𝐏𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐄 𝐃𝐎𝐍𝐓 𝐆𝐎
chapter 12

"Fits me perfectly," Harvey smiled in the mirror as he buttoned up the shirt of the suit John had given to him for the Garrison re-opening. "I knew it would." John nodded as he smoked a cigarette.

Polly walked through the house. "Have you seen the paper?" She asked, dropping it onto the table.

Harvey frowned and picked it up. He read over the front page. A boy had been found dead down the Garrison Lane alleyway. Murder, it said. "Andrew McCarthy.." He trailed off and handed it to John. "Do they know who did it?"

Polly hummed. "And it just so happens to be the same lads that preached their disliking toward homosexuals. And Andrew McCarthy was a homosexual. Coincidence? I think not."

Harvey felt a weird feeling wash over him and he looked at John who seemed to be holding the paper tightly.

"I think people should be able to love whoever they want to these days.." Harvey suggested. Polly hummed. "I agree, Harvey. What difference does it make if a man likes another man.. we're all human." Polly sighed.

Harvey bit the inside of his cheek and John eyed him up. "Ain't nothing wrong with being gay." John said.

"Anyway, enough of that. Tommy wants us all at the pub before eight— people have already started arriving." She pointed a finger at them. Harvey nodded automatically, intimidated by the older woman. She paused as she passed him and placed a hand on his arm. "It's good to have you back, love."

"Thank you, Pol."

The door closed and John looked at Harvey. "What's gotten you all weird?" He asked. Harvey looked at him with confusion. "You've gone weird since Polly showed us that newspaper." He accused.

"Have I?" Harvey furrowed his brows together.

John nodded but didn't continue to press about it. He assumed he was just preparing himself for seeing Ada since they weren't in the best place at the moment. Harvey hadn't noticed anything so shrugged it off and followed John out of the house.

—

The doors of the Garrison opened and Harvey turned his head. He looked over the crowd of people to see Ada holding Karl as she was greeted by Polly. He weaved between people carefully and smiled widely at his son.

"Karl—" he breathed, smiling at Ada as she passed him over to Harvey. He placed a quick kiss on Ada's cheek before she could say anything and turned his attention to Karl. "How've you been, my lad?" He asked. Karl just laughed at him and Harvey walked back to the table.

John jumped up from his seat. "Karl!" He fussed, "my favourite nephew!"

"He's your only nephew." Ada reminded as she appeared behind Harvey. She linked her arm around his and watched John lift Karl into the air. "How's it been?"

Harvey looked down at her. "It's been good. Feels like i've never been away."

Ada nodded. "Tommy's had men placed outside the house to keep an eye out." She explained, "we shouldn't have anymore trouble from Sabini's men." She sighed. Harvey took a breath. "I'm sorry I wasn't there—" he said despite John's reminder that it wasn't his fault.

Ada shook her head and didn't say anything else. She was still slightly annoyed that it had happened and believed it could've been prevented if he had been in London.

"When do you plan on coming home?" Ada asked quietly. Harvey's eyes shifted to John who was talking to Karl. "I was hoping to stay for a few more days— if you were okay with it. I don't mind Karl staying with me and i'll bring him back." He offered. Ada forced a slight smile. "I think i'll just take him home with me. He gets restless." She said as if Harvey didn't know the behaviours of his own son.

Her words were like insults and he felt a pit of nerves in his stomach. He took a deep breath. "If— if you want me to come home sooner I will. It isn't an issue."

Ada looked away. "Do what you think is best, Harvey." Was all she responded with.

John had been watching discreetly from his seat at the way Harvey's mood had shifted since his conversation with Ada. With a frown, John stood. "Ada, you should come down more often. It feels like ages since I saw this one," he referred to Karl.

Ada laughed slightly. "Well, John. We did move to London for a reason. This godforsaken city is nothing but smoke and dirt."

"Oh, and London is much better, is it?" John joked. Ada laughed it off. "Yes, actually." She sighed. "Much better." She added. John and Harvey locked eyes for a brief moment but Harvey was quick to look down at his feet.

"Why don't I get you a drink, Ada? What would you like?" Harvey offered, placing a hand on her lower back. She thought for a moment. "A gin?" She suggested. He nodded once. "Of course." He said.

Harvey took a deep breath and disappeared to get Ada a drink. He felt a tight sting in his chest and he winced, ignoring it and breathing sharply.

John watched his sister for a moment before passing Karl to Esme. "What is up with you, Ada?" He asked. "Excuse me?" She retorted. "You're so hostile toward him. Why?" John observed. Ada stuttered slightly, unable to give reason. "I'm not hostile." Was what she came out with.

John stifled a laugh. "Yeah, okay." He scoffed.

Ada's lips parted. "Just because I do not like my husband being away from home does not mean i'm being hostile." She crossed her arms. She emphasised the word husband. Her words sat strangely with John and he wasn't sure why. "Home.." John whispered to himself, shaking his head slightly. "London ain't Harvey's home, Ada. This is his home."

"Says who?"

"Says him for fucks sake." He raised his voice slightly. "He doesn't even need to say it. He misses this place. It's obvious." John shrugged.

"What's there to miss?" Ada argued.

"Ada, everything he has other than you and Karl is here. He don't like change— never has." John told her. She raised her eyebrows. "He seems to have settled into London perfectly fine, thank you. If Harvey wishes to leave London, trust me— i'm not stopping him."

"Sure you're not." John muttered.

"What did you say?" Ada tilted her head.

John tutted. "Nothing, Ada. Don't worry about it." He dismissed her, turning and sitting back down. "Jesus, John— it's like you're bloody in love with him.. it's like he's your husband.." she scoffed and shook her head. John's eyes burned into his sister's back as she turned away and his jaw tensed, hands balled into fists under the table.

Harvey soon returned with Ada's drink and she thanked him with a smile. "Harvey—" she stopped him by grabbing his arm.

He looked down at her.

"You do.. enjoy living in London— don't you?" She asked. Harvey frowned. "I do." He said with slight hesitance. "It's nice to be back here, I won't lie to you. But I have a son now. My son comes before anything else."

Ada nodded in agreement.

"And you." He said after a second. "You and Karl are in London." He clarified.

Ada let out a breath of relief and carefully fixed a piece of his hair. "Good. That's good." She whispered.

The night went along smoothly and Harvey's nerves had calmed. John had refrained from saying any more to his sister and Ada was by Harvey's side the whole time. Which, of course, was no issue. It was just unusual for Harvey after her behaviour those last few weeks.

He didn't object, though. There was something about Ada that comforted him.

—

John let out a loud cackle as he and Harvey walked down Watery Lane completely drunk. They had their arms around each other's shoulders as they walked, hoping it would stop them from falling over.

As got back to the house, John held a finger up to his own lips to hush Harvey which only made him laugh more.

"Come in—" John almost fell over as he opened the door. Harvey cupped a hand over his mouth to conceal a laugh and helped John to his feet. "Shush!" John hissed at Harvey. "I didn't say anything!" He argued.

John just grinned and walked into the living room, throwing his cap to the table and sighing. "Home." He said with relief. Harvey closed the door over and followed him inside. "Where's Ada?" John asked as he rubbed his eyes.

"I made sure she was in a car back to London before we left the Garrison." Harvey assured.

John hummed and leaned his head back.
"At ya dad's funeral, Tommy told Ada that living in London as a Shelby wouldn't be safe during our expansion. She didn't listen though. When does she ever listen?"

Harvey frowned. "Tommy said that?"

John looked at him. "You didn't know?"

Harvey slowly shook his head. "She didn't tell me." He said honestly. John frowned. "God she does my fucking head in. How do you cope with her Harv?" John rubbed his eyes. "She knew that there was possibility of trouble yet she didn't listen— and she blames you for not being there when it happened? She doesn't make sense."

Harvey, still unable to mutter a bad word about his wife, just stared at the wall. He was confused. Why would Ada not tell him something like that?

"I think I should go back to London tomorrow." He said suddenly.

John sat up. "What?"

"Ada clearly needs me there and Karl needs his dad." He sighed. John furrowed his eyebrows together. "But.." John couldn't find something to say. So Harvey spoke again. "Tommy told Ada it wasn't safe to be in London— I need to be there just in case." He said but it was as if he was trying to convince himself.

John just pursed his lips into a line and nodded slowly.

The door opened slowly with a creak and they both turned their heads, their eyes landing on John's daughter Katie. "Dad.." she whispered, "I can't sleep." She said.

John tutted and stood up, "that's alright." He assured, leaning down to pick her up. "Say goodnight to Harvey." He tapped her back. She lifted her head to look at him. "Goodnight Harvey." She said tiredly. Harvey smiled slightly. "Goodnight, Katie." He said.

John glanced at Harvey. "You get yourself comfortable. I think I should go to bed." John said quietly.

Harvey nodded slowly and John left the room to take Katie back up to bed. With a sigh, Harvey pressed his palms into his eyes. His head was a mess. He wanted to stay in Birmingham but he knew he couldn't. Karl needed him, Ada needed him. Even if she said she didn't, she did.

—

John stood on the doorstep as he watched Harvey place his bags into the car. "When will I next see you?" He asked. Harvey thought for a moment. "We will figure it out." He said. John nodded and Harvey stood straight.

They just looked at each other for a moment. "Come here," John huffed, stepping down from the doorstep and wrapping his arms around Harvey. Harvey hugged him back and sighed, closing his eyes. "Don't let her get in your head about anything, Harv. D'ya hear me?" John whispered.

"Yeah." Harvey nodded.

"Alright— go on." John let go of him. Harvey hesitantly got into the car. "Call when you get back, yeah?" John said before he could begin leaving. Harvey nodded. "Of course."

—

The drive down to London went quicker than expected which was good. Harvey was tired and needed sleep. He stood outside, staring up at his home and took a deep breath. He took the key from his pocket and carefully unlocked the door.

It was quiet. Some of the lights were on. He could hear light chatter from the living room and he put his bags down.

Harvey pushed open the door and Karl noticed him first. "Daddy!" He babbled, toddling over to him. Ada snapped her head around and her eyes were wide. "You're back?" She asked as he lifted Karl from the floor. Harvey nodded. "I'm back." He confirmed.

Ada got up to hug him and he smiled slightly. A part of him was glad to be home whilst the other part of him longed to be in Small Heath.

"How's he been?" Harvey referred to Karl, knowing that the drive back to London wasn't always pleasant. "He's been okay. He slept most of the ride back." She explained. "He'll be better now that his father is home."

chapter 12
[gracessecretshelby]