By the time he came home, Charity was in the bed, reading a novel.

'Good evening, Mrs Barnum,' he said playfully and kissed her forehead.

'Phineas, finally.' She smiled at him, and he couldn't stop himself from smiling back. He washed his face in the bathroom and changed his clothes. He expected Charity to put the lights off till he comes back, but she was sitting on the bed. She had already put down her book, and she was watching him as he sat down with her eyes serious and wide.

'Is everything alright?' He touched her hand and smiled at her. Worry rushed over him.

'Jenny was here tonight.'

'Jenny Lind?' He pulled back his hand unconsciously. They listened to the silence for a few moments, the name still hanging in the air.

'She came to apologise.'

'We should talk about it.' They said at the exact same time, but this time they couldn't laugh about it. 'You never let me explain this. I know it's awful... I know it hurts you. It hurts me too,' he said. He looked at the sleepy flames in the fireplace as he continued. 'It's so difficult to explain because I don't understand it either. She... Oh, Charity, I could never leave you, not for a minute! And I didn't leave you, and no matter how marvellous and angel-like Jenny was, I always saw you in her eyes, in her moves... And yes, damn it, I was in love with her,' he split out the words with self-hatred, but he couldn't lie to Charity. 'She's so different from you, so shy and insecure, but hell, she is so much like you.' He buried his face in his palms.

'Phineas...'

He felt so miserable. Why did he have to ruin everything? Why cannot he let go of the singer, even after months? Why does he hurt dear Charity again?

'Charity, you mean the world to me,' he sobbed, but he wasn't ashamed, not with Charity, about his tears. He was deeply ashamed of his deeds, though. 'When she tried to kiss me I, - I almost kissed her back, but then... I love you so much.'

'Phineas, please...'

'Forgive me. I am so sorry. I wish I could give a perfect life to you.'

'Phineas, stop this! It's alright. Hey, hey, calm down. It's alright.' He felt her palm on his back. 'No, it's not alright,' he answered. He sat up straight and looked at her. 'I should have - '

'Phin! She was here to apologise. She wanted to speak to you. In fact, I'm sure she's still in love with you and I'm sorry that it all happened as it happened between you two, between you and me. She was regretful and broken. Now I feel sorry for her because we have each other, and she only had you, us, here in America.'

'Not just in America. She doesn't really have a family, I think, or at least not more than you have your parents.' He sighed. Her eyes, it would be so much easier if he could forget those ice blue eyes.

'So that's where all that pain comes from. When she sings.' Charity said quietly.

'You haven't heard her in Cincinnati.' He laid on the bed. 'Is she going back to Europe?'

'Yes, soon. She's staying in New York for only about a week.'

'Do you know in which hotel is she? I should visit her if she wanted to speak with me. Of course only if you don't mind it.'

'No, you should see her. Actually, I invited her for breakfast tomorrow.'

He sat up, surprised.

'And she'll come?'

'Yes, she was very happy.'

His heart beat quickly.

'Charity, I think I'm still in love with her a bit,' he whispered.

'Phineas, I want to tell you something. I kissed her,' she said.

She had to tell him, there was no other option. She didn't mind telling him about it for she has told him everything since she was a little girl. His eyes widened in surprise.

'You did... What?'

'I'm sorry. I'm sorry if that makes you sad, or confused, or disappointed...' She began to feel very regretful about it because he looked deeply shocked.

'No, it's alright I guess,' he said, his words faltering.

'Phineas.' She held his hand in hers and waited until he looked into her eyes. 'You don't have to do this. I know it's unfair to you. I'm sorry. I truly am. I know that I was furious when I saw the photo of her kissing you. I love you, and I promise that I... It won't happen again, nor anything like this. I know how you feel, and I'm sorry.'

'I can understand. I know how difficult it is not to kiss her. I love her too. It's just... What are we going to do tomorrow?'

They looked at each other in complete puzzlement. Then she started to laugh, she didn't even know the reason why she just couldn't stop laughing.

'What?' Phineas asked, and she just laughed, more and more freely and happily.

'What is it, Charity?' Phineas asked, and he started to laugh as well. He pulled her closer, she laid her head on his chest, and they laughed. It was good to have him, there, with her. Laughing, like they did when they were children.

She could answer only a few minutes later.

'We're going to tell her, right? That we're both - ' she had to laugh again, 'that we're both in love with her. Right?' She turned my head around to look at his face.

'Yes, I suppose.' He smiled at her with his wonderful wide smile, even his warm, dark eyes were smiling. She sat up and kissed him, then he kissed her back. They laid on the bed, pulled the blanket over their head, like a tent. They smiled at each other in the dim light, their faces only a few inches away, until they fell asleep.