A/N: Juggle Juggle Juggle. :)
Mrs. Lovett followed Jess to work, intending on picking up a new dress.
"I wonder what's keeping Benjamin," Mrs. Lovett looked around, trying to find him.
"He'll be okay," Jess muttered, leading Mrs. Lovett into the shop. "Come tell me when you've found one you like and I'll open up the dressing rooms,"
Jess returned to the counter, signing in and saying hello to her manager, Mrs. Calloway.
"Ah Rachel, lovely to see you, as always," Mrs. Calloway smiled,
"It's a pleasure to be here," Jess replied.
"Is that your mother?" Mrs. Calloway asked, pointing out Mrs. Lovett.
"My aunt,"
"Oh, where are your parents?"
"They died a couple of years ago – Aunty Abigail took me in with her husband, Benjamin,"
"How lovely. Are you happy here?"
"Indeed.
Jess sighed. She was going to have to hear the same responses to the same lie over and over again.
Is this what she wanted? At any moment, she could just duck into the bushes – never to be seen again. She was definitely happy where she was, across the water and away from the towns.
Sure, she didn't have family, just her horses. She had let them all go when she left to join the others. She hoped someone found them and was taking care of them.
She liked it with Mrs. Lovett and Sweeney. They had grown closer and shared jokes – Jess sometimes pretended that they were her real family.
But was she happy?
Sweeney hadn't really killed her father. Her parents had died the same way Toby had. She'd been on her own for years, but Sweeney was more likely to keep her around if he was under the impression he had done something to hurt her.
"You okay?" Mrs. Calloway asked and Jess smiled again.
"Yeah, I'm fine." She looked around the small store. "Aren't many customers today,"
"You're right. Why don't you go around the back – you can finish some dresses today and I'll work the counter."
Jess nodded. No matter how much she hated this job, she was damn good at it.
When Jess went around the back, there was already someone there.
"Hey Lizzy," Jess grinned
"Rachel! Nice to see you!" she was handstitching a dress, her reddish blonde hair falling around her shoulders.
Jess took her spot next to her, picking up a dress she had been working on. It had white sleeves that were only slightly puffy. The white continued to the bust, where it faded into a pale blue for the corset. The blue darkened at the waist, where it puffed out.
"Who are you making it for?" Lizzy asked, sucking her finger after she pricked it.
"Probably myself…I'll buy it when I earn enough money." Jess started handstitching the sleeves.
"You finished that house, right?"
Jess nodded.
"Well, how much money can you keep for yourself now?"
"All of it."
"Lucky! I only get to keep half of my earnings – the rest goes to savings,"
"Yeah, but my uncle has his own business now."
"That's right…I'll tell my father about it,"
"Thanks…"
"Rachel! Your aunt wants your opinion on this dress," Mrs. Calloway called from the front.
Jess rolled her eyes at Lizzy and carefully set the dress down, heading out the front. Mrs. Lovett stood in the dressing room, scrutinizing herself in the mirror. The dress was a dark pink, almost red, with black lace around the bust and sleeves. It hugged Mrs. Lovett's figure nicely, tight around the bust and waist, while fluffing out at her legs.
"It's gorgeous,"
"Do ya think Benjamin will like it?"
"How could any man not?" Mrs. Calloway praised from the desk. "You're a stunner, your husband will be pleased,"
"Ah, I don't know," Mrs. Lovett twirled, loving the way it felt. "He's pretty particular."
"I'm sure he won't be able to resist you," Mrs. Calloway said and Mrs. Lovett blushed.
"Thank you," Mrs. Lovett glanced at herself once more, trying to look at herself from Sweeney's perspective. She couldn't. "I'll take it,"
Mrs. Lovett paid for it and didn't change out of it, storing her old one in a bag. She hurried across the street to the small bakery, and the fresh smell almost made her sick.
"You alright love?" a woman asked, and Mrs. Lovett recognized her as one of the lady's who had come to help them on the house.
"Fine…I just haven't smelt the amazing scent of a bakery in months," Mrs. Lovett clutched her stomach uncomfortably. Why was it making her sick now?
"You aren't pregnant, are you love?" the woman asked, coming to her side.
"Oh, 'eavens no," Mrs. Lovett waved her off, taking a huge breath of air.
She stood up, waiting until she was okay.
"Alright," Mrs. Lovett smiled. "I'm okay now,"
"Good to hear, now what can I do for you?"
"Actually," Mrs. Lovett smiled. "I was looking for a job. Do you have any positions open?"
The woman smiled widely.
"Actually, we do. It's just me and my daughter at the moment, but we'd be glad to have you on board," she smiled, "That is, if you don't chuck every time you walk into the shop,"
Mrs. Lovett laughed. "Ah, I wouldn't worry about that. I can assure you it's a onetime thing,"
"Alright, here," she pulled a pie from the oven. "As a welcome to the team – have one on the house,"
Mrs. Lovett stared at the pie, feeling queasy. She hadn't eaten one since…well, since before Sweeney entered her shop. Still, she picked it up and force fed it to herself.
It tasted okay.
"It's very good!" Mrs. Lovett still felt sick as images of fingers and flesh swirled in front of her.
"Thank you, now, what's your name love,"
"Abigail – Abigail Thicket,"
"Oh!" she cried in recognition. "You're the one who fixed up that house. I'm surprised I didn't recognize you earlier. I'm Jenny Smith,"
"That's alright, and it's nice to meet you,"
"So, when are you available?"
"Oh…whenever. " Mrs. Lovett said, "I'm flexible. I just ask for regular pay and occasional breaks to spend time with the family,"
"Is that your daughter in the shop?" Jenny pointed at Jess.
"No, no…my niece, Rachel…I'm childless," Mrs. Lovett smiled.
"I see…you planning on having any?"
Mrs. Lovett smiled to herself.
"If I can get the husband to comply,"
"Ah Abigail, welcome to the team…you're going to be very welcome here,"
A/N: Thanks to elizabethbennet3553 for lett me use her character, Lizzy