Disclaimer: I do not own anything Peaky Blinder related, that belongs to the series creator Steven Knight.
Face Claim for Rosemary Parker: Celina Sinden.
Chapter Seven: Give Him Time.
Clutching at the cup of tea that Polly had handed her, Rosemary tried to wrap her head around how badly the meeting with her father had gone that morning; she had no idea how things had spiralled badly. It had never crossed her mind that her father would even make the jump to nearly striking her mother over the news, Rosemary hated that she was the cause of any trouble that had started back at her parents' house.
Of course, Rosemary had held no illusion that her father would be upset about her marriage to Thomas, but she had hoped even if it were silly that he would accept that she had married Thomas like he had done Peter. It was almost like her father had a selective memory, he had hated Peter when he had first presented himself as a suitor for her sister.
Hell, he had tried to talk Colleen out of the marriage on the day of the wedding before they had left for the church and it had only been through his efforts that Peter had ended up at the corner shop where he now worked. There was a war on and so many around them were making the same decisions, it made sense to marry Thomas when she had no idea what else the future might hold for them or if he would even come home.
The kitchen was silent and Rosemary was not sure what was worse right now, she longed for something to keep her occupied but she didn't think Polly would take too kindly to her tidying around her home. Polly was sat across the table from her and neither of them had said anything since she had sat down; they both were lost deep in their thoughts about what the future held for them now.
"Have you thought much about what you will do now?" Polly asked, there were only a few days left before Thomas would leave for war and she knew that would leave Rosemary nearly alone. It was not going to be easy especially since they had barely been married for more than a day and Thomas would be leaving her for God knows how long. They kept saying the war would be over by Christmas, but Polly did not believe that for a moment; the newspapers were filled with lies as far as she was concerned about what was happening over there.
"Not really… I still have my job at the store and we planned to stay living at Tommy's until he got back," Rosemary replied looking at Polly, she couldn't imagine how things would work with Thomas gone but she was going to have to work that out would be leaving in three days and nothing would stop that nor delay it, Rosemary would pray for his safe return and that of everyone else that went away.
Nodding her head, Polly sat back in her seat and hoped that would be enough especially with everything that would happen with the boys going away; they would be left behind to run things while they fought in the war. The sound of someone knocking on the front door confusing them both since they were not expecting anyone; it was quiet outside and Polly knew if it was one of the family, they had just come on in.
Getting to her feet, Polly headed for the front door to see who it was; she paused at the sight of Rosemary's mother and the bags that sat at her feet. Pausing for a moment, Polly was unsure what to do especially after what she had heard about the argument had taken place; she looked back at Rosemary before signalling for her to come to the door. It had never crossed her mind that Victoria would come here, she looked tired and drawn; not like her usual self who was always well kept.
"Mum?" Rosemary asked surprised to see her mother, she got to her feet trying to ignore the worry that bubbled within her stomach at the sight of Victoria as she searched her face for answers. Victoria wrapped her eldest daughter in a hug, holding her close to her for a moment as she closed her eyes; she would never tell Rosemary about the argument that she'd had with Robert.
Her husband was stead fast in his beliefs and he wasn't going to change his mind before he and Thomas were shipped out. There had not been a moments peace since Rosemary had left with Thomas that morning, nothing Victoria said seemed to sink in with Robert and Colleen only seemed to egg him on with her comments. It was times like these that she wondered where she had gone wrong with her second daughter compared to the others.
It was only now that things seemed to calm down that Victoria had been able to slip away with a couple of bags of Rosemary's things since she would be staying with Thomas. It had not been easy especially with Colleen being her over helpful self, she had been trying to throw Rosemary's stuff out so that she and Peter could have her bedroom claiming they needed more space for the baby that wasn't due until next year.
"I wanted to bring you some of your things," Victoria stated feeling awkward under the gaze of Polly Shelby, she could only imagine what she thought of her right now. Victoria felt ashamed that such a woman could see how her personal life was unravelling before her, she dared not betray her husband but she longed to see all her daughters happily married and with families of their own.
lump formed in Rosemary's throat as she looked down at the bags that contained her personal belongs, she was relieved to see that they had not been thrown out like she had expected them to be. There was not much, and Rosemary could only imagine what would have happened to her things if Victoria had not brought them to her; she was sure that she would not have seen them again.
"Your father does not wish to see you any time soon, although I shall visit when I can," Victoria reassured her, she took Rosemary's hands in her own as she offered her a small smile. She hated to sneak around but she was willing to do so if it meant that she would be able to be a part of her daughter's life; she knew that whatever happened, she would always put her daughter's first.
Robert was a fool if he truly forgotten the past, her own father had disapproved of their match especially given the fact that Robert was several years her senior. It had taken years for Charles to warn to him, Robert had always sworn that he would be a kinder man to the man that wished to marry any of his daughters but alas he was just like her father.
"I can't stay long but I shall come see you soon and I shall continue to talk sense into your father," Victoria promised brushing her thumb against Rosemary's cheek with a warm smile, she would do whatever was needed to unite their family again before Robert left for the war.
Stepping into the house, Thomas pulled off his cap and hung it at the door before shrugging off his coat; it was nice to be home and he had been surprised to hear from Polly that Rosemary had come home. It was still strange to think that this little cramped corner that he called his home was now their home, he had never imagined that this was going to be the place where they would start their lives together.
It had been a long day and things were not easy especially with time running out before he left for war; he would be followed by John who was also being deployed for the war. The small house smelled amazing and Thomas was surprised, this was not what he had been expecting when he returned home; his stomach grumbled at the smell, he couldn't remember the last time he had come home to food on the table.
Heading towards the kitchen, Thomas paused at the sight of the meal that had been set out for them; it made him think about what life would be like if he did not have to leave for war. It allowed him to dream of the future that they would have, and he could not help but smile at that; the idea of them having a couple of children that would run to the door to greet him when he returned home while Rosemary finished dinner.
The life that he had always wanted, something that he now felt like he could reach out and touch with his bare hand. Thomas knew that thought would be the one to get him through the war that he was going to fight; he was determined to come home and see that happen.
"I made dinner," Rosemary greeted smiling, she did not want to sit around and sulking, when their time was running out; Thomas was not going to be here for much longer and she did not want to waste any time that they had left together. God only knew when they would be reunited, and Rosemary would pray nightly for his safe return; she could not imagine what lay across the channel waiting for him.
"I'll just wash up," Thomas replied looking forward to the meal, he was starving and the idea of spending the evening with his wife thrilled him. Soon he would have to leave for war but right now he wanted to focus on his time with Rosemary that he had left before it was taken from him.
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