The Doll Maker

Twenty One

She hadn't bother questioning anything to do with his job, it had been around three weeks since they had seen her family, they were living in loving bliss, the woman not bothering to question the basement, not asking why Laurence was pulling him to the side and scorning him at moments and not asking why he seemed persistent they go and see her father- she wanted to but there was always something going on, Laurence needed her for Harley or one of his 'assignments' popped up and she had never asked once. Not Alex anyway.

"I can't tell you Charlotte, we both know when you know you would rather you didn't" Laurence spoke, leaning against the counter as she crossed her arms and pouted, Alex was putting the boy to bed and was told by Alex he was going to be going on assignment at the weekend but wanted to see her dad before so they were killing time before eight when he was available "It's not something he is proud of either"

"Well why continue doing it then" She questioned quietly, hearing footsteps approaching and the older man speak up in an excited tone.

"Come on Bub, time to meet Daddy" He pressed, wrapping an arm around her waist, the woman was unsure of his excitement to meet the man, knowing that he was ill at the moment almost seemed to make him more insistent, perhaps it's because he started off with her mother on a rocky start he was hoping to make an impression on one of them "I love you"

"I love you too" She mumbled, the man pulling her to his chest and Laurence watched with a careful eye, unsure of her reaction, she seemed to be pulling back from the exchange, he realised this was putting a strain on their relationships, that one secret keeping them from being a real couple. Laurence knew he wouldn't bow and tell her, but someone needed to.

After an hour car ride and the woman approaching the home with almost childlike enthusiasm, from being in the home all day every day to not seeing it for months she had become excited. They entered the home quietly, the woman slipping into the lounge and when she saw her dad sitting back on the recliner with a bottle of lager in one hand and remote in the other she felt as if no time had passed "Pops?"

"Lottie? Oh hello beautiful, come give your dad a hug" He spoke, putting the remote down and the lager in the cup holder as he widened his arms and Alex saw how frail he looked, his skin white and he was slightly older than the man expected, the woman holding onto her dad and smiling into his shoulder "Oh I've missed you"

"I've missed you Popa" She mumbled, the man smiling slightly at the endearing name she called her father, Alex slowly walked in, the man's eyes meeting her father's and the older gentleman smiled weakly at him.

"It's nice to meet you Sir" Alex spoke, reaching his hand out as the man grasped onto his, the man deciding to wear slacks and a button up, the not so professional trousers and his loafer type shoes trying to seem a bit less 'rich douche' type look, sitting down on the sofa to the left of him as Charlotte sat back and grinned at him "I hope you don't mind us being a bit early"

"Oh it's fine, I think your mother needs you in the kitchen Lottie" The man spoke, gesturing to the door behind the recliner, she was obedient, standing up and rushing through and Alex noticed the way she seemed to settle straight back into that life, not a moment's thought about the change of scenery "She doesn't really, I just wanted to talk to you"

"Oh, it's really nice meeting you, I-" He didn't get time to continue speaking before the man waved him to stop.

"Her mother said that Lottie is fond of your friend's son, how come you don't have any?" He spoke, the man feeling like a child talking to his father, although this man wasn't his father it was his girlfriend's and he felt the need not to lie or beat around the bush with this man "Are you not able to?"