𝐁𝐀𝐂𝐊 𝐓𝐎 𝐁𝐋𝐀𝐂𝐊 ʲᵒʰⁿ ˢʰᵉˡᵇʸ

- 𝟎𝟏𝟐

𝐁𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐓𝐨 𝐁𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐤
-𝟎𝟏𝟐-

The wind played with Valerie's hair as she held Francesca on her hip. They stared out at the grass as Maria's coffin was lowered into the ground. Francesca leaned against her mothers shoulder.

Tommy stepped forward and placed down a white rose. Then followed the rest of the Shelby's and a few others.

Tommy returned to Valerie's side and placed a hand on her lower back. She sniffed and forced back the tears that threatened to escape her eyes. He watched her carefully and she could feel his gaze. "She didn't deserve it," Valerie whispered. "She was a good person."

John eyed her discreetly from the other side of where she'd been stood. Esme was holding onto his arm and looked down at the grave. He wanted to hug her and tell her everything would get better but if he did they, he'd never be able to let go.

A car approached the graveyard and the family got deja vu from Freddie's funeral. Tommy stepped away from his wife to see what the matter was. A Peaky Blinder stepped out of the car and began having a hushed conversation with him. Tommy's eyes went back to Valerie and he nodded along to the words he was being told.

Upon returning, he whispered something in Valerie's ear which caused her to frown. "Okay.." she nodded. She took one last look at her friends grave and turned to get in the car with Francesca.

Tommy went to inform the family that they needed to return back to the house.

They had been told that there was somebody at the Shelby Limited office asking for Valerie Black. A man. They gave no name or any type of identity. It worried Valerie of course. Not many people knew Valerie by her birth name. Instead she was known as Valerie Shelby or even Florence.

-

Valerie walked confidently up the stairs to Tommy's office. He was close behind her as she walked. Lizzie looked up at the two as they entered and Valerie gave her a quick once over.

"I told him to wait in your office." Lizzie told Tommy. Tommy nodded and took his cigarette from his lips. Valerie twisted the handle to the door and carefully opened it. She was met with the back of a man who sat at opposite Tommy's seat at his desk.

"How can I help you.. Mr-" Tommy began. The man stood quickly and turned. Valerie's heart picked up and her eyes widened. "Black, sir.. Mr Black." The man said sheepishly.

Valerie dropped her coat that she'd been holding in her left hand.

"Robert Black." He added.

"Dad?" Valerie asked. The man smiled slightly and nodded to her. Valerie couldn't have walked quicker to the man and wrapped her arms around him. She leaned her head against his shoulder and grabbed a fistful of his shirt. "Is that really you?" She whispered.

"It's me, dear girl." Robert confirmed.

"What're you doing here? How did you find me?" She asked, pulling away and holding his face. Robert shook his head. "I heard talk from a few of the men in my workplace about the Peaky Blinders. One mentioned how polite Thomas Shelby's wife had been when they had met her. And when they mentioned the name Valerie.. I took my chances." He explained. "I checked the papers to get the number for the company and I asked for you."