But We Could Get By

Chapter 28

"Good morning!" Johanna heard Nellie say as she entered the room. "Good morning, mum!" She replied. She noticed that Nellie had a big and bright smile on her face, she seemed happier than she had been for the past few weeks. "You seem to be in a good mood." "Mr. T and I fixed things!" Nellie exclaimed. "That's great!" Johanna replied. "I'm glad you were able to. It was quite awful seeing you so sad, and trust me, he didn't like the situation either. You really do mean a lot to him." "I'm glad too! I really did miss him!" Nellie said. "Also, I might have a new friend!" "Really?" Johanna asked. "That's amazing! I told you there'd be someone who wanted to be your friend!" Nellie nodded. "Well, I only just met him yesterday, but he seemed quite nice!" She said. "He says he's gonna stop by again today, so you might see him in the shop!"
   Johanna nodded and smiled, though she wasn't quite sure what to say. She knew that not everybody was like Mr. Johnson, but she couldn't help but feel a little nervous, for he had also initially presented himself as a kind man and good friend. "It's alright, Johanna. If he really did turn out to be like that, mum wouldn't keep him around." She thought to herself. "Besides, if another man like that came around, dad would definitely do something about it." "Good morning, Jo." She heard a voice say. She glanced over, and saw her father standing before her. It was almost as if he had somehow knew she was thinking about him. "Good morning, dad!" She replied. "I heard that you and mum finally fixed things!" Sweeney nodded, then glanced over at Nellie. "Good morning, love." He said. "Good morning, dear." Nellie replied, giving him a kiss on the cheek.
   Johanna found herself trying not to laugh. For the past few weeks, playing matchmaker had been a bit difficult, for Sweeney had been isolating himself more often, and seemed to panic and run away every time he saw Nellie. Of course, she, along with Toby and Anthony, never gave up. Now that her parents were finally talking again though, it would be much easier to try and help them get together. "Did you sleep well?" Nellie asked. "I suppose so." Sweeney said. "Better than usual, anyway." "That's good." Nellie replied. "What's the name of your new friend that you were telling me about?" Johanna asked. She was genuinely curious about the guy, although she also couldn't help but want to see her father's reaction. She could tell that Sweeney was quite smitten with Nellie, but he refused to admit it. She knew that Nellie loved him and would never fall for another, but he didn't know that. "Not sure how he doesn't know." She thought. "Mum is so, painfully obvious." She couldn't help but wonder if Sweeney's potential reaction to this guy would maybe force him to confront his feelings.
   "Oh, his name is Charles Thompson." Nellie said. "Who is this?" Sweeney asked. "He's a customer from last night. Apparently he's really nice." Johanna responded. "Oh." Sweeney mumbled. "I'm trying to make new friends, since I don't have many." Nellie said. "Don't worry though, you'll always be my closest friend." Johanna tried her best to study Sweeney's expressions. He appeared to be at least slightly relieved upon hearing Nellie's explanation, though he still seemed to look a little worried. She felt bad for making her father feel that way, though he was probably going to be hearing about this Charles guy sooner or later. "We should go for a walk!" She suggested, changing the subject. "That sounds like a good idea!" Nellie said. "I'll go get Toby!" Johanna replied. "Are you gonna come with us, Mr. Todd?" Nellie asked. Sweeney grabbed her hand. "Of course."

"It's quite nice out today." Johanna said. "It is." Toby replied. "Uncharacteristically so." Johanna glanced at Sweeney and Nellie, who were walking just a little bit ahead of her and Toby. The two were still holding hands, and she had leaned her head on his shoulder. Johanna couldn't help but smile, seeing how happy they seemed to be. "I'm so glad they were able to work things out." She said. "Me too." Toby replied. "Mum was real upset for almost a month. It was painful to watch." Johanna nodded. "And dad was too." She said. "They were both sad to not be talking or seeing each other much. They really are quite close." "Yeah." Toby replied. "Look at them now, though! They seem so happy!" He said with a smile. "They're holding hands too! And we didn't even have to intervene!" Johanna laughed a little. "Maybe getting them together won't be as hard as we thought." She said. "The only difficult thing will be getting dad to actually admit to having feelings for mum." "Yeah, that'll be difficult." Toby replied. "He hardly likes to open up about anything." "Well, you'd be surprised." Johanna said. "He's opened up to mum and I before." "Well, that's different. You're his daughter, and mum is... Well, she's mum." Toby responded. "He's also opened up to Anthony. Pretty sure everyone involved was surprised about that though." Johanna said.
   "Am I the only one he won't talk to?" Toby asked. Johanna giggled. "Well, you're a little bit younger." "Hey, I'm only two years younger than you and Anthony!" Toby exclaimed. Johanna laughed some more. "Sorry, Toby. Dad's just got a lot going on, you know." Toby sighed. "I guess." Johanna's face fell. "Are you alright?" "I'm fine." Toby said. "I just feel like Mr. Todd doesn't like me. I know he's been through a lot, and maybe he's just upset in general, but he always acts like he doesn't care." He explained. "I know I act like I don't care much, but it kinda hurts, you know. I've never had a real family until now, and I'm so glad I've got mum, and you're the best sister I could ask for. Mr. Todd seems to be such a great father to you, I just wish he could be that way with me too." "Oh." Johanna muttered.
   She felt really bad for Toby. The poor kid went his whole life without having a family or any friends, and he had been abused for years. She was glad that she and Nellie were able to give him the family he deserved, and she knew he was grateful for that. If only Sweeney could do the same, and be the father figure that Toby both wanted and deserved. She remembered how Toby used to be a little afraid of Sweeney. As much as Johanna loved her father, she could understand where that fear came from. Sweeney did appear to be quite upset often, especially back when Toby first joined the family. Not to mention, while he hid the rage he felt towards the world decently well, it was still somewhat noticeable. She could see how he might've seemed a bit scary to someone who had grown up around abuse. Now though, Sweeney was starting to be a little more soft towards those around him, and Toby could probably see that. Now, rather than fearing him, he desperately wanted his approval.
   "I'm really sorry, Toby." She said, breaking the silence. "I think that as much as dad seems to be warming up to the way things are, and as much as he loves mum, he's still not fully willing to accept this new family. I think it makes him think too much about what he lost." She explained. "Deep down though, I know he really does want a family again. He may not show it, and he may not admit it, but he wants to be loved, and he wants the pain to go away. In a way, you two have more in common than you think." "I suppose when you put it that way, yeah." Toby responded. "Thanks for listening and understanding, Johanna." "It's no problem at all." Johanna said. "If it helps at all, I can talk to dad about this." "It's alright, you don't have to." Toby replied. "You can also join me whenever I talk to him. It'll help you two get to know each other better." Johanna offered. "I can do that." Toby said with a smile. "Thanks again." "You're welcome." Johanna replied, smiling back at him. "You're my brother, of course I'd help you out."

"Excuse me, ma'am." Johanna heard a voice say. She glanced over and noticed a man walk in. "Hello, sir." She said. "Is the shop open?" The man asked. Johanna nodded. "We just opened." The man smiled, and walked over to the table closest to the counter. "Do you know where Mrs. Lovett is?" He asked. "She should be out in a moment." Toby replied. "Mr. Thompson!" Nellie exclaimed as she entered the room. "Hello, Mrs. Lovett!" The man said. "So this is Charles Thompson." Johanna thought to herself. "I told you I'd be coming back today." He said. Nellie smiled. "Toby, Johanna, this is Mr. Thompson!" She said. "Mr. Thompson, these are my kids, Toby and Johanna!" "Nice to meet you!" Charles responded. "I didn't know you had kids." Nellie nodded. "I just can't turn down a child in need, you know." She said. "Of course, I'm just as much of a parent as their birth parents were." "Oh, of course you are." Charles replied. "They're lucky to have been taken in by such a kind woman." "We really are lucky!" Toby said with a smile. "You guys are so sweet!" Nellie stated happily. "Well, we should really get the work started. More customers are coming in." "Alright. I'll see you around." Charles said.
   Nellie walked to the bakehouse, and Johanna followed Toby to the counter. "He seems nice." Toby said. "Yeah." Johanna mumbled. "I just hope he's on the same page as mum." "What do you mean?" Toby asked. "I just... Mum seems so happy to have a new friend, and I'm happy for her. I just fear that maybe Mr. Thompson sees things differently." Johanna responded. "Oh." Toby said, nodding. "You think he's being flirty?" "Well, I don't know. Maybe he is really being friendly and polite. It's just, well, I've seen how men can be when their advances are rejected. I don't want another Mr. Johnson situation, and I don't want mum to be heartbroken because her supposed friend wanted something she couldn't provide." Johanna explained. "I get that." Toby said. "I don't want her to get hurt either." "I'm glad you don't think I'm worrying too much." Johanna replied. "I mean, everyone I've talked to about my fears seem to be quite understanding. I just sometimes feel like I'm too much." "Trust me, you're not too much." Toby reassured. "Of course I understand where you're coming from." "I'm glad you get it." Johanna said. "Thanks for understanding." "No problem." Toby replied.
   "Alrighty, the first batch of pies are done!" Nellie said, carrying in a tray of pies. "You both take some plates, and I'll hand out some drinks." Johanna nodded and grabbed some plates, and Toby did the same. As she walked around the shop, she noticed Nellie stop to briefly chat with Charles. She was happy for her mother, for she knew how much it meant to her to find more friends. She just hoped that Charles really was the nice guy that Nellie thought he was. As she looked around the shop, she noticed her father standing at the balcony, watching from above. She couldn't tell for certain, but he seemed to be glancing at Nellie. She hoped he wasn't noticing her happily engaging in conversation with Charles and jumping to conclusions. "Maybe he's just looking at mum, and thinking about how pretty she is or whatever." She thought. She looked over at Nellie once again, and sighed. "I just hope he really is a true friend."