I'm Your Friend Too, Mr. Todd

Spilling secrets

A nice stroll in the park seemed to be a good idea, although Johanna stayed close to Nellie as Anthony walked behind them. Sweeney stayed back in the inn, not wanting to go outside and just wanting to be alone.

"Mrs. Lovett," Johanna whispered. "Yes darling?" Nellie was all ears, waiting to hear what the girl wants to say.

Johanna turned around to look at Anthony who was a feet away from them and gazed back to the baker. "I saw him kill Judge Turpin," her voice trembled.

Nellie didn't know what to say. She had no idea Johanna saw everything about her father, she also wished she wasn't afraid of him. Then again, Nellie is slightly scared of him too, the fact that he almost killed her and he killed Toby.

Without saying a word, Nellie brought an arm out and wrapped it around Johanna's shoulder as a way of comforting her.

A few moments of silence went by until Johanna piped up with a question, "are you close with that man?"

Nellie sighed, in her head she thought she was close with the barber, in her mind she thought that Sweeney will finally open up to her once his revenge was over. Perhaps he would have fallen in love with her if that filthy beggar once known as Lucy didn't budge in and turned everything to Hell.

"We were once, but we are no longer on speaking terms," the baker replied. Johanna seemed to grow curious as she gave Nellie more questions about her past with the barber and what caused them to not want to be near each other anymore, but Nellie didn't want to give any details, especially the reason why her and Sweeney agreed to go their separate ways.

"It's all rather personal, love. The only thing I can tell you is that Mr. Todd wants nothing to do with me anymore," Nellie said with a sigh. "Yet no matter how much he hates me, I still love him," she muttered but Johanna seemed to have good hearing as her eyes went wide and let out an audible gasp. "You love him? But he's a murderer!"

Nellie looked away in shame and embarrassment, always running my mouth, as usual, she scolded herself.

"It's complicated..." Nellie pulled her head down, wanting to shield away from the girl. She doesn't even know that it's her father she's in love with.

Nellie could see the girl looking uneasy now, perhaps not comfortable with the fact that she is in love with the man that almost killed her. "Listen dear-"

"Um ladies," Anthony called out in the distance and they both turned around to face the sailor. "I was thinking that we should stop for a bit and rest, we got nice weather and it's rather quiet here," he suggested.

Nellie and Johanna agreed and they all picked a spot under a tree where a small breeze blew at them.

Anthony chatted with Johanna while Nellie became lost in her thoughts, mainly thinking about how she will explain to Johanna about her reason for her fondness of the murderous barber without having to reveal who he truly is. Honestly she was nervous but she knew the girl was curious and needs an explanation, perhaps she'll explain to her later when they are alone.

"Are you all right Mrs. Lovett?" Anthony asked, a little concerned that the usual chatty baker was silent.

Nellie almost jumped when the sailor intruded her thoughts, but she stayed calm. "I'm fine, just thinkin' is all" she said.

"Maybe we should head back to the inn, it's getting late and I don't want Mr. Todd to worry" Anthony said, though Nellie couldn't help but roll her eyes a little when he mentioned the barber. Oh please, why would Sweeney Todd 'the Demon Barber of Fleet Street' be worried about us? She could only think that he would only be worried for Johanna despite her being afraid of him.