Phillip raised his hand to knock and stepped back as he waited, he didn't have to wait long, probably only a few seconds before the door swung open to reveal a Charity Barnum smiling warmly at him, "Phillip, come in" she told him, giving him a tight hug.
He grinned and stepped inside, "how are you?" Phillip asked politely,
Charity merely waved her hand casually, "I'm fine, forget about me. How are you? Are you healing up okay?" She asked beginning to fuss over him.
He laughed and nudged her away, "Slowly but surely, it hasn't been easy but Anne has been incredible".
Charity led him into the kitchen where P.T leaned over the kitchen table, a coffee in his hand, reading the morning newspaper lying in front of him. When P.T heard Phillip and Charity walk in he straightened up and set down his drink, "good morning Phillip, you look well, the girls are still asleep".
Phillip removed his hat setting it on the table, in front of P.T, "oh good, I'll actually be able to talk to you guys for more than two seconds before I'm attacked" he joked, Charity and P.T laughed.
Charity left Phillip's side to move around to her husband's, she lay a caring hand on his back and then poured both Phillip and herself some coffee, which Phillip accepted gratefully.
"So how are things at the circus? Hope they're not falling apart without me" P.T said with a wink, Phillip laughed and sipped at his coffee, "no things are going great, the numbers are up. Word has spread and people are now interested to see New York's first interracial couple, or at least that's what the new flyers say" Phillip explained spreading his hands, P.T grinned, "you my friend are a great showman in the making" he told him wagging his finger at him, "no, I am going to be the greatest showman" Phillip corrected him.
He could see Charity studying the scars from the fire on the back of his hands and the cuts on his face, they'd healed well but they were still visible, "how is recovering going?" She asked, Phillip shot her a cheeky half smile, "you ask every time you see me, I'm still a bit sore, all the wounds have now fully closed and been repaired, they'll begin to fade slightly but the doctor reckons they're most likely going to scar" Phillip said even though he had told her pretty much the exact same thing a few weeks ago.
P.T nodded his head, "yes, yes and I assume that love bite on your neck is not permanent and will fade over the next week or so" he said in a serious tone, trying his best to keep a straight face. Phillip felt heat spread to his cheeks, Charity gasped and rushed over to Phillip to move his collar out of the way so she could get a proper look, "Phillip Carlyle!" She scolded jokily, P.T smiled at Phillip's sheepish expression, "I hope you were romantic about it and not all- you"
Phillip nodded his head, "it was amazing, I took her on our first date to the beach we had a picnic then came back to my room and made the next step in our relationship", he couldn't help but to smile, Charity held her hands over her heart, "Phillip that sounds so sweet, I'm so proud of how much you've changed".
P.T dropped his smile and leaned over the kitchen table towards Phillip, "now listen to me for a second son. I know sex is exciting especially with someone you love and I know how much of a big deal it is for you and Anne, given how unsure and nervous she is, well who can blame her with her past. But you need to be careful, you're a new couple and we both know it'll never be easy for you two. You've only been together for 3 months, you don't want any little Carlyles running around just yet. I put you in charge so I could spend time with my own family, I don't want you to have to leave soon either" he advised, Phillip nodded "don't worry, I'll be careful" he promised.
He couldn't say the thought of his and Anne's future hadn't crossed his mind before. He imagined one day getting down on one knee and asking her to spend the rest of her life with him, one day possibly being able to call Anne his wife, if they would have children or not. He knew he would certainly like children but it was too soon to be thinking about that sort of him. He tucked the fantasy of raising his children with Anne away to a safe spot in his mind he would revisit on the nights he felt lonely when Anne slept in her room with W.D
He heard the pounding of little footsteps running down the stairs, pulling him from his thoughts. He looked at P.T and Charity with a smile bracing himself, "Uncle Phillip!" Both girls cried launching themselves at him.
Anne, still at the circus had just finished an extra long training session with her brother, usually they'd only train for an hour or two but they had been rehearsing for 3 and a half hours. She felt completely exhausted, her and W.D had practised until they were too tired to go on.
W.D sat heavily on the edge of the ring, grabbing a rag and wiping his neck and face. Anne wearily limped over to the water tank, she poured her and W.D a glass before she dragged herself back to the sandpit. She too dropped heavily as she sat next to W.D, she handed him the glass he took gratefully draining it in seconds, "that was one of our best sessions yet" W.D said, she nodded mumbling in agreement as she sipped at the refreshing water, it soothed her throat and cooled her body quickly, "I like our new routine, the crowds are going to go wild" she mumbled, W.D laughed, "more than they already do".
They both sat there for a few minutes, out of breath and drained of energy, their bodies felt heavy and sore. Anne loved it though, the feeling of training and giving it all she's got until she can't push her body any further, nothing beat a hard workout. She was unsure of the time but knew Phillip wasn't back from the Barnum's yet, she decided despite her body begging to sleep she would join him as she said she would before.
With great difficulty she pulled herself to her feet and trudged back to her and W.D's room tiredly, she as fast as she could washed the sweat off her body and changed into a simple cotton grey dress and of course grabbed her favourite blue shawl she wrapped around her shoulders. q
She walked outside the tent, saying her goodbyes to W.D before leaving of course and began the impossible task of hailing a carriage. She stood on the street with her hand raised, she called out to every driver she saw, some ignored her completely, some looked at her in disgust but for half an hour not one stopped. Eventually she found a mildly racist carriage driver who begrudgingly let her climb aboard after she had begged him and promised not to talk to him. She was rather frustrated it had taken her so long to be able to find a ride to her friends but she wasn't surprised, she was quite used to this treatment by now.
She showed up on the Barnum's doorstep and knocked, P.T and Charity both opened the door, P.T chucked quietly and Charity held her finger to her lips, Anne confused stepped in and frowned but allowed them to silently guide her to the Caroline and Helen's play room. The sound of playful giggles soon filled Anne's ear but her heart was not prepared for the cutest sight she ever saw.
She stood in the open doorway and watched as Phillip spun around with Helen and Caroline both clinging to his back. The girls were exploding into fits of giggles and Phillip himself was grinning and laughing with them, they jumped from his back and let him chase them around the room. Anne knew Phillip was good with the girls, but she'd never seen him with this happy, loving expression on his face, he was so gentle yet playful with them, none of them had spotted her yet.
Anne leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed with an adoring look on her face, her heart swelled as she saw the man she loved handle the children so well, she couldn't help but let her mind wander to the possibility of her and Phillip having kids of their own one day, she knew Phillip would be an amazing father, she was unsure if he really wanted children of his own though. She knew he loved spending time with the girls, and she also knew she had a caring heart with great qualities that would make a good dad. He'd want to be nothing like his own father and would be everything he wished he had, but would he want to have Anne's kids?
It wouldn't be easy, for them or their kids. Their kids would most likely be outcasts of society like Anne was, they'd be mocked for the colour of their skin or for having a black mother but her heart ached as she saw Phillip with Caroline and Helen.
Phillip had finally spotted Anne, he looked up with the cutest expression on his face, her heart raced as he gave her a sweet smile. He walked over to her, wrapping his arms around her waist and hugging her, "hey, how was training?" He asked, his eyes gleamed with joy.
Anne nodded, "it was good, I'm very tired though", Phillip frowned "would you like to go home?" He asked her, she shook her head, "don't be silly of course not! I just got here"
Phillip nodded then looked at the girls and grinned again, "we were just playing Circus would you like to play?" He asked, damn that boy was cute. He had the most adorable grin on his face, his deep blue eyes twinkled with excitement, Anne all but nodded.
"In that case we'll leave you to it" Charity said, turning with her husbands hand in hers, "oh c'mon you too you're not excluded from this" Phillip said with a smile, "yeah c'mon Dad you can be Phillip" Helon cried, "Can I be myself?" Anne giggled, the girls dramatically stroked their faces as they thought, "yes but only if Phillip is W.D" Caroline decided, Anne pretended to pout "aww, if Phillip is W.D I can't do this" she said before grabbing Phillip's face in her hands and kissing him, "ew!" The girls cried miming throwing up. They all laughed
It was decided Anne was Anne, Phillip was W.D, P.T was Phillip, Charity was also herself, Helon was Lettie and Caroline was P.T.
Caroline cleared her throat dramatically, "alright people I want big! Anne I want you to jump off something, W.D catch Anne, Phillip no kissing Anne on the job! Charity and I are going to pretend to watch from the stands but really we're just going to fall asleep" Caroline said in her best P.T impression, P.T had to stop himself from laughing, "is that what you think we do?" He asked trying his best to hold in his laughter, Charity slapped his arm and he grinned.
Anne looked at Phillip before jumping on top of the chair in the playroom and leaping dramatically in the air, Phillip knee slid and caught her almost leaning in to kiss her but Anne jumped out of his arms and did a backflip, "thanks bro" she said with a smile, enjoying teasing her boyfriend. Caroline pointed to Helen, "give me a new song go!" She commanded, Helen giggled and pulled her hair around her face to make a beard and made up a song about the circus, Caroline nodded a cool expression on her face, "that's good enough do that tonight and make me rich, Charity let's go, I'm going to buy you something pretty" Caroline said attempting to wink.
Everyone exploded into fits of laughter, P.T gave Phillip an evil expression, "Sir, you can't do that the finance says-" He began in a weak and whimpering voice, he smiled sweetly at the real Phillip, "forget the finances! I am Phineas Taylor Barnum! I can do anything!" Caroline giggled back, "Sir I think Anne's stunts are getting too dangerous. The government are starting to make laws and about health and safety we need to follow" P.T teased again, Caroline waved her hand dramatically, "forget the laws! Anne I want bigger!" She cried.
Anne did something that surprised all of them, she ran towards the wall running up it and kicking off so she flipped backwards landing gracefully in the splits, everyone looked at her with their mouths wide open. She just smiled and looked at Phillip, "W.D would you care to help your little sister up please?" She asked holding out her hand, Phillip shook his head and lifted her by the waist, setting her on her feet again. P.T laughed, "okay no seriously, I want that" he said pointing to Anne.
