Haunted Dreams
Chapter 23
Sweeney drifted in and out of sleep on the hard wood floor. Him, Nellie and Jeramey were wrapped in a blanket near the fire on the floor in the living room. They still didn't have furniture, they got the bathroom fixed first. The plumbing honestly wasn't too messed up. They also got a new oven, and a freezer box that has yet to have any ice in it. The next thing to get, in Sweeney's opinion, should be a bed. This floor sucked! Nellie and Jeramey were using his body as a pillow, so of course they were both comfortable, leaving him to suffer. But he finally managed to drift off to sleep.
He dreamed he was in a market. His dream self was running around frantically, as if he were looking for something, or someone. The market was empty. They were the only ones there, him and the mystery girl he was looking for. She was standing there, about 5 feet from him. She was standing at the flower booth looking at pink roses, her favorite flower. Her back was turned to him. She was the most beautiful girl Sweeney Todd as ever seen. She was more beautiful than Nellie, and she was more beautiful than Lucy.
She had long, dark brown hair, with a little wave and curl to it. She wore a faded blue dress, simple, no bows or lace, or even a corset. She didn't need a corset. She was a young adult, around fourteen Sweeney was guessing.
His dream self got so nervous when he saw her. He wanted to speak to her, to grab her hand. He took slow steps up to her. His hand reached out, hovering over her shoulder. He was about to put his hand down on her shoulder and turn her around to talk to her. At least to see her beautiful eyes.
To his surprise she turned around to look at him first. He called out her name. She had chocolate brown eyes, the same color has her mother's eyes. She had her mother's nose and cheekbones as well. Her brown hair fell loose over her shoulders, a few loose strands hung in her eyes. Her eyes lit up bright, and she grinned at him, as if she thought he was silly.
"Dad, what are doing?" She laughed.
BONG BONG BONG. The grandfather clock rang. One of the few pieces of furniture that was actually in the house and it HAD to be a grandfather clock. And just when Sweeney got some sleep. He heard Jeramey cry, and he felt Nellie's weight shifting off of him. "Good morning" Nellie said, placing a light kiss on his cheek.
"We are getting a bed." He said groggily.
"I know."
He rubbed his eyes, thinking back to his dream, trying to understand it. He was pretty sure it wasn't a dream, it was a glance into the future. He saw the most beautiful girl he will ever see, and it was his own daughter. His future daughter. "Johanna" he whispered. He sat up and looked at Nellie. She was rummaging through the bag looking for Jeramey's bottle. It still had some fresh milk in it. She was trying to ween him.
"Ugh, we're going to have to get groceries." She said feeding Jeramey. He stared at Nellie, longing to make that angel he saw in his dreams become real.
In time Sweeney, he told himself, we have a home to build first.
It was beautiful outside. The sun was shining and the snow was melting. Some of the men from the town dropped off a couch, dining table, and chairs early that morning. Sweeney tipped them. Nellie left to go to the market to look at some wallpaper. Sweeney was positioning the couch in the living room. And positioned the table and chairs in the dining room. It was all coming together nicely. He heard a knock on the door.
He had no idea what time it was, the clock said it was mid day. Nellie still hasn't returned. Which didn't bother Sweeney he knew she would have a lot to look for.
He opened the door it was Mr. Waters with three bags of grocery items in his arms.
"Good afternoon!" He said cheerfully.
"Hello."
"I went to the liberty of getting you some groceries." He said coming inside the house and dumping everything on the kitchen niche that was installed yesterday. Sweeney pulled some money out and handed it to him. "Ahh that won't be necessary, I'm honored to help out."
"Well thank you."
"Now, I got you the basics. Eggs, cheese, milk, flour, bread, and lots of fruits and vegetables. The price of dairy is up in this town, I usually tell people that its cheaper just to have your own chicken coop and goat. You certainly have the room for it in the back yard. But it's up to you. If you do decide though." He pointed out the window. "I would suggest having them near the lake, away from the woods, so the side of the house, not the back. There have been cases of wolves in your back yard here."
Sweeney glared at him. "You don't think you could have mentioned that a bit sooner." He looked out the back yard at the never ending forest. Wolves roam in there, quite close to the house to it sounded like. Well that's just great.
"You're family will be alright." He assured him. "Just don't go into those woods." He smiled. Sweeney went back to unpacking the groceries. "Sorry I didn't get any meat. I figured your wife is a vegetarian." Sweeney looked up him, surprised. "She saw a meat pie and screamed at it. Well I'll leave alone, I know you two are very busy getting everything together. Have a good day." He said tipping his hat, and was out the door.
Sweeney put all the vegetables away, sighing. Poor Nellie. She would tremble at the sight of a meat pie. She still to be okay with eating meat though. But then again she was pregnant and it was probably just what she was craving. He hasn't seen her eat meat since.
Nellie and Sweeney were constantly going back and forth from the market for the next three weeks. They got a bed, rugs, wallpaper, some various other things and the master bedroom was ready.
It took four months and the house was ALMOST complete. Just a few more touches here and there. Sweeney put the house on hold for awhile, because today was Jeramey's birthday.
Nellie was in the kitchen making cup cakes.
"Should I put up decorations?" She asked Sweeney.
"Doesn't matter. He's only two."
"Yes! That's a big deal!"
"Not like when he turned one." Sweeney laughed. "Nellie, please don't work so hard."
"I'm fine."
"You've been very stressed lately."
Nellie let loose a deep sigh. "I know. It's just this house. I want to make a great living environment, and should we get a chicken coop or not? What do you think? Where have these two years gone?"
"You need to take it easy. Stop worrying so much." Sweeney said stroking her shoulders.
Nellie went back to watching the oven, making sure the cakes didn't burn. Sweeney kissed her neck. "You know, since it's been two years... it's been awhile... and-"
"No." Nellie said simply.
"Why?" Sweeney said suddenly.
"I can't."
"Why? It's been two years, that's plenty of time. Nellie please."
"No. There is so much work to do still. With the house, and you haven't even bought the barber shop yet and got to work." Sweeney looked at her with pleading eyes. Nellie wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him. "I just don't want another child right now."
Sweeney sighed and removed her hands from him and walked away without saying anything else.
Daniel and Nettie came over later that night and they all celebrated. Nellie lit Jeramey's little cupcake with a candle and her and Sweeney blew out for him.
Nettie made Jeramey a blanket to go on his new bed, and Daniel got him a little ball to play with. Nellie got him some books thinking it was time he start learning to read. Sweeney made him a toy razor.
He has been spending months on it. It all started when they were back at the beach house, Nellie and Sweeney would always notice how Jeramey would find a way to get a hold of one of Sweeney's razors. And he would cry when it was taken away from him. So Sweeney took one of his razors, one that had a dull blade and he wrapped in thin, clear plastic, really tight. The razor looked like a razor but it couldn't hurt anybody. Jeramey loved it! His face lit up with joy. He got up on his little legs and ran towards his dad, with his arms out wide.
"Thanks Papa!" He shouted with glee.
"When did he learn to walk?" Nettie exclaimed.
"Just a few months ago." Nellie said.
"Well why didn't you tell us!?"
"We've been a little busy stocking a house that doesn't have any furniture!" Nellie said throwing a pillow at her aunt. Nettie smiled and rolled her eyes at Nellie.
"Papa's gift is the best!" Jeramey said sitting on the floor playing with the razor.
"Well thank you." Nellie said to him. He got up and stumbled toward her, hugging her legs.
"I beat you." Sweeney said sarcastically. Nellie stuck her tongue out to him. "Don't worry you'll win with the next one." Sweeney told her, making her blush.
"Oh next one?" Daniel said looking at Nellie, his eye brows raised.
Nellie just blushed, looking at Sweeney's smirk she rolled her eyes.
Night time came and Daniel and Nettie went to go stay in that little half-owned house at the bottom of the hill.
Nellie put Jeramey down for the night. "Happy birthday, darling." She said kissing his forehead. "Night, mommy." He answered drifting off to sleep.
Sweeney locked himself in the bedroom. He couldn't have Nellie coming in to early, and the surprise wasn't ready yet.
He lit candles, he had vases full of daisies, roses, gillyflowers, and baby's breath all over the room. Nellie's favorite flowers. Everything was perfect! He went and unlocked the door, knowing Nellie would be back from putting Jeramey down for the night any minute now. He stripped his clothes off. He laid on the bed, butt naked, with a smile on his face. He heard the door open and took a deep breath and prepared himself.
Nellie came in, looked at his naked body, and immediately busted out laughing.
Sweeney's confidence faltered. He tried so hard to be romantic and she's laughing at him. It made him upset.
"Oh my God!" Nellie laughed. Holding her ribs, and tears coming out of her eyes.
"What's so funny?" Sweeney demanded.
She kept on laughing. "Hahaha I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Its just... hahaha"
Sweeney blushed furiously.
"Flowers. Really?" And she kept on laughing. Pissing Sweeney off. "You forgot the rose petals on the bed."
Sweeney glared at her looking a little hurt.
"I'm sorry." She smiled and kissed him. "This is sweet. It's just so... unlike you."
"It was all for waste wasn't it?"
Nellie stared at him for awhile, thinking.
"Oh what the hell" She said untieing her corset, and pulling her dress off.
Sweeney kissed her hungerly and they both collapsed onto their new bed.
