𝐁𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐓𝐨 𝐁𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐤
-𝟎𝟏𝟒-

"We're not open for winnings yet!" Valerie called out after somebody had knocked rapidly against the door. She looked up and put the betting books down. It was a woman who had spoke. When opening the door, Valerie was met with a beautiful face. "I have an appointment." She spoke poshly.

"Come in.." Valerie said cautiously.

The woman looked around and Valerie stepped in front of her.

"May Carleton.." the woman introduced herself. Valerie gave her a once over. "Tommy has his meetings in his other office." She told May. May frowned. "Well this is the address that he gave me."

"He gave you this address?"

"He said it was a gambling den. I told him I had wanted to see one since i'm always reading about them in the papers. Quite the big scandal in the telegraph lately." May said. "Anyway he said I could come and have a look. And now I feel a bit of an idiot because i'm early and he's late and I have no idea how to behave."

"In a gambling den?" Valerie scoffed.

"I'll wait in the car."

"If I open the door again, they'll all want to come in. They're like flies." Valerie turned away. "So what are you?" She asked.

"What am I?"

"To Thomas." Valerie said. "I'm going to train his race horse for Epsom." May told her. Valerie nodded simply and looked to the door as John walked in with Francesca, the pair of them laughing hysterically.

"There's a fucking Great Riley out there and nobody is watching it." He announced. "Language." Valerie scolded. "John, this woman says she's training Thomas' horse."

John stepped close to May. "He's told us a lot about you.." he said. "You don't know where he is do you?" May asked. John just stared at her. May cleared her throat awkwardly and looked at the young girl in Johns arms. "Who's this?"

"Thomas' daughter." Valerie said sharply.

The door closed and Tommy soon came in. "Sorry i'm late. There was a family matter." He explained. "Valerie keep it locked up for a minute. I'll show you around." Tommy nodded at John to leave.

Valerie, not wanting to know what intentions Tommy had with May, followed and shook her head. "I'd have thought he would have some respect for me." Valerie muttered.

"He doesn't have respect for anyone." John said after putting Francesca on the couch. He inhaled. "You coming to Micheal's eighteenth tonight?" He asked, leaning against the wall. "I'm not sure. Recently I've found it unbearable to be around Tommy." Valerie said. "Well, the rare occasions that he is around."

John shrugged. "Come. I want you there."

"You make it so difficult to hate you, John." Valerie shook her head. He smirked slightly. "So don't hate me." He suggested. She tilted her head. "You know it would be easier if I did." She said.

"I'll never hate you." He said.

"That doesn't help." Valerie said. John smirked and glanced at Francesca who was playing with a doll. "She enjoyed the markets." He said. Valerie crossed her arms in a relaxed manner. "Kept trying to nick apples."

"That'll be the Shelby part of her." Valerie joked. John sniggered and nodded.

"I'd come tonight but i've got nobody to look after Franny." Valerie said. John thought for a moment. "Your dad told me he was staying back tonight. I think he's caught the cold that's going around." John said. She nodded. "I'm sure he'll have no problem putting her to bed." Valerie said. "I'll come."

-

Valerie entered the snug of the Garrison slightly later than everybody else had. She was wearing a navy blue, silk dress that hugged her in all the right places. Her hair had a slight curl to it.

John inhaled quickly and held his breath when setting eyes on her. Thankfully, Esme wasn't present.

Valerie took a seat beside Tommy and glared at him. He made her feel so unwelcome. But only seconds later, he placed a hand on her knee. "Get Valerie a drink, Arthur." Tommy nodded and Arthur disappeared to retrieve one.

"How's the little one?" Tommy asked her. She nodded. "My dad is putting her to bed— hopefully she will go down without fuss. He isn't feeling the best."

John watched her from where he was sat.

Arthur soon returned with a drink for her and not long after that, Micheal and Polly entered. The room erupted into cheers. "Happy Birthday, Micheal." Tommy stood.

"Eighteen years old." Arthur smiled. "You're a man today..give him a drink, John boy. And after that we'll go find you a lady of the night." He joked.

"Arthur." Polly said.

Valerie chuckled.

"Micheal.." Tommy cleared his throat, "so you're never late for work." He handed the boy a small box which held a golden pocket watch. Micheal smiled.

"Welcome to the business, Micheal." John said. "Welcome to the business.." Arthur agreed whilst Micheal hugged Polly. "Alright you, let's get him drunk!" John grabbed his shoulder. "No whiskey, he's at work tomorrow. Give him only dark mild.. a toast, to Micheal."

"To Micheal!"

Forget getting Micheal drunk, Valerie was getting drunk. One moment she was throwing back strong glasses of Gin and the next...

She was up against a wall with John Shelby's lips pressed against her collar bone. They were in the back room of the Garrison and John had his hands on her hips, pressing kisses along her skin. She tilted her head back and ran her hands through her hair, alcohol rushing through her veins.

John lifted his head and smashed his lips onto hers. She closed her eyes and bit down on his lip softly which caused him to groan slightly. "Fucking hell.." he whispered. She grinned and John placed his hands on the backs of her thighs to lift her. She wrapped her legs around his waist and they kissed aggressively.

God knows how long they had been away from the family or how they even got in this position in the first place.

John sat her on the table and she held the back of his neck to avoid breaking the kiss. Their breaths were rapid. John ran his hands up and down the outsides of her legs. She draped her arms around the back of his neck and moved her head so he could continue kissing her jaw.

"Does Esme—"

"Fuck Esme." He muttered harshly.

"We shouldn't be doing this," Valerie pulled away and stared him in the eye. John leaned his forehead on hers and tried to kiss her again but she pulled back. "Someone might see us."

"So fucking what?"

"So it'll ruin your marriage." She whispered and held his chin. John bit down on his tongue. "It ain't a marriage, Val. She don't love me. I don't love her. The only marriage it'll ruin is your own." He said.

Valerie was so very temped to tell him that's exactly the case with herself and Tommy. But she knew she couldn't do that. No, not yet.

-

Valerie stumbled into the home with slightly messy lipstick and her hair not as neat as it was. She stopped when seeing Tommy sat beside the fire. "Did you sleep with him?" He asked without looking.

"Who?" She remained calm.

"Whoever it was that you disappeared with tonight." He said. Tommy was oblivious to the fact both John and Valerie had disappeared and only wondered about her.

"No, actually, I didn't." She walked through and placed her purse on the table. "I'm not like you, Thomas. I don't return home to you after sleeping in another persons bed. In fact, the only bed i've slept in since we married was the one that we shared. You can't say the same, though, can you?" She fired back.

Tommy kept his eyes forward and chose not to answer her.

"I'm not an idiot. I smell the perfume and I see the marks on your neck." She said. Tommy looked down. "I just wish you'd treat me like your wife." She said.

"I'm sorry."

"That's all you've got to say.. that you're sorry? Not that you'll try and change? Tommy, you make me feel so unwanted." She placed a hand on her chest. "I don't want to continue like this." She said softly. "I just want to feel loved.."

"So leave.."

"You know I can't do that." Valerie shook her head. "And you know you don't want me to do that." She said. He nodded and leaned back. "You're right. I don't want you to do that."

Valerie scoffed and shook her head. She had enough and moved to walk up the stairs.

-

That next day, Tommy had not been seen once. Francesca was playing happily with Arthur. And by playing, she was annoying him by climbing all over him. He didn't mind though.

"Alright, little love." Valerie sighed and put her cup of tea down. "Up to bed for you now. Say goodnight to Uncle Arthur." Valerie said tiredly. Francesca hugged her uncle tightly and Arthur laughed. "Goodnight, Uncle Artha!" She exclaimed.

"Goodnight, kid." He rubbed her back. Francesca toddled over to Valerie and Valerie lifted her up.

"Where's daddy?" She asked.

"I'm not sure, love." Valerie said truthfully. Francesca said no more and allowed her mother to tuck her up into bed. After saying goodnight to the girl, Valerie returned downstairs to where John and Arthur were.

John and Valerie had not discussed what had happened the night before and strangely there was no tension in the air.

"Where the bloody hell is Tommy?" Arthur groaned. "Probably off fucking some whores.." John mumbled. Arthur smacked his arm. "Ya can't say that with his wife being right there." He said. John shrugged. "She bloody knows it, Arthur. She ain't thick." John shrugged.

"Might as well say i'm not even bloody married." Valerie huffed, picking her cup of tea back up and shaking her head.

"Sorry, Val." Arthur said sympathetically.

"Don't be. He's a pathetic excuse of a man." Valerie said angrily.

That night, Valerie stayed up to see if Tommy would return. And he did.. early hours the next morning. She turned her head when he opened the door and looked him in the eye.

"Why're you awake?"

"Be quiet, Francesca is asleep." She looked at the wall. Tommy took his suit jacket off and his shoes. "Where have you been?" Valerie asked. Tommy shrugged. "Working."

"Working where? Making whiskey?" She joked. "Who was it this time?" Valerie asked, looking at him again. "Did you fuck her over a table or did she get the privilege of being in a bed.. or even on a couch." She suggested. Tommy pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Go on. Tell me. It'll only be the third time this week."

"I stopped at May Carleton's house on my way back from London. I needed petrol for the car and she was along the way. So I tested my luck."

"Was the petrol located in between her legs?" Valerie asked bitterly.

Tommy bit the inside of his cheek. "I did not intend to stay as long as I did." He said. "One thing led to another.." He added. Valerie laughed and closed her eyes. "I can't believe you." She got up from the bed and pulled the small suitcase she had originally taken to Small Heath.

"What're you doing?" Tommy asked as she began shoving her clothes and Francesca's belongings into the case.

"I'm going back to Arrow House. You complete your business here. I don't wish to be around you." She said angrily, trying to be quiet whilst Francesca slept.

"Valerie." He pleaded.

"No. Do not tell me what you think I should do. I'm going back home. You will return eventually, I assume. But for now I do not wish to be around you." She repeated, a finger pointed at him. Valerie zipped up the case and carefully scooped the small girl up, trying to keep her asleep. Using her free hand, Valerie picked the bag up and walked down the stairs.

Tommy didn't follow her. Instead, he kicked the chest of drawers and shook his head.

"You off somewhere?" Arthur asked when seeing the woman appear at the door. She looked between the two brothers and swallowed hard. "I need a car.. i'm going home." She said.

John and Arthur looked at each other.

"I'll drive you." John offered, helping her out by taking Francesca from her and going to the door. "Thank you." Valerie breathed. John carefully put the little girl into the car and closed the door quietly. Valerie got into the passenger seat and looked back at her daughter for a moment.

"Has something happened?" John asked as he started up the car.

"Thomas slept with the horse trainer." She said with embarrassment, staring out the window. John shook his head in disgust. "He doesn't stop, does he?" He whispered. Valerie shrugged. "Clearly fucking not."

A silence filled the car for a while and it was once they got to Arrow House that John spoke up. "What happened yesterday, between us.." he looked to see what her face did. She just looked at him. "I don't regret it." She admitted.

"Neither do I." John whispered.

"I'm glad we're on the same page." She said tiredly.

John helped get Francesca into the house and safely back into bed. The pair hovered at the door for a moment and John turned to Valerie. "Call if there's an issue." John placed a brief hand on her lower back.

Valerie was ever so tempted to tell him to stay the night but knew the maids would talk.

"Thank you, John." Valerie cupped his face. "You're a good man."

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