Nothing Will Change

Chapter 51

"It's all right ladies, it'll be Andrew for me," James called from the corridor as there came a knock on the door.

Rose and Ada peaked up from what they were reading, giving each other a grin. Sat together on the sofa, both lounging out like teenagers, the house was finally having more of Ada's touch. Paintings began popping up, red curtains and sofas, Ada loving red. Plenty of browns and beige vases, details in every corner that made it all so warm. But Rose would implement some green otherwise the house would give a different impression. James couldn't even get a foot in any decision, but he didn't mind.

One major benefit of living with friends was that they didn't have to dress presentable. They could spend all day in their pajamas if they wished, which James mostly liked to do. They didn't have to get up early apart from going to work, they didn't have to explain their comings and goings. Rose felt her youngest sat reading with Ada in dressing gowns, like they were merely pretending to be adults and Ada didn't have a child.

"Ada, Rose," Tommy greeted as he walked in, scanning his eyes across the room.

James was quick to follow him, "I asked you a question."

"It's all right James," Ada said over her newspaper, "this is my brother."

Ada always read the news and Rose always read fiction. There had been many times when Rose tried to sneak fiction into her room for her to read, but Ada was much more interested in facts and what was actually happening in the world. Even if it was never pleasant, or as Ada described. Rose never liked reading the news because half the time it was about something that she didn't deem news at all. It was much more interesting hearing Ada tell it, as she was passionate and made it much more dramatic.

James was baffled, finally meeting the brother he had heard so much about.

"Who's he?" Tommy nodded to him.

"He rents a room," Ada pressed.

"You two need to rent out rooms?"

"Actually, they don't charge rent," James corrected, but likely only made him appear worse off. Though he smirked down at the two of them, Rose concealing a smile as Tommy eyed him intimidatingly.

Closing her book and resting it on her lap, Rose said, "he's a writer, which means he's skint, but he's pretty good."

And probably looked rather questionable just in an undershirt and trousers. Tommy kept staring at him like he had punched him or spoiled his drink, which was funny considering who James was.

"You get up late these days, Ada," he directed his words to Ada because Rose sitting just in a dressing gown made him feel a lot different.

"Mm. I go to bed late."

"Yeah? Where's Karl?"

Lowering her newspaper in a huff, she raised a brow, "what do you want Tommy?"

He turned his gaze back to James.

"Oh God, before you start sizing him up for a wedding suit, he's not interested in me... Or in girls of any kind."

"Ada!" James and Rose said in unison.

She went back to reading, "what? Tommy won't judge you. He sure as hell won't go to the police."

There was a shift on Tommy's face, even if the others wouldn't notice, Rose did. James was quick to then excuse himself to get dressed, and by then Tommy was interested in shaking his hand. He was polite when he no longer had to be protective, asking for a minute with just Rose and Ada. As he left, James shot Rose a cheeky look she would have jumped up and smacked him for, if he wasn't already halfway out the door.

Once he was gone, Tommy came and sat beside Rose, budging her up so she was leaning into him instead of the pillows. He eyed her book, The Age of Innocence, wanting to ask her what it was about but being preoccupied with what he came for. Resting his arm on the back of the sofa, he caught Ada rolling her eyes at them. Not in a distasteful way, but in an all knowing sister way that made him feel 14 again. Even though she was younger, she had wit and smarts as if she was older, as if she was the oldest of the siblings.

"Does James know your name?" Tommy questioned her.

"Yeah, Thorne," she rebutted. James knew many things about Tommy that he didn't know. Perhaps shouldn't know. Not about the bad, just about him as a person and his relationship with Rose. All things a roommate would know. All things Tommy would still be nervous about knowing.

"Your Brummie boys are all over the papers," Ada snarked, "just one last push eh? Then you'll go legit? Just one more obstacle to get round then it'll all be straight?"

Rose looked up to Tommy like she was asking the same question, and he grinded his teeth then, "actually yes."

Ada chuckled, "personally I find it quite amusing. Men like you are becoming very fashionable down here. Just ask any of Rose's clients."

Shaking her head, Rose played with her book in her hands, "the girls go giddy for them. Gangsters."

She was trying to be serious on Ada's behalf, but Tommy caught her winking at him. She couldn't exactly be shaming other women for their interests in those types of men when she snuggled into the side of one. It wouldn't be very fair. And why judge those with an interest who don't understand what it's truly like, surely safe ignorance is better.

"Anyway, what is it that you want?" Ada wondered.

"I don't have any children... At least maybe not yet," Tommy said and Rose gave a dramatic huff, "so I have set up a trust fund. The beneficiaries will be John's kids and Karl. In order for Karl to benefit, I need your signature."

He took out the papers from his pocket and placed them on the table across from them.

"I've set up an account," he continued, "money will be transferred in the event of my death."

"What is that supposed to mean?" Rose was quick to question him even before Ada could, but they shared the same concerned expression.

Taking the papers off the table, Ada read them over, sending a different look that had an element of curiosity mixed with her concern. Rose knew not only he had business with May and Alfie, but Campbell as well. He had promised her justice, and although she had felt herself moved on from her father's death it still loomed.

"Are you sick?" Ada asked.

He shook his head, "I'm just doing what any ordinary man would, putting my affairs in order."

There was trouble building, Rose could feel it when he was cold instead of warm. She wondered what exact business he had with Campbell, what the old man had on him. Because it had to be something, it had to be enough that their business was stretching over months when it should be over. And then of course Sabini, because there was news of the takeover of the Eden Club, and whilst Rose hadn't yet visited, she knew of the rumblings surrounding it.

It was as though he was balancing, holding nicely presented joyous things as he wobbled over all the bad. And he kept it contained in his head, even if Rose was right there to be fed all his worries like cream. Although busy with designs and clients and printers, she was who she thought he'd lean on the most. But perhaps she'd have to be more involved if she ever wanted to be allowed through the gates of Thomas Shelby's mind.