𝐀𝐋𝐋 𝐓𝐎𝐎 𝐖𝐄𝐋𝐋 || 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐌𝐀𝐒 𝐒𝐇𝐄𝐋𝐁𝐘

SEVEN

Sadbh was back where she seemed to spend more time than anywhere else, even her own house - the Garrison. She was reaching for a glass when she heard a knock on the hatch. Turning to Tommy, she passed him the Irish whiskey he requested.

"Tommy, I was looking at dresses for the races. And, you see they're very expensive. I suppose you wouldn't know, being a man and all I assume you're not a frequent dress buyer - not that I would judge you if you were, I'm a very modern woman. I could see dresses suiting you actually. Might make you more approachable. A blue would look good on you, it'd bring out your eyes I think." He gave her a look "Get on with it Sadbh, I don't have all day."

She raised her hands "Okay okay, relax. Anyway, yeah dresses are very expensive. And I just think I'd need a bit more, to cover the costs you see. I'm taking a day off here, I'd want to make a bit of a profit. You understand surely, you're a business man. So I'd like an extra two pounds twelve shillings."

"I've already given you three." "Yeah well I happen to know that you don't pay for suits. Think of it as you putting what you're saving there towards my dress. The maths works out. Anyways, do you think Pol would like to hear you're underpaying me. I imagine she'd have a few words, and none of them would be very nice."

He rolled his eyes "So now you're blackmailing me. I have to say, I didn't expect that from you Sadbh. You used to be nice and quiet. What happened?" "I grew up.", she replied with a smirk. She didn't know if she imagined the tension she felt in the air, when he looked her up and down, and said "That you did."

She quickly moved on, not sure what just happened. "So will you give me the money, or would you prefer I go looking like a flower girl?" He reached for the doors of the hatch. "What I want makes no difference. It's not me you're dressing up for." With that he closed the hatch.

She turned back into the counter, cheeks slightly red. She had no idea where that weird interaction came from, but she didn't mind it. Everyone knew Thomas was a handsome man. The fact that maybe he thought she was pretty made her feel amazing. Twelve year old her who had a massive crush on him was absolutely screaming. She moved to beside Grace, the girl looking at her sharply.

"You're going to the races with Mr. Shelby?" "Yeah, not sure why really. He's a bit weird sometimes, you get used to it. I've known him since I was young see, and he always has these mad plans that you get involved in unintentionally. It's grand though, Tommy would never let any real harm come to me. My family, and his family would murder him."

Grace nodded, and Sadbh noticed her interest had diverted to the two men who entered the snug. She had seen that a lot recently - when the Shelby's (particularly Tommy) were around, Grace wouldn't pay attention to anything else except them. She didn't know why, she supposed she could have a romantic interest in Tommy, or maybe she was just nosey. Whatever it was, she found it a bit strange.

She felt like she had to step in when she noticed Grace leaning in towards the door and eavesdropping. Could she be anymore obvious?
"Grace, would you mind helping me with this keg, I hurt my arm the yesterday and it's really sore when I try and lift it?" It wasn't a great excuse, but the older woman didn't seem to notice. She looked disappointed, but came over and grabbed it anyway.

Sadbh let out a snort as she heard one of the men start singing. "What happened to singing on Saturdays, eh?" Grace laughed half heartedly. Sadbh felt like being bold "Good song choice though. Boys of the Old Brigade's a fine tune."

Her fun was dashed when Tommy appeared at the counter and Grace turned to him. "I thought you only allowed singing on Saturday." Sadbh felt a flash of annoyance when she heard her words repeated. She hadn't a notion why it bothered her as much as it did.

Grace started going on about translating and accents, which Sadbh tuned out, until Tommy smiled tightly at Grace and walked down the counter to the Casey girl. "Fine singers those men. You're doing business with the Ra now Tommy?" He shook his head "Nah, they're just rebels because they like the songs. Here." He shoved money towards her "For the dress. Wear red to match his handkerchief." With that he walked off. "Who's handkerchief?", she called after him, but she got no response.

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Sadbh was sweeping the floor of the Garrison, when Ada ran in. She bent over, looking like she was about to collapse, and Sadbh rushed to the girl. "Have you seen Freddie Thorne, or Tommy?" Ada groaned in pain. Sadbh looked up at Grace "Would you get her a drop of water please?"

She took the glass off Grace and held it out to Ada "Have this, you're burning up." "I have to find Freddie." "Ades, just take a sip first. Calm down a minute." "No Sadbh, I can't. They're going to kill each other." Grace came over "Wait. Who is going to kill who?" Sadbh shot a look at Grace "Give her a second. Ada, calm the fuck down. Neither of those two have the balls to kill the other. Not when you'll rain hell upon them. They pretend they're all tough and shit, but really they know you have the power. So don't worry. You've the upper hand in this situation."

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Sadbh was working again, when Tommy came in and sat himself down in the snug. "Ada was here, she was in a bad way. She was so worried about you and Freddie, it made her sick. She's grand now. But in her condition, she needs peace, Tommy." He was silent. She sighed "Women talk, Tom."

"That is something they do." "She was talking about you. You stress her out, you know. She was going on about how you keep everything locked up, sure we all know that. But still, she worries. It's not great for her to be worried with the way she is."

"Well, that's what men do." Sadbh scoffed at his answer. "It's not easy for Ada, you know. She feels so isolated. Her brother and her husband fighting over the same thing. Men should talk more, instead of fighting just to try show who has the bigger cock. It's stupid."
He seemed to find the last part funny, but covered his smirk up quickly, replacing it with a blank expression.

"Talk to who, Sadbh? You?" She laughed. "Fuck no. Did you listen to me? To each other, instead of being unnecessarily violent to try prove that they're the big man around the place. I swear, if you men had even half the common sense women have, the world would be a much better place."

He laughed out loud this time. "You're a kid. What do you know about common sense?" She rolled her eyes. "I know more than you'd think. I helped Pol run things while you were at war, don't you go forgetting that." It was his turn to roll his eyes then. She went to leave, as he picked up his paper. "9 o' clock tomorrow. Be ready." She saluted him mockingly, "At your service Boss."

"Did you buy the dress?" He called out as she was leaving. She looked at him blankly "No, I was actually planning on going naked. It's more fun that way." He raised an eyebrow. "Yes Sir Thomas, I bought a dress. Happy now?"

"Depends. What does it look like?" She grinned, "You'll have to wait and see, won't you. Sure it's no fun if I don't keep you on your toes." With that she walked out.

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Hope you liked that! I'm hoping to get an extra post up either this week or next week since I have Easter holidays from school. I finished my leaving cert orals today, so that's fun!! (exams in languages where you have a conversation with an examiner). I do German and Irish, they weren't too bad, hope anyone else who did them got on well!!