sabrina. peaky blinders

three

three

home, mid 1919

They walked together through the dusky streets of Small Heath, a modest parade of wool coats and polished shoes. The Garrison's warm orange glow spilt out from its windows like a hearth fire. Music played faintly inside, and the scent of ale and pipe smoke greeted them at the door.

"Alright, let's not all crowd the entrance like it's a royal ball," Betty said, pushing ahead.

Inside, a few tables had been arranged in a rough sort of circle. Familiar faces turned as they entered, neighbours, old family friends, even Mr. Finnigan from the hardware shop.

Cheers rose up. Someone clapped. A glass was raised.

"Sabrina Lewis!" Mr. O'Malley called. "Back from beyond."

Betty glared at him. "Paris. Not the grave."

"Same thing," he laughed.

Sabrina gave a gracious nod and a smile, her cheeks flushed. She hadn't expected all this. A simple drink, she'd thought. Not paper decorations and people shaking her hand, clapping her back.

"You've done us proud," Mr. Finnigan said. "They said you saw real fighting."

She moved through the crowd with a quiet grace, stopping to greet the regulars. Betty flitted beside her like a tour guide and social director all at once, chattering, laughing too loudly, steering her sister from one conversation to the next.

Sabrina felt the weight of eyes, but none of them were John's. She found herself relieved.

"Drink?" Mary appeared beside her with two glasses.

Sabrina took one. "How long do you think this'll last?"

Mary sipped. "Long enough to remind you where you are."

They sat near the window, letting the party hum around them.

From across the room, her father lifted his glass toward her. Lillian leaned beside him, saying something with a soft smile.

Sabrina raised her glass in return.

Normalcy, she thought. This was as close as she'd get.

And for now, it was enough.

Until the door burst open.

"Alright, which one of you bastards started without me?"

John Shelby stood in the entrance, grinning like the devil himself. His coat was already off, sleeves rolled, hair mussed just so. He looked like a boy who'd been fighting the wind and won.

Betty groaned under her breath. "And there's the circus."

He spotted Ada first and kissed her cheek with exaggerated affection. Then he slapped Fred on the back hard enough to jostle the man's drink.

It didn't take long for his eyes to start scanning the room.

Sabrina watched him watch them. There was no avoiding it now. Eventually, those sharp blue eyes would land on her.

They did.

And skated right past.

She exhaled. Strange how that could sting more than being seen.

Later, with the Garrison full of laughter and the clink of glasses, Sabrina found herself back at the bar. Harry was running three taps at once, moving like he hadn't stopped since 1914. She slid into an open stool and waited.