The Me You Can See [1] (T. Shelby/OC) BWWM✅

Chapter 13 - Meeting Billy Kimber

Polly makes her way into Anna's office as Anna turns her head to face the older woman. 

"Polly, what's--?" Anna doesn't finish her sentence as the older woman wraps her arms around Anna's body, embracing her as she does. Anna hugs her back slowly, a little confused by the unexpected action.

"Thank you" Polly says with tearful eyes as she draws back to look Anna in the eye. "Freddie got your message and he came back" she reveals, "he said Tommy also sent him one" she adds, "and I know that that's because of you" she adds.

"He has a weird way of showing it but he does love Ada" Anna replies, "I'm just happy to have been of assistance in some way" she adds as Polly hugs her once again.

"Hiring you is the best decision I ever made, Anna-Maria Williams" Polly says as she cups her face as Anna beams back at her, "but having you enter Tommy's life at the point that you have is even better" she adds as Anna gives her a grateful smile at this.

"Did Ada and Freddie leave?" Anna asks her.

"Freddie refuses to leave" Polly admits with a sad sigh. "He's asked Ada to marry him but they are lying low for the time being" she adds.

"It'll be okay Pol" Anna says, "we'll take it all one step at a time" Anna says to her as Polly nods at this, grateful for the support that Anna provides her.

⚜️The Me You Can See⚜️

The Peakys were all in good moods after work that day and they naturally invited Anna to join them for drinks at The Garrison, which she agreed to - so here she sat with some of the women from the brothel while Tommy sat with his brothers and more of their men in the gallery.

There was loud music and laughter in the air as Anna laughed as she chatted away with Claire and Alice. "Sing us a little something, Anna" Claire says as she shoves her playfully.

"Oh no" Anna protests, "I couldn't" she adds. "I don't have the voice for it" she adds.

"Don't lie" Alice says to her, "I've heard you humming when you're at the brothel" she says.

"Humming and singing are two different things" Anna retorts.

"Sing us a tune" Claire says.

"Yeah, sing us a tune Anna!" Lovelock shouts drunkenly as Anna snorts amusedly at this. He whistles loudly as all eyes land on him. "The lot'a ya shut the fuck up" he says before burping at this, "Anna here is goin' to sing us a little something" he says as he gestures to her.

"Oh no, no" Anna protests in panic.

"Come on Anna, sing us a little something!" Alice whines as Anna flushes at all the eyes watching her, including those of Tommy and the rest of the Shelby boys.

"No one is allowed to sing" one drunken man retorts.

"I think Anna here has a lil' special immunity, eh Anna?" Lovelock burps as Anna sighs as she hops out of her seat, cutting him off before he continues speaking.

"Fair warning, I'm nothing like sweet Grace there" she says as she gestures to the blonde barmaid who turns red at the amount of eyes that land on her.

"My name it is Maria, a merchant's daughter fair
And I have left my parents and three thousand pounds a year
Come all you pretty fair maids, whoever you may be
Who love a jolly sailor that ploughs the raging sea
While up aloft in storm, from me his absence mourn
And firmly pray, arrive the day, he's never more to roam" Anna sings as she gives the girls a look of panic, begging them to join her with their eyes as Alice giggles as she gestures for the other women to join her.