Chapter 13
Looking up from the ledger she was writing in, Bessy smiles up at her brother as he comes to a stop in front of her desk.
"Hello Tom." She greets him, raising his eyebrows at his nod in reply, followed by a wave of his hand, gesturing for her to follow him. Glancing around the room in confusion, Bessy pushes up from her chair, jogging to keep up with Tommy's long strides, slipping into his office behind him. "Everything ok?"
"Sit down Bessy, I've got something I need you to do." With a nod, Bessy lowers herself into the chair opposite Tommy, pulling her lip between her teeth as she watches him shuffle papers around the desk.
"Should I be nervous?"
"No." He states, holding a pack of papers out to her. Reaching forwards, Bessy takes the folder, opening it and skimming down the pages.
"What is this?" She asks, looking back up at Tommy as she comes to the end of the document. "Michael Gray? As in..."
"Polly's son. Yes."
"Shit."
"You remember him?" Giving her brother a withering look, dropping her head to the side, Tommy scoffs under his breath, shaking his head. "Of course you do. Stupid question. I need you to go and see him."
"Ok..."
"I think his mother would be more accepting of young woman coming to visit, than a man like me."
"Probably." Bessy sighs, flicking through the document again. "Today?"
"If you're not busy."
"Can I take the car?" She asks, running a hand through her hair, dropping the folder back to the desk as Tommy nods. "I'll be back by dinner, then."
Pausing momentarily in the car, Bessy watches as two young boys run through the field in front of her. Stepping out of the car, and straightening her hat, she smiles as the boys run across the lane in front of her, slowly making her way towards the gate they had just walked through.
"Mrs Johnson?" She asks, approaching the gate with a gentle smile.
"Yes. Who are you?" The older woman asks, crossing her arms over her chest.
"I'm from Birmingham council. Bordesley parish." Bessy continues, holding her hand out for the woman to shake. At her disdainful look, Bessy pulls her hand back, lacing her fingers together in front of her instead.
"No one wrote to me. What do you want?"
"I would like to talk about your son, Henry? Can I come in?"
"I'd rather you didn't. He doesn't like to talk about this."
"I see." Bessy replies with a nod, peering behind Mrs Johnson and smiling warmly at the boy she assumed was her cousin.
"I only deal with Mr Ross. And he only ever writes. So why are you here in person?" Mrs Johnson asks, stepping away from Bessy who returns her attention to her.
"The boy is approaching his 18th birthday-"
"This isn't right. You're not from the council. Something isn't right." The older woman cuts in with a shake of her head.
"I mean no harm, Mrs Johnson. You have nothing to fear. Henry's mother wants to see him. His real name is Michael Gray." Bessy states softly, holding her hands up on surrender.
"No. Go away."
"Henry." Bessy greets her cousin with a smile, ignoring his mother's angry shouts. "Please, Mrs Johnson. I mean well. Just, take this card, please. Your mother's address in on there. She just wants to see you. To talk to you. Just think about it." Holding a card out to Michael, she smiles softly as he takes it, backing away from the gate.
"Hello, love. Mind if I join you?" Elijah's raps lightly on the doorframe to the office Bessy was occupying. She looks up with a smile, nodding to Elijah who drops his hat on to the table, rounding to the other side to kiss Bessy deeply. "You have a good day?" He asks as he settles himself into the chair on the other side of her desk, stretching his legs out in front of him.
"I have. Went to find Polly's boy this morning." Bessy replies, putting her pen down, resting her chin in her hands, leaning forwards towards Elijah.
"Oh yeah?" He asks, reaching back to push the door shut before copying her, leaning forwards with his chin in his hands. "Tommy found him?"
"Yeah. Anna passed on sadly, but Michael's still alive. Living in the country. He looked well, I just hope he'll come around here eventually, Polly would be over the moon to see him. We all would." Bessy replies, smiling widely at Elijah who hums in response.
"I can still remember kicking you and him down Watery Lane in a box with John and Arthur. You were bloody tiny." He teases, Bessy rolling her eyes at him.
"You can still remember that?" She asks with a laugh, shaking her head as he nods. "God, those were the days!"
"They were." Elijah agrees, leaning back in the chair once more.
"I've just got to get this paperwork finished for Arthur and then we can go." She says, picking up her pen again, ducking her head down.
"No rush." Elijah replies, tilting his head back and closing his eyes.
"Have you been thinking about names?" Bessy asks, eyes flicking up to look at Elijah, watching his chest rise and fall with his breath.
"Hmm, not really." He admits. "Have you?"
"I've got a few ideas." She replies, Elijah opening his eyes as she moves around to his side of the desk, lowering herself into his lap, his arms immediately coming to wrap around her, holding her to him. "I think Benny. And Danny. Toby." Elijah nods along, resting his hand on Bessy's stomach, his thumb gently rubbing at her bump. "I like Mabel and Verity for a girl." She gently nudges her head into his neck, pressing light kisses there.
"I also like, Cora, Hattie, Effie and Clara." She replies, looking up at him.
"You think it's a girl don't you?" Elijah teases, pulling Bessy closer as she lets out a giggle, tucking her head into his neck once again. "Has Pol told you?"
"No. I won't let her." Bessy states, brushing her fingers over his jaw. "I want it to be a surprise."
"Me too." Elijah replies, pressing a lingering kiss to her forehead.
"Will you think of some names too?" She asks, Elijah humming in response, nodding his head. "Then we can make a list. Figure out a middle name too."
"Of course." He says, turning his head quickly to look back as the door opens behind them, Bessy pushing against Elijah's chest to sit upright as Tommy fills the doorway.
"Bess." Tommy calls sharply, his sister tilting his head to the side at his tone.
"Yeah?"
"Come with me. To speak to the boys." He states, nodding his head in the direction of the office, Elijah and Bessy turning their heads to look through the window at Finn and Isiah in Tommy's office.
"Why?" Bessy asks, rising from Elijah's lap, keeping her eyes in her younger brother.
"Arthur's just killed a boy." Glancing down at Elijah who was staring back at her with wide eyes, Bessy gulps, Elijah reaching out to squeeze her hand as she follows Tommy from the room.
"Alright, what happened?" Tommy asks, slamming the door to his office shut behind Bessy who moves to lean against the desk, eyeing up the two young boys in front of her.
"It was a fair fight." Bessy pinches the bridge of her nose at Finn's response, dropping her head to her chest in frustration.
"Finn, that's not what Tommy asked." She states, raising her head to look Finn in the eye.
"Yeah. Arthur just caught him a good one." Isiah steps in, Tommy and Bessy glancing at each other at his response, Bessy raising her eyebrows at her older brother.
"One blow? That was it?" She clarifies, crossing her arms over her chest.
"I saw the body. Dont fucking lie to me. What happened?" Tommy reiterates, looking between the two boys who share a side glance.
"I'm not family. I'm saying nothing."
"Isiah." Bessy sighs, dropping her head into her hands. "Jesus Christ, you're as good as family, so for Christ sake, tell us what fucking happened." Watching the boys sit in silence, Bessy throws her hands up in Tommy's direction. "One of you fucking say something.
"Finn?" Tommy calls, moving to lean against the wall. "You heard your sister."
"Arthur, he's blown a few times lately. Six, seven." Finn finally replies, lifting his head to look Bessy in the eye, his sister closing her eyes in despair at his response.
"Fuck." She mutters under her breath.
"It's like he's not there in the head. He can't even hear 'stop'. Or even his own name. And then he cries." Finn continues, Bessy turning her head to look up at Tommy who pushes off the wall.
"Right, listen to me. That's two fucking stories." He states, stepping towards Finn and pointing a finger in his face. "Your brother killed a boy. There were witnesses, there will be questions, get your stories straight. It was an accident. Fuck off." Pointing to the door, Tommy steps back to stand beside Bessy, the pair of them watching the two boys go.
"What are we going to do?" Bessy groans, rubbing her hands over her face as Tommy drops into the chair beside her.
"I don't fucking know." He states, lighting a cigarette and holding it out to Bessy who gratefully accepts it.
"Should I go and see him?" She asks, taking a long drag of the cigarette.
"We'll go together." Bessy hums in response, pushing off the table to head for the door.
"Jesus fucking Christ." She mutters to herself as she turns the handle, pausing to look back at Tommy who shakes his head at her.
"I know. I fucking know Bessy."
Dropping down onto the sofa, Bessy watches as Tommy paces to the window, turning away from Arthur who was slumped in the arm chair. "I spoke to the doctor. He said the kid probably had a weak heart. We'll look after his mother. It will be fine." Tommy states, turning to look back at Arthur who nods slowly.
"Polly said I should've stuck with the medicine." Bessy scoffs at her oldest brother's answer, shaking her head at Tommy. "I said that you know best. Head's like a fucking boat, Tommy. Full of heavy cargo like coal, or iron. Sometimes it slips to one end. And the boat tips I can feel it slipping. And I can feel the boat tipping. But there ain't nothing I can do about it." Listening to her brother struggle to get his words out, Bessy's chest constricts, her eyes being to water at his words, turning her head to look over at Tommy who had his back to Arthur again. "It's like my fucking head's just like this big fucking barge. And it just fucking drifts, in and out, in and out-"
"We've been home a long time now Arthur. I thought you were alright." Tommy snaps, turning again to look back at Arthur who puts his head in his hands.
"Yeah well, I don't think I am, Tommy." He replies, pulling his gun out of his holster and holding it up. Bessy leans forward in her seat, ready to grab either the gun or her brother should he turn the weapon on himself. "Take this fucking thing away." Throwing the gun onto the table, Bessy jumps in shock, closing her eyes briefly as her heart pounds in her chest, Tommy glances back once more, turning on his heel to stalk towards his brother.
"Just fuck off, Arthur." Tommy states, stopping just in front of the oldest Shelby. "You know what? I've had enough."
"Thomas!" Bessy shouts out in shock, eyes widening at his words.
"No, Bess. I've fucking had enough. And so have you. We all have." Tommy replies turning to look over at Bessy, meeting her eyes. She knew he was right, they all felt the strain, but it was only because they just wanted their big brother back. They wanted him to be better, to be the same Arthur that left for the war. "Just fuck off."
"What?" Arthur chokes out, lifting his head to peer up at Tommy who bends down to get in his face.
"Supposed to treat you like a fucking kid again, eh? Keep you away from guns and fucking ropes. Is that it?"
"Thomas!"
"You think I haven't got enough on?" He shouts, Arthur moving his head away from Tommy's as he gets closer.
"Stop it."
"Arthur, you think I haven't got enough on?"
"Tommy, stop!" Bessy cries angrily, rising from her chair.
"Stop it."
"The war is done!" Tommy continues, still shouting in Arthur's face. "Shut the door on it."
"Stop it."
"Shut the door on it like I did!"
"Like you did?" Arthur scoffs, raising his eyes to meet Tommy's.
"Can you do that? Yeah? Like I did. Shut the fucking door."
"But I'm not fucking you, am I? I'm not fucking you!" Arthur finally explodes, rising quickly from the chair and pushing Tommy against the fireplace.
"Stop! Stop it, both of you! Arthur get off of him!" Bessy cries, moving forwards in an attempt to push her brothers apart, Arthur reaching out a hand to hold her off, Bessy stepping back in shock.
"Everyone fucking knows it! God."
"Look at yourself. Look at yourself. Take a long, hard fucking look at yourself." Tommy bites out, forcing Arthur to look in the mirror. "Now look at our sister. Terrified. Fucking terrified Arthur." Finally meeting Bessy's eyes in the mirror, reading the sadness in her eyes, Arthur collapses into Tommy's arms, sobbing, his brother swiftly pushing him off of him and onto the floor.
Bessy stands, frozen in shock, staring at Arthur as Tommy storms past her wordlessly, leaving the house, only to return seconds later, lifting the gun from the table and unloading it onto the floor. Dropping the gun back to the table, he collects the bullets, throwing the bottle of whiskey beside them into the fire, not sparing either of his siblings a glance as he storms out once more, slamming the door behind him. Breathing heavily, turns flowing down her cheeks, Bessy watches as Arthur turns, screaming at the front door before dropping to the ground once more. Inching forwards, Bessy drops to her knees beside him, gently wrapping her arms around her trembling brother and pulling him into her arms, cupping his head to her chest.