Moments later, we were all sat in the kitchen, Karl playing on the floor nearby. "The thing is, we all naturally came in here, where the servants eat." Ada told us, walking to the table where I was sat on Johns lap. "It's nothing to do with politics, Ada. It's fucking freezing in the big room." John told her, rolling his eyes. "John, mind your language in front of Karl." Polly scolded him, bringing some cheese over to the table.
"Ada, we're in the servants' quarters because it's where the fucking booze is kept." Arthur said, taking off his jacket. John patted my leg, signalling for me to stand so he could get up. "Arthur, find better words!" Polly scolded as I sat back in the empty chair. "Pol, does swearing in Gypsy count?" John asked, going round to his aunt. I stifled a laugh as she held the large knife she was holding up to him. "That's no reason for us to be speaking rocka or shelta in any case." She replied, going over to the bread. This sent a cheer around the room. "I'm just saying there is no need," she told us. "When Evies drunk she can't speak fucking English." John laughed. "Să te fut." I told him, laughing but narrowing my eyes at him. "Evelyn!" Polly scolded, pointing the knife at me. The room laughed as Michael came in, almost bumping into John.
"You dealt with it?" Polly asked him as the room went quiet, the easy joking disappearing into a tense silence. Ada slid over a cup of tea to me. I lightly hit Arthurs leg, who had sat beside me and gestured towards my cup. He dutifully poured some whiskey into it before I took a sip. "Incentives, no threats. Implied consequences without specific reference to physical harm." Michael replied, coming round the table and poured himself a cup of tea. "That's why your Michael is the boss." Arthur said beside me causing everyone to look at him. "He knows better words, right, Pol?" he added, taking a mouthful of his drink. "Since when was I your boss, Arthur?" Michael asked. "First, the boss meets you. Then the workers meet you." John told him.
"When did either of you two do a days work?" Finn asked, hoping to lighten the mood, causing me and Ada to laugh. "In the old days, Finn, family meetings used to be all of us together." Arthur told him, standing and pouring himself another drink. "Arthur, shut up." Polly told him, growing bored. Arthur and Ada shared a look. "Now, me and John, we're just fucking bin men whose duty it is to obey." Arthur continued, bowing and looking at Michael.
"That's not true, Arthur." I told him, causing him to look down at me. "You know that's not true." I added, raising my eyebrows at him, daring him to argue with me. He held my gaze for a moment before turning back to his drink. "Mrs. Changretta." he murmured before downing his glass. I looked over at John and I could practically see the cogs working in his head. "Arthur, shut up. Finn, go and get us cigars." Polly instructed, taking the bottle from in front of Arthur.
"So what are we gonna do all night, eh? Climb fucking trees?" John asked as Finn stood from the table. "John, stop swearing in front of Karl." I told him. "Yeah, and who said you're staying the night?" Ada added. "I know what we can do. We get the guns out, John. We go outside, and we shoot some fucking pheasants." Arthur told his brother, both of them laughing. "That's what the bosses do, isn't it?" he added.
"Fuck off, Arthur." Michael muttered. Arthur leant back in his seat, glaring up at Michael. "Fuck you just say to me?" Arthur asked and I shared a look with Ada. "I didn't ask for separate meetings today, all right?" Michael told him. "No. No, what the fuck did you just say?" Arthur said, standing up and getting in Michael's face. "Cause I didn't fucking hear you right." he added. Michael looked straight ahead.
I rolled my eyes and stood up, walking over to the pair with John close behind me, I pushed Arthur away from Michael as John put a hand on his brothers shoulder. I got between the two as Michael squared up to Arthur, pushing me forward so his chest was against my back and I was almost touching Arthur. "I didn't ask for separate meetings today, all right?" Michael said, over my head. "If you want to fucking argue with someone, argue with me. I saw Tommy first, before Polly and before Michael. By your logic, that means I'm the fucking boss." I told Arthur, glaring up at him. Arthur glared down at me and I could tell that both him and John were confused.
"Fucking pheasant." a voice shouted from across the table. We all turned to see Karl grinning up at us. "Karl! You can't say things like that." Ada scolded, fighting a laugh as John laughed beside me. "Now look what you've done." Polly scolded. Then Arthur began chuckling, pulling John and Michael in for a hug, trapping me between them all. "All right, brothers. It's just the fucking whiskey talking." he said, kissing my head as I wrapped an arm around him. "I don't ask to be protected, all right." Michael said above my head, his voice low. "Right. Shut up. All of you sit down." Polly told us as Arthur released Michael and John, giving me room to move. "Sit down." she demanded again. "Yeah, yeah, yeah." Arthur said, pulling his chair back to the table.
"Look around you. John, a wife and three children. Arthur, a wife." Polly started. John pulled me into him, a hand on my waist as I leant against him. "And look at this house. Look where we are. Look how far we've come. I think it's about time we all started acting in a way more appropriate to our station. We're none of us bin men anymore, Arthur. Tommy needs us all together. I'd like to propose a toast." Polly said, handing out drinks to all of us. "It's a family united that shall never be defeated." she told us, all of us raising our drinks.
Finn came running in. "Tommy's gone. Swear to God, he's in a wagon with Johnny Dogs." he told us, out of breath. "Fuck sake." I muttered, putting my drink on the table and moving away from John. "Shit." Polly whispered, moving around the table to follow Finn. "This is what he does now." Arthur said, glaring at me as he put on his jacket and followed Polly, John close behind him. I rolled my eyes, following the brothers through the house.
"Tommy! Wait!" Arthur shouted as we approached the open front door. "Arthur!" I shouted as the three boys raced ahead. "Tommy!" Arthur shouted again. "Boys, let him go!" I shouted at the brothers. Arthur and John ran into the driveway, shouting Tommys name, begging him to come back. I watched from the steps with Michael by my side as the wagon got further and further away. John raced after Arthur, pulling him backwards as Finn made a dash towards the retreating wagon. "Finn!" I shouted as John caught up to him.
The three Shelbys turned back to the house, defeated, as Michael went back inside. I could vaguely hear Ada talking to Polly as Finn came over and put his arm around my shoulders. It was the one armed hug that I had become accustomed to when he was feeling vulnerable but didn't want to show it in front of his brothers. "It's alright. He'll come back when he's ready." I told the teen, wrapping my arm around his torso.
"Come on, let's go light a fire in the big room. Let's go drink whiskey, with water." Polly told us as John and Arthur came up the steps. She and Ada turned, walking back into the house. I quickly pressed a kiss to Finns cheek, leaning my forehead against his jaw for a moment before guiding him into the house. The only comfort I knew he'd let me give him with the rest of our family so close.
The drinks were flowing a bit too nicely as we listened to music in the big room. We drank the day away, laughing and enjoying each others company. "Ooo I love this song! Dance with me, Arthur." I grinned, looking at the man sat beside me. He grumbled. "Arthur Shelby, dance with me." I demanded, narrowing my eyes at the man and standing. "Is that an order, boss?" he asked with a light but slightly challenging tone. "Yes, it is, worker." I replied, cheekily, giving him a grin. He looked up at me for a moment before grinning. "Fuckin' cheek." He muttered, standing and taking my hand and waist as we began dancing.
Soon enough John and Ada, and Finn and Polly had joined us. Michael was watching us with hazy eyes and a grin. We danced for most of the song before John fell over a nearby table. We all laughed, collapsing into the plush sofas as Polly poured us more drinks. "Come on, Michael, John. Let's go outside." Arthur said, standing once more and grabbing a nearby bottle. I shared a look with Ada but let the three men go.
They had been gone around twenty minutes when we heard the faint sound of a shot going off. "What the bloody hell are they doing?" Polly asked, standing up. "It's alright, Pol. I'll go." I told her, standing. She looked at me for a moment before going back to her drink. I pulled one of the blankets off the sofa, wrapping it around me as I left the room. I stumbled slightly, walking through the long corridors. I didn't bother looking for shoes, preferring to walk barefoot.
I spotted the men quickly as I descended the stone steps, wincing slightly as the feel of the driveways small stones pressing at my feet. My brow furrowed as I saw Michael raising a gun, John and Arthur either side of him. I quickened my pace as I reached the damp grass, concerned about the scene unfolding before me.
My heart quickened as Michael suddenly turned, aiming the gun at Johns face. I started running towards the three, clutching at the blanket wrapped around me. "What the fuckin' hell are you lot doing?" I shouted once I was close enough, reducing my pace to a fast walk once again. Michael was startled, turning and pointing the gun at me.