The Doll Maker

Seventeen

"She wants to talk to her family" Alex uttered, listening to his friend on the other phone tend to his son who was eating his breakfast, he kept a close eye on Charlotte who sat on the living room couch watching television with a can of drink in one hand "I don't know what to do"

"Perhaps she's just worrying how they feel" Laurence spoke, Alex not seeming comforted by his statement as he paced in the kitchen, not feeling comfortable as none of his previous dolls has even asked for contact with their family outside of going back home and none of them has willingly stayed in captivity, let alone become part of the furniture after only a couple of months. The man continued, realising his words haven't helped the mans rising anxiety "She wants to stay, just let her have some sort of freedom and she'll feel like you trust her, don't you want that?"

"I want a lot of things" Alex muttered, leaning against the counter and hearing Laurence sighing, his attempts at helping becoming futile and instead of keeping the man from worrying it seems like he's done the opposite "I don't know if she actually wants to stay"

"She seems genuine" Laurence answered, the man frowning and crossing one arm over his chest and he stiffened when he witnessed the woman coming into the kitchen, a charming smile taking over her lips as she glanced at the phone and raised a brow "She likes you, Alex, just know that even if she did want to leave she doesn't seem to be the type to snitch"

"Not helpful" Alex mumbled, glancing at the woman who smiled and raised her brow as she pointed to the device and he cleared his throat "It's Laurence"

"What did I do?" Laurence asked in confusion, the woman nodding and walking over as she reached out to snatch the phone out of his hands.

"No, we're having a conversation, you'll see him tomorrow" Alex spoke, stepping away and seeing a frown take over the woman's face at his sharp and snappy comment, Laurence staying silent on the other side of the phone "What are you out here for?"

"To say hi" Charlotte voice was weak, her tone submissive as she stepped away from the man and he saw the frown evident on her features and suddenly he felt a pang of guilt to his heart, perhaps sometimes he came off a lot more harsh than intended but he never meant to hurt the young woman "I'll go back out"

"No no, Laurence I'll call you back" Alex spoke, the man quickly letting out a hum as he hung up and shove the phone into his pocket, the man soon walking over to Charlotte and pulling her to his chest "I'm sorry"

"It's fine" She whispered, the man reaching up to stroke the woman's hair and leaning down to kiss the top of her head, smelling the top of her head and reaching his hand up to brush the hair out of her face.

"Maybe I could give you a bath tonight?" He whispered, the woman looking up and feeling a little smile twitch onto her lips, he assumed she wanted the doll acts to stop but she seemingly looked happy at his suggestion "Maybe I could join"

"That sounds interesting" She whispered, the man leaning in to brush their lips over one another, the woman leaning in to press a soft kiss to the man's lips- shocking him with her actions. He enjoyed the ounce of affection she gave him, reminding him that she wasn't staying out of fear and that she actually enjoyed the affection or at least to his knowledge.

"Do you actually want to stay with me?" Alex whispered, the questioning becoming too pressing in his head that it sort of just slipped out. The woman stared back into his eyes, unsure of how to answer the question, too many variables were spinning around in her head to the point where she wasn't actually sure of the answer "The hesitance is sounding like a no"