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...
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Please see ending author's note for an important thing! I need everyone's opinion!
CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE
No blues.
Which also meant no purples.
Black was inappropriate for a wedding, Aunt Polly said, no matter who was getting married.
White would have put people off, made everyone uncomfortable. Even if the bride wasn't wearing the traditional color, Kizzie had no business wearing white today.
Grace wanted to wear purple, and Kizzie had to admit the color suited her beautifully. She peeked at the dress one evening. Periwinkle with a royal purple veil. Simple and chic. Grace asked for her opinion on some jewelry.
"The car is coming around now," Aunt Polly said as she walked into Kizzie's room. She clasped an earring shut and checked her reflection.
"Why are we driving there?"
"Kizzie," she scolded. "We are dressed nicely. Walking there means getting dirty and sweaty for your brother's wedding." She walked further inside and smoothed out the light green tulle of Kizzie's dress. "You look too pretty to be wading through the countryside. You know I don't want to go, either, but we must."
"Why?"
Kizzie asked this multiple times. Hoping, maybe, that her aunt would give in and realize that going wasn't necessary. Or fair.
"Because we love Thomas."
"He loves them more than he loves us." Kizzie fought to not get sick again. Her stomach churned for days and her throat tightened each time she had to look at her brother.
His words from her birthday circled her mind like a hungry shark. She clung to his love, so true and visceral and hopeful. Maybe he did still love her the most. But if he did, that meant she had no reason to be upset anymore. There was something satisfying about being angry with him. Kizzie was never angry, never allowed much of a reason to be. But along came marriage and babies and suddenly everyone reminded her how awful he was being to her.
"You don't believe that, Kizzie."
"His colors don't like me anymore."
Her aunt shook her head, disappointment bleeding through her features. "You rely too heavily on colors, Kizzie."
"But everyone's been seeing the same thing."
"And they are right. Thomas' priorities have altered." She reached for Kizzie's shoulders. "A baby and wife. He's doing the responsible thing in caring for them. I know you would be unhappy if he left them on the street, Kizzie."
"But--"
"But yes. In doing the right thing, he failed in doing the right thing for you. Explain to you what happened and everything in between. Things are settling between them. The initial excitement and new love is fading some... If you paid less attention to colors, you'd see this."
Kizzie said nothing.
"Give it a try today."
☻
Her friend was missing. Ordered to stay back at the house. Something to do with business coming to the home soon. That's what Kizzie overheard in a meeting with Tommy and the brothers.
"No amount of hair products tame that frizz! Aye, Kizzie girl?"
Arthur helped Aunt Polly and Kizzie out of the car.
"Hello."
She hugged John, who slid out from behind Arthur.
"You're in time. Still got another few minutes before she's set to arrive."
Arthur cleared his throat. "Well, I'll go let Tommy know you're both here. Linda's inside already... So are most of Grace's family. Keep away from them, yeah?"
Aunt Polly circled her arm around Kizzie's waist. "We're big girls, Arthur. Don't you worry."
Her brothers' colors hesitated. Reached forward and quivered with worry. Kizzie didn't know anything about Grace's family. What was wrong with them?
Warm air brushed away her stray hair as they entered the church. Gentle organ music filled the space.
"Aunt Polly," Kizzie said as she took a seat beside her. Kizzie slacked her weight against the wall.
"The Irish calvary were late in helping the frontline soldiers," she explained, not looking up from the pamphlet waiting on her chair. "Caused lots of men to die. Your brothers served the front."
"Oh."
"I'm sure they're fine people, Kizzie, but to limit tensions, I recommend not speaking to them."
"What if they speak to me first?"
The doors opened and in came Tommy, Arthur, and the rest of the guests.
"Well, that would require you to be alone, wouldn't it? We both know that won't happen today."
Nervousness lit her brother's eyes. Not a common emotion.
Kizzie looked away the moment he found her in the room. They remained glued to her form.
He came up to their seats, raised from the floor. Polly and Kizzie towered over him.
"Thomas," their aunt greeted.
"Hello."
Kizzie did not allow her brother's surprise at her words to shake her. She kept her eyes clear, open, and facing him.
"Lambkin." His warm hand appeared on hers and he squeezed. "You look beautiful."
Thank you? No, felt too kind. She was still...unsure of how she fit in his life. Her aunt's words from earlier might be true, and Kizzie was trying really hard to ignore the way his blues circled her form and cocooned her. Tried to not think of them leaving her once Grace came in.
Because more than anything else, Tommy's eyes were the key to deciphering his mood. And right now, he loved Kizzie so much, it made her skin melt with happiness.
Author's Note:
I pinned this to my profile but posting it here is probably best...
I'm curious if anyone would be interested in reading my "original" stories. I have a vampire story in early development that I'm struggling with writing. I'm thinking that if I post chapters here, it would make me more willing to write it and maybe even finish the damned thing.
Here's the poll I made to decide. Even if most people don't want to read, I might just post it anyway tbh. Just for self-motivation purposes 🙃
The first two pieces are published and up on my profile for those interested in learning more. She's gonna be a weird one.
