Chapter 7 - Blood kin only
Thomas went to see the doctor before heading to his establishment, hoping that no one decided to follow him. His behavior of late was enough to make his own family suspicious. After the appointment, he slipped out and took the back away where Curly kept the horses. He was talking to one when Thomas approached.
"Oh, hey Tommy, " Curly said with a gleeful smile, "Haven't seen you here in a while." said Curly as he continued to brush the horse.
"Hello Curly, just thought I'd drop by," he said casually. He reached out to pet the horse. Surprisingly, it reacting by nudging his middle.
"Well aren't you instinctive," Tommy whispered to the horse.
"Been eating more than her 'ave you Tommy," Curly giggled. Tommy wasn't entirely shocked that Curly noticed. Despite his simple demeanor, he was very perceptive.
"I suppose Curly," Tommy responded.
"Tommy, are you sure that's all?" Curly said more seriously.
"What do you mean Curly?" he questioned.
"I got a bad feeling Tommy, just now. You're not sick, are you?" Curly said looking concerned for his friend. Thomas gave him a pat on the shoulder.
"I'm alright Curly, nothing's wrong," he lied.
"If you say so, Tommy," Curly said more assured. Tommy continued on his way to the establishment. Little did he know that Curly's bad feeling wasn't about him, but for someone who was indeed following him.
Scary thoughts danced in Tommy's mind. Curly noticed his changes, but Curly sees things that most people don't. Would other people notice, he wondered. Either way, Thomas would have to tell his family, he just didn't know how or how well they would react. Aunt Poll was the only one currently in the establishment when he arrived.
"And where have you been?" she said typing away.
"I had some business to take care of," he said. She watched precariously go into his office. He sat down, and pulled out an old document from his desk so that he could modify it. Polly entered after he got to work on it.
"Thomas," she started.
"Yeah Pawl," he said still working.
"What's that?" she said distracted. He looked up from his paper.
"The last will I ever drew up," he said plainly.
"Why do you have that out?" she asked.
"I just need to change some things on it. No one is pointing a gun at me anymore," he half lied.
"Thomas," she said sitting across from him, "are you sick?"
"And why would you ask that Pawl?" he said looking at her. Her gaze drifted away from his.
"You've changed, a bit, since Grace lost the baby," she said frankly. He continued to watch her.
"You don't eat the same, you were vomiting a month ago, " said Polly. She searched his face for an answer. Tommy put his pen down and rested his chin on his folded hands.
"I know about the doctor, Tommy," Polly revealed.
"What doctor?" he baited her.
"The one on Phills' Street not to far from here," she said pointedly. Tommy unfolded his hands and looked down at his parchment. "You were spying on me?" he asked returning his gaze to her.
"Look, if you don't want tell me what it is, fine. We just want you in good health, Tom," she said.
"We?" he asked. "Who else have you told Pawl?" he demanded.
"No one. No one knows about the hospital visits but me. John keeps asking about you, because he cares," Polly replied, "And you've pulled out your will. That seems significant." Tommy became less irritated and more nervous.
"Well?" she pleaded.
"There is, something, you should know about," he revealed, "close the door behind you, Pawl." She did as she was asked and returned to the edge of her seat. It was now or never for Tommy.
"You still believe in all the gypsy magic, yeah?" he started.
"What has that got to do with anything?" she said annoyed.
"Just, you believe, right? Because I'm going to need you to believe me right now," Thomas continued.
"Those are odd words to hear from your mouth," she said.
"Just, listen, Polly," he begged. Polly waited.
"Grace, didn't lose our baby … it was relocated," he said. She gave him an odd look. "To me," he finished.
"What?" she nearly laughed.
"I told you to believe, didn't I?" he reenforced.
"You're serious?" she asked. Thomas stood up from his desk and removed his coat. He opened his arms out with his palms facing up at the ceiling. The sphere on his hips make itself known.
"When am I not serious," he said truthfully. Polly got up from her chair and moved around his desk. Her hands met his middle. She drew them back quickly as if she had touched something hot.
"Jesus mother Mary," she reacted. Thomas put his arms down.
"So, you want to tell me what I'm having Pawl," he said in a nasty jest. Polly's mouth fell agape with no laughter.
"That's why I've taken out me will again, Pawl. In case something happens to me."
"But something has already happened. I mean how … how are you going to have it?!" she interrupted realizing the gravity of the situation. At that moment, the doors to his office opened. Thomas put his hands in his pockets attempting to cover the dome.
"Aunt Pawl, Esme needs to help with the bookkeeping. Some numbers don't add up quite right," John said quietly realizing that he had interrupted something. Polly left the room to go find her.
"Did I, interrupt something? I 'eard Aunt Pawl in here," John said shyly looking at Thomas.
"We need to call a family meeting," said Tommy.
"About what?" John asked concerned.
"John we just, we just need to call a family meeting. Blood kin only," declared Thomas.