1911

Despite living in Small Heath and knowing the Shelbys as neighbors, it is overwhelming meeting all of them as in-laws.

It doesn't help that she isn't meeting everyone. She knows Arthur Sr wasn't around. He hasn't been around the family since siring Finn. The streets are filled with many reasons as to why he is not a resident at Watery Lane. She is aware of the schemes he cooked up around Birmingham that left his wife and children hungry. She knows the only form of affection that was shown to his children came from a closed fist.

However, the family had been hit with another blow with the death of Alice Shelby, their mother. It left Ada and a two-year-old Finn without their mother.

Between the three older brothers, Thomas had set up and taken guardianship of his younger siblings.

Evelyn is very much aware that this situation that they found themselves in was not ideal. The family had welcomed her with a hug and an eagerness for a new Shelby to come in the limited space of their home.

Evelyn follows behind quietly as Thomas carries her meager belongings to their room.

The news of her pregnancy had been a surprise that she couldn't hide. She had known rather early the trouble she had gotten herself into. She felt it in her bones that her body didn't belong to her. She had debated terminating the pregnancy. She had been close to making an appointment. Yet, she didn't have it in her.

She had been prepared for Thomas to be adamant about terminating the pregnancy. She would have been forceful that she would keep the pregnancy. She even planned to threaten their child with the knowledge that Thomas had been the one to walk away. She wasn't going to ask or insist on marriage. She just wanted help.

Yet, Thomas had taken her by surprise as he laid a hand on her flat stomach and proposed marriage.

She wishes her family had been more receptive to the news. The sudden engagement fooled no one and she was promptly thrown out. Her step-father wanted to do with her or the baby.

"I know it's small," Thomas tells her as he lays her chest on the bed.

"It's more than what I have right now," she tells him as she walks further into the room. She stands by his night table where a vase has a lone flower in it. It was a simple room just with a bed and wardrobe. She could tell Thomas wasn't excessive in means. The room was just meant for sleep.

She stands next to him and opens her chest of clothes. They are meager belongings and for a moment she is hit with the fact she has given Thomas the responsibility of two more mouths to feed.

He shows her the space in the wardrobe that he made for her. She places her few dresses there next to his suits. She is going to have to get familiar with caring for them and starching his collars. She is about to become someone's wife. She is going to be someone's mother.

"I know it's a lot."

Evelyn looks at Thomas. His blue eyes stare at her intently.

"It must be nice not being alone." Before Henry, she was used to living in such a large group. Not having possession to own due to sharing with the community. Moving to Small Heath, Silas, her older brother, had taken to the street. He was never around.

Her mother was too focused on pleasing Henry. She had been left alone to navigate the new world they had moved into.

"You want a big family then?" He asks her.

Evelyn shrugs her shoulders as she turns her gaze to the window. The street is filled with kids from the neighborhood.

"I don't know," she tells him truthfully. "You?"

"Never thought much on it."

Evelyn smiles. "Don't we make a pair?"

For all intents and purposes, they are both strangers to each other. Sure, he would come into her step-father's shop to purchase meat. They would exchange generic pleasantries. Thoughts never lingered about Thomas Shelby.

Now she is having his child. She is going to be his wife soon. Marriages started out on less, she reasons.

The floor creaks and she hears the jingle of coins before she can feel his heat behind her.

He wraps his arms around her and rests his palms against her stomach. She doesn't have much of a bump. She looks more bloated than anything.

He rests his chin on her shoulder as they watch the kids play outside.

Evelyn brings her hands up to cover his calloused ones.

"It's going to be a boy."

Thomas snorts. "Pol tell you that?"

Evelyn smiles as she nods her head. "He'll have your eyes."

1919

Evelyn knew the men wouldn't come home and things would revert back to how things were before. There were four years between them all.

Evelyn hates to admit she got used to the absence. She had filled the void of Thomas' absence.

She is coming to realize she has to learn her place in life with him again. She has to make a new routine for their family.

It wasn't that hard either as with the men home, they had taken back the work from the betting shop. All the work they did, she, Polly, Martha, and even Ada, wasn't shown much appreciation.

In fact, during a family meeting, it was there she was informed of her demotion. It was back to women's business her husband stated so plainly.

Polly, of course, keeps her position as treasurer. No one could fire Polly. Ada seems grateful for the relief of duties. Evelyn has half the mind to take a wooden spoon to the girl's bottom for the late nights she wanders back in the house.

Evelyn is put back in the kitchen and takes care of the house and children. It's not like she minded. Before the war, it was what she was doing. She took the responsibility have raising Finn as if he was her son as well. He was her son at this point as much as Jamie was.

Yet, with the war, the situation has changed things for women. She can be more than a housewife.

Evelyn knows she isn't one to start riots or marches, she just doesn't want to be relegated to housework.

It is a topic she doesn't know how to breach with her husband. Although it isn't as if he is one for conversations these days.

Instead, she keeps her head down. Thomas is providing for their family and she doesn't want to take away his need to feel he could provide for them.

So she makes dinner, mends clothes, and starched collars.

Yet, on early mornings, Arthur would sheepishly have her redo his ledgers.

As stated her days are dictated by the whims of the children. Her main focus is always on Jamie and Finn. Finn and Jamie are thick as thieves and she knows she will be gray before she is 30 considering the mischief they always seem to find themselves in.

Somehow she is able to corral those two. Yet, it's going to take a village to raise John's kids. She doesn't know how Martha managed. She doesn't know how they all did it. Evelyn looks out the window and thankfully the kids are all in the front of the house. Daniel is 8 years old is the oldest and the spitting image of John. Next are the twins at 6, and the baby Matthew is 4 on the edge of 5 soon.

Evelyn wipes her hands on her apron as she knows she should begin making lunches. Yet, as she does her headcount, her two boys are absent.

Ada comes in through the front door with some groceries.

"Hey, Ada, did you see Finn and Jamie out there?"

Ada sighs as she places the groceries on the table. "Not since breakfast. They aren't on the street either."

Evelyn rubs her forehead as she makes her way to the green double doors that divide the betting shop from the house. Sometimes the boys would wander through despite the many scoldings she had given. She doesn't want any of the kids running through the shop.

The shop is busy and loud as numbers and names are thrown around. She bypasses the chaos as heads into Thomas' office. He is sitting on the desk reading the paper.

She doesn't bother knocking as she enters.

"Have you seen Finn and Jamie?"

He doesn't look up from his paper. "No."

Evelyn sighs. She wishes that he would show some kind of concern. These days Thomas doesn't show much emotion to anything.

"They probably aren't far."

Evelyn's grey eyes snap to Thomas, who is folding his paper. He grabs his cigarette holder and pulls out a cigarette and places it between his lips.

"That isn't the point," she snaps before she leaves his office.

He doesn't follow her and she doesn't expect him to. She heads outside and over to where John's kids are playing with the neighboring children. None know where Finn and Jamie are.

Evelyn doesn't care that her husband and brothers run the streets. She is comforted by it slightly that nothing can happen in Small Heath without Thomas particularly knowing. Yet, it doesn't erase the panic of the fact her babies are missing.

She checks their usual hideouts. She sees if they are with Isiah. She visits the stores and parks they usually are by. She finds no trace of them.

She is on her way to the Cut to see if by chance they were with Uncle Charlie or Curly. For the past few weeks, the boys have been bold in testing their limits. They would leave to go a street over or sometimes into the Irish's or Italian's territory.

It has led to many scoldings and smacked arses, but Evelyn finds it all to be water off a duck's back.

However, she doesn't think they would be so bold to travel to the Cut after many warnings about the curse of the water. The tale of Polly's husband meeting his fate there should have been enough to scare them.

She is halfway there when she hears the familiar pitch of Jamie's whining. By the sounds of things, the boys are in the middle of a row.

They don't even see her as they begin a shoving match.

She sees red when she notices Finn is soaked to the bone.

The two are busy fighting and from what she can gleam they blame each other for this misadventure that resulted in Finn falling into the Cut.

She folds her arms across her chest. "Well, what do we have here?"

The two freeze. She doesn't give them any time to come to their senses as she swiftly brings her hand down on both their arses. She delivers plenty of smacks alternating between the two of them. She ignores them trying to protect themselves. She delivers smacks to their bare thighs.

She doesn't bother with a lecture. It seems they both know they are in serious trouble as she keeps a firm grip on them as she marches back to Watery Lane.

The boy's cries echo through the whole neighborhood. She barely notices the other kids stop playing as she ushers the boys in the house. She hopes the two are embarrassed as their friends gawk. She makes it into the kitchen and they are all taken by surprise by Thomas seemingly standing there waiting.

"What's all this, aye?"

She would laugh at the boys' comical looks as they glance back and forth from each other to Thomas.

Thomas takes a drag from his cigarette. "Don't make this worse for yourself. It seems you're already heading to go over your Ma's knee. Do you want to go me knee as well?"

Jamie begins full-on sobbing, but Finn holds his head up defiantly. "Evie isn't me mum."

Thomas smacks Finn across the head, which takes them all by surprise.

"Evie fills your belly, mends your clothes, and tucks you in at night. If I ever hear you disrespect me wife that way you'll be eating soap as dinner for a week," Thomas threatens.

"We just wanted to see the horses," Jamie speaks up through his sniveling.

"And how does that explain Finn taking a swim in the Cut?" Thomas inquires.

Both boys go silent.

Thomas finishes his cigarette. "I know you both been told you aren't allowed there -"

"You go there," Finn interjects.

Thomas's eyes flash. "Because I'm an adult. If you wanted to see the horses you should have asked me. Now you go get a bath," he orders Finn. "and head straight to your room. You too, Jamie. I'll be up in a minute to give out your punishments."

Both boys tremble and nod their heads as they make their way to their rooms.

Evelyn sighs as she sits at one of the kitchen chairs. "You know that was a lie about wanting to see horses."

Jamie, she could see. He shared his love of horses with Thomas. Finn could care less.

The boys have been testing their limits since the men returned. John and Arthur are open with their affection. They have no trouble in giving the boys their attention. They are quick to delegate their responsibilities to someone else, especially Arthur.

Thomas, however, has maintained that he should not be disturbed during work hours. So it meant some days when he was out plotting and handling business Jamie doesn't get to see his father outside of breakfast. Even then Thomas had to be practically force-fed. It seems his diet these days was cigarettes and whiskey.

So she knows what the boys' adventure was about.

Thomas doesn't respond as he discards his cigarette into the fireplace.

With living in a small house and a very big family, Evelyn knows it was important to have time carved out for herself.

She makes sure to at least give herself 30 minutes of her day to have uninterrupted as much as it could be.

So the simple task of just walking to shops alone is something she cherished.

During these small excursions through town, she is able to give herself a break from the household. She gets some fresh air after all she really couldn't escape the smog. She could explore the town free from extraction.

Her favorite thing is to go to the shops downtown. She loves looking at the display of dresses and skirts. She makes note of the latest fashions. She pictures herself in some of the dresses and even imagines designing some of her own.

Yet today it isn't a gleeful excursion when she needs to go to the butcher shop.

Bello's butcher is owned by her stepfather, Henry Rollins.

Her mother, Roslyn, had met him when Evelyn was 10 years old during a fair. She still doesn't know what had made a conservative like Henry come to gypsy land, to begin with, and even more seek out a relationship with her mother, a widow with two children.

She doesn't know what her mother could have seen in Henry outside of opportunity.

Her mother saw a means to escape their roaming and for her kids to get an education and a warm bed.

Although sometimes Evelyn prefers the comfort of a warm fire while she sat on dewy grass than the cold sheets that inhabited the house of Henry.

The shop isn't busy. There are only a few customers when she enters. She hopes Henry's apprentice, Wilbert, would be working. However, Henry is working the front along with Wilbert.

She imagines Henry was handsome at some point in time. Lugging around meat helped him with his physique. However, she knows his love affair with alcohol is the reason behind his bloodshot eyes and the yellow tint to his skin.

Wilbert is the one to greet her. "Same thing, as usual, Mrs. Shelby?"

Evelyn nods. "But add a couple more of those hot sausages the boys liked those. And I told you it's Evelyn."

Wilbert chuckles and winks. "Sure thing, Mrs. Shelby."

Evelyn smiles and Wilbert is quick and efficient with her order. She thanks him as she places the meat in her basket. Her smile dims slightly as she heads to the register.

Henry is quiet as he tallies her total.

"Your husband home?"

Evelyn is surprised by the question. Henry acts like they have no relation usually. "Uh, yeah. For a few weeks now."

"Your mother wants you over for dinner. Sunday after church."

"Oh," Evelyn's eyes widen. "Okay, I'll bring over dessert."

Evelyn makes her way back home. The kids are still outside playing. She rolls her eyes as Finn shouts that he and Jamie are in the front of the house.

Entering the house, it's quiet. It's not loud or boisterous. She assumes it's a slow day.

She heads into the kitchen to put the extra meat in the icebox for tomorrow.

Food doesn't last long in the house as she makes food for her, Thomas, Jamie, Finn, Ada, John, and his kids as well as Arthur. She wouldn't trust John in making butter toast for him or his kids.

Evelyn begins working on making some meatloaf with mashed potatoes. She is going to try to get Jamie to eat some vegetables with a small side of green beans. Jamie has a knack for making his vegetables disappear without actually eating them.

"Evie, love, what's for dinner?"

Evelyn looks over her shoulder and smiles at Arthur.

Arthur had been quick to welcome her into the family. She suspects it was mostly due to her filling his belly. Arthur was sweet, but she knew there was a darkness in him. A darkness that threatened him more since he came back from the war. She notices the drinking has increased with all the brothers. Yet, Arthur was the one who got drunk and belligerent. He was unpredictable and violent.

The chasing of the bottle made her remember Thomas's words how that was a trait Arthur senior shared.

"Meatloaf with mashed potatoes and green beans."

"Oi, still trying to Jamie to eat his veggies."

Evelyn giggles. "Trying too."

"Well if he sees Tommy eat them, he'll follow. Wants to be like his dad."

Evelyn smiles sadly. Sure, he is here, but they all notice how Jamie thinks Thomas hangs the moon. As much as she has come to accept her husband is a gangster it's daunting imagining her son being part of this business. Arthur comes up and lays a hand on her shoulder. "Tom's a good father. Better than our dad ever was."

"And you're a good, Uncle and brother-in-law."

Arthur smiles. "Evie, you're making me blush."

Evelyn laughs as she knows there is a reason Arthur is seeking her out outside of seeing what's going into his belly. "How's your house, Arthur?"

Arthur scratches his head. "It's warm."

"Arthur…"

"It could use some of your feminine touches."

"In payment, I want you to take Jamie for a weekend."

Arthur presses a kiss on her cheek. "Love you, sis."

Evelyn sighs as she works on scrubbing the last of the dirty plates from dinner. Usually, she would delegate the task to Ada with the help of Finn and Jamie. However, Ada had volunteered to handle bedtime with the boys. She sort of wonders if Ada decided to handle bedtime due to the fact Thomas hadn't made a mad dash to attend to some business since it was dark.

Instead, he has stayed at the head of the table with a glass of whiskey and his cigarettes even with his empty plate and they finished up dinner. He listened to the musings of Finn and Jamie.

Now she is surprised that he is standing next to her drying the dishes she passes to him.

She waits until they are all finished up before she fills the silence with something other than the sloshing of water.

"My mother invited us over for dinner after church on Sunday."

She risks a look at her husband. He doesn't say anything for a moment as he seems to digest her words.

"And how are Henry and Roslyn?"

Evelyn licks her lips as she dries her hands. "Same as before. My mom would sometimes watch Jamie for me."

Thomas nods his head. "Alright." He slides on his suit jacket. He makes his way back to her and presses a stiff kiss on her forehead. "I'll be at the Garrison."

Evelyn would usually be annoyed by the antics of both Jamie and Thomas' attitude. However, she fights her smile as both men are extremely grumpy and have no problem in making it known. She thinks her amusement comes from how much Jamie and Thomas are alike in their annoyances. It's the subtle clench in their jaw and the way their blue eyes narrow in displeasure that shows their attitude.

However, she knows Jamie is grumpy as Finn had a sleepover with Isiah. Finn also wouldn't be at this mass and would be attending the one Jeremiah Jesus, Finn's father, would preach at on a corner somewhere.

Thomas she is sure is just annoyed by the way the wind is blowing. Thomas has Jamie's hand in his as they walk in front of her and Polly.

Polly had been pleased to see them heading to church. Evelyn would go occasionally and pray for her family's return home. It was hard as Jamie could not sit still long enough through a service. She aims for once a month with Ada on duty to watch Jamie.

Polly has her arm looped through hers. Polly has always been warm with her. She had welcomed her into the family without hesitation despite the circumstances. Polly has been a trusted friend and mother figure. She knows without Polly she probably wouldn't have lasted during the four years the men were away.

Polly has been the one to show her that she can be more than a housewife.

"Jamie may be your image, but he has Thomas's temperament for sure," Polly observes.

Evelyn agrees. "Scary how much they are alike."

Polly glances at her. "He's a mommy's boy for sure like his father was, I wouldn't worry too much."

Evelyn watches as Jamie points out various things to Thomas. She knows Jamie has been in awe of Thomas since his return home. She has watched as her son tried to imitate many of his father's mannerisms. He even requested a matching suit like his father that Thomas had promised him, which he was wearing today.

"So dinner with Roslyn and Henry?" Polly probes.

"Yes, it was Roslyn's request."

Things are frosty between Roslyn and Polly for sure. Evelyn never got the full story, but she knows her mom and Polly knew each other when they were younger. She assumes a man has to have come between them or her mother's own ego.

"You're too generous to allow her time with Jamie."

It had been clear once her last name changed from Maxwell to Shelby, her allegiance was to the Shelby family alone. Any slight towards her was to all the Shelby family members.

Her banishment from Henry's home without her mother's interference had tainted their image. Even more so by their refusal to attend her wedding.

Polly has never been one to be quiet on her thoughts or her sneers towards her mother.

Thomas thankfully always follows her queue and trusts her judgment with this particular family matter.

"I'll say an extra prayer. Lord knows you are going to need it." Polly adds as they reach the church steps.

Dinner is tense.

Evelyn thinks the last time she has been in this house was when she has told them she was pregnant. She had been surprised Henry didn't drag her out by her hair.

The house hasn't changed much. Henry is a little more wealthy than most. There is some ornate decor that decorates the walls and shelves. The couches are always restuffed and upholstered with the latest patterns.

Evelyn remembers being scared to even sit on the couches or to use any of the china.

Henry is all about his image. So it confuses her how he fell for a gypsy with two children. Her mother had never known the city life.

Roslyn grew up on the road and living in a vardo. Her mom used to work with her own mother and grandmother communing with the spirits. Life for her mother changed for a bit when she married Theo, her father. Theo had been adventurous and a wild card. Evelyn remembers many nights her father would make treasures hunt and tell ludicrous stories that her mother would scold him for. Yet, she remembers her father soothing her mother with kisses and hugs that would bring laughter.

Evelyn remembers the love of her father. She remembers her mother being happy in their vardo. Silas is home and trailing after their father and wanting to emulate him. The same way Jamie does now with Thomas

She glances at Jamie, who is between her and Thomas. Her boy is nervous being in the presence of Henry. Despite her mom volunteering to watch Jamie for a few hours, it's apparent that they never ventured into this house. Evelyn doesn't think she really talks about her family considering they are surrounded by Thomas' kin. Jamie wouldn't even feel the lack of their presence with his cousins and aunts and uncles around.

She can tell Thomas is itching to smoke as he gives little input into the conversation. He seems to be savoring his whiskey and prefers that over his food.

The conversation is kept up between her and her mother when the chipping of forks against the plates became too much.

Evelyn places a piece of brownie she made in front of Jamie when Henry decides to finally insert himself into the conversation.

He swirls his glass of amber liquid. "I'm surprised you only have the one."

Evelyn looks at him and she knows what he is referring too and she doesn't like where this is going.

"One what?" Thomas inquires as he leans back in his chair.

"You know damn well what," Henry growls.

"Henry, please -" her mom speaks up and they all watch as she flinches when Henry's angry gaze is directed towards her

"Please, what?! Your daughter soiled my name. But now she wants to keep her legs shut ‐"

"Enough! You will not speak about me wife that way."

"Or what you're gonna cut me? Or better yet, I heard you men came back funny from war. Could you even manage?"

"Grab your things and wait outside," Thomas orders her in their native Romi tongue.

Evelyn doesn't question him as she picks Jamie up from his seat and goes to the front to grab their coats.

Jamie doesn't even fight her about not getting to eat his brownie. She buttons his coat and they stand outside in front of the door.

"Is Daddy mad?" Jamie asks.

"Daddy is a little upset," she replies as she runs a hand through her son's dark hair.

"Is Henry your daddy?"

"No, he's not. My dad died when I was little. Roslyn met Henry when I was a little bit older than you."

"Why would she marry someone so mean?"

"I don't know, baby."

The front door opens revealing Thomas. He slides his cap on his head as he approaches them. His hand caresses Jamie's head. "I don't want you seeing them again."

Evelyn nods her head.

Thomas looks down at Jamie. "Let's go get ice cream. You didn't get to finish your brownie."

Jamie beams, causing Evelyn to release a short laugh.

She's surprised when Thomas brings an arm around her shoulders and tucks her in his side as they begin their journey to the ice cream parlor.

It feels familiar.

It feels like Thomas.