When The Boys Are Away

Part 50

When Michael and Harlow pulled up outside the betting shop, darkness was beginning to fall. Still, the day was far from over because as soon as the sun set, Small Heath came alive. The pubs began to bustle with excitable customers and although the streets often seemed sinister, it was a place where teenagers could roam free and undetected, just like the Shelbys had in the past before the war. 

Everything good had happened before the war. 

Michael grabbed his bag as Harlow hopped out onto the street, and the moment her heels hit the cobbles, everyone knew she was back in town. Not that anybody stepped out of line whilst they were away, the citizens of Birmingham had to adjust back to being under constant surveillance. Most people liked it, knowing that the Peaky Blinders would protect their town, but there were others who didn't; most importantly, the police. 

"Polly, we're back!" Harlow called out cheerfully as she entered the quiet shop. Most of the workers were finishing up and offered the woman a short, polite smile before bustling on with their jobs. 

A familiar mop of brown hair waltzed through the doorway holding a steaming cup of tea, and a beaming smile on her face. "I wondered when you'd return." Polly responded fondly, placing the saucer down on the table to embrace her son and the girl she had raised like a daughter. 

"Hi mum." Michael grinned happily, dropping his bag down on the floor like a young boy who had just returned from school after a long, hard day of learning. As he slouched into a nearby chair, Polly couldn't help but laugh at his exhausted outlook. He was just like his father. 

"Goodbye Mrs Gray, Mr Gray, Miss Winters." Two of the remaining women added before their departure, leaving the trio alone in the closed shop. Polly waved, acknowledging their comments before following over to lock the door to prevent any unwanted guests flooding in. Usually it was just old, drunk men who mistook the house for their own after stumbling home from the pub. 

Harlow perched on the desk as Polly sat down beside her son, blowing softly on her tea to cool it down to a reasonable temperature. "So," She began between sips, "Did everything go to plan?"
Since Polly had received no desperate or panicked phone calls from London in the days they had been away, she had decided that there was no point worrying too much. If it went catastrophically wrong, she would have known. 

Harlow nodded ambiguously, "More or less. They took over the clubs and I think we have an understanding with Alfie." Polly narrowed her eyes in confusion. "Solomons." Michael added to provide her with the extra information, "He took Harlow on a date." He wiggled his eyebrows as Polly gasped with a content smile on her face. 

Rolling her eyes, Harlow leant back slight on the table, avoiding Polly's amused glances, "It's about time you got back at that nephew of mine. I hope it teaches him a lesson. But you know what he's like, as stubborn as an bull."

Nobody could disagree there, but Harlow couldn't help but want to straighten the facts, "It wasn't a date, it was a busi-" 

"A business meeting, yes we've heard." Michael interrupted mockingly, avoiding a ball of paper that Harlow lobbed his way childishly. Polly shook her head with a grin, choosing to keep quiet before they all heard a knocking on the door. 

A key twisted in the lock as Isaiah strolled in with a large, brown bag, pausing when he noticed the family at the table. "Sorry, I've just got to drop of these forms from my father. He said Tommy wanted them and he gave me the key." In either hand Isaiah showed off the rusting key and the heavy bag which Harlow went to retrieve with a thank you. 

"Some of us are heading to a pub a few streets away, you up for it Mikey?" Isaiah asked interestedly as Michael nodded his head at the invite, turning to check with the two women.