Loving Gwen Baker (Thomas Shelby/Peaky Blinders)

Chapter Fourteen

Gwen hadn't been able to keep the beaming smile off of her face for the next few days. The day at the Craft Fair had been perfect, and everything that she had needed! She had kissed Thomas on the cheek when he had dropped her home, and the action had caused him to grin and her to blush.

Thomas was in the Garrison, every time Harry went on lunch...but he was not manning the bar as he had been, no, he was tucked away in the snug. The hatch doors were left open, however.

Knowing that the Peaky Blinder was present, but not threatening them with a glare anytime they approached the strawberry blonde barmaid, had the punters more willing to approach Gwen for a fresh beverage. She was happy that they were doing so - she didn't feel like she was losing Harry's customers anymore.

She felt happy again, and the next few days went by with the Baker girl returning to her carefree and cheerful ways - much to the delight of Small Heath.

However, that all changed when Saturday rolled around.

It was late into the afternoon, and there had been another match at St. Andrews so the Garrison was busy.

The goalie was bragging about his epic saves and demonstrated how he had headed a ball away, by suspending himself from the goals bar. The man jumped and grabbed hold of the light fixing so that his body was swinging from the ceiling.

Gwen froze.

The empty glasses she had collected from the busy tables fell from her hands, sending clear fragments scattering across the floor. Her hands were shaking, all she could picture was how she had walked into her parents bedroom and found her mother hanging from the ceiling by her scarf.

The strawberry blonde backed away from the laughing team, and pushed past people to get behind the bar. She dodged Harry, ignored Grace, and made her way down to the basement where she could hide among the barrels.

Her blood was pumping in her ears, she couldn't find her breath, she felt sweat beading on her forehead and her hands had gone all clammy.

Gwen paced in front of the barrels for a moment, before she squeezed herself between the ale and beer. Her head between her knees, her hands covering her ears as she could hear her own haunting scream when she walked into her parents bedroom that day...looking for her mother.

"Gwen?"

It was Grace.

The strawberry blonde remained silent, knowing that her small frame was well hidden between the barrels.

"I just came to see if you needed anything? I've brought you a glass of water."

Gwen wanted to ignore her. But the need for a friend overcame her want to be left alone. "I'm down here." She said, her voice shaky from her panic attack.

The Irish blonde appeared in front of her, and Grace sat on the floor cross legged in front of the strawberry blonde. "Here."

Gwen accepted the glass of water gratefully, and she sipped at it carefully. "Thank you."

Grace offered a kind smile, "Would you like to talk about it?"

"I don't know." Gwen replied, staring at her knees.

"What triggered it?" Grace asked gently.

Gwen held her breath, "Seeing him...hanging there." Tears began to fill her eyes again, and Gwen focused her attention on the loose thread on her skirt. "It just..."

Grace waited patiently for a moment, "Took you somewhere you didn't want to go?"

Gwen nodded, and looked up at the kind woman sitting in front of her. "Yeah."