The Queen Of Small Heath

Meeting her.

"You mean step-monster." Aurora scoffs under her breath. "Aurora." Mr Steele scolds. "Well, she is. And always will be to me." Aurora shrugs innocently making Polly chuckle. "I take it you don't like her." She says knowingly and Aurora nods. "She thinks she's mum and thinks she can tell me what to do."

"No one can tell you what to do. You're as stubborn as they come." Mr Steele mutters, raising his eyebrow at his daughter. "Well, I am your daughter, so..." Aurora trails off making him and polly chuckle. "You guys should come over for dinner tonight." Polly suggests. "Oh, that would be nice to catch up." Mr Steele agrees.

"Bring Stella. I'd like to meet her." Polly smiles. "Do we have too?" Aurora groans making me and Arthur smirk. "What time, Pol?" Mr Steele asks. "About five." Polly replies and Mr Steele nods, smiling. "Perfect. Well, we've got some business to attend to so we'll see you later. And it was nice to meet you boys." He tips his head at us before starting to walk away. "Nice meeting you, Polly." Aurora says, following her dad, not even looking at any of us. "You too, dear." Polly responds.

******

"Tommy, Arthur, set the table please." Polly calls to us and we sigh, doing what we ask when there's a knock at the door. "I'll get it!" John calls, running to the door. As I put the plates down, I hear multiple footsteps walk in. I look up and see Mr Steele, followed the woman Aurora was arguing with, Aurora and a little boy about Finns age following behind.

"Oh, you came. Good." Polly smiles as she greets Mr Steele. "Off course. Pol, meet my wife, Stella." He introduces and Polly and Stella shake hands. "Hello." Stella utters, looking around in distaste. "And who's this?" Polly wonders, smiling at the little boy that shyly hides behind Aurora. "Come on, Jakey. You're not shy." Aurora chuckles, kneeling down to him.

"Jake, this is Polly, an old friend of dads." She introduces and Jake shyly waves. "Hello, Jake." Polly greets and Mr Steele chuckles when Jake hides his face in Auroras neck. "He's always like this." Mr Steele informs and Polly chuckles lightly. "Finn's the same. Actually, John, get Finn and Ada." She tells John and he runs into the living room before running back out holding Finns hand with Ada beside him.

"Finn, can you say hi?" Polly says and Finn waves shyly. "Hi, cutie." Aurora smiles softly and Finn runs over to her, wrapping his arms around her legs as she chuckles. "I think he likes you." Arthur chuckles. "Please, everyone, sit down." Polly gestures to the table and we all move to take a seat. I get stuck sitting next to Aurora and I sigh under my breath.

As Polly puts the food on the table, her and Mr Steele get talking. "So, how long have you two been together?" Polly wonders, looking between him and Stella. "Um, around two years." Mr Steele informs. "Unfortunately." Aurora mumbles making me smirk. "You really don't like her, do you?" I whisper and she turns to me making me notice how green her eyes are. "Is it that obvious?" She whispers. "Yes." I nod. "Good. Hopefully, she sees it and leaves." She replies making me chuckle.

"When was the wedding?" Ada asks, intrigued. "Around six months ago. Got married in London before we came back." Mr Steele explains. "Yeah, not that I wanted to come here. It's not my type of place." Stella smiles obnoxiously. "Then leave. We're not stopping you." Aurora suggests and Stella rolls her eyes.

"We came back because I'm opening another boxing ring. I have three in London that are doing really well so I wanted to open one here." Mr Steele informs making me and Arthur peak up. "Me and Tommy box, sir." Arthur tells him. "Really? Well, if it's okay with your aunt, you're more than welcome to come to the ring anytime you want." Mr Steele tells us.

"They can go as long as they're supervised." Polly says sternly. "Off course. My most trusted men are there. They have to be because my rascal of a daughter don't follow the rules." Mr Steele utters and we look at Aurora in shock. "You box?" Arthur asks her. "Yep." She nods, helping Jake eat.

"Didn't see that coming." Arthur murmurs, sharing a look with me. "Not that she should. She needs etiquette lessons, not boxing lessons." Stella says firmly. "No, thanks." Aurora scoffs. "Ladies are not meant to box. That's what men are for." Stella replies and Mr Steele and Aurora both roll their eyes. "I'm glad she's learning to box. Takes after her dad with that men right hook she's got." Mr Steele winks at Aurora who smiles.

******

"Thank you for dinner, Pol. It was lovely." Mr Steele smiles and Polly smiles back. "You're more than welcome. Come round anytime, it's nice that you're back in Small Heath." She says, leaning against the door. "Yeah, it feels good to be back. Right, sweetheart?" Mr Steele nods, nudging Aurora who nods as she holds a sleeping Jake.

"Well, it was nice to meet you, Stella." Polly says. "Wish I could say the same." Stella replies and Aurora rolls her eyes. "Please divorce her." She whisper-shouts to Mr Steele making me and Arthur smirk as Stella walks off. "Sorry about her, Pol. She's used to posh people and money." Mr Steele explains. "Don't apologise. I'm used to women like her." Polly dismisses.

"Thanks, Pol. Right, come on. Let's get this little one to bed." Mr Steele says, nodding at Jake. "See you guys soon." Polly waves. Aurora smiles at her before giving me one last look and follows behind her dad. "She's really beautiful." Arthur mumbles and I look at him, raising my eyebrow. "Fancy her, brother?" I ask. "Off course, who wouldn't? But I have a feeling she's going to be yours." He says and I scoff.

I doubt it.