Chapter Three - Through the Looking Glass
"Abby..." Carter paused as if to compose himself. He had taken Abby out of the earshot of Susan and Chen but he knew they were watching. He looked over to confirm this and he was right. They weren't even being discrete about it. However he put them out of his mind as he concentrated back on Abby who was getting a little impatient. "Abby..." He repeated. "I think we should..." For some reason his brain was having trouble forming complete sentences. Must have been that extra cup of coffee today. He tried again, "Abby..."
However before he could get any further she interrupted. "John, I know what you're going to say."
"You do?" He was surprised.
"Yes. And I think you're right."
"I am?" He was very surprised.
"Uh-huh. We should stay home tonight if that is what you want."
Carter was stunned. He didn't know what to say. "I don't know what to say."
Abby ignored him, "Just like we should go shoe shopping as that is what I want." She waited for his response expectantly.
He stopped to think for a moment then said with a grin, "Great."
"Great?" Now Abby was surprised, very surprised.
"Yeah. I think it's fair."
"Fair?"
"Yeah."
Abby couldn't believe what had just happened. "But...but..." She was so shocked she couldn't think of any other word to say. "...But..."
However before she could Carter was called away by a nurse. Abby was left standing in the corridor with a look of complete disbelief on her face.
Susan and Chen approached. "So?" Asked Susan. "Did it work?"
"Did it work?" Abby repeated the question in a dull monotone as if not really hearing it. "Did it work?" She repeated it again but this time with feeling. "No, it didn't work!"
"Oh. It has always worked with me. Has it always worked with me?" Susan asked Chen.
"Yeah. It always worked with me." Replied Chen.
Abby was back in disbelief mode. "Oh my God." She said as if she had just realised something.
"Don't worry Abby, it's not that bad. So you don't get to go to some stupid charity ball. So what?" Said Susan trying to comfort her friend.
"No, it's not that." Said Abby turning to face Susan with a look of horror on her face. "I have to take him shoe shopping with me."
"Oh." Said Susan and Chen at the same time.
"And you know what is even worse?" Abby didn't wait for a reply. "I'm going to spend the whole of my shift thinking about it."
"Hey, you might get lucky. Maybe we'll be so busy you won't have time to think." Said Susan.
"We would have to get pretty damn busy." Replied Abby.
Just then Chuny walked up to the three of them and said, "There was a massive pile-up on the freeway. Lots of people hurt."
"Yes!" Shouted Abby.
Chuny looked at Abby as if she was a mad...err...person.
"No, I didn't mean it like that. I meant…oh, forget it."
***** [One shift later] *****
"So, did you think about it?" Asked Susan as Abby got her coat out of her locker.
"Think about what?" She replied.
"So it worked."
"No, of course it didn't work. I couldn't stop thinking of it." Replied Abby.
"Oh." Was all Susan could say.
Just then Carter came in. He looked at Abby and asked, "You ready?"
"Yeah." She replied in an unhappy tone.
She grabbed the rest of her stuff and followed Carter out of the lounge. As they walked out of the hospital she went to adjust her hat but stopped dead in her tracks. There was a large black limo parked up on the curb. She turned to say something to Carter but he had continued on walking. She caught up to him and said as they approached the limo, "You know, that looks just like the limo you took me to the museum benefit. Remember?"
He didn't immediately look down at her but when he did there was a large grin across his face. He didn't say anything instead he turned back to face the driver of the limo who had gotten out of it as they approached. The driver tapped his hat and said to Carter, "Mr Carter."
"Hey, Gus." Carter replied, shaking his hand. "Thanks for getting here on such short notice."
Abby was in the same sort of disbelief she had been earlier. More so perhaps.
Gus opened the door and waited. Carter turned to Abby and asked, "Would you do me the honour of accompanying me to a charity ball?"
"But I don't have anything to wear." Was all that Abby could say.
"The clothes are in the car as requested, mam." Answered Gus.
Abby looked up at Carter, smiled, and then got into the car.
