Chapter 5

Small Heath

#6 Watery Lane

Dec. 18, 1919

Ada's POV

Ada moved around the kitchen to put the kettle on. Starting the day with a nice warm cup a tea, sounded like a good idea. Looking out the window over the sink showed a dismal grey winter morning. She was sure that they might actually get some snow within the next couple of days. Especially if the temperature kept dropping so quickly. Normally Aunt Polly would be bustling around the kitchen, getting the kettle and whatever she'd decided to make for breakfast going. For some reason though she hadn't been able to really sleep all that well. So she figured if she couldn't sleep she might as well start the day. Guess Aunt Pol would be in for a surprise when she arrived in a bit.

Ada supposed she hadn't been up and about this early in the morning, since the boys had been gone to war. It had always seemed so deathly quiet while they were away. Finn was good at making noise and having Johns little ones over to the house would liven things up a bit too, but it'd never really been the same. It was hard for her to remember her brothers before they left. They'd each come back so different in their own ways, barely recognizable at times. She knew they'd all had a hard time adjusting when they'd come home. Shuddered to think what it was they'd been through, things they'd seen, had to do, things that had changed them. She was luckier than others though, at least all of her brothers came home, different though they may be.

She had helped Polly keep things running, not just at the house but in the business too. God had Aunt Pol and Tommy had a hard time adjusting. Aunt Pol was used to running things, keeping everything a float. Then the boys come home and all of sudden what they accomplished while they were gone didn't matter anymore. While it had been a woman's business during the war, Tommy said it wasn't women's business now that they were home. Now that had been a right bloody time for a bit.

Things had been relatively quiet lately, which was a nice change of pace. She was used to her brothers arguing and Arthur coming home bruised, bloody and usually shit faced from the amount of libations he'd been throwing back. Used to Tommy being cold, sullen and quiet, barely sharing his thoughts with any of 'em. Even with Pol who she knew had been a sort of sounding board for him before. John was the most like his pre-war self but still he enjoyed more drink than he used to. Though having his wife Martha underground now and having to look after his four little ones without a mother for 'em certainly didn't help with that.

She did what she could but she was their sister, not their wife or maid. She had her own life to enjoy and live. She knew she resented how over protective they could tend to be. How Tommy's word about anything and everything was supposedly law, even when it came to her personal life. She was a damn adult and it didn't matter if Tommy didn't approve of her decisions. It was her life, her future, therefore it was her damn decision...not Tommy's. God who was she kidding, confronting Tommy about Freddie was not happening anytime soon. Freddie wanted to keep their relationship a secret for now. Know matter how many times she asked him when they could stop sneaking around he always said, " Just a little longer."

She was tired of sneaking around. She was also scared of how Tommy'd react. While he and Freddie had used to be the grandest of friends, things had changed between 'em. The two could barely stand to have a civil conversation. They were more likely to kill each other than agree on anything. God it was aggravating.

Ada heard the light weight thumping of Finn's footsteps coming down the stairs just as the kettle started to whistle. She set a bowl down and fixed him some porridge while she set her tea to steep. His bright smile lighting up her morning as he entered.

"Well now, it looks like someone's finally feeling more himself."

"Aye, ya think I can go outside and play today?"

"Depends on the weather. You've just gotten over that last bit of ill, don't want ta bring it back, now do we?"

"Ada! There's nothin' ta do inside."

"Yeah, I can think of somethin'."

"What?"

"Stop complainin' and eat your breakfast!"

"Hmph. Fine."

Ada smiled and messed his hair as he sat for breakfast. It wouldn't be long now and Finn would be too old for such things. She could just imagine him complaining about not messing with his hair. She'd miss that when the time came. Sometimes she wished she could stop time, maybe even rewind it. Rewind it to before life got so complicated and dismal. When her brothers smiled and laughed openly. Especially Tommy, he was the worst when it came to showing any emotion at all. She had a hard time believing she'd ever see days like that again.

She heard the front door quietly open and close announcing Aunt Polly's arrival. John would be showing up soon with the little ones. Tommy would be down stairs either directly before or after their arrival and if Arthur wasn't suffering a massive hangover he'd stumble down shortly before it was time to open the den. She noted Aunt Polly pause in the kitchen doorway. A brief smile and nod of good morning. She could tell seeing her up and about and busy was bringing back memories for Aunt Pol too. She gave a small smile as Aunt Polly came in the room and got herself a cup of tea.

"What has ya up so early Ada?"

"Not sure Aunt Pol. I couldn't sleep."

"Hmm. Well at least ya didn't waste your morning with idle hands. Finn how are ya feelin'?"

Finn took a moment from shoveling his breakfast into his mouth to look up and smile cheekily before answering in an excited voice.

"All better Aunt Polly. Do ya know when the airship is supposed ta be comin'?"

"Can't say as I've heard yet, why?"

"Tommy said if I was better he'd take me ta see it when it came. I'm better. So that means I get ta go see it, right?"

"I suppose if that's what Tommy told ya. Don't believe a specific date has been setup yet though."

Ada listened to the exchange with a wary hope growing in her. Tommy was making plans with Finn. The boys had only been home from France for a year now. It wasn't till very recently that Finn had gotten back to having any type of comfortable interaction with their older siblings. She noted a shadow in the hallway outside the kitchen. She hadn't heard the door and it was quiet, so it wasn't John. Arthur would've just stumbled in. Which meant Tommy was standing out in the hall listening to their conversation.

"Finn, why don't ya finish up what little's left in that bowl and get ready for the day, eh? I'm sure ya can talk Tommy's ear off about it once he gets up, yeah?"

Finn nodded enthusiastically. His little heart set on spending time with his big brother and seeing an airship up close. She hoped to god that Tommy wouldn't disappoint him. Tommy had moved off from his perch in the hallway as his shadow was no longer there. She shared a quick look with Aunt Pol and noted that she hadn't been the only one to notice they'd had invisible company. Aunt Pol gave a quick shake of her head, as if to say let it go, as Finn dashed out of the room to race his way back up stairs. Aunt Pol turned to the stove and started making breakfast for everyone else. Ada was just about to head upstairs herself when Aunt Polly turned towards her, throwing a damn potato at her.

"Don't think you're runnin' off just because ya woke early. Get ta choppin' up the potatoes."

Tommy POV

Tommy sat back in the armchair, trying to relax in the solitude of the sitting room. He had been set on walking into the kitchen but for some reason he hadn't wanted to intrude on the relative calm that the females of his family and Finn had found themselves in this morning. Finding peaceful moments were few and far between. He hoped that with business expanding they'd be able to take some time to just enjoy themselves. Well the rest of his family to enjoy themselves, he had too much work to do.

He leaned his head back and closed his eyes. The ticking of the clock in the quiet room started to get louder and he was being reminded of the damn scraping and picking, that always seemed to come from the other side of the wall. Fuckin hell. He was never going to fuckin sleep peacefully again, was he. Couldn't even find any damn peace when he was awake.

The pounding of Finn's feet as he ran up the stairs was a welcome noise to his ears. Distracting him from the errant thoughts and phantom noises that haunted him. Rubbing his hands over his tired eyes he took a deep breath and pushed to his feet. Heading into the kitchen where the sounds of cooking could fill the void the war had instilled in him. He tried to ignore the growing emptiness he felt in his soul. His family didn't have to know how much of him was just a shell that had returned to them.

Polly POV

Polly felt the moment Tommy came into the kitchen. The atmosphere in the room chilled slightly. Not because of any sour mood, simply because coldness was what seemed to flow from his being these days. She didn't need to turn around to see him pull out his chair at the table and slump down like the weight of the world sat on his shoulders.

The front door banged open and the loud shouts of John arriving with his kids rang through the house. Mixed in with the excitement of their arrival, she could make out Finn's stomping feet racing back down the stairs. John moved into the kitchen and took his seat with little fanfare, as she and Ada started putting their breakfast down in front of them. Just as Arthurs plate was set on the table, he came into the room fairly awake and managed to take his seat without falling out of it.

Poll decided to start the mornings conversation. She didn't see the point of quiet mornings. "Finn's back ta himself again. He's likely ta talk your ear off about the airship. He seems quite excited about the prospect of seeing it with ya."

Tommy replied before taking a sip of his tea, "Told him I'd take him ta see it when it comes."

"Have ya heard back from 'em yet on when they're ta be expected?"

"No. Loading up from what I understand. Will contact us when they're done in Camden Town."

Polly noticed John straighten up in his seat and as soon as he was done chewing he started in on Tommy.

"Did ya speak ta the woman again or was it one 'o the others?"

"...Spoke with Aoife. I imagine since we met in person she'll continue ta be the main contact for us."

John's voice held admiration in it when he responded.

"Wouldn't mind seein' her again. Bloody fuckin good lookin' dame that one is. Get our business done and have somethin' pretty ta look at. Makes for a nice work day."

Polly noticed how Tommy's jaw tensed but he refrained from saying anything in reply. Arthur however seemed willing to add his two cents about this Aoife woman.

"Aye, she was a right pretty sweetheart. That hair, those eyes...her voice, I think I enjoyed her voice most. Soothing like it was, yeah, soothing."

It didn't go unnoticed by her that Tommy remained silent while his brothers lamented on the girls beauty. Not moving, not saying anything, just looking down at his plate. She could tell he had his own thoughts running in that head of his. Lord knows his thoughts never seemed to quiet. She just wished she was able to read him as well as she used to. Perhaps this lady airman had caught Tommy's eye. It seems it might be worth making the effort to meet her.

Tommy POV

Listening to his brothers go on about Aoife had a picture of her conjuring up in his mind. Copper hair framing a pale ivory face with a light barely noticeable smattering of freckles on her nose and cheeks. He wondered if she'd have dimples when she smiled or not. She had a somewhat exotic look about her. Made him want to study her face in greater detail, so he could pin point exactly what it was that made her so interesting. Being petite, he imagined if he were to actually stand next to her, she'd probably only come up to just past his shoulder. Though she was small and fine boned, she had curves in all the right places and enough of them to show that she wasn't a child. Plus Arthur was right her voice was soothing and lovely.

He watched as Poll sipped her tea while occasionally nodding her head to show she was listening. Ada was wiping her hands dry and sending him covert looks of what seemed like apprehension over her shoulder. He didn't have time to be swooning over a woman that he wasn't going to have anything other than business with. And he most certainly didn't have the time to deal with whatever Ada was working herself up over. Bloody hell he needed to get out of here. It was time to start business for the day.

Airship Adelisa Aiglentine

Aoife POV

Aoife sat cross legged on Aine's bunk. Watching as her sister primped in front of the single oval mirror that was hung with precision and care on the wall over her desk.

"What do you think Aoife? Do you think it's too much?"

"You look fine Aine."

"Ugh... You're no help. I don't want to just look fine Aoife!"

"Okay, okay. I think Alfie's going to be speechless when he lays eyes on ya. How's that?"

"Better, but I can't believe you now, ya wench. I'm serious Aoife. I haven't seen Alfie in three months. I'm so damn nervous right now, it feels like an entire field of butterflies has taken flight in my stomach. Oh god, I think I'm going to be sick."

"Well, that'll turn Alfie on. Make sure you brush your teeth when you're done."

Before Aoife knew what happened Aine had slapped her upside the head with her bed pillow.

"Oi, Aine! What'd you do that for?"

"I can't believe you Aoife!"

"What? You're not thinking about the damn butterflies in your stomach anymore are you?"

She watched as Aine stilled and realized that she had in fact taken her mind off the rioting in her stomach.

"Damn you, you're a witch you know that."

"It's called distraction Aine. It's not a new concept. Certainly not witchcraft. Besides if I'm one, you are too. We shared the same womb remember."

"Why am I so nervous Aoife?"

"Like you said, it's been three months. A lot can happen in three months. He could have met some little blonde haired blue eyed London girl. Who also happens to be Jewish and they could have already started planning on the two point five kids and are choosing the furnishings for their new home...get real Aine. Alfie adores you, at least I think he does... He must, seeing as how he hasn't slit your throat yet for being annoying and clingy."

"I am not clingy Aoife and I resent you saying it."

"Do you now. Noticed you didn't refute the part about being annoying."

"That's it! Get out! Go back to your dismal little lonely cabin if you can't be helpful."

"Hey! I have been helpful. I told you you'd knock your man's socks off. I kept you from spewing your breakfast all over and I very patiently pointed out how ridiculous you were being about seeing him again."

"God, what's wrong with me...you...me...us?"

"Don't know Aine. Tell you what's going to happen. You're going to finish getting ready, then you're going dockside. Where Alfie is more than likely going to be waiting for you, looking all tall and Jewish and what not. He's going to look at you for the first time in three months and think how his imagination for that time period hasn't done you justice. You're both going to smile, then you'll both do that face sucking stuff, till you're satisfied and your day will move along from there."

"You do realize that I'm going to make your life miserable when you actually have feelings for some bloke right. I'm going to be relentless and you'll remember that you deserve it for all the times you gave me shit."

"I'll worry about that when it comes to pass. Not planning on allowing you that entertainment anytime soon. Besides, I'm not quite sure you can measure up to the master."

"You will rue the day Aoife. Keep in mind I've been learning from the master."

Aoife shrugged her shoulders to show she wasn't all that concerned about it. She had at least accomplished what she'd set out to. Aine no longer seemed like a chicken with its head cut off. Honestly she didn't know what she had to worry about. Every time she'd been forced into the same room with the two of them she felt like gagging from the tension. Those two got on far too well for two people that rarely got to see one another. Then again maybe that's why they got on so well.

Aine POV

Aine turned away from her sister and checked herself in the mirror one last time before looking at the clock. She couldn't wait to enjoy her day and evening on the ground. She hadn't lied she did love the ship, it was home. It's just the longer she was 'with' Alfie the more she felt as if home was where ever he was. She knew Aoife wouldn't understand that. At least not yet, one day she would meet someone that turned all her notions upside down, she just hadn't met her Alfie yet.

She'd put her hair up in a French chignon and left a few of the shorter lengths down to frame her face. Her makeup wasn't terribly fancy but it was enough to add some drama and extra exoticness to her eyes. She had really wanted to wear something pretty and sparkly but the winter weather demanded a smarter choice. Aoife had been kind enough to let her borrow a gorgeous heavy dark blue velvet wrap skirt that showed off her small waist and accentuated her hips. She paired it with a sleeveless cream colored satin shirt with lace appliqué down the front. She'd admit it was more reminiscent of lingerie than outerwear. She grabbed her fitted leather waistcoat to ensure she stayed warm enough while they were in the elements. The one thing she'd continually been going back and forth on had been her choice of shoes. While Aoife collected knives she collected shoes. She had finally opted for a pair of silvery high heeled side buttoned ankle boots.

She was ready and as Aoife had said, she was positive Alfie was waiting for her dockside. More than likely standing tall and looking all dark and dashing. Probably grumbling about women and waiting. The excitement that sparked through her system at the knowledge that she'd be seeing Alfie in the flesh within a few minutes, made a smile break across her face that she knew wouldn't be going away for a quite a while.

London Central Docking Station

Alfie POV

Fucking hell. Since when did he wait around for anyone. The weather was shite this morning. He debated with himself about waiting for Aine to arrive in the relative warmth of his motorcar. He noted the abnormal zing of electricity that went up his spine as he thought about how she'd be with him momentarily. It'd been three months since she'd last been in London, a lot a had happened businesswise. He actually preferred her being away for months on end, gave him to time to focus on his business ventures without worrying about her safety. Like he knew he would have, had she been a fulltime resident of London.

He was looking forward to being able to look upon his little copper haired, green eyed beauty. Her sweet disposition and charming wit always had him feeling warm and fuzzy around the edges. She tempered him when she was near, he wasn't a fool, he knew that he regulated his reactions more when she was in his company. The problem was that he had to balance not looking weak with making sure she didn't have to see him at his worst. He remembered when he'd first met her and her family.

He'd been looking for a shipper willing to take his bread shipments to buyers outside London, fuck outside England. It had been brought to his attention that he'd been thinking too small. So he'd put out feelers and found that there were three shippers that seemed to deal with less than savory clientele. He'd admit that the Adelisa hadn't been the first one he'd contacted for a meeting. The first one had been in England at the time so it had only been reasonable to speak with them since they were readily available. That meeting hadn't ended so well. He found he didn't right like the Captain all that much and the price he wanted was ridiculous, right fuckin ridiculous.

After he'd parted ways with the first ship it had been brought to his notice that the Adelisa was entering English airspace. So he'd sent his man to make contact and see about a meeting. They'd sent four of theirs to meet with him. The Captain, his first mate and two identical women.

He'd offered them some bread, told 'em, "Did you know we bake over 10,000 loaves a week, can you believe it? We bake the white bread, we bake the brown bread. Bake all sorts, would you like to try some?"

The men had said it was "not bad".

The fucking women however had looked at him and started laughing. One of the women, he didn't know which as he couldn't fucking tell them apart said in a melodic voice, "That's fucking horrible, where's your good stuff."

The other one had peered into his eyes and smiled before she replied, "Brown stuff is horrible. It's for the workers, yeah? The white stuff, now that is for the bosses. Mayhap by the end of our meeting we'll try the white."

He'd been surprised and it was really fucking hard to surprise him. After spending more time getting to know the women during their meeting he'd come to find, the one who'd had the balls to criticize his brown bread was Aoife and the one who'd somehow read his fucking mind was Aine. Through the years he'd grown fond of them both. It didn't matter they weren't Jewish. Aoife was like a little sister to him, who pestered, poked and prodded, but when push came to shove she'd give a man a new smile if he had bad intentions towards those she considered hers.

Aine on the other hand had caused him many a sleepless nights. He'd had to come to terms with the fact that he amazingly had deep feelings for her, even though he tried to bury them and never let them see the light of day. He was Jewish and she wasn't, not the end all, but not what he had pictured in his future either.

Aine ended up writing to him during the war though, Aoife did too. But the letters brought different feelings out in him. Aoife's would brighten his day and make him laugh. She was usually telling hilarious stories of her antics or those of her brothers. Aine's, well they made him feel soft, warm and fuzzy. Like for the little while he was immersed in them he was back home and not in fucking freezing France.

He'd realized it then, when he was in France fighting a war. That he loved Aine and burying his feelings for her did nothing for him. So he'd started writing her back, and so it went. When he'd finally made it home back on English soil, the Adelisa had been docked in port and the girls had met him on the tramline platform he'd come in on. It had been lovely, not being alone, but having a sort of family greeting him. Welcoming him home.