A/N Thank you Raging Raven and xrysatsan for your reviews on my last chapter! I hope you enjoy this one too
We walked into the kitchen of the Shelby house to find the rest of the Shelby clan, minus Ada, waiting for us. "Happy birthday!" Polly said, pulling me into her arms. I wrapped my arms around her as she rubbed my back before letting me go to be enveloped in Tommy's arms. "Happy birthday, Eves." he said in my ear. When I was released, I sat in the chair that John had pulled out. "Do you want your breakfast or presents first?" Polly asked, moving towards the stove. "What sort of question is that?" I laughed. Polly rolled her eyes at me before sitting beside me. "Yes, I forget you're only an adult in age." she teased. I grinned back at her before a parcel was stuck under my nose.
"Tommy helped me pick it." Finn told me as I took the package off him. We always gave our presents in age order. I smiled at my name written in a scrawly handwriting on the brown paper. "Did you write this?" I asked Finn, he quickly nodded proudly. I smiled again before carefully opening the package making sure not to rip through the writing. Inside were two books, The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett and Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie. "I love them, Finn! Thank you!" I told him, placing the books on the table and pulling the young boy in for a hug. He was blushing slightly when I released him. "This came from Ada this morning." Polly told me, handing me a large brown package. I took it from her, opening the paper to find a familiar box and a card in an envelope. A quick glance at Polly told me she recognised the box as well. I opened the card.
Evie, I cannot believe I am missing your 21st birthday! I hope you have a wonderful day and those brothers of mine spoil you silly. Don't have too much fun without me though! By now a lot of your own things are probably becoming too small but I know you will appreciate this and I think John will as well. If you are really missing me you could even put it on and run round Charlies yard, although I think you may actually give him a heart attack. I am so sad I can't be there but I'll see you really soon.
All my love, Ada.
I smiled at the letter and passed it to John behind me. "Maybe we will leave this one." I told Polly, handing the box back to her. She nodded. "I think so." she replied, standing up to put it on the side. John laughed behind me, handing back the card. "I think I can guess." John said, placing a kiss on my head.
Suddenly, a small box with a blue bow came from behind me. I took it and turned to look up at my husband. "You've already given me your present." I told him, confused. "Did he put a bow on it?" Arthur joked, a suggestive tone in his voice. "Well, this is another one." he responded, ignoring his eldest brother. "Open it then." he added, not liking the attention on him for once. I turned back to the table and carefully undid the bow. Inside was a beautiful platinum ring with a sparkly emerald. "John!" I gasped, taking in the ring. "I've had it a while, it was actually our mothers. I was planning on giving it to you a few months ago but then everything happened." he explained, crouching down next to me and putting a hand on my leg. "I love it." I told him, wrapping my arms around his neck and kissing his lips. It was a sweet short kiss as we were aware of our audience and when we broke apart, John took the ring from the box and slid it onto my finger to sit with my wedding ring. He pressed another kiss to my temple as he stood.
"Well, mine's not as good as that." Tommy joked, handing me his present. That earned a laugh from around the room. "I appreciate anything and everything I get." I told him, opening the present. "I don't know if you still do this but I know you and Ada used to all the time." he told me. Inside was a brown leather bound notebook and pen that was engraved with Evelynn Shelby. "Thank you, Tommy! We both still write but we got better at hiding them since you lot found them when we were 14." I laughed. "Well under your beds weren't the most safe places in the house." Arthur laughed. "We made the mistake of thinking there was such thing as privacy in this house." I countered, raising an eyebrow at him.
"Alright alright." Polly said, diffusing the situation before it could start an argument. "Give her your present, Arthur." She added. He handed me a box from under the table, it looked like a shoe box. I thanked him before opening the box and seeing some beautiful black t-strap heels. "Wow, Arthur. Who knew you had such good taste." I laughed, pulling one out the box. He faked a laughed before narrowing his eyes at me. "Polly picked them." he told me. "I thought they would look lovely with this." Polly told me, handing me what looked like a dress box. I put the shoe back in the box and handed them to John.
Turning back to Polly, she held the box as I opened it, lifting the lid to reveal a deep blue velvet dress. "Polly!" I gasped, standing up and taking the dress with me, unfolding it from the box and holding it out. "It's going to be a bit big because I allowed room for your bump but I can take it in a bit where needed." she told me. "I love it!" I told her, pulling the woman in for a hug. "You can wear it and the shoes tonight." Tommy told me. I straightened up and turned to the brothers. "I told you I don't want anything special." I reminded them. "There will be nothing special, just a few family drinks." John told me. "Just family?" I questioned, looking between the men. "Just family." Arthur confirmed. "Okay, but no funny business." I warned them, pointing at each of them.
"Now I know I can't shop like you and Ada but did you want to go birthday shopping with me?" Polly asked, referring to the tradition Ada and I had started when we were 13 and old enough to be interested in clothes and shoes. I nodded, smiling at her. "Right, we will have breakfast then go if you want me to sort your dress out before tonight." she told me, turning to the kitchen to make breakfast. I turned back around to see John, Arthur and Tommy each holding out five pounds out to me. "Whoa, you guys don't need to give me money." I told them, looking between them. "It's your birthday money." Arthur reminded me. "Birthday money has always been a pound since I was young." I laughed. "Well, you're only 21 once and we don't have to give Ada some now." Tommy told me, putting the money down in front of me. Arthur and John followed suit. "And we know you'll want to buy some things for the baby." John added, kissing my head. "It is way too much, but thank you." I responded, knowing better than to argue with any of them over money.
I had enjoyed shopping with Polly and although I hadn't spent all the money the brothers had given me, I had bought a lot for John, I, the baby and the house. Polly had taken in my dress for me and I had changed into it and my new shoes to go to the Garrison. I had even been a little daring and put the incredible sexy black lace slip that Ada had got me underneath. A little surprise for John later.
I had walked hand in hand with John down Garrison Lane towards the pub together. I could already hear the music and could see people coming in and out of the busy pub. "Quiet family drinks?" I questioned, nudging John slightly. "Word may of got out." he laughed. I rolled my eyes as we got to the door, John let go of my hand to open the door and we both walked in. "Evie!" Arthur shouted from behind the bar, causing a few people to turn and look. "Hi!" I laughed, taking in the busy pub around me as John helped me out of my coat. Then something caught my eye. "ADA!" I half screamed running to the girl and throwing my arms around her. She laughed as she wrapped her arms around me. "You're here!" I laughed, squeezing her tightly. "I am." she replied, squeezing me back. "We are here too." a voice said behind me. I let go of Ada and turned to see Freddie smiling at me, Karl on his hip. "Hello, Freddie." I laughed, hugging him and Karl and kissing Karls head.
"Can I have your attention please?" Tommy called and the bar went silent, all turning to look at him stood on a chair. "We are here tonight to celebrate the 21st birthday of a girl that has touched all our hearts in one way or another." Ada slid an arm around my waist as Tommy continued. "We have all watched her grow up over the years from a quiet little girl who always had her head in a book to a nightmare of a teenager." Tommy found me at that point and gave Ada and I a pointed look. "To the beautiful and loyal wife and mother-to-be that she is now. So, please, raise your glasses for Evie." Tommy had held my gaze for the end of his speech, holding up his drink in a toast with everyone around him. "Evie!" Everyone replied, raising their glasses before taking a drink. I gave him a small smile as he took a sip of his drink.
The party quickly got back into full swing and I was quickly under the arm of Arthur. "Are you enjoying your party?" He asked, taking a swig of his drink. "You mean the party I explicitly told you that I didn't want?" I laughed. "It was all Toms idea, to get Ada here as well." he told me. "Oh and you didn't encourage any of this?" I questioned. "I may have made a small encouragement." he admitted. I laughed. "It's good to see you laughing." he told me, kissing the top of my head and wandering off.
I watched him for a moment from the quiet corner before I felt a familiar hand on the small of my back. "Hi." John muttered, pressing a kiss to my temple. "Hey, you." I replied, leaning into him as he extended his arm around my waist. "You look tired." he commented. "Well, hopefully not too tired." I told him, coyly. I looked up at him as he looked down confused. I took a quick glance around the room to make sure no one was paying attention to us and slowly lifted the hem of my skirt, showing him the top of my stockings and the black lace that sat an inch above them. I looked up at him through my eyelashes as his eyes settled on my leg. "Maybe I am feeling a bit tired." I told him, dropping my dress. "I should probably get you home." he replied, his eyes coming back to mine. I nodded, biting my lip slightly before he bent down and kissed me. He broke away too soon but I knew why as he took my hand and started pulling me towards the door.
A/N I hope you enjoyed some Shelby family time in this chapter. There will probably be one more chapter before Season 2 begins! Please review as I love reading what you all think! Especially whether you think anything is going on with Evie/Tommy.