Chapter 7: London calling
These words are my own
From my heart flow
I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you
It is a bleak and gray morning when Freddie Thorne is buried. Marie is silent, her gaze resting on the blank-faced Ada. They have become good friends, and though Ada had moved to London, they kept regularly in contact.
Reinke gives Ada a sad smile, her hand gripping Eva's a bit tighter. Marie has been uncharacteristically quiet, even John can tell. He guesses that is what funerals do to you, but even then...
His wife has barely said a word, but the death grip with which she is holding his hand, tells him there is more to the story. Reinke shakes her head when John quirks an eyebrow, making clear this is not the right moment or place.
After the service, Marie can hear Ada and Tommy arguing, her steps slowing when she hears Tommy say they are going to expand business in London.
'Expanding business in London, Tommy? Really?' Marie whispers harshly, trying to make sure Katie does not hear them, as she runs behind her brothers and cousins.
'The Garrison has just been blown up, your brother-in-law is not even cold in the ground, and you want to expand business?!' Ada flinches at that, Peter joining them and muttering to stop.
'I do not hear you complaining, Marie. Do not forget that the business pays for all of your things, clothes, jewelry, even the education of Eva...'
'That is not what I am saying, Tommy.' Reinke has also joined them, grabbing her distraught friend by the arm. 'People will die.' Marie eventually says, shaking her head, a sad look thrown at Ada. 'I am sorry if I am being inconsiderate, Ada. I did not mean to talk about Freddie that way.'
The Shelby sister shakes her head, and Marie, God, she feels guilty. But she cannot stop the worried feeling from gnawing at her insides, the explosion in the pub having shaken her up quite a bit.
'People will die, Peter. Mark my words. People will die.' John watches his wife say something to her friend's uncle, Reinke sighing when Marie seems to gather herself and follows John's children to keep an eye on them.
'You need to talk to your wife, John. Her worries are getting the better of her.' Tommy mutters, lighting up a cigarette.
The conversation has been forgotten in the following days, and Marie seems to be in better spirits, or she is just very good at pretending.
It has been three years, after all, and John likes to think he can see the subtle expressions of his wife, though she or he never had said those three words.
Trying to find the magic (Woah oh)
Trying to write a classic (Woah oh)
Don't you know, don't you know, don't you know? (Woah oh)
'Do we know why Tommy has called for a meeting?' Reinke whispers to Peter, her uncle shaking his head. Her brother-in-law clearly has had enough of waiting, stepping past a distracted Marie, a furious whisper of "Where the bloody hell is Tom?!' filling the silence.
'Sit down, Finn. Eva.' Arthur motions for the two to sit, the two fifteen-year-olds giving each other secretive glances. Somewhere along the line, their innocent friendship has blossomed into young love, though Marie is sure neither one dares to say anything, scared to lose the friendship they have.
'Here's some whiskey, sister.' Arthur offers the glass to Marie, who takes it with a grateful smile. But John still see the reluctant look in her eyes.
'There's a few things we need to get straight between us before Tommy gets here.' John says, putting his hands behind his back. Marie joins Reinke on the stairs, letting out a sigh. 'When did we vote for an expansion southward?'
Arthur mutters something underneath his breath, Peter shrugging and shifting patiently from foot to foot. Peter had become an important part of the family business, as did Reinke and Eva.
Reinke and Marie often helped with the books, double-checking whatever John might have missed. Eva zones out for most of John's explanation why he thinks they should not expand, giving the Garrison as an example.
Reinke does not miss the way her friend flinches, maybe because Marie had been walking home when the Garrison exploded. She was one of the few people who saw it happen, and Reinke is sure the image has been burned in her friend's memory, the sight appearing every time she closes her eyes.
'Cockneys?' Arthur asks, Reinke agreeing with a soft voice. 'That would be my guess.' Polly's eyes fall on the girl, eyebrow raising. 'Are you saying you know who did this?'
Eva stiffens, gaze frantically searching her sister's face, remembering Reinke knows a lot about the history of the Peaky Blinders.
'No, she is not saying that.' Marie interrupts, eyes glaring at the Shelby aunt. 'She is saying that…' Reinke shrugs, taking the last of her whiskey and drinking it up in one go.
'It does not matter, does it? I am not family, and I was told only family speaks at these meetings.' Marie's mouth falls open, not sure what to say. 'After everything you and your uncle have done for this business, you are not considered family?!'
Finn sighs, tapping Eva on the shoulder, who has been rapidly firing questions at her sister in their native language. 'In English please.'
'Say what you have to say, Reinke.' Thomas enters, shrugging off his coat in the meantime. 'We are a modern company that believes in equal rights for women. And I think you and your uncle are as close to family as anyone can get.'
Marie's smile brightens at this, winking at her friend as she stands up. 'I can understand why you want to expand. I just fear that, and I am not the only one, luck will turn sooner or later, Thomas. And I fear…' Reinke gulps, her gaze resting on her little sister and friend.
'I fear that Freddie Thorne is not the first to die. Something tells me, more will follow.' Marie raises her glass at that, taking another sip. 'Who tells you that?'
'My gut. And until now, it has never been wrong. Not from day one we arrived here.' Marie answers, pulling on her wedding ring.
'But if you all decide to go to London, we will of course follow the direction the company and family goes.' John winks at her, but his forehead is creased, as if he is thinking hard about what to do.
They talk long into the night, and eventually decide to trust Tommy and hope for the best. Though, Reinke nor Marie can stop the heavy feeling that settles into their guts.
Read some Byron, Shelley, and Keats
Recited it over a Hip-Hop beat
I'm having trouble saying what I mean
With dead poets and drum machines
You know I had some studio time booked
But I couldn't find a killer hook
Now you've gone and raised the bar right up
Nothing I write is ever good enough
The evening before John leaves for London, goes by as any other evening. But there is a tension there, even the kids feel it.
Katie is quick to excuse her and her siblings after dinner, Marie giving her a grateful smile.
'What is going on, darlin?' John asks, his typical accent coming out. 'I am scared I guess.' Marie mutters, looking everywhere but her husband.
'Scared of… ?' The blonde-haired girl shivers, wrapping her arms around herself to keep warm. 'Scared that something might happen. Not only to you, but your brothers as well. My gut is telling me to be careful.'
'I fear… you will not return.' John has to strain to hear his wife through her trembling voice, a sob making itself heard, a knowing look appearing on his face. They have become quite dependent on each other since they have been married, and he gets it.
He really does. He cannot imagine a life without Marie, even if he senses she has much more secrets left that she is still not willing to share. 'I will always come back to you.' John says, that well-known smirk he has used to seduce many of the fairer sex appearing.
'And you know why, darlin?' Marie shakes her head, a laugh escaping her when John gives her a series of kisses on her forehead, eyes, and cheeks.
'I love ya, my sweet girl.' Marie blinks stupidly, a few seconds later, a bright expression appearing on her face, a giggle escaping her lips.
'I do too, John Shelby. For as long as you will have me, my love.'
These words are my own (These words are my own)
From my heart flow (Heart flow)
I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you
There's no other way
To better say
I love you, I love you
And that morning, when her husband leaves before the sun even rises, Marie feels better. Still worried, but comforted by the knowledge she is his, and he is hers, and he will do everything to always come home.
Always come home. To her.
These words are my own
From my heart
I love you, I love you
That's all I got to say
Can't think of a better way
And that's all I've got to say
I love you, is that okay?