It's been three weeks since Tommy hired an investigator to find Olivia . It was his old friend Peter who was a translator and solider during the war. He was one of the most intelligent people Tommy has ever known. He spoke six languages and could read eight. Of course that came in handy when they were face to face with angry German or an angry French woman disputing pay at a brothel.Peter finished law school when he got back home and now he was one of the top criminal defense attorney in England . What made him different was he defended people who he truly believed were innocent .
Peter was also was at the hospital when Tommy met Olivia and saw first hand their true love and the heart break to follow. He truly thought they had a chance. But the war once again destroyed their lives.
Tommy tried to find out what happened to Olivia when he came back home but Grace and Campbell entered his life. After that he put the search on the back burner. He did feel guilty that he didn't continue the search after Grace left but he was just so wrapped up in his anger and grief. Tommy just put all of his energy into the business. He was also terrified that she might be dead. He doesn't think he could handle that. Tommy also was scared that she could be married and happy without him. That could be worse than death. He didn't get very far in his research . All he found out was that she was sent back to Paris . He dragged his feet in finding out. How many years has it been. He just wanted to put his head under the dirt and not deal with this. Now he didn't have a choice. He knew Grace would continue to pester him if he kept saying her name. The dreams were turning erotic when they shouldn't be. He needed closure .
Tommy heard a car pull into his drive way. He pulled out his gun in instinct . Never know who wants revenge on the Shelby family. Tommy looked out the window as a man got out of the car. Tommy sighed in relief and put his gun in the desk drawer. It was Peter . It's been so long since he has seen him. Then dread set in. This was it. He was going to finally know what happened to the love of his life.
Tommy was walking out of his office and towards the front door when he saw Frances with Peter . He thanked Frances and stood in front of his old friend . Peter looked around in amazement .
" How in the hell did you end up in a place like this. Last time I saw you you and your family were bookies and lived in a betting den. Now look at you. You live in a fucking castle. I bet it has a name. All rich people name their houses. "
Tommy smirked. Same old Peter . Never thought twice about giving him a hard time.
"Arrow house and as for the betting den, it's still there on watery lane in small heath. I can show you later if you like." They hugged. It was a great feeling for the both of them.
" It's damn good to see you . I'm glad you are doing well Tommy . "
" thank you . Shall we go to my office. "
They entered his office and Peter sat down while Tommy got them drinks. Tommy sat the drinks down and sat behind his desk .
"I must say Peter you have done damn well for yourself. You have a Bentley , you have a posh flat in the middle of London. You are also all over the papers with the cases you win. Let's not forget you were all over the society pages with some American heiress."
Peter took a gulp of his drink then smirked .
"Tommy Shelby OBE. Who now lives in a castle and has a fleet of cars. Let's not forget you own Shelby company ldt and now are engaged to a beautiful Irish woman. Who was a spy for a very troublesome inspector. And she was married until his very tragic suicide . Then there are those rumors of you being head of the gang called peaky blinders ."
They had a moment . Of course they did their research on Each other . It did erk Tommy that he knew so much about him. Peter sighed and put his drink on the desk.
" But enough of this. How are truly Tommy? "
"Well as you can see. I have a house not a castle. A beautiful fiance and business is booming . What about you?"
" I'm well. I'm a successful attorney as you know and I've helped a lot of people. And I wasn't with that American girl by the way. I just happened to be around her when the press showed up. " Peter took another sip of his drink and smirked at tommy. Now there was an awkward silence . They were in a stand off seeing which one would talk first.Tommy was filled with anxiety . He wanted this over with and at the same time he didn't . Part of him wanted to keep his memories intact. He watched Greta die. He couldn't have Olivia dead too. His perfect love gone and nothing he could do about it. There was also a part of him that was nervous and jealous to find out she could be married with children . It was hypocritical of him to feel that why but she promised him that they would marry and have a family. Olivia had every right to move with her life it's been years since the war. Tommy moved on with Grace and would be married soon.
Peter could read Tommy like a book. He knew every thought in his head. The information he had in his brief cases could set Tommy off. It was like a bomb about to go off. So Peter decided to end the suspense and put the briefcase on Tommy desk and opened it. He put the file in front of tommy. Tommy eyes went wide . This is it. His past was in that file.
"There it is Tom. The entire life of Olivia. Military record, employment history, addresses of all the residents she has lived, and even a picture I took." Peter watched Tommy carefully . He left out two small details but Tommy would find out sooner or later.
Tommy opened the file and saw two pictures . The first was her official military photo. She looked so young and serious in her uniform. It reminded Tommy of him and his brothers photos. The second photo she looked older more mature but happy. She was in a flowery dress that hugged her curves perfectly. He could tell she had filled out more since the last time her saw her. Her hair was long and curly. He could remember just how soft it was. There was her smile. A truly happy smile that he could also see in her eyes. So much happiness and love poured out of that picture . She was standing in front of a beautiful Friesian horse. He saw that horse once as boy at a Boswell wedding. He fell in love with it's beauty instantly. It was obviously an expensive horse and didn't think he could ever afford but he wanted it. He vowed one day he would have a stable full of them.
Tommy started to choke up a bit. Olivia remembered. She had listened to his story and remembered his love of horses. She has a piece of his memory with her back home in France . Tommy heard the chair across from him creak and saw Peter watching him. He cleared his throat and straightened out in his chair. He put the picture to the side and bottled his emotions . The last thing he was going to do was break down in front of Peter. He looked through the papers and was very impressed. She was highly regarded in her military record . She was honorably discharged a month before the war ended . She had the rank of captain and was awarded a medal for her bravery .
He flipped to the next page of her job history. She stayed in Paris until the spring and seems she went back to her hometown. She started working at the local hospital her father ran a almost a year later. There were several newspaper articles on Olivia . One was about her saving a hotel heiress from choking to death at a restaurant a few years ago. Another was about her saving a young boy after being trapped inside a car on fire. If course she continued to save people it's who she is. She would always put her life in the line for others. He finally reached the end of the file and wasn't much left. Only that she lived in her family property in her own house and a car title with her name on it. What surprised him was medical patent with Olivia's name on it. Quite a few of them. There was a couple with her parents and her brother. He smiled. He was happy she was sharing her inventions with the world and was making money off of it. Hopefully she didn't ever have to struggle in the future.
The three pieces of paper he dreaded to see weren't there. Marriage ,birth, and death certificate. He closed the file and went to get another drink. Peter watched him and knew what he wanted to ask.
"She isn't married. No children either. She is happily living on the French countryside with her horses and her family."
Tommy swallowed he drink and asked angrily
"When did you take that picture ?" Tommy didn't want to think about why Olivia would be smiling at Peter . He didn't want to think Peter went behind his back and possibly slept with his woman. His woman? Olivia didn't belong to him. He had Grace now . He felt a big stab in the heart at the thought of that.
Peter could see where this was going. The last thing he wanted was a fight and for Tommy to think he had a fling with her. He got up and walked to Tommy .
"I took that picture a few months ago. It's a funny story . About a year and half ago I had a client who was accused of murdering her husband. There was a rumor that he had a mistress but the police didn't bother to follow up on it but I did. I found out she had cleaned out the office safe and flee to Paris after she killed him of course." Peter lit a new cigarette and took a long drag. It irritated Tommy because he wanted Peter to just get on with the story.
" As I was filing the necessary paperwork to extradite the mistress back to England at the courthouse, I ran into her. Literally ran into her , I knocked her on her rump. " Peter chuckled at the memory.
"We met for dinner that night and talked for hours. It was quite lovely seeing her."
It was obviously innocent. Old friends catching up but the ugly green monster of jealousy was rearing its ugly head. It's target was peter. All Tommy wanted to do right now was throw him across the room and beat answers out of him. Tommy reeled in his anger and flat out asked.
"Did you sleep with her after after talking for hours?"
Peter knew Tommy would ask that question but it still hurt. Olivia became a great friend and even a sister to him. It hurt that Tommy would think he would stab him in the back like that.
"Tommy do you honestly believe I would ever do that?"
" Why not? She is a beautiful woman. A beautiful woman who I'm sure has felt lonely over the years. What better way to take advantage of that than getting her drunk and into bed. " Tommy was clutching his glass so hard it was coming close to breaking. Peter now was getting angry. How could Tommy think he would ever take advantage of her. He walked to the other side of the room so he wouldn't punch Tommy.
"Danny is dead. Freddie is dead. Barney lost his mind and is locked in that hospital. God only knows how the other men are. I always hear bombs and gunfire at night. I can't be in small spaces otherwise I start hyperventilating. Then there is you Tom. Are you still hearing the shovels? "
Tommy gave Peter a deadly glare while he moved to sit back down at his desk.
"Tommy when I saw Olivia it was wonderful. It was wonderful to see her thriving out there. She found some sort of peace after the hell we went through. She is actually living her life instead of just surviving to get to the next day like the rest of us. And those horses. She got them because of you. She told me the story of when she fell off one as a kid and broker her arm. She was terrified of them after that. Somehow you worked your magic on her and now she has become a horse whisperer . The same way you are."
" To answer your question no I did not have any type of sexual contact with Olivia. I have never seen her that way either. "
Tommy knew that but it still hurt him. It hurt that Peter got to see her. He got to spend time with her. To see her happy and smiling. It wasn't fair at all. Tommy grabbed her picture and blurted out the question he has been asking himself since the end of the war.
"Why didn't she find me? Why didn't she come to Birmingham like she promised?"
The sadness and desperation in Tommy voice broke Peter heart. Only if he knew the whole story.
"She thought you were dead Tom. She was scared at the thought of coming to Birmingham and only finding your grave. She has felt guilty about it but she never stopped loving you. You have to believe in that. She will always love you."
"Does she know I'm alive. That I'm here in Birmingham."
" Yes she knows and she also knows about Grace. I didn't want to but she asked if you were seeing someone the last time I saw her. I couldn't lie. She is happy you found someone. "
"So that's it then. Olivia is in France with her horses and family and I'm here in England getting ready to be married."
"Yeah Tom that's it. Unless you want to talk to her. I can get in contact with her for you."
Tommy thought about the offer. It's tempting but he didn't think his heart could take it. Hearing her voice after all these years would be too much. In all honesty he would get on the first boat to France just to see her. He didn't trust himself to not leave everything behind and live his life with her.
" No it's alright. I got what I wanted. Olivia is alive and doing well, now I can move on and get married."
Peter didn't believe him at all. He could see that Tommy heart has been broken all over again. He was starting to think this meeting was a mistake. He shouldn't of laid all this on Tommy . He also knows whenever Tommy finds out what he is hiding , there is a good chance that Tommy might beat him to death. Peter knows it's gonna come out one day. It just has too. He checked his watch to see it was getting late and Tommy noticed. Time to wrap this up.
"I thank you for your work in finding her. Here is your check. I hope the payment is to your liking."
Tommy got up and wrote the check them handed it to Peter. Peter got up and took the check. It was a lot of money. More than he has ever charged a client. Peter ripped the check in half and put it on the desk.
"This one is on me Tom , but the next time I will charge you at least half of that amount."
Tommy gave him a small smile. It did touch him that Peter most likely always had the intention of doing this for free. He did it out of the goodness of his heart , which is a rare thing theses days. Peter stuck out his hand to Tommy and instead Tommy grabbed him into a hug.
"Thank you for this truly."
" it's no problem. You both are family. I would do anything for you two. "
They separated when they heard a knock at the door. Tommy called for the person to enter. It was the last person he wanted to see right now. Grace.
He shouldn't feel this way but he did. Tommy didn't want Grace to see that part of his world. He didn't want Grace to touch the memory of Olivia.
"I'm sorry to interrupt but the cook wanted to know if salmon is alright for dinner."
" Yes that's fine. " Tommy said as he made his way over to his desk to put the file in a drawer.
"My goodness you have a cook are you sure this isn't a castle. Castles have a full staff to wait on you hand and foot."
Tommy rolled his eyes and introduced them.
" Grace this is Peter , an old friend of mine. "
Peter took Grace's hand and kisses the top of it.
"Its a pleasure to meet you. "
Grace blushed a bit. She wasn't used to this behavior from any of Tommy's friends or associates . It was refreshing to meet someone outgoing the way Peter obviously is.
"Its a pleasure to meet you to. I haven't met many of Tommy old friends, how did you meet?"
"Unfortunately during the war. I was a translator in his unit. Thankfully we were able to stay in touch afterwards."
Ann old friend from the war. Interesting Grace thought. She would have to kiss up to him soon. Invite him to come around more often so she can get information out of him. Maybe he knows Olivia. She would have to go back to her old ways of spying. Grace didn't want to do that but if there is another woman out there who had Tommy heart she had to take the chance. She wasn't going to let a other woman take what was hers.
"I'm glad you were too. You would like to stay for dinner? Most of Tommy family is coming over."
" I appreciate the offer but I can't. I have to get back to London for a late appointment. I hope that invitation would still stand for another time. "
"Of course it would." Grace smiled at him.
"Alright enough flirting with my fiance , let me walk you to the door."
"Wonderful meeting you Grace." Peter and Tommy walked to the front door. Tommy started to feel a little sad as he walked Peter to his car. He could have spent a few more hours just talking. He wanted to talk more about Olivia . He wanted to know the Olivia Peter knew. But now it was over. No more talk about his past. No more talk about his true love.
"Well Grace seem nice. I hope I am invited to the wedding."
Tommy just rolled his eyes and hugged Peter once again.
"When you head this way again let me know. I will take you to the garrison and get incredibly drunk."
Peter smiled at that and said his goodbyes. As he drove off he couldn't shake the feeling Grace have him. She felt off. What he saw in her eyes was different from what he saw in Olivia. There wasn't any love in them. No warmth unlike Olivia. She had the kindest eyes he has ever seen. He was going to look into Grace background first thing Monday morning. He didn't trust that woman and if he had to stop a wedding then he was going to.
Tommy walked back into his office and Grace was still there giving him the look. He knows she is going to want to know all about Peter and why he never mentioned him. It annoyed him that she was always digging for information about his past. A normal person would just see it as a woman getting to know her man but to Tommy she was snooping. He still has fear that Grace could hand him and his family over to the police . That she was still spying on him. It's a terrible way to think but Tommy can't help it. There will always be that nagging feeling of betrayal in the back of his mind.
"Peter seems nice, I wish he could have stayed for dinner. " Grace was trying to get a reaction out of Tommy . She could tell in his demeanor that what ever they talked about really took a toll on him. She just hoped he wouldn't get melancholy again. She doesn't quite know what to do when he gets into that state.
"Mmmhhmm " was all Tommy said as he walked over to the window. He wasn't paying attention to Grace at all. He could feel her coming closer to him and talking but he didn't care. Tommy just wanted to lock himself in this room and cry. It was too much for one day and he was over it.
"Tommy darling are you alright?" She put her hand on his cheek and Tommy leaned into it. This is what he needed. He needed Grace to ground him in reality. He has her now to keep the nightmares away. He has to keep reminding himself that.
"Yes I'm alright. Just talking a out the past is all."
" I can cancel dinner if you want. It's not to late to call the family. " Grace leaned on to hug him. What ever they talked about shook him up.
"No it's alright. I'm alright don't worry." Tommy pushed her back a little and took her face in his hands . He just looked at her for a moment and then gave her a deep kiss. A kiss that took Grace breathe away.
"I love you alright. You never have to worry about me."
" I will always worry about you Tommy. "
They kissed and again and Tommy sent Grace away so he could finish his work before dinner. He tried his hardest to concentrate on the papers in front of him but it was just to hard. He felt like the desk drawer was taunting him. Just take a peak a voice in his head was saying. That voice sounded just like Olivia. Tommy opened the drawer and took the file out. The only place it should be is in a secret hiding place. It's the only way he was going to get through this. He couldn't have any part of her in his house.
As family was arriving, Tommy put the file in his brief cases and got ready to go. He would be gone very long but needed to get that damn thing out of his house.
"Hey where do you think you're going. You invited the whole family. You can't just leave." Ada said. She was very ticked off her brother was leaving them and leaving them with Grace . Tommy stopped at the door when he heard Ada. He was so wrapped up in his mission he didn't notice he walked right past her and little Karl. He knew what he was about to say was going to piss his sister and the rest of the family off but he didn't care. He just needed to go right now.
"I have some business in town. I won't be long." Tommy ran out the door before she could say anything. He saw Arthur coming down the drive way with Finn, Polly, and Michael .He got into the car and sped down the drive way. He almost ran into his brother which got him a few horn honk . He had only one destination in mind. Watery lane.
Grace was getting worried about Tommy. It was almost 10 pm and Tommy still wasn't home. She was so mad that he just left her alone with his family. It was a boring dinner because no one really talked to her. Polly and Esme didn't acknowledge her at all. Arthur ,John ,and Finn were loud and going on about god knows what. Michael made some effort for small talk which she appreciated very much. She mostly talked to Ada about the wedding. She couldn't stand how they have her the cold shoulder. They should have gotten over the Campbell situation already. She was going to be Tommy wife soon and mother of his children. She wasn't going anywhere anytime soon.
"Don't worry about Tommy I'm sure he is fine."
Grace was startled by Polly.
" He left with out telling me hours ago. He hasn't called . He couldn't of left for simply business. "
"He does a lot of things without telling. I will go and look around town. See where he is."
" thank you Polly. " Grace hugged Polly but it was an awkward hug. Polly was very surprised by this. She was surprised Grace was worried about Tommy . There was genuine concern in her eyes.
"You really do love him don't you?"
Grace rolled her eyes and huffed.
"Of course I love him. Why must you always question me?"
" I will always question you Grace. Tommy might of forgiven and forgotten but I haven't. When you came back to him you were married and lied about being pregnant. I will always question your motives. "
"I will be his wife soon and I will be having his children . There is absolutely nothing you can do."
That pissed off Polly . Sadly Grace was right. Once Tommy had his mind set he had to through with it. She wouldn't be happy about it. Polly hated that damn witch was going to be apart of their family but there was truly nothing she can do about it.
" I'm leaving now, I will call once I find him. Have a lovely night. "
Polly was going to wring his neck once she found him.
The only place Tommy could think was back home. His true home on watery lane. Soon as Tommy got there, he ran right up the stairs to his old room. It was quite and he finally had a moment of peace. There was a safe in the wall Tommy put in years before the war. He put mostly contraband and a few important document in the safe. It was in the wall behind a heavy dresser just in case the police came. Now the contents of the safe only hold sentimental value to him. Inside was a picture and loves notes from Greta and love notes from Olivia.
He decided this was the safest place for Olivia file and pictures. He didn't want anything happening to it. He didn't want anyone knowing either. Especially Grace. Tommy opened the safe and saw the notes. Olivia used to write little notes to the soldiers to make them feel better. She also would draw little doodles. As their relationship progressed the letters and drawings got more romantic and a little erotic . He took a few of her medical inventions sketches. He was so impressed with her brilliance. He went through every letter and drawing and started to break down. He doesn't remember when he started drinking whiskey and didn't notice it was dark. He was drunk and terribly sad when Polly found him.
After driving around the city Polly finally found him in his old room . It was a sad sight. He was drunk on the floor with broken mirrors and a broken chair. He was just staring a a photograph of a beautiful woman. She had a feeling of who she was. This situation was similar to the one after he came home.
"I've been looking all over for Tommy. I told myself I would ring your neck when I found you. Your lovely fiance is worried sick over you."
Tommy knew someone would come for him but wasn't expecting Polly . She was the last person he wanted to see ,but at the same time she was the only person he wanted around. Polly wouldn't judge him and he wanted to get all of his heart ache out before he went back to Grace.
"Sorry Pol. I'll let you ring my neck to the morning if that's alright." His voice was horse from crying and the whiskey. He was emotionally drained and Polly could tell. Her heart broke for him. She had to tread lightly or Tommy would shut down . She took her coat off , lit a cigarette , and sat down next to him on the floor.
"That's her than. The French Nurse.She is incredibly beautiful , I can see why you fell in love with her."
"She was the one who saved me. There was a small knick in an artery near my heart that doctor missed but she didn't. She managed to repair it before I bled to death. She joked that the only reason she was able to save me was because she had nimble fingers.She was the only one who could reach it and fix it." Tommy smiled a little.
" Yes she is beautiful but she is so much more than that. She is so smart and caring and loving. She has a fierceness to her that rivals yours. She promised me that we would meet after the war and start a life. She wanted to come here, but she never showed. " Hearing this made Polly tear up.
"Why are you bringing this up now? Are you getting cold feet with the wedding?"
"I started to look for her after I got home but the Campbell situation happened and I just left it alone. I called up an old friend ,Peter,who is a lawyer and he found her. I just wanted closure and now, I think finding her made things worse."
" Where is she ? " Polly was worried that this woman was dead. She wanted to shield him from the pain but there wasn't much she could do right now. She had to listen to him and let him get all the pent up anger and sadness out. She watched Tommy get up and stretch. He walked over to the window and let out a cloud of smoke. He was on his second cigarette.
"She is living happily in France on her family property. She still is a nurse and raises four friesian horses. She is unmarried and has no children."
Polly was a little stunned by this. His true love was out there alive and well, and Tommy was here suffering . She knew he never let that girl go not truly. How could she have not contacted him over the years. It was just cruel. Now he is with Grace who wouldn't take this news very well. It didn't matter if this woman was in another country and most likely would never see Tommy again. Grace was very territorial and wouldn't put up with that. If she gets a whiff that Tommy still loves Olivia then she would leave. That's something she can understand. No one wants a husband in love with another woman.
"Apparently Olivia thought I was dead all these years. Peter ran into her about a year and half ago and explained things to him. She was to scared to come to Birmingham. She thought the only thing she would find was my grave. I want to be angry at her but I'm no better." Tommy chuckled at that.
" I've had plenty of chances to find her but I didn't. I've moved on with grace. I've built a company that's only getting bigger every day. And yet... " He didn't know how to finish that thought. Polly did though.
"And yet you still love her. You haven't moved on because you need closure." She got up and walked to him.
" Write her , call, or go to France to see her. You need this Tommy. You have to let it go if you want to a life with Grace. "
Tommy latched on to Polly and started to cry. He was so thankful he could be vulnerable in front of her. She was a mother to him. He knows she is right.
"I don't know if I can let Olivia go. I'm not sure if I want to." He just buried his head into her shoulder. Polly was going to do everything she could to help him even if it meant going to France and dragging that nurse with her.
LONDON
Olivia was exhausted after the day she had. She wished someone told her about the gangs in the city. She wasn't naive to think London was crime free but this was just crazy. There was a shoot out every other week and today was terrible. The hospital has in influx of patients with gunshot and stab wounds. A fight broke out at a pub between gangs and thirty men were brought in. She hated that part of her job. She hated that those men would fight and risk theirs lives like that. It was all for nothing really. She saw truly brave men in the war. Her Tom was a brave man.
She thinks about him everyday especially since she moved here. It would be to just jump on the train and go see him but she couldn't. He has a fiance now and she couldn't bare to see him with her. She didn't want to destroy his happiness simply because she wanted to see him because she was lonely. As much as she missed him she was thankful to have a piece of him. Her sweet little Oscar. He had his father eyes. His conception was under the best circumstance but she dealt with it. Oscar birth was the scariest and the best day of her life. Her son was the only thing that got her through her shell shock after the war. He was the only thing that helped her grief over Tommy.
That was another reason why she didn't want to go to Tommy . She didn't know how to drop that piece of information on him. She couldn't just show up on his door step with their son. She honestly didn't know how he would take it. It would break her heart if Tommy rejected their son. The only thing Oscar knew about his father was an English soldier who she loves very much. He was only five years old so she had time before he asked serious questions.
There was a knock at the door as Olivia was setting the dinning room table for dinner. She quickly ran to the door to greet her guest. She opened the door and quickly engulfed the man into a hug.
"Ma Cherie"
Peter was so happy to see her. Since she moved to town he has had dinner with her almost every weekend. He entered the home and was almost tackled. He felt the sweet little boy hugging his waist. He loves him so much. He was shocked when Olivia first told him about her son. He Alamo didn't believe her until he saw the little boy. Soon as he saw those blue eyes he knew that was Tommy boy. He tried several times to get Olivia to tell Tommy and he came close once than was until Tommy got engaged to Grace. He saw how much that broke her heart. Hopefully now that she is so close to Tommy they will meet again.
Olivia was so happy when she met with Peter after coming to the city. She had a trusted friend and her son had an uncle in him. She was so happy she was able to have a new life here in London and finally was settled. She felt in her gut something big was going to happen soon. Not sure what but it was gonna happen. She wouldn't let it came her mood right now. She would just enjoy her family dinner.
She wouldn't have to worry about her gut feeling until weeks later when the last person she thought to see would crash into the hospital and turn everything upside down.