Sweenett chapter 12

It was eight o' clock when Mrs. Brown heard a knock on the door. She had just finished setting the table when her husband got up from his seat in the living room sofa to answer it. For a moment she thought she should be the one to get it, but it was best she revealed herself later. She took a swift look of herself in the mirror. She looked good. She wore a beautiful black gown with dark purple details on it. The low cut dress showed off her ample chest while a single drop of amethyst hung from her neck. Her hair was shinning today and her knew aroma smelled perfect. She heard her husband welcoming their guests and Sweeney's voice made her shiver. There was another voice too… A female one. She sounded young… Well! Best go in there and see for herself. She put some drinks on a tray and walked in the living room. As she entered she felt all eyes on her. She put the tray on a table, bending so Sweeney could have of look of what he can't have. She saw his eyes linger on her and smiled pleased. She looked at the other woman. She was indeed young. Younger than herself and Sweeney. She had brown straight hear and she wore them in a bow. Her dress was green with white lace, not as revealing as her own. She was pretty… but hardly a woman like herself. She felt assured that Sweeney would not be interested in her whatsoever.

However, this proved not to be the case. Sweeney Todd didn't keep his eyes off Abigail. He didn't even glance at her since they had come in. Abigail… her name was too… well… too bloody elaborate! She did not like her. They finished with the appetizer and Nellie stood up and asked for her husband's help to bring out the main dish and salads. "Darling, I'm sorry, but my leg hurts." She sighed. That clumsy man of hers had hit his leg on the corner of the table while they were sitting down. Looks like she would have to carry everything on her own. " I can help you ma'am." Abigail offered. Ma'am?! Did she look like a ma'am!!! GOD! "No love, you're way too… fragile to carry those heavy things…" Nellie said her anger composed. She turned to go to the kitchen when she heard his voice. "I'll help you." Sweeney said. She simply nodded and both went into the kitchen.

Mrs. Brown was looking in the oven. The turkey needed few more minutes. They both stood in silence, Nellie avoiding to even look at him. Those awkward moments of silence reminded her of how things were with him. They both would sit there, silent as the grave. He would look out the window, while she would look at him, dying to talk to him. She was always the one to break the silence and this time was no exception.  "She's nice." she said almost inaudibly. Sweeney looked at her amused. "Yes, she is. A lovely creature." he answered. When she didn't respond he spoke again. "She would make a lovely wife…" That was it! She whipped her head around and looked at him shocked and disgusted. "What?" he asked. Oh, so now he was pretending not to understand! "You're such a hypocrite!" she told him, trying to conceal her anger. "Oh, really? You're the one to talk!" he retorted. "What?! You have some nerve! You come here, kiss me, tell me you still love me and then you go and bring a girl to MY house and on top of all that, you tell me she'd be a good wife!" she was mad and could not control herself. "You cheated on me!" he spat at her. Finally he told her. Did she think that he would never understand? "I never cheated on you." she said in a firm voice. "Yeah right!" he said ironically "And how do you explain Helen?!" she looked at him in disbelief. "How do you think?" she asked and looked at him pointedly. "You mean…" he was wide-eyed. "She… she's… mine?" Mrs. Brown looked down at her hands, like she was just being yelled at from her mom "Yes…" Before she had the chance to look at him he was by her side and caught her lips in a sweet kiss. He held her and she didn't want to push him away. She glanced over to the oven. "The turkey" she said and they let go of each other. Sweeney helped her carry the food to the dining room and then they both sat down, like they had before. Only now, his eyes would not leave hers.

They finished dinner at ten o'clock and Julius and Nellie showed their guests out. While they left, Sweeney took Nellie's hand and kissed it. "It was a lovely dinner Mrs. Brown. Thank you." Mrs. Brown nodded. He then shook hand with her husband. "Thank you friend, had a great time." "Let's do it again soon. Maybe at your wedding." Julius said cheery. Once their guests left, the couple went inside their room. Julius wore his pajamas while Nellie went in the bathroom to take a shower. However, that was an excuse. When Sweeney took her hand, he placed something in it. A little paper. She unfolded it and started reading: 'Come to my house tomorrow night. I'm sorry. I love you.' She pressed the paper to her lips. Will you ever learn Nellie? She really didn't want to give in, but she could not help it. She was his since the day she first set eyes on him. Her heart and soul belonged to him and no matter how much she tried, she could not get them back. She hid the letter in her make up box, wore her nightgown and joined her husband in bed.

Sweeney was laying in his bed thinking. How could he be so thick, so jealous? She didn't cheat on him. Helen was his daughter. He was her father. He could not believe it. This was his second chance and remembering how he treated his Nellie… He closed his eyes. "My darling Nellie" he whispered and imagined she was cuddling next to him, her curly hair ticking his skin and her soft breath lulling him to sleep, while their daughter slept peacefully in the next room. He drifted off to sleep with her image in his mind.