Partners in crime

Keeping it a Secret

After visiting the market today Mrs Lovett carried into her shop a basket of fresh bread and cheese along with some other groceries. Toby had joined her that morning only to rush of when some friends of his reunited with him and begged him to go play with them. Mrs Lovett had of course encouraged him after all she didn't want him to only have her in his life but some friends also. He was such a good lad and deserved to have a childhood like many others, he worked so hard and needed to socialise as well.

Now back at the shop she closed the door behind her and set her shopping down on her counter. With the shop closed for the day and her groceries topped up she planned on taking it easy, after all it had been a long weeks work.

Sorting out the fresh veg she wondered whether to make up a yummy stew for tonights dinner. However a part of her felt deflated knowing it would only be her and Toby sat enjoying it at the table. That had her thinking now whether she should take a chance on trying to amend things with her barber. Oh how she missed him....

"Eleanore?"

Snapping from her trace Mrs Lovett turned to see a very timid looking Johanna stood there in a beautiful pale blue dress.

"Is everything alright?" She replied unsure what Johanna could possibly want since she wasn't talking to her at the moment.

"Can we talk?" Johanna looked tearful as if she was holding something back.

Surprised but delighted, Nellie walked towards her with a kind smile. "Let's Ave a sit down" she winked with a smirk playing about her lips as she passed her.

Heading into the living room the pair of them sat on the settee by the warm open fire. Mrs Lovett noticed the way Johanna twiddled her thumbs and how her head was down almost holding back tears.

"What's wrong love?" She leaned forward and placed a reassuring hand on Johanna's shoulder only to have the girl cry and wasted no time in flinging her arms around Mrs Lovett tightly.

Taken by surprise Nellie returned the hug and shushed her gently rubbing her hand up and down Johanna back in an effort of comfort. Nellie could do nothing but hold her as the poor girl wept in her arms. She didn't know what it could possibly be that had the girl upset however it was clearly very bad for Johanna to want to turn to her...

"It ok love, I'm here" she whispered pressing a kiss to the side of her head as she continued to embrace her. The mothering nature Nellie had towards the girl never changed, she was the closet thing to a daughter, she loved Johanna like her very own.

Slowly breaking away Johanna looked into Mrs Lovett's concerned eyes as she wiped her own. "Everything is such a mess" she tearfully spoke while Nellie held supportively onto Johanna's hand.

"Talk to me, I'm all ears"

Johanna gulped as she looked at Mrs Lovett so ashamed and so lost.

"I can't" she whispered tearfully worrying the baker more.

"Darling take ya time, I ain't rushing ya" Nellie squeezed her hand again and stroked away a stray strand of blonde hair, tucking it behind her ear softly.

"I think I'm pregnant" Johanna answered timidly.

Sobbing loudly she cried into her hands while Nellie tried to digest this information. Pregnant! She was only a child herself!

"Shhh...it's ok" Mrs Lovett held her again trying to remain calm when her stomach was doing somersaults. How could this possibly be? Johanna was a smart girl and as for Anthony well Mrs
Lovett was shocked.

"Listen" Nellie gently pulled her back to look into the girls eyes. "We will make an appointment with a doctor to get it confirmed, I will go with you okay?" Cupping Johanna teary face the poor girl nodded sadly.