Lucille

As Lucille walked down the road to the village once again, she looked around at the scenery she passed. Everything seemed brighter and calmer once again- just as it used to be and just as Lucille loved it as. The birds swerved up ahead singing in the early morning. The small roads weren't rundown by heavy war vehicles constantly passing. Everything was perfect.

But Lucille couldn't help but feel like her happiness came with a price.

She was at another meeting with the women of the village again. They were all beaming from ear to ear, ecstatic by the fact that they had been left alone by the enemy. Even Cecilé greeted her happily as she walked through the door. But there was only one person who she looked for.

Amélie looked tired, when Lucille first laid eyes on her. Her eyes were droopy, and there was a small bruise growing on the edge of her jaw. The smile that came to her face as Lucille hugged her, didn't seem to light up her eyes like they always had.

"How are you?" Lucille asked sincerely, watching as Amélie sighed with a weary smile.

"I'm good. Just relieved that they're finally gone. Mine was terrible." She said, referring to the German soldier who had been staying in their home.

"Did he give you that?" She asked, pointing to the bruise on her face. Amélie brought her hand to her cheek, clenching her eyes shut in pain, before nodding.

"He asked me to lay with him, but I refused." Amélie explained, and Lucille hugged her once again.

"The worst is over now." She said, before turning to the table as Cecilé ordered them around.

"It seems the worst really is over now." Cecilé shouted, and there were cheers echoing around her as her arms were lifted.

"The soldiers have left, we have more food than ever since the occupation started, and the prisoners of war are safely in Paris!" She screamed out their accomplishments in delight and Lucille clapped, watching the glowing faces around her.

"We wanted to call this meeting, to celebrate." She began, before turning to Lucille. "But some of us also wanted to give thanks to Lucille."

The blind girl smiled as she grabbed Cecilé's outstretched hand, and said, "thank you."

"No, thank you. Your idea worked after all."

Lucille felt humbled by the round of thanks that had been given, especially since they were such strong women. Even Cecilé had decided to put their differences aside, and she appreciated her a lot for doing so. But still, she couldn't help but be worried for Amélie. Even though they were celebrating, she seemed upset and somewhat bored.

"Amélie! I have something to tell you." Lucille said, as she hurried up to her, taking her hands gently into her own.

"You recall how I needed a way out?" She asked, and continued after Amélie nodded. "It wasn't only for me."

She had to tell Amélie. She was supposed to be her closest friend.

"At home, we have two Englishmen hiding and recovering until they can leave. Until I find away." Lucille said, and Amélie's head whipped around to face her in surprise.

"Your serious?" She exclaimed and Lucille nodded ardently. "How did you manage that?"

"I honestly don't know!"

"So... any of them handsome?" She asked, and Lucille widened her eyes, blushing.

"Amélie, we're both married!" She exclaimed, hitting her playfully on her arm. "But they are, I have to say."

"One's caught your eye, hasn't he?" Amélie asked, her chin tilting knowingly. "What's his name?"

"Tommy Shelby." She whispered his name out, before shaking her head. "But I would never."

Amélie looked at her puzzled. Lucille shook her head at her once again, while saying, "Not when Adam is away fighting for our country."

"We're allowed a bit of happiness, especially you Lucille." She said sincerely, her eyes downcast slightly. Lucille's eyebrows furrowed.

"What's that supposed to mean?" She asked.

Amélie paused for a moment, before sighing in decision. She took both of her hands in her own, looking to comfort her. But Lucille didn't know why she needed to be comforted.

"The girls- I heard them talking. They didn't want me to tell you. But you deserve to know." She said, and Lucille leaned forward, urging her to speak.

"Know what, Amélie?"

"Your husband." Amélie began, her eyes sad as she paused.

"My husband? What?" Lucille asked, but Amélie shook her head, not wanting to admit what she knew. Lucille prepared for the worst.

"Adam was with another woman. They had a child together."

Lucille stood up from her chair in disbelief, her hands flying from her friends'. She shook her head harshly as she insisted, "They're lying Amélie. They just wanted to trick you into making me upset."

Amélie tried to grab her hands, attempting to bring her forward again. To reassure her. But Lucille backed away, not willing to believe her. But why would she lie.

"They're lying Amélie." She broke down into tears, her knees weakening as she collapsed to the chair once again, Amélie's arms wrapping around her instantly.

"I'm sorry. They have letters, Lucille." She said after a moment, the girl still shaking beneath her arms.

Lucille's head peaked up, looking up hopefully. "Letters? I want to see them."

"Stay here." Amélie said, as she pulled away and disappeared around a corner.

A few tears slipped from Lucille's eyes as she stared after her. Today was supposed to be about celebrating, not crying. But she could understand why she had told her.

Lucille had been ignorant to the fact that her husband was leading a double life. And to her, it seemed as if she was the mistress, given the fact that he had a child and a  happy woman somewhere else in France. The other woman was expected to have groomed hair, a beautiful smile and the perfect family. But they were married. He had cheated. And she had lost the baby.

"Here." Amélie knocked her from the depressing thoughts of her unfaithful husband.

The letters were tied in a small bowed rope and placed into her hands. She undid the bow carefully, I wrapping them and letting them spill into her lap. There were so many of them, a lot of them dating back years, but none before her wedding.

Lucille took one from the top and slipped it from the envelope that had aged and already been opened. It was a letter dated from 1912, only a year after she had married Adam. It talked about how the woman, Alice, was pregnant and looking forward to his visit. It talked about how she liked his present for her, an emerald necklace. Lucille remembered that necklace- she had picked it out for his mother. At the end it said 'I love you'.

"Those weekends away when he'd been at work- he was seeing her." Lucille exclaimed, her face flushing in both anger and embarrassment. She turned to face Amélie, while saying, "He loves her."

"Aw, Lucille." Amélie was lost for words as she hugged her closest friend, a tear falling down her own cheek.

"I don't love him. But it hurts. We took our vows, does that not mean anything to him?" Lucille said, as she flicked through the numerous letters, all with 'I love you' written on the bottom of them. "I've always been a good wife."

"You're beautiful, Lucille. You deserve better." Amélie said, as she took a piece of her and tucked it behind her ear, before lifting her wobbling chin up.

"But came home after each trip, telling me he loved me, pushing me to the bed." Lucille pushed her away as she was talking hysterically. "I was stupid to believe him!"

"I wasn't sure if I should show you this one or not." Amélie said, as Lucille calmed herself down.

"This one, why?" She asked, as she took the letter from her.

It was signed by Adam, she could recognise the writing and it was addressed to the farm. Amélie didn't say anything and instead just motioned for her to open it. Lucille read it silently, the heat in her stomach raging even further as she read it thoroughly.

"My father knew..." she said, her eyes staring ahead in disbelief.

"Lucille." Amélie began to try and comfort her, but she shook her head, brushing her off, before stuffing the letter into her pocket.

"It's fine." She shook her head again, the last of the tears dripping off her dry eyes. "Thank you for telling me. I appreciate it."

She held her hands out for Amélie to grab, and pulled her up to her feet. "Come in, I'll walk you home."

Just a note to say that chapter 20 was the draft version when I last checked so I've changed it and it's the full length with gif as normal, so just check to see you've read the right version if you want.
Thanks for reading xx

Also, this story is continuing to season 1 of peaky!!! But the question is, do I continue in this book under the same title or do I make a new book with a different title for book two? Either way the story will the same. What's the best idea?