Chapter 32
AN: Following some reviews I have had, I've started a new Edith story looking at her back story prior to this one, through one shots - it's called the Adventures of Edith Shelby!
Edith hums as Bonnie wraps his arms around her from behind, smiling as he drops his head to her shoulder, nudging her dressing gown to the side with his nose to press a kiss to her shoulder as they sway gently. "Good morning." Edith greets him, laying her hands over his as he repeats her greeting. "You ready to fight?"
"Born ready." He states playfully, pressing a kiss to her neck as she lets out a laugh.
"And-" Cut off suddenly by the sound of a gunshot, Edith pushes out of Bonnie's arms, rushing out of the front door with Bonnie on her heels, gun in his hand. "What was that?" Edith yells to Tommy as he exits his house next door to hers, running into the street.
"Get back inside Edith!" Tommy commands, pointing towards the house as Bonnie grabs Edith's hand, pulling her backwards, out of the street. "Where did that come from?" He calls to the blinder on the street who points him towards Arthur's house. Edith lets out a frightened yelp, falling back against Bonnie with a hand pressed over her mouth as he winds an arm around her waist again, leading her back into the house. Shutting the door soundly behind them, Bonnie gently pushes Edith in the direction of the stairs, which she drops down on to as he moves to the kitchen window, pulling the curtain slightly to the side to watch for any activity on the lane.
"Tommy's coming back." Bonnie calls lightly, holding his hand out to pull Edith up from the step. Pulling the door open, Edith steps back out on to the street as Tommy approaches his house.
"He's ok." He reassures his sister quickly, watching sadly as she drops back against the door frame, eyes shut, hand resting over her stomach as she lets out a deep breath. "He fired the bullet."
"Good." She breathes out, leaning into Bonnie's touch as he winds an arm around her waist. "Fuck."
"Next time something like that happens, you don't run outside. Do you hear me Edith?" Tommy takes her by the tops of her arms, shaking her slightly as she looks up at him wide eyed. "Edith. Do you understand?"
"Tommy, I-"
"No." He snaps, cupping her cheeks in his hands. "No. I need you to listen. That's what you promised me. If you're going to be part of this, I need to know you'll do as I say." Nodding for him to continue, Edith relaxes against his touch, hearing the fear behind his words. "If that happens again, you stay inside, you lock the doors, and you get down. You wait for me. I can't lose another sibling."
"Ok." She whispers, nodding again. "Sorry." Pulling her in for a tight hug, Tommy kisses Edith's temple before pushing her back towards her house.
"Go on," he tells her, more gently this time, watching Edith intertwine her fingers with Bonnie's leading him back into the house. Once the door had shut behind them, and he had registered the tell tale sound of the lock turning Tommy drops forward to rest his hands on his knees, catching his breath before straightening again, running a hand over his face. Upon reentering his own house, he drops down at the kitchen table, dropping his head into his hands closing his eyes. All those years ago, when his father had walked out, Mary Shelby had sat her two oldest sons down, asking them to step up (as they had been for years already) and act as father figures for their younger siblings, the two boys readily agreeing to take on this role. Tommy had held that promise in his heart since that day, and even more so since the death of his mother, yet he had just lost his brother and couldn't imagine repeating this again, especially so soon after John's death. This vendetta needed to end, and he needed to keep his siblings safe.
"Hello Mrs Carlton." Edith greets May as she appears from beneath the cover of the boat, the older woman casting a confused glance over to the youngest Shelby as Charlie helps her out of the boat.
"Hello Miss Shelby," May replies, approaching Edith who gives her a warm smile.
"How was your journey?" Edith enquires, turning on her heel to begin her walk away from the boat, May glancing around again before following Edith along the path.
"Pleasant enough. Although I hope your brother's instance on me taking the boat rather than a cab from the station was not for his own amusement." May states as Edith lets out a chuckle, shaking her head as May falls into step beside her. "Where is your brother? I thought I was meeting with him."
"Something came up." Edith replies kindly, turning her head to look over at May. "He asked if I could meet with you instead. We're going to my office, I hope that's ok? Isiah here will drive us." May shrugs in response as they stop beside the car, nodding a thanks to Isiah as he holds her door open for her.
Placing a roll of bills down on the table in front of May, Edith steps back, lighting a cigarette as she leans against the desk. "Shoeing, stabling, feed, two hours a day in the gallops." She states, tucking each statement off on her fingers. "Have you thought of a name?"
"Yes. Dangerous."
"Hmm..." Edith hums, blowing out a stream of smoke. "Why Dangerous?"
"A horse called Dangerous won the Epsom Derby in 1833, so I stole the name. Thought your brother would approve." May pauses, giving Edith a smile as the young girl ducks her head with a laugh. "You should visit her. You're always welcome to stay, Edith."
"Thank you, but...that won't be possible. Not for a while at least."
"And why's that?"
"Business." Edith states simply, raising her head to look over at May. "Tommy won't let me leave Small Heath."
"Because of your brother?" May clarifies, watching Edith as she stiffens, jaw clenched as she tries not to let her facade crack. "The one that died?" Twitching her jaw to the side, Edith turns her head away, squeezing her nails into the palm of her empty hand as she takes a long drag of her cigarette, stubbing it out in the ashtray beside her before she turns her head again. "I'm sorry for your loss, Edith."
"So, how's our beauty getting on with you?" Edith asks, quickly changing the subject back to the horse as she drops lightly into the chair beside May, who nods once in understanding.
"Your horse is the fastest filly I've ever ridden. These are her registration papers, ready for your brother's signature. Or, yours I presume?" May replies, sliding the papers along the desk to Edith who nods, fishing a pen out of the pot beside her, quickly signing her name.
"I'm sorry that my brother wasn't around to see you," Edith says as she glances over the document, glancing up at May as she hums in response. "Seems a pity that you've come all this way just for a signature." Humming again, May glances around the office taking in the decor.
"This is a nice room." She comments, rising to look at the bookcase, lifting the figurine of a horse from the side.
"Thank you." Edith replies, rising from her seat, reaching for the paperwork to hand back to May. "Here. All completed and signed." Passing the folder back to May, Edith steps back, clasping her hands in front of her. "Did you bring an overnight bag?"
"An overnight bag?" May repeats with a frown as she shakes her head. "No. Why?"
"Just before you arrived, the train drivers all went on strike. A wildcat strike."
"It wasn't in the papers."
"Hence the term 'wildcat'." Edith teases lightly. "Tommy's booked you a suite at the Midland."
"He's booked me a suite..." May trails off, Edith nodding in reply.
"And he said he'd meet you at 4 o'clock." May sighs, turning away from Edith. "He wants your opinion."
"My opinion on..." May prompts, meeting Edith's eye again as the young girl smiles at her.
"I wouldn't know." She replies honestly, heading for the door. "I'll see you out."
Thanking Isiah, Edith steps out of the car, pausing to wait for Millie to round the car, falling into step beside her best friend as they head towards the stairs of the apartment block.
"Fuck." Edith mutters, pushing open the door to Finn's new apartment, pausing in the door way. "Welcome home, Mils." She teases her friend who scrunches up her nose as she appears behind Edith, her face softening as her eyes meets Finn's.
"I need to be invited yet." Millie jokes in reply, nudging her shoulder against Edith's as Finn lets out a choked laugh, shaking his head.
"Come on, Mil. You know you're invited. This is ours now." He assures her, spreading his arms out as she gives him a soft smile, glancing over at Edith who throws her a wink. "Who brought you here?" Finn asks, holding his hand out to Millie who steps past Edith, walking into his arms.
"Isiah and Bobby." Edith replies, stepping into the flat, kicking the glass and china out of the way as she looks around. "Jesus Christ, Finn."
"We can fix it up." He states, Millie turning in his arms to look around as well. "Change it up a bit." Edith hums in reply, eyes glued to her brother as he and Millie continue flicking their eyes around the kitchen. "Hey Mil, why don't you go and see what the rooms are like?" She suggests, giving her friend a subtle nod towards her brother, an unspoken message that she wanted to speak to him alone. Millie nods, leaning up on her toes to press a lingering kiss to Finn's cheek, heading off through the door to the left. "Finn." Edith whispers softly as Millie shuts the door behind her, Edith sensing her brother's unease. "Tell me what's upset you."
"I'm not John." Finn whispers, his voice barely audible, Edith having to lean in to hear him properly. "If they had walked right past me today, while I was holding that gun...I couldn't have done it, Edie. It's not in me. It's not me." Edith lets out a sympathetic whimper as Finn lifts his eye to look at Edith who steps forwards, reaching up to cup the back of his head with her hand, pulling him in for a hug.
"God, Finn," she breathes out, rubbing her hands across his shoulders as he holds her tightly. "You don't need to be. You're Finn." Pulling back, she cups his cheeks with her hands, forcing him to meet her eye. "You're Finn fucking Shelby." She whispers, squeezing his cheeks lightly as he gives her a small smile. "The most caring, loving, kind hearted man I've ever met."
"Even more than Bonnie?" Finn teases, Edith rolling her eyes in response.
"On par with Bonnie." She jokes in reply, the pair of them letting out a small laugh in reply. "But Finn, don't compare yourself to them-"
"But I'm a Peaky fucking blinder, Edith-"
"You're not Arthur. You're not Tommy or John. Hell, you're not Michael either. You're Finn." She emphasises, stepping back slightly. "You're Finn, and you're your own person. Make your own story. You don't have to be like them. Don't you get it? Carve your own path in this company. Hmm?" Nodding in response, Finn pulls his hat from his head, running his hand over his hair, glancing over as the door opens again, a smiling Millie stepping back into the room.
"It's nice." She comments, tucking his arm through Finn's.
"So you're moving in?" Edith clarifies, smiling as Millie peers up at Finn who nods, pressing his lips to hers. "Then let's get to work!" She exclaims, clapping her hands together.