Tabitha Hearn is a young gypsy woman whose father leads the Hearn Clan. With her father's bad health and mother raising her younger siblings, Tabitha is married off to a man named Thomas Shelby, leader of the Peaky Blinders, to end a lasting feud be...
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CHAPTER THIRTEEN: Ocean Eyes
NIGHT CAME AND RAIN POURED HEAVILY IN SMALL HEATH.
Tabitha took careof Finn all day long, cancelling her evening plans to comfort the young boy. John had gone home to his children, Polly the church, and Arthur to the Garrison. Tabitha didn't know where Thomas had gone off to, but she was taking care of Finn, like she used to take care of Charity and Ocean at that age. She wasn't upset with Thomas anymore, not after the Lees attacked that early afternoon.
Tabitha tucked Finn in as she heard the raindrops tap on the window one by one until they became multiple. She sat above the covers, reading a book as the youngest Shelby did something to make her laugh. Tabitha was used to taking care of Finn and John's children that way, she was going to make a great mother someday.
Finn was still awake, unable to fall asleep from the shock of the explosion earlier that afternoon. It was a near death experience, and he had never seen Thomas or Tabitha so worried than in that moment. The eleven he was old felt guilty for making them worried and not listening to Thomas when he told him to climb out of the care the way he climbed in.
"You're still not tired?" Tabitha asked Finn softly, closing the book.
"I don't think I can sleep," Finn replied just as soft, allowing her to rub his head tenderly.
"Still shaken up?"
"Yeah." He nodded.
"You almost gave Tommy and I a fright, Finn," Tabitha started. "You could've gotten hurt or worse because you didn't listen and climb out like Tommy told you to."
"I know that. I'm sorry I frightened you," Finn said, upset at himself. "I've never seen Tommy so worried before."
"Me neither, love. Me neither."
"He was worried about you too, after the boom. I may be eleven, but I can tell by the way he looked at you."
Tabitha raised a brow, a smirk forming in her lips.
"You think so?" She questioned with a chuckle.
"Tommy's never looks at a pretty lady like he looks at you, Tabby," Finn replied. "He barely smiled until you came along."
Tabitha faintly smiled, continuing to rub Finn's hand, knowing Finn was still young to know such things. Finn wanted to be a grown up like his big brothers, following their example when he should've been acting like a kid.
"Tabby, where do babies come from?" Finn asked.
The sudden question shocked Tabitha and it sounded so casual coming from an eleven year old's lips. She watched him, wondering where the random question even came from. It could've been from Finn seeing a pregnant woman or knowing of Ada's growing belly. Maybe it came from John and his dead wife Martha having four children? Or maybe the smaller children on the streets of Small Heath.
