My Neighbor's Wife

Chapter 12

"Ben, wait!"

Mrs. Lovett knows that he should be angry with Ben- she still is- but she cannot just let him go like that. She did not fail to notice the deep sadness in his voice when he said that he needed to talk. It's heartbreaking for her to hear him like that. She doesn't know what his problem might be but she will do anything to help him.

Ben turns around to look at Mrs. Lovett, he looks broken and tormented. She beckons him to follow her- turning around and starts walking. She goes back to the parlor- with Ben trailing behind her- taking a seat at the settee. He stands in front of her, and she gestures for him to sit beside her. He plops down the sofa with heavy sigh- elbows on his lap, holding his head. She hesitantly lifts her hand and places it on his back. When he did not react to her touch, she begins to rub his back, waiting for him to speak whenever he's ready.

"She's with him." he says in a whisper, almost as if he's not sure with what he is saying. Mrs. Lovett has to listen closely to hear what he is saying. She is confused as to what he is talking about but she thinks she has an idea on to whom it is.

"What are you talking about, love?" she asks him, bending down- trying to take a look at his face that is covered with his hands.

He rubs his face, taking a deep breath. He leans back on the sofa- causing Mrs. Lovett to withdraw her hand from his back- intertwining his fingers together and crossing his feet. He looks at the fire place in front of them with a pained expression on his face. "Lucy, she's with the judge, not her sister."

Mrs. Lovett covers her mouth, hiding the gasp that escapes her lips. Whenever she would see Mrs. Barker, she always thinks of her as prim and proper lady that can never do bad things. And from Ben's stories, he said that Lucy is very quiet and very shy woman who doesn't like to venture outside and mingle with people; she would rather stay in their house and knit. Although she kind of hates Lucy- just because she's Benjamin's wife- at the same time, she thinks highly of her.

Maybe Lucy has a good reason on why she would lie to Ben and go with The Judge. Besides, just because she's with The Judge it doesn't mean that the two of them did something wrong.

"Ben, you know you should not be here. You should be upstairs with your wife." She says to him, as she places her hand on his shoulder.

He glares at her and says in a cold voice. "She left. She probably went to that Judge Turpin's house."

"But why did you let her leave? Did you talk to her?" she asks in a scolding tone, her mouth forming a thin line.

"No." he sighs in defeat, ducking his head down. "I was too angry... I didn't let her explain." He closes his eyes and pinches the bridge of his nose.

Mrs. Lovett shakes her head and clinks her tongue. "There's a reason why she did that, Ben. Now, you wait for her and you listen to her explanation. Hmm?"

He gives her a nod in response and looks at her with pleading eyes. "Can I wait here?"

Her demeanor changes- she removes her hand from her shoulder, sitting straight as she turns away from him. Her reply is immediate and direct to the point. "No."

"You're still angry with me, aren't you?"Ben says in almost an accusing tone.

"I can't see how you could be so angry over a couple of broken plates, Nellie." He chuckles, just to lighten the mood. "I can always replace them."

Mrs. Lovett feels like she's going to burst- never feeling so angry before in her life, not until now. She cannot believe how Insensitive Benjamin is. If he believes that she's angry just because of those bloody plates then he probably thinks she's too shallow. How can she tell him that the reason why she is angry is because he's ready to throw their friendship just because of that stupid kiss?