Nellie Lovett stood in the kitchen of her shabby, yet successful, meat pie emporium. She sighed as she thought of the dark, mysterious, brooding man upstairs. How she loved him she did not quite know, all she knew was that she would do anything and everything to make him happy.
"Oh, Mr. T…" she muttered with a sad smile. Again she pounded the dough with her rolling pin while fantasizing about her first and only love, Sweeney Todd. She placed her last batch of pies in the oven and poured two mugs of ale. Ascending the stairs, she felt her heart race and an excited smile spread across her porcelain complexion. She bumped open the door to Sweeney's barber shop with her round hip.
"Mr. T? Are you around, love?"
A grumble came from the dark corner of the shop "What do you want now, woman?"
Nellie smiled even at this rudest of acknowledgements. "I've brought you some ale. Would you like me to jus' leave it on the table?"
"Bring it here."
She gathered her skirts and approached him. She saw he was covered in a fresh sheen of blood. "'Oo was the poor bugger this time, Mr. T?"
"Some bloke from out of town. Didn't like the way he looked at me. As though he wanted he to bend over and kiss his ass before giving him a proper shave."
"Well serves 'im right then, I s'pose. Would you like me to fetch you a pie, love?"
"No. And you can be leaving now, Mrs. Lovett." He shot an icy glare her way as she set down the mug of ale.
"Now really, Mr. T. 'ow many times 'ave I told you to call me Nellie?" She jokingly corrected him. Even with his deliberate defiance against using her preferred name, her heart swelled every time he used her surname.
"Get out. I've work to do and I can't do it with you standing over my shoulder like a child."
"Alright, Mr. T. You know where to find me if you change your mind."
Reluctantly she took her leave and descended back into the emporium to powder and knead some more dough. She wished she had the courage to tell him how she truly felt. She knew he would never feel the same but she couldn't help herself. Albert had been such a kind and loving man but she had never truly loved him. She was sad when he died but in reality, she saw it as no more than a fresh start. A way to find somebody who could love and cherish her. A way to find Sweeney Todd.
Sorry about the short chapter. Couldn't think of much and besides, this is a good amount to start with. I'll have a new one up by the 20th.