Partners in crime

Cutting deep

With tears clouding her vision Johanna slipped her hand into her fathers, grasping it tight as they stood in the cemetery lowering her mothers body into the ground. It had been 3 weeks now since finding out about the death of her mother. 3 weeks of anger and pain , 3 weeks of grieving for both Johanna and her father.

The funeral was quite and small with only them and Anthony there to be a shoulder to cry on for Johanna. Sweeney had remained like a stone statue watching as the coffin was lowered into the muddy ground below. He felt like a failure, a failure to Lucy and most of all failure to himself. All this time she had been alive all this time sleeping with that baker only to find out really he had been cheating on Lucy this whole time.

He should have checked over Mrs Lovett's story about his wife. He should of not been so naive and stupid to believe her. God he hated her right now, so much so that Johanna yelped slightly at the grip of her fathers hand tightening suddenly.

Loosening it immediately he turned to her and shook his head sadly "I'm sorry" he whispered kissing her forehead.

"In the Name of God, the merciful Father, we commit the body of Lucy Barker to the peace of the grave, we entrust Lucy barker into your hands"

The priest let three hand-fulls of earth fall onto the coffin and says "From dust you came, to dust you shall return. Jesus Christ, our Saviour, shall raise you up on the last day"

A few tears began to trickle down the barbers stern face. Johanna sobbed into his side allowing him to hold her tight and comfort her as she mourned. Anthony stood back allowing both father and daughter to share in this heartbreaking moment. His heart too broke seeing the love of his life so filled with grief.

The priest continued "Lord God, our Father in heaven, Lord God, the Son, and Saviour of the world, Lord God, the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us. At the moment of death, and on the last day, save us, merciful and gracious Lord God."

———————-

"Toby dear can you grab me that jug of ale" Mrs Lovett called across her busy shop wiping her sweaty brow with the back of her hand before turning and bumping into one of her male customers. "Oh i am foolish, sorry love" she said before being slightly taken back by the very handsome man before her.

He smiled towards the baker and shook his head "it's fine, I should have watched where I was going" he replied just as his wife walked over interrupting them.

"Ready darling?"

As he went to take her arm Mrs Lovett remained watching them leave arm in arm. Her poor heart yearned to have that feeling of love back she so desperately craved. She missed Sweeney missed his touch and his love....

Although he was still living above he had not so much as muttered a word to her since that awful night. Not once did he come down and not once did he acknowledge her existence. Johanna too hardly spoke to her although the young girl still kept civil the pair had not spoken probably.

"Ere you are mum" Toby came in holding the heavy jug with two hands before setting it on her counter.

Smiling at him she ruffled his hair and sent him out to her customers with a tray of pies. Luckily for her Toby had not spoken much about that night. He had been shocked and upset seeing the cut on her lip and the bruises to her cheek. However Toby knew not to ask too many question as he knew exactly what had happened to her. Instead he just vowed to protect his mum from here on in.