Chapter 34
Pushing her way through the crowd, Edith doesn't falter as she approaches the blinders guarding the entrance to the dimly lit hallway, brushing past them in her mission to get to her destination. At the tell tale sound of his sister's footsteps marching down the hallway towards him, Tommy steps out of the room and into the hallway as Edith approaches.
"Stop." Tommy states, placing a hand on Edith's shoulder as she appears in front of him in the doorway to the room Bonnie was prepping for the fight in. "He doesn't need any distractions."
"Fuck off Tom." She spits, pushing past him into the room. "Out." She commands to the Peaky Blinder standing guard inside the room. With a hard look at the youngest Shelby, the blinder nods once, stepping out of the room, hovering in the hallway, just outside the door. "And you." Edith states, turning to Aberama who cocks an eyebrow at her, observing her steely expression before smirking at her, slowly pushing off the wall and leaving the room. Without a word to Bonnie, who was stood watching her every move, Edith turns on her heel, slamming the door shut behind Aberama, pausing for a moment with her hand on the wooden frame before spinning to face Bonnie again. Stepping in his direction, Edith stops in front of Bonnie, barely an inch of space between them as she peers up at him, reaching up to push on his shoulders making him drop back on to the bench behind him. Bonnie gulps visibly as she lifts the hem of her dress, stepping forward so that his legs were between hers as she drops down to straddle his lap. "I thought I'd come and show you what you've been missing." She tells him, running a finger slowly along his jaw, dropping her head to press slow, lingering kisses along the other side of his chin.
"Edith..." he breathes out warningly, winding an arm around her waist nonetheless to pull her closer to him so their chests were flush against each other's.
"Shush." She commands, lifting her finger and pressing it against his lips to silence him. "I'm doing the talking." Pulling back to look him in the eye, Edith cups Bonnie's cheeks, heart racing as he gently curls his hands around her hips. "I hated you being away." She whispers, reaching up to trace the outside of Bonnie's ear as his eyes flutter shut. "But you were an idiot." Bonnie's eyes snap open again to meet Edith's as she pauses. "You were a fucking idiot, to think that I had a fucking choice in the matter." She chokes out, cupping his cheek again to force him to look at her. "I did fight for you Bonnie. But I had no choice, and you, of all people, should have known that." Pausing again as Bonnie nods, Edith takes her lip between her teeth. "It was torture Bon," she whispers, tears pooling in her eyes. "To not only have you gone, but to not have spoken to you. To have you ignore me. Cut me out. I didn't deserve that."
"You're right," Bonnie says softly, pulling her impossibly closer. "I was an idiot, and you didn't deserve that." Taking a deep breath, he pulls Edith's hands from his face, taking them in his and holding them to his chest. "I realised that the minute I left the room with Finn. But I was too stubborn and proud to admit it, and I didn't know what to say-"
"You could have-"
"I thought you wouldn't want to hear it. You were so angry with me, especially that evening. And then the next morning we left, and I could see the hurt in your eyes, and I didn't know how to fix it. It was torture for me too, Edith." Bonnie states, cutting her off. "I made a mistake, I was scared, and now I'm asking for your forgiveness." Shaking her head, Edith drops her forehead to rest against Bonnie's smiling as his hand moves to rest against the swell of her stomach gently. Tilting her head, Edith lets her lips brush over Bonnie's as she whispers her reply: "You're forgiven." Pulling her head to his gently, Bonnie crashes his lips into hers, the pair of them relaxing at the other's touch as Edith wraps her arms around his neck, deepening the kiss. Sliding his hand slowly along Edith's thigh, Bonnie pulls back, moving his lips to her neck, sucking a love bite into the soft skin under her ear as Edith sighs, collapsing into his embrace. "You look beautiful tonight, Edith." He whispers, bringing his lips up to cover her ear, tightening his hold on her as she shivers, running his hand along her side, covered in a simple emerald green beaded dress, her natural curls carefully styled and falling down her back, in a style that was longer than fashionable for the time, but so completely 'Edith', not caring what others would think.
"You should have seen the struggle to get this thing on!" She jokes, pressing kisses of her own against his neck. "I've clearly grown since I bought this dress." Humming in response, Bonnie pulls away from Edith with a soft smile, placing his hand on her stomach again, now visibly showing.
"That's our baby in there." He whispers as she runs her hands down the back of his head, pressing a kiss to his forehead.
"Yeah, that's already causing it's mama wardrobe troubles." She teases, tugging his head back up to hers. "I think we need to make up for lost time tonight." She whispers, nudging his nose with hers as Bonnie's eyes widen, nodding slowly. "You'd better win, Mr Gold." She breathes out, her lips pressed lightly against his again. "There's a special prize waiting for you if you do." Letting out a small chuckle, Bonnie winks at Edith as he puckers his lips, capturing her lips in soft kisses.
"Well I'll just have to win then, won't I?" Edith laughs in reply, pulling him in for another deep kiss, groaning as a knock sounds against the door.
"Bonnie." Aberama calls from outside the room.
"You should go," Bonnie says softly, Edith pulling a face at his suggestion. "I need you ring side, remember? I need my girl out there. But that won't happen if you get stuck in here." Sighing, Edith nods, pressing one last kiss to his lips as she rises from his lap, straightening her dress as she does. Reaches the door, Edith turns to face Bonnie again, pulling the door open as she does so, throwing him a wink.
"I'll see you out there Mr Welterweight." She calls, blowing him an air kiss that he pretends to catch. "Remember, you've got a prize waiting for you if you win." Bonnie chuckles under his breath again as she turns on her heel, his breath catches in his throat as she leaves the room, swaying her hips as she goes, strutting back down the hallway to the main room.
Nodding to the boys at the end of the corridor, Isiah falls into step just behind Edith, escorting her to the front row where Linda, Lizzie and Polly were sat, the three women glancing up from the conversation as Edith appears at the end of their row.
"Room for one more?" She asks with a smile, Linda patting the seat beside her in response.
"You nervous?" Lizzie asks as Edith settles in, pulling a tin of cigarettes out of her bag. Shrugging as she lights the cigarette, she passes the tin down the row, offering one to the other women.
"No more than usual." Edith replies, blowing out a stream of smoke, glancing around.
"You're lying." Polly states around her cigarette, throwing a side glance at Edith who lets out a tight laugh.
"I can barely fucking breathe Pol." She whispers, giving Lizzie a small smile as she reaches across Linda to squeeze her hand, visibly shaking in her lap. Whispering a prayer in Romani under her breath, Edith's eyes follow Bonnie as he passes their row, entering the ring. Turning to face her, Bonnie throws her a kiss, Edith responding with an obviously fake, wide smile, blowing him another kiss in return. Slipping into the seat beside her, Ada wraps her arm around Edith, pressing a kiss to her temple.
"All sorted?" She whispers, knowing the troubles Edith and Bonnie has gone through, smirking as Edith turns to her with a sly smile.
"All sorted." Edith repeats, leaning back in her chair as the fight begins. Holding her breath, Edith tucks her hand in Ada's squeezing tightly while Goliath throws punches at Bonnie, some landing on his face.
"I can't fucking watch this." Edith mutters under her breath, dropping her head into her hands. Ada rubs her hand across Edith's shoulder blades, the younger Shelby continuing to mutter swear words in Romani to herself. As round one ends, Edith makes eye contact with Bonnie who nods at her, trying to reassure her that all was well, Edith shaking her head once. The bell rings, signalling the beginning of round two, Edith glancing up as Lizzie rises from her seat, heading towards the end of the row.
"Bathroom." She shouts to Edith as she passes her, Edith reaching up to take her hand, following the older woman through the row.
"Tell me this fight is fucking rigged." Ada states as she pushes into the bathroom, followed by Polly. "Pol? Edith?"
"I've not got a fucking clue." Edith breathes out, a freshly lit cigarette in her hand. "I can't stand it."
"You need to cut back on these." Ada comments, plucking the cigarette from between Edith's fingers, hopping onto the side beside her sister.
"Fuck off." Edith snaps, snatching the burning stick back and placing it between her lips. "I'm too bloody stressed."
"What's this about then, Pol?" Ada continues, opening her clutch to pull out her lipstick. "You said you had something you needed to tell us." Edith glances between the three older women.
"Not me. Lizzie." Polly replies, turning to face Lizzie who narrows her eyes at her.
"I'm up the duff." She states bluntly, Edith letting out a cough as she chokes on her intake of smoke. "And it's Tommy's."
"Shut up." She whispers, hopping down off the side to move towards Lizzie. "How far along?"
"If I were going to London I'd be in Coventry."
"And are you continuing past Coventry?" Ada cuts in, taking a swig of the gin Polly had passed her.
"All the way to fucking Piccadilly Circus." Letting out an excited shriek, Edith throws her arms around Lizzie, congratulating her as she does.
"Oh, Lizzie! This is the best news I've heard in ages!"
"Do you know what she's having?" Ada asks Polly, moving to congratulate Lizzie too who accepts the hug with a wide smile, shaking her head. "Well go on then Pol!" Stepping forwards, Polly cups Lizzie's breast gently, smiling up at her.
"A girl." She states, stepping back slightly. "Call her Ruby. Ruby Shelby. She'll be a star in a Hollywood movie." Lizzie giggles as Ada hugs her again, pulling back to eye up her younger sister.
"And our Edith?" She asks, reaching out to take Edith's hand in hers. "I think Edie needs some more good news." Edith hesitates, meeting her a Aunt's eye as she steps towards her.
"I don't know, Pol..." she states reluctantly, tilting her head to the side.
"Go on, Edith!" Lizzie encourages her, nudging her shoulder against Edith's. The youngest Shelby sighs, giving Polly a small smile and a nod, her Aunt and sister glancing excitedly at each other, Polly reaching her hand out to cup Edith breast.
"Make a guess." Polly whispers, smiling up at Edith who glances down, resting her hand on her stomach.
"A boy." She breathes out, tears welling in her eyes. "A baby boy that's just like our John." Polly nods, reaching up to cup Edith's cheek, wiping away the single falling tear.
"Edith," she says softly, rubbing her thumb across her her cheekbone. "You're having a boy." Letting out a choked laugh, Ada moves forwards, pulling Edith into her arms, her little sister clinging to her as she lets out a soft laugh of her own. Breaking apart, the sisters turn to the door as it opens revealing Linda who makes her way straight over to the sink, pulling a blue vial of snow out of her bag. Raising her eyebrows at Polly, Edith leans back against the sink, taking the gin bottle from Ada and taking a sip. Coughing at the taste, Edith wrinkles her nose, passing the bottle wordlessly back to Ada, the pair of them watching the conversation between the three older women.
"I'm going back out." Edith states, pushing off the side, reaching out to squeeze Ada's hand as she passes.
"I'll see you out there." Ada replies with a smile, turning away again to pass the bottle back to Lizzie.
Pushing her way back through the crowd of rowdy men, Edith bypasses the row she had claimed with the other ladies, instead heading in the direction of her older brothers across the ring. Neither man looks up from the fight as she approaches, Edith frowning as Arthur rises from his seat, moving away from the ring. Picking up her pace, Edith follows Arthur, just out of sight of Tommy, getting caught up for a moment in a crowd of men. Finally breaking free of the group, Edith shakes her head in annoyance, searching around quickly for her brother, and failing to find him, heading down the corridor ahead of her, hoping to find him that way. She slows as the noise of the race decreases, keeping her hand clutched around her bag, listening out for any noises.
"Arthur?" She calls, continuing down the hallway. At the sound of a gun going off just metres ahead of her, Edith stills momentarily, heart pounding before she picks up the pace, pulling her gun from her bag. Slowing again as she reaches a corner, Edith gathers her nerve for a moment before slowly rounding into the next, smaller room. Heart pounding, she lets her eyes adjust to the darkness of the room, letting out a frightened yelp as a figure lunges forwards, catching her by surprise and grabbing her roughly. Fighting to push the large man off her, Edith fails to hear her brother's footsteps pounding down the hallway towards her, having been alerted by the gunshot. Ears ringing, Edith drops to the floor with a deep breath, finally coming around to the fact that Tommy had shot the man who had moments ago had her pressed up against a wall. With her eyes lowered, Edith lets them sweep over the room, a shocked scream leaving her throat as she spies her oldest brother's lifeless body just ahead of her.
"Arthur!" She sobs, crawling across the room to gather him into her arms, Tommy reaching out to grab her around the waist, gently pulling her off of Arthur and pushing her away, dropping to his knees beside their brother, Edith sobbing noisily beside him. Glancing up as Polly appears in the doorway, Tommy abruptly rises, hooking his hands under Edith's arms, lifting her to her feet and pushing her into their aunt's arms, the older woman standing still in shock as Tommy pushes the two of them from the room. Whispering in Polly's ear, Tommy presses a lingering kiss to Edith's temple, cupping her head in his hands before leaving her in Polly's arms, and stalking down the hallway back towards the main room.
Meanwhile, back beside the ring, the women had settled back into their seats to watch the end of the fight.
"Where's Edith?" Lizzie asks as she drops into her seat, leaning forward to look down at the empty seat the teen had been occupying.
"I don't know. Maybe she went to find Finn?" Linda replies as she settles back into her own seat.
"He's over there." Lizzie states, nodding to the other side of the ring. "Arthur's not though. Or Tommy. Maybe she went to find them."
"Maybe." Ada replies with a shrug, still glancing around for her sister. "I don't think she would have left by herself though." Biting her lip, Ada rises from her seat, ignoring the cheers around her as Bonnie wins the fight, still searching for her siblings. "What's going on?" She asks, twisting her head to the side, rising up on to her tiptoes to watch Finn disappear. "Polly? What the fuck is going on?" She asks, watching her rush towards Linda, pulling a pale and shaking Edith along behind her, dropping into her seat to whisper in Linda's ear. "Will someone tell me what the fuck is going on?" She cries, faltering as her eyes meet Linda's, scanning her face, reading her facial expression. "No, no. Fuck no!" She whispers, shaking her head from side to side. Meanwhile, up on the ring, Bonnie yells out a cheer as he gets lifted into the air, stilling as he realises he had lost Edith in the crowd, frantically searching for his girl. When his eyes finally land on Edith, he pushes out of the men's arms, jumping down from the ring watching in terror as Edith collapses into Lizzie's arms. Pushing his way through the crowd to get to her, he gathers her into his arms as she sobs, dropping to the floor. Glancing up at the chaos around him, Bonnie flinches as Edith lets out a shriek, his body falling to cover hers, he hands flying up to covering her ears as Tommy fires a shot into the air.