Warnings at the bottom of the chapter.
Chapter Twenty:
Run and Tell
There was a beggar on the street, but it wasn't her beggar.
For one, this beggar was a man. Mrs. Lovett didn't send dirty looks his way, either. His clothing was tattered and he held a mug. From where she was, Johanna noticed a few coins jiggling inside the glass.
She didn't approach him out of fear of Mrs. Lovett snapping at her, which was sure to happen. She was tired enough with Toby's poor health keeping her up at night. Johanna wouldn't talk to the beggar. But she could ask about them.
"Mrs. Lovett," she began, gesturing out the window, "Who's that?"
"Who's what?" Mrs. Lovett turned around and saw the man. She shrugged. "I've never seen that bloke before. Must be new."
"Huh."
"Don't worry about him," Mrs. Lovett said, "Have a pie."
Johanna's stomach twigded at the idea. "No, thank you, Mrs. Lovett." She looked down at the pie, with it's thin crust and buttery edges. It looked good enough to die for, but at the moment, Johanna would rather die than eat it. "I'm afraid I'm quite full."
Mrs. Lovett studied her with a furrowed brow. She stopped her cleaning and leaned on the counter. Had Johanna done something wrong? It was rude to accept a free pie, yes. But she wasn't feeling her best. Still, Johanna should have shoved it down or -
"You haven't had a thing to eat this morning," Mrs. Lovett said.
"Well . . . I don't understand it either. I suppose that's just how it goes." She chuckled to lighten the mood.
"No wonder Mrs. Thomas said you were underweight."
The jab (though not directed exactly at Johanna) stung. She didn't mean to be underweight. She just happened to be. Though, Johanna shouldn't be thinking of herself and her insecurities now. She reached for the pie. For the baby. Mrs. Lovett went back to wiping the counter. Johanna busied herself with making the rounds to the customers. She glanced at the counter, filling with dread as she went back to Mrs. Lovett.
But Mrs. Lovett was gone when Johanna returned.
Johanna didn't think anything of it. She went back to what she was doing. She only looked up when Mrs. Lovett came back minutes later with Mr. Todd trailing behind her. Neither acknowledged the customers, although some nodded at them. One man stepped towards Mr. Todd, rubbing at his chin. Mr. Todd and Mrs. Lovett ignored him. Tilting her head, Johanna neared them; as she did, she caught snippets of their conversation.
"He's worse, Mr. T! I didn't even know he could get worse. But 'is skin is all blue and-"
"How much . . . ?"
They ran into the parlor.
Johanna closed up the shop, smiling at the customers as they passed through the door, just as Mrs. Lovett did. Afterwards, she tidied it up, but soon her curiosity got to her. Johanna peeked into the parlor. Mr. Todd and Mrs. Lovett hovered over Toby. Although Johanna couldn't make out what she was saying, Mrs. Lovett's voice was choked with tears. She clutched a handkerchief to her chest. Little sobs rang out.
"He needs a doctor now."
Toby?
Mr. Todd glanced over his shoulder. Mrs. Lovett did the same. Johanna gasped and ducked, feeling like a child who was supposed to go to bed but was caught sneaking out of their room.
"Johanna, get a doctor," Mrs. Lovett ordered.
"No," Mr. Todd said, "She can't. I'll go. Cool him down."
He stood and dashed out the door. Without bothering to grab his coat. Mrs. Lovett knelt by Toby, running her hand through his hair. Johanna took a cautious step forward.
Toby gagged.
"Help him up!" Mrs. Lovett exclaimed.
Her instincts told her to run, but Johanna rushed to the sofa. She placed one hand on Toby's waist and the other on his neck, mirroring Mrs. Lovett. They helped him sit up. Toby gagged again. Johanna's gaze dropped to the floor. A rag. She grabbed the fabric just as Toby vomited into it. Mrs. Lovett rubbed circles on his back as Johanna took care of the rag. When she returned, Mrs. Lovett was shushing him. It was almost motherly. Strange. Wasn't it a few weeks ago she told Johanna Toby was some help to her and nothing really more?
"It's all right there, Toby, dear," Mrs. Lovett whispered, "It's all right. Mum's here. I'm right here and I'm not gonna leave you." She kissed his hair. "Nothing's gonna harm you. Not while I'm around."
The door was thrown open. A doctor followed Mr. Todd, matching his swift steps. The doctor snapped at Mrs. Lovett to stand back. Johanna stood outside the doorway. She couldn't look away from Toby. She couldn't turn away from his green-tinted skin.
"Water!" the doctor barked, "Get water!"
Johanna nodded and ran to collect a glass. She nearly tripped as she handed it to the doctor. He took it and helped Toby take small sips. Little gasps left her breathless as Johanna watched from the floor on her knees. Mr. Todd helped her to her feet. Johanna clung to the wall, like a fly. Watching like a fool.
Toby's breathing slowed.
"Has he vomited?" the doctor asked.
"He has. Nearly ten minutes ago," Mrs. Lovett answered.
"Good, good. He's not choking on it, then."
The thought of Toby choking on his own silvia, his own puke caused Johanna to gag. She had to look away now.
"You, girl!"
Johanna turned her head. The doctor was facing her. She swallowed.
"Yes, sir?"
"Are you pregnant?"
Usually Johanna detested such questions, especially with the use of such vulgar words such as pregnant. But her panic distracted her from any embarrassment.
She nodded. "Yes, sir. I'm at six - almost seven months now."
"This is nothing an expectant mother should see. You should leave."
Her mouth went dry. "But Toby-"
"Don't argue with me, miss."
"I'll escort her out," Mr. Todd said.
With a shaky hand, Johanna reached for his elbow, as if they were noble citizens. She couldn't tear her gaze away from the parlor until they were too far away to see. Mr. Todd helped her up the stairs. She was much slower than she used to be. Much clumsier, too. Johanna's cheeks turned a faint pink every time she was forced to lean on his support. Mr. Todd said nothing, even when she mumbled an apology. They entered her room but she couldn't step inside. Downstairs, she could hear Toby lurching again.
"Is Toby going to be all right?" Johanna asked. Everyone else wondered the same thing. She took a lock of hair and began twisting it around her finger.
"I don't know."
"What caused that?" She squeezed her eyes closed to imagine it. "He didn't look well yesterday, but today . . . He looked like he was going to die!"
Mr. Todd didn't answer.
With jittery breaths and a quivering lower lip, Johanna stepped in front of him to capture Mr. Todd's attention.
"He isn't going to die." In a weaker tone she added, "Right?"
"Johanna, I'm no physician and even if I was, I wouldn't be able to tell. The doctor said my uncle was going to live and then he didn't. I don't know."
She didn't absorb the information as she would usually. Now, they needed some comfort. Johanna needed some comfort, at least.
"Well, I don't want to think he's going to die. Even if the chances of him . . . living are slim, I'm going to hope he won't."
Mr. Todd tightened his lips into a small, painful smile. He kissed her forehead and descended back down the stairs.
The shock of the events began to wear off as she wandered into the room. But the more she thought about it, the more it hurt. Physically and mentally, it drained her. Thousands of needles pricked Johanna's chest. Toby could die. Toby might die. There was a good chance Toby could die.
She crashed onto the bed.
Every moment was agony. Johanna couldn't get up from the bed. Her stomach twisted. Her thoughts wandered. Her legs cramped. Day turned into night and she couldn't sleep.
There were a few sounds from downstairs she could make out. Something falling. The doctor barking like a hound. Nothing about Toby. She didn't hear his voice.
Morning came leaving Johanna to wonder if she should open the shop. She shouldn't go downstairs; they wouldn't want her in the way. Or perhaps she should. Mrs. Lovett might have instructions for her. They could always use the money, she assumed. Yet there weren't any pies to be sold. But they could sell the extras from yesterday. The curiosity and being left in the dark caused Johanna to decide to wander down the stairs; get a feel for what was happening.
"He was raised on it, Doctor, sir. I didn't know what to do. Some days, he looked pale enough to faint if he didn't have any. Miss Johanna tried to get him off of the stuff, but it never worked."
Mrs. Lovett followed the doctor into the dining area. Johanna perched herself on the top stair. She was shadowed enough for no one to notice her.
"He should be fine now. Remember the instructions I gave you." The doctor paused and turned to Mrs. Lovett again. "Did you say Johanna?"
"Yes, I did, sir."
"If I may ask, what is Johanna's surname?"
"Hope, sir. It's Hope."
The doctor eyed her from the side. "Is Hope her name by marriage or her maiden name?"
"It's her name by marriage, sir."
"By any chance was Mrs. Hope's maiden name, 'Barker?'" The doctor rubbed his beard.
Mrs. Lovett twisted her hands on her apron. "I suppose that's the name she went by, sir. I never did ask."
Johanna hesitated. Should she go down? Perhaps she did know this doctor. He could help her. But the feeling she got near the man made shivers ran up her spine. She turned back to her room. He yelled at her yesterday and he might be upset with her today.
"Would you bring Mrs. Hope here?" the doctor asked.
It was Mrs. Lovett's turn to side eye him. "I suppose." She turned her head. "Johanna!"
With no other choice, she leaned on the stairway to help herself down. The doctor nodded at her appearance and his face lit up with recognition. Johanna stepped onto the ground. She didn't realize her hands going to play with her hair.
"I'd like to speak with Mrs. Hope alone," the doctor said to Mrs. Lovett.
Mrs. Lovett nodded and with a curious glance towards Johanna, she left.
"Doctor-"
"Miss Barker," he talked over her, "What a pleasure to see you again. It's been too long. Months, in fact."
He stepped closer, revealing the lines around his eyes and graying hair. Johanna stepped back, almost to the wall. She knew those eyes.
"Dr. Macklin?" she mumbled.
"Where's Judge Turpin?"
"What?"
Dr. Macklin took another step. "He disappeared one day and you did, too. Where is he?"
Johanna hesitated. She couldn't tell the truth. No one could know. She'd lied to Anthony days ago. It was fine.
"I don't know. How would I know? I don't reside with him anymore," she said.
"Yes, do tell, why are you here?"
"Complicated reasons." Johanna paused, but before he could say anything, she went, "Thank you for helping Toby. We appreciate it very much, sir. I'll see you out."
"Mrs. Hope-"
"I assume Mrs. Lovett took care of your pay?"
He nodded and opened his mouth.
"Good." They reached the door. "I'd like to thank you again, Doctor. Good day."
Johanna nearly pushed him out of the door and locked him out. She turned away from the door before he could protest. Instead she went to the parlor. Mr. Todd met her outside.
"Is he all right?" Johanna asked.
"It looks like he will be."
She rushed past him and into the parlor. Mrs. Lovett kissed his forehead.
"See, dear, I told you that you'd be okay," she said.
"He's okay?" Johanna whispered to Mrs. Lovett.
"Give it some time. He will be."
She took gentle steps out of the room. Let the boy rest.
Warnings: Vomiting, alcoholism, alcohol poisoning
