Chapter 31) Surprise

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"He wants to open up a pharmacy," Aunt Pol spat as if Tommy wasn't part of the conversation, "why on earth do we need a pharmacy?"

Since the question wasn't directed towards Tommy, Arthur took the bullet and tipped back his hat.

"To expand our below the counter business", Arthur answered, hesitatingly gazing up at Tommy's face. He simply waved his consent with his left hand, since his right was still in a sling.

Tommy had to say, he had expected a different welcome home; something with 'open arms', not this crossed-armed-devil-silence bearing from Pol. She'd kept her mouth shut until Finn, John and Ada left and everything that escaped her lips was complete and utter frustration.

Why Arthur considered it wise to spill a few details of Tommy's new idea was still beyond him. But now that his blueprints lay out in the open, he couldn't back out.

It's just in case the shit hits the fan in the bakery Pol, he wrote down when Arthur looked at him expectantly. It wasn't a complete lie. This new master plan was going to be the main goal, but it could serve as a decent plan B if their bakery cover-up was blown.

"And what is that supposed to mean?" His aunt snapped offended, "you think I can't handle being in charge of a bloody bakery? I've run our business for four damn years! And in case you bloody morons forgot, I used to whip your asses and noses, I've-"

That was the part Tommy stopped listening to his aunt's tirade, pinched his nose and rubbed through his eyes until he saw stars.

He was so glad to be home though.

Arthur was trying to squeeze in a word or two, to either defend Tommy's possible plan and at the same time ease Polly's sermon.

There was a soft, polite knock on their front door and Tommy had to control the urge to jump up and rush to it. Anything was better than to listen to his relatives loudly bicker back and forth while he needed to relay on pen and papers.

Maria looked twice as tired since the last time he saw her at the hospital. He'd halfheartedly expected that and felt the familiar pinch of guilt in his heart as he acknowledged her presents with a stiff nod.

"You look well," Maria muttered eying him up from the tip of his toes up to his bruised face.

She wasn't entirely right and not entirely wrong. He looked better than the last time they were together, but walking was still a bloody nightmare. He still lacked strength and energy. His face no longer shared traits with the hunchback of the Notre Dame, but it was still clear he'd taken a good beating. The sling was just the cherry on top, but necessary.

Arthur could now be heard shouting too and the two of them exchanged gazes on the doorstep. Tommy abruptly closed the door, fetching himself a cigarette and a match.

Lighting a cigarette with only one functioning arm was a challenge but he'd rather eat his flat cap then ask for Maria for help. He was discharged from the hospital; he'd donned on his three piece suit and tie - which had taken him a ridiculous amount of time and effort. Point was; he was done being the fucking patient.

He sighed in relief, he'd been able to light his cigarette, he was smoking and more important he wasn't a part of the argument inside.

"Why are they fighting?" Maria murmured uneasily, nervously eying through their window where the fucking next world war seemed to be taken place.

Because I have a plan, he signed, stiffly using his right hand in the sling. It took longer than he'd liked and he was glade Maria seemed to understand him, Polly never likes my plans.

"Does this plan involve us aggravating more Italians?"

Tommy smirked, noticing the 'us' in her question. Approving his speaker's clear-cut question he signed: not in the slightest.

"Good," Maria muttered, wrapping her arms around her chest. She seemed to have a whole storm of thoughts inside her head, but unable to express them she repeated her first statement: "Good."

The smoke and nicotine made him feel dizzy. Or maybe it was the fact that the doctor told him firmly to be on bed rest for at least the first couple of days; an order he completely ignored ever since he left the hospital. Either way, he was dizzy and still unsteady on his feet.

The concerned crease in between Maria's eyebrows made it clear that it showed. Though she didn't mention his readable misery and patiently waited at his side while he smoked. It gave him the opportunity to observe her without making it too obvious.

Her time spent working at the stables had given her a fair freckled skin a rosy color. It made Tommy wonder how much she actually hated being back at his side. Of course she didn't show her discomfort, she was too well behaved to complain about being torn from the work she loved.

She looked tired, dark circles had manifested themselves underneath her eyes. Although she had a split lower lip, she kept her mouth firmly poised into a polite puckered smile.

They were an odd pair, cut throat gangster accompanied by miss goody-two-shoes. They would be having a perfect moment in silence if his head would stop thumping; his knees stopped buckling and the two raging voices inside would mellow down.

Their semi perfect break was roughly disrupted when Polly busted through the door. With predatorial raging eyes, she took one look at Maria and started shouting something that started with bloody gorger girl and ended with a long list of how Tommy managed to completely push her to the end of her fucking wits.

Tommy heard little and cared less; he arched an eyebrow when Polly judgmentally crossed her arms, expecting a response.

"Oh fine act like the sodding mute, see if I care!" Polly snarled at him, practically fuming and marched off not caring to take her coat or purse.

"Why does she hate me so much?" Maria carefully whispered when she was sure the murderous woman was far out of earshot.

"Don't ya worry lass, Polly hates everyone equally today," Arthur piped in, hovering over her shoulder, "blimey, not surprised that she kept business running smoothly for four years. That woman turns into the devils hellspawn. She did mention - along with many other things I will not repeat since there's a lady here - that she took care of the thing you asked her about. According to her it should be delivered at Charlie's yard in the afternoon. Mind telling me what that thing is Tom?"

Two pairs of curious eyes stared up at him in anticipation.

His gaze darted between Arthur and Maria, he momentarily forgot the pain lurking from various parts of his body and he suppressed a cautious grin.

S-u-r-p-r-i-s-e, he finger spelled intentionally, taking a long drag of his cigarette.

"It's a surprise," Maria informed Arthur who dully peeked at her for translation.

"What kind of a surprise?" Arthur questioned immediately, clearly not understanding the concept of a surprise.

But instead of rolling his eyes, Tommy tapped down on Arthur's temple and roughly ruffled his brother's slick backed hair. Earning a competitive, yet playful nudge back he shook his head and retreated back into the house.

He was biting the inside of his cheek to keep up the casual walk. Arthur's tussle caused him more pain then he was willing to show and his fingers twitched as he pulled back a chair to crash down upon.

Maria sensed a small part of his dismay, but poured him a cup of tea instead of asking him about it.

"Talking about surprises, I'm throwing you a party," Arthur flatly revealed, receiving a steaming cup from Maria, "thanks love, mind getting us something stronger too?" he ordered in a nicely wrapped up question, waving towards their cupboard.

"It's your welcome back party and a nice way of showing off our new club. I've invited Zilpha, since her men will likely play a big part in our cocaine business. Mending walls as well as, I guess, tightening bonds and all."

Tommy's cup stopped midair and he had to blink three times before he realised he'd heard his brother correctly. Was Arthur more-brawn-than-brains Shelby actually thinking things through?

"Well, what do you think?" Arthur asked eagerly, "no use of a party if the guest of honor doesn't bother to show."

Clearly Arthur misinterpreted Tommy's lack of response. Tommy blinked again, still processing and then finally took a sip from his tea, scorching his lips on the hot liquid.

Maria silently placed two glasses on their dinner table, spying on both men.

Tommy finally seemed to come to his senses and with great grandeur yanked the whiskey bottle from between Maria's elbow.

Raising it high he tauntingly grinned at his brother and quickly poured them two glasses.

"If that's not a yes, I don't know what is," Arthur grunted amused, taking the drink being offered.
The rest of Tommy's morning mainly consisted of indulging in the two things that kept the pain bearable; smoking and drinking. It wasn't a good combination. Lighting his cigarette with the next and drinking whiskey like it was water. After such long time of abstinence, the booze kicked in quickly and combined with the toxic smoke made him nauseous and hazy. It was an enjoyably familiar state.

Arthur talked about all of his plans concerning the party. Arthur's enthusiasm and cheeriness was contagious. With Maria at his side he nearly forgot he wasn't directly talking to his brother. And vice versa, Arthur no longer seemed bothered by the fact that Tommy needed a lass to do the talking for him.

Arthur went on and on about the variety of expensive champagne he'd picked. According to him, it all taste like piss, but expensive piss. The coppers on their payroll knew about the exclusive party and would keep it just that, exclusive.

Tommy was silently enjoying all the thoughts that came from his brother's mouth and felt strangely awkward about being the guest of honor. It would be the first official time out of the shadows and it should be scaring him more.

But fuck it; he was the mastermind of their blooming cocaine imperium. He nearly died a few weeks ago and celebrating the fact that he didn't would be the last fuck you to Russo's deteriorating dismembered corpse.

Maria fluently translated between the two brothers and secretly seemed to share their spirit.

Munching on a piece of stale bread she signed to Tommy, I don't want to spoil the fun, but shouldn't you get ready?

For a moment Tommy forgot about his own surprise. Leaning back on his seat he craned his head towards their antique clock and nudged his head towards their front door.

What shoes are you wearing? He signed, fearing that if he'd duck his head underneath the table he'd lose his balance.

Maria frowned and slowly raised her brightly polished Mary Jane's, which made Tommy snigger.

"What?" Maria huffed baffled.

Tommy raised his arms in defense and gestured his two tablemates to get ready.

"Why are you smirking?" Maria muttered suspicious as she followed him towards Arthur's car. Tommy shrugged it off and opened up her car door. Reluctantly, she took a seat in the back and Arthur shared her mood.

"Try not to puke this time," the driver said while turning the car in reverse.

The short ride to Charlie's hard was enough for Maria's stomach to make one pit stop. The lass started gagging at the first corner and Tommy made a mental note to never feed her before a long car ride.

If he hadn't been so weak-kneed, drunk and aching, they would have walked.

There was a large trailer blocking the entrance of Charlie's yard, which made Arthur curse and Tommy was just fast enough to prevent his brother from firmly planting his fist into the horn.

He motioned for Arthur to wait inside the car; he stepped out and swung Maria's door open. Like a complete gentleman, he held out his hand and helped her step out.

Her eyebrows were high up and hidden behind her bangs. He enjoyed her cluelessness. Extending her torment a little longer, he took a tremendous time taking out a long piece of red ribbon out of his pocket.

"What am I supposed to do with this?" She muttered, thoughtfully staring at the ribbon as he pressed it into her hands.

Do I look like a man that wraps presents? Tommy stoically signed to her, placing a fresh cigarette between his lips. He noticed Curly's frantic excitement when the trailer driver stepped out. The timing couldn't have been more perfect.

"Shelby? Thomas Shelby?" The driver asked, staring at both men.

Tommy nodded, took Maria by the hand and yanked the trailer open.

Maria's spotless Mary Jane's froze solid to the sandy floor and a tiny sob died in the back of her throat. The red ribbon slipped through her fingers.

Her head flung to his side and her huge eyes locked onto his like magnets. For a moment, Tommy was sure he could actually hear her heart skip a beat inside her chest.

His glance, a conspiratorial wink, seemed to certify her silent question.

Surprise, he's yours, Tommy signed and nudged his head towards Precious.

"You got him back," she whispered, still unable to believe her own eyes, "you brought Precious back…"

She threw her arms around Tommy and hugged him tightly, burying her face into the thick material of his jacket. Clueless of how much her embrace hurt him she murmured: "Thank you, thank you!"

Tommy let out a pain plagued inarticulate sound from the back of his throat, because she was crushing his right arm; which was in a sling.

Realisation hit her and she immediately drew back. "I'm sorry I-" words left her lips as the first of her tears broke free. The rest followed in an unbroken stream. Pressing her palms onto her eyes in a weak attempt to stop the steady stream of tears, she rushed into the trailer and hugged the young stallion with the same force she'd captured Tommy with.

"You bought her a horse," Arthur stated the obvious, scratching the back of his scalp, "that must have cost you a small fortune. Poll is going to love that."

Tommy couldn't hide his satisfied smirk.

"You bought back the bloody horse," Arthur mentioned again, "that fat Italian must have hit your harder than I thought."

Tommy leaned back against the trailer, blocking out Arthur's teasing comments and watched as his speaker pressed her forehead against Precious' snout and giggled softly as the energetic animal sniffed her short hair.

Arthur was right, Precious cost a small fortune to buy back. But Maria gained him a club and an even larger fortune. She'd never asked for anything in return, besides giving Russo's girls better working conditions.

If anyone would ask, he'd tell them he only gave her the horse because she happened to play her role at their poker night well.

But honestly, it was just a kind, right thing to do. After dragging her through hell, after her patiently sitting by his side at the hospital while he wasn't even well enough to take a piss or drink by himself. She deserved this, Precious belonged to her.

"You're really going to keep him this time?" Maria pressed from the back of the trailer, frantically looking back at him.

He's yours, he explained to her again, Curly can keep an eye on him and take care of him while you're doing your job. But he'll be yours.

"I can't afford a horse," Maria realised dejectedly.

But I can and I will, Tommy signed stepping inside Precious' trailer. The stallion looked well fed, fur a little unkempt to Tommy's liking, but nothing Curly's TLC couldn't handle.

Stroking Precious' neck, he noticed Maria's doe-eyes fill up with adoration.

You've got the rest of the afternoon off, I think up in the attic are still a pair of my working trousers, he informed her and then amusingly added, try not to ruin your shoes.

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So, at which point did you as the reader figure/find out Precious was the surprise? My oh my do I spot some softness inside that gangster's heart? I've had this chapter in mind the moment I wrote that Tommy was selling Precious. The horse has served such purpose for the story, because he's the first reason Tommy started to open up to Maria. Precious is a key element between the two of them. And after Russo's torture and the hospital scenes I really wanted to write something sweet.

Xoxoxo Nukyster