𝐅𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐃, ⁱˢⁱᵃʰ ʲᵉˢᵘˢ

51

Florence threw her cigarette to the floor, looking at Polly who leaned against the car. Her eyes shifted to Micheal who walked out, hat on his head.

Polly looked over her shoulder.

"Brother" Florence sighed, opening her arms. He nervously accepted her hug, holding the back of her coat tightly. "Missed you" she said. "Yeah" he whispered.

She pulled away from him, stepping aside.

"Hello mum" he said, smiling. "This is Gina" he said, pointing a the blonde girl who walked to them. Florence observed her, admiring her coat. "Gina Gray"

Florence sent her a soft smile. "Captain married us on board" he said as Gina held his arm. "She's my wife, mum, at least look at her"

"Tommy said to ask you to tell me the truth" Polly took her sunglasses off.

"We've been travelling for 15 days, Mrs Gray" Gina spoke. "Maybe we could talk about this another time?" she asked. "Yes, let's go home and we can talk" Micheal agreed.

"You have no home until you tell me the truth" Polly stepped forward.

Florence's eyes widened. "Mum" she sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose:

"Here?" he asked. "Yeah"

They watched as Arthur walked out of the telephone box. "Micheal" he shouted. "Hello, love" he looked at Gina. "Welcome to Birmingham, eh"

Micheal stared at him coldly.

"Micheal," Polly said. "Okay" he nodded, "our ship docked at Belfast, i was then taken off the ship by two men"

"At gun point" Gina added. "I'm speaking to my son" Polly hissed. "Oh my god" Florence whispered. "Fuck you" Micheal said. "Fuck out too, Arthur, this is my fucking wife" he shouted. "I bring her home to this," he scoffed.

"Come on Gina"

"Well where are you going now, eh?" Arthur stopped him. "Introduce me at least"

"Arthur leave him" Florence warned. "Excuse me" Gina scoffed, stepping away from Arthur.

"Look at this" Micheal whispered. "Look at this, this is it, Gina. This is my fucking people. Do you want to know the truth Arthur? Do you want to know the truth mum?" he asked.

Florence watched carefully.

"I did not betray my fucking family!" he shouted. "Now, mum, I want to go home o

"I've booked you a suite at the Midland hotel"

"Was that Tommys orders then, was it? See the Midland Hotel is Tommys little kingdom, where all the porters keep an eye, where all the telephone exchange girls are reporting on my calls"

"Yeah, well, why don't you think of it like, er, quarantine" Arthur suggested. "We treat you like a fucking dog, hm, a smelly one, stinking one. Until we know you're clean, hm?"

"Fuck you Arthur"

"Stand aside, Arthur"

"No, Pol"

Micheal walked back to Gina. "Come on, baby, forget about it" she held his arms. Florence stepped to them as Arthur spoke to Polly.

"I've got spare rooms, you can both stay at my house for the time being, i'm not having you staying in the Midland fucking hotel" she whispered, offering them a cigarette.

"Go and phone Tommy" Polly said. Micheal looked over. "Tell him, Polly says Michaels telling the truth"

"It's all right, forget about it" Gina repeated. "Nice coat"Arthur hummed, walking to the telephone box.