𝐋𝐚𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐈𝐧 𝐚 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐚𝐠𝐞 🍞PEAKY BLINDERS 🥖

Chapter Fifty-Six

CHAPTER FIFTY-SIX

"Hello."

Linda opened her front door wider. "Kizzie?"

Light laughter from inside the house caused Kizzie's heart to dip. "I'll come back."

"Wait!" Linda chased after the girl. "We're just about to end study... Is everything alright?" And since when did Kizzie know where Arthur and Linda lived?

Movement behind the fence caught Linda's eye. A familiar stance and chopped dark blonde hair: Oscar.

"I'm okay."

Linda recovered with a smile. "Well, I won't let you both freeze to death out here. Come inside."

Kizzie's plan crumbled like cookies. Linda was having one of her God talks; Kizzie didn't want to deceive in front of him. She never said so out loud about how she didn't really believe in God. The family knew. Not even most of the family believed. But saying so and thinking so was different.

Linda brought her and Ozzy to the kitchen. Kizzie had never been here before, but she liked it already. The walls were made of wood, even smelled like wood. Large windows let in lots of sunlight. She missed Birmingham, even this nicer area.

"Kizzie?"

She inhaled and turned. "Hello."

Linda gave Ozzy a cup of tea. "Drink?"

"Okay."

The women on the other side of the house grew quieter, just as the front door opened again. Linda said her goodbyes and thank Gods and returned to Kizzie and Ozzy.

"So," she began, unsure of herself. Linda never spent much time with Kizzie alone. She wasn't not allowed to, but it was clear from both Arthur and Tommy that it would be inappropriate. A foolish thought. Thomas believed Linda would convert his sister to God. And convinced Arthur of the same; the last thing Arthur ever wanted was Tommy's disapproval.

It had been hard to break that lifelong dependance.

"What pleasure do I owe your arrival, Kezia?"

"Where is Arthur?"

Linda ignored the girl's bluntness. Despite knowing Kizzie for some time now, it still wasn't always easy to remember she wasn't being rude--she was just...different. The plight the Lord bestowed upon her. A simple mind was often a gift.

"I imagine he is still by Thomas's... How is he holding up?"

"He is walking fine."

Ozzy almost spilled his tea.

Linda smiled. "That is good to hear, Kizzie." She crossed her legs. "Did you know that your name is Hebrew?"

"What's Hebrew?" Kizzie knew that word...but why? Her brain was doing the not-remembering-thing again.

"Jewish, Kizzie. You are named after one of Job's daughters. 'Keziah'. Did your Jewish friend never tell you that?"

Kizzie thought back to Alfie, all their conversations about his God and book with the funny looking letters. "No... Does that mean I am Jewish?"

Linda's light giggle was barely heard. "No. You can only be Jewish if you become Jewish through marriage."

"Marriage?"

"Yes."

Ozzy cleared his throat. Linda wished he would just go away. He needn't be the golden boy all the time. "May I have some more tea, ma'am?"

Linda stood like the good host she was. "Of course, my boy!"

The silence served to make Kizzie's thoughts spiral. Her plan would not be risked by this new news of marriage and being Jewish and Keziah.

She took a sip of her own tea and let the wetness soothe her lips. "I want to spend some time with Arthur and you in the city. Could I still?" she asked.

"Oh, Kizzie!" What a wonderful surprise. "Of course you may! You are always welcomed here." It was her friend who was not.

Their time together proved fruitful for both women. Kizzie spoke about her new living arrangements. Linda let herself revel in having Thomas's lambkin all to herself, if at least temporarily so.

♡ ̆̈

Kizzie was forced back home two days later.

A phone call late morning from Tommy had Arthur nervous.

"Kizzie girl," he said, getting his sister's attention as she ate breakfast. It had been so good having her here. "That was Thomas... He needs you back. Now."

Linda pouted. "Oh, Arthur, she's only just arrived. Tommy needs to share."

Arthur sucked in his lips. His reds pulsed with a sadness Kizzie has never seen before. "It is important. I'll drive you."

He stopped the car in front of Tommy and Kizzie's home.

"Arthur."

"Yeah."

"I can still come back?"

Her eldest brother was silent for a moment. Glossy eyes nearly gave way to fat tears. "Always."

Kizzie shut the car door and watched, confused and worried, as Arthur drove away. Inside the house felt more empty than it ever had. Colder, too. It was Tommy; his blues were different now. Would be, maybe, forever.

She followed the colors to his office door and knocked.

"Come in."

His voice was no different... He wasn't angry or upset with her. That easied her fear a little.

Her brother even looked no different than normal. Even had something resembling a smile on his face. But the corners twitched. He was acting.

"Hello."

"Have a seat, lambkin."

She remained standing, like he did. They were a mirror's reflection. "Why?"

His eyes bounced between her own. Blues collected into a tidal wave. Tommy sighed deeply from his chest. Then he spoke.

"Dad is dead." 

Author's Note:

A fair warning now that next chapter will be heavy in a not good way. So if anyone is sensitive to grief, please read with care. I think we know by now that I don't hold back.