To Be Alone | Tommy Shelby

Chapter 23

Today was a pretty big day, and Celia couldn't contain her excitement. So when Vivian came knocking on Mr. and Mrs. Robinson's shop door even when the lights weren't on, she scurried to the door to eagerly let her in.

"The woman of the day!" she cheered, opening the door wide enough to let her inside before she shut and locked it. Walter and Edith had been gracious enough to let Celia use the shop on the off day to help Vivian with some last minute preparations for her wedding day. She knew it was a feat when she accepted the task of creating her friend's bridesmaids dresses, but she was honored to be asked and absolutely couldn't turn it down. "How are you feeling?" she asked the visitor as she led her past the curtain into the back room of the shop. There, she had two of the dresses perched up on mannequins and the third was currently on the work table, where she was finishing putting the final hems into it.

"I'm nervous, but excited," Vivian nodded as she spoke, a wide smile on her face.

"Today is going to be amazing, V. You just have to find a way to keep those nerves at bay," Celia stated while working on finishing the dress in front of her. Vivian nodded at her friend's words, hoping that they would stick in her memory.

"These dresses look lovely, Celia. I ought to have you make more custom pieces for me," she spoke then, her hand running down each of the finished pieces as she admired the color and design of the garments.

"You know I'd be happy to do that," Celia smiled before she put the final stitch into the dress she was working on. "I think this one is finished," she stated then, holding the piece up for Vivian to check it out.

"Beautiful. Just like the others," Vivian smiled and Celia nodded, setting it down once more before she moved to get garment bags for each of them.

"Now are these ladies going to be getting the dresses at the church? Or are we going to be taking them to their houses?"

"Don't be crazy, CeCe. They'll get them when they arrive at the church. I don't need to be walking a marathon on my wedding day," Vivian stated then, making Celia laugh slightly.

"Alright, that sounds perfectly fine," Celia nodded her head as she spoke.

"Will Tommy be joining you today?" Vivian asked then, intrigue in her eyes. Surprisingly, she was fine with allowing a gangster to come to her wedding. Viv said that it was because Tommy was her partner and she deserved to have someone along with her as a date, regardless of who they were, but Celia knew it was because Tommy's company had shares in the factory that Vivian's husband-to-be was a foreman in, so he was technically part of the payroll.

"I'd hope so. He's got a few odd ends to tie up with his business, but he said he'd keep his diary free for the afternoon," Celia answered, tucking a piece of hair behind her ear. "I'm about finished here, so I'll come with you to deliver these to the church and then I'll go home and get ready," she said then, making the woman standing in front of her nod. The two then exited the shop, finding a driver waiting for them outside. Vivian blushed and said that Edward, her fiancé, had hired the driver for her for the day. Celia couldn't help but smile at the sweet gesture. The man helped both of the ladies into the backseat before he returned to the front, getting in and starting the drive to the church.

—

Celia audibly gasped when she and Vivian stepped into the church where the wedding was being held. Edward had a handsome paying job, so that alone with the money that Vivian's parents so graciously left for her in a trust allowed for her to have the wedding of her dreams. There were flowers all around the room where the ceremony was going to be held, and even more were growing out in the garden out back, where they were hosting the reception for the guests then.