𝐃𝐞𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

IT WAS 1925 AND THE CHRISTMAS TREE was ridiculous. It scraped artex from the ceiling and Mary couldn't help but release a soft giggle as she remembered Finn wobbling on a ladder to hang the fairy. The tree truly belonged in a forest, dominating Mary's small living room the way it did.

The memory of actually decorating the tree was far shorter than the time it took Mary and Finn to make it beautiful a month ago. Packets of tinsel lay unopened on the floor, not just the snake kind, but the stuff that's loose strips too. However, the finished tree was like a perfect photograph.

"Finn, are you still in bed?" Mary called as she entered the front door. "Wake up! It's bloody Christmas Eve."

Mary was allured by the scent of freshly baked Christmas cake coming from a neighboring bakery that was just down the street. However, she had too much to do before meeting with the rest of the Shelby family so she opted for returning home.

"Finn! You're wasting the day sleeping in bed."

"Just two more minutes, alright?"

Mary only rolled her eyes with a grin on her face as she walked towards the post that was lying in front of the door.

Suddenly, Finn made his way down the narrow staircase while tucking his shirt into his trousers. "Anything interesting?"

"Just a letter from mum."

Finally, when he stood before her he gently grabbed her hand before turning her to face him. "Good morning." He spoke, kissing her cheek.

To most, a kiss on the cheek would be a sign of friendship, or a polite way to greet a stranger of the opposite sex. To Mary, a simple peck could convey as much meaning as a full-on kiss. Simple though it may be, a kiss on the cheek is special in its own, unique way. But when he plants the kiss there, Mary felt warmth spread through her limbs and her mind felt a pleasant buzz.

As he leant forward Mary's pulse raced. A small lock of hair tumbled in front of her face, resting just in front of her cheek, but with one swift slide of his thumb, it was brushed out of the way. "I love you."

Looking into his eyes she saw deep pools of brown that displayed his soul.

"I love you too." A small grin crept onto her face and her cheeks painted themselves rose red. He pulled away silently, "Do you want me to make breakfast?"

"Yes please, I got bread from the shop in in the kitchen."

Suddenly, she came across a letter. At first she didn't understand what it was supposed to mean so she called upon Finn in the kitchen.

"Finn? Can you come here for a minute?"

"Do you know what this is?"

Suddenly, the ringing of the telephone interrupted them causing Mary to walk to the hallway of the small house. "Hold on."

"Hello?" She questioned as she watched Finn make his way back into the kitchen.

The rushed voice of Ada Shelby spoke at the other end of the telephone line. "Mary!"

"Ada?"

"Are you with Finn?" Mary's brain stuttered for a moment and her eyes took in more light than she expected, every part of her goes on pause while her thoughts catch up.

"Yes he's here, why?" She asked, barely a whisper. All thoughts of negativity came flooding in, as if her body chemistry just sent them a blanket invitation. She could feel the soft panic that could grow or fade depending on what was said next.

"Get to the hospital!"

"Why? Is everything alright?" Mary could have sworn her heart stopped in the moment, hearing the heart wrenching sobs of Ada Shelby on the other side of the telephone.

Her eyes and her mouth were frozen wide open in an expression of stunned surprise, and although she was staring straight at Finn she appeared not to notice him at all. "Ada..."

"It's John."

...

Finn released a shaky sigh. His face glistening against the reflection of the moon due to the unleashed tears.

"Finn?"

Finn was dilirious. Yet his senses sharpened with adrenaline. He held his breath, straining to hear with every ounce of his concentration through the pain. He could make out a voice, someone calling his name in the distance. However, everything was hazy as if underwater.

As someone stroked his hair his breathing slowed. It was calming...peaceful even. He clenched his fist as if trying to ease the pain...until he felt a delicate hand with soft skin enclose around his own. Now his tears had stopped, leaving only their tell-tale wet tracks down his face.

"Mary he's gone. Hes gone." Evelyn sat up a little. Her hand rested below his ear, her thumb caressing his cheek as their breaths mingled. She wiped her thumb under his eye getting rid of the tear and pressed gentle kisses on his forehead.

"I know. I'm so sorry Finn."

"He's dead Mary."

Mary pulled Finn closer to her, wrapping her frail arms around him. His embrace was warm, despite his shaking arms and trembling hands.

She could soothe him like no-one else, even as her own breaths were deep and uneven.

"Don't go..." He sniffled "Promise you won't go." He didn't break quietly, it was like every atom of his being screamed in unison. When the wracking sobs passed he sat in a silence no-one could bare to listen to for long. He had gone from gregarious to hanging by a thread, a transformation no-one knew how to reverse. He only sought comfort in Mary.

"I promise I won't. I'll always be here...always."

...

"John is dead. Esme has gone on the road with the Lees. She's taken the kids. Michael is badly wounded. They say its 60-40 in his favour." Thommy spoke as Mary twiddled her hair in a seemingly absent-minded way.

"There's no number, there's no percentages. There's only the hand." Polly said and Mary couldn't help but grin, amused by the older woman's antics.

"The hand beneath him stops him falling. I spoke to someone. My son will live." She interrupted Thommy.

Mary's gaze fell onto the table in front of her as she swallowed heavily. "Michael and John were shot because we killed someone."

"Vicente Changretta. His son, Luca, has come to take revenge."

Turning her focus away from the conversation at hand she looked up towards Finn who was resting beside her.

"Are you alright?" She asked subtly.

Finn frowned, thinking back to the events of earlier. Mary, catching sight of his frown, took his hand in hers, entwining their fingers together, and gave him a quick, reassuring squeeze.

"Yeah, I'm fine." His voice was quieter now, less sure. He looked back up at her; a gentle flush of pink had arisen in his cheeks that made him look vulnerable.

"Thank you though." He spoke after a moment, causing the girl to lift her gaze back to the boy.

"Thanks for being here."

Their eyes met, and they stared together at each other, alone in space. However, staring isn't quite the word for what she was doing. Her eyes rested, not unblinking but slowed; yet the effect was soft and inviting instead of harsh. Perhaps it was her lips that give away her intention, not quite smiling but tilting as if they mean to.

In that moment Mary gave Finn a smile that just seemed so genuinely sweet with just the right touch of shyness, that unexpected warmth rushed through him. With an effort she glanced down at the table.

"I was never a part of this but... Peace." Ada uttered, biting her lip softly after.

"Peace."

"Shut up, Finn."

A look of shocked surprise came onto the face of the young man. "Why can't I say peace?"

Everyone could tell from the way Mary rolled her hazel eyes to the roof and half bit her lip, she was holding back her laughter. From deep inside her chest came a great shaking motion and her face muscles grew tight.

"Arthur let him have his say. Finn, sit at the table."

Arthur, in a quick motion grabbed Finn by the neck as he sat down. "They're sending us fucking kids, Sargeant Major... To do men's work."

"My sons not here to speak... So I'll speak on behalf of us both. Truce." Mary's stomach shifted uneasily and she noticed that the hands that she was hugging herself with were pinching into her skin. She eventually released her hands but then she couldn't figure out what to do with them, so instead they clasped and unclasped each other as if in constant need of touch and reassurance.

"Five for peace, two for truce, one absentation." Thommy continued.

"Let's get on with the war."

𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐞 !
well, hello people who
actually read this book !
so sorry it's been so long
but i hope you enjoyed
the first update in a decade.