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*/ Chapter Five - Ballad of a homeschooled girl
By the time Evelyn had finished putting together the finishing touches of a pair of trousers, her eyes were burning and her fingers felt like they were about to fall off in sensitivity. The sky had begun to darken as the final customer left Kelly & Kin, and though she wasn't about to flip the 'Open' sign to 'Closed' just yet, she felt just about done.
She rubbed at her eyelids as dryness began to overcome her, lethargic from the focus of staring into needles and threads the entire day. She decided that she'd finish off this pair tomorrow. She pushed herself away from her machine, stepping out to see Benji still at the front counter. He was flipping through a newspaper, looking awfully flippant for a man that had sat through an equally busy day.
"I'm wrapping up," Evelyn murmured. "You can tell anyone who decides to come in to leave a name."
Benji looked up with a smile and a nod, waving her off. Despite it being a busy day, Evelyn revelled in the fact that she had no choice but to keep herself occupied. She had gotten herself into very big trouble with Francis Clarke and Inspector Campbell. And though she knew that John would forgive her, it would be hard to convince him to keep up the ruse of them being bedmates.
Or, knowing John, he'd automatically assume that Evelyn was trying to send him a message. She simply didn't know which one was worse.
She packed up the rest of her things with all the intentions of making her way back home, but upon seeing the Garrison's open doors, she paused in her step. Maybe they wouldn't be there. If they weren't, you can go home with a guilt-free conscience. Promising herself that it was just to cover her tracks, she made her way across the street towards the pub.
Seeing Grace behind the bar, she sidled up towards the counter. "Are the boys in?"
"Which ones?" Grace queried, though she knew full well which boys Evelyn meant—just a few weeks in Small Heath and it was clear that Evelyn's connections with the Shelby men did not end at her brother.
"The ones that are always in that blasted snug."
"They've just ordered another round of whiskey," Grace handed her a bottle. "Assuming you're heading in, of course."
