Stolen Heart [Tommy Shelby x OC]

Chapter 19

'I am coming back to London.'

'Did you get the antique?'

'I didn't.'

'Why?'

'I just can't do that to them, Gerard. I don't think it's right.'

'I fucking knew it would happen.' His voice was surprisingly jubilant.

'What would happen?'

'You would grow a heart, after all.'

'It is not like that.'

'It fucking is. Now take the next train and bring your arse back to London.'

And he hung up like always.

Lily dumped the clothes in the bag with lightning fast speed. She was leaving tomorrow morning and didn't want to leave any trace behind. It was what she did, disappear without a trace. But this time, she was leaving empty-handed, unsuccessful for the second time. Rather she was leaving behind a part of her in Birmingham. For a man who didn't love her. And whose memories brought a stab a pain in her chest.

Fuck you, Tommy Shelby. You made me pity myself.

But she didn't regret her love for him, because it had made her a stronger person. She wasn't scared of love anymore. Some years later, when she found someone who loved her as much as she loved him, she would remember the blue-eyed gangster and thank him.

The next morning, she was ready to leave when the doorbell rang.

And outside stood Polly Gray, looking haggard in her floral hat.

'Polly? I didn't expect to see you.'

'I was one my way of getting Michael. Didn't see your car.'

'Oh, I had an accident.' She said awkwardly, pointing at the bandage on her forehead.

'What happened?' Polly asked.

'It hit a tree.' She lied easily, not wanting to relive the events of the night before.

'Stay for a bit. You could use some tea.' She interjected before she asked about the accident.

Polly walked inside, taking a look at her packed bag.

'So you're leaving.' She stated.

'It's been more than a month. My punishment is long over.'

'Still you overstayed.' She said as she took a cup from Lily.

'This place is not so bad.' Lily spoke into empty space, swirling the tea inside the cup.

'It's horrible.'

'The tea or the place?'

'Both, actually.'

They laughed at that. Lily looked at Polly warmly , 'Thank you Polly, for letting me in.'

'Nonsense. Since I knew you would be leaving soon, I brought you a parting gift.'

'Why, thank you.'

And her eyes widened at the beautiful piece Polly Gray took out from her coat pocket.

'I can't take it, Polly.'

'I saw the way you looked at it. And I knew one day you'll take it.'

'So, why are you-'

'Because you didn't. I thought you would use my moment of weakness, but you didn't.'

'Oh, Polly, I-'

'Keep it. I thought it was ugly anyway.' She said dismissively.

Lily suddenly wrapped the small woman in a hug, 'Take care, Polly.'

'And you too.'

Just then, the phone rang.

'I'll get it, you wait here.'

'No, I'll be leaving. Michael's waiting.' Her voice became bleak again.

'Yeah, all right then.' Lily stopped and nodded before she left to attend the call.

Meanwhile, the empty cup of tea left by Lily Peyton caught Polly Gray's eye. She would've ignored it any other day, but Lily's sudden departure was niggling her.

Looking at the pattern of the tea leaves, she felt herself stiffen.

This couldn't be- shouldn't be happening. Lily was with child. She didn't look any different so it couldn't be more than a month. She had been in Birmingham for more than a month.

Who could be the father?

'Polly, you're here.' Lily said in confusion.

'Whose is it?'

'What?'

'The baby.' Polly said impatiently.

'What baby? Polly you are confusing-' She stopped, her hand touching her belly. She had been late but dismissed it as the change and the stress of the new place.

'You didn't know?'

'I-' But her expression said it all.

'God. Who is the father?'

Lily swallowed. It could only be 'Tommy,' she whispered.

'Tommy?'

'That night, on the reopening.' Lily felt a wave of dizziness but she wadded it off.

'Jesus Christ.'

'Fuck. This can't be happening.' She sat on the chair, her head in her hands.

'I know a place in Cardiff.' Polly suggested quietly. But Lily shook her head.

'Even though I didn't want it, I can't do that again.'

Polly was all businesslike in a second. 'Well then, we'll talk to Tommy. You both can get married.'

Lily considered the prospect of being married to Tommy. She would be with the man she loved, whose baby she was carrying. Then she remembered Grace, the woman she had never seen, the woman he loved. And there was May Carleton.

Tommy would never let her keep the child. And even if they got married for the baby, it be a loveless marriage of convenience.

'No, Tommy cannot know.' She declared.

'Are you crazy? Keeping a man's child from him? A Shelby's child?'

'He doesn't know it's his. And he wouldn't remember me.' Each word felt like a shard of glass in her throat but she kept her voice firm.

'Promise me, Polly. You won't tell him. He would never be happy.'

Polly looked at her in amazement.

'You astound me.'

'I am not doing it for him. I am doing it for myself. And my baby.' The word felt foreign from her mouth as she reached to touch her flat belly.

A baby was in there. She felt a sting of tears in her eyes.

Polly reached for her hand, 'I can't convince you any more after that. But take care of yourself and this baby. He's a Shelby.'

'He?' A boy? She would have a son?

'I don't know. It feels like a him.'

'I will tell my daughter all about Elizabeth Gray.'

'Great-aunt Polly.' She corrected gently.

Lily smiled at her through the tears. Polly got up with abruptly.

Clearing her throat, she said, 'I will be off then, Michael must be waiting.'

'Good bye, Polly.'