Twist of Fate
By: Nicky Lovett
Nellie Lovett was in her pie shop getting it ready for her customers. This was the first time she would open since the depth of her poor Albert. The Barker family, who were renting the space above her shop, had insisted that she take a week off to mourn. Obviously they didn't know how Albert had treated her. A punching bag, that's what she had been, a way to let his anger out in his sometimes drunken states. She'd grown to hate him over the years. They married young in hopes of starting a family together. Instead Nellie had become a housewife, slaving away to her husbands every want and need, because she was unable to have children as much as they had tried. So it wasn't an absolute devastating time in her life when Albert had died compared to everything else that had happened through out their marriage. In a way she was relieved that he wouldn't be there every night to beat or rape her until he passed out. The ringing of the bell on the front door woke Nellie from her thoughts.
"Sorry, love, I'm not open for another hour," Nellie popped the pies into the miniature oven behind her.
"Mrs. Lovett?" the familiar, deep voice asked.
"Judge Turpin!" she exclaimed. He was the last person she'd expect to be in her pie shop. Yes, he had attended her Albert's funeral and talked for quite a bit and had gotten along, but she hadn't expected him to go out of his way to see her. "How lovely to see you again. Did you come 'ere for a pie, sir?"
"I came to ask a favor," the Judge said. He seemed to her to be unsure of what he really wanted to say as if he was cursing himself for dropping in so unexpectedly.
"A favor?" Now she was curious. What could a poor, widowed baker do for such a wealthy bachelor as the Great Judge Turpin? I could think of quite a bit actually, the baker answered her own thoughts, but quickly brushed them aside. He couldn't possibly be so upfront and careless…could he?
"Well not exactly a favor, I suppose."
"What can I do for you, Love?" Nellie ushered him into a nearby booth and handed him a pie. He seemed so tense; maybe some friendly gestures could put his mind at ease. After all he was her guest.
"You see," the Judge began looking down at the pie and back up at Nellie, "I am throwing a ball at my home this evening."
"How fancy," Nellie smiled politely not knowing what he was getting at, but not wanting to interrupt his thoughts.
"Yes," the Judge acknowledged and continued. "Well, I was wondering if you would care to join me."
"Me?" Nellie gasped not believing what she was hearing. How could the Judge want to be seen with a poor soul like her, let alone want her to accompany him to something as big as this ball? "I couldn't possibly," she shook her head and got up from the table trying to busy herself and avoid eye contact. There was something about him that she couldn't help but be attracted to. Eye contact would make her heart beat faster, and it seemed wrong to think such things so soon after Albert's death even if he wasn't the best of husbands.
"Mrs. Lovett are you alright?" The Judge moved to the counter noticing how she clung to it. Obviously Nellie hadn't realized that she was now gripping the counter for support and that the Judge was now inches from her. His soft touch on her shoulder caught her off guard and she almost tripped onto him.
"Yes, yes I'm fine," Nellie smiled and went to wipe off the tables. "I just wouldn't have anything to wear and I certainly wouldn't fit in. I'm not exactly what you'd consider wealthy, Judge Turpin. I thank you kindly though, sir."
"Attire is hardly important, Mrs. Lovett, but if it is a problem I shall send the Beadle with something later today. A carriage will be ready outside for you at nine," Judge Turpin kissed her cheek politely and left before Nellie could argue.
Nellie gently put a hand to where the Judge kissed her. Had he really just done that? That feeling in the pit of her stomach had returned along with the pounding of her heart. Why did she feel so guilty? She hadn't done anything wrong, and it wasn't like Albert had treated her properly when he was alive. She wanted to be happy for once in her life, and if happiness was Judge Turpin then so be it. She liked this man. "He kissed me," she told herself.
"Who kissed you?" another familiar voice asked. Twice in one day, she thought to herself. What's with these men sneaking up on me today? More visitors I've had in a few moments than I've had since I moved here! "Who was that, Nellie?"
"Nothing, love," Nellie turned around to see her best friend, Benjamin Barker, standing in the doorway. "Just Judge Turpin popping' in for a visit."
"Judge Turpin?" Ben raised his eyebrows at his friend. "What would Judge Turpin want here?" Nellie shot a glare at Ben as if he'd just insulted everything about her. Well, in a way, he had. "I didn't mean it like that."
"He invited me to his ball this evening. I'll be gone after I close up tonight.
"You're not going are you?" Ben suddenly became protective. What did it matter to him anyways? He had a pregnant wife to worry about, not a close friend. Nellie could care for herself. She didn't need him pretending to be fatherly like he had done when they were children. She could use a friend instead.
"Yes I am going, and you can put your plans to keep me here to a halt. It's high time I did something fun for once. I deserve happiness as well as anybody else," she snapped. Nellie Lovett was a sure sight with her half done hair, pouting lips, flour covered face and dress, and hands and rolling pin on her hips.
"You had happiness with Albert," Ben reminded sternly.
Bloody man trying everything in his power to get her to stay! Well it wouldn't work. Not this time.
"Don't do that," Nellie's voice almost cracked when she spoke. "Don't try to guilt me into staying."
"But you did have fun when Albert was around?"
"Stop it!" Nellie suddenly shouted. She couldn't help it. He didn't know the truth about her marriage. How could she have told him the truth behind their 'happiness'? He had been her best friend since they were little children. He would have killed Albert himself if she had said something, and she couldn't risk losing him. Not when she had needed a friend the most. "You don't know the half of it! You wouldn't understand."
"Nellie, I didn't mean to," Ben defended. How come he couldn't keep his mouth shut before it started trouble? He hadn't wanted to hurt her.
"Just go, Ben. Please just go!" Nellie demanded. She could feel the tears building up. Her body slowly began to shake and she didn't want Ben to see her like that. Bad memories raced through her mind and she needed to clear her thoughts. She had customers that she would have to attend to later and she needed to be calm and clear headed for them.
Business was better than usual today. Nellie even had to make more pies and almost ran out, so she closed early. She needed to save the rest of the meat for the lunch shift tomorrow. She had enough time to clean up shop and still have enough time to get ready for Judge Turpin's ball that evening. It wasn't until she had finished cleaning that she realized that the Judge had still not sent her the dress, so she plopped herself down into a booth and poured her some gin. Her poor bones needed a break and this was the perfect time to do so.
"Mrs. Lovett?" Nellie jumped at the sound of her name being called. She hadn't even heard the bell ring when the door opened. People really needed to start knocking or something. Almost having a heart attack each time someone tried to talk to her was getting rather old.
"Oh!" Nellie exclaimed turning around with her hand over her chest. "Lucy, I didn't even hear you come in, love. It's Nellie remember?"
"Yes, Nellie, sorry," Lucy smiled and walked further inside. She set a package she had been lugging around on the table Nellie was at. It was carefully wrapped in fancy paper and a bow was placed neatly in the center of it.
"What you got there?"
"A man came by earlier with this. Guess he thought I was you," Lucy explained and pushed the package to Nellie. "I was waiting for you to close before I gave it to you. Don't want to interfere with your work, Mrs. Lovett," Lucy always seemed to be afraid to talk to Nellie or anyone aside from Ben.
"Yes, well thank you, Lucy," Nellie took the package and opened it as Lucy watched eagerly sitting across from her. "Just the thing I was waiting for."
"Anyone special?" Lucy pried when she noticed Nellie smiling at the note she held in her hand.
"Judge Turpin," Nellie told her as if the name explained what Lucy wanted to hear. She didn't know how to answer her any other way. Was he someone special?
"The Judge?" Lucy seemed shocked that Judge Turpin would be sending gifts. Nellie was shocked that he seemed to be taking an interest in her. Maybe she was making too much of this? He was probably just trying to be friendly, but even that was odd.
"He invited me to his ball this evening," Nellie went on to explain how her recent encounters with the Judge had gone. Lucy was eager to see the dress that the Judge had picked, so Nellie opened it. It was a crimson red ball gown with a coal black lining, and set neatly on top of it was a black and silver mask.
After and hour of Lucy pampering Nellie she was finally ready to go. Lucy had had too much fun dressing her up. It'd been awhile since she'd had a proper girl's day and Nellie's date was an excuse to do so. Maybe Lucy would have a little baby girl that she could dress up? She would have fun with that.
"I see Lucy got her hands on you," Ben chuckled s Nellie carefully walked down her stairs. Nellie shot him a warning look that told him all he needed to know and he went silent. Obviously she was still upset with him from there previous encounter. He chose his next words carefully and softened his voice, "You look lovely, Nellie."
"Thank you," Nellie mumbled. She tried to stay angry, but her feelings betrayed her and a small smile escaped.
"I'm sorry about earlier," Ben filled the slightly tense silence hoping that would work. "Have fun tonight."
"It's alright, love," Nellie sounded like herself again. "I overreacted a bit more than necessary."
"Oh, Benny!" Lucy exclaimed excitedly walking as quickly as a very pregnant woman could down the stairs. "There you are. Doesn't Mrs. Lovett, er, Nellie, look lovely, darling?"
"Lovely," Ben echoed before a knock on the door silenced them all.
Suddenly Nellie was speechless and didn't want to move. Why was she suddenly so nervous? Quit being a fool, Nellie! He's just another man. No need to overwhelm yourself with meaningless thoughts and wreckful thinking. Nellie smiled warmly at Ben whose hand was resting on her shoulder. Lucy had been more than eager to answer the door and was already ushering their guest inside. Once she was able to compose herself and get the strength to move, Nellie and Benjamin went to greet their guest as well.
"Judge Turpin," Nellie was shocked to see him there himself, but smiled politely trying to hide it. "I didn't expect you to be picking me up yourself."
Judge Turpin held his arm out and happily she walked arm-in-arm with him out of the pie shop after saying their goodbyes. He was quite the gentlemen and Nellie thought she could get used to that all the men of her past had been far from friendly let alone gentlemen. Yes, Nellie Lovett could get used to this new characteristic.