Dottie hardly moved from Polly's side. She was constantly touching her, holding her hand or accidentally moving her leg and jolting Polly's, not that Polly minded. She had missed her daughter, and had tried to see her, yet no one would tell her where Rosemary lived in Kent, the ceiling in Tommy's office proves her anger.
The pair sit with a cup of tea on the table talking when Micheal walks in, wearing a suit with his hair brushed back. He has his eyes casted downwards, looking at a newspaper.
"I don't remember you ever reading," Dottie remarks, watching as Micheal looks up with a frown.
He drops the newspaper, "Thea! You're back!" He cries, going over to his sister and pulling her in to his arms.
She smiles as she wraps her arms around his torso, leaning her ear against his heart, "I've missed you."
"I've missed you," Micheal responds, kissing his sister's temple, he pulls back slightly to take a better look at Dottie, "you're okay now, aren't you?"
Dottie nods, "I am. Rosemary helped me a lot, even though I hate to say that."
Raising an eyebrow, Micheal half smirks. "Still hate the woman then?"
"Of course I do, she's still grotesque. Even argued with me one day because... well I hated Eliza calling her nana, kept saying to Eliza that she's not but you know what kids are like-"
"Eliza's here?"
Dottie nods, "she is. She's asleep, at the moment. I woke her up to meet Mum, but she was too shy, still too tired."
"How is she? How is she doing?"
Dottie smiles, staring at Micheal's caring face. "She's okay, she's good. She isn't very talkative until she's used to someone, but that's only because it's only ever been me and her and sometimes Rosemary."
Micheal's eyes scan over Dottie's face, his hands hold her face, his thumbs stroking her plump cheeks. He smiles again, pulling her once more against his chest, Dottie chuckles, patting his ribs.
"You're a lot more sentimental now," Dottie says, pulling away from him, she frowns slightly, "I prefer you like this, not like the big bad brother you always seemed to be." She steps back and looks him up and down before looking at Polly.
"Don't he look like Tom?"
Polly nods, crossing her leg over her knee, "that's what I've been saying. He's too much like his cousins- Christ, your cousins! They would love to see you again."
"Are they here?"
Polly nods, "of course they are, they've been working out the last final bits to the wedding, and the boys have been cooped up in Tommy's office." She says as she stands up, brushing away the crumbs of her lap, "come, I'll take you to where Tommy and the boys are."
Dottie nods, however she hesitates, staring at Polly. "Where's Reggie? What happened to him? I haven't heard from him."
Micheal, stepping back from Dottie silently, eyes Polly.
"Reggie still lives where you and he lived, he hasn't been apart of the family as such. Been working for Tom, and then going to the pub."
Dottie raises her eyebrows, "the pub? He doesn't drink."
"He does now," Polly says, looking at Dottie, "we checked on him, multiple times... but he soon stopped responding to me on the door. I've made the boys check on him whilst he's at work, but you know what the boys are like. Everything goes over their heads."
Dottie nods slowly, taking in the new information, "is he... is he coming to the wedding?"
Polly nods, "as a Blinder, he has to. He's part of the muscle, incase any trouble happens."
"Trouble?"
"Tommy hasn't changed, my love. Trouble follows him wherever he goes, or should I say he creates it, now come on. Your cousins will be dying to see you."
-
Dottie awoke a sleeping Eliza up when they passed they bedroom the mother and daughter pair would be staying in. She entered the room to find Eliza snoring, and gently woke her up, engulfing Eliza in to her body and picking her up.
"How was your sleep, my gorgeous little girl?" Dottie coos, cuddling the girl tight in to her chest.
Eliza nods and Dottie smiles, stroking down the girls long hair.
"Was it good? Was it a good nap? What did you dream of?"
Eliza nods again, pulling away from Dottie to smile at her. "Presents!" The young girl says showing off a lopsided grin.
Dottie raises her eyebrows, "presents? Who said you're getting presents, baby? Or is there something I don't know about?"
Eliza lets out a giggle, placing her hand up to Dottie's lips. Dottie holds her wrist, kissing her palm before removing her hand from her lips. She scoops the young toddler up in to her lap and leans over to the door, opening it wide for Polly and Micheal to come in.
"Eliza, baby, this is my mummy, and my brother. Do you remember me telling you about them both?"
Eliza nods, looking at Polly, "mummy's mama?" She asks, her wide and dark eyes boring in to Polly's soul.
Polly steps forward slowly, she drops to her knees when she reaches the bed. "Hello, Eliza... I remember you when you was a tiny baby. I use to live with you."
"In Granny's house?"
Polly swallows a lump in her throat. "No, no, not then. Before you moved to your... granny's house, I lived with you, and your mama."
Eliza nods, "sweets?" She asks, hopefully staring at Polly who smiles.
"I don't have any... maybe me and you can go find some later? Yeah?"
Eliza nods again, however this time it's an excited and fast nod. "Mama don't let me have any!"
"Well that's a lie," Dottie responds, digging her fingertips gently in to the girls abdomen making her squeal.
"Mama!" The girl cries, rolling around on Dottie's lap laughing, "Mama, I be good!"
Dottie moves her fingertips, raising her eyebrows at Eliza, "hmm," she hums before she looks at Micheal, "this is my brother. Your uncle Micheal."
Eliza tilts her head, almost reminding Micheal of a puppy, with her soft and large hazel eyes.
"You look so much like your mum," Micheal says, also kneeling down, "has your mama been taking good care of you?"
Eliza shakes her head, a mischievous smile irrupts on her face showing off two sets of dimples.
"No?!" Dottie exclaims, picking up the light toddler and dangling her in the air, "no? Wow! No more sweets for you!"
The child squeals, "no Mama!"
Micheal and Polly watch as Dottie throws the girl up in to the air and then proceeds to catch the squeaking girl. Micheal eyes Polly, a warm smile on his face.
When Eliza escapes Dottie, she runs to Micheal, clinging on to his legs.
"Save me!" She cries, giggling as she looks for Dottie before she looks up to Micheal, "save me!" She declares, throwing her arms up.
Micheal bends down, picking her up and situating her on his hip. "Save you? From what?"
"Mama!" Eliza cries, looking at Dottie with a smirk on her face. "Mama will get me! Save me!"
Dottie leans back, smiling as Micheal gasps.
"Is she going to get you? Well you better hide with your nana!" He exclaims, looking behind Eliza to Polly, who grins and opens her arms. Micheal practically throws Eliza, making her squeal. Polly catches her instantly, tickling the small girl and cuddling her.
Eliza stares at Polly, keeping her distance as she looks over every feature.
Dottie frowns, standing up from the bed. She goes to talk when Eliza speaks, totally mesmerised in Polly.
"You're in my dreams!"
Polly frowns, "really? Can you tell me more?"
"She has these dreams, Mum," Dottie explains, "like me. Have you seen Nana before, Eliza?" Dottie asks, stroking down Eliza's bushy hair.
Eliza nods, "you look after my mama!" She exclaims before throwing herself in to Polly's chest.
Wrapping her arms around the young girl, Polly kisses Eliza's temple.
"Thank you Nana," the little girl whispers, "you saved us!"