Hidden Secrets - Thomas Shelby//Peaky Blinders

One More Letter

Birmingham, England - Winter 1916

A cold, harsh wind blew through the streets of Digbeth. Grey clouds swirled above the cobblestone streets, Mother Nature once again making a threat of snow, but never following through.

It was still early morning as Lis ran down the sidewalk, clutching her thin coat tightly against her chest. Keeping her head down to block against the bitter wind, the tall woman smiled to herself, using one gloved hand to keep her hat on her head.

She had just picked up two new letters sent from the war front. It took almost everything in her to keep from running as fast as she could just to get home in time to read what her brother had to say. It had been five weeks since she last heard from Robbie. Longer than usual, but not abnormal, she reassured herself. Everybody knew the delays the war caused; the post amongst the most affected.

Looking up briefly, Lis made note of the deserted street before crossing over to a short alleyway. Shooing away a crow seeking warmth from the front stoop, she made her way up the few steps and into her small terraced house, closing the door quickly behind her. No point in letting what little heat there was escape outside.

As she quickly as she could, Lis ripped off her gloves and hat, tossing them onto the small table by the door. Before removing her coat, she pulled out the two yellowed envelopes, holding them tightly to her chest with a smile. Laying them gently on the table, she pulled off her coat and laid it across the back of the tattered chair sat next to the table.

Before she could move forward into the house, Lis' mother appeared, rubbing a hand across her forehead in an obvious attempt to dull a headache. Quickly and quietly, Lis snatched the two envelopes up and hid them in one hand behind her back. She knew that if her mother was aware of the post, she would insist on taking the letters and reading them by herself, despite the fact that they were addressed to the daughter.

Under normal circumstances, Lis could understand the desire of a mother to hear any news she could from her son at war. But Lis' mother was nothing like a normal mother. On more than one occasion she had taken the letters, claiming to want to read them first, and then promptly lost them along with the memory of them having ever arrived.

Lis knew her mother had loved her and her brother once upon a time. But after the harsh and sudden exit of their father so many years ago, Mrs. Connor had never been the same. Her mental state varied like the waves on the ocean: up one minute and down the next; calm and clear one day, dark and stormy another.

"Have you made any tea yet, Lis?" Mrs. Connor asked as she moved her hand to massage her temples.

"Not yet, mum. I was just about to."

"Very well. I'll take my cup in here when it's ready." And with that, her mother disappeared through the doorway.

Lis made her way to the kitchen, placing the kettle of fresh water onto the warming stove top. Peering around the corner to make sure her mother was settled, she crept over to the small chair and table in the corner and sat. Pulling out the two envelopes, she noticed the handwriting on one didn't belong to her brother. After a second of pause, a small smile tilted her lips as she recalled Robbie's last letter.

The boys here all say hello. You'd love them, Lis. I'm looking forward to the day I can introduce you to our new family. They've already claimed me with the full knowledge that my sister comes with- whether I want her to or not.

That last part had made her chuckle at the idiot brother she loved dearly.

And I already know Freddie at least will try writing you if he hasn't already. If he does send you anything, I ask that you not mind anything the fucking idiot says.