𝐏𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐄 𝐃𝐎𝐍𝐓 𝐆𝐎
chapter 4

Those next few weeks felt weird for Harvey. He didn't know how to feel about Ada Shelby. He didn't know if she actually had something for him or just hadn't been with a boy in a while.

Harvey felt like he had betrayed John. He really wasn't sure how to feel about her. Ada, however, was more scared of her brothers finding out about what had happened whilst Harvey had a burning guilt and uncertainty inside him ever since they had slept together.

She knew at least one of her brothers would cause trouble if they knew. Probably Tommy. But it could also be John. John would probably feel bitter toward Harvey because Ada was his sister. Whenever Harvey was working at the den at the times Ada was home, they would steal glances of each other.

They'd say nothing. Just look. And that was the best part. It was somewhat exhilarating that it was only them who knew what had happened. And they were both left wondering if it would happen again.

—

"Harvey— add ten pence onto today's earnings!" John called out from across the room. Harvey nodded and scribbled on a piece of paper. Ada walked down the stairs and peered through the open door, catching Harvey's eye as he looked up.

He smiled at her discreetly and she looked away, going to the kitchen where her Aunt sat reading a paper.

"Nice of you to join us." Polly mumbled. "Where have you been all day?" Polly asked.

"In bed. Couldn't sleep. Then I couldn't wake up, then i was cold and had to go for a wee. Then I was with this bear on a boat but that was just a dream. And then I was hungry." Ada explained as she sat with a plate of bread. "Why are you reading the paper?"

"Why wouldn't I be?"

"I've never seen you read the paper only ever light fires with them." Ada said, lifting the bread to her lips after spreading jam onto it.

"The BSA are on strike. Miners are on strike. IRA are killing our boys..." Polly trailed off, looking at Ada funny. "Ten a day—" she met Ada's eyes.

"What?" Ada asked.

"Stand up." Polly had slight worry on her face. "Why?" Ada frowned. "Just stand up." Polly demanded. Ada stood and put her arms at her side. "Side on." Polly said before grabbing Ada's breast.

"What are you doing?!" Ada squealed.

"Ada, how late are you?" Polly asked seriously.

Ada looked away shamefully and crossed her arms. "One week.." she lied, "five weeks— seven if you count weekends. I think it's a lack of iron!" She admitted. "I got some tablets."

Polly sat down. "But they didn't work?"

Ada sat down and had a saddened look on her face. "No.." she shook her head.

—

John and Harvey sat in the snug by themselves, smoking and drinking whilst they played a card game. "Harv," the Shelby began. Harvey hummed in response. "Do you believe in love?" He asked.

Harvey almost choked on his own saliva. "Where the bloody hell has that came from?"

John shrugged. "There's a woman." He said. Harvey raised his eyebrows. "I want to marry her." He said. Harvey put down his cards and sat to face him. "Have you knocked her up?"

"No, I haven't fucking knocked her up." John denied quickly.

"Who is she? Is she nice?" Harvey asked, genuinly interested. John bit down on his lip. "It's er— it's Lizzie Stark." He admitted. Harvey's eyes widened and he laughed awkwardly. "And you think you love her?"

John snapped his head toward him.

"I'm not judging you, swear it. Just want to know what it is that makes you think you love her." Harvey tapped his cigarette against the ashtray.

John shrugged. "She's good with the kids. She looks after them— and me."

"I'm sure she looks after you." Harvey grinned. John scowled at him. "She loves me." John told him. Harvey tried his best to be genuine, knowing that John hadn't loved anyone since his late wife Martha. "I've already proposed and she said yeah."

"Does your family know?"

"Not yet.." John sighed. "I don't know when to tell them."

"Have one of those family meetings or something. Surely they can't take it too bad— it's your life after all. And if you want to marry a.." Harvey paused to find a nicer word, "hard working woman.. then do it."

"Do you not have a woman yet?" John asked his friend.

Harvey's mouth parted ever so slightly. "No, not yet." He said.

John raised a brow. "Don't lie to me. Who is it?" John smirked. Harvey shook his head. "It's no one, John. Trust me. I'm not even sure I likes her anyway." He said.

"But does she like you?"

"Sure." Harvey said carefully, trying not to give anything away.

—

Ada sat anxiously in the dimly lit room as the woman put all her tools back. "You can get dressed now, love." She said. Ada looked over at her. "So, am I or not?" She asked.

The woman looked at her. "You are."

Ada's heart dropped and she couldn't have gotten her clothes back on any quicker. She pulled out a cigarette as she got out the door and lit it, nerves running through her. "Keep bloody walking, Ada. If anybody sees us here they'll know." Polly grabbed her arm and pulled her along.

"Im not getting rid of it, Aunt Pol." Ada said shakily.

"Just come home and we will talk about it." Polly said. Ada shrugged her hands away. "Just get off me or i'll scream it, I swear—" she said. Polly came to a halt. "Alright, you want to do this on the street let's do it. Who's is it?"

"If I tell you then you'll tell them and they'll cut him to pieces."

Polly glared at her. "Not if he married you they won't." She said. Ada shook her head anxiously. "Will he marry you?"

"I don't know." Ada admitted. "It was only once, Pol. Only one time, I swear." She said. "Jesus christ, Ada. How many times do you think it takes to get pregnant?" Polly scolded. "Will the boy want anything to do with the baby?"

"I don't know— I don't know but he's a good man, I promise." Ada began crying. Polly pulled her in and sighed. "They'll kill him, Polly." She whispered. "They'll fucking kill him."

—

"Tommy, Tommy!" John ran down the betting den. Harvey looked up due to the boys shouting. "They're all here for Monaghan boy." He told his brother.

"Good."

"Oh, and Aunt Pol wants to see you." John told him, nodding toward the living room. Harvey frowned and watched the older Shelby walk past him and through the double doors. He was too far away to hear what was being said but whatever it was, Tommy didn't look happy. He walked back through the den and left through the front door.

"What was that about?" Harvey asked.

John shrugged. "Couldn't tell you, mate."

—

The door to the theatre opened and Ada glanced over her shoulder, groaning when seeing her elder brother storm in. She kept her eyes forward as he sat beside her. "Tell me the man's name, Ada."

"Rudolph Valentino." She mocked.

He got up, leaving her side and only seconds later, the screen turned off and the lights turned on.

"Get out! All of you, go on, now!" He demanded as he came back in. Ada rolled her eyes, worry arising inside her. "I said tell me his fucking name."

Ada took a deep breath and looked at Tommy. "Harvey fucking Ellis." She spat. His face fell. "Yeah, Johns best mate since school. The man who fought with you in France." She shouted. "So go on, go and cut him! Cut him up and chuck him in the cut!" She said to him as he walked away.

—

Harvey looked toward the door when it swung open. Leyland stumbled inside and his eyes fell on the boy. "What're you doin' here? Ain't you supposed to be working?"

Harvey stood and held his hands behind his back. "No, no not today. It's a Saturday."

Leyland just grunted and walked through to the kitchen.

"But er— dad, i'm going down to the Garrison tonight." He said. "With the Shelby's." He added. Leyland said nothing so Harvey decided to just slip out and get down to the pub before Leyland could say anything that would stop him.

The walk to the pub was quick as the cold, night air was settling over Small Heath.

"Evening— sorry i'm late." He walked into the snug where the brothers had been sat playing cards.

Tommy eyed him up and Arthur handed him a beer. "How have you been keeping, lad? Your dad ain't been giving you any trouble, has he?" He asked.

"No, Mr Shelby." Harvey took the beer from him with a nod.

"Shuffle the cards," John diverted Arthur's attention back to the game as the blonde barmaid walked in. "Go play snap with Finn—"

"Did you want whiskey too?" The barmaid asked. Tommy shook his head. "No, just beer."

Harvey winced at the singing that rang out throughout the pub. Singing wasn't usually allowed in the Garrison.

"Why no whiskey, Tommy? You expecting trouble?" Arthur grunted. Tommy shook his head and John began laughing. "Jesus christ, Tommy. What the hell made you let them sing. It's like they're strangling cats out there." John joked.

"Yeah— I didn't think singing was allowed." Harvey chimed in.

"Alright, twenty is the play. Come on." Arthur chuckled. Tommy smiled and shook his head before carefully looking at Harvey once more, giving him a once over.

"Now what did make you change your mind though, Tommy?"

"It's about time, Tommy." John said. Tommy looked to him. "Time for what?" He asked. "Time you took yourself a woman." John joked.

"Just play the bloody hand."

Harvey checked his time piece and swore under his breath. "Shit— right I need to go." Harvey stood. John looked over to him. "But you only just got here." He said.

"I know. I'm sorry, I've got someplace to be. I'll make it up to you." He pointed at John as he slipped out of the room.

Those plans were supposed to be with Ada. He walked round to the back of the house and picked up a small stone, throwing it at her window. Moments later, a distraught looking Ada appeared and she slid the window open.

"I thought we had plans tonight, did you forget?" He asked, hands in pockets.

Ada took a deep breath. "Harvey, there's something I need to tell you." She said. He shifted his weight from one foot to another. "Well what is it?" He asked, thinking the worst. Ada blinked quickly. "Just— come to the front of the house. It's only my Aunt Polly in."

"Ada, has something happened?"

"Something has definitely happened, Harvey. Now come to the fucking front door!" She hissed before slamming the window down.

He let out a breath and did as she said, surprised that she was already at the door waiting. "Come in before someone sees you." She whispered, dragging him in by the arm.

"Ada—" he said but stopped when seeing Polly in the kitchen. "Evening Polly." He cleared his throat. Polly looked at Ada and put her hands on her hips. "Have you told him?" She asked. Harvey looked between the two. "Told me what?" He asked with concern.

Polly shook her head and left the room.

Ada began pacing. Harvey stood by the window. "Ada, you can talk to me." He said. "Has something happened," he tried to touch her arm but she pulled away.

"I'm pregnant, Harvey!" She snapped, eyes watery.

His face fell and his eyes widened. "You're.." he trailed off. "Is it mine?" He asked, not sure if he wanted to know the answer. Ada scoffed. "I'm not a whore, Harvey! Yes it's yours." She hissed. Harvey rubbed his forehead and sat down, feeling lightheaded.

"Aunt Polly wants me to get rid of it. But—"

"But?"

Ada shook her head, a hand to her mouth as tears threatened to spill. "I'm not getting rid of it, Harvey. I'm having this baby." Ada began crying.

Harvey felt a weird feeling in his chest when seeing her cry and he stood up to hug her. She tried to fight against it but he didn't let her. "Ada it's alright. We will figure it out." He tried to calm her. Ada tried to stop her crying.

Harvey pulled away and had a hard look of doubt on his face. "Ada," he looked down, "I don't know if i'm ready to be a dad.."

"Harvey.." she shook her head.

Harvey bit down on the inside of his cheek. "Are you sure you're pregnant?" He asked. Ada walked away and sat at the table. "I went to see a doctor." She said. "I'm sure."

He put his head in his hands. "Your brothers are going to kill me, Ada. It was only one time— we only had sex one time!" He reminded her.

Yeah they had met up after that a handful of times but never had sex again.

"It only takes one time sometimes." Ada told him. "Listen, Harvey. Either be there for me and the baby or leave." She croaked. Harvey's heart pounded against his chest. "Ada i'm sorry. I never meant for this to happen—" he panicked.

When the pair slept together, neither imagined it to go any further than that let alone have a child on the way.

"Harvey, please." Ada cried softly. "I'm begging you not to leave." She said. "You know what happens when the father leaves. The baby is called a bastard, the mother a whore." She stepped toward him.

Harvey felt her hand against his as she intertwined their fingers.

"I know we said it wouldn't happen again but maybe we can make it work. Harvey, I like you. You know I do." Ada was practically begging.

One thing passed through his head: John, John, John. Nothing else.

He swallowed hard and pushed her hair away from her face carefully. "Alright," he gave in, cupping her face and gently using the pads of his thumbs to brush against her skin. "Alright." He sighed, pulling her into his chest and closing his eyes.

"Who knows about this, Ada?"

"Polly and Thomas." She admitted.

His heart dropped and it began making sense as to why Tommy had looked at him weirdly at the Garrison. "Okay.." he breathed. "Do you know how he reacted?"

"Not when Aunt Pol told him." She shook her head, holding onto his frame tightly.

The height difference was fairly significant.

"Polly said they won't cut you if you marry me." She looked up at him. His eyes widened slightly. Marriage? That wasn't something he had thought about.. ever. "Of course." He scoffed, looking at the ceiling.

Ada waited for him to say something else.

"I'll figure something out." He said.

Harvey cared for Ada. Of course he did. She was the little sister of his best mate. It's just he never expected to end up being the father to her child. Or to have even had sex with her in the first place. He didn't regret it. No, he was glad it happened. At least he thought he was.

It's just — they were both so young. Harvey was worried. Being a father was never apart of his plan. At least not yet anyway. He was going to try and be there for Ada as best as he could.

Because Harvey Ellis was a good person, he wasn't going to walk away. He wasn't going to desert Ada. It was just as much his fault as it was hers. Yes, they agreed that they would not have sex again after that first time and they never did. But it had still happened. They had both done it. Meaning they had to own up to their own actions.

chapter 4
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