VII. Gambling is a sin.

When Maude arrived home from her meeting with Jesse, she was in a sour mood. Tommy quirked an eyebrow at his wife. She placed  her clutch, and gloves on the coffee table before falling back onto the couch. "I had no luck with Jessie Eden." She informed him as she sighed. "She won't help us." She said with a shake of her head. Before Tommy had a chance to get a word in, a shot fired a few houses down. Maude tensed as she looked at her husband with wide eyes. "Tommy."

Tommy got up from the chair he was sitting in, grabbing his gun from the sideboard on the fireplace. "You stay here with the children." He ordered before rushing out of the house.

Maude sat on her knees on the couch and pulled back the curtains of the window, peeking outside. She watched Tommy rush into Arthur's house, and a few minutes later, he stepped back out, looking beyond pissed as he returned home.

She met him by the door, staring at him with furrowed eyebrows as he stepped inside. "What happened?" She questioned softly as she closed the front door behind Tommy,

Tommy placed his gun back on the sideboard by the fireplace before sitting down with a heavy sigh. "Arthur shot the bullet." He muttered in a low voice as he blankly stared ahead.

Maude's eyes widened as she stared at her husband. "Arthur shot the bullet?" She questioned in surprise. "He really shot it?"

Tommy slowly nodded his head. "Linda convinced him." He replied softly, a bitter undertone to his gruff voice.

Maude's eyebrows furrowed as she approached him, sitting down on the armrest of the chair, and on instinct, Tommy placed a hand on her hip. "Is that not a good thing?" She asked in confusion as she reached out to place her hand on his leg.

"She has him under her fucking thumb." Tommy spat as he shook his head, his lips pulling back into a snarl. "I tell him no; he says whatever. Linda says no, he agrees." He huffed as he waved a hand in the air.

Maude pursed her lips as she eyed Tommy carefully. "At least he listens to someone." She commented carefully as Tommy's gaze shot towards her. "Even if it's Linda, it's still good." She reasoned as she shrugged her shoulders. "You wanted it this way, Tommy." She reminded him.

"I wanted it my way." He argued as he shook his head again.

"You still got your way." She replied before slipping down onto his lap, running her hands up his chest. "You're so stressed my love." She whispered as she looked at him, toying with the buttons of his shirt.

A knowing smile tugged at Tommy's lips as he ran his hands up and down her sides. "You gonna help me de-stress, sweetheart?" He asked in a low voice as he raised his eyebrows at her. Maude grinned as she slowly nodded her head before leaning forward and pressing her lips to Tommy's, quickly getting him to forget all his stress and worries.

The following morning Maude was back in her office in a very long time. She smiled as she stepped through the doors. "Morning Lizzie." She called out to her friend as she walked past Lizzie's desk and towards her office doors.

"You're back." Lizzie commented before getting up to her feet and following Maude into her office, "Maude, can we talk?" She asked, nervously fiddling with her hands as she closed the door for privacy.

"Of course, what is it?" Maude replied with a nod of her head, placing her bags on her desk and shrugging off her coat while kicking off her heels.

Lizzie looked hesitant to speak as she stared at Maude, continuing to fiddle with her hands. She took a deep breath before opening her mouth. "How did you know you were pregnant?" She asked softly.

Maude's eyes widened as she looked at Lizzie, her gaze briefly flicking towards her friend's stomach. "Are you pregnant?" She asked as she raised her eyebrows while hanging her coat onto the coat rack.

"I don't know," Lizzie replied with a soft sigh as she took a seat in front of Maude's desk. "All the signs are there, but I've not yet had it confirmed." She explained as she began nibbling on her bottom lip.

"What signs do you have?" Maude asked with raised eyebrows as she sat down by her desk, intertwining her fingers together as she placed her hands on top of the desk.

"Nassau, swollen and tender breast, cravings." Lizzie listened as she sighed once again, staring at Maude with worrisome eyes as her eyebrows furrowed.

Maude pursed her lips, silent for a second as she stared at Lizzie before slowly nodding her head. "How late are you?" She questioned as she quirked an eyebrow.

Lizzie's gaze immediately diverted down to her lap. She was silent for a second as she thought and when she had her answer, she looked back at Maude again. "Seven weeks." She replied softly.

Maude's eyes slightly widened as she nodded her head slowly, her lips parting in shock. She swallowed thickly before looking at Lizzie. "Does Henry know?" She asked curiously.

"No," Lizzie replied with a shake of her head before she sighed softly. "I want it confirmed before I tell him." She explained as she ran her finger nervously over her lips. "But I'm scared to have it confirmed."

Maude's eyebrows furrowed as her head tilted to the side. "Why?" She asked in confusion.

"I don't know if Henry would want it," Lizzie replied hesitantly as she shrugged her shoulders. She knew she could talk freely with Maude, but she was still careful because Maude was Henry's sister first and Lizzie's friend second. "We've never even talked about marriage, let alone children."

"He won't abandon you, or the baby," Maude assured as she reached across the desk and took hold of Lizzie's hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. She sighed softly before pursing her lips. "Do you want to keep it?" She asked as she raised her eyebrows.

Lizzie took a deep breath before placing her free hand against her stomach. "It's my baby, something I created with the man I truly love." She said softly as she looked at Maude with sincere eyes. "Keeping this baby will be the only good choice I've made so far in my life." She insisted before her gaze diverted to the table. "I mean...if I am."

Maude nodded her head before letting go of Lizzie's hand and standing up. "Grab your coat and purse." She instructed Lizzie as she shrugged her coat on and stepped back into her heels.

Lizzie slowly stood up as her eyebrows furrowed. "Why?" She asked in confusion as she watched Maude grab her purse before rounding the desk. "Where are we going?" She questioned.

"To find out if you're with child," Maude replied as she hooked her arm in with Lizzie's and left her office. Lizzie quickly grabbed her things from her desk before turning to Maude with an uncertain look in her eyes. "We could always go see Polly," Maude replied with a shrug of her shoulders. "She told me with Charles."

Lizzie's face dropped as she gave Maude an unamused look. "I am not fucking going to Polly." Lizzie refused with a shake of her head and Maude chuckled knowingly before leading Lizzie out of the office building.

Maude held Lizzie's hand through the whole process, hugging and comforting her friend when it was revealed that a little Felton was on the way. She gave Lizzie the day off to talk with Henry, and by midday, Henry burst into his sister's office with a big smile.

"Henry." Maude greeted as a knowing smile tugged at her lips and she got up from her chair, rounding her desk and approaching her brother. "What's with the big smile?" She asked as she raised her eyebrows.

"I'm going to be a father, sister," Henry replied as he pulled her into his arms, giving her a tight bear hug. "Thank you for going with her." He whispered as he squeezed Maude's body before letting go of her.

"Congratulations." She said with an excited chuckle as she patted her brother's arm. "You're going to be an amazing father." She insisted with a firm nod of her head. She poured them both a glass of whiskey before they sat down by her desk. "Will you marry her?" She asked curiously.

Henry pulled a small box out of his pocket and showed Maude the diamond ring inside. "I love her sister, I fucking love her." He said sincerely as he stared down at the ring, like he could see his whole future with Lizzie in the diamond. "We'll marry before she starts to show." He said before his gaze turned back to Maude. "She talked about you and Anna helping her with the planning."

Maude let out another excited laugh as she nodded her head. "Of course, we'd help her." She agreed.

Henry was silent for a second, sniffing softly. "Can't believe it." He whispered with a shake of his head before looking at Maude with teary eyes, "I'm gonna be a dad." He said and Maude offered him a soft smile as she reached over the desk and took his hand in hers, giving it a gentle squeeze.

The following morning, Maude, Lizzie, and Anna worked in the betting shop. Maude was sorting out some paperwork on Tommy's behalf after he insisted. Anna was doing her work, and Lizzie was doing inventory under Maude's presence, as per Tommy's request.

The betting shop's door swung open, and Polly sauntered in. The three young women inside looked at her as she walked through the shop. She looked at Lizzie, raising her eyebrows. "What are you doing here?" she asked as she approached the desk.

"On Mondays, I do the inventory. Make sure nobody's dipping their hand." Lizzie explained as she folded her arms on top of the table.

"Well, it's my job now," Polly replied with a smile as she leaned over Lizzie's desk. "I'm back. And there's gonna be nobody dipping their hand with me here, not unless they want it cut off." she insisted.

The door opened again and Linda walked in. Maude and Anna shared a look before standing up and Polly and Lizzie stepped closer. "I said to Arthur while I'm stuck in this fucking place, I want something to keep my mind busy," Linda told everyone as she approached one of the tables.

Anna scoffed in amusement as she raised her eyebrows. "What? You're going to take bets?" she questioned as she crossed her arms over her chest.

"I have always been able to do addition and subtraction without pen and paper," Linda replied as she looked through the paperwork Anna had been busy with. "But I'll need a telephone. Apparently, we have special clients who take bets by telephone." She replied as her eyes landed on Maude.

Maude and Linda silently had a stare-off before Maude scoffed, her red-painted lips parting. "Linda? This is a betting shop." She informed the blonde as her head tilted to the side.

Linda huffed. "Look. Arthur said yes. Tommy said yes." She told them firmly, looking among the women with a guarded look on her face.

"But did God say yes? Gambling is a sin, Linda." Polly replied mockingly.

"It's not me that's doing the gambling. I'm just taking the bets." Linda replied smugly as she shook her head.

"The devil's right-hand man then, ey?" Anna questioned with a mocking grin as she lit herself a cigarette, taking a long drag before blowing the smoke in Linda's direction.

The door opened and Finn walked through the betting shop. "The rule is that door should always remain locked until 9:00 A. M." He told the women sharply as he pointed back at the door he had came through.

Maude's eyebrows furrowed as she sat on the edge of the table, sharing a brief look with Polly. "Right. Boy." She called out and Finn halted, turning to her. " Boy, where are you going?" She questioned as she raised her eyebrows.

"Well, Arthur's not coming in today. He's taking the day off. So..." He muttered as he straightened out his suit jacket, standing a little straighter.

"So what?" Maude questioned as she crossed her arms over her chest.

"So today, Tommy said that I'm in charge." He explained as he tilted his chin in the air.

Maude's lips parted. This is why her bastard husband wanted her here today. To deal with Finn and Linda and Polly's return. She silently stared at Finn while the other women shared laughs. "Sorry, you're in charge?" She questioned as she raised her eyebrows again.

"Yeah," Finn replied, his smug attitude flattering a bit. "That's what he said," he mumbled.

Maude sighed, pushing herself off the desk. She walked towards Polly's desk, grabbed the phone, and ripped the cord out of the wall. She walked towards Linda, shoving the phone into her hands. "All right, sweetheart." She mumbled before turning to Finn, smiling as she patted his cheek. "Ladies? Let's give our boss a first day that he'll never forget."

It took a mere two hours for Maude to have had enough.

Maude came into Tommy's office with a loud huff. He looked up from his paperwork, raising his eyebrows at his wife. "I don't appreciate being set up." She told him. "Sending Finn to the shop was a mistake." She added as she plopped down on the chair opposite him, kicking off her heels and pacing her clutch on the desk. "They've already found out he's a virgin, and they're arranging a girl for him this afternoon."

Tommy's eyebrows furrowed as he reached into his desk, pulling out a cigarette. He placed it between his lips, lighting it and taking a drag before handing it to his wife. "I thought Linda was there." He replied as he grabbed a cigarette for himself.

Maude rolled her eyes, taking a drag of her cigarette as she shook her head. "She is." She confirmed with a nod of her head. "She loved the idea." She informed her husband and Tommy's quirked an eyebrow as he sat back in his seat. "I know. She even swears now. Fuck. Sounds funny coming from her. Polly says in the end we all turn into our mother."

Tommy grunts softly, taking a drag of his cigarette. "Well, keep an eye on her," he told Maude before returning to his paperwork for a second.

Maude crossed one arm over her chest, her head tilting to the side. "Hmm." She hummed and Tommy's eyes flicked to her. "Nowhere in my job description does it say I'm the babysitter of four grown women." She replied as she shook her head.

Tommy sighed softly, sitting back in his chair again. "Does Finn know what they have planned?" he asked her as he took another drag of his cigarette.

Maude pursed her lips as she shook her head. "No." She replied softly.

"Do they have someone?" Tommy questioned.

"Yes." She confirmed with a nod of her head. "A girl Lizzie used to work with." She explained as she leaned over her desk, ashing her cigarette in the crystal ashtray.

Tommy grunted softly in response. He was silent for a second, taking another drag of his cigarette before he spoke. "Is she nice?" he asked.

"I don't know," Maude replied with a shrug of her shoulder as her eyebrows furrowed slightly, uneasy by Tommy's interest. "She's from Aston. They're paying her out of petty cash." She explained.

Tommy grunted again, putting out his cigarette before standing up and grabbing the telephone, sliding it over to Maude. "Right, well, call 'em and tell them to pay extra and get someone nice," he instructed her.

Maude's mouth fell open as she huffed softly. "This fucking family," she mumbled, shaking her head before stomping out her cigarette and grabbing the telephone's receiver to call the betting shop. She did as Tommy requested and told Lizzie to pay extra for someone nice.

After Maude finished on the telephone, Tommy stood behind his desk, fixing the gun holster on his side before he shrugged on his suit jacket. He grabbed her clutch and held it out to her. "Come on." he urged her one.

Maude took her clutch, eyebrows furrowing at her husband. He took her hand and pulled her up to her feet. "Where are we going?" she questioned him as she slipped back into her heels

"Out for a little walk." He explained as he held her hand while leading her out of the office. They walked hand in hand all the way down to the cut. It was quiet underneath the bridge, the only sign of life being Maude and Tommy.

Maude let out a content sigh as she put her clutch down on an elevated cement block. She shrugged off her fur coat and laid it down next to her clutch before she sat down on the cement block. "It's so peaceful here," she mumbles softly. "I've almost forgotten what that feels like." she mused.

Tommy approached her. He came to stand between her legs, his hands on her waist, his eyes observing her face, taking in every feature he was so familiar with. But he'd take it in a thousand times more if he could so that even in the next life, he may remember her.

He reached up, brushing a loose curl behind her ear. "Then let's keep the peace a little while longer, ey?" he asked softly as he continued to stare down at her.

Maude smiled, a soft chuckle escaping her lips. "You're staring, love," she told him softly.

Tommy grunted in response as he nodded, not even trying to deny that he was staring at his wife. "Can't help but stare at the most beautiful woman I have ever set my eyes on," he replied softly as he cupped her cheeks in his hands.

Maude hummed as she raised her eyebrows, wrapping her arms around his shoulders. "Most beautiful ever?" she questioned with a smile on her lips.

"Yes, most beautiful ever," Tommy confirmed as he nodded his head.

"You're all charms today, yeah?" She laughed softly, her smile growing as Tommy's head dipped, his lips finding the soft skin of her neck. "What are you doing, Thomas?" she asked with amusement in her voice as he reached down, tugging her dress up her legs.

"Giving my beautiful woman some attention." He explained, voice muffled against her neck. His hands slipped underneath her dress, dragging up her smooth thighs.

"We are outside in brought daylight." Maude laughed softly as she pulled her head away so that she could lock her husband's gaze with her own. "Someone could see us," she warned him softly.

"I don't care right now sweetheart," he replied as he shook his head before dipping his head again, pressing desperate kisses to the crook of Maude's neck. "I want you," he mumbled.

"You can have me in the privacy of our home." She replied, letting out a breathless moan when he found the sweet spot at the dip of where her neck and shoulder met.

Tommy lifted his head, looking down at his wife with a quirked eyebrow. "Privacy? What privacy with our children?" he questioned and Maude laughed knowingly. There was no privacy with Charles and Amelia.

"We're really going to fuck here?" Maude asked as one of his hands slipped between her thighs and she let out a soft gasp, arching into his touch. "What if someone does see us?" she questioned him breathlessly.

"Then I'll cut out their eyes for looking at my wife's beautiful body, cut off their ears for listening to my wife's sweet moans," Tommy muttered as he pressed kisses that lead up to her lips. Maude smiled into the hard and desperate kiss that Tommy pressed to her lips.

Who was she to deny her husband when he wanted her so badly?