A girl pays a friend a visit.

Caterina
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The car ride was eerily silent the entire way to Ada's house. I was so angry at Thomas, that I couldn't bare to look him in those stormy eyes anymore. He had no right to say what he did, for I knew Alfred long before I ever met Thomas. Which means he couldn't possibly begin to understand our relationship, nor would he want to.

For once I was able to think clearly in the shared silence, and I couldn't help but recall my meeting with Alfred. It didn't go exactly as I had originally planned, but we did say what needed to be said. He began by yelling at me if I was sleeping with Thomas, to which I quickly- and just as fierce- rebutted. I did however, admit there was something there that not even I knew of, but that was still nothing compared to the countless Jewish women Alfred no doubt had slept with in my absence. And that, he did not deny.

Yet, as I stood there defeated, he admitted that he felt nothing for those women despite everything. Still, he didn't proclaim his feelings for me, nor did he apologize. So I did what any rational scorned woman would do- I told him to go to hell, (even though his religion didn't believe in its traditional sense) and that whomever I decided to have relations with was my business, and that he'd probably end up marrying one of his Jewish whores anyway.

I promptly stormed out of there before I was caught in the crossfire of his shouting, and slid into Thomas's car like nothing had even occurred. Even though I already knew Thomas well enough to know he probably suspected my meeting didn't go exactly as I had planned, just by one glance in my direction- for I wore my heart on my sleeve, always. 

But as Thomas calmly willed the car into Ada's street, my mind slowly returned to the present. It was only when the engine stopped its loud roar that I was completely aware of my surroundings.

"We're here." Thomas announced, moving to exit the car.

I simply nodded and pushed my own door open, not bothering to wait for Thomas to come around and open it for me. Instead, I pushed my way towards the front door of Ada's house and waited patiently for Thomas to unlock the door, for I already knew he held a spare key.

With a soft click, Thomas pushed the door open and held it for me as I stepped into the foyer. The warmth of the house immediately cupped my cheeks and I couldn't held but hope for my own house like this one day. Only I'd prefer it with children and a husband, but judging by the way my luck has been leaning lately, I'd be lucky to have a cat. I sighed.

The sudden loud sound of the door being closed startled me as Thomas locked it. He offered a slight shrug but otherwise didn't say a word as he led the way towards the first room on the right- Ada's reading room. It was only when he pushed open the door that I nearly jumped out of my skin, for I was staring down the barrel of a feisty little firearm- held by none other than Ada herself.  

"Christ, Ada!" I exclaimed.

Thomas laughed and shut the door behind me. Clearly, he wasn't impressed by her precautions.

Ada still hadn't lowered the gun when she droned, "you've got a key?"

"I kept a spare." Thomas shrugged.

"Give it to me."

A small smile crept on his lips as Thomas pulled the key out and moved to set it down on the small table between them. Only then, did Ada lower her gun.

As I was finally able to breathe again, I settled myself onto one of the ottomans and scanned the room with a frown.

"This room could do with some paint." I said, suppressing the already forming ideas I was creating in my head.

Thomas sat down beside me and nodded.

Ada gathered up the spare key in her hand and replied, "yeah. When I decide I'll give you a call."

I beamed, "fair enough."

Thomas cleared his throat as he examined a hefty book with an orange cover, giving me the brilliant idea for a sunshine inspired mural along these bare walls. Ada on the other hand, was not as inspired. Instead she crossed her arms and sighed.

"What is it that you want, Tommy?"

He set the book back down onto the table. "Just, uh, came by to say hello."

Ada smiled knowingly, "Tommy Shelby never goes anywhere for no reason."

I suppressed a laugh, earning a pointed look from Thomas. I shrugged apologetically. 

"Fine," he sighed. "I've got 800 pounds left in the Shelby property fund, and I need somebody down here to look for suitable properties."

"To rent?" She inquired.

Thomas nodded.

"To poor people? Ten to a room. No repairs, no water. and if they complain, you just send Arthur and the boys round."

The mere image of Arthur that night at the Eden club made my stomach drop, and the thought of him inflicting his unrestrained wrath on innocent families only made it sink lower.

Ada continued, "you know, I give advice down at the library. Families thrown out on the street. It's men like you, we're fighting."

I glanced over at Thomas who pursed his lips before nodding at his sister, "well, anyway, I was just passing." He then got to his feet and started towards the door, "thanks for the tea."

A pang of guilt stung at my core as I watched him head out, prompting me to shoot Ada a glare. She shook her head reluctantly, but complied anyway.

Ada called out to him, "Tommy?"

Her brother paused and turned to face us. Raising a brow.

It took a while for Ada to finally decide on what to say before admitting, "there are always men outside watching the house."

"Yeah. Gangster of the worst kind." He said, "but they're there to keep you safe."

Ada furrowed her brows. "No, there are others. They look like coopers."

For a brief moment Thomas didn't answer, seemingly considering her words carefully. I wondered if that worried him.

"Well, they're on your side as well." He finally spoke.

Ada pouted like a child. "I don't have a fucking side."

"Ada. Yes, you do. And, anyway, if I thought there was no one watching the house," Thomas shrugged, "I couldn't sleep."

I tried not to notice the way his eyes met mine when he managed those last words, and instead offered a small smile. Of course Thomas cared for his family, if only they'd recognize it once and a while. Maybe then they'd see him for what he truly was, a family man.

With a final nod, Thomas left the room biding us farewell in the phrase of, "cheerio then". I don't think I've ever heard anything more cockney in my entire year and a half of being in England. I laughed inwardly at the thought.

Only a brief moment of silence had passed after Thomas left, when Ada broke the peaceful quiet with a curious tone.

"So," she began, shifting my attention back to her. "Now that my brother's gone, spill."

I cocked my head to one side and laughed, "spill what, exactly?"

She shot me a look, and I immediately knew what she meant.

I shook my head. "Oh no. I shouldn't-"

"Oh yes, you should!" Ada exclaimed, pointing a slender finger in my direction. "You told me we'd pick up where we left off last time, Rina. Don't make me remind you that you were about to reveal your secret mister's name."  

I sighed. As it turned out, secrets were a heavy burden, and after all the arguing that had ensued over the past few days, I could use a friend to confide in. After all, Ada was a strong woman who could handle my seemingly dangerous taste in men, since she too shared my unfortunate vice.   

"Fine." I said, narrowing my eyes at her, "but you mustn't tell a soul about what I'm about to tell you."

Ada's eyes grew in excitement and nodded feverishly.

"Good." I nodded, "the father of the baby was a fellow by the name Alfie Solomons. You might've of heard of him, he's from Camden-"

A gasp, "Rina!"

I nearly jumped from my seat from her sudden interruption. "What?"

Ada leaned over and slapped my arm like I'd assume any mother scolding her child would.

"You're shagging up with the Alfie Solomons? How'd you manage that?" She asked.

Baffled, it took me a while to properly access her response. So she wasn't angry at me for dating gangsters of the worst kind, as Thomas put it?

I blinked back my astonishment, "er, my father knows Alfred from a previous business arrangement. But I don't see how-"

Ada snapped her fingers, "I knew it. You know Rina, he's quite the looker from what I've heard." She grinned.

Dazed, I bit my lip. "Yeah, he is, isn't he?" 

"You love him, don't you?" She inquired, her voice growing more serious.

Reluctantly, I pushed away all the mental images I held of Alfred and met her gaze. Her expression was grim.

"Yes, I do." I sighed, finally saying it out loud. And it felt good, right even.

Ada hummed and leaned back in her chair.

"Have you been out in public with him, yet?"

My eyebrows scrunched together. "A few times, why?"

She shrugged, "I only say this because I see the way my brother looks at you, and you two've been everywhere together it seems."

I felt the heat rise to my cheeks.

"Thomas and I...its complicated Ada. With Alfred it's familiar, and good. But with Thomas it's constant banter and stolen looks that I don't know what to do with. Your brother is a complicated man and you know that."

Ada clicked her tongue.

"Isn't that the truth." She muttered.

I nodded along. Thomas Shelby was anything but simple.

Still.

"Ada," I whispered, "do you think it's possible to love two people at the same time?"

To this, her head snapped in my direction and her eyes softened. Ada leaned forward to clasp my hand in hers. It took a while for me to meet her eyes, for I didn't want to cry, not again.

"Rina, do you want my honest opinion?" She asked carefully.

I nodded once. Of course.

She mirrored my expression and sighed, "from what I've gathered, I have a feeling this Alfie  Solomons of yours hasn't told you he loves you. Which in my eyes, shows he is who he is: a gangster. Men like that, Rina, need a push in the right direction sometimes. And if you love him like you said you do, and even see him one day being the father of your children, you need to let him go."

My stomach dropped. "Let him go? I could never-"

But Ada squeezed my hands for me to stop. I did so reluctantly, allowing her to finish.

"As I said," Ada continued slowly, "if you let him go, he'll realize where he went wrong. Men like Alfie only know what they have until its gone, Rina. And in the meantime, you can see if you truly want something more with my brother. That way, you clear up your confusion and be happy again." She gave me a teary smile, "I miss you being happy, Rina."

I was silent for a while, before nodding. She was right, absolutely right.

And for once, I knew exactly what I had to do.

"Thank you, Ada." I breathed, and wrapped my arms firmly around my friend. Giving her a squeeze.

Laughter filled the room.

"Alright, alright." Ada gasped, patting my back.

As I pulled away, wiping at my eyes, the door to the room opened slowly.

"Mama?"

I turned to see Karl standing halfway in the room, his hand still holding the doorknob. His precious search for his mother tugged at my heartstrings. Oh how I longed for a Karl of my own one day- with the right man, of course.

Ada opened her arms out wide and beckoned her son to follow. "Come here, darling."

I watched Karl happily skip into his mother's embrace, and burrow his face in the crook of her neck. My heart swelled at the sight of them, and I realized then that when I break things off with Alfred, that bastard better hurry on back and make me a respectable woman.

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