As the youngest Shelby child and twin to Finn Shelby, Kezia has spent the last 4 of her 10 years locked away for her mental defectiveness.
She returns to Small Heath under the legal guardianship of her brother, Thomas Shelby. Despite knowing she's s...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Weddings were fun.
Kizzie hadn't seen the family in such a good mood since before the war. Even the music and fireworks didn't phase her much. She watched Arthur get drunk off drinking games while John and Esme sat and laughed and talked. He looked much happier now and Kizzie wondered what changed.
Tommy sat with Kizzie and Zilpha. His sister picked what remained of her food, too interested in all the colors and smells. Tonight was a success. The smallest bit of doubt clung to him this morning, but Kizzie was back. John was married. And the war was over.
A tug to his shirtsleeve made him turn.
"Tommy, can I go dance with Ada?"
"Yes. But stay close so I can see you, yeah?"
"Okay." Off she went with a skip in her step.
"I know the girl is different," Zilpha began, once Kizzie left. "But taking your eyes off her for a few dances won't do any harm."
Tommy chose to ignore the woman. Despite the peace, he wasn't sure if he could ever forgive her.
Kizzie didn't know how to dance. Truly, she wanted to ask Ada a question. She watched Ada spin with a man linked at their arms. "Ada?" she called.
"Oh, Kizzie!" Her voice was slurred like how Arthur's was when he had too much to drink. Her sweaty hands held onto Kizzie's. "I heard about what happened. The price to pay being Thomas' favorite, aye?"
"What do you mean?"
Ada let go and resumed her spinning.
"Oi, Ada!" Arthur yelled. "Come here. Enough, now! Enough!" He gently pushed Kizzie aside when Ada was about to knock into her. "Ada, come on. Have a rest, sit down!"
"I'm okay, Arthur," Kizzie told him. That's when she saw Tommy come over to them.
"Come look, Esme!" Ada called. "Look at the family you're joining! Come and look at the man who runs it!" She pushed Tommy away. "He chooses his brother's wives for them! He hunts his own sister down like a rat! Won't let the other have her own fucking life!" Ada looked at Kizzie with tears in her eyes. "He's got you all messed up, Kizzie! Because he knows you're different! Not as 'smart' or 'capable' like the rest of us!"
Aunt Polly shoved herself between Ada and an angry Tommy. "Calm down, Ada. Calm down!"
Kizzie hid behind Arthur as Ada began panting, like she was out of breath. A puddle suddenly pooled at her feet and Aunt Polly rushed her away.
Kizzie was being lifted before she knew what was happening. By Arthur. "Blood hell, Ada! You do pick your fucking times!"
Tommy led Ada and Polly out to the cars, looking back to make sure the family and Kizzie followed.
"Give her," Tommy ordered. "Meet us at the house." He put her in the passenger seat while Aunt Polly helped Ada into the backseat.
Kizzie watched her sister wince in pain and grip her swollen stomach. The words she spoke to her at the party wouldn't get out of her head.
She sat back and kept quiet as Tommy raced them back home.
