Charlotte sat in the leather chair, legs and arms crossed turned away from her parents who sat on the sofa. A brochure about The Plant System Hotels in Florida laid at the girl's feet.
"I don't want to go," Charlotte held her nose up in the air. "They will treat me like a child! I am not a child! Why can't I stay here?"
"Because no one else will be here until Gustave and Rose return from their honeymoon," Christine folded her hands into her lap. "And who said they will treat you like a child? You are a young lady and will be treated as such."
"Depending on how you continue to behave right now," Erik tugged at the garter keeping his sleeve rolled up to his elbow.
"If I am such a young lady, then why can't I stay here?" Charlotte turned her head and looked at her parents.
"It's exactly that kind of attitude that will get treated like a child!" Erik quipped.
The young lady sighed, rolled her eyes and started shaking her foot.
"What is the matter, Darling?" The Phantom asked softening his tone. "You've come so far this summer. You've been kind, helpful…why the sudden return to acting like the brat you said you didn't want to be?"
"You really want to go somewhere to relax where you can't be yourself? Where you'll have to wear your mask and wig all the time?" She stood and paced back and forth, "And what about Arthur? You weren't there to see how those people reacted to him! You know how that feels, do you want to put him through what you lived? You were the one who told me people being cruel shattered our illusion of being part of the regular world." The young lady abruptly stopped in place, balled her hands into fists and took a deep breath, "If they can do that to us inside Phantasma, what will they do to us in a world you did not build?"
Erik sighed as he stood.
"No, do not talk to me right now, Dada," Charlotte bent down and picked up the brochure. She handed it to him, "I am not in the mood. I need to clear my mind. Excuse me." She left the parlor, leaving husband and wife looking at each other.
"She really has improved," Christine smiled. "Did you see how she collected herself and informed us she needed to calm down in her own way? I am so proud you and her. I know it has been difficult to curve her temper after letting her do as she pleased for years…"
"I don't know why she's so worked up over this?" Erik sat the brochure down on the side table. "She talks and acts as if we don't have a house in Manhattan where people see us all the time."
"I do believe you've grown comfortable in your old age, Angel," Christine stood and wrapped her arms around her husband. "It is something truly remarkable to witness. I never thought I'd see the time when you spend a whole day without your mask and wig, let alone go out of the house without them."
"Me comfortable? Hogwash!"
"Oh, I beg to differ," She ran her hands up to his neck. "No jacket, no, tie; buttons undone in the middle of the day." She ran her fingers down his arms and stopped at his elbows. She lifted one of the garters and snapped it, "Sleeves rolled up." Her other hand snapped his suspenders, "No waistcoat exposing these to the world!"
Erik jumped, "Chirstine, stop!"
She laughed, "Stop what? Exposing that this isn't the man who used to wander the bowels of the Opera House in white tie?" She pulled him into her arms again, "That this man no longer flinches when I kiss his face? That this man loves when I run my fingers through his hair?" She stood on tip toe and covered his damaged cheek with kisses.
The Phantom closed his eyes as he lowered his head. He tilted it just enough so he could catch her lips with his. He slid his hands around her waist pulling her tight against his body as he deepened their kiss. The smile on his puffy lips wide, once he pulled away and looked down at her, "Alright, Angel, you've proved your point. So what of Charlotte's concerns?"
Arms wrapped tightly around blue fabric; Charlotte made her way to the stables. What are you doing? What are you doing? You are using this as an excuse to talk to him. Why do you want to talk to him? Is he really going to say don't go with your parents, you can stay with me for the winter?
Charlotte lifted her one her hands and knocked on the office door. As she waited, she heard indistinguishable chatter behind it. When the door did open, the shock on Rasputin's face was quickly replaced with a smile.
"Here she is!" He pushed the door completely open, "Gleb, this is Charlotte, I just talking about. They are her zebras and if she here she, take care of them. She also Mr. Y's daughter but that no matter…"
"Rasputin, what is going on?" Charlotte looked into the office and saw a short stocky man, clean shaven with jet black hair.
"Lotte, this Gleb, he new stable manager. Be here for off season and more."
Those blue doe eyes widened, "New stable manager?"
"Lovely to meet you Miss Charlotte," Gleb walked up to the young lady. He extended his hand, "I saw your show. Such talent."
The young lady arched her eyebrow, "Your English is fluent. I assumed you were Russian from your name."
"I am Russian. Like Boris we moved here when I was a small child. Learned English in school."
"Gleb, why don't you count hay so I can show you how to make order?"
"Yes, sir," Gleb grabbed a notebook and a pencil. He smiled at Charlotte, "You will have to show me the zebras later."
As he walked away, Rasputin closed the office door behind he and Charlotte.
"I brought your jacket back," Charlotte held the blue ball of fabric out while looking at the floor. "I greatly appreciate you letting me borrow it when you did. I was quite the improper site with my dress covered in water."
"You are welcome," Rasputin took the coat from her, their fingers touching. "I could not let you go home like that."
"I drank the Coca-Cola in the pocket, forgive me. I came out here in a rush, I forgot my purse. I will bring you change to replace it later."
"You no need to do that, my treat."
The air sat heavy as neither spoke or made eye contact for what felt like minutes. Rasputin finally cleared his throat as he walked over to the pegs on the wall. "You come out here just to give me my jacket?" He hung it on one of the pegs. "We haven't talk in while, you could just leave it and not see me."
"You saved me from that man and then didn't come and see me after! I know I have been selfish, but I assumed if you cared enough to help me you would care enough to see if I was okay." A red flush came to Charlotte's cheeks. She quickly turned away to hide it from him.
"Your father visit me next day. Asked if it was me who helped you. I asked if you and Arthur okay. He said you both were a little upset but fine. Said you brave and selfless for your brother. Said I valiant gentleman."
Charlotte finally looked up at him and met his gaze, "Do you want to be a valiant gentleman again and tell my father we don't need to go to Florida for the winter?"
The six-finger man sighed, "Sorry, Charlotte. I cannot tell Mr. Y to stay where I not stay."
Her lungs tightened and her heart skipped a beat, "What do you mean where you don't stay?"
Rasputin walked over to the desk and started organizing paperwork, "Gelb new stable manager."
"What do you mean, Rasputin?" Charlotte rushed to his side.
He didn't look up from the desk, "I have new job with Ringling Circus."
Charlotte gasped, "You're leaving? Why?"
"They looking for someone to take care of elephants only during winter."
"Elephants only?"
"Yes. Less work, more pay."
"Is that so? Did you ask my dad for a raise? He would give it to you," Charlotte grabbed his hand.
Rasputin glanced at their hands before looking up and meeting her gaze, "Gustave offered me raise, new contract. I say thank you but I need to get out of city…"
"Gustave?"
"Oh no…" Rasputin rubbed the girl's hand with his thumb. "I ruin that. I sorry. Gustave taking over Phantasma. Your dad was going to announce it at closing day ceremony. He had me talk to Gustave when I told him I want to leave after season."
Charlotte's stomach twisted in knots. Rasputin's touch was wonderful but this was too much. Tears poured down her cheeks, "This is too much. Too much! Dada and Mama want to go to Florida! Want to go and spend time in a place without even considering how they will respond to our appearances! Gustave is getting married! And apparently running Phantasma! You're leaving!" She yanked her hand away and wiped her eyes. "What did I do to deserve this? Is this what you get when you stop being selfish? People just stop considering you all together? I'm not a child, I can at least be informed if I am to have no say!"
She pushed open the office door and stormed out, "I can't even call this a sanctuary anymore!"
"Lotte, please!" Rasputin chased after her.
"Leave me alone!" Charlotte shrieked in response. She ran out of the stable her boots kicking up dust behind her.