Grace noticed how distracted Tommy was since returning from his late night trip to London. Atticus had reported back from his date with that whore. She was all over him when he brought her back to his home. Had her tongue down his throat, her hands all over him. He was getting her close to sleeping with him. Grace needed that woman distracted until the wedding. Then he could kill her for all she cares. She needs to keep Tommy attention for as long as possible. Despite what he has promised her, she knows Tommy nature. She knew he would faithful but there would forever be a question mark hovering over their marriage with that woman hanging around unattached . Small tiny piece of her can't really fault him for it. He shares a child with Olivia. But he belonged to her and no one else.
"My love did you hear me? We need to finalize the seating chart. The big day is two months away now."
They sat in the drawing room. Grace on the floor with the coffee table in front of her. Sifting through a pile of papers. Tommy sat on the couch behind her sifting through his own paperwork. Detailed reports on the Davenport family as a whole. Atticus mother was rich. Filthy rich. Several generations in the spice and tea trade. Bloody shady history in India a few generations ago. His father war record was impressive but he was a Calvary man. The problem that Tommy was facing are the sealed records on the father. Sealed by order of the crown. Tommy didn't have that high up contacts ,yet at least. A pinch on his thigh startled him.
"Have you been listening at all?" Grace nose was scrunched up and nostrils flaring.
"Sorry. Seating chart yes." Tommy placed his folder to his side and slide forward to give his full attention.
"Take a look. I don't know your family that well, I don't want to put the wrong people at a table."
"Burgess on one side and Shelby on the other. Hmm."
"Tom please."
Tommy didn't want to mix both their families, he knew how it would turn out. Grace could have made the offer though. He can see the clear embarrassment and disdain towards his background.
"Alright alright.The chart looks fine."
Tommy wrapped his arms around Grace and kissed the top of her head.
"I got you a gift. Close your eyes."
Grace did what she was told while Tommy reached over to his jacket pocket. He pulled out a diamond bracelet. He took her hand and clasp the bracelet around her wrist. Grace opened her eyes.
"Oh Tommy it's gorgeous."
Grace jumped into Tommy lap and kissed him.
"You didn't have to Tom."
"Yes I did. Consider it an early wedding present."
"I sat Olivia and Oscar next to Polly, if you noticed. I assume you told her of the date, if not I can send out a written invitation."
Grace fiddled with her bracelet not looking Tommy directly in the eyes. She was testing the waters. They haven't had any discussion about at least Olivia coming. Oscar would be the ring bearer.
"I can deliver the invitation when Oscar goes back to his mother."
"Also please inform her she has the option of bringing a plus one."
Grace swallowed, her throat dry. She slipped that last part in to gage Tommy. She knew about Atticus but Tommy didn't know she knew. She also wanted to see if Tommy had a suspicion about Atticus. She needed to keep Tommy away from him. She felt a slight squeeze on her hip. She looked into his eyes. He was very guarded and hard to decipher.
"I will tell her."
He kissed Grace and lifted her off his lap, he took her hand leading her towards dinner. He couldn't keep his mind off the possibility of Atticus coming to his wedding as Olivia date. He desperately needed those files on that father. The next inquiry would be his bank accounts. He doesn't want to be right about the man. His petty jealousy aside , Olivia would be heart broken to know she was used. He wasn't sure what she would be used for other than to get to him and the blinders. From what he has learned so far nothing points to gang affiliation. The illegal doings stem from bad back room government deals and general greed. Where did Polly intuition come from? That's what is bothering him. How was this man bad?
Tommy had a fitful sleep tossing and turning. His brain wouldn't shut off. He needed to form a better plan to get those banking records. CouttsCo one of the oldest banks in Britain would not be easy to steal from. He didn't have the proper time to research an employee and blackmail or bribe them for information. The next best option would be the cleaning crew. Bribe them with enough money to last the person years. A door left open for a trusted man to go in lift the paperwork. He couldn't just steal from one person. That would be too suspicious. He could commission a robbery. Steal some money, make a mess of the place. Better yet a fire. Now that was a perfect idea. Complete chaos and Atticus wouldn't think twice about his information missing because others would be burned up or missing also.
Tommy woke, after a few hours of solid sleep, completely rested and new vigor for the day. He had a plan to burn down a bank and for the day's activities would be spent with his son. An hour sat on Oscar bedroom floor playing conductor with his train. Playing outside near the pond. Skipping rocks across the water. Riding horses up and down the property. A perfect day that ended with a surprising appearance from Olivia.
Olivia met them in the stables. Tommy could see from his peripheral view Olivia staring at them untacking the horse. A beautiful loving look on her face. It warmed his heart. He saw she had a small stuffed animal in her hand.He left Oscar to help the stable hand and headed to Olivia.
"Fancy seeing you here."
Tommy curled himself around Olivia in a hug. Soft hints of lavender and chamomile. She held held him and Tommy wanted to melt into her. He hated letting her go.
"I have the week off so Polly invited me for tea. I brought Oscar Mr binky. He left him at home and he can't sleep without him."
"He's been here two days and sleeping fine."
She held the stuffed rabbit close to her chest, giving Tommy a sheepish look.
"I miss him is all. He looks so happy with them."
Olivia nodded towards Oscar feeding a carrot to the horse.
"I felt so guilty leaving behind our horses. The bond he shares with them. I don't understand completely, not like you do."
"I must I am impressed you have warmed up to them and Friesian."
"You loved them as a boy and now our boy does too."
"Mama!"
Oscar ran into his mother arms. She smacked a large kiss on his cheek.
"My sweet boy you've gotten bigger since I last saw you."
"No I haven't."
He laughed and giggled when his mama tickled and kissed all over his face.
"Yes you have baby. I have brought you Mr Binky."
"You did?"
"Mhmm"
She held the rabbit up and Oscar hugged him. He kissed her in thanks and wiggled to be let down. He ran off in front of them towards the house.
"Do you have time to stay ?"
" Um for a few minutes if Grace doesn't mind."
"She won't and she isn't here at the moment."
A slight fib of course Grace would mind.
They entered the home. Oscar had his parents follow him to his room. He introduced his new toys to Olivia, played with him while Tommy watched until dinner. Mary brought him down stairs. Tommy took the moment.
"Grace has an invitation for you. She sat you next to Pol at the reception."
"To the wedding?"
"Yes to the wedding."
"That's very kind of her."
"Would you stay for dinner?"
"Um no I can't."
"Our boy would love it"
A strand of hair fell into Olivia eye. Tommy without thought intimately brushed the hair behind her ear. She softly moved his hand back to his side.
"Tom. I have to say goodbye to Oscar and go back to Polly's."
Tommy let out a huff of frustration. This woman drove him mad.
"Alright let me get you that invitation."
He walked off to his office. Olivia made her way towards Oscar to say goodbye. He held onto her neck not wanting to let go and it killed her. London wasn't that far in an emergency situation but she hated that she and Tommy lived in different cities and she had to be away from her boy.
"I will see you Sunday night."
She planted a sloppy kiss and walked towards the exit. Tommy was standing against her car door smoking. A white envelope placed on the car roof.
"You're mad Tom. I know that look."
"I'm not mad. Just disappointed is all."
Tommy exhaled the smoke burning his lungs. Olivia burst out laughing, she couldn't help it. He was acting ridiculous in that moment.
"Stop laughing at me."
"Sorry."
Olivia coughed trying to catch her breathe.
"You look just like Oscar when he pouts. Tommy listen. I am going back to Polly for the night, tomorrow morning I will come back to say goodbye to him and then back off home."
"I don't want you to leave."
His demeanor worried Olivia.
"You can always talk to me. Is there something wrong."
Since Olivia showed up he has been having an existential crisis questioning all of his life choices and what he wanted in the future. He felt that part of himself is restless without her. Also there was another man, who he didn't know the true intention, sniffing around her ,dating her.
"The wedding has been stressful. I can get testy when I'm stressed. Sorry."
He kissed her forehead and brought her into a tight hug. He put her into the car and handed her the invitation. Tommy watched her until she became a small dot in the sun light.
Tommy suffered through the usual motions during dinner and readying for bed. His confidence for the bank fire was faltering. The safer option would be for men to follow Atticus or hiring a private investigator who is willing to get his hands dirty. He would have to meet with Polly for guidance. She would be against his original plan. The less chaos the Shelby boys caused the better. That's what Olivia made him feel inside at the moment confusing chaos,A good chaos, but he loved that. A small glimmer he had felt for Grace had been gone for over a year now. The spark was there he just had to direct it towards Grace and not Olivia.
~~~~~~~~~~~~Polly's Home~~~~~~~~~~~
"Holy fuck you've gone insane. If I knew this was how you were going to take care of this Atticus I would do it myself."
Tommy was right. His Aunt Pol was vehemently against the bank burning.
"I don't see another way."
"Break into his work office or go back to his home and find out what is in his safe. Follow the family money. Why didn't you think of that first?"
Tommy stood against the window puffing on yet another cigarette.
" I want the truth just as badly as you do Tom but please think of this rationally. You can't be carted off to prison and they will hang you this time. Powerful people have their money tied up there. You don't have the pull to sweep that kind of incident under the rug."
Polly loathed seeing Tommy spinning out the way he was. Out of all the boys Tommy felt the most. Heartbreak, pain, fear, and love. He felt so deeply but the war made him turn that part of himself off.
"I'm fucked, completely and utterly fucked. I love Grace."
Polly huffed and rolled hers eyes.
"I do Poll. You don't know the Grace I do. That barmaid is still in her. She has goodness and love inside her that I get to see. She could have handed me over to Campbell on a silver platter but she didn't. She protected me. That means something."
Polly noticed the old Tommy peaking out from behind the curtain.The ten year old boy who snuck his first kiss from a Boswell girl at a fair. The thirteen year old boy who experienced puppy love with the neighbor daughter. The young man who planned dates and bought flowers on the regular for his beloved Greta. The same young man who sat by her bedside day in and day out ,holding her hand while she died.
Tommy was still a romantic, buried deep deep down. He was the young man full of hope for a normal life with a wife,kids, and horses. What made Polly hurt was the fact he was wasting his love on Grace. If she knew she could get away with it, Polly would have pushed that woman in front of a train already. Olivia tea leaves kept hope alive for Polly. She never read those wrong. How to get rid of Grace and that boyfriend was the dilemma.
"Follow that man. Do more research and for all that is good and holy don't burn down a fucking bank. Find an alternative."
Tommy laid on Polly couch for a few hours before sulking back home. Grace whispered sweet nothings in his ear as they laid in bed. His head wasn't fully there. He went through the emotions once again. Lately his thoughts would wonder and never fully in the moment. Never fully invested on Grace. He waited till Grace was in a deep sleep to leave the bedroom.
"Tom it's two in the fucking morning. Someone better be dead." Peter squinted in the glow of the lamp. A call after midnight is never a good thing.
"I want to blow up a bank for one person's records. Pol said I couldn't."
Fuck no one has died but Tommy has gone insane obviously.
"Please tell me this has nothing to do with Olivia, because I swear to God I will have you committed. Placed right next to Barney."
"Polly talked me out of the plan, but I need a way in. You are my lawyer. Advise me."
"I am A lawyer not yours and I'm not advising you how to steal from a fucking bank."
"I need for you to find background on the employees. Janitor services, low level employees who can be paid off and those who would be over looked."
Peter stood in amazed silence.
"Please. Just do it for me. I won't hurt anyone just bribe them with a hefty sum."
Peter felt he was backed into a corner. If he didn't help then he would be waiting on the morning papers reporting on the arrest wealthy Birmingham business man for blowing up a bank that would injure and possibly kill many innocent bystanders.
"Fine. You have to swear on Oscar life. You will not harm anyone or blow anything up."
"I swear on my son's life. Innocents will not be hurt." Peter hated to agree but in the end he did.
That's how he found himself sucking up to the bank manager at a lunch. A quarterly schmooze fest among the filthy rich. He defended the nephew of a CEO once and couldn't get rid of the bafoons after. The impression was Peter was a Mr fix it. He took on the case because the young boy was innocent of vandalism. A stupid school boys prank that went wrong. That one deed attached him to those awful high powered people.
The night died down and Peter had a moment to approach Mr Honeycutt.
"Sir I was wondering if I could inquire about a banking question I have. You see I represent a client who requires a financial background on a potential buyer for his business."
"Why do you need my help? Ask the buyer."
"Well you see sir."
Peter stuttered through his explanation.
For being a translator during the war and being a lawyer he certainly was fucking this up. He didn't plan this correctly.
"Speak up boy." Mr Honeycutt slapped Peter on the back while drowning in his sixth drink of the night.
"Why come to me?"
"Extra protection for my client so to speak. He wants to make sure this offer comes from a legitimate financial backing."
Peter couldn't tell if Mr Honeycutt was buying his explanation. Unsure if he had heard him with glazed look and slight swaying in his seat.
"Ok my boy." Mr Honeycutt gave Peter another slap and that was it. Peter wanted to laugh at how easy and thrilling it was to deceive. He finished his dinner and left to report back to Tommy.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~Three days later~~~~~~~~~~
After sifting through Atticus financial with a fine tooth comb and only showed one so called abnormality . Stocks, bonds, income, inheritance, and investments were all accounted for. He was clean except a bi yearly deposit of thirty thousand pounds from a bank and corporation he hasn't heard of before. Black Swan Corp.
Every January fourth and August fourth with out miss for the past five years. Peter spent hours looking through directories in England for those names. Food, alcohol , livestock , cheese. Black swan Corp was not listed under any of these. No connection to his family business either.
Days went by before Peter had any luck, in Ireland. The bank was small, and in a small village in Derry. The corporation was also small. Peter would define it as more of small business than a corporation. Canned meats is what they sold. How could they afford to send in total three hundred thousand pounds to a man is questionable. An uneasiness settled in Peter's gut. Money from a questionable source. How could that be explained?
Tommy at times could be paranoid and possessive , now with so called claim to Olivia even more so. It scared Peter there might be legitimate reason to worry. The question now was what should he do first, tell Tommy or investigate first? He had little time to decide. Tommy would be knocking down his door soon for answers.
Peter rang a private investigator. He was warned it could take months. Tommy wanted this done before he was to be married. Which was stupid in Peter opinion. He was deflecting , needing something to to focus on that wasn't the wedding or Grace. Yes the safety of his son and Olivia was paramount but Peter knew Tommy was secretly loving this distraction.
What a fool Tommy was.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~London~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Olivia felt a ball of nerves in the pit of her stomach. The question for Atticus on the tip of her tongue all night. Will you be my guest to a wedding ?
Their date had been calm and relaxed. A late afternoon showing of a Charlie Chaplin film, walk through a park, then an evening of dinner and live music. The night was perfect except one lingering question she wanted to ask him but wasn't sure of his response. They hadn't been going together that long. That would also mean Atticus meeting her family. Tommy would not go easy on him. Neither would the rest of the Shelby family . That would mean meeting Oscar. Then if that went well her parents and brother. The thought made her nervous. One step at a time she told herself.
"Something is bothering you my dear."
Atticus squeezed her hand.
"You've been distracted all night."
"Oh sorry it's nothing."
He stopped them both and turned towards Olivia. He caressed her upper arm , looking deeply into her eyes.
"We haven't known each other long but I would hope you could trust me enough with anything that is troubling you."
Should she? Her mouth made the choice by blurting out.
"I've been invited to a wedding and I may bring a guest."
" Ok?"
"If you wanted I would like to bring you. Is that alright?"
Atticus controlled his reaction. Anger, elation ,jealousy , all rolled into one. He hooked her enough for the invite. Olivia wouldn't have asked him on a whim. She was a well guarded person and was inviting him to a family event. An occasion he would rather eat glass than to attend but this was good. He was making progress.
" Of course it's alright ,I would love too."
"It's just ."
"Just what?"
Olivia took his hand and fiddled with his fingers.
"Tommy is getting married. So that would mean meeting the whole Shelby family and also meeting my son."
"And that is what is making you nervous what they will think of me."
He gave a slightly wounded look. Tapping into her guilt of the idea she could be hiding their relationship.
"No not that. Well um."
Yes that and how Tommy will react, how her sweet boy will feel.
"Meeting my son is a very big deal for me and would mean taking a more serious step in our relationship. And yes I'm nervous for what my son make feel about you. I don't want to push anything on you or my son. This is new to all of us."
"I understand my dear. Don't bring me out of any obligation you might feel. If it would help I could meet with your son at least privately. A nice picnic in the park. He would enjoy that yes?"
Olivia chest tightened and bile rose in her throat. What in the hell was she thinking. Yes she care for the man and in such short amount of time. She wanted a fling and yet she now has a small flicker of feelings towards him. She need to tell Oscar. The one person who she can't afford to break his heart.
"Mmhh that sounds lovely." Olivia muffled out.
Atticus beamed at Olivia. He hugged her tight. He was talking to her but her ears were buzzing.
Well fuck Olivia was internally scolded herself. It's what she wanted and yet she didn't at the same time. This was good , she needed a push in that direction. Moving on and introducing Atticus and Oscar. If they didn't like each other then so be it. She can dumped him. He is just a man. A man that she has feelings for. Which would be hard to just drop him because when Olivia cared for someone she cared hard. He was the first man since Tommy which made it more complicated and more of a vulnerable situation.
She had only two loves in her life. Sure she had admirers in her teen years. She lost her virginity when she was sixteen. A sweet boy from the neighboring farm, but it wasn't true love. Jack and Tommy. Her first serious love killed in action and then falling in love with an British soldier and conceiving a child with him. She hadn't had a a normal outcome with her relationships. They ended in some sort of trauma.
Olivia's mind spiraled most of the night until she got home. The night was a whirlwind. She took a relaxing bath and her body instinctively took her to her son's bedroom. Of course the one source of constant comfort was in Birmingham so she did the next best thing. She collapsed in Oscar's bed. She positioned herself in the fetal position it was the only way she could fit on the small surface.She hugged his pillow and breathed in his scent. That managed to shut down her brain from the worry. She would deal with how to introduce them in the morning. The one thing that was certain was her boy's best interests.
She would have to take the risk now but first sign of distress she would pull the plug. It would be a blow to her heart but that didn't matter. Her son came first. There was a small little flicker of defiance. Don't give up so easily it told her. Shutting down and wrapping herself up in Oscar life and well being was a way to protect herself.
He got along with Grace and seemed to like her so why couldn't that be possible with Atticus? Yes it was along of change in a short amount of time but she wasn't marrying the man. All she could do is hope for the best and deal with the fall out later.
Author's note:
Thank you so much for reading and sticking with me.I do sincerely apologize for not uploading in a year. I have had major life changes. I have a job on my own, driving, also have sought some mental health help(which was a wonderful decison), major writers block, an now with the holidays upon us I will be working alot. I have set goals in the past and not met them. My goal is 3 new chapters by January. I will do evrything I can the meet it. Please let me know what you think about the chapter in the comments. I need valadation lol. Hope you all enjoy.