James knew that there was something wrong with Charlotte. He could see it in her face when she thought no one was looking. He knew that she was struggling. They were all struggling without Elizabeth there. Tommy was trying his best, but James could see that he was also distracted. Whenever he was with them it was like he wasn't completely there, a part of his mind somewhere else entirely. James understood it, of course. He had seen how devoted Tommy had been to his wife and he understood it entirely. Elizabeth was one of a kind. But he just wondered what it was doing to Charlotte. He could see the look of disappointment in her face whenever Tommy didn't really get enthusiastic about anything she'd done. He tried. Of course, he tried. But they were drifting and James didn't know how to get them back on track or if he could.
"Do you think it's him?" Charlotte wondered.
They were in the living room, sat around the chess board that was on the walnut coffee table. Charlotte was cross legged on the floor, her skirt flowing around her and hair hanging loosely down her back. She looked at the board as James leant back against the couch, one leg bent with his arm dangling over his kneecap. He was dressed in his three piece suit, hair flopping in front of his eyes.
"Who?" he wondered and Charlotte moved her pawn before looking her brother in the eye.
"Duke."
Charlotte had heard her father speak his name, but he hardly mentioned him to James or Charlotte. He had brought him into the business and James was well aware that he was on the side of business that was illegal. Tommy never let James anywhere near that. He kept him firmly away. James knew it was to protect him. He knew it was because Elizabeth would be fuming if he got him involved in something dangerous.
"What about him?" James asked, trying not to let his tone falter too much. He hadn't wanted to sound bitter, but he guessed he was. He was apprehensive that Duke would replace him, no matter how often Tommy assured him that would never be the case.
"I've seen him here when dad thinks I'm not watching," Charlotte said, fiddling with a pleat in her skirt. "I've seen the two of them talking…and dad…he…I know he would tell me I'm being silly, but I always guessed he'd want a son and not a daughter…someone to take over the family business."
"Charlotte, no," James said, his voice stern and he wondered how long she had been thinking it. He'd seen Duke and Tommy in corners whispering too. He knew he was fortunate. He had somewhere to live. He had people who loved him. He had more than he ever had done when he had been an orphan. But he still felt like an outsider.
"It's the truth," Charlotte said to him and she shrugged her shoulders. "It's like he doesn't even care about me anymore. You know that I'm learning science meant for people three years older than me? Frances told him, but he…he just said 'eh, that's good' and that's it," she said, imitating her father. "He spends more time with Duke than he does with me now and you know it's true. It's like he has no time for us anymore."
"He does."
"You don't need to humour me," Charlotte said to him. "I'm turning twelve in three weeks and I don't care about my birthday, not really…but he…no matter how many times he tells me he loves me or that we're everything to him…it's like he's not here with us…not really."
"He…since mum died…it's been difficult for him. You know that."
"I know," Charlotte said. "And I don't want to sound bitter about Duke…but he…I can't stand it…I want it to be how it was. I want things to go back to how they were."
"We all want that, Charlotte."
"It doesn't feel like it."
"What are you two whisperin' about in 'ere, eh?"
Charlotte went quiet and looked down to her lap. James glanced to the door and saw Tommy stood there, dressed in a smart suit with a blue shirt and a red tie. The chain to his pocket-watch stood out, the gold shimmering in the light. He looked smarter than usual and James suspected it was because Tommy was intending on hosting Nelson that evening. James knew that, but he didn't think Charlotte did. She knew that her father was trying to stop fascists, but he doubted she knew much more. James did. He knew about the drugs. He knew about the shipment. That didn't mean he was involved with it. He knew everything about Gina and Mosley being involved. Tommy told him things, but he didn't get him involved in them.
"Nothing," James simply said.
"I should go and finish my homework," Charlotte said and she moved to her feet, brushing her skirt down her legs.
Tommy noted her avoid his eye, tucking her hair behind her ear. She headed towards the door and Tommy's brows knitted together as he watched her. "Charlotte," he spoke her name as she approached him.
"Hm?" she wondered.
"Yer alright?" he asked, looking her in the eye and for a brief moment he saw his wife in the look she shot in his direction.
"Just tired," she said.
"Right," Tommy said with a nod of his head. "Well, I'll come up in a minute, eh? Say goodnight before Nelson gets 'ere."
"Your fascist friend?"
"I told yer that I'm not with 'em," Tommy said to his daughter, a hand going to the back of her head and running down her hair softly. But Charlotte moved away from him. Usually she would move closer, but this time she pulled back and just scoffed. He swore he even saw a roll of her eyes.
"Of course not," she muttered and before Tommy could shout her back, she was walking off towards the staircase and climbing the steps towards her room. Tommy watched the back of her, a stinging feeling in his chest for a second before he turned to James and then pointed behind his shoulder.
"What's up with 'er?" Tommy wondered.
"Yer really need to ask?" James questions, pushing himself to his feet and reaching for his glass of whiskey that he'd poured earlier but hadn't even touched. He moved his free hand into his pocket. Tommy looked to the tall, young man. "Yer know she's learning stuff that's more advanced than any of the kids in 'er year?"
"Frances mentioned it," Tommy said with a nod of his head.
"That's the issue," James said. "She's feelin' like yer not interested in 'er. She's a clever girl. She's bright…has so much potential…and do yer ever wonder why she studies so much? Why she spends so much time locked in 'er room with 'er 'ead in books? It's because she's tryin' to impress yer because she thinks that she's not good enough. She thinks that you'd rather 'ave 'ad a boy than her."
"I've told her that's not true," Tommy said, not knowing what more he could do to make her understand that she was his everything.
"Yeah, but when she sees yer whisperin' in corners with Duke and then hardly pay attention to 'er when she 'as good news, she starts doubtin' things," James said to him and Tommy's hands went to his hips, clasping onto them firmly and looking to the ceiling above him. "She's a little girl, Tommy. She needs 'er father."
"She 'as me," Tommy said, but he knew that wasn't the case. She had him for the time being, but eventually he would have to go. He didn't want them to see him grow sick. He didn't want his final days to be spent with Charlotte looking at him like she had done Elizabeth. He didn't think his heart would be able to take it.
"She doesn't feel like she does," James said.
"I just…I never thought that about 'er," Tommy said and he went to sit down on the edge of his chair. Burying his face into his hands, he thought about how none of this would be happening if Elizabeth was still alive. If she was still there then he'd never have found out about Duke. He would still be living in ignorance.
James finished his drink and set the tumbler down on the coffee table next to the chessboard. He settled down on the couch, hands clasped together in between spread legs.
"When Liz first told me she was pregnant, it was the best news I could 'ave 'opened for," Tommy said. "It was a surprise. We 'and't planned it…but I just remember hovering around 'er all of the time, makin' sure she didn't do anythin' strenuous…and then when she gave birth to Charlotte we spent the entire night just watchin' 'er. It was like everythin' in my life had altered in seconds. I realised I'd do anythin' for that little girl. She became the centre of my world…mine and Elizabeth's…and yer know…not once did I wish she'd been a boy. I love 'er precisely how she is."
"I don't doubt it," James said to Tommy, still not sure if he was overstepping his mark. He was doing what he could to help, but he didn't know if Tommy really wanted his help. "I just think you don't know how to show her."
Tommy looked him in the eye, prepared to snap at him. But all he saw was James's eyes grow in size and there was a look of innocence there. He held his tongue and nodded once, thinking on his point.
"I am proud of 'er," Tommy said. "And I know she's goin' to achieve great things. She is intelligent and will be whatever she wants to be. I know that. I just want 'er to do it because she wants to do it, not because she thinks she needs to impress me or prove 'erself."
"I know," James said. "Maybe yer just need to talk to 'er?"
"I will," Tommy said. "I'll talk to 'er…and yer alright, yeah?"
James shrugged his shoulders. "The business is doing well," he said to him. "I'm doin' alright in the bookies, but I know there's other stuff goin' off. Yer whisperin' with Duke all of the time and that means he's involved in the illegal side."
"He's involved because he wants to be and there's no record of him."
"But he's still involved."
"He's involved and yer not because I can't let yer be and yer know why. I made a promise to my wife and I'm not breakin' that. I broke too many promises before and I'm not breakin' anymore."
"Just tell me what's goin' on," James urged from him. "I don't want to get involved, but I do want to know what's goin' on. Charlotte…she knows more than yer think too, but not everythin'."
"She doesn't need to know."
"And I won't tell 'er, but I'm not a kid," James said.
"No, yer not," Tommy agreed with a nod of his head. "But yer still my son and I can still 'ear Liz in my head tellin' me to keep yer out of it. I told her everythin' and she never approved of what I did…she didn't like it…but she saw somethin' in me. She thought I wanted to do good and there are times when I did. I did want to do good."
"I know," James said.
"But sometimes to do good, yer need to do bad," Tommy said. "I'm not a good man, James. I'm not goin' to pretend I am. I'm just a man who had ambitions and now I wonder what good any of its done me."
James had never heard Tommy speak so openly before. He didn't want to interrupt him. It was like he had things he needed to get off his chest. Tommy leant back in the chair and looked to the ceiling.
"I'm goin' to Canada," Tommy said, finally deciding to tell James everything that he thought he needed to know. "Michael is goin' to be there to complete the five million dollar deal of the opium that's bein' shipped."
"Michael?" James snapped his name.
"I'm well aware of his plan to kill me. But that's not goin' to 'appen. I 'ave Alfie Solomons there and prepared to take over Nelson's Boston empire."
"How is it not goin' to 'appen?"
"Because when I die it won't be by Michael's 'and," was all Tommy alluded to. "Michael will be there and I will do what I need to do."
"I can come."
"No," Tommy said with a shake of his head. "Yer goin' to stay 'ere and take yer sister somewhere safe for the time being. Michael not might want to 'urt Charlotte, but Gina's a different story. I know that they will be sendin' someone for Arthur. We have an informant in our camp."
"Who?"
"Billy."
"Billy Grade?"
"Very same one," Tommy said with a nod of his head. "He's been tellin' Nelson all our movements and he can't get away with it. Arthur can 'andle 'imself when they send people after him and Duke is goin' to 'andle Billy if Finn doesn't."
"Yer would make Finn kill 'im?" James whispered and Tommy let out a deep breath as he remembered how his wife had a soft spot for the youngest Shelby brother. She had taken him under her wing, but he'd become a young man who was rude to her and too much of a know it all.
"I'm not goin' to make 'im do anythin', but Duke is fine to do it."
"Shit," James muttered and he realised then that was the difference between him and Duke. James wasn't sure he had it in him to kill anyone. He didn't think he did. He was convinced that he would crumble. He would do anything for his family, of course, but he didn't know if he could kill.
"Yeah," Tommy grunted. "So I just need yer to take Charlotte away while I'm gone, alright? And…we won't be comin' back 'ere."
James frowned. "What?"
"The 'ouse will be gone," Tommy said. He knew that he had to get rid of it. He had to destroy it because there were far too many secrets buried around it. He couldn't leave it and risk Charlotte finding them. "James, there's too many secrets in this 'ouse that I 'ave to deal with…bodies…paperwork…on Sunday, some of the lads will be comin' 'ere and takin' care of things. You, me and Charlotte will find somewhere else to live, alright?"
Tommy wasn't going to tell him that it was just going to be James and Charlotte. Once he had the five million in his hands then he was going to ensure the two of them were going to be set for life. He would make sure Ada stayed with them too, knowing that Charlotte needed a female presence in her life.
"But…why?" James asked him. "Why now?"
"Because we need a clean break away from this place," Tommy said and he looked around the sitting room. All he had were memories of his Liz. He remembered how they would sit together and laugh, lounged on the couch with wide smiles. They were happy memories, of course they were. This was their home. But he didn't need the house for the memories.
"And have you told Charlotte any of this?"
"I'll tell 'er when the time is right," he assured James.
"Right," James said, convinced there was something else going on but deciding that it would be for the best not to push it. He had enough to take in as it was that he was going to have to keep hidden from his sister.
"Mr Shelby."
Tommy turned his head over his shoulder to see Frances stood in the doorway, fingers laced together in front of her. He cocked a brow.
"Yeah?"
"Your guest is approaching."
"Thank you, Frances, I'll be out in a minute," Tommy said and then moved to stand up, hands on his thighs as he moved to his feet. He stretched his back slightly and swore that he felt his hand begin to shake before quickly laying his fingers flat against his side. Looking to James, he nodded at him sternly. "Not a word to anyone, alright?"
"Alright," James agreed with him.
"Now, go and tell yer sister I'll come see 'er in a bit once I've dealt with business," Tommy said. "And tell 'er I love 'er, alright?"
"Yeah."
"Good lad," Tommy said and clasped James on the back as he walked out of the room and he prepared for an evening with his guest.
…
Tommy had only expected Jack Nelson for dinner. He hadn't expected Mosley or Diana to show up. He let out a deep breath as he did his best to contain himself at the sight of the two of them casting shadows in his dining room. Tommy remained seated, still sipping on water as he suspected it would be for the best if he had a clear head for the meeting. He was due to fly out to Canada in two days' time. When he came back then business would be done. He would be able to rest.
"It's a shame I never got to meet your wife, Shelby," Nelson said.
He was on his fourth glass of whiskey, celebrating the million-dollar deal of opium and the fact that he seemed to have been integrated into the circle. Tommy didn't feel like celebrating. He had no desire to raise a glass and toast. All he wanted to do was have his dinner and get out of there. He just wanted to go and find his children and spend time with them.
"She was quite the woman," Mosley said and Tommy recalled what Diana had said to him on the boat. He looked to Mosley and saw the man's lips arch up into a smarmy smile. He ignored it, his own face remaining stoic and his eyes remaining emotionless. He wasn't going to let them get to him.
"Yes, she was," Diana concurred. "You know, Mr Nelson, she used to be a Kimber? Part of one of the most respected families in the Midlands…then there was some frightfully terrible business between her brother and Thomas here."
"Is that so?"
"We didn't see eye-to-eye," Tommy merely spoke.
"Oh, I think it might have been more than that," Mosley said and he shot Tommy another knowing look. He knew everything about him and he wasn't going to let Tommy forget that. He would use it against him for as long as he possibly could. Taking a moment to compose himself, Tommy sipped on his water and then felt for his pocket watch, longing to pull it out and look at the image of his wife.
"And she left high society to marry him," Diana said. "Of course, Thomas here has done quite well for himself now, but back then he was just a bookkeeper."
"Amazing how high we can rise, isn't it?" Nelson said.
"Some of us higher than others," Mosley added on. "Nonetheless, I have to say that dinner without Mrs Shelby is unusually quiet. I used to quite enjoy her obvious looks of distaste that she shot in our direction. Thomas here is much more able to keep his emotions guarded."
"I'm gathering that," Nelson said.
"My wife is off limits."
"Well," Diana said with a low chuckle, "she's not your wife anymore, Thomas. She's dead."
There was an awkward silence then and Tommy looked down to the plate of food in front of him that he no longer wanted to eat or think about. His stomach churned and Mosley tsked loudly.
"Diana, I do think you are being rather crass about the situation."
"I do not mean to be, but I do not think that Elizabeth would want him to stop living…to throw things away…"
His gaze met hers then and he realised she was still slighted by his rejection of her from the other week. He didn't care. There was no way he was going to consider sleeping with her. She repulsed him and he would always be loyal to Elizabeth. He would be joining her soon enough.
"She's right, Shelby," Nelson added on. "Besides, you have a kid right? A little girl?"
"He has a son too," Mosley said and then looked to Tommy, a brow rising on his forehead. "Or should I say, he has an adopted son and…well…a bastard."
"So what? Three kids?"
"But only one from his wife. The poor dear couldn't carry again."
"I'm not sure that this is relevant to anything," Tommy said.
"Mr Shelby."
Tommy had never been so relieved to see Frances stood in the doorway of the dining room. Looking to her, he wondered what could be wrong. He saw the look in her eye. He saw that something wasn't right. He instantly felt his stomach begin to churn and moved to his feet. "What is it, Frances?" he asked.
"Charlotte," she just said her name and Tommy was already moving out of the door.
He stormed forwards and ignored his dinner guests. He didn't care about their approval. He followed Frances out to the hallway and he saw her nervously chew on her lip. "I didn't hear her go into the study. I was busy in the kitchen…I found her there and she…she's crying…"
"Alright, alright," Tommy said, sensing that she was on edge. He moved a hand to her arm, clasping it tightly for a second. "I'll sort this, alright? I'll go to 'er."
Tommy knew what was in his study. There were his letters from his doctor. He'd locked them away though. He'd hidden them from sight. Moving towards the study, he pushed the door open and found Charlotte sat behind her mother's desk. He almost let out a deep sigh of relief. She hadn't been snooping. She hadn't found anything that she wasn't supposed to find. Tommy moved his hands to the top of his thighs as he bent over slightly, knowing that he shouldn't be relieved because she was going to find out sooner or later.
"Charlotte, what are yer doin' in 'ere, eh?" Tommy asked from her, straightening himself out and heading towards the desk she was sat at. She had her eyes lowered, her cheeks stained with dried tears and her hair sticking to them.
"I was looking for a pen and then…I just sat here," she settled on saying to her father. "I just miss her."
Tommy inhaled a sharp breath and nodded, moving around to her side of the desk. He moved his hands softly to her shoulders, handling her until she was stood up from the seat. She didn't protest as he wrapped his arms tightly around her, holding her to him, cheek pressed just under his chest.
"I know, darlin'. I know," he promised her and he wondered just how long she had been grieving in silence for. He knew that he hadn't been there as much as he should have been. Ever since his diagnosis, he'd spent more and more time making sure that business would be wrapped up so that his children could have quiet lives without him in the picture. He never took time to stop and think about how that was impacting them now while he was still around for them. He noticed that Charlotte didn't hug him back. Her arms just hung limply by her side and Tommy longed to feel her cling onto him like she used to when she was a little girl. He kissed her on the top of her head before pulling back, hands firmly holding onto her shoulders.
"Yer know I love yer, don't yer?" Tommy said to her and he noticed how she didn't look him in the eye. She just shrugged her shoulders.
"I know," she decided on saying to him. Tommy frowned. That was nowhere near enough for him. He needed her to know. He needed her to be absolutely certain because he didn't think he could handle it if she thought he didn't. Shaking his head, Tommy forgot all about the guests at his party. They could wait, Charlotte couldn't.
"Yer know?"
"I don't know what you want me to say, dad," Charlotte shrugged and met his gaze. "I know you love me."
"No, Charlotte, I love yer more than anything…if yer need to talk to me then yer can talk to me…about yer mum…anythin'."
"Really?" Charlotte asked from him and Tommy's brows furrowed together. "Because recently you've been more interested in business and your new son than you have me."
"That's not true."
"Yes, it is," Charlotte snapped back. "I thought that it didn't matter that I was a girl, but it does, doesn't it? That's why you're always whispering with Duke and leaving me out…both me and James."
"No," Tommy denied.
"Yes!" Charlotte snapped. "I told you that I was studying science more advanced than anyone else my age and you didn't care. My teacher is already suggesting that I think about university…Oxford…Cambridge…and I didn't tell you because it's never enough, is it? I'm not enough for you."
Tommy's chest ached at hearing his daughter's voice break, fresh tears flowing down her cheeks once more. She shook her head slowly and wondered if this was it. Did he even care in the slightest? He just stood there looking completely lost.
"We heard the commotion and thought we'd come and see if everything was alright," Nelson's voice suddenly entered the room and Tommy exhaled before sniffing. Charlotte looked up to him and he glanced across to Mosley, Diana and Nelson in the doorway. He nodded his head, clearing his throat.
"Yeah," he settled on saying. "Everythin' is fine."
"And this must be the daughter," Nelson continued. "Looks exactly like her mother from the photos I've seen dotted round this place. She's going to grow up to break a few hearts, Shelby."
"Charlotte, head on upstairs and I'll be there in a minute, alright?" Tommy said, ignoring the prior comments. Charlotte glanced to him and cocked her head to the side, shaking it slowly after a moment.
"Business comes first," she whispered. "No wonder mum hated being here."
Tommy wondered if she knew how hard that comment hit him. He did his best not to look too upset, but he was. He was gutted that she had said that because Elizabeth had been everything to him and he had always tried to keep her happy. He knew that he'd failed numerous times before and that was his biggest regret. He wished that he had had made her happy every day of her life.
Charlotte walked out without another word and Tommy watched the back of her head as she moved to the staircase and rushed up the steps.
"Well, that was quite the spectacle," Mosley drawled. "Do you think that we can get things back on track?"
"No," Tommy said, the word definitive. "I will go to Canada and I will meet with Michael to take payment for the shipment…that's all there is to discuss this evening. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have other matters to attend to."
Tommy didn't wait for any comment back. He just headed on up the steps and moved towards Charlotte's bedroom. She was sat on the bed, hands clasped together and her head bowed. She was playing with the pleats in her skirt and Tommy considered what he was going to say to her, but she was the one who spoke first.
"I'm sorry," she said to him and that was the last thing Tommy had expected. "Mum didn't hate being here. She loved you. She loved us."
"Yer were angry," Tommy said. "And yer 'ave right to be angry."
He went to sit down next to her, copying her movements and clasping his hands together to stop him for reaching for a cigarette. He began speaking, suspecting that Charlotte deserved a version of the truth. He couldn't give her the full truth.
"Yer know that what I do…it isn't all legal, don't you?" Tommy checked with her.
"I know," she confirmed to him. "People talk and I'm not an idiot. I know that you…people are scared of you…"
"Yeah," Tommy settled on saying to her. "And I've always tried to keep yer sheltered from that. Yer mum didn't like it, but she understood…she understood because there were people who tried to make an enemy of me and I did what I 'ad to do to stay afloat…and I still am doin'."
"It's to do with Michael, isn't it?"
"He's goin' to try and hurt me because he think it's my fault his mum died…but it's not. Yer Aunt Pol…it was an accident, but Michael doesn't see it that way. That's why I need yer to go away for a little while soon, okay? James will take yer somewhere until I've done what I 'ave to."
Charlotte bit down on her bottom lip. She didn't need to ask what that meant. She was well versed with the methods her father used. She exhaled slowly and felt older than her eleven years.
"And that's why I 'aven't been 'ere. I've been doin' everythin' I can to try and keep yer safe and I know that's no excuse because yer deserve me to be 'appy for yer because out of everythin' I've done…everythin' I've made…nothin' will ever compare to yer, Charlotte. Nothin' will ever compare to you."
Silence engulfed the room and Charlotte moved to rest against his side. Tommy wrapped his arm around her shoulders and cradle her close against him. He kissed her on the top of her head. "After I've been to Canada and seen Michael…I was thinkin' that maybe we could leave 'ere? Yer, me and James. We could go somewhere else and we could just be a family…us three…because bein' 'ere…it's too much. It reminds me too much of yer mother and it's 'ard."
"Okay," Charlotte said with a nod of her head. Tommy had expected her to fight back on that, but she didn't. "Everywhere I go in this house I just remember her and then I get sad too because she's not here."
"I know, sweetheart," Tommy promised. "So we'll go, alright? I'll come back and we'll go away for a little while, just us three."
"I'd like that."
"Good," Tommy settled on that one word. He moved to wrap both arms around her and felt somewhat relieved that they were on better terms. He knew that when he came back from Canada that his time was limited. And so he had to make sure he did come back from Canada. He had to do it for his family.
...
A/N: Not long to go until the end of the story as we near the end of the series. Do let me know what you think!