Sweenett

Lovett

I looked down, shaking my head helplessly. I was knelt in front of a stranger. Holding his hand tight, rubbing my nails over his sharp knuckles. This man was the double of Mr Barker. And that was hurting me something rotten.

I felt him lean forward, the hand that wasn't being squeezed by myself reached out. I felt it hover above my locks. As if it was about to stroke me like a dog.

I began to smile, I could feel my cheekbones rising, my skin stretching with it. For a little while I felt special. It felt as if Benjamin was right in front of me. Seducing me, secretly.

Suddenly his hand fell limp. And so did my smile. My nose ran a little and I certainly was not going to allow this substance crawl down my top lip. My fingers un-entwined from his. My grip quickly loosening.

I opened my eyes to see nothing but tears in my way. I whimpered a little and rubbed my cheeks and eyes aggressively, washing away the pain.

As my sight came into focus I reached out for the liquor I had taken from the counter and looked up at my customer.

His eye's very emotional. I wasn't quite sure why, as I am the one fantasising about a man who could be deceased for all I know. He looked at my cheeks and lifted a thumb. Wiping away the leftover damp covering my cheeks. His eyebrows showed his concern. They looked almost in the middle of a frown and that famous look of Barker sympathy.

I couldn't take my eyes of this man. I couldn't ignore his strange similarity to my past love. My mind wondered on. Thinking about Mr Barker and if this strange, pale man could be him. Alive and well. Made me panic a little. What would I tell him if he asked about Johanna? And his precious daughter.

Turning my head to the right so not to face my newly found customer, I began to stand. By the time my back was straight I glanced in his direction. What a sight he was for sore eyes.

He was frowning harshly and my feet. A look of pure confusion as to why I was wearing what I was wearing. He looked up to see me glaring. "Mrs Lovett?" He stuttered.

My eyes widened at this booming voice. Terribly masterful, a voice you would fear to ever do him wrong. I looked at his mouth. Very well shaped, but harshly scowling as he waited for an answer.

I shook my head "Yes Mr B-... What would you like?" He looked at me in panic, but soon returned to his devilish glare. "If times are so hard, why not rent the upstairs room?" His voice trembled a tiny bit as he muttered the words "upstairs room"

I looked at him confused, how did he know there was an upstairs room? How did he know I wasn't renting it out?

Not able to think of an answer at this moment I took his hand once more and he stood up at my command. I led him into the side room and took out my finest liquor glass.

I watched him as he once again sat in the same spot Mr Barker always sat. He used to lounge there all day, especially when he was having trouble with Lucy, and laugh at all my puns, sometimes there would be silences in between laughter. But not the awkward kind, the beautiful one. The silence that made you feel comfortable around the opposite person.

I placed the liquor bottle and glass on the table, waiting for him to pour himself a glass, as most men enjoy the independent feeling. But he waited. Looking at the bottle, then at me, then the bottle again. I sighed a little and picked up the bottle and poured half a glass for him. He looked up, frowned and lifted his head a little.