Stolen Heart [Tommy Shelby x OC]

Chapter 32

Tommy left for work few hours after he got back, leaving her alone with the children and her thoughts. He hadn’t gotten around to his threat of sacking the staff and she was inwardly pleased. Their presence reminded her to keep it under control. She didn’t blame herself for kissing Tommy that night, it had been too long; three years to be precise. Before Tommy, she had had a couple of relationships with men who were available for a good fuck but kept a tight rein on their hearts, just like her. And she bemoaned the fact that she no longer wanted quick sex. Rather she craved for intimacy, things that involved embraces and holding hands.

Motherhood does change you, she thought as she folded some clothes, sitting on the floor of the living room. The boys were circling around her, playing a game she had yet to understand. All she could discern was they changed positions and touched her back after each round.

‘Weewee!’ Charlie tapped her shoulder. She had taught him her name and he had invented a new pronunciation. But it was far better than what he had called her two months back. Being with Oliver, he had picked up ‘Ma’ and it had taken her a while to keep him from saying that. Thank God he hadn’t called her that in front of Tommy.

‘Dad!’ Charlie stopped suddenly, making Oliver crash into him and fall on the floor. In no time, his face puckered and before Lily could reach for him, Tommy lifted him up.

‘All right, nothing happened.’ He murmured while Oliver looked on wide-eyed, all pain forgotten. Just like Lily, whose hands were comically in the same position as they had been when she had reached for Oliver.

She adjusted her posture as Tommy moved to sit down on the sofa, still not letting go of Oliver. He looked down at Lily, who was still sitting on the floor, her hand almost touching his leg. She extended her arms towards Oliver, who sprang out his hands.

‘Dad.’ Charlie said as he tottered towards Tommy, calmly taking in the whole scene. Sometimes, Lily was disarmed by his calm scrutiny, so much like Tommy’s.

‘What did we do today, Charlie?’ He asked as he lounged on the sofa in his brown three piece suit.

‘Owie!’ he pointed at Oliver, who was tracing Lily’s face with his chubby hands.

‘You played with Oliver, eh?’ he reached for his blonde head and smoothed his hair.

Oliver looked up at the mention of his name, gazing at Tommy and Charlie with reserved interest.

‘What did you do, Oliver?’

He smiled toothily, and tapped his hand on Lily’s shoulder, imitating the game he was playing.

‘You played with Mama?’

‘Ma!’

‘Weewee!’ Charlie interjected.

Lily watched on as the boys continued their conversation and marvelled at Tommy’s patience. He listened to their inarticulate voices and replied in his soothing voice. When they began to become restless, he said, quite redundantly since they were already running away, ‘Go play, boys.’

‘How are you, Lily?’

‘Good, yeah.’ She replied, folding her white housedress in excruciating detail.

‘Are you available for an hour?’

Lily furrowed her brows a little but didn't look at him, ‘I am here.’

‘Good. Because I need to sack the maids and employ new ones.’

She looked up from the clothes, ‘No, you don’t.’ 

‘I am not asking.’

‘Employing new maids will not put an end to the whispers.’

She knew he had no reply for that and added gently, ‘Let me go, Tommy. It’s the best for all of us.’

‘Can’t believe I am losing against my fucking staff.’ He murmured as he looked at the boys.

‘It’s not their fault.’

He looked down at her, his eyes harsh.

‘They talk about everything that happens in the house. It’s part of the job.’ She said, quite hastily.

‘Not in my house. Even if you don’t stay here, I am sacking the maids.’

‘No, you are not. They are poor women working to make ends meet. So what if they talked about a guest? They are not the first ones and it won't be their last time.'

‘I need you here, for Charlie.’ He said, trying to keep his voice as cool as possible.

‘You have a huge family and the Russian business is almost done. He’ll be fine.’ 

He needs a mother. The words were on the tip of Tommy’s tongue and he steeled himself to not say it. Grace was Charlie's mother. No one could replace her.

‘Where are you going to live, then?’ He asked instead, knowing there was no way he could convince her otherwise. It would do him good if he stayed away from her. The kiss between them hadn't been like the others. He wasn't seeking release, he was fucking enjoying it.

Lily smiled a little. ‘I am thinking of going back to London.’

‘To your stealing business?’ He said derisively.

‘It’s not stealing business. It is a philanthropy, of sorts.’ 

‘Such euphemisms.’ He muttered as he reached for a cigarette.

‘I’ll take the train tomorrow, then.’ She said as she got up from the floor.

‘The inauguration of the orphanage is in a few days. I would like for you and Oliver to be there. Can you stay till then?’

She smiled at his invitation but asked suspiciously, ‘Stay at Arrow House? Or in Birmingham?’

‘Wherever you want.’ He blew a puff of smoke in the air, away from her.

‘I’ll go back to the house Polly arranged for us, then.’

He didn’t say anything, just stared into space, reminded of the events of last night. And pledged to never let Oliver get away from him.