Caught Somewhere in Time

A half truth is not a lie

"Lucy!" Sweeney screamed when he turned round and came to face his horrified wife. Pale as a ghost, with her otherwise serene blue eyes wide open and one hand over her heart as the other tightly clutched the bottle he guessed Albert had provided her with, she was the picture of despair. It was as if her worst nightmare had come true. Perhaps it was. After all, she hadn't known any real pain yet. Poor thing.

Sweeney wasted no time in straightening up, moving away from Eleanor as if struck by lightning. He walked towards Lucy, intending to comfort her but she kept taking a step back every time he took one forward until her back collided with the rusty balcony railing. Sweeney frowned, since when was she afraid of him?

"It's not what you think" he tried to explain, fully aware of how pathetic it sounded. How many husbands said those very same words when their wives caught them with their lovers? But in this case it was true, despite what Lucy obviously thought judging by the betrayed look in her eyes. Eleanor was not his lover. Yes, she'd been his lover in another timeline but that hardly counted and his almost untameable desire for her in the current stemmed from muscle memory, nothing more, he rationalised. He would not make the same mistake twice. Because he loved Lucy, he must only want Lucy and not that insufferable little bitch. He wanted to kill her! This time for good... He then realised he was still holding his silver friend although mercifully, Lucy had not. His back was to her when she entered so she just saw him almost on top of Ms. Price, in a very compromising position. He discreetly tucked his razor back into his belt. It was better she thought him an adulterer than a murderer. Even though I've been both, was the thought that broke into his mind.

"He was merely... trimming my split ends" said Eleanor from inside, her composure completely restored and her posh accent back in full force. He had to give it to her, she was fast when it came to lying, although he couldn't fathom why she would lie for him. She could just tell Lucy he had assaulted her, that he'd almost killed her and be done with it. "Such a kind gentleman, he noticed the deplorable state my tresses were in and he offered to lend me a hand" she finished her lie with ease and flashed them a crocodile smile that was meant to be reassuring. Sweeney simply nodded but. unfortunately, Lucy did not seem to believe her.

"You think I'm daft, don't you? Both of you think I'm so simple I can't comprehend what I saw with my own eyes" Lucy stated as she stepped back inside the room and turned to her husband, tears falling down her cheeks "You are being unfaithful. With her, in our room, with our daughter right there" she pointed to Johanna who sat on the floor absentmindedly played with her doll. Sweeney looked down in shame, he'd forgotten she was there. Father of the year, indeed. "How could you, Ben? I love you! I thought you loved me!"

"I love you!" he exclaimed back but it was too late for her to hear it, for Lucy was already running down the stairs and away from him as she sobbed uncontrollably. He stood in shock for several seconds, too stunned to move before he realised the gravity of the situation and followed her. Her voluminous skirts hindered her movements and he easily caught up with her only a couple blocks away. He grabbed her arm and pulled her to an alley, so they could talk away from prying eyes. Lucy made no attempt to keep running, she simply continued sobbing. He made a motion to touch her but she extended her arm to stop him. That hurt Sweeney as much as all the lashes he'd received in Australia but he understood her hesitancy.

"I love you. I truly do" he reassured her. "There's nothing between Ms. Price and me. Please believe me"

"But..." she began with difficulty after what felt like an eternity. "You were straddling her. And you wanted to stop her wedding to Mr. Lovett. And you're never home anymore... Please don't lie to me, Benjamin. If you don't love me anymore, just tell me now!"

"Lucy, please don't do this" he pleaded. "I do love you. I know it looks bad but trust me when I tell you I love you, just you."

"How can I? I see the way you look at her, how you ogle her. I'm not blind, Benjamin, I know you don't love me anymore. You love her and I don't want to live in a world where you don't love me anymore."