Loving Gwen Baker (Thomas Shelby/Peaky Blinders)

Chapter Five

Gwen spent her Sunday staring out onto her garden. She hadn't stepped foot out there since her father had passed away four years ago. She remembered spending every Sunday out there with him, eating homemade treats and watching as he planted beautiful flowers into the boarders and pruning the roses.

The garden was almost bare now. The roses had continued to grow wildly, but the grass had only been cut by the 'lads' Tommy had sent round to spruce up the neglected property. The boarders were full of weeds, and Gwen had to turn her head away from it.

Her father had cherished their garden, and she had abandoned it.

The strawberry blonde found herself at a loss for what to do. The house was lonely, she was lonely, and looking at the garden had her closing the curtains once again - which had been their state for a long time until the Blinders had opened them.

Gwen sighed, before deciding to head to the Garrison. There was something about Grace that had the strawberry blonde wanting to step back out into the world - even though she had only just met the Irish woman.

So, the strawberry blonde put on her shoes and threw her worn coat around her shoulders before she headed out.

It had been the first time in a long time, that she had stepped out at the weekend. The bonfire the night before had been another reminder of her old self, and Gwen felt a lot happier at having been given the chance to feel that way once more.

Usually, she would spend the day crying and sluggishly moping around her house. In her childhood, she would either be painting with her mother, gardening with her father, or dancing barefoot in the meadow.

The meadow.

Gwen halted in her steps. Tommy had said she could come and go as she pleased. She felt reconnected with her old self up there, in the countryside with horses, and the strawberry blonde felt like she had been able to take a deep breath, relax, and smile for the first time in a long time.

So, the young woman backtracked to her house, grabbed her new paints, new paintbrushes and a sketchbook before she began the long trek to the meadow.

In her youth, the long walk had been easy and fun...but now? Gwen was so thin that she had lost the energy to complete the trip before she was even half way there!

Annoyed with herself and frustrated, the Baker's girl sat on a fallen tree and put her head in her hands. She had wanted to find her old self, and she wasn't even able to do that! How could she let herself get so...frail?

"Gwen?"

She looked up, finding Samuel, the postman (he had taken over from his father).

"Are you alright?" He asked.

There was a black and white dog by his side, a stick held in his mouth.

"What are you doing here?" Samuel asked, when she hadn't responded to him for a while.

The Collie approached her, and she gently placed her hand on his silky head.

"He's so soft." She said, petting the dog. His tail wagging gently.

"His name is Charlie." The postman said, "May I sit with you?"

She nodded, the dog leaning into her hand so that she could give him a better scratch behind the ears.

"Dogs always know when someone's upset." Samuel said, gesturing towards Charlie. "I normally take him along the other path, but he chose this one today...he must've heard you."

She smiled at the dog, "He's sweet. How long have you had him?"

"I think he's three. My dad got him while I was in France."

"I didn't think dogs liked postmen?"

Samuel laughed, "I haven't had a problem with dogs while I've been working." He said, "Even that Alsatian that lives with the Cunninghams. That one chased my dad up the road before, but he seems to like me."

"That's good." She said, with a nod.

They sat in a very awkward silence for a moment, Samuel expecting Gwen to start talking - but found himself having to continue the conversation.

"How long have you been sitting here?" He asked.

"A few minutes before you arrived." She said with a sigh. "I thought I'd go up to the meadow but...I guess I'm not able to make the walk anymore."

"Well, my dad doesn't use his bicycle anymore. And I have no need for it - I have a post-van now." He said, "If you want the bike, you can have it."

"I can't afford it."

"I'm not asking for anything." He said, "Seriously, it's just sitting in our back garden. It should go to a good home."

She looked away from the dog that she was petting, her eyes meeting Samuel's green ones, "Are you sure?"

"Of course." He nodded with a small smile, "And it's flat all the way to the meadow, so you don't even have any hills. It'll be perfect! Do you know how to ride one?"

"My dad taught me when I was a kid." She said, "And they do say you never forget."

He nodded, "Would you like to walk back with me?"

"Yes, please."

He got to his feet, before turning and giving her a hand up. They walked side by side, Samuel stopping occasionally to throw the stick for Charlie.

"So..." He began, for once in his life he struggled to find conversation with the usually chatty young woman. "You work at the Garrison now?"

"Yeah."

"How is it?"

"It's okay, I suppose."

They came out of the woodland and back down into the grey, smog filled streets of Small Heath. Gwen watched as Tommy rode into view atop the black stallion - Monaghan Boy - and she turned away to follow Samuel down a side road and towards her house.

"I'll bring the bike by later." He said, as they stopped outside the gate that was situated at the end of the path to her front door.

She bent down to pet Charlie, "Thank you." She said, "I really appreciate that."

He offered her a small smile, "Alright, I'll see you later. Come along, Charlie."

The dog obeyed the postman, and Gwen watched as he trotted alongside his owner back down the street.

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