The Doll Maker

Fourteen

"Harley come on" Charlotte drawled, looking at the young boy who ran around the living room with a bright grin and a cheeky glint in his eyes "Behave for me"

"But Mummy" He whined, Laurence looking over with a frown clear on his features, Harley wanted to go out to play but he didn't know how to explain to the boy he wasn't allowed out, Charlotte explaining time and time again she won't try and escape but Laurence wasn't sure how to explain to Alex that he took them out to the park and if she did escape then how was he to explain any of this? Laurence decided he was done with his sons stir crazy antics, speaking up to the boy,

"Fine but only out in the front garden" He explained, the boy cheering out in excitement, Charlotte looking over with a slight smile, walking over to the young boy as he grabbed onto the hem of her flowy white summer dress "Lotts will be with you and I'll be by the door"

"Thank you Daddy" He cheered out, reaching his arms up and the woman picked him up, resting him on her hip as she walked over to the front door and pushed down the handle, opening it to reveal the beaming sun and the bright green grass, taken care of and he witnessed neighbourhood kids running around and families out in the front garden rather barbequing or simply resting on the garden talking and he could faintly hear summer songs blasting around the estate "Let's play Mummy"

"Don't run too much, my sandals are danger" She whined, the boy giggling as he ran down the grass and grabbed onto a ball that had rolled onto the garden from the neighbourhood kids "No Love, that's someone else's ball"

"He can play" One of the young boys called out, probably around the age of eight and she sent them a gentle smile and spoke up in a thankful tone.

"Thank you, Sweetie, I'll make sure it's given back to you" She spoke softly, Laurence leaning against the doorframe and admiring the way the woman was so polite, seeing Harley throw the ball across the lawn and witnessing a few women glancing over at Charlotte who raced after the ball to kick it back to the boy, the young boy letting out a squeal as the ball came to his feet, kicking it back over to the woman "Good boy Harls"

"Mummy can you take me to the park" He whined, the woman glancing at Laurence and raising her brow as the man frowned and looked at the young boy as he let out a little sigh, feeling like a villain in his son's eyes "Daddy!"

"We need to stay here mate, how about we can take you to the park tomorrow?" He spoke, hoping he would forget about it but also knowing that young boy doesn't forget a single thing. He pouted and sat himself down on the grass, a pout on his lips and Charlotte walked over, kneeling in front of him and opening his arms to the boy who bounced up and jumped into her arms, snuggling up to her chest "Come on, how about I take you to Uncle Alex's house and we can go in his garden yeah?"

"You have a key?" Charlotte asked, looking over with a raised brow as the man nodded and walked over to his car, a pure black matt Honda Civic, Charlotte stood up, holding the young boy to her hip as she followed the man to the car- hearing the man unlock the doors.

The car ride went by smoothly, the man turning on the radio as the young woman in the passenger's side sang the songs with Harley joining in with slurred words and she laughed, letting him duet with her. Laurence couldn't help but share glances with her, almost sure that if Alex hadn't kidnapped her and made her his he would have been more than happy to start a relationship with the woman, her heart was pure and she genuinely cared for his son. The bright smile on her face was blinding, it could light up a city- her voice was angelic and although she messed up on the second verse the giggle she made after she sang the wrong word made up for it. The windows down as they shouted the song lyrics and she made Laurence join in, reaching down and patting his knee as the man chuckled and badly sang with the woman, every so often their eyes met and he could almost feel his heart pounding against his chest.