Shay met Leonard’s glare with his own, the old man’s hateful stare filling Shay with annoyance more so than anger and indignation. The Irishman flicked his burning cigarette at Leonard, it bouncing with a burst of burning embers off the man’s vest. “Next we meet old man, you’re going to wish you minded your tongue.” He said, stepping away from Leonard and paying him no more mind than the rodent he was. He followed Vera out into the frosty London streets. 

Vera had pressed herself against the car, quaking with rage and frustration. This took Shay aback; he hadn’t realized that her reaction to Leonard’s crass racism was genuine. He approached her, standing close enough to wrap and arm around her shoulders. “Easy, Vera. Easy. I’ve dealt with the likes of him before; he’ll eat his words in time. We’ll let the boys know that old Leonard’s looking to pay his dues. Let’s just put it behind us for now and focus on what else we need, aye?” he said calmly, looking to reassure her.

The next three hours were spent going from store to store, eventually finding Vera a kindly seamstress who didn’t seem predisposed to hating Shay on principle, and before long she had a beautiful dress picked out. Some time was spent in the markets, picking fresh meat and produce for their supper and breakfast the following day. The snow was beginning to come down hard by the time Shay pulled up to his apartment building on Couch End Hill, an older borough with less than ideal accommodations. The pair headed up to his flat, which sat on the third floor, mercifully a flats down from the electric streetlight outside. Putting his key into the door, Shay smiled apologetically. “Apologies. Alden House is a bit of a shithole.” 

While clean, Shay’s apartment was fairly spartan in furnishings and charm; it’s blue and white wallpaper was peeling in spots, a coffee table sat in front of a well-worn brown couch against the far wall, a small dining room set sat just outside of the modest kitchen assembly. His bedroom wasn’t much better; a twin bet without a frame sat on the floor with just the mattress, and a nightstand and dresser were the only other pieces of furnishings in the place, other than the crammed bathroom that somehow managed to fit a tub, sink, and toilet in the narrow confines. “You can have the room for as long as you’re here, I’ll just stay on the couch.” He said, carrying the groceries off to the kitchen and he set out to place things in the small cupboard and icebox. “If you’re feeling peckish, I can get started on supper in a few minutes.” Shay offered.