𝐂𝐑𝐀𝐂𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆 ᵖᵉᵃᵏʸ ᵇˡⁱⁿᵈᵉʳˢ

40

Tommy walked back toward his house.
"He's back" Ada said, peeking through the curtain. "He's been out there all night" Micheal said.

"Every night since the funeral" Ada added. "Comes back in the morning to see the kids and feed the horses and when it gets dark he goes off again"

Polly looked at Delilah who sat in her chair, staring at the wall. "You okay, love?" She looked up to meet her Aunt's eyes. "Yeah," she sniffed, crossing her arms:

"How's Karl" she looked back Ada. "He's asked for his mum at night." she stepped toward the table. "Tommy made a list he wants to see you two first"

"What about John, Arthur?"

The door slammed and Tommy stormed through without saying anything.

-

"How are the books" Tom asked, looking at a piece of paper. "Unaffected" Pol said. "Up slightly" Micheal nodded.

"There's also been a threefold increase in donations to the Shelby Foundation charity" Micheal said. "The councillor suggested naming the new school The Grace Shelby Institute"

Tommy put out his cigarette. "Tell the council the name Grace Shelby Institute is acceptable to us"

Micheal and Polly shared a glance.

"This is a list on the other things i want doing" He handed Polly a piece of paper. "That's all"

Micheal cleared his thought and stood.

"Tommy" Pol said. "That's all, Pol"

She shook her head and left the room.

John and Arthur looked at Polly. "Right, let's go" Arthur groaned, getting up from the chair. "We've already seen him" Polly told them.

Arthur looked at Ada. "He wanted to see people in a particular order" she said.

"I can normally ready him but he's difficult to read, so be careful" Pol nodded.

John kept his eyes on Arthur.

"I thought it was a fucking family meeting" he said. "All of us together, i thought"

"John, he's grieving" Polly placed a hand on John's shoulder. "To see everyone together would be too much"

"Yeah, well, come on John"

Delilah scowled at him, feeling annoyed that he couldn't understand how Tommy would he feeling. John sent Micheal a harsh look and followed Arthur into the office.

"There he is" Arthur said hesitantly, walking inside. "Hi, Tom"

"Hello, Boys"

"We didn't get a chance to see you after the funeral" Arthur said, "well you disappeared on us, but, well, me and John, just wanna say that-"

"Arthur shut up" Tom cut him off.

"All right"

"Talk to me" Tommy said, moving away from the desk. "We got to Angel at the hospital where he laid and cut his throat" Arthur said quietly. "He's dead"