Here we are loves, chapter two! It's cruelly short. I really could have made this whole bloody thing a one-shot...ah well. Two down, three to go!
"Good morning Nell," Benjamin said cheerfully. Seeing her glum expression, he added "What's wrong love?"
Nellie gave him a half-hearted smile. "Gotta bad feeling 'bout today. Like something bad's gonna happen."
"Ahh, Nellie, you worry far too much. Nothing bad will happen today!"
Her face sunk, "Don't be so sure love." Of course, Ben wouldn't think anything bad could ever happen. He was married to his perfect Lucy (just like she said those years ago), had a beautiful daughter (again, as she'd predicted), and his business was flourishing. Just so, Nellie had every reason to be miserable. She was newly married and newly widowed, and her business was doing alright, but the price of meat was climbing every day, and Nellie didn't think everything would be getting better any time soon. And this feeling she had, that something would happen to her Ben...she couldn't shake that horrible feeling.
Ben crossed the room towards her and stood her up from her seat. "Come out with Lucy, Johanna and I today," he said with a grin, "You deserve a day off."
With you and Lucy? No thanks, she thought unhappily, but all she said was, "Nah, I'd better open up shop. Might get a customer or two today."
"You still look upset," Ben commented. He wrapped his arms around her into a quick, tight hug. "Feel better Nell," he said, turning to go to his wife and child.
That afternoon, Benjamin Barker was arrested. He was to be shipped off to Australia on some make-believe crime, and Nellie would never see him again.
There we are loves, chapter two!
On a side note, is anyone watching the World Series?! What is Hamels doing?!! Come on...I need a RePeat (: