Chapter Text
Tommy started that morning with four children.
This afternoon he comes back home to her as a father of five.
Erasmus Shelby is tall, as his mother’s family was tall, but he was all Tommy.
Tommy was of average height, and yet everything in that boy let her know her husband has always had a thing for tall women.
Other women would be angry, but how could Eva be angry when this boy happened far before she and Tommy were lucky to meet?
“Duke, this is me wife, Eva.” Tommy introduced them and Eva tries her best not to look like she’s still processing this new addition to the family. The boy was nineteen going on twenty, but he was illiterate. Barely knew how to tell time.
It wasn’t his fault, but Eva hoped he had Tommy’s quick mind, it would make it easier for her to teach him how to be a Shelby.
He’d need a proper wardrobe, tutors, a room in the family wing and other things that Eva has already begun planning for the second her husband told her about the young man.
“May I call you Erasmus?” she asked as they shook hands. Eva felt odd calling him Duke.
He was nervous, no doubt he’d heard about her unnatural abilities, or you know be nervous because stepmothers were hardly painted in a good light. Spirits know she never intended to become anyone’s stepmother.
“No one calls me that, Mrs. Shelby.” He said eyeing her like she’s a problem to be solved.
Oh, yes this was Tommy’s child.
Looked at her like that the first time they ever saw each other.
“Alrighty then, Duke, welcome to our family.” She smiled warmly and added. “Call me, Eva, Mrs. Shelby makes me feel old.”
God, how was she supposed to tell the children back at home.
“Eva is the mother of your four younger siblings.” Before Tommy could say more the young man interrupts.
“And a witch. They say you see the future and its why you’re all so rich now.” He is wary and it explains why.
Witches weren’t exactly well received anywhere.
Eva can’t imagine how he feels at knowing his stepmother is a witch.
“Yes, I am. I was born with the curse of seeing the future and I put it to good use. I don’t do curses, never learned how.” Eva admits. “Diane, your sister, has that power too. Would you like to meet them?”
They have dinner in the smaller dining room, one with just six chairs, eight if you add the extension and two chairs. They’ll be needing those now.
Tommy sits at the head of the table, Eva at the other end. Gabe sits at her right, Diane sits at her father’s right, Charlie sits at her left and Flora on Tommy’s left. It was intentional, at least on Charles’ part.
“We have a big brother.” Diane’s eyes stare almost unnervingly at her father who had been drawing this out until Eva caved and did the talking.
You are much better at this, love.
I’m terrible with explanations, Evie, please help me this time.
Eva, I’ll do anything you want for the rest of the year if you tell the kids Mandy ran away. Won’t have them calling me a murderer because I accidentally hit her with the car.
“Is that why you’re never home, daddy?” Florence asked him. “Are you seeing other children?”
He looked at her for help, but Eva just kept drinking her wine.
She almost felt bad for enjoying the show.
“No, Flora, I just found out yesterday that I had a son before I even knew your mother existed. His mother was a girl I knew from before the war.” It’s a rather blunt explanation and not very delicate, but their children understood more than what they let on.
Especially since Flora has assumed he was cheating on his children.
“How old is he, this other son you have?” Charlie asks morosely. His teenage years were coming and they would be awful. Jealous little boy with a temper from hell.
“Nineteen. Erasmus was born in 1915 and goes by Duke.” Tommy answered the question in that don’t try my patience boy tone he’d developed after Charlie began acting out the moment he turned eleven. He’d be twelve soon. Oh joy.
“Like Uncle Arthur’s dog?” Gabe said with a mouth full of food. Flora stifled her giggles and Eva silenced her with a look.
“Yes, like the dog.” This time he let himself give a tired sigh and he pinched the bridge of his nose