Harsh Love (Peaky Blinders)

Pink Roses

Rose stood outside of the flower shop, observing all the beautiful rows of flowers. She picked up a bouquet and brought them close to her nose, inhaling the charming scent.

Over the past few weeks, she had become good friends with the woman who ran the flower shop because she went there so often.
"I'll take these please Martha" She placed the bouquet on the worktop. Martha wrapped the flowers up and handed them back to Rose. She thanked her and walked out to head home.

She had a slight skip in her step, she had really grown to like it here. Her work was always fun and she had made a few good friends.
"Good morning Mary" she smiled at the woman who walked past her with her 2 boys.
"Good morning Rose"
"Have a good day at school you 2" they waved at her and walked their separate ways. She checked her watch and it was 8:45am. As she looked up she nudged someone which caused her to drop her bag on the dusty floor. The figure bent down to help her when they both looked up at the same time, gazing into each other's eyes.

"Mr Shelby?"
"Miss Hawthorne"
"I'm so sorry, I wasn't looking where I was going" she smoothed her skirt out and adjusted the flowers in her arms.
"Don't worry about it, special occasion?" He nodded towards the flowers.
"No, just to brighten up the home"
"You know pink roses represent elegance and gentleness don't you?"
"No, I never knew that, I just liked the colour and roses are my favourite" she laughed "since when did you become a flower expert Mr Shelby? You don't seem like the gardening type" she chuckled lightly.
"They were my mothers favourite and please, call me Tommy, all my friends do" he smiled kindly.
"I'm so sorry" she looked saddened "only if you insist, but please call me Rose, Miss Hawthorne sounds too formal" she giggled. Tommy was completely mesmerised by her laugh, her smile, everything... She radiated beauty.

He put his hands in his pockets and laughed slightly, "Rose who likes roses, I'll remember that"
Rose blushed slightly.
"Are you working tonight Rose?"
"Yes, I am tonight. Are you coming down?"
He hesitated slightly. Wondering if he would dare ask her. Which he eventually did.
"It's your night off"
"You must be mistaken Tommy"
"Not at all, as the boss I say you can take the night off on one condition" he winked and her gaze never left his
"What's that?"
"I take you out, anywhere you fancy?"
Rose looked shocked at his suggestion but was ecstatic.
"I love dancing, I've danced since I was a little girl"
"Dancing it is then, pick you up at 7" he smiled and and walked off.

She watched him walk into the distance when she realised.
"Tommy!" She shouted. He twisted around and faced her from the other side of the road.
"How do you know where I live?"
He shrugged and replied simply, "I know lots of people Rose" and walked off again, turning the corner so he was no longer visible to Rose's eyes.

He arrived at home and walked in. Polly was sat reading the newspaper and John and Arthur were sat discussing something.
Tommy sat between them at the table and poured himself a glass of whiskey with the bottle on the table.
"What's up with you boys?" He took a sip and lit a cigarette.
"We've had news" John proclaimed, refusing to look his brother in the eye. Tommy leant forward in his chair, resting his arms on the table.
"What news?" John and Arthur looked at each other and shifted in their seats. Polly, without taking her eyes of her paper simply said,
"It's the Crimson Dukes" she looked directly at Tommy. "They've been spotted raiding houses up and down the country looking for something but we don't know what"
Arthur spoke up, "we weren't too sure if we should be concerned about this? With us not being best pals with them"
"They're bound to come to Birmingham as they know were based here but if you see anything just keep your heads down low, we don't want anymore trouble as it is.. Especially with what we have with Kimber at the moment"

It was near 7 and Rose was putting the finishing touches on her outfit. A beautiful pink dress with a pink shawl draped across her shoulders, her brown hair sitting on her shoulders and a peachy pink lipstick.

Tommy did his buttons up, applied his waistcoat and threw his jacket on, brushing the shoulder pads and adjusting it slightly. He walked downstairs and headed to the door, not knowing Polly sat at the table with a cigarette in her hand.
"Who is she?" She asked
He was baffled. How did she know?
"Rose"
"Rose?"
"She's the barmaid at The Garrison, started a few weeks back"
"Oh her" she realised "careful Tommy, I know what you're like.. You get a good thing happen to you and it ends up crashing and burning in front of you"
"Thanks for the advice Pol" he said sarcastically and walked out. Polly took a drag and tapped the ash off the end, "looks like I'll have to pick up the pieces for this one"

Chapter 3!! I'm honestly having so much fun writing this😂 hope you're enjoying it so far as I'm pretty proud of it💖 I'm annoyed at how the dress only shows the back but I guess the front can be however you imagine it to be💕😱
~Siân x