Chapter 23
Chapter Twenty-Three
Minnie was quiet as they sat across from one another that evening, each trying to get down the soup she had attempted earlier that day.
Her cooking lessons with Mrs. O’Connor had been progressing, although she had started from nothing, so she still had a fair way to go. Tommy had been encouraging, but Minnie knew he was only trying to make her feel better.
“I’m sorry,” she said, placing down her spoon as she stared morosely at the watery mess before her.
“It’s good,” Tommy lied, trying to hide the expression on his face.
“Tommy,” she said, lifting a brow as she looked at him incredulously.
“Well, this one is edible,” he amended. “Perhaps a bit too much salt.”
She smirked at that before her countenance shifted slightly. This afternoon had been a rude awakening. She had known for quite some time that Tommy’s life had obviously changed as a result of his efforts to save her.
But now, knowing firsthand that Tommy was risking his own family with his actions, even more guilt crept over her.
Tommy had not only given up his chance at love with another for her, but he was putting his own life at risk. He could be hurt because of her family’s troubles, her father’s actions. His family’s safety could also be at stake.
“Tommy, we need to talk,” she said, folding her hands in her lap.
“That’s never a good way to start a conversation with a lady,” he said, sitting back in his chair, the nearly inedible soup forgotten.
Minnie forced herself to sit stoically, not to allow her own emotion to cloud rational thought.
“This has gone too far,” she said, shaking her head as she clenched her jaw. “I’ve ruined your life.”
“Minnie—” he began, but she held up a hand.
“Let me finish, please,” she said, although not unkindly, and he nodded, waiting.
She took a deep breath.
“My father made terrible decisions, and I appreciate all you’ve done for me. But now everything that means anything to you is at risk. Your career, which you’ve spent years working on. Football, which is your passion. Your family, whom you love more than anything. And for what?”
He waited, likely ensuring she was done, before he spoke.
“For you, Minnie.”
He couldn’t mean that. Not truly. They had barely known one another when he had sacrificed the life he knew.
“But—”
“Don’t say you don’t deserve it. Because you do. I knew what I was getting into. What kind of man Blackwood was. And I did it anyway. It’s worth it. Every risk, every second of it.”
His words caused warmth to bloom in her heart, but how could he truly mean that?
“Tommy. If, after this, you no longer want to be married to me, I understand.”
“How could you think that?” he said, placing his utensils down. “I am the lucky one. You deserve better than a footballer. One who might be disgraced by the end of this. What kind of life will that be for you?”
“It would be a life with a man who gave everything for me.” If it actually happened.
“We obviously both still have reservations,” he said, pushing back his chair. “Why don’t we agree that we will revisit this once the danger has passed?”
She hated how guarded his face had become.
“Tommy—”
“I have a meeting with Jack,” he said. “We’ll just be downstairs, so you’ll be safe here. If you need anything, please come tell me.”
“I don’t want to leave it like this,” she said softly.
“I know,” he said. “But all will be fine, Minnie. I promise. After this, we’ll decide on our next steps. To find safety again.”
So he could be rid of her. As much as he wasn’t putting it into words.
“The man I spoke to today said the police are all in Blackwood’s pocket,” he continued. “Tomorrow, we’ll take the evidence to a customs official. Hopefully, we can take down Blackwood that way.”
“Are you sure that will be enough?”
“It has to be,” he said with a sigh, standing and finding his hat. “Goodnight, Minnie.”
“Goodnight, Tommy,” she said softly, hearing what he was saying. He wasn’t interested in spending more time with her tonight.
She could only hope it would be a good meeting with the blacksmith.
Tommy deserved something to go his way.
“’Evenin’, Jack,” Tommy greeted his employer as he reached the bottom of the stairs.
Jack Carstairs was his employer, yes, but over the years, he had become much more than that. He was his mentor, his friend, a father figure, especially when times had gotten hard with his own father’s injury.
“Tommy,” Jack greeted him. “Have a seat.”
He led them over to the small table near the front of the shop, where the sturdy metal chairs were designed for customers waiting to speak to one of them.
Jack’s face was expressionless, revealing no hint of what he wanted to discuss with Tommy, although Tommy had a feeling he already knew.
“I received an interesting visit earlier this afternoon,” Jack said, sitting back and crossing his arms over his beefy chest.
“Oh?”
“From a man who goes only by Garrick. Said to work for Blackwood.”
Garrick. So that was his name.
“You’ve heard of Blackwood?” Tommy asked, still unsure of just what Jack assumed about his involvement.
Jack snorted. “Who in Manchester hasn’t heard of Blackwood? He said you’ve got your nose in business you have no reason to be involved in.”
Tommy sighed. “That’s not altogether true. It’s my wife’s father who lost his way with Blackwood, became indebted to him.”
“This is Draper, of Draper & Hanson Shipping?”
“The very one.”
“Damn.” Jack unfolded his arms and ran his hand over his face.
Tommy wasn’t inclined to share the business of another, but Jack was a trustworthy sort. He wouldn’t tell anyone who didn’t need to know.
“I’m only involved because he’s threatened my wife,” Tommy continued. “My family.”
Jack stroked his beard as he contemplated him. “So, what are you going to do?”
“I’m going to find a way to bring him down.”
Jack shook his head, his thick beard, now peppered with white, moving with him. “That’s dangerous business, son.”
Tommy felt Jack’s concern, especially in the way he referred to him. He was worried about him, not judging him. Tommy realized he hadn’t even asked his mentor how Blackwood had threatened him.
“What did Garrick say to you?”
“Told me that you were trouble. That you were in with Blackwood and I best be rid of you, or I would see myself beholden to the man soon enough.”
“If we let him get away with what he’s doing, all of Manchester will be beholden to him in one way or another,” Tommy said.
“Unfortunately, I guess that’s the truth.”
“I don’t want to see you or the business in harm’s way, any more than I want to see Minnie put in his path,” Tommy said with a sigh as he ran his hand through his hair. “Maybe it’s for the best that we part ways.”
“Part ways? You and me?” Jack said, his eyes widening, the first show of emotion. “Tommy, I’ve been training you for seven years. Known you since you were wee.”
“I know, but Jack…” Tommy didn’t want Jack to think he wasn’t grateful, but there was still much that needed to be said about their working relationship.
“It’s been seven years, and we haven’t talked lately about what comes next.
I appreciate working with you more than you know.
You’ve been good to me. More than an employer, than a mentor. But…”
Jack studied him. “But now you have a wife to look after, a family to come.”
“Yes,” Tommy said, relieved that Jack understood. “I need to decide what’s next for myself, as well.”
“I’ve been doing some thinking myself,” Jack said, sitting back, once again crossing his thick arms over his chest. “Maybe it’s time that you start looking after all of this yourself, as we always planned for you to.
If Blackwood wants to threaten you, then so be it. That will be on you to deal with.”
“Take it on?” Tommy repeated, blinking. “You want me to take over the shop?”
“That’s what I’m thinking, yes,” Jack said, a wide smile breaking over his face.
“You’d have to buy me out, but we could do it over time, a small bit each month.
I’d still be around to help when needed, but I wouldn’t have to worry about the concerns that come with running the shop.
That would all be on you. Let’s be honest, you’ve been doing much of it already.
I could still help during football, until you hire an apprentice.
Of course, the profits would also be yours as well. What would you think about that?”
“That would be… that would be amazing,” Tommy said, still in astonishment at the turn in the conversation.
“But Jack, I don’t want you to feel forced into this because of Blackwood’s threats.
We could always pretend you’re not part of it and then return to the way things were.
Do this later, once everything is settled down. ”
“No,” Jack said, shaking his head and sitting forward.
“I think this is what I needed to encourage me to take the next step. To be honest, son, I’ve been dragging my feet.
Too afraid to move forward, as it means my best years are behind me.
Flora’s told me that enough times, but I just couldn’t see it myself until now. ”
“You don’t know that, Jack,” Tommy said, realizing he was arguing against what he wanted, but he hated seeing the man he cared for appear so discouraged. “Maybe your best years are yet to come. You can relax. Spend time with your family. Enjoy your time.”
“True.”
“And if you really miss the work, you can come in and harass me anytime,” Tommy said with a laugh. “You know I’m going to have more questions than you’ll want to deal with.”
Jack laughed in turn. “Don’t I know it. Be careful with your offer, Tom, or you might have me on as a full-time employee.”
“I’d be happy for it,” Tommy said, reaching out and clasping hands with Jack before he turned serious again. “I do have one other favor to ask.”
“Name it.”
“Becoming my wife… has been an adjustment for Minnie, even if she’d never admit it.
It’s not that she isn’t happy with me – at least, I think she is – it’s just that she’s just not sure what to do with herself all day while I’m in the shop.
Do you think maybe she could chat with Flora one day?
Get a sense of how she can help, what she can do? ”
“Seems to me like she’s been doing a decent job so far,” Jack said. “But of course. Flora would be happy to speak to her.”
“Thanks, Jack.”
“Things will change once she has your babies,” Jack said with a mischievous twinkle in his eye, and Tommy couldn’t help how his heart warmed at the thought. His babies. With Minnie. He hoped he could see that come to fruition. That she wouldn’t leave before they had the chance.
“Perhaps,” he said, thinking about the other night. The truth was, they hadn’t been careful, and Minnie could be carrying his baby right now. He didn’t want to trap her into anything, but he also couldn’t imagine letting her go any longer.
“You have people relying on you, Tom,” Jack said, placing a hand on his shoulder. “Now, more than ever before. Whatever you do, be safe and take care of yourself, you hear?”
“I hear you, Jack. Thank you.”
They shook hands and gave one another a half-embrace before Tommy returned to the bottom of the stairs, finally allowing the excitement to flow through his veins.
Yes, this shop would be his to lose now.
But it was also filled with opportunity to make something of himself, to give Minnie everything she ever wanted, to help pay for the medication his sister so desperately needed.
He ran up the last few stairs, eager to tell Minnie, to surprise her. He knew she had been worried about what Jack wanted, even if she hadn’t said it.
Tommy stopped when he entered the room, pausing with his hand on the doorway.
It appeared that Minnie had tried to wait up for him. She was sitting upright in the bed, her blonde hair falling around her face like a halo, but her eyes were closed, her face serene in rest.
Tommy walked over and tenderly lifted her down so that she was under the blankets, which he tucked in around her neck.
He brushed his hand over her hair, leaned down and kissed her forehead, quietly singing a soft, slow, happy song as he washed up and slid into bed beside her.
In her sleep, Minnie nuzzled back into him, tucked into the curve of his body, and he wrapped his arm around her, holding her close, his nose nestled in his hair.
For the first time, he started holding out hope that maybe — just maybe — she would stay his.
But just in case, he would hold onto this moment, in which he was content with this woman in his arms and his business at his feet. A moment he would hold in his memories for the rest of his life.