Disclaimer: don't own ST, never have, but Joy is all my creation!
Thanks to all my readers!!!!! (Sorry, don't have time to mention by name today!)
An Apology: I'm sorry it has taken me so long to post, but school is tight and I have been grounded (I still am, really…beside the point…I won't be able to write very often.)
Joy awoke with a start, and the painful memories of the previous evening flooded her mind. There was now only one day until the grand opening, and she hoped that Mr. Todd would not remember what had happened the night before. She knew without a doubt, though, that Nellie Lovett would remember, and would probably not forgive her. Toby knocked on the door and ran into the room as soon as he heard her moving around.
"Good morning, mum. Mrs. Lovett went out. She said you could fix yourself breakfast, I've already eaten; she made pancakes this mornin' they were really good! I asked 'er if I should wake you, but she said you needed your sleep."
So now begins her revenge… Joy thought. Little subtle jabs that, to she and I are known as revenge, but no one else has any idea.
"Thank you, Toby." Joy signed and mouthed.
"No problem, mum! Mr. Todd is upstairs shaving customers and I am here in charge of the shop! We haven't 'ad any customers yet. But can you believe it?! She put me in charge!!!" Toby looked at Joy expectantly, wanting her to praise him and offer congratulations, to his dismay, she was looking out the window and seemed to be thinking of something else. He sat down at one of the table dejectedly.
"Do you know where Nellie went?" she asked.
"No, mum, but she said she would be back before this evening." Toby said, playing with some crumbs on the table. "Joy, aren't you going to change? You're still in your nightgown…" Toby remarked, blushing heavily.
Oh! Joy thought, "Thank you, Toby." She signed and walked off to the parlor. She suddenly remembered, though that her blue dress was upstairs in Mr. Todd's room. She did not want to go up there, so she decided to wear her pink dress again. The dress that caused so much trouble…she thought. She promised herself to buy another dress sometime soon and to hardly ever wear the pink one again.
Joy knocked loudly on the wall in the kitchen to get Toby's attention. He came running into the parlor.
"Yes, mum?" he asked.
"I am going out. Tell Nellie that I am out. I also have something I would like for you to do for me; could you bring all my things downstairs and place them in the parlor? I would really appreciate that." Joy smiled.
"Of course, mum, but do you have a particular reason?" Toby asked.
"You were right, I should not be sharing a room with someone I am not married to." She said, thinking quickly.
Toby beamed with pride, "Yes mum, will do!" he exclaimed. "I'll see you later, Toby." Joy mouthed and signed, grabbing her shrinking money pouch, the money she had earned the day before, and her bonnet. She quickly walked out the door and closed it silently behind her.