Chapter 5
The ringing of the telephone jarred Abby from a deep sleep four days later. Groggily, she fumbled for the receiver in the dark, knocking over a glass of water that was sitting on the night table. "Shit," she muttered, and finally picked up the phone ceasing it's harsh ringing.
"Hello?" Abby wearily sat up in bed and flicked on the beside lamp, squinting at the sudden brightness in the room.
"Abby, it's Carter. Sorry to phone at this time of night, but this was the only chance I'll have to use a phone in a week. I got your message."
Abby's stomach twisted into a thousand knots. This was it, she had to tell him. "Hey Carter. I, uh, I'm sorry I called you in Africa; I know time is of the essence but this is important." She paused, "How are you doing?"
"I'm fine Abby. What is so important? Are you okay?"
His tone was neither one of anger nor kindness and Abby was uncertain as to how he would take the news. Gathering up all of her resolve Abby continued, "I'm fine. Actually you could say I'm either more than or less than fine. I'm pregnant."
She stopped talking, trying to gauge his reaction over the phone. For a minute or two, he did not reply. Abby's heart was thumping so loudly that she was certain Carter could hear it over the phone. "Listen, I know you didn't ask for this and I don't expect anything from you. I just thought you should know."
"Abby you cannot tell me something like this and then say you don't expect anything from me. I'm going to be in this child's life and be his or her father. What do you want from me now? Do you need me to come back to Chicago?"
"No, I'm managing okay. I've got a lot of support here; I know I will be fine. But when this child is born, we are going to have to work something out. He or she cannot be tossed back and forth between us without any stability. We are going to have to make a plan and stick by it. The two of us Carter need to have an understanding of where we are both at right now, because clearly this is a very complicated situation."
"I have to tell you first off Abby, that I never meant to hurt you with that letter. I just don't think it is going to work between us and we both deserve better than a relationship held together simply because we have a child. The environment would not be good."
Tears welled in Abby's eyes, "I know that Carter. We aren't meant to "be" together but I think we can make this situation work, for the sake of the child. We have to be friends."
"Friends is exactly what I want Abby. I still care for you, but on a purely friends basis. It was just too complicated, as a couple we aren't compatible like that." He took a deep, shuddering breath, "Abby, I have to tell you. I've met someone."
Abby sat stunned for a few seconds. "Really? I, uh, I'm happy for you Carter."
"I know it is soon, but she, Kem, and I are really hitting it off. I don't know where it will go, but you should know about her."
Abby sighed, "Thank you for telling me Carter. It is better if there are no secrets."
"Yeah, but still. I'm sorry."
"Its okay, really. I am, well, sort of seeing someone also."
Carter stayed silent.
"It's uh, Luka. He and I have had somewhat of reconciliation. Nothing serious has happened, but its," she paused, unsure of what to say next. "Its good."
"Then I'm happy for you as well Abby. Listen, I have to go. We are delivering a case of vaccines to Matenda and we are leaving tonight. But I will talk to you when I get back. It may not be for another few months but I'll call and check up on you. I'll be back before the birth, I promise."
"Okay, goodnight Carter. Oh, Carter wait. Please, be careful."
* * * * * * * * * * * *
The ringing of the telephone jarred Abby from a deep sleep four days later. Groggily, she fumbled for the receiver in the dark, knocking over a glass of water that was sitting on the night table. "Shit," she muttered, and finally picked up the phone ceasing it's harsh ringing.
"Hello?" Abby wearily sat up in bed and flicked on the beside lamp, squinting at the sudden brightness in the room.
"Abby, it's Carter. Sorry to phone at this time of night, but this was the only chance I'll have to use a phone in a week. I got your message."
Abby's stomach twisted into a thousand knots. This was it, she had to tell him. "Hey Carter. I, uh, I'm sorry I called you in Africa; I know time is of the essence but this is important." She paused, "How are you doing?"
"I'm fine Abby. What is so important? Are you okay?"
His tone was neither one of anger nor kindness and Abby was uncertain as to how he would take the news. Gathering up all of her resolve Abby continued, "I'm fine. Actually you could say I'm either more than or less than fine. I'm pregnant."
She stopped talking, trying to gauge his reaction over the phone. For a minute or two, he did not reply. Abby's heart was thumping so loudly that she was certain Carter could hear it over the phone. "Listen, I know you didn't ask for this and I don't expect anything from you. I just thought you should know."
"Abby you cannot tell me something like this and then say you don't expect anything from me. I'm going to be in this child's life and be his or her father. What do you want from me now? Do you need me to come back to Chicago?"
"No, I'm managing okay. I've got a lot of support here; I know I will be fine. But when this child is born, we are going to have to work something out. He or she cannot be tossed back and forth between us without any stability. We are going to have to make a plan and stick by it. The two of us Carter need to have an understanding of where we are both at right now, because clearly this is a very complicated situation."
"I have to tell you first off Abby, that I never meant to hurt you with that letter. I just don't think it is going to work between us and we both deserve better than a relationship held together simply because we have a child. The environment would not be good."
Tears welled in Abby's eyes, "I know that Carter. We aren't meant to "be" together but I think we can make this situation work, for the sake of the child. We have to be friends."
"Friends is exactly what I want Abby. I still care for you, but on a purely friends basis. It was just too complicated, as a couple we aren't compatible like that." He took a deep, shuddering breath, "Abby, I have to tell you. I've met someone."
Abby sat stunned for a few seconds. "Really? I, uh, I'm happy for you Carter."
"I know it is soon, but she, Kem, and I are really hitting it off. I don't know where it will go, but you should know about her."
Abby sighed, "Thank you for telling me Carter. It is better if there are no secrets."
"Yeah, but still. I'm sorry."
"Its okay, really. I am, well, sort of seeing someone also."
Carter stayed silent.
"It's uh, Luka. He and I have had somewhat of reconciliation. Nothing serious has happened, but its," she paused, unsure of what to say next. "Its good."
"Then I'm happy for you as well Abby. Listen, I have to go. We are delivering a case of vaccines to Matenda and we are leaving tonight. But I will talk to you when I get back. It may not be for another few months but I'll call and check up on you. I'll be back before the birth, I promise."
"Okay, goodnight Carter. Oh, Carter wait. Please, be careful."
* * * * * * * * * * * *