- 𝟎𝟐𝟐
𝐁𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐓𝐨 𝐁𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐤
-𝟎𝟐𝟐-
Valerie's eyes burned into the mirror whilst she sat at her vanity, staring at herself. The door opened, John hovering there. She didn't flinch. "Valerie," he started. She didn't move. "Will you at least just look at me?"
She looked at him through the mirror.
"Listen, I don't know why you're so angry with me." John scratched the back of his neck.
He flinched when she shoved the chair away from the vanity, jumping to her feet and spinning. "Because it was your actions that led to somebody dying tonight! Can you not see that? What if that had been me tonight, instead of Grace? What would you have done then, John?" She shouted.
John stared at her. "Well, it wasn't you, alright?"
"And you're lucky it wasn't." Valerie scoffed harshly. "But it's only a matter of time until they come after me. Or, I don't know, little Francesca?" She crossed her arms.
"Don't fuckin' say that. Don't bring her into it." John pointed a finger at her.
"No, no I will bring her into it. Because I know what these people are like. They don't care if she's a little girl or a grown woman. They will come after whoever they can— just to get to whoever it was that started it all." She explained, "and it was you, John. It was you who gave the threat and carried it out."
John glared at her. "What do you want me to do? Do you want me to apologise?" He stepped into the room.
She shook her head. "Apologise for Tommy's dead wife?" She asked. "No apology will bring her back." She said.
John walked toward her and she backed away. His face fell, eyebrows furrowed as hurt filled him. "Why won't you come near me, Valerie? Are you.. are you scared of me?"
"Scared of you.." she chuckled, "yes, John. I'm scared of who my husband is becoming. This is not the man I married. The man I married was ready to protect me. He loved me." Valerie whispered.
Her words stung.
John scoffed. "What d'ya mean? I do love you. I don't love anything more than you. Valerie, i'd die for you. You know that." He pointed a finger at her.
"So why are you putting our family in danger?" She croaked, her voice trembling.
John grabbed her wrist to stop her turning away from him. "I cut Angel Changretta to send a message that we are stronger than they are. That if they come near my family, we will kill all of them. I did it for you! Valerie, I did it for you!" John shouted.
"Let go of me." Valerie said firmly.
"If they come anywhere near you or our daughter, i'll kill them." He hissed, his face close to hers. His tone scared her. "Anybody who I deem a threat to you or Francesca.. i'll kill them." Chills ran up her spine.
"John, let go of me." Valerie repeated. He inhaled sharply and tightened his grip slightly. "I did not kill Grace— understand that!"
"John." She warned, panicking slightly.
When he didn't let go of her, Valerie raised her hand and slapped him. His face turned to the side and his mouth fell open slightly. Valerie gasped and back away, covering her mouth. "John—" She whispered, realising what she had done.
"Dad?" a small voice spoke from the now open door.
They both turned to see Francesca stood, her teddy hanging loosely under her arm as she stared at the pair. John was quick to walk to his little girl and kneel in front of her.
"What're you doing up?" He whispered, one hand on her upper arm and the other tucking her hair behind her ear.
Valerie turned away and placed a hand over her mouth, closing her eyes.
"Couldn't sleep.." Francesca whispered, "I heard you shouting."
John glanced at Valerie. "It's alright. Come on," he held her hand and walked her back to her bedroom.
Valerie fell down onto the chair again and held her head in her hands. She took a deep breath and glanced at herself in the mirror again, ashamed at what she was seeing. This wasn't her. The angry look in her eyes wasn't her.
It was only moments until John returned. He just stood there, staring at her. She shook her head and sighed. "John.." she whispered, refusing to look at him.
Before she could apologise, he appeared behind her. "Come on," he said, placing his hands on her upper arms and forcing her to her feet. He held her face.
Neither of them said anything. Just looked at each other.
John wrapped his arms around her, placing a kiss on her forehead.
"Francesca—"
"She's alright." John whispered, running a hand over her hair. John was able to understand Valerie's concern and chose to shrug it off. Though her words hurt, he knew she wasn't wrong. She was scared.
They stood there for a few moments, Valerie's eyes closed whilst John held her.
"I'm sorry.." She tried but he shook his head. "Don't." was all he replied with. She leaned her head on his shoulder and he held the sides of her arms in attempts to continue comforting her. "I love you, Val."
"I know.." she nodded, "I love you." She reciprocated.
-
Grace's funeral was as unpleasant as any funeral. The look in Tommy's eyes upset almost everybody who attending the service. He stood, dressed in all black and his eyes down whilst his young son remained with Ada.
But now, a week later, everybody had gathered in the house whilst they waited for him. He hadn't spent a full day in Arrow House since the death of his wife. He'd go out on his horse for hours, return to feed them and see his son before disappearing again.
It had become his routine. His way of coping.
Valerie pushed the door open, smoothing her hair as she hung up her coat. "Right let's go," Arthur spoke once stepping into the drawing room where their family stood.
Francesca skipped over to her mother, holding
up a toy to show her. "Yes, that's lovely." She said, stroking the girl's back with a forced smile.
There was a strange feeling in the room. "He's already seen us.." Polly explained to her two nephews. John and Valerie exchanged a glance. "There's a timetable— he wanted to see people in a certain order." Ada added.
John inhaled sharply and looked toward the fire, scratching the back of his neck.
Both he and Arthur began sending snide comments toward Michael about how he had seen Tommy first. Valerie noticed the sudden absence of her daughter and disappeared to go and find her.
The office door was open. It hadn't been open when Valerie entered the home so she assumed that's where the girl had wandered off to. Whilst the other Shelby's had a small dispute, she hesitantly walked through the doorframe to see Tommy stood at the window, Francesca on his hip.
She was pointing through the window, her dark hair lying across her back and the navy blue ribbon keeping it neat. Tommy was watching the girl as she spoke to him, completely innocent and unaware as to what was happening around her.
And for the first time since Grace's death, he seemed to be at some sort of peace.
"Do you like the snow, Uncle Tom?" She asked, looking at him. He grunted. "Very much, Betts." His voice was low and hoarse. She looked at him. "When it's Christmas.. can we build a snow man?" She asked him.
Tommy hummed. "Christmas is a long way from now my girl." He told her.
Valerie heard footsteps and turned to see John and Arthur approaching. She cleared her throat in attempts not to startle Tommy and he acknowledged her. "Here, Francesca. Let's not bother your uncle." She said, holding out her hand. Tommy placed the girl on the floor and watched her walk away.
Valerie looked at Tommy for a moment and he just nodded at her slightly. She offered him a warm smile and turned to leave the room, allowing John and Arthur to go in after her and close the door.
"Uncle Tommy is going to build a snowman with me." Francesca said, holding onto her mother's hand. "That's lovely." Valerie entertained, showing her back to the drawing room. "You go on now, go and play with Karl." She said.
"Where did she disappear off too then?" Ada asked with a raised brow.
"She went to find Tommy." Valerie sighed, shaking her head and sitting. Ada hummed. "He loves that girl very much." Polly said truthfully. Valerie nodded to herself and stared out of the window. "How's the baby?" Valerie referred to Charles.
"He asks for his mum at night." Ada said sadly.
Valerie began picking at the skin on her lip as the night of Grace's death replayed in her head. It was a horrible sight for any set of eyes. Valerie was once not the biggest fan of Grace but the pair of women were able to get over it.
And Valerie was glad they were able to do that because now Grace was gone. Just like that. Completely gone. As if she never existed.
They could hear shouting coming from Tommy's office and Valerie winced, hearing John's voice. "I told him to go easy on Tommy." Valerie sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "So did I." Polly chimed in with her arms crossed.
"Men never listen." Ada shrugged. "They never bloody listen." She repeated.
Valerie hummed in agreement and began pulling at the hem of her sleeve.
"How's your father, Valerie?" Ada suddenly asked. Valerie snapped back into the conversation. "He's good, actually. He's working a lot. He comes to see me and Francesca often." She explained. "Whenever he can.." she trailed off, realising how she did miss her father when he wasn't around.
Ada and Polly began talking and Valerie just continued to stare out of the window.
-
Valerie walked through the decently sized house that Robert lived in — courtesy of Tommy. "Dad?" She called out, her voice unsure. "Just a second!" His soft voice replied.
She walked through and entered the kitchen where he had been cooking for himself. "Are you hungry, love? I've made a bit too much." He laughed to himself. She couldn't help but smile. "Thank you, dad. I'll eat with you if you'd like." She offered, watching his eyes light up ever so slightly.
Robert nodded. "Yes.. yes of course." He gestured toward the table.
She sat and he placed the food down. "How are you doing?" Robert asked her. She hummed and sighed. "I'm okay, dad. Things are weird at the moment but.. it's weird for everybody." She nodded.
"Well, don't you let all this business with the Italians worry your head." He said seriously, fixing his glasses.
"It's hard but i'm trying." Valerie said honestly.
"You'll be alright. You can do anything you wish to do.. you've gotten this far, don't you be giving up on me now." Robert told her, pointing a finger. She smiled slightly. "I'd never give up on you dad." She said.
"I should hope not." He smiled.
The pair began eating and exchanged conversation over the table, a catchup. Valerie found herself laughing genuinely for the first time in a while and it felt nice.
"See, that's what I like to see. I hate seeing your face in such a way when you're upset." He told her.
Valerie pursed her lips together and shook her head whilst laughing. "I feel bad that you're on your own here." She looked around. Robert shook his head. "Don't you worry about me. I'm perfect. It's nice to have a place like this to myself. You must thank Thomas for me." He said. She nodded. "Of course." She assured. "But, if you need anything at all.. even if it's just some company, you call us and me or John will come down. You aren't far."
"Oh, I wouldn't hesitate to do so if I needed to." Robert held her shoulder as they walked to the door. He could sense her uneasiness. "Listen," he said. She turned. "Everything will be just fine. You hear me?"
She nodded.
"I love you." He pulled her into a hug. "I love you too dad." She held back her tears an he squeezed her slightly.
It was such a small yet comforting moment for her. She didn't want to let go of him.
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Authors Note:
- I didn't proof read it so feel free to correct a mistake.
- I'm back to update guys have you missed me?
- I'll try to write more chapters soon
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