The Return [T. Shelby || Peaky Blinders || Shelby's Girl Book 2]

- 1 -

It's been 2 years since Astella had been taken by Campbell back to Ireland. It was 1922, in Birmingham, and the Shelby family gathered at a grave with some members of the communist parties. The coffin was lowered into the dugout grave and Tommy stepped forward, "I promised my friend Freddie Thorne that I would say a few words over his grave if he should pass before me. I made this promise before he became me brother-in-law. When we were in France, fighting for the King," Tommy said.

"Amen," Arthur said.

Tommy ignored him, "But the war didn't take Freddie. Pestilence took him," Tommy said.

John's baby started crying in Esme's arms and John took their baby, "Come here," John said quietly to his baby.

"But Freddie passed on his soul and his spirit to a new generation before he was cruelly taken," Tommy continued and he glanced at Oscar who looked at him as he stood beside Natasha.

Tommy and Ada were walking together, away from the funeral, "We thought now Freddie's gone, you might come back to Birmingham," Tommy said.

Ada half smiled and she glanced back at the waiting cars before she scoffed, "God, do you know how funny it is that you've got chauffeurs in uniform now?" Ada said.

"Just for the occasion, Ada," Tommy said.

"Do you know how unfair it is you've got five Bugatti's when half the country's starving?" Ada said.

Tommy glanced at her, "So, now they've made you ashamed of us," Tommy said and they stopped walking as they turned to each other.

"Sometimes when I think how I used to be, it makes me embarrassed," Ada sighed and looked at him, "Any news?" Ada asked.

Tommy shook his head, "It's like she's disappeared off the face of the earth... Shane's confronted their father but he can't find her anywhere in Ireland," Tommy said.

Polly walked up to them and Ada looked at her, "Karl's with his cousins. I caught 'em trying to steal flowers off a grave," She chuckled softly and looked at Ada, "Ada. Are you coming home?" Polly said.