A girl attends a sleepover.

Caterina
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Ada opened the door after the second knock.

When I first arrived at Pol's house I was in awe at how lovely her abode was. With lots of windows and white paneling on the second story and russet-colored bricks on the first. The lush green of the lawn was also neatly trimmed, and I imagined just how much the Shelby's paid the gardener each week. Too much, probably.

"Rina." Ada greeted, pushing the door open.

I offered a smile. "That's me."

To my surprise, Ada wrapped me in her arms in a firm embrace. I felt her inhale from the crook of my neck.

"I'm so glad to see you, Rina." She breathed.

Ada lifted her head far enough from my shoulder that I saw her Shelby blue eyes filled with tears. She broke my heart.

"Ada, my love." I hushed, "What's the matter?"

She shook her head, sending a stray chunk of dark hair on the wrong side of her face. I pushed it back.

"It's Aunt Pol. She's a mess." Ada sobbed. "I don't know what to say to her! That woman keeps everything bottled up even though there are people in her life willing to share her burdens with her."

There was a frustrated gasp for air as Ada finished her sentence. I pursed my lips in understanding, grabbing a hold of her clammy hands.

"Polly is a strong woman, Ada. There's nothing in this life that she cannot handle. If she's not telling you every detail it is probably because she can barely comprehend them herself."

Ada nodded, absorbing each word as if it were sunlight.

"Alright, alright." She agreed.

But there was something about her gaze that still seemed troubled, and before I could ask her why, she placed a hand on my extended belly.

Ada gasped, and I instinctively took a step back.

"You're with child and you didn't tell me?" She exclaimed, rather hurt.

I was completely taken back. It seemed in my haste to get here that I had forgotten entirely of my pregnancy being a secret. I usually told Ada everything when it happened, and I guess it must've just slipped my mind.

"Ada, I've been meaning to tell you but with everything going on I forgot." I pleaded.

"Forgot? You bloody forgot that there's a whole baby growing inside you and neglected to mention it to your dearest friend?" She said.

I didn't know what else to say. Ada had a point after all.

"I'm sorry, okay?" Was all I could think of to fill the void between us.

I couldn't lose her, too.

Her blue eyes softened after a moments passing. Ada clicked her tongue in annoyance and cupped my elbow.

"As much as you not telling me hurt, I couldn't possibly stay angry at you. Especially since you're appointing me as godmother."

The confidence in her voice sent a bubble of laughter up my chest. I raised a brow.

"Is that so?" I mused.

"Of fuckin' course!" She huffed, sounding a lot like her brother John.

I cracked a smile. "You'll be a great godmother, Ada. My baby will love you because I do."

Ada suppressed a mushy grin but otherwise rubbed my arm.

"Yeah, yeah." She sighed, "C'mon then. Let's go see how Polly's holding' up."

I nodded grimly. Ada led me through the dark elegant house and up the stairs to a bedroom. The door was shut but there was an ominous glow peaking out from under the door frame. Candles must've been lit from the other side.

Ada didn't bother knocking and opened the door, beckoning me to follow. I complied hesitantly.

There was a fire lit and before it sat an iron tub with Polly in it. She was bare and didn't seem to care about her company, rather she continued squeezing the sponge over her pale, thin skin.

"Where have you been?" Ada asked, taking a seat on the lounge chair.

I sat beside her.

"I went to the Spotted Dog in Digbeth for a glass or two of rum." Polly replied, turning her head slightly.

Ada scoffed. "Was it one glass or two?"

"It was three." She corrected.

Polly paused and scanned her eyes around the room for a moment. Her tired eyes landed on me.

"How's the baby?"

I squirmed in my seat. Ada whipped her head in my direction with an expression of disbelief on her face. She was probably strangling me with her mind.

I forced a small smile. "The baby's good. It's been growing a lot lately, but I can handle it."

Polly grunted.

"More like five." Ada cut in, turning her gaze back onto Polly, watching her intently.

The older woman shot us a humored grin.

"More like six." She chuckled.

A brief silence followed until Polly changed the subject.

"Did you meet the maid?"

Ada shifted slightly beside me.

"I talked politics with her and she got bored and went to bed." She said.

Polly exhaled smoke and laughter.

"I phoned James. He talked to the lawyer anyway. Said he'd take Arthur's case for free, so we don't need Tommy." Ada chuckled, but Pol wasn't laughing anymore.

I could see the tears beneath her eyes as she took another drag of her smoke. I wondered in shock what could possibly make a strong woman like Pol cry.

"Polly?" I asked quietly. "We'll get Michael free, I promise."

But she wasn't looking at either of us anymore, rather she stared forward at nothing in particular with her chin leveled. She looked deadly.

"There's no need, they'll let him out in the morning." She said.

No one said anything after that for a long while. What unspeakable act had Polly done to get her son out of jail? It seemed to me that a mother would do anything for her child, and I wondered if I would do anything different if I were in her shoes.

Probably not.

"If Karl wants anything at night, run the bell by the bed. She gets paid to work twenty-four hours, that girl, she's getting lazy." Polly muttered, "Well... they take advantage if you're nice."

Her last sentence cut through the silence with such reverence that I wanted to know what she referred to. Ada on the other hand, nodded at no one in particular and tapped my hand as a signal to leave.

Ada led the way yet again as we filed out of Polly's room in silence. When she shut the door, the both of us just stood there in quiet awe at the woman. Polly was a forced to be reckoned with, that was for certain.

Without warning Ada collapsed in my arms in an embrace, no crying no worlds, just a simple hug from a friend. I relaxed instantly, and ran a hand down the length of her back in an attempt to soothe her worry.

After some time passed, we whispered our goodnights and went to bed.

⚜️

The following morning, I arose bright and early and drove back to my house in Birmingham. It was a long drive but I didn't mind. It helped to clear my head after yesterday's events.

When I arrived there was a single letter on the foyer floor. When I leaned down to pick it up I realized it was from Fran.

This time there was no letter. Rather, there was a boat ticket with my name on it.

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[ AU: part one is almost coming to an end! There's roughly about two or three chapters left. Thank you guys for all your support and love. ]