AN: Thank you for reviewing, it helps to know if I have anyone reading and if you like it. As you can see I haven't quite finished with this story yet as I feel that I still need to resolve a couple of issues that I have only touched on. Okay this chapter is quite short sorry, but sometimes that happens.
The Rainbow After The Storm
Chapter Sixteen
Feb 05
They walked side by side down the corridor, talking sharing a joke together. Abby spotted her first standing there, still unmoving, with the child in her arms. Carter noticed a change in Abby's expression and followed his gaze to where hers rested. He was shocked and he reached for Abby's hand and gripped it tightly. They stopped when they reached the woman and child.
'Hi John' said Kem to Carter 'Can we talk?'
Carter nodded in the direction of the lounge and they all walked in. Abby tried to let go of his hand and leave them to it but he only tightened the grip on hers.
The air was tense, fraught. Carter indicated to Kem to sit at one of the chairs at the table, which she did. The room was silent until the baby began to fuss. Abby got up and went over to Kem.
'Shall I take him outside? While you talk?' she asked
Kem looked up at Abby then at Carter and then back to Abby before handing over the boy. Abby spoke softly to him as she walked out the door shutting it behind her and taking him to admit.
Neither spoke they just sat there. Finally Carter said 'Well?'
'I've come to ask if you have us, me back, things just didn't work out'
Carter looked at her his expression blank, unreadable.
'I still love you' she continued 'I know he's not your son but I thought maybe we could work it out, you could grow to love him as your own son'
Carter stared at her wondering if this was a nightmare but knowing that it was not. There was a long moment of silence.
'It's too late' he answered
'You're back with her aren't you? She asked with a nod of her head, indicating Abby who they could see through the Venetian blinds.
Carter just nodded.
'Did you ever love me? She asked 'Did you ever stop loving her?'
'I thought I loved you, I really did. Things in Africa were different the way of life is different, I was different. But no, I guess I never really stopped loving her, even if at the time I thought I did, it's complicated there's something about Abby I can't....'
'Don't said Kem cutting him off mid sentence 'Don't say her name to me. Well what does she want from you?'
'What? What has that got to do with anything? She's not interested in my money, if that's what you're asking she never was, ever'
'Oh' she answered quietly as he was becoming rather uptight with her 'So I can't persuade you to change your mind' she said deciding to try again anyway 'We could have a good life in Africa together, make a difference there. You could raise him as your son' she added again indicating the baby who was still out in the hall with Abby.
'No. I'm not going to change my mind. You lied to me, let me believe that he was my son, that I was going to be a father'
'Is that all you cared about, being a father?'
'No, not at the time' there was a pause 'I'm sorry it's too late'
'So you're telling me that you're going to have children with her'
'No. Yes. Probably not. I don't know, it's complicated with Abby. It's not straightforward like it is with other people'
'So you said. Well that's it then, goodbye John'
She stood up, still looking at him, then turned and walked out stopping to take her son from Abby's arms on her exit. He didn't watch her go he just stared at the table.
When Abby looked into the lounge he was standing gazing into space and she went to see if he was okay.
She reached him and touched his arm and instinctively he knew it was her. He immediately turned and hugged her, drawing strength from her. They stood there for what seemed like ages but was only minutes.
'You okay?' she finally asked whispering in the stillness of the room
He nodded not moving out of the embrace
'Want to tell me about it?' she asked steering him to the sofa where they sat down close to one another. He linked his fingers with hers.
'What, what happened, tell me?'
So he did, more or less. But he still didn't tell her that he loved her. He wanted to but he felt that it was not the right time. Unfortunately he was not sure when the right time was, but he knew it wasn't in the lounge at work.
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