Mariana finds out the husband she grieved for is alive after all these years.
Now she must adjust to a new life with the return of Alfie Solomons, without Thomas Shelby and with the new threat of Michael Gray hanging over all of their heads.
Alfie...
"He isn't coming back, whispered my head. He has to, sobbed my heart" - Wilting
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Mariana's POV
"Arthur wh-" "He's dying. Like Ruby..." he mumbled Dying? Why does everything settle and another thing appears to rip our hearts out?
I sat down defeated "I know" Arthur mumbled "I didn't react much better" he said
"Who knows?" I asked, staring at the floor "Me. You" he said simply "Linda?" I asked, he shook his head "I'm going to go down the river" he said again "What? No you need to stay here? Is he going to tell everyone? What's this dinner for?" I asked, grabbing his arm
"He's going away" he said, refusing to look at me "Where?" I asked "I don't know" he shrugged me off, walking down the bank of grass "Arthur" I shouted, but he ignored me
He was dying? Fuck. That's why he was doing all of this All of the houses, blowing his own house up All the money. Because he was dying?
Oh my god.
•
"You stare much longer and your eyes will freeze over" Ada laughed, passing me with a basket of bread as I stared at the grass
She stopped, staring at me "Mar? Hello?" She laughed again "Mar?" Tommy echoed My head shot up, I hadn't realised he was here I looked at him, trying not to cry
But he saw it. He saw the emotions swirling in my eyes, and fear entered his "Ada, go rally up the boys for me, I'll come and detonate in a minute" he said "Am I missing something?" She said, looking between the two of us
"Ada" he said again, she hesitated, before putting the basket down and slowly wandering off, confused "What's the matter?" He said, it was all in his eyes The caution Because he knew. He knew I knew
I looked up at him "Alfie told you" he said simply Alfie? "No. Arthur. Alfie knows?" I questioned "Told him a few days ago" he said, emotionlessly Oh
"Were you going to tell any of us?" I asked calmly "No" he said honestly "No..." I repeated "The holiday..." I mumbled He said nothing
"You were really just going to leave? Without a word?" I asked, with nothing but sadness in my voice I wasn't angry. I was just... hurt
"It's better for everyon-" "It's better for you" I said instead "Yeah..." he admitted "Yeah it's better for me. So don't say anything" he said
"What? Tommy I can't sit here with the family and pretend I don't know" I said, standing up "You will. Because I am asking you to" he said "Ada will be crushed-" "Ada has always been able to get back up" he interrupted