Cost of The Chase | T. Shelby ✓

11 | Lack of Appreciation

"Don't tell her anything..." Sylvia thought out loud, looking up at Tom to meet his eyes. "She's no good, don't risk anything." She gives him a small smile, hoping he'll listen. Sylvia wants nothing more than to tell him that Grace has been screwing everyone over, but that's Grace's truth to tell.

Sylvia isn't one to steal people's opportunity to come clean. She's just seeing how long Grace will wait for, it'll let Sylvia know just how bad of a person Grace is. "I won't." Tom reached into his pocket and presented Sylvia with a flat box, she raised her eyebrows at him. "Happy birthday." 

"You remembered?" The question made Tom nod profusely, but before he could speak, Sylvia wrapped her arms around his neck and embraced him tightly. "Thank you," Nobody else knows when Sylvia's birthday is. She doesn't even know, it's around this time of the year but she never got a birth certificate so she doesn't know her birthday.

It's the thought that matters to Sylvia, "You haven't even seen the gift yet," 

"The gift doesn't mean as much as your remembering does." 

"Well, shite. Maybe I should just throw this out then since you value thought so much." Sylvia rolled her eyes at Tom and he sat the box in her hands. The necklace inside is beautiful, to say the least. In the middle sat a golden locket, surrounding it was a frame of various gemstones. Tom smiled at her reaction, "It was your mother's..."

Sylvia's smile dropped and an expression of pure wonder replaced it. Her big brown eyes reminded him of Fawnie whenever she saw some candies. "Really?" He saw the tears form in her eyes, she placed the top back onto the box and hugged Thomas once more. "Thank you so much," Her hold on him was tighter than before.

Later Sylvia found out inside the locket sat a photo of her mother. She cried for a moment, she's never had something of her mother's before and the fact that her childhood best friend was the one who gifted it to her made it so much better. She watches as the Shelby sisters meander around the marketplace. 

Sylvia's hand subconsciously holds the locket, Winnie seems to notice. "What's that?" She points at the necklace.

"A locket, Tom gave it to me." 

"What's inside?" Fawnie pulled on Sylvia's arm, eyes wide.

The woman smiled down at Fawn, "A photo of my mum." Fawnie's eyes fell to the ground at the word 'mum'. Sylvia's eyebrows screwed with worry, "What's wrong, love?" Sylvia lowered herself down to Fawn's height. 

The little girl pouted, "My mum isn't here anymore." Sylvia didn't understand, she knows that their mother died, but Fawn seemed to refer to Miriam as only her mother. 

Winnie noticed Sylvia's confusion, "She has a different mum. Dropped her off when she was three..." This made Sylvia's entire being hurt, not only was Fawnie abandoned by her father, but her mother did the same thing. 

"Oh, honey." The hug Sylvia gave Fawnie was tight and secure.

The typewriter in front of Sylvia mocked her. She sighed, Sylvia promised she'd write to him at some point. "Fuck." Her leg bounced up and down under the desk as she placed her fingers in place, ready to write a shitty letter to a man who hardly raised her.

Dear Paul, 

I hope this letter finds you well. It has been a while and I'd like to apologize for that. I haven't gotten around to writing to you since it has been rather hectic since my arrival in Birmingham. The family I once knew has changed drastically, I will not indulge in the details since that is not why I am writing to you.

I have made my decision, I will be staying in England, and if you want to remove my name from your will... I won't be bitter. I understand that my departure was not during a very good time and that you needed someone there.

Although now that I look back upon my memories of growing up with you lot, all I can remember are the good times. Such as my sixteenth birthday when I was gifted with my schooling. Even though I hated it while I was in school, I now have come to appreciate it.

I am very sorry for my lack of appreciation for you and Helen. You two did what you could for me even if some of your reasoning behind adopting me was less than savory. I wish you the best and hope to be able to see you soon. Even if I stay in England forever, I will do my utmost best to stay in touch.

Should I stop writing to you for longer than a year, then assume the worst. I'm saying that purely because speculating if I am alive or not will only drive you further to madness. In regards to my inevitable demise, if I am to pass before you, please give whatever you planned to give to me to creditable orphanages. And a bit to a Fawnie Rose Shelby and a Winifred Shelby. 

They are young girls deserving of nothing short of the best. I know they will make good use of whatever I may have received upon your departure. 

Thank you for taking me in despite not having to. It didn't mean much at the time, but now, I'm very glad I grew up in another country. You have not only gifted me with material items, but with the knowledge of another culture, language, and various educational bits of knowledge. I have found myself using my mathematical skills more often than ever with my new profession.

Sincerely, Sylvette Taylor