Chapter 3



Carter finally stopped his car opposite an apartment building in the middle of the night. There was no one around but he wouldn't have noticed then even if there were. He was staring at the door to the apartment building. Just sitting in his car staring. To the casual observer it would have appeared that he had been put in some sort of trance. However inside of those still eyes his mind was working overtime. Questions were being constantly asked and no answers could be found. Carter knew that whichever he path he was about to take would change every little thing in his life. He knew the importance of his decision and this only made it harder to make it. Whenever he came close to making it some doubt would creep in and he would start all over again. He almost felt like using a coin toss to make the choice but he owed her more than that, he owed himself more than that. That was why he remained motionless inside of the car for 20 minutes. He would have stayed longer but a light went on inside of the apartment and that made him snap back into reality. He had decided. He slowly got out of the car and began to cross the street. However halfway across he stopped and turned back. Doubt had overwhelmed him, the foolishness of what he was about to do clarified him mind sweeping all before it. In that moment all he could think about was the downside to his potential action. He got in the car and drove away before he could change his mind again, which he knew he would do. He arrived at the mansion at an unspeakable time in the morning and tried as hard as he could to enter the home as quietly as possible. He was about to go up the stairs when he noticed a light coming from the kitchen. He thought that maybe one of the staff had left it on by mistake and was shocked to discover a body poking out from the fridge. It was Gamma. Not wanting to scare her with his presence he made a noise that he knew would attract her attention. "Oh, Hello John. What are you doing back so late?"

"Late shift."

"Your shift was over almost two hours ago."

"How do you know that?"

She ignored his question and he knew not to ask it again. "So where were you?"

"I was driving.around."

"People only do that when something is bothering them."

"It's a girl."

"That lovely young woman. Abby?"

"Yeah. How did you guess?"

"I saw the way you looked at her. I may be old but that doesn't mean I can't see love."

He turned away from her and went in search of something to drink, he suddenly was very thirsty.

"John, I notice you didn't correct me so I take it you do love her."

"It's complicated."

"Oh, you don't know whether she loves you."

"Why do you even ask me questions if you know all the answers?"

"Because if you talk to herself then people consider you mad and there are a few people in this world who would love to consider me that." They both smiled knowing exactly whom she was talking about. "Have you told her how you feel?"

"In a way."

"In what way?"

"We kissed."

"In my day that meant that you liked the other person. What is the problem?"

"I haven't spoken to her since and I found out that she is going on a spur of the moment vacation. That doesn't sound like the actions of someone who liked what happened."

"Remember John God is not the only one who moves in mysterious ways. Women can do bizarre things especially if love is involved. She probably wants you to stop her before she goes."

"You think?"

"You don't get to be married for as long as I was without learning a thing or too about love. Now go to bed she can't go anywhere until morning. Besides tired is not your best look." He smiled and followed her up the stairs. After a few minutes he was lying in his bed thinking about how their meeting would go and with that he feel asleep.

****

Abby was also lying in bed but she was having much more trouble getting to sleep. She just lay there thinking. She had tried for hours to get to sleep. She had tried everything she could think of she had even tried a few of those 'old wives' remedies but nothing had worked. She decided to get up and watch some TV. She was flicking through the channels when an advert came on that was set in some idyllic Pacific island. She didn't see what product was being advertised she just looked at the golden beaches and clear blue sky. It looked so peaceful, so calm and so what she was looking for. She decided that she would go to a Pacific island for her vacation. Any Pacific island, it didn't matter as long as it had a beach and a hotel. She could lie out on the sand get a tan and do all the thinking she could possible want. For the first time in a while, well since the kiss, she felt contented. She thought that this would mean she could get some sleep but she was more awake then ever. So she decided to pack ready for the morning and a quick get away. She just wanted to go to the airport and get on the earliest possible plane and been on the beach by the next day. After the packing she felt a little more tired, that what happens when you pack and unpack your entire wardrobe three times. She closed her eyes for one second and she was fast asleep. It wasn't a deep sleep but it was sleep and she needed it. Luckily she had set the alarm before she started packing and so it rang bringing her back to the world of the living feeling a little refreshed, if only a little. She lay there for a minute forgetting about the whole vacation idea and thinking that she had an early shift. However as soon as she laid eyes on the suitcase she remembered and quickly rose from the bed. Within half an hour she was out the door and on her way to the airport. She hoped that when she returned she would have the answers that she so desperately craved and maybe a nice tan.