl lets out a scream as she grabs a hold of her bloody face! Kate remembers that he has razors in his hat and knows that Thomas has cut her face!
Thomas turns back to her and kneels beside her. "Kate, are you alright?"
She shakes her head, fighting back the tears. "I need to see the doctor."
"Alright, I got you." He carefully lifted her up from the ground. She let out a sharp cry of pain. "What hurts?"
"It's my rib. I think it's broken." She inhales sharply as he opens the door and carefully sets her inside. He slams the door shut and grabs her fallen bags, throwing them in the front seat before running over to the driver side and starting the engine. Kate holds onto her stomach as Thomas heads down the street. She silently prays that her baby is safe. If she miscarried now, how was she going to tell him that she lost their baby before he even knew they were going to have one? She didn't want to remember the first day that they said they loved each other to be the day they lost their first child.
