VI. 1921

"Am I late?" She asked Micheal as she walked through the door. He sat at the kitchen table looking rather annoyed.

John appeared at the door, "finally, we've got people that are very impatient," he whispered, leaving the green doors open for her.

Maggie looked back at her brother, "The key's on the nail." She said as she pointed with the second key. She closed the old green doors behind her, locking it. By people, John meant Thomas and her mother. The glare they gave her wasn't anything unusual. She hadn't spoke more than five words to either of them since last week.

"Now, Tommy get on with it." Maggie stood between Finn and John. She never understood why she had to come to these meetings when all she did was check the books at the end of the day. It was always so fucking boring.

"Last night one of our men had his throat cut in Winson Green. This morning I had a telegram saying it was Sabini who ordered it."

"And it says here that Thomas Shelby's next." Arthur ripped up the telegram, for dramatic effect.

"If our men think we can't look after them in prison they'll not work for us. Sabini knows that so we need to get the Green sorted out," Thomas continued, "Scudboat, you are one of the boys, break a couple of windows and get yourselves arrested. And if our coppers get you into the Green, you can find the bastards that did it."

"Instead of breaking a window, can we pinch a car?" Scudboat asked, earning a few laughs around the room, "what?"

"Why the fuck am I here?" Maggie sighed, looking to the ceiling.

"Everyone else is getting a bloody car. I'm still on a donkey."

"Aright, just get yourselves arrested, doesn't matter how and before you all laugh," John stopped chuckling the moment Tommy turned his head, "the boy is dead. He was just a kid. We'll start a fund for his family, Pol."

"Agreed." Polly replied quickly. She was keen to get out of this meeting, "So is that it? Can I go now?"

"Well as company treasurer, I need your permission to spend a thousand guineas." Her head snapped up to look at Thomas. Thousand?

"On what?"

"A horse." Maggie burst out laughing, causing a few heads to turn.

"A thousand guineas on a horse?"

"That's right."

"When was this decided?" Pol walked about the room, in shock.

"You've been busy with Micheal," He said, then facing to Maggie. Maggie stopped laughing and glared at her cousin, begging him not to say it, "and Carissa." He added on quickly.

"Dickhead," she didn't need to be reminded. It had been a shit week. She had spent in total about a day with her daughter. Every night Maggie would appear at the door seeing if she could say good night to her daughter in person. She wasn't allowed passed the door most times.

Maggie stepped slowly away from the group, now standing on the other side of the pillar John was standing on, "why do I still have to come to these things?"

"You're a Shelby, like it or not." John whispered back as Polly and Tommy went back and forward about a auction and Sabini.

"Unfortunately."

"The Epsom Derby, Pol," John cut in

"Fucking fool, you are," Maggie smirked as she saw the look on her mum's face.

"The derby?!" Thomas wasn't to please with that.

"Didn't think you were supposed to say that Johnny." Maggie said, mockingly.

"That's right," Tom continued, "for the last ten years, Sabini's made it his race, if we're going to take him down might as well make it there as a symbol."

"Did you come up with this idea in a pub, by any chance?"

"By the sound of it," Maggie sighed, pushing her head into the brick.

"So when is this sale?"

"Tomorrow."

Maggie smiled, I might just sneak in with them then. She had been stuck at home all week, wallowing.

As Polly silenced Curly, John and Maggie turned hearing someone new enter. Everyone went quiet at his appearance.

"Hello Micheal." Maggie greeted him, smiling widely. He used the key.

"I thought I told you to lock that door." Polly scolded John, then to Maggie who held the other key up.

"He did. I used the key on the nail," Micheal said, "look, I've been listening. I want to go with them."

"You see?" Their mum exclaimed.

"I love horses. I could even help."

"Over my dead body," she snapped back

"It'll be alright, mum." Ohhh he played the mum card. Maggie had to hide her proud smile in John's shoulder, "I've been to loads of horse auctions with my uncle. They're very respectable. People bring their butlers."

"Yeah and their posh wives." Arthur joked.

"And their mistresses." John added.

"Let him come, Polly," Arthur tried, more serious, "we'll go there, buy a horse, come back."

"I'll drop him at the hose in Sutton before it gets dark."

"No. Fucking no." Polly said, final answer.

Maggie tried to keep a straight a face, but when she heard some sheets of paper fly of the desk behind her as her brother stormed out. Tom glared at her, a laugh threatened to leave her. Her face was turning red for resisting.

"Alright, that's it, back to work." Tom announced and everyone went on their way.

John went over to her mum, already knowing he will either fuck it up even more or he'll actually convince him. Maggie watched. John left and left her mum. They stared at each other form across the floor.

"I'll go if it'll help. I was already planning on sneaking on the truck."

Her mum scoffed, rolling her teary eyes,"how long?"

"How long what?"

"How long have you been sober? Honest answer."

"I drank last night, Arthur and John were there, saw how much. I don't have a bad hangover. How's Carissa?"

"Good, she's upstairs. She didn't sleep well last night."

Maggie nodded. She missed Cara so much. She'd seen her everyday, but it wasn't the same. "I think Micheal should come because he should have a chance to get to know his cousins. But that's just what I think. It's not like I know what it's like to be a mother."

Polly stared at her, "tonight... come over for dinner."

And she left, leaving her daughter stood there.

—

    Dinner was lovely. The food was delicious especially when Maggie had had a proper meal since Carissa moved in with Pol. Maggie didn't leave one pea on her plate. Cara laughed at her mother's manners. She ignored the other three at the table as she shoved spoonfuls of mash into her mouth.

The food was lovely; not so much the atmosphere. Polly and Micheal never spoke a word, apart from when Polly said Grace. Maggie didn't pay any attention to the two. She spoke to Cara through the meal, asking her what she did through the week, and she was more than happy to catch her mum up on her activities.

As soon as dinner was over, Micheal excused himself. The three listened as he walked up stairs. He wasn't loud, he was calm. Polly stayed quiet and still and Maggie cleared up the plates. Carissa sat with Polly telling her about whatever was going on in her head.

Now, Maggie sat on the couch with Carissa's head on her lap. She was asleep. Polly was now in the kitchen. Maggie found it calming, the sound of her mum in the kitchen and her brother upstairs. Every night she was alone. Now she was sure by family.

She was too scared to ask her mum if she could stay. Would she seriously kick her out at ten at night?

Her mum stood at the doorway before approaching the pair. She sat in front of them, where Tom had sat when he said he'd find Micheal.

"I don't want Micheal involved in any trouble. You watch out for him," Polly said.

"So you're letting him go?"

"Yes," she explained the rules she wanted Maggie to follow but it mostly went in one ear and out the other. All she picked up on was no drink, no fights, no posh wives.

Polly stood up to leave the took but she paused when she noticed Maggie lift Cara's head and stand up too. Maggie stood there awkwardly before wrapping her hands around her mum.

She hugged her daughter back, smiling to herself. Maggie felt her eyes well up when she felt her mum hug her back. Maggie wasn't a hugger, but Carissa a different story.

"I'm gonna take her up to bed," Maggie whispered. She pulled away, hiding her face with her hair.

"You can stay. The boys will pick you up."

"I have nothing to wear," Maggie muttered, softly.

"I sent Lizzie to bring over some clothes. I guessed you might be sleeping over."

"I didn't think you'd want me to sleep here, when you only let me say good night to my daughter from the door."

"Tonight," She said quietly, with a small smile. Maggie nodded as she went to pick up Carissa. Polly went up stairs.

Maggie placed Carissa on her hip. This was the first time in a week that Maggie had picked her up, held her. Sure it was a week, but she didn't know how much she would of missed it. She heard Cara groan and stir.

Quietly, she made her way up the stairs, carrying her daughter. She was careful not to bang her head against the wall, which Arthur had done on some occasions of putting Cara to bed.

She sighed in relief as she made it to the top and saw the room Carissa took as her own. She had stuck drawings of purple flowers to the bottom of the door, making it stand out from rest of the plain white doors.

Her door creaked as Maggie opened it. The moon shone through the window, through the coloured paper. Covering the windows were more drawings, a big one of a dog. Barry the dog. She'd get her a dog one day.

She lay her daughter in the bed, before pulling the duvet out from under her and and wrapping Carissa in it. With the girl's face smushed up against the pillow Maggie left her be.

Leaving the room, she walked across the hall. She heard her mother getting ready for bed next door but nothing from Micheal's room. If he was anything like Maggie, he'd of been climbing out the window ages ago. But she knew he wasn't like her. He was probably asleep.

She looked at the room down the hallway that she pass on her way but she couldn't go in there. It wasn't her room. It was a spare room. She knew she wouldn't be able to sleep in there.

Instead she turned right, and knocked on the door. She waited about fifteen seconds before she pounded on the door again, much harder, sure to annoy her mum across the hall. Micheal answered. He wasn't asleep.

"John's old clothes are in my car, you can get them in the morning," she spoke, yawning.

Micheal's nose scrunched up, "what?"

"You're going tomorrow and you need to look smart," she saw his face relax as he realised their mum had let him go, "but mum's left some rules that I have mostly forgotten; no trouble, meaning no fights or posh wives," she lowered her voice, "but knowing the boys, there will be."

He nodded, "why do you have John's clothes in your car."

"There was note from Esme, who shoved some suits and coats in my backseat," she explained. He nodded, "how was the museum?"

He rolled his jokingly, "alright. Carissa was having a great time, pointing out all her favourite colours. She had trouble not touching the pieces."

"Not surprised. I'll leave you to get some sleep,"

"Good night, Mags."

"Good night Micky."

—

"Micheal could you wake up your sister?" That felt strange to say but good, Polly thought, as she put the kettle on.

"I was going to but she wasn't there." Micheal said as he sat at the table. He was less annoyed this morning with Polly and thanked her earlier for her approval.

"What? Where is she? I told her she could stay. Now she's just wasted a journey if the boys will be coming back up here anyway. Foolish girl." She exclaimed.

"Mum slept in my bed last night" Carissa said to her grandmother, as she innocently ate her jam and toast.

"What, why?" Polly asked.

Cara shrugged her shoulders, "I don't know, I woke up and she was there. She was snoring very loudly."

"...alright Cara when you're done can you wake her?" Polly asked, she turned to Micheal who didn't see the problem. Not that there was a problem, Polly just didn't realise that she might have slept in the girl's room.

"Okay, nan," She smiled.

"Good girl, " Polly smiled back the girl. It was still earlier in the morning but the boys would be here soon, "Micheal, Maggie left John old things on the chair for you there."

He nodded and smiled, acknowledging the pile of clothes. He finished his tea and went up stairs to get ready.

While he tried on John's old clothes, Maggie was being awoken gently by her young daughter.

"... mum...WAKE UP!" Carissa shouted, her face hovering above her mother's

"Ahh fuck!" Maggie screamed back, seeing the young girl's grin, terrifyingly close to her face, "Carissa, Jesus Christ." She ran her hands over her face and Cara stepped back and giggled to herself.

"Please don't do that." Maggie pleaded, quietly into her hands.

Carissa continued, "Nan said to wake you up."

"Not like that though."

"She never said how." The young girl said, "she never said I couldn't shout." And with that she skipped out of the room, leaving Maggie to wake up properly.

"God help me."

She got ready for the day, finding a navy dress. She didn't like any of the coats with the blue dress so she went snooping around her mother's wardrobe and to her luck she found something. A long black fur coat. Her mum is going kill her if something happened to her best coat.

She met the maid in Carissa's room, picking out some clothes. Cara sat on the floor colouring, happily, "Hi, I'll save ya the trouble, I'll get her ready before I go."

"It's no trouble at all, Ms. Gray," the maid reassured her, laying out some clothes for Carissa.

"No!" She spoke loudly but quickly fixed her tone, "it's fine really, I'm going to be away the day anyway." The maid nodded and left the woman with a small "yes, ma'am."

It wasn't that she had a problem with the woman, the maid her mother hired was lovely, but Maggie knew nothing of her and didn't want her dressing her daughter. She didn't know her so she didn't trust her.

Soon Carissa was ready. And Maggie was down the stairs, she bumped into the maid who she gave a small smile hoping she didn't take offence before.

She heard the conversation in the kitchen as Micheal walked in before her, "well I won't lie to you. He died drunk squeezed between a boat and a lock." Dad. He wasn't someone mentioned very often, "a real river gypsy's death. But he could sing. Play the piano. Wanting to start a family band one time. His smile would break your heart. You've got his same beautiful eyes."

She continued, unbeknownst Maggie was at the door, "when he was sober he was kind and gentle. His trouble was, he fell in with the wrong crowd when he was a boy. Your sister's the same. Lots of potential, just doesn't know it." Polly muttered the last bits. Maggie didn't hear the mention of her.

The car horn outside blew, making Maggie jump out of her skin, "I have told them not to blow that horn." Polly complained, she walked to the door. She pasted Maggie smiling at her softly as if she didn't mention her moments before, "hello love," she said softly, before opening the door, "This is a respectable fucking neighbourhood." Her tone changing completely.

"Well come on then, places to be, horses to buy," she stepped further into the room. She waited for him. Walking with him to the truck she slung her arm around his shoulder, pulling him along, "I don't know 'bout you, but I'm rather excited," Micheal chuckled at her.

"Hello Maggie," Thomas greeted her.

"Hello prick."

"You're in the front."

"Like fuck I am," she snapped back at her cousin. Polly pushed her toward the front, "no fuck this. I'm gonna get lectures the whole way there."

"Maybe you need them," her mum said, glaring at her. Micheal hopped in the back, "you look after him."

"It's hard when I'm up here and he's back there though."

"Shut up Margaret." She spoke sternly, as Thomas waved, smiling, to the window upstairs. Carissa stood there waving enthusiastically back, holding up the picture of Barry.

"Gonna need to get that dog, Margaret." Tom spoke.

"Shut up Thomas." She said sternly, hopping in the front.

—

"The bloody 'ell's that?"

"Sandwiches. Ham, I think. We've got shrimp paste too. There's tea. We'll have to take turns 'cause there's only one cup."

"Gimme the tea, I want it before all you lot spit your disgusting whore germs into a nice warm cup of tea." She grabbed the cup from Micheal and the flask from John.

"Sandwiches?"

"Yeah."

"Jesus Arthur, are you that thick?"

"Shut up," He glared at her, as she sipped on her cup of tea, "Polly made bloody sandwiches? I can't remember you ever getting sandwiches Mags."

"Because I never did, alright, and you can't speak either, old man."

"Alright we will eat the sandwiches, drink the tea. Then we will drive on. All right? No crumbs, Charlie."

"No one's getting this tea, haven't drank any liquids in hours." She sat back in the front, comfortingly with her tea between her two cousins.

To annoy Tom on the drive, she and John told him knock jokes, which he didn't respond to them, not wanting to give them the satisfaction.

Eventually they got there, all following Tom, "all right lads, this is a respectable event and you'll all behave accordingly. No weapons, no drinking- John, we will stay together. Hear that, Margaret. When the horse comes up, I'll do the bidding. I've already registered with the auctioneer, so he'll know to expect my bids."

Maggie followed behind John and Micheal, "god, I might find my new husband here."

"Not a chance, any man comes near you, I'll cut them." John laughed

"No weapons, you heard the rules."

John said, leaning against the railing "Yeah and no drinking."

"Oi, I'm not the one with three flasks in my jacket," Over Micheal's shoulder she saw a man staring at her, "I'll be right back," she said to the two.

She approached the blond man, who met her halfway, stepping a way from the man he was conversing with, "Hello sir. I'm Margaret and you are?"

"David. Margaret, beautiful name for an even more beautiful woman." He had a deep voice that Maggie adored already.

"Aren't you a charmer. How many horses do you have?" She asked bluntly, smiling charmingly.

"Eleven."

"Really? I was expecting more." She stepped closer.

"Oh really, how many do you have?" He asked,

"None." He chuckled slightly at her answer.

"None? So why are you here?"

"There's usually some handsome men here but I haven't been in the presence of one yet," She was way too sober for this shit. She sounded stupid.

Before he could answer she felt herself being pulled harshly, "alright this isn't the fucking Garrison, come on."

"Prick." She muttered, "bye Daniel!" She shouted at him, drawing a lot of attention to the group,