𝐏𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐄 𝐃𝐎𝐍𝐓 𝐆𝐎
chapter 5

Harvey paced his bedroom anxiously, tens of thoughts passing through his head by the second. He couldn't wrap the head around the fact Ada was pregnant — he was the father. He began thinking about how if he hadn't offered to take her for drinks, this probably wouldn't have happened.

He then began thinking about what John was going to say.

Harvey was so afraid that his best friend was going to hate him for it. And Harvey wouldn't blame him if he did.

But he also knew that he couldn't keep it from John. The longer he waited, the worse it would get once he found out.

He heard a shout from outside his window and he peered out of it to see John stood below. He threw his arms up into the air. Harvey opened the window. "I'll be out in a minute, John boy." He assured him.

"You best bloody be." John scolded him. "I'm tellin' them today— about Lizzie."

Harvey's eyes widened. "Alright, give me a second." He closed the door and ran down the stairs, taking his cap from the hook and shoving it onto his head.

"Here you are," John smiled, throwing an arm over Harvey's shoulders. Harvey forced a smile in hopes it would disguise his nerves that were very apparent across his face.

But it didn't work.

"What's on your mind, lad?" He asked.

"Nothin' don't worry." Harvey said to him. John looked at him. "You tell me everything. What's happened?" He asked him seriously. Harvey shook his head. "Honestly, John, it's fine."

"Harvey." John warned.

"John." He retorted in the same tone.

"You never keep anything from me. Come on." The Shelby urged. Harvey winced. "I've got somebody knocked up." He blurted out.

John held back his laugh. "Funny joke, Harv."

"I'm serious, John." Harvey said with a straight face. John's laugh faded out and his face fell. "Oh shit. Who is it?" He asked.

Harvey came to a stop and John did too. "John, I want you to know it wasn't supposed to happen and I couldn't be more sorry." He began.

"Shit, it ain't Lizzie is it?"

"No— no not Lizzie." Harvey stared at his feet. "John i'm sorry, honestly."

"You're scaring me." John said to him. "Just spit it out, yeah? We ain't got all day. It can't be that bad." John patted his arm.

"Ada. It's Ada." He closed his eyes.

But John said nothing. He just stared ar Harvey blankly and didn't know how to feel. "My sister?" He hissed. Harvey nodded slowly. "John— believe me when I say i'm sorry. It was only once and we had both been drinking. We said it wouldn't happen again— I feel sick about it."

"But it did happen once." John said to him. "You got my fucking sister pregnant?"

Harvey met his eyes, guilt across his face. "John—"

John shook his head and scoffed. "Fuck off." He said through gritted teeth, walking away. "Don't fucking bother coming to the Garrison today. You ain't welcome."

"John—" Harvey tried, a lump gathering in his throat.

But John ignored him and kept walking.

—

Harvey sat beside the canal, dropping small stones into the water below him. It felt as though the guilt was eating him up inside. John was his best mate. He loved him.

And he now hated Harvey. Or that's what he made Harvey think.

When Harvey and Ada drunkenly had sex, neither of them ever thought it would become serious. Harvey could have any girl he wanted and Ada Shelby was the Princess of Small Heath. And despite Harvey's ability to have anybody he wanted, he didn't want any of them.

But sometimes things happen that you can't control.

This was one of them.

Harvey began thinking about what it was like to grow up without a mother. He was in no way ready to be a father. He was barely even twenty five. How was he supposed to be a dad?

Knowing that his dad had never been a good one scared him. What if he ended up like that? No. No that wouldn't happen because Harvey wouldn't allow it.

But it was scaring the shit out of him. The mixture of what Ada's brothers might say and what could happen once the baby arrived was overwhelming.

He almost jumped out of his skin when hearing the crunch of the cobble behind him.

Harvey quickly looked over his shoulder and reached for his cap. John stood there with his hands in his pockets. "Fucking hell, John. I could've killed you." Harvey mumbled, turning back toward the water.

John sniffed and cleared his throat. "What're you doing here?" He asked awkwardly.

"You're the one that snuck up on me." Harvey defended, not meeting his eyes. John refrained from snapping and just took a deep breath. "Listen, if you're here to give me trouble again, I really could do without it."

John shook his head and sat down. "No. I'm not here to give you trouble."

"You're not?"

"No." John confirmed before letting it fall silent for a few moments. "They all laughed at me— when I told them about Lizzie. Turns out she's been sleeping with Tommy this whole time."

Harvey's eyebrows raised.

"I owe you an apology." John said hesitantly. John was never much of an apologiser. "I know what it's like having kids. Me and Martha were only young when she fell pregnant with our first. I didn't even know if I loved her or not. But I didn't leave." He said. "Want to know why?"

"Why?"

"Because I knew I could learn to love her." John said.

"I'm just a bit scared, John." Harvey admitted. "It wasn't supposed to happen." He added. John nodded along and took out a cigarette. "No but it did happen." John told him. "And now there is no going back." He didn't sound angry. Like not even in the slightest. He sounded sympathetic.

"I'm sorry."

"I know you are." John said. "I'm not losing a friend because of my sister." He said to Harvey. "You're my best mate, Harv. You always will be." He smiled at him.

"I'm not just sorry because of that, John.." he trailed off, annoyed that John didn't realise what he meant. "You know why i'm sorry." He said. John looked down and nodded. "Yeah— I know." John noticed Harvey's glossy eyes and furrowed his brows.

"I don't think I can love her, John." He admitted shamefully. John held the sides of Harvey's neck and forced him to look him in the eye, his thumb gently grazing Harvey's skin. "You have to try," John whispered. He watched the way Harvey stared at him with complete and utter guilt and uncertainty.

"You need to marry her. You know that, don't you? I'm not having my sister spoken down on. But Ada needs someone genuine, Harvey."

"I'm not genuine? You don't think i'm genuine?" Harvey asked.

John looked at him. "Are you?" He asked seriously, his hands resting on Harvey's cheeks. Harvey looked down briefly before looking at him again. "I can be." He assured. John nodded and patted his shoulder. "I know this might not have been how you planned on getting married but it'll all work out." John said to him.

"Your brothers aren't going to cut me, are they?"

John stifled a laugh and shook his head. "This is almost exactly what happened with me and Martha. Her dad chased me out of the house with a gun when he found out. He said he would let me live if I married her so I did. And then we had more kids and fell in love."

Harvey noticed the way he stared down at the water as he spoke about his late wife. John had loved Martha like he had never loved anybody before. His daughter, Katie, looked exactly like her. With her fair skin and caramel blonde hair — she was like Martha's twin.

"Ada is frightened too. She thinks you're going to leave her alone."

Harvey was quick to shake his head. "I would never do that— not to anybody." He said. "I know what it's like to have never known a parent. It's a burden of sorts. You never met them but can feel them around — waiting to hear the stories of when they were young but never being told them because the parent that stayed is ashamed. And I know my mum died and she didn't run off but it still feels like that."

John tutted and tapped the ash from his cigarette. "You're a good lad, Harvey. You always have been."

Harvey took a deep breath and squeezed his eyes closed.

"Just, please, don't hurt our Ada." He said with a pleading tone. "She's got a fragile heart." He whispered. Harvey shook his head. "Of course." He said.

"Harvey—" John spoke, "you know if I could have it my way, you wouldn't marry her. I don't want you to marry her.." John locked eyes with him. Harvey nodded, a tear rolling down his face. "But you also know what would happen to us, John. You know what they do to people like—." He whispered.

John sniffed again. "I know." He cut him off.

John knew that Harvey could never hurt a fly even if he wanted to. He was beautiful inside and out — which was rare for the city they lived in and for his upbringing. But never in a million years would he even have thought about purposely upsetting Ada.

And although the recent news was not at all ideal for either of them, he was going to try his best. For Ada and for the baby.

"We got done over by the Lees." John said randomly. Harvey furrowed his brows. "The whole lot of them turned the betting shop upside down before putting a hand grenade in Tommy's car. It almost bloody killed Finn." He explained.

"What're you going to do about it?" Harvey asked.

"Me? No. It's Tommy who's in charge. He'll have a plan or something. He's always got a bloody plan." John sniggered, throwing an arm around Harvey's shoulders. "When this baby comes, yeah, you best name him after me."

"Him? What if it's a girl?"

"Then you'll name her Jonathea—" He made a name up on the spot which caused Harvey to start laughing loudly. "Is that even a name?" He wheezed. John shrugged. "I don't know but it's fucking awful and I feel sorry for anybody who has that name!" He shrieked.

"Alright, alright." Harvey tried to breathe normally again after being in hysterics.

John stood and so did Harvey. John patted his shoulder and just nodded. "You'll be alright, Harv. You'll figure it out." He said, holding the side of Harvey's neck.

Harvey nodded in agreement and let out a breath, allowing John to hug him for a moment. They both closed their eyes and just said nothing. "What a mess we have gotten ourselves into, eh? You've knocked up my sister and my fiance has been shagging my brother." He said.

—

Polly swung the door open and was surprised to see Harvey and John stood there in the dark. John was drunk and leaning against Harvey for support but Harvey was completely sober.

"Jesus christ, boy." Polly dragged John inside. "Thank you, Harvey."

"Wait—" He stopped her. "Is Ada okay?" He asked genuinely. Polly glanced toward the stairs and then at him. "She's probably asleep." She said. Harvey nodded and cleared his throat. "Is Thomas home? There's something i'd like to ask him."

Polly pursed her lips together before nodding hesitantly. "I'll warn you he isn't in the best of moods."

Harvey stepped inside and rubbed his hands together to warm them. "Thank you, Polly." He said. Polly closed the door over and nodded toward the kitchen where Tommy stood. He walked in nervous and Tommy looked over at him.

"I don't mean to bother you or cause any trouble," Harvey said quickly. Tommy raised his eyebrows. "But there's something i'd like to ask you."

Tommy grunted and sat down. "Go ahead."

"If you'll allow me, I'd like to marry Ada." Harvey's voice was shaking ever so slightly. "I'm genuine, sir. I swear it. I'll do what I can for her and our baby when it comes." He said. "I'm an honest man."

Tommy looked him up and down. "You'll marry her?"

"What type of man would I be if I left a Shelby girl alone and pregnant?" He said seriously. Tommy hummed and nodded slowly. "And— and I can't get a ring just yet but i'll get one." He stuttered.

Tommy almost laughed at him.

"So please, with your blessing, i'll propose."

"You know, you sound a lot like our John did earlier today when he told me about his plans to marry." Tommy said. Harvey said nothing. "Alright." He sighed and stood again. "You can marry her. You have my blessing."

Harvey felt a weight lift from his shoulders.
"Thank you, Mr Shelby."

"But if you upset her—"

"You do not need to worry about that. I'm not going to upset her." Harvey swore, a genuine look in his eyes. "I'll try my best to be a good husband and an even better father."

Tommy bit back his smile and nodded. "Well done, Harvey. You're doing what most men would not." He praised.

After being dismissed by Tommy and given a nod of approval by Polly, Harvey cautiously ascended the stairs and gently tapped his knuckles against the wooden do of what he believed to be Ada's bedroom.

"I'm not hungry." She groaned from the other side after being nagged by Polly all day to eat something.

"Ada— it's me." Harvey told her. Her eyes widened and she used her hands to flatten her hair before taking a deep breath. "Oh.. come in then." She said with a sigh. Harvey twisted the door handle and stepped into the room. "How are you feeling?"

"Like i've got a baby growing inside of me." Ada said sarcastically.

Harvey couldn't help but smile and he leaned against the wall.

"Polly has been nagging me all day." She rolled her eyes, pulling her knees up to her chest. "Well if it's about food, you need to eat, Ada." Harvey said lightly. She just glared at him. He offered her a sympathetic smile and he crossed his arms. "I heard John was angry at you. He was angry at me too."

"He apologised to me, actually." Harvey said. "But that was before we went to the pub and he got shit faced." He laughed slightly.

"Did you drink too?"

Harvey shook his head. "No." He said. "I needed to keep my head clear for when I spoke to Tommy." He told her. She frowned. "What did you need to speak to him for?" She scoffed.

Harvey felt his mouth go dry and began contemplating whether it was a good idea or not. After all, he didn't love the girl. At least not yet. And this certainly wasn't how he had imagined getting his first wife.

"If you'd want to, I'd like to get married, Ada." He said nervously.

Her mouth fell open ever so slightly and her eyebrows raised. "Really?" She asked. She was unsure if she should feel pitied or excited. She had always wanted to be married and believed that Harvey was the type of boy who would make a good husband.

Harvey answered her question with a simple nod of his head. "You're carrying my baby. How could I not ask to marry you? I told you we could make it work and this is where we can start."

"But I don't have a dress." Ada said.

"And I don't have a ring." He retorted. "But we can make do with what we have." He said, looking at the simple silver ring that sat on his finger. He could use that for the time being — until he got her a proper one.

Ada stood and hesitated for a moment before wrapping her arms around him. "Thank you, Harvey."

"Is that a yes?" He asked. Ada laughed into his shoulder. "Yes, i'll marry you." She confirmed.

chapter 5
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