"I'm moving to London," Ada announces to the room of women.
"What- why?" Kezia responds.
"Freddie has some friends there," Ada shrugs, and Kez scoffs, "you have your family here."
"I'm not staying in Birmingham my entire life, Kez, I want more," Ada sighs.
"Don't we all," Esmé laughs.
"You want London or does Freddie want London?" Kezia asks.
"We both want it," Ada states.
"When are you moving?" Tess inquires.
"Next week," Ada answers.
"Next week?" Kez repeats, her voice raised slightly, sitting up in her chair.
"Freddie and I have been discussing this for months, ever since he got out of prison," Ada states.
"It's far," Bea whispers.
"I know," Ada nods solemnly, "I'm going to miss you."
Kez sighs, "are you at least moving into something bigger than the shoebox?"
"Stop calling it a shoebox," Ada replies, "and yes, it's a little nicer, a little bigger."
"Let me guess, Freddie's friends, they're commies, probably end up sharing with a dozen of them, collective ownership and all," Kez mumbles.
"Stop with the snark," Polly says.
"This is bullshit," Kezia scoffs, "you can't tell me you're fine with this?"
"Your sister is a grown woman who can make her own decisions," Polly states.
"Thank you, Pol," Ada says.
"So where in London are you going?" Beatrice asks.
"Near to Islington," Ada smiles.
Kez frowns, Islington was predominantly Italian territory. Specifically Italian territory that Tommy wanted to take over, along with the Jewish territory in Camden Town. The two main gangs of London are what Tommy strives to take down next, and Ada is going to move smack bang in the middle of it.
Polly and Tess glance at Kez, they were aware of Tommys desire for an expansion, and they had the inkling Kezia probably knew a lot more than they did, judging by the disgruntled look on her face. They were expecting more objections to come from Kez, but then they notice Bea's hand on her thigh, probably a silent sign for her to calm down.
"London is dangerous, Ada," Kez states.
"So is Birmingham, you got fucking shot, what is your point?" Ada shrugs.
"You don't want to be here for the next time I get shot?" Kez retorts.
"Not funny," Tess scolds.
"I disagree," Kez mumbles.
"If we mind our business it won't be dangerous," Ada says, "we won't be mouthing off to men with guns. This is happening, you won't convince me otherwise."
"The Italians and the Jewish are at war, and you're planning to move quite literally into the middle of it," Kezia states.
"She's right, I have cousins in London, it's nothing but trouble, like a war between armies, even the coppers are involved," Esmé says.
"I'm not asking for permission to move, I'm telling you all that it's happening," Ada responds.
"Just warning you of the risks," Kezia shrugs.
"She'll be okay, Kez," Bea states.
"The night before we leave we're planning to come here for some drinks, the boys know we're leaving to London, but they don't know where, I'd appreciate it if nobody mentioned it to them," Ada says.
"You haven't even told us specifically where you're moving, you just said Islington," Kezia replies.
"I'll write once we've arrived and settled in, then you'll know," Ada states.
-
"I can't believe you're really leaving Birmingham," Bea sighs, hugging Ada.
"Do you think Kez was right... about it being dangerous?" Ada responds, "I didn't want to back down in front of everyone but she's got me thinking."
"Perhaps, but there'll be a phone booth nearby, you feel trouble approaching, you call, and you know someone will show up, probably Kez, probably with a weapon, probably with a lecture, but it's as you told me, you can rely on her to be there as soon as she possibly can," Beatrice replies, squeezing Ada's shoulders reassuringly.
"I know she's only being like this because she cares, but it gets frustrating," Ada says, glancing over at her older sister, who had Karl resting on her hip and was involved in a conversation with Tess, Esmé and Veronica.
"I don't like her," Bea states.
"Who?" Ada asks.
"Veronica, she's nice and all, but she does seem to bring Kez up in any conversation we have, look at her right now, Kez isn't even talking but she can't take her eyes away," Bea huffs, "she seems overly interested."
"You know you have no reason to be jealous... or concerned, right?" Ada says.
"I know," Beatrice sighs.
"If it's bugging you, there is a very simple thing you can do," Ada shrugs, "just go over there, whenever you're close, Kez can't seem to keep her hands to herself. There's nobody in the pub that doesn't know."
"You're coming too," Bea says, linking arms with Ada, tugging her towards the group of women.
Ada was right of course, as soon as they approached the group seemed to make space for them beside Kez, whose arm instantly snaked around Bea's waist, the other arm still supporting Karl.
"We're not intruding are we?" Bea asks.
"Never," Kez responds, kissing her cheek, as Bea smiles leaning further into her.
"We're trying to convince Kez to come to this new bar Veronica recommended, they have live bands every Friday and Saturday," Esmé says.
"That sounds interesting," Bea replies, "are you planning on going?"
"We were thinking next Friday," Teresa says, "Veronica says she knows some of the bar staff and can get us some free drinks. Do you want to join us?"
"Yes, sounds fun," Bea smiles.
"Kez?" Veronica asks, "changed your mind perhaps?"
"Fine," Kez mumbles, as Ada gestures for her to hand Karl over.
"If you wanted her to go, should've called Bea over here sooner," Ada laughs, causing Kez to roll her eyes as she gently transfers Karl into his mother's arms.
"It would have saved us fifteen minutes," Esmé nods.
"They've been trying to talk you into this for fifteen minutes?" Bea laughs, looking up at Kez.
"It felt like eternity," Kezia responds.
"Well you've agree there's no backing out now," Tess states.
"Ada, are you excited for tomorrow?" Veronica interrupts.
"Yeah, yeah I am," Ada nods, "we're almost packed and ready to go."
"What time are you going?" Bea asks.
"Just before midday," Ada answers.
-
"Kezia, pleasure as always, what are you doing here?" Freddie asks, "we're busy finishing packing."
"I'm here to see my sister," Kezia responds, as Ada appears from behind Freddie, "I'm not changing my mind."
"I'm not here to change it," Kezia says, glancing at Freddie who gets the message and retreats away from the door.
"Why are you here then?" Ada shrugs.
"You disappeared last night," Kez states, "if I recall correctly, you went over to Bea, you went to Polly, to Tess, to Esmé, to our brothers, you said goodbye to everybody else and then left."
"You didn't seem to happy that I was leaving," Ada replies, and Kez scoffs, "so that means you just weren't going to say goodbye to me?"
"I'm sorry, Kez," Ada states, "you're right, I should have come over to you."
"I'm only being an arse because I'm genuinely worried, you've never been this far away from us before, you've never been more than a few lanes over," Kezia says, "and you're moving to a dangerous area, I don't like that if you need me, it will take me hours to get there, not mere minutes. I know you said you're keeping your heads down, but that doesn't mean bad things can't happen. Bad things happen to good people all the time, Ada."
"I'm not going to be alone," Ada responds, "I will be okay, Kez. I have a family now, I'm a grown woman, I'm not the baby sister that needs protecting every second of the day."
"You promise to call if you ever need anything? You promise to write?" Kez asks.
"Of course," Ada nods.
"I'll miss you," Kez states, "you're my little sister, I love you, and it's going to be strange not having you around."
"You've never said that before," Ada whispers.
"Do you really think I'd care this much if I didn't?" Kezia responds, as Ada embraces her, "I'll miss you too, Kez, you're the greatest sister anyone could dream of. Even though you can be an enormous prick, I love you. Will you visit?"
"Whenever you ask me to," Kezia promises, pulling away from her sister, reaching into her pocket and pulling out an envelope, "consider this a housewarming gift."
"Thank you," Ada smiles.
"I've got to go open shop, someone's coming to pick up an order, but I'll see you soon?" Kezia says.
"Yes," Ada nods, watching as her sister jogs down the steps from their apartment, before turning her eyes down to the envelope in her hands which was addressed to 'the Thornes.'
Ada peaks inside, seeing a wad of cash and a note. Rent money until you can get on your feet, consider it me alleviating my worries, and ensuring I know you'll be taken care of, at least for the first few months - KS.