New Beginnings Karl Hoffmeister

You Want to What?

I'm sorry, do I know you?" She asked, rather sweetly.

"I." You quickly closed your office door so Otto wouldn't see. "I'm Y/N, I'm a friend of Karls."

"So he's told you about me I see. Is he still bitter that I left?"

"Abandoned'' would be more accurate. You left without telling him or your son goodbye. Otto had no idea why you left, do you have any idea what you've put them through?" You argued.

"I don't see how that is any of your business."

"It is my business. What are you doing here? If you're here to see Karl I'll have to call him."

"I know my son is here, I'm here to see him."

"I'm not letting you anywhere near that boy without Karl present. I'll give him a call, please have a seat." You instructed. You quickly grabbed water and went back to your officer shutting the door.

"Mama, are you okay?" Otto asked, when you came back inside in a hurry and sat at your desk.

"Hm, oh yes I'm okay honey. Here's your water, I need to call papa really fast okay?"

"Okay mama." He sipped at his water, holding the bottle in both his little hands to keep it steady. You picked up the office phone and called Karl in another part of the building.

"Karl speaking." He answered.

"Karl, I need you to come back to my office. Now." You urged.

"Is everything alright? Is it Otto?" He asked, sitting up in his seat.

"No it's not Otto, I can't explain just please come to my office. How long will it take you to get to this part of the building?"

"About five minutes, I'm on my way there now okay?"

"Alright." You both hung up.

"Otto, stay right here I'll be right back." You told him.

"Okay mama." He nodded.

You went back out into the waiting room where Lotte was and waited for Karl. You knew he would be shocked when he saw her.

"Where is my son? I know he's here."

"As I said before. You are not going near that boy until Karl is here. He should be here in a few minutes so just be patient." You repeated. She reluctantly sat down. Not long after Karl came rushing into the waiting room. He didn't even notice Lotte was there; he just walked straight up to you. His hands cupped your face and he looked you up and down to make sure nothing was wrong.

"Is everything already darling? You seemed bothered on the phone?" He sounded worried.

"Karl." You motioned to Lotte with your eyes. He raised an eyebrow but followed your line of sight to Lotte. His mouth fell open and he stumbled back. You grabbed him firmly to hold him. He was in shock, which you expected.

"Hello Karl." She said sweetly. You strongly believed she was here because things between her and Friedrich failed and she wanted to come back to Karl. You knew how much Karl loved her and you knew if he could he would choose her over you.

"What are you doing here?" Karl asked. Breathlessly

"Where is Otto?"

"So now you care about what happens to him. You left Lotte, you left him and myself here without so much as a goodbye. Do you have any idea how difficult it was to explain to him where you were and why you weren't coming home?"

"I understand it must have been hard for him but I had to leave. I didn't belong here anymore and you knew that. You put Friedrich in my path so we would fall in love, it is not my fault that we did." She argued.

"You're right it's not your fault that you fell in love. I knew you never loved me Lotte. At first I thought you did but then after we were married I noticed how quickly things changed. You became distant, you ignored me, you would barely let me touch you. After Otto was born it got a little better because you wanted him to see this image of a perfectly happy family so you would be very loving when he was around. But when he was at school or went to bed you went back to being the same cold and distant woman you've always been. So I will ask you again. Why are you here?" Karl had raised his voice without noticing.

"I'm here for Otto. He's my son just as much as yours if not more so. Before I left I was the one who took care of him, I was the one who spent time with him. You were always at work." She tried to argue.

"You want to what? I was doing everything I could to give you and Otto everything you could have ever wanted. I would have rather been home but I couldn't because it became very clear that if I couldn't continue to give you this luxurious lifestyle you would have left me long ago. So I worked, and I worked, and I worked to continue to give you the things you wanted. You never had to want in all the time we've been together. You never had to want something because anything you wanted I gave you. So no I couldn't be home as much as I would have liked but now I am home as much as possible. I only work when Otto is at school and on weekends I work half a day on Saturday and not at all on sundays. I don't have to work nonstop everyday to please you." Karl fumed.

"He's my son!" She yelled.

"He was your son so where were you?!" Karl yelled back. You glanced at your office door and saw it start to open. You rushed over and stood so Otto couldn't see what was going on.

"Honey, please stay inside the office okay. Me and papa will come get you when we're done." You tried to explain.

"Are you and papa fighting?" He whispered.

"No honey, me and papa are fine, we're not fighting. Just stay in here and don't come out okay?"

"Okay mama." He nodded and closed the door behind him.

"I see you are more than a friend to him. The ring on your finger and the fact that my son now calls you mama is evidence of that." She snarled.

"Someone had to step up and do it... Since you didn't." You spat.

"Why do you think you have the right to come back here after months and take Otto?" Karl chimed in again.

"Because he's not just yours he's mine too."

"You haven't cared in months why now?" You added.

"It doesn't matter, it is my right."

"It does matter!" Karl yelled.

"Friedrich and I can't have children of our own. Him and Otto bonded when he was here. I think it would be best for Otto to come stay with us. We can take care of him." Lotte tried to reason.

"We're taking care of him just fine, thank you." You sassed.

"I am his mother, I have every right to take him."

"Why? You don't love him. You just want him because Friedrich wants a child and you're afraid if you don't give him one he'll leave you."

"We are the better family for Otto. Karl has what 10, 20 years left. I have decades of time left to love and teach that boy." Lotte shot back.

"James, please escort this woman out of my building." Karl said to the guard outside the door.

"Of course sir. Ma'am if you'll come with me please." James started moving her towards the door.

"If you want to continue this you are to call beforehand and we will schedule a meeting. Do not just show up here or at my home again, understand." She ignored him and followed the man out of the building.

"I'll get Otto." You said.

"Good, we're going home." Karl replied.