Gabriela's tale

seven

*1 year later, two weeks before Christmas*

I've been working for tommy a year now, and it's been going well, extremely well. As he said, I would have to turn my head multiple times, but it was my job and I didn't ask questions.

It's sometimes fun working with or should I say for tommy, when he wasn't being distant, or when he had that look on his face like he hated everyone.

We've grown closer, I think I've broken him out of his tough shell a bit and make him laugh more. Only when he's around family of course, tommy was always hard when it came to work or other people. He's a very interesting man, and very intimidating but I already knew that before taking the job.

For my first day at work he bought me a new typewriter from London, which wasn't so new now, its a pastel pink color and I love it. 

John and I have been on and off, at the beginning we did stop doing all those things but after a while we gave in, but its been almost two months since we've been like that and every time it got harder. 

Some days I regret suggesting we should stop because I miss him, he wasn't wasn't walking me to work as much anymore, and I didn't know if that was because I wasn't working at the Garrison anymore or he wanted to keep his distance, but those stopped.

When he would come over he would always bring Arthur, which was nice, I like talking with Arthur, he lightened up the awkwardness in the room. He also stopped teasing us about liking each other, so he probably knew we weren't going for it anymore.

I know this is for the best. I've seen Esme more often since I started working for tommy. We wouldn't really talk, but she stopped giving me dirty looks so that was an improvement for me.

I visited with me mum and sister in London two weeks ago weeks ago for the weekend. I haven't seen them in over a year, so that was a treat. 

I caught her up in some of my new life changes. I told her about John, but not that he was a Shelby or that he was married, I didn't even tell her his name, because she wouldn't like that and would end up giving me a big lesson about why that was wrong, and I didn't need that because I already knew. 

I also told her about my new job, not who I worked for or what I did but I did tell her I was a secretary for a very important business man, and she was very happy for me.

She didn't say much about anything, me and mum always had a hard relationship, and after my uncle Frank passed she became even more distant with me. I always tried with her but it was starting to get tiring, she won't answer the post I send her, its always Emely. 

I had to see them now before the holidays, because they're family and no matter what I'll still be here. They're also going for travels for a while, she said she would write me whenever she got there, I hoped it was true.

I also gave them their gifts, I gave her a beautiful beaded necklace and new clothes, for my sister new shoes and coat. They both loved their gift and were very thankful. 

I had a nice time seeing them after so long but when Monday morning came around I had to head back to Birmingham.

These last couple of months The Shelby Company Limited has becoming very busy and has been growing more and more each week. 

Today was Saturday and I had much of nothing to do, and since I started earning a bit more money working as a secretary I decided to save up for Christmas to get everyone gifts.

I feel like its an appropriate thing to do since its my first Christmas with them, and that's what I did for most of my Saturday morning. I went to different shops and brought the Shelby's a couple of things.