December 1899
Adelaide sold her last paper and walked over to the bench that Emma and Tumbler were sitting on.
"It's about time, Aide," Tumbler grinned.
"Yeah, we thought we'd be here until midnight," Emma giggled.
"Very funny," said Adelaide. "You two sell out quicker coz of those adorable faces." She pinched their cheeks.
"Not only that," said Tumbler, standing up as the three of them began to walk down the street. "We sell more than you AND we do it quicker."
"Talk like that will get you no dessert tonight," Adelaide smirked.
Tumbler shrugged. "I got money. I can buy my own."
"You're gettin' quite the mouth on you," said Adelaide.
Tumbler put on an innocent grin and Adelaide chuckled and shook her head.
"You know, while we got time, there's been somethin' that Skittery and I wanted to talk to you two about," she said.
"'Bout you two gettin' married?" asked Tumbler.
"Kind of," said Adelaide. "When we get married, we're gonna get our own place. We wanted to give you two the option of coming with us or staying in the lodging house."
"I wanna come with you," said Emma, taking Adelaide's hand.
"Really?" Tumbler scrunched up his nose. "They're gonna be all mushy and kissy all the time."
"We will not," Adelaide rolled her eyes. "No more than we are now."
"I don't wanna be in the Elizabeth without you," said Emma. "But I'll help pay for stuff, I promise."
Adelaide smiled and squeezed her hand. "You can stay with us."
"I wanna stay with the fellas," said Tumbler.
"Sure," Adelaide nodded.
They made a turn for Tibby's when a voice came from a front stoop.
"Well, well, well, if it ain't one big happy family," said Blade.
Adelaide stopped dead in her tracks. "What are you doing here?" she asked, her voice stony. She put her arms in front of the kids and moved them behind her.
Blade smirked at her action. "Calm down, I ain't goin' after the kids," he said, walking down the steps to meet her on the sidewalk. "It's you I'm after."
"Aren't you a little outside your turf?"
"What goes around, comes around, Addie. You killed Ralphie, and one of these days…that's gonna come back around to get you."
"Ralphie committed suicide, Blade," said Adelaide. "I don't know why you can't just accept that and move on."
"Mm-hmm," Blade nodded, watching her. "Conlon's locked away. He can't protect you anymore."
Adelaide didn't say anything. Blade's eyes moved from Adelaide to Tumbler to Emma. He smirked and winked at Emma.
Adelaide clenched her jaw and moved completely in front of Emma.
"That one's gonna be a looker one day," he said. "Prettier than you, that's for sure."
"You get out of here and you stay away from my family," said Adelaide. "Or I will kill you, that's for sure."
Blade smirked. "I believe it. You've had plenty of practice." Blade lit a cigarette and walked away. "I'll see you again," he called back to them.
Adelaide exhaled after Blade turned the corner. She turned around and faced Emma and Tumbler. Tumbler had his arm around Emma, who was shaking.
"I thought you said he doesn't leave Brooklyn," she said, tearing up.
"I won't let him get to you, I promise," said Adelaide, pulling them close to her.
"Me either," said Tumbler to Emma. "I'll protect you."
The trio finally got to Tibby's. Emma made a beeline for Skittery's booth and crawled in next to him, attaching herself to his side.
"Hey," Skittery grinned, putting his arm around her. His grin faded when she didn't let go and she was shaking. "Hey, what's wrong?"
Emma didn't say anything. She just held tight to him. Adelaide and Tumbler slid into the booth.
"We had a run-in with Blade," said Adelaide.
Skittery tensed. "What happened?"
"Nothing," said Adelaide. "He's just trying to scare us."
Skittery looked down at Emma, meeting her eye. "We're not going to let anyone get you, I promise, Em."
Emma nodded, but kept close to him.
Adelaide closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose.
Skittery reached across the table and took her other hand. "Are you okay?"
Adelaide looked up at him and nodded. Skittery gave her a nod that said they'd talk more later.
To lighten to mood, Adelaide decided to change the subject. "Emma said she'd like to live with us once we get a place."
"And you?" Skittery asked, looking at Tumbler.
"I wanna stay in the lodge."
Skittery shook his head. "You're gonna leave me alone, surrounded by girls?"
Tumbler grinned and nodded. "You're on your own."
Skittery laughed as the waiter came and took their orders.
After much coaxing, Tumbler got Emma to go outside after dinner. The story of what had happened spread, and as they played, Emma had her own entourage of Boots, Snipeshooter, Tumbler, Crutchy, and Itey out there with her.
Adelaide and Skittery sat side-by-side in the booth, watching them play in the snow.
"Do you see it?" Adelaide asked.
Skittery watched the group for a bit before he smirked. "That Snipes hasn't been more than 2 feet away from Emma since he heard the story?"
Adelaide nodded.
"He won't let anything happen to her," said Skittery.
"I just hope he doesn't do anything reckless."
"I think he's learned his lesson."
"I hope so." Adelaide watched them for a few more beats before she turned back to Skittery. "I miss seeing you all day."
Skittery pulled her close to him and kissed her temple. "I miss you too."
"How's it going there?"
"Good," Skittery nodded. "I'm learning a lot. It feels good to do work where I feel like I'm actually doin' something, you know?"
Skittery had gotten a job as an assistant to a handyman employed by a land lord. He was learning everything from fixing plaster and brick to plumbing to wood working.
"Mr. McAllen is looking at building some buildings uptown that he wants wired with electricity," said Skittery. "So we've been trying to figure out how to do that."
Adelaide grinned at him. He lit up when she asked him about his work. Selling papers was a good job for a kid, but for a grown man like Skittery, it was dead end. When he didn't feel like he was doing anything worth doing, he would sink into apathy. But now that he was doing something productive and learning things, he seemed to much happier.
"That's great," she grinned.
Skittery nodded. "Once I learn everything I can, I can take that and get hired by another developer. People are always gonna need things fixed."
Adelaide grinned up at him. "I'm so happy for you."
Skittery looked down at her. "I'm savin' it all, Aide. Once we get married, you won't have to work."
"We'll see."
Skittery shook his head. "I promise." He kissed her. "Besides, you'll be too busy raisin' all of our babies."
Adelaide chuckled. "How many are we gonna have?"
"Six or seven."
Adelaide laughed. "We better find a big place then."
"I got my eye on a place."
Adelaide raised her eyebrows. "You do?"
Skittery nodded. "Mr. McAllen is probably gonna kick then tenants out soon. They haven't been payin' rent. He said once I learn enough, I can be the regular handyman for that building, and he'll give me a deal on the rent."
Adelaide blinked hard. "That's great!" she grinned. "How come you didn't say anything before?"
"He just told me this week," said Skittery. He took her hand in his and laced their fingers together. "We haven't had a lot of time together lately."
"I know," she rested her head against his shoulder.
"Once I get a place for us, we're goin' to the courthouse and getting married."
Adelaide grinned. "Good."
