from a shelby to a solomons

one

1919

"Happy birthday, Charlotte!"

"Happy birthday, Lottie girl!"

"Who woulda thought you'd make it another year, yeah?"

Charlotte giggled to herself as she sat at the table in the kitchen, listening to her siblings and her Aunt Polly wish her a happy birthday. She had just turned 18, and was excited to finally become part of the family business. After returning from the war the year before, Tommy had requested to get sole custody of his two youngest siblings. Finn and Charlotte were legally wards of Thomas Shelby, leader of the Peaky Blinders. He shielded them from the harshness of the illegal gambling world as much as he could, but there were things that he couldn't prevent them from seeing. Just like today - Charlotte had walked into the shop held at gunpoint by an angry client who claimed that the race and bets were rigged.

Tommy had promised that on her 18th birthday, Charlotte would be included in family affairs. He said that she could attend family meetings and work in the office doing simple things like paperwork and organization. Never before had Tommy divulged any family business to her or Finn, and they were never allowed in family meetings. Before the war, Charlotte would sometimes press her ear up to the door of the meeting room and listen in on what was happening. Most of the time, she could barely hear, and whatever she could hear, she never understood what they were talking about. 

One time, Arthur had left the room in frustration in the middle of a family meeting. Charlotte's head was pushed up against the door, so when Arthur opened it, she fell backwards, slamming her head into the floor. "Shit," Arthur had cursed, "What the fuck were you doing right there, eh?" He lifted his younger sister up, gently touching the lump that had started to form on her head. 

"Err, nothing," Charlotte stuttered, "I was just tying my shoe." 

Arthur stared at her bare feet, and humphed. "Right. Upstairs, little one." He lifted Charlotte up and carried her over his shoulder to her bedroom.

"Put me down, Arthur! I'm not a child!" she squealed, kicking her legs, trying to escape.

Arthur clucked his tongue as he strode up the stairs with Charlotte still over his shoulder. "Hey now, quiet! I don't think Tommy would be happy to know that his 13 year old sister was listening to secret family business this late at night, now would he?"

Charlotte groaned as she realized her older brother was right. "But I am family, Arthur. I want to be included on what's happening!" she protested as Arthur set her down on her bed.

"It's not stuff for little girls, Lottie," he explained, "but when you're older, I'm sure you can do somethin' for us and come to the meetings."

Yeah, the meetings. Charlotte snapped back into reality, remembering the promise that Tommy had made about her 18th birthday. 

"So," she started, and everyone's eyes turned towards her. "I'm eighteen now. I want a job working in this office." Her glance around the room was met with empty stares, before John broke the silence with a hysterical laugh.

"Yeah fuckin' right, Charlotte," he snorted. "Like you are gonna work in this here office. You're still a damn child!"

"I'm eighteen now John, I'm a legal adult!" Charlotte crossed her arms over her chest. John shook his head at her and she replied by sticking her tongue out at John. 

"Yeah, you're actin' like a real adult right now, eh?" John laughed again, and elbowed Finn who joined in into the laugher. 

Charlotte turned to face Arthur, who met Charlotte's eyes with a sympathetic look. Charlotte then looked over to  Aunt Polly, who just shrugged and avoided eye contact with her. Normally, Polly would definitely have something to say about the affairs of her family, especially her only niece. But everyone knew who the decision was up to. There was no discrepancies about who had control over Charlotte, and who made the final decision.