Thank you:
M. Cullen Hightopp - I've updated! And thank you for the review on Broken; you're the first one to review it! :)
xBadxRomancesx - Yes, it is! Thank you for reviewing btw :)
Chapter Twenty One
She stared at me.
I stared back.
We just…stared at each other.
Mrs Lovett's arms went limp from around me. Nellie's eyes darted back and forth from Mum to me.
No one spoke.
I hated myself for saying it, but it was the truth. She needed to know.
Had she really lost her memory? Was that why she was staring at me as if I was lying?
I truly hoped so.
"No…" She finally choked out, shaking her head. "No, you're lying."
More tears ran down my cheeks as I also shook my head.
"No, I'm not lying." I said weakly.
"You are a cruel, sick girl," She spat, pointing a finger at me. "Do you think it's funny that I've lost three children? Three, I tell you."
"I'm not laughing at you. You're our Mum." I whispered, gesturing towards Nellie. Mum's eyes darted to her.
"Oh, so you're in on it as well?"
She glared at us all, her expression hard with hatred.
"You are all sick and cruel," She told us, venom dripping off her every word. "I hope your customers are plenty, Mrs Lovett, for I shall never be one again as long as she is here."
Tears were streaming down my face as Mum pointed her finger at me, jabbing her finger in my direction. My chest hurt, as if it was me she was poking.
I watched as she gave me one last glare, spun around and flung the door open. The other woman, Anna, gave us an apologetic smile before scuttling out and running after her.
I could feel Mrs Lovett and Nellie staring at me as I stood there silently, watching.
Waiting.
She didn't come back.
I didn't realise I was shaking until Nellie put an arm around my shoulders, pulling me closer.
"It's ok, Amz." She whispered. I didn't need to look up to see the tears running down her cheeks.
"No…"
"Come on." She said, gently trying to move me from my spot I was frozen at. I didn't move.
I was vaguely aware that the side door opened, the wood flying open to slam against the wall. Normally, I would've flinched, but now, I simply couldn't register it.
"I heard shouting." Sweeney announced suspiciously. I didn't react as his harsh words stabbed at the silent air.
"Nothing, Mr T." Mrs Lovett murmured.
I could feel cold eyes glaring at me, studying my face, tears silently streaking down my cheeks. Crying prettily was a gift given to very few and, sadly, I was not one of those few.
I reluctantly turned my head, my bloodshot eyes meeting his. I stared at him with a blank expression, a few stray tears continuing to run down my cheeks.
"You missed it," I said in a low voice that sounded nothing like my own. "We were officially disowned."
"Amy," Mrs Lovett said, placing her hand on my arm in a comforting manner. "Come on, love, you're upset. Why don't you have a nice rest?"
I nodded once, remaining silent. Was there much point in speaking when I had nothing more to say?
I didn't bother changing as I lay on the sofa, staring in front of with unseeing eyes.
Mum…
I could hear Nellie and Ben talking about what happened. From what I gathered, neither of them was pleased with me.
A tear ran down my cheek as I rolled over and closed my eyes.
I woke up suddenly with a start, my heart racing.
Running a hand through my hair, the ribbon loosening and curling around my fingers as I did so, I stared outside in hope to estimate a time.
It was dark outside. I knew it was late.
I glanced around me, surprised to see it empty. Where were Ben and Nellie?
My heart immediately missed a beat. What if something had happened to them? What if they were gone? I'd be left here by myself!
Jumping up, I ran into the shop.
"Amy?"
I skidded to a stop, staring at Mrs Lovett, Ben and Nellie. We stared at each other for a minute.
Letting out a gasp, I hurtled myself forwards and into Ben's arms, burying my face into his chest.
Gently shushing me and reassuring me everything was ok, Ben wrapped his arms around me and carefully rocked me back and forth, just like Mum used to do when I was little.
"So…what are we going to do?" Nellie asked, breaking the silence. I could tell they were discussing something before I had hurtled myself in so abruptly.
"Judge Turpin obviously has her confused," Mrs Lovett muttered in a bitter tone. I looked up at her in meek surprise. I always thought she was a kind woman. "We need to convince her otherwise."
"But you saw what happened…" I whispered.
Mrs Lovett smiled down at me kindly, her eyes gentle. "I know, love, but that wasn't the best approach."
I nodded silently, turning to bury my face into Ben's chest once more. Somehow, just somehow, if I closed my eyes for long enough, I could pretend we were at home. Dad wouldn't be dead and Mum wouldn't be missing.
Everything would be normal.
"Who is Judge Turpin?" Ben asked, shifting his position slightly. Worried he was uncomfortable, I began to climb off his lap, but he tightened his grip on me and told me to stay.
Mrs Lovett sighed sadly.
"Turpin is an evil man. He has done some horrible things in his time."
"He's a monster." I muttered angrily, remembering the stories. Mrs Lovett looked at me in surprise.
"What do you mean, deary?" She questioned, her dark eyes studying me intently.
"Mum told me the story."
Mrs Lovett nodded. "So you know about…"
I nodded. I couldn't help but feel secretly thrilled by the fact that I was the one who knew everything, instead of Ben and Nellie.
"So what can we do?" Ben asked firmly.
"There's nothing we can do yet, love."
My grip on Ben's shirt tightened slightly as Mrs Lovett spoke. Nothing we could do…
I yawned loudly, catching everyone's attention. Ben smiled down at me kindly.
"Come on, Amz, you need some sleep."
I shook my head stubbornly, sticking my bottom lip out like a little child.
"I'm not sleepy."
"But you're tired."
I shrugged. Ben chuckled softly, but didn't make me go back to sleep.
"Can't we just go and kidnap Mum?" Nellie suggested out of nowhere. The comment made me giggle in a sleepy manner.
"No, Nellie, we can't," Ben said, shaking his head at her. "Imagine what that would do to her."
"But if this Turpin dude is a monster, surely we're doing her and ginger a favour."
Again, I giggled sleepily. When I was tired, I was ready to laugh at anything and everything.
"And, anyway, what the hell would it do to her?"
"You saw how Mum reacted earlier…" Ben said slowly, choosing his words with care. "We don't want something like that to happen again."
"Just kick me out. That might work." I murmured.
"Oh, love, it was just a surprise," Mrs Lovett said quickly. "Different people react differently to surprises."
"Yeah, Mum's never reacted well to them." I said with a tired grin.
Ben and Nellie also grinned, and we shared a quiet moment remembering all the times we surprised Mum…
There was her and Dad's anniversary…
Her birthday…
Christmas…
Mother's Day…
Valentines Day we arranged a surprise for her and Dad…
All sorts of things.
But she never reacted well.
Not once.