Chapter 19

Airship Adelisa Aiglentine

Colonial Eastern Seaboard

Monday Jan. 12, 1920

Aoife POV

Aoife was outside the Comms room leaning against the wall as Finn finished up his conversation with Tommy. Michael and Ada had spoken to Polly and the kids had spoken to John. Everyone was happy to have heard the voices of their family. She knew that it was hard on them, they'd been moving along like troopers but not speaking with their loved ones had been wearing on them.

Aoife was looking forward to telling them that once they'd gotten rid of Tommy's shipment in Virginia they'd be heading south over the gulf and would be spending a couple of days in the Cayman's. She always enjoyed visiting when it wasn't hurricane season. she was looking forward to having a quick stop over in Mexico the Shelby's could see Chichen Itza and El Tajin on their way to the South Pacific. Where she hoped to show Finn the black sand beaches and active volcano of the Big Island before heading to the pristine beauty of Fiji. Where they were set to have a small family reunion of sorts.

She heard Finn saying goodbye to Tommy and stepped into the doorway to take her turn. Finn gave her a one armed hug as he passed her, heading for the engine bay where he'd be shadowing Reilly. Aoife closed the door to the Comms and sat down, she wanted a little privacy when she spoke with her Shelby.

"Tommy?"

"Aoife."

"How goes it back in Birmingham?"

"It goes. Making some decent progress."

"Glad to hear it. We should be hitting Virginia shores tomorrow or the day after. Hopefully we'll be able to unload some of the cargo."

"Just be careful, don't take any unnecessary risks."

"Aye, Aye, Sergeant Major Shelby."

"No sassing me luv, not when it comes to safety, eh. There's something else I feel I need to speak with you of."

"Hm. Sounds serious, Tommy."

"I don't want there to be any lies or secrets between us, so please just listen, eh."

"I'm all ears."

"I've hired a woman named Lizzie Stark to be the secretary for Shelby Limited."

"All right, not seeing the issue yet."

"Lizzie's...previous occupation...bloody fucking hell, this is more difficult than I thought."

"Well just say it fast, like ripping of a bandage."

"Lizzie worked as a whore... I partook of her services for a bit of time after returning home from the war."

"..."

"Aoife?"

"Give me moment to take that statement in Tommy."

"She's trying to better herself, took classes and what not to type and shorthand, all that. The fact is I know, I can trust her to keep her mouth shut about the business."

"Mm...and when was the last time you partook of her services?"

"...Mid-September last year. I've made it clear to her that this is just a job, she's the company secretary and that the past will stay in the past, there's nothing but business..professional...fuck! That nothing's going to happen between the two us."

"...Okay."

"Okay?"

"What do you want me to say here Tommy?...Am I completely comfortable with the idea of your ex whore working closely with you every day? No, I'm not sure I know a woman who would be. But you asked me before I left, to trust in us. I told you I trusted you. If you say she's to be nothing more than a company secretary, then I need to believe in your word and have faith in you...You haven't given me any reason to distrust your word thus far, so... okay."

"...All right."

"...Not really sure what to talk about now. We'll be headed into warmer weather after we finish up in the Colonies though you already know that from the projected route I gave you..."

"...Do you plan on doing anything special when you get to the Cayman's?"

"Aside from partaking in their cuisine, we won't really be staying there for too long. I'd like to see if we can continue on so that we'll have some time to take your family to explore Chichen Itza and El Tajin."

"And what are those?"

"Ruins of ancient Mesoamerican cities, massive stepped pyramids from old Mayan culture, temples, ballcourts, palaces and the like. I think they'd enjoy spending a day exploring a bit of each one. We delivered supplies to different sites in Mexico once and I got to know some of the archaeologists excavating them. Chichen Itza and El Tajin are easy stops along our route and they're also fairly intact and impressive to experience."

"I'm sure they'll enjoy it. Finn seems to especially be having a grand time aboard."

"He's certainly enthusiastic, a curious mind that hungers for learning."

"Wish he felt that way about school. I can't tell you how many times he's been listed as truant."

"Eh, he just needs a more hands on approach to engage his mind. Not everyone learns the same way, some are good with text books and chalkboard teachers. Others need to be able to physically do in order to grasp what's being taught."

"And he's getting that onboard?"

"Joseph is an amazing teacher, learned a few lessons from him myself as a youngster. He has a way of making everything into an adventure, a puzzle you can't help but want to solve. He helps you find the tools that work for you and shows you how to engage them."

"Well hopefully he can impart those tools to Finn and he'll use them when he returns home."

"Once you learn from Joseph you don't forget what he taught you."

"Glad to hear it. Same man that came with you to our first meeting?"

"Yes...So what's been going on in your city?"

"Ended the war with the Lee's."

"Well that's good, how'd you manage to go about accomplishing that."

"Had John marry one of em, Gypsies don't fight with kin."

"...Ah...and John is happy with the outcome?"

"He wasn't particularly pleased when he showed up at his own wedding, but he opted for peace and not war. It turned out all right for the both of them. They seem to like one another well enough and he says she's looking forward to meeting the kids when they return."

"Just so you are aware Thomas, don't ever tell me what to do. I'm most likely to tell you to fuck off."

"...Interesting twist in topic."

"I've noticed you have a tendency to tell others, including your family, what to do. You give them orders and you expect them to follow 'em without question. I'm not saying that it's bad, but I am saying that there are times when the old saying of you attract more flies with honey than with vinegar is perhaps the more expedient course."

"And this applies to us?"

"This applies to me. Ask anyone of my siblings and they'll tell you that if you tell me to do something, I'll refuse to do it on principle alone. Whereas if you ask me to do the same thing, you're more likely to get a favorable response. I'm telling you this so that you are aware of that facet of my personality, given your penchant for giving out orders. I think you taking this into account in future situations will save us from a few arguments."

"All right. I'll try to keep that in mind, for future situations."

"Good...Now, do you know if John spoke with the kids about his new wife or was he waiting until they met her upon their return?"

"No idea. But her name is Esme Lee as I'm sure you'll be getting to know her upon your return."

"Is that right."

"Mm. She's already been informed about you."

"About me?"

"Mm. She asked John if I had a girl, because she thought I could benefit from female companionship."

"Ah, did she now. She believe you have a stick up your arse then?"

"Very funny, Aoife. John mentioned you and that you were the one the kids were off with."

"Hm. So she won't be trying to introduce you to any Gypsy women for your own benefit then?"

"Wouldn't meet them even if she did. No interest in anyone other than ya."

"I'm mailing you a letter when we dock. You might receive it before our next check in."

"Looking forward to reading it."

Small Heath

#6 Watery Lane

Tommy POV

Before his conversation with Aoife could continue there was a loud knock on the office door before it was pushed open and he saw Arthur poking his head in. He motioned with his hand for Arthur to take a seat.

"Aoife, it looks like I've got some business to take care of."

"All right. I'll talk to you next Monday. Oh, Tommy, one more thing."

"Mm, what luv?"

"I expect you to be in one piece when we return. So watch your step, yeah?"

"What? You're not going to tell me to be careful?"

"Being careful tends to preclude any risk taking and I know it would be silly of me to tell you not take any risks. So just watch your step."

"All right luv, I'll watch my step."

"Good. Until we speak again Tommy."

"Until we speak again Aoife."

Tommy hung up the line and focused on Arthur.

"Aoife and everyone doing all right Tommy?"

"Seems so. They're sailing along the Colonies eastern seaboard right now."

"Good, that's good."

"What did you need Arthur?"

"The builders say they should be finished with the Garrison in about six to eight weeks possible ten depending on weather conditions."

"Hm. Well hopefully we'll be able to host a welcome home bash there when the Adelisa returns."

"Aye, that'd be nice."

"Was there an issue with it?"

"They wanted to know. If we wanted to add a fire sprinkler system in the building? In case of another fire."

"What's the additional cost?"

"To add it to the main floor alone, an estimated forty pounds. All three floors sixty pounds. That's at cost. The workers said they'd forego labor, as they're all patrons of the Garrison and are looking forward to its reopening."

"Tell them to do all three floors then. Don't know it will help in the event of another bomb but better to be safe."

"Aye, all right."

There was a loud commotion coming from the den and both he and Arthur rose to find out what the hell was going on. As they came out of his office they saw John trying to speak with a couple of the boys who'd come in with bruises and blood covering them.

Arthur's booming voice quieted the entire room, "What the bloody fuck is goin on?"

The men turned toward them and both began speaking at the same time.

"One at a time boys. What happened?"

His man Frank spoke first.

"Tommy we were doin rounds, when that new copper showed up. There weren't no problem till we left Lloyd's Boot Store and the fella followed us. We made to leave him behind by cutting down an alley, but he'd stationed men there. He said to give ya a message, he wants a meetin wit ya. Said to meet 'im at Lickey Tea Rooms on Friday at ten o'clock."

"All right. Get yourselves patched up."

Airship Adelisa Aiglentine

Ada POV

After they'd left the low pressure system they'd had to fly through, things had settled back down on board and she hadn't had any issues with her stomach rioting again. So far things had been fairly routine, she noted there was a schedule that most stuck to.

Aoife would wake early and do her laps up on deck, before heading to the gym type area that had been created in the cargo hold. Ada had watched her a couple of times as she sparred with a couple of different crewmen each day. She'd noted that they each seemed to have a different style of fighting.

She'd found it interesting that the men on board tended to look to both Aoife and Aine for orders. Aine seemed to be in charge of the galley and all the food stuffs. There was a schedule that rotated her own group of crewmen in cooking and cleaning and what not. She knew they took care of laundry and dishes and generally making sure the common areas were kept in tip top shape.

She had yet to figure out what exactly Aoife was in charge of as she seemed to be all over the ship doing a variety of things. Aoife seemed to be in charge of the rougher looking men, they did a lot of heavy lifting and working down in the hold with Reilly. A few of them had duties on deck working with the various rigging and such. All of them took their orders from Reilly or Carrick but she'd seen them take orders from Aoife as well, when it came to cleaning weaponry and making sure that all of that type of stuff was secure.

Aoife had said they'd start sparring today before dinner. She was really looking forward to it. So far Aoife'd been Having her run around the deck of the ship and work on building some muscle mass as she put it, along with teaching her some beginner yoga poses to help her flexibility. When she'd first asked her to teach her some self defense moves she'd thought they'd go straight into teaching her the moves.

She'd been surprised to find she wouldn't be hitting anything for a while to start. But she hadn't complained about having to do the other things first. Aoife could fight, she'd seen it herself so she'd trust her. She'd been surprised that the stretches Aoife had taught her actually made a huge difference in how she felt and she found that she was indeed becoming a bit more flexible than she had been.

She'd also noted that her legs and stomach seemed to be firming up a bit as well. Aine had gone through some old chests of clothing and uniforms that they'd had and managed to find a couple of pairs of trousers that fit her fairly well and she'd been wearing those whenever she could. She was amazed at how comfortable they were and how much more she could actually do in them.

Michael had asked Aoife if he could join them this evening to learn some things as well. They'd found that the man who was teaching the kids, Joseph was willing to look after them for the hour or so they'd be busy. Finn had decided to watch, perhaps he'd pick some things up by observing. It would be good for him even if he wasn't actively participating.

Ada made her way down to the cargo hold and found Michael already there chatting with the small Asian crew member. She'd seen him spar with Aoife once, she had been surprised by his quick fluid movement that never seemed to stop but just flowed from one into the next. Aoife had moved the same way he had when they sparred. It had a certain kind of beauty to it and she hoped that she might be learning some of the movements she'd seen.

*********0**********

She was standing off against Aoife and a few of the crew along with Michael were standing to the side watching. Aoife had explained that she was going to come at her at a moderate speed with open handed taps. The goal was to see what defense moves her natural instincts produced. After they determined that, they'd have a better idea of what fighting style would be best for her to learn first.

She paid attention as Aoife started to move toward her, her right hand shot out and went to tap her left cheek. Ada found that she automatically dodged to the right and brought her right hand up to try and catch Aoife's arm before it could hit her. They ran through a few more variations and Aoife even started throwing in some feints and adding some gentle kicks in as well.

After about thirty minutes she switched places with Michael and watched as he went through the same motions with Aoife only at a faster clip since Michael had a bit more experience with fighting. When he was done Aoife called it a day, they had just enough time to clean up before the tea meal. She saw Finn go up to Michael and start speaking with him about something so she knew she'd have a few minutes to converse with Aoife alone.

Ada was curious to know how she did and walked back up to the cabin deck with Aoife.

"Was I horrible?"

Aoife laughed gently, "No Ada, you actually showed a decent amount of natural ability. From here I'll discuss what you should start learning with the others. Then we'll get a training schedule set up for you. Some days you'll work with me and some days you'll work with whomever else is fluent in the fighting style we're going to teach you."

"Is it strange that I'm excited about learning how to hurt someone?"

"Don't think of it as learning how to hurt someone, think of it as learning how to keep yourself from getting hurt. Knowing how and being capable of protecting yourself should make you feel confident and in the case of being female, empowered. We're often seen as being lesser by a giant portion of the males on this earth. We're supposedly not as smart, as strong, as capable. Most men like to believe that we need them. Whether it's for protection, or so that we can live comfortably in the home they provide, or because the base instinct of the human race is to procreate. In actuality the only thing we need a man for is the last item on that list. Though I will admit they're nice to have around when you're trying to open a jar."

"Open a jar, Aoife?"

"Aye, I've got small hands, men tend to have bigger hands and thus it's easier for them to get a good grip on the lid...better leverage for twisting it open. But that's in the case of women with small hands. I'm sure a woman with larger hands could open her own damn jar more easily. I can't tell you how aggravating it can be to have to go find one of the boys to open a stupid jar because I just can't get a decent grip on it."

Ada couldn't help but laugh. "I suppose you're right. There have been a couple of times I've had to ask one of the boys to open a lid for me. On the other note, not all men think so low of women."

"No thankfully. Some are well aware that a woman is just as capable as they are. Just look at how much the war showed them. Women stepped up to the plate and went to work in factories and such. Taking over and doing things that had been considered a man's job. In some cases women were even better at doing those jobs than the men who'd worked them."

"True, in all honesty though a lot of the women who went to work, did so because they had to and were more than happy to give those jobs back to the men that returned."

"Yeah, some were. You've got to understand that a lot of women are conditioned from an early age to expect one thing from life."

"Aye, to marry well and look after the house and children while making certain that your man is taken care of and happy."

"Exactly. So Ada, is that what you expect from your life."

"...Hell no."

Aoife shared a look with her before she nodded, her voice strong and containing conviction, "Hell no."

"I do want children and a home one day though."

"So do I Ada. But I won't sacrifice who I am when I get those things. When the time comes for that, I'll choose what I'll do. Whether I'll continue working or stay at home to raise my children full time. My man and my children will know and accept who I am as a person. They'll support what I want to do, encourage me to do it, and love me because of who I am, not in spite of it. That includes being a woman who knows how and is capable of taking care of herself in numerous ways. I may not need a man, that doesn't mean that I don't want one, the right one."

Ada lowered her voice before she spoke the next word, she wasn't sure if she was right but she had a feeling.

"Tommy?"

She heard Aoife's soft sigh before catching her response which she spoke in an equally quiet voice.

"He is certainly the one that I want. Whether he's the right one or not is yet to be seen...Do you know a Lizzie Stark?"

"Lizzie stark? Why?"

"Tommy told me he's hired her as a secretary for the company. He made mention that they had a sort of history."

They'd reached Aoife's cabin and Ada followed her inside and closed the door so they could talk in private.

"What sort of history?"

"The kind one has when they pay for female companionship."

"Bloody fucking hell, when did that start? You did ask him didn't ya?"

"He said he didn't want any secrets or lies between us. Said that he started seeing her when he came home from France and that he hadn't used her services since last September."

"I can guarantee that there are no feelings what so ever involved on Tommy's part."

"On Tommy's part...that statement leaves an opening for interpretation Ada. Are you saying that even though sex for money was this woman's profession. That she may have feelings for Tommy?"

"He's a good looking man Aoife. A lot of women are drawn to the dangerous air around him. It wouldn't be the first time a woman has been interested in being the one to capture Tommy's attention."

"I suppose not."

"Given the intimate relation between them she might feel like she's got more of a chance to succeed in 'helping' him get over Grace or finding peace from his time in France. Honestly, if fucking her hasn't brought him either already she should realize it ain't going to happen."

"Lovely imagery Ada, thanks so much..."

"..Aoife. Tommy took a shine to you practically immediately. I haven't seen him even look at another woman the way he looks at ya. Not even Grace back before the war fucked him all up. No, he's not a fucking monk and he never has been. He's a man and I'm fairly certain that Da, took him to his first prostitute for his fourteenth birthday. I think I heard my parents arguing over that after the fact, Ma was pissed."

"Ada, I realize that Tommy's never lived like a monk, that he has experience and lots of practice in that area. I'm simply.."

"Hold up Aoife! You and Tommy have already been together haven't ya?"

"...And if we have?"

Ada couldn't help the delighted squeal that left her lips as she giddily clapped her hands and shouted Yes into the room. When she calmed down a bit she looked to Aoife and found that she had an entertained expression on her face.

"I take it this fact makes you happy in some way?"

"Oh Aoife, you've no idea. He'd been so different when he came home. I told you how he'd come home cold, going through life one minute at a time just waiting for the end to come. I watched him with you, he warmed up. Smiling and laughing, getting that soft look in his eyes. Tommy does not have a soft look about him...ever. It's like having you near him makes him actually feel...good things. It's like the switch that got flipped in France get's switched back and he's human and not a fucking mechanical machine. "

"Jesus Ada, was he really that bad? I've seen him being cold and intimidating, ruthless even but there was always something very human about him."

"You're the only thing that I've seen make any real difference in him. He'll put on a face with Finn and with me, but I can see it for the mask that it is. He was honest with you about Lizzie, it doesn't matter if she has feelings for him or not. He has feelings for you and if I know one thing about my brother. He won't let anything or anyone get in the way of what he wants."

"Ada...I'm not worried about Lizzie having feeling for him if she does. I know that if she does it won't matter for him. What I'm worried about is whether he'll still be able to trust her to keep her mouth shut about his business when she realizes that she doesn't stand a chance with him. You're a woman same as I. You know the depths that our kind can go to when we feel we've been scorned, even if it's our own fault."

"Fuck...that's why you wanted to know about her. You wanted to know what kind of a woman she is. If she'd still be capable of loyalty when she doesn't get what she hopes for."

"It's not an unfounded concern. Tommy has said that he made it clear to her that there would be nothing going on between them. If she does have feelings for him. Will she maintain hope that he'll change his mind? If so, when she realizes there's someone else between them, will she seek to hurt him in some way? Will she see me as a threat and try to manipulate a distrust between us? Or will she let it go peacefully and move on with her life? Do you know Lizzie Stark, what kind of woman she is?"

"I knew her when we were at school but we weren't friendly. She's John's age, so a year older than us. Her male relatives all died in the war, I know she took up prostitution to survive. Only heard comments here and there about her from others now a days."

"So she's willing to do what she must to survive. Strong enough to set aside any pride and accept any man willing to pay her for the use of her body no matter how she might feel about it. Do you know if she's a fighter when it comes to getting what she wants? Or if she deals with disappointment peaceably?"

"When we were at school...I never knew her to stand up to any of the girls who looked down on her. She'd always stay quiet and ignore them. When her Dad and brothers died I never heard tell that she'd ever complained about what she'd ended up doing to make a living."

"I don't think you would've. Something like that. You grieve for yourself and your lost hopes and dreams in private. I suppose all we can hope for is that she'll prove to just be grateful for a new career and won't take Tommy's disinterest heavily to heart."

"You surprise me Aoife."

"How so?"

"I can tell you feel for her predicament and that you hope she finds her way into a happy life, you have respect for her. Most women, no all the women I know, would be ten shades of jealous right now. They'd of given my brother an ultimatum. If he hired a whore, one with whom they'd known he'd fucked, than it'd be over between them. You...you're not worried about Tommy continuing to use her, you're not worried about her trying to move in on him. You are worried that she might try to hurt Tommy when she realizes she'll never have him. That Aoife, that is what's so damn surprising. Tommy has no idea how truly lucky he is. And you are one of the most impressive women I've ever met. How is it, you're so confident in Tommy, so sure of yourself?"

"I trust in Tommy because he's been honest with me and I find myself wanting to trust him. He's a confidant and capable man himself. I believe that he knows what he wants. I have hope that what he wants is me. Hope that he's not just using me to get something else. I believe that if I wasn't what he wanted, then he wouldn't be with me. He doesn't strike me as the type of man that would bother wasting his time and energy on a woman he wasn't interested in. He'd rather pay a woman like Lizzie Stark to ensure he didn't have to deal with any messy feelings. As for being sure of myself. Ada, there will be a point in your life when you stop considering others views as being more important than your own. You'll look back on everything that you've been through, all the lessons you learned through the years and you'll come to the realization that this is your life, no one else's. Who are you living it for? Others expectations or your own? When that happens you'll find you know who you are and you won't be afraid to let her out into the world."

All right. How is everyone feeling about the stories progression? Are the chapters since the Adelisa left England containing enough character development and backstory for everyone? Is there enough going on and moving the story forward that the fact our main lovebirds don't have any physical contact with one another is okay? Is everything clear? Nothing raising any questions about what's going on in the story line so far?

QUICK NOTE for some of my commentors: Some have been slightly confused about Grace and Tommy. In this story Grace and Tommy were together BEFORE the war, so they haven't had any contact with one another in 5 years. So far we know that Grace betrayed Tommy in some way and that even though Tommy was angry and hurt by whatever her actions were he still loved her and so instead of killing her he banned her from England. There has been mention of her in various chapters. The story of Tommy and Grace will come out eventually I promise.