A/N Sorry I haven't posted in over a week! My best friend got married last week and I have been really busy helping her and making sure everything went smoothly! This is an extra long chapter for you and I hope you all enjoy it :)
It was about a week after the horse auction and there was a knock on the door as I was sorting out the books in the empty shop, I glanced over to Lily who was sat up in her pram watching me. "We aren't open yet. Come back later." I shouted, continuing what I was doing. "I'm here to see Thomas Shelby." a familiar voice called back. I looked up at the door for a moment before going over and opening it. "Ms Carlton." I greeted. "Mrs Shelby, I have an appointment." she told me, coming closer to the door. "Tommy usually sees people at the offices across town. I can take you there." I told her. "He gave me this address." she replied. I thought for a moment before moving to the side. "Come in." I told her, smiling slightly. She walked in as I looked at the car parked outside and the kids running round it. "Keep your hands off, you lot." I laughed before following May inside, closing the door behind me.
I watched her as she wandered around, looking around the room, her eyes settling on Lily who babbled happily at her. "That's Lily, my daughter." I told her, before she could ask. "So this is what a gambling den looks like." she muttered, mainly to herself, before looking at me. "I told him that I always wanted to see one as I was always reading about them in the papers. They are quite the big scandal in the telegraph lately." she confessed. "He told me he was going to be here but obviously I am early and he is late." she added, looking awkward.
"All right, take a seat somewhere." I conceded, going back to the books. "I guess you're here about the horse?" I asked. "Yes, he wants me to train it for Epsom." she replied. "You trained his last one?" she asked. I nodded. "Yeah, a few years ago now but I was born riding. I've loved it ever since." I told her. "I was born riding too." she told me as the door opened.
"There's a fucking great big Riley parked out there and nobody's watching it." John called out, walking in with a bag of change. "John, you remember Ms Carlton. She's here to train Tommy's horse." I said as he put the bag on the table and came over to me. "He's told us a lot about you." he told her, leaning against the table next to me. "You don't know where he is, do you?" she asked, crossing her arms. He shrugged as the kitchen door opened.
"Sorry, I'm late." Tommy apologised, coming into the room and clearing his throat. "There was a family matter. John, keep it locked up for a minute." He stroked Lily's curls as he went past her. "I'll show you round. Evie, take the baby out the back." Tommy said. I shared a look with John but we did what he asked, John picked up Lily and took her through to the kitchen. I followed, closing the doors behind me.
"I've been meaning to speak to you." I told John as he placed Lily in her highchair. I folded my arms across my chest and leant on the nearby cabinet. "Everything alright?" He asked, watching me. "Kinda, I want to speak to you about what happened at the auction. You running after that guy." I started. "Michael had you, the bloody kid got straight in front of you. You were okay." John laughed, a little unsure. "Yeah, I need to talk to him about that as well." I said, rolling my eyes. "But I wasn't worried about myself. I was worried about you, John. You can't be just running into fights all the time, what would've happened if there were more of them waiting to get you?" I asked, watching him with big eyes. He rolled his eyes before seeing the genuine concern in my face. "I don't want to raise our children without you." I added.
"Come here, you little softie." he smiled, walking over to me and wrapping his arms around me so I was buried in his chest. I wrapped my arms around him, grabbing handfuls of the back of his jacket. "I fucking love you, all right. Nothing is ever going to keep me from coming back to you, my Evie, especially not some fucking wops. You and Lily and that baby in your tummy are my family, nothing can tear us apart." he told me, kissing my head.
I watched him through my eyelashes for a moment before going up on my tip toes, he quickly came down to meet me and pressed our lips together. "You can be really sweet sometimes." I laughed, looking up at him as we broke apart. "And other times?" he asked, eyebrow raised and a cheeky grin on his face. "You can be a right bastard." I laughed, watching his face fall before he began tickling my ribs and gaining fits of laughter from me as I squirmed away from him.
A few nights later, I was sat in the snug with Finn, Arthur and John. "Right, Finn, you've got a choice of mild or mild." John told him. Finn laughed beside me. "Mild." he said, looking up at his brother. The door opened and in came Tommy. "Evie, I need to talk to you." he said, looking straight at me and ignoring his brothers. I glanced at John, who looked just as confused as I was, before standing and following Tommy out of the snug.
I followed Tommy to the bar, smiling at Eliza as I took a seat on an empty stool, looking at Tommy. "How are you, Evie?" he asked as Eliza placed a bottle of whisky and a glass in front of him. "I am fine, thanks, Tommy. How are you?" I replied, confused at the formality. "I am well." he told me, pouring himself a drink. "How serious are you about pulling away from doing the accounts?" he asked me, taking a sip from his drink. I shrugged. "Fairly, I guess. Especially with another baby on the way." I replied, watching him closely.
"Well, you know I put in an advert for an accounts clerk to help you with the paperwork but Michael has come forward asking for the job." Tommy told me. "And you don't want him to just be a clerk." I guessed. "He's family and if you are serious about stepping down a bit, I don't see why he shouldn't have a bit more responsibility. You would still manage the unofficial business but he will take over the legal stuff. Under your management, of course." he explained. "Of course." I laughed.
"Train him up for a month or two and then start reducing your hours as you see fit. I want him fully able by time that baby comes." Tommy told me. "And what about my wages?" I asked, raising an eyebrow at him. "Well, you're reducing your hours but you are now in a managerial role so 4 bob a week." he said, lighting up a cigarette. I scoffed at him. "I want 5 a week plus the usual 3% unofficial earnings. Plus I assume I am still to be head liaison with Alfie Solomon?" I asked. He nodded in confirmation. "An extra 2 bob for whenever I have to travel to London. I have babies to feed, Tommy." I told him. He narrowed his eyes at me for a moment. "Fine." he resigned after a long moment, holding out his hand. "Pleasure doing business with you, Mr Shelby." I grinned, shaking his hand. "Wish I could say the same. Have Lizzie draw up the new contract." he laughed, downing his drink.
"We need to have a word with Michael as well." I told him, watching his reaction. "And why's that?" he asked, looking back at me. "He shouldn't have got in front of me at the auction. I understand why he did but Polly would've had my fucking head if anything had happened to him." I explained. "His instinct was right. Protect you at all costs." he told me, looking at me with intense eyes. "That's yours and John's and Arthur's job. Not his." I replied, firmly. Tommy watched me for a moment. "We will speak to him." he conceded. "Come on, Michael and Pol will be here soon." he said, holding out his hand to me. I took it, sliding off my stool and following him back into the snug. "Everything alright?" John asked, watching me sit back down beside Finn. "Yeah, just discussing my new contract." I smiled.
"Here he is, look." Arthur said before we could say anything else and we all looked towards the door. Polly looked so proud as she walked in followed by Michael. Tommy stood and we all began clapping and cheering. "Happy birthday, Michael." Tommy said, shaking his hand. "18 years old. You're a man today. Give him a drink, John." Arthur shouted, standing up as well. I smiled at Michael as I went around Tommy to give him a hug. "I told you I'd see you on your birthday." I whispered into his ear as he wrapped his arms around me. He was still grinning when I pulled away, his hand staying on my back as John handed him a drink. "Here you go, lad." John grinned.
"Drink that and after, we will go find you a lady of the night." Arthur told him, taking a mouthful of his drink. "Arthur!" I scolded, frowning at the eldest Shelby. "He's 18 now, Evie. That's what you do when you become a man. It's Shelby tradition." he laughed. "That's what our John boy did." he added. I shared a look with John and we both fought a smile, remembering the night well. Arthur caught the look. "What?" he asked, looking between us. "Well, you know you couldn't find me for hours." John started, turning to look at his brother. "Yeah, that's because you were with Lizzie Stark." Arthur said. "Do you remember asking Ada where I was?" I asked, turning to Tommy. "Yeah, she said you'd drank too much and got sick." he replied but I could already see he had worked it out.
"I think he broke the tradition, Arthur. If not, then he owes me a few quid." I laughed, looking at the eldest Shelby's annoyed face. Tommy laughed beside me while Polly sighed. "Michael." Tommy said, turning the conversation away from me and John. He took a small leather box from his jacket and handed it to Michael. "What's that?" he asked, removing his hand from my back and opening the box to reveal a pocket watch. "So you're never late for work." Tommy told him.
It took Michael a minute to realise what Tommy was saying and turned, grinning, to Polly. "Welcome to the business, Michael." John told him, clapping his shoulder. "Welcome to the business." Arthur added as Michael hugged Polly. "Evie will be your boss. Whatever she says goes." Tommy told him. "Fucking good luck." Arthur laughed and I turned to him, frowning. "Hey!" I said, indignant. "I thought whatever she says went anyway." Finn added, trying to hide it behind his drink.
Tommy quickly turned and smacked him round the back of the head. "Thank you, Tommy." I said, narrowing my eyes at the youngest Shelby who gave me a cheeky grin back. "Right, come on, let's get him drunk. Come here, you." John said, moving to pull Michael round to him and Arthur. "All right, whisky." Arthur said, rubbing his hands together as Tommy moved for me to sit back down. "No whisky, he's at work tomorrow. Give him only dark mild." Tommy told them, pointing a finger at his brother. Arthur puffed his cheeks out, sharing a look with John. "A toast." Tommy said, raising his glass. "Toast." Arthur concurred, raising his own glass as Finn and I stood. "To Michael." Tommy said and we all repeated, chinking our glasses together and taking a sip.
It had been a few hours and the men were getting livelier and livelier as I rested my head on Finns shoulder. "Finn, take your sister home. She looks like she's going to fall asleep any second." I heard Tommy say as I closed my eyes. "I'm fine." I laughed, lifting my head up and opening my eyes again. "Walk her home, Finn." Arthur told his brother. I rolled my eyes. "I am perfectly capable of walking myself home." I told them standing and generating four glares from around the room. "Okay, apparently I am not!" I rescinded, holding my hands up in surrender. Finn grumbled beside me but did what he was told, standing beside me and putting his cap on.
"Don't stay too late. I want to see you nice and early in the morning." I told Michael, giving him a hug. "I won't." he laughed, giving me a squeeze before letting me go. Polly kissed my cheek as I went past her and Tommy and Arthur each gave me a one armed hug. "I'll be home in a bit." John told me, pressing a kiss to my lips. I nodded, smiling at him before following Finn from the snug. "See ya later." I shouted behind me as I closed the door.
Finn was stood waiting with my coat. I smiled at him before I heard a familiar raucous laughter. I turned to see Isaiah stood at the entrance to the bar, talking to a very uncomfortable looking Eliza. "Leave her alone, Isaiah." I called, the tone in my voice telling him I was only half joking. They both looked at me. "I'm only talking to the girl, Evie." he laughed, his drunkenness evident. "She doesn't look like she wants to be talking to you." I smiled, making my way over to the pair, Finn close behind me. "There's nothing wrong with a bit of flirting, my darling." he replied, grinning at me before looking me up and down. Eliza looked increasingly uncomfortable. "I am not your darling, Isaiah, and I suggest you leave Eliza alone." I told him, the joking gone from my voice as I stopped in front of him.
"Come on, Eves. Lighten up a little." Isaiah grinned, putting his hands on the tops of my arms. "Get your hands off me and don't call me Eves." I told him, my voice deadly. "Is." Finn said behind me, a warning. The pub was starting to notice what was going on and growing quieter. "Alright, alright!" he said, holding his hands up in surrender before going back to Eliza. "So, you're coming home with me then, love?" he asked, grabbing her around the waist and pulling her towards him.
I went to shout at him but I was shoved out of the way, only staying on my feet because of Finns quick arms around me however we still ended up crashing into the wall of the snug. "Get your fucking hands off her!" Robert shouted and by the time I looked up, he had Isaiah pinned up against the wall by his neck. "Robert!" Eliza shouted, concern in her face. "What the hell is going on?" Tommy shouted from behind me and Finn. "Isaiah has had too much to drink." Finn told Tommy as he unwound his arms from me. He quickly checked me over, something that didn't go unnoticed by Tommy.
"Evie, what happened?" Tommy asked, putting his hands in his pockets. "Isaiah has had too much to drink, he was badgering Eliza and I told him to leave her alone. He didn't and that's when Robert got involved. He was just defending his girl." I explained, looking at Tommy as John and Arthur came out of the snug. "Isaiah, out. Fuck off." Tommy said, standing to one side for the teen to leave. Robert let him go after a moment, watching as Isaiah made his way out. "I want you in my office at 10 tomorrow." Tommy told him before he left.
"Are you all right, Eliza?" Tommy asked, looking at the girl. She nodded, glancing at Robert. "I'm sorry, Tommy. I just saw him put his hands on Evie and then her." he apologised, looking at the floor. "He put his hands on Evie?" John asked and I mentally slapped myself. "It's fine! I dealt with that." I told him, giving my husband a pointed look. There was a moment of silence and I wasn't sure if John was going to let it go or not before Polly came out. "This is meant to be a party!" she laughed. "Yes, let's celebrate." Tommy added and the pub quickly went back to being noisy.
"C'mon, I'll walk home with you." John said, looking at Finn and I. "Does that mean I can stay?" Finn asked, hopefully. "No, go on." Tommy told him before following Arthur and Polly back into the snug. I laughed lightly when the teenager groaned. "Come on, I think I've got some of that cake left at home." I told him, threading my arm through his. He rolled his eyes but came anyway, keeping my arm tucked into his as we walked.