BITTER - Michael Gray.

TWO.

♛

The Peaky Blinders and Grace's family sat around the large dining room table, being overlooked by a large portrait of Tommy standing with one of his horses. The fire was burning and people were holding small conversations between each other. Tommy and Grace had disappeared upstairs, leaving Arthur a nervous wreck over his speech. Linda was doing her best to comfort him, but he was like a frightened deer.

Olivia had also vanished. She was leaning on the sink in one of the grand bathrooms, looking at herself in the mirror. There was no one she recognised in the crowd, so slipping away quietly to the toilet to catch her breath was a good idea.

She evaluated who would be the best person to approach first. Polly would probably rip her head off for leaving with no warning, Tommy would just straight up ignore her. Arthur and John could go either way, hate her or love her. Ada would be wary at first but could warm up to her. Finn had grown up so much it was unlikely she would know what he looks like.

"Stop hiding. It's time for the speeches." Millie poked her head around the door.

"Everyone hates me. I can feel it." Liv sighed and turned around to face her friend.

"No. That's a load of shit. No one hates you. There was confusion and upset when you left, mainly from Arthur. But, they all spoke about how much they missed you. Any feelings of anger subsided after a month." Millie pulled Liv into a reassuring hug.

"I don't know. What if those feelings are stirred up when they see me again?"

"You won't know if you don't try." Millie grabbed Olivia's hand and pulled her out of the ornate bathroom.

Isaiah was waiting at the bottom of the stairs. The girls walked hand in hand down to meet him.

"Right, Tommy and Grace are upstairs and Arthur and Michael have gone somewhere else. That takes out 4 options. Who's it gonna be?" He pointed to the dining hall.

"Who the hell is Michael?" Liv looked round in confusion.

"Oh shit, you're in for a surprise there then." Isaiah laughed and led them both in to the room.

Inside, it felt like all conversation stopped and everyone was looking at her, but Olivia had almost gone unnoticed. The whole of Grace's family had no clue as to who she was, and half of those who did know her weren't even in the damn room.

"There's a seat between Ada and Esme, go grab it." Millie pushed Liv in the right direction, leaving her to fend for herself. Olivia slipped silently into the seat, neither women had noticed that the seat had been filled, Ada was far too busy defending her political beliefs against some rich woman from Grace's side.

"Oh my god." Esme spoke, staring right at Liv.

"Esme, how are you?" Olivia tried to small talk the woman, but she wasn't interested. Instead, Esme pulled Liv into a tight hug. John was far too busy cracking mildly offensive jokes about cavalry to members of said cavalry that were sat directly opposite him.

"God I missed you." Esme whispered into her ear.

"Me too. I've done the right thing haven't I? Coming here?" Olivia panicked slightly.

"Absolutely. You couldn't miss this, Tommy would never bloody forgive you." Esme joked, both girls laughed.

"Olivia Hamilton, good lord." Ada smiled in disbelief at the sight next to her. Liv and Esme faced her, both Ada and Esme now attacking Olivia with affection. "You look gorgeous, how long have you been back?"