Lucille

"Good of you to join us. Where've you been all day?"

Lucille turned to glance through the door to the dining table, from where she sat dressing Adds in the sitting room. She already knew who had entered to sit next to Polly, even if she didn't recognise the voice of the woman that replied. Ada, Tommy's sister, had finally come back to stay at Watery Lane, though Lucille didn't know where she had been previously.

The two hadn't met yet, and so Lucille found herself leaning to get a look of the woman from between the door frame. Her hair was dark and shoulder length, only just reaching to touch the light fabric of her nighty and gown.

"In bed." Ada sleepily replied. "Couldn't sleep. Then I couldn't wake up. Then I was cold and then I had to go for a wee."

"Then I was with this bear on a boat, but that was just a dream. Then I was hungry."

Lucille watched as she stopped in front of her aunt, noticing the news article in her hands. "Why are you reading the paper?"

"Why wouldn't I be?" Polly shrugged.

"I've never seen you read the paper. Only ever seen you light a fire with them." Ada said, but before Polly could say anything, she asked, "Wait, hang on. You said us."

"I was waiting for you to catch on." Polly said. "Lucille!"

Lucille's eyes widened as she paused a moment, pulling Adds to sit up on her knee, before hurrying toward the kitchen.

"Did you shout on me?" She asked, keeping her gaze on Polly, in order to be polite.

"Think It's about time you were meeting our Ada." Polly said, though she wasn't talking toward Lucille as her niece had expected.

"Ada?" She questioned, looking between Polly and the random woman who had appeared in her kitchen, a child comfortably in her arms.

Polly nodded and Lucille flashed a small smile.

"Remember we thought Tommy had a girl." Polly said, and the facts finally seemed to dawn on her, as Ada's mouth dropped open.

"You're seeing Tommy?" She exclaimed, eyes wide.

"We met in France and things happened." Lucille said, motioning to her daughter who was blubbering and playing with her hair.

"This is Adds." Polly said, she could tell that Lucille was unsure of what to say. "Our John gave her the nickname, but Lucille named her after you."

"Named after me? Aw." Ada cooed, before asking if she could hold the young girl. Adds reached her hand up to grab the woman's hair as she was taken from Lucille.

"Hello, sweetheart." Ada said softly, watching as she looked up to her with big, blue eyes. Like everyone else, she could see the resemblance.

"Oh my god, Tommy has a kid." Ada said suddenly, her eyes snapping up to Polly's as she beamed, the reality sinking in.

"That's what all of our reactions were." Polly said with a light laugh, before her smile dropped.

Ada handed the little girl back to her mother before glancing to her with worry. Lucille's face was etched with conflict, a conflict that Ada thought she may recognise herself.

"What's wrong?" She asked.

"Things haven't been going how I thought they would. But then again, I didn't have much time to think." Lucille sighed. "He's different."

"We've all noticed. Came back a different man." Polly said. "Threw his medals in the cut."

Lucille laughed. She could remember what he had said when she asked about it in France, though he had added another one to his collection since then. He had promised to throw them away in Birmingham, just as he had.

"Give him time. Polly and me will sort him. None of what's going on with him is right." Ada said, and Lucille nodded.

"I don't even know the half of it." She said.

"Well, you will, don't worry about that." Polly assures her, patting her arm.

"It'll be nice having another girl around the house." Ada said, wiggling her finger to Adds. "Or should u say girls."

Lucille watched as Polly and Ada fussed over them. It brought a warm to chest, a feeling that she had missed at home with her father and Adam.

"Thank you." She said.

"What for?" Ada said, looking up from where she was bent down in front.

"Being kind. Welcoming me in." She answered, giving a soft smile.

"Just because Tommy is afraid, doesn't mean we are." Polly said. "We're happy to have the both of you."

"I just can't believe she's named after me!" Ada exclaimed, playing with Adds small hand.

"Oh my god!"

The two turned to look as Polly stood, eyes widened as she looked Ada up and down.

"What?"

"Stand up." She ordered, pulling her arm and dragging her up from her crouch.

"Why?"

"Just stand up!" Polly said, her voice raised as she twisted her niece around. "Side on."

"How late are you?" She asked.

"Five weeks. Seven if you count weekends." Ada pouted, not looking at anyone in the eye. "I think it's lack of iron. I've got tablets."

"But they didn't work?" She shook her head.

"No."

It had finally clicked. As Lucille looked at Ada, she saw nothing wrong. But Polly seemed to think that she was pregnant. Lucille beamed as she held her trembling hand, shaking it sidewards excitedly.

After Aunt Pol had quite abruptly announced Ada's pregnancy in the kitchen, Lucille's been quick to comfort the younger girl. She knew how difficult it was to be with child out of wedlock, but that wouldn't stop her from telling her how wonderful motherhood was.

They sat together in the small film theatre that Ada had shown after she had asked where she'd like to go. Adds was left content with Polly, and the two of them hurried out, with Ada still in her bed dress, only a thin coat covering it.

"Do you think you'll get rid of it?" Lucille asked, as they sat beside each other near the front, hands dipping into a small bag of popcorn.

"I don't want to." Ada said. "Polly wants me to though."

"Could you have?" She asked, and Lucille shook her head easily.

"Little Ada?" She said. "Never."

"She was my whole world before she was even born." Lucille explained. "Listen, Ada. You have a family who love you. You're in a rather stable household. If you want a baby, no one should stop you from having it."

"Not even the father."

Her own words made Lucille think about Adam and how he had reacted to her pregnancy, even if he wasn't the father of her child. He had been adamant that she would get rid of it, but she didn't have it in her. Now she had a beautiful daughter that made her see the world in a different light.

"It's not the father I worry about. Freddie would love the baby." Ada explained, and Lucille already knew he it was that she was afraid of.

"Tommy?" She asked, and Ada nodded.

"He'd have his head if he knew."

"Shhh!" Someone behind them shouted for them to shut up.

Ada turned in her seat, pushing her self up as she shouted, "Fuck off!"

The film began and the girls sat reluctantly in silence as the lights went down. It had only been five minutes when the doors were thrown open and someone sat beside Lucille, leaning over to Ada.

"Tell me his name, Ada." Tommy spat, and Lucille jumped in fright.

Ada sat in silence as she refused to talk, shaking her head forcefully. Tommy hurried away, and the two watched after him, groaning as the film was switched off and the audience were ordered to leave.

"I said tell me his fucking name!" He shouted.

"Come on Tommy." Lucille tried to sway him, but Ada shook her head, placing a hand on her shoulder.

"Freddy Fucking Thorne." She hissed, her eyes narrowing as Tommy sucked in a sharp breath. "Yeah. Your best mate since school. The man who saved your life in France."

"So go on! Go on, cut him! Cut him up and chuck him in the cut!" Ada screamed after him as he stormed from the theatre. "It's not like you're any better!"

They sat in silence for a moment, the screen blank in front of them.

"Oi, I'm a shelby too you know. Put my fucking film back on."

Hi guys, I wanted to take a moment to thank everyone. It means so much to me that this book has had so much support with all the votes and the comments! Also, I'm so excited to put out the next two chapters!

I've made an instagram for edits and everything so I'd love it if you add me and I'll follow back. It's called flowersforophelia,
the same as this account.

Thank you again, Morgan xx