Anna walked out into the living area and sat down in a oversized chair. She had not been there more than a minute when Carter walked into the room.
"I hadn't realized anyone else was up. I just ordered breakfast. I could add to the order if you want something," he offered.
"No, thanks," she told him.
"You sound better. I would not be surprised if the bronchitis in completely gone," he told her.
She didn't respond.
"That is a good thing," he said trying to get a response out of her.
She smiled and walked over to the kitchen/eating area.
"What are you planning to eat?" he asked.
"Mom bought me cereal yesterday," she answered.
"May I see?" he asked.
She handed him the box.
"I can't believe she bought this junk," he stated.
"That junk is the only thing I said I would eat," Anna explained.
"Morning," Molly said entering the room and taking the cereal box out of Carter's hands.
He handed her a bowl, and Anna poured some milk into it.
"School starts next week. Are you excited?" he questioned.
"You're joking right?" Anna questioned.
"Actually, I am. I'm not sure if you're ready to go back," he told her.
"This is stupid. I'm fine. You are acting like my dad," Anna complained.
"If you would have taken care of yourself when it started, you would not be in this situation," he stated.
"You are more irritating Molly," Anna told him.
"Hey," Molly said looking up from her cereal bowl.
"Hay is for horse," Anna told her.
Molly stuck her tong out at Anna.
Ethan joined them and poured himself a bowl of cereal.
"Do you have to work today?" he asked his father.
"No," he answered.
"Does mom?" Molly questioned.
"Yes, she already left," he explained.
"Can we do something today?" Molly asked.
"Why? You don't enjoy sitting in a hotel room all day?" he questioned.
"No, it sucks," Ethan said.
"Please don't say that word," Carter told him.
"Never or can I say things like Molly is baby who sucks her thumb?" Ethan asked.
"Ethan," Carter said warning him he had better watch it.
"So are you going to let us leave today, warden?" Anna asked.
"I don't know. It depends where you want to go," he told them.
"We could go to the park and have lunch somewhere," Anna suggested.
"Sounds good. We can leave as soon as Landon wakes up," Carter said.
Molly jumped up and ran into the other room yelling, "Landon, wake up!"
They spent most of the morning in the park playing soccer. They had stopped for a rest when Carter noticed Anna was wheezing.
"I think you need to sit out this game," he told her.
"Then the teams won't be fair," Ethan complained. He, Molly, and Anna had made up one team, and John and Landon made up the other.
"I'll sit out too," Carter told him.
"I don't want to play soccer anymore. I want to play on the slide," Molly said.
"All right, bring the game in closer to the play area so I can keep an eye on all of you," he told them.
Anna sat down on a near by bench, and John joined her.
"Did you use your inhaler?" he asked.
"Yes," she snapped.
"I'm just.." he started to say.
"Concerned," Anna finished for him. "You and my dad act so alike it is sickening."
"I really don't think Luka and I have many similarities," he told her looking to where Molly was playing.
"More than you think," Anna said. "I have a question. Would you take Molly with you to say Africa, not now but when she was older?"
"Possibly, most of Africa is pretty safe now," he explained.
"Tell my mom that," she told him. "My dad wants to leave two weeks before he is going to start working so we can take a vacation together."
"Sounds fun," he commented.
"Yeah, but mom won't let me go," Anna complained.
"She said no?" he questioned.
"Not yet, but she is going to say no," she stated.
"It isn't really my place," he told her.
"You always have an opinion. Please, say something I really want to go," Anna pleaded.
"I'll think about it," he told her.
"Thank you," she said genuinely.
"I think we should go get some lunch now," he told her.
"Runts, get over here," Anna yelled.
Ethan, Landon, and Molly were sanding near them in a matter of seconds.
"Can we have lunch with mom?" Landon asked.
"You want to eat at the hospital?" Carter questioned.
"They have yummy grilled cheese sandwiches," Molly said.
"We can walk over to the hospital and see if she can take a break. If she can't, we are going someplace else," he told them.
Carter picked up Molly, and told Landon to hold Anna's hand. They made their way to the hospital. Stopping once so Ethan could tie his shoe.
"Wait here," he instructed setting Molly in a chair in the waiting room.
He returned a few minutes later with Abby.
"Mommy," Molly jumped up to give Abby a hug.
Abby picked her up, and they took the elevator to the cafeteria.
Carter purchased four grilled cheese sandwiches and two house salads.
They sat at an empty table in the corner of the room.
"Anna, before I forget Luka is here, and he said he wanted you to come find him after lunch," Abby told her.
Anna nodded and went back to her grilled cheese.
"What made you go out today?" Abby asked Carter.
"I believe I decided that when Anna started referring to me as the warden," he told her.
"We need to get the house stuff settled soon," she said quietly.
"I talked to a few different contractors. They should be able to finish the work before Christmas," he said.
"Where are we going to live until then?" she asked.
"There is always Gamma's old house," he suggested.
"We are not living in the Carter family mansion," she told him.
"Abby, our house isn't exactly a shack," John commented.
"I know that, but we decided that we wanted the kids to think they were normal being millionaires isn't normal," Abby stated.
"They are going to have to find out sometime," he said.
"No," Abby said firmly. "We can rent something until the our house is ready."
"You're no fun," Carter told her flicking a tomato at her.
"Stop, you are setting a bad example," she scolded.
"I told you that you were no fun," he said with a smile.
"I'm going to go talk to my dad," Anna told them.
"All right, we'll come find you when we are ready to go," Carter told her.
Anna looked around the ER. She spotted Luka near the patient board.
"Hi," she said from behind.
"Hey," he responded with a smile. "I have a surprise."
"Mom said I could go to Africa?" she questioned.
"Not quite, but I think you'll like it," Luka told her.
"Tell me," she pleaded.
"Nope, tonight. I am going to let you know tonight," he said. "I'll pick you up after work."
"Why can't you tell me now?" Anna whined.
"It wouldn't be a surprise if I told you now," he explained. "Are you feeling better?"
"Yes, but you are just trying to change the subject," she accused.
"I'm not going to tell you," he said.
"Come in," she begged. "Just a hint."
"No," Luka stated. "I think John is waiting for you. You better go."
"Fine, but you better show up tonight," Anna told him.
"Or what?" he questioned.
"I don't know, but it will be bad," she threatened.
"See you tonight, Anna," he said before returning to the board.
John took them back to the hotel so Molly and Landon could take a nap.
"Is it all right if Anna and I go to the pool?" Ethan asked upon their return to the hotel room.
"Fine, but if Anna starts wheezing come back right away," he instructed.
"We will," Ethan promised.
Anna and Ethan had been swimming for over an hour when Carter brought Molly and Landon to the pool. They stayed there the rest of the afternoon until Abby joined them.
"Anna, you might want to get ready," Abby told her.
"I think it is time for the other fish to get out of the water too," John told them.
The kids toweled off, and Anna hurried back to the room to change. Luka arrived twenty minutes later, and Anna was still in the shower. He waited in the living area with Abby, Molly, and Landon.
"Luka used to live in a hotel," Abby told them.
"Really?" Landon asked.
"Yes, before the hotel, I lived in a house boat," he told them.
"Wow, was it fun living in a boat?" Molly asked.
"I enjoyed it," he told them.
Anna appeared a few minutes later her was still wet.
"I'm ready," she told him.
"You don't want to dry your hair?" Abby questioned.
"No, not really," Anna said.
"Then I guess we can go," Luka said. "We should be back around ten."
"Whenever," Abby said. "Do you have a key to the room?"
"No," Anna answered.
"Here take mine," Abby said handing Anna key.
Luka and Anna walked to the El station and took a line Anna had rarely been on.
They got off in a residential area and walked about ten more blocks.
"This is the surprise," Luka said pointing to the house.
"You wanted to show me a house?" Anna questioned.
"My house, well our house," he explained.
"Oh gosh, I can't believe you bought a house. I thought you liked to be able to pick and move whenever you wanted," she said.
"There is something that just keeps bringing me back to Chicago," he told her with a smile.
"Let my guess, it's me," Anna replied.
"We are about seven blocks away from your school," he explained.
"Wow, so we aren't too far away from Mom and John's," she commented.
"Too far to walk, but not that far," he told her. "Want to look inside?"
She nodded eagerly, and he opened the front door. The house was much smaller than Anna's other house, but it was perfect for Luka and Anna. There was a living room, an eat-in kitchen, 1 and ½ baths, and three bedrooms.
"There isn't much of a yard," Luka told her.
"It doesn't matter. This is awesome," Anna said.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* Note from Banana Belle *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
I hope I cleared up what was going on with Anna. If there is anything that is confusing, let me know. Thank you for the reviews. I can't wait to read the feedback on this chapter.
"I hadn't realized anyone else was up. I just ordered breakfast. I could add to the order if you want something," he offered.
"No, thanks," she told him.
"You sound better. I would not be surprised if the bronchitis in completely gone," he told her.
She didn't respond.
"That is a good thing," he said trying to get a response out of her.
She smiled and walked over to the kitchen/eating area.
"What are you planning to eat?" he asked.
"Mom bought me cereal yesterday," she answered.
"May I see?" he asked.
She handed him the box.
"I can't believe she bought this junk," he stated.
"That junk is the only thing I said I would eat," Anna explained.
"Morning," Molly said entering the room and taking the cereal box out of Carter's hands.
He handed her a bowl, and Anna poured some milk into it.
"School starts next week. Are you excited?" he questioned.
"You're joking right?" Anna questioned.
"Actually, I am. I'm not sure if you're ready to go back," he told her.
"This is stupid. I'm fine. You are acting like my dad," Anna complained.
"If you would have taken care of yourself when it started, you would not be in this situation," he stated.
"You are more irritating Molly," Anna told him.
"Hey," Molly said looking up from her cereal bowl.
"Hay is for horse," Anna told her.
Molly stuck her tong out at Anna.
Ethan joined them and poured himself a bowl of cereal.
"Do you have to work today?" he asked his father.
"No," he answered.
"Does mom?" Molly questioned.
"Yes, she already left," he explained.
"Can we do something today?" Molly asked.
"Why? You don't enjoy sitting in a hotel room all day?" he questioned.
"No, it sucks," Ethan said.
"Please don't say that word," Carter told him.
"Never or can I say things like Molly is baby who sucks her thumb?" Ethan asked.
"Ethan," Carter said warning him he had better watch it.
"So are you going to let us leave today, warden?" Anna asked.
"I don't know. It depends where you want to go," he told them.
"We could go to the park and have lunch somewhere," Anna suggested.
"Sounds good. We can leave as soon as Landon wakes up," Carter said.
Molly jumped up and ran into the other room yelling, "Landon, wake up!"
They spent most of the morning in the park playing soccer. They had stopped for a rest when Carter noticed Anna was wheezing.
"I think you need to sit out this game," he told her.
"Then the teams won't be fair," Ethan complained. He, Molly, and Anna had made up one team, and John and Landon made up the other.
"I'll sit out too," Carter told him.
"I don't want to play soccer anymore. I want to play on the slide," Molly said.
"All right, bring the game in closer to the play area so I can keep an eye on all of you," he told them.
Anna sat down on a near by bench, and John joined her.
"Did you use your inhaler?" he asked.
"Yes," she snapped.
"I'm just.." he started to say.
"Concerned," Anna finished for him. "You and my dad act so alike it is sickening."
"I really don't think Luka and I have many similarities," he told her looking to where Molly was playing.
"More than you think," Anna said. "I have a question. Would you take Molly with you to say Africa, not now but when she was older?"
"Possibly, most of Africa is pretty safe now," he explained.
"Tell my mom that," she told him. "My dad wants to leave two weeks before he is going to start working so we can take a vacation together."
"Sounds fun," he commented.
"Yeah, but mom won't let me go," Anna complained.
"She said no?" he questioned.
"Not yet, but she is going to say no," she stated.
"It isn't really my place," he told her.
"You always have an opinion. Please, say something I really want to go," Anna pleaded.
"I'll think about it," he told her.
"Thank you," she said genuinely.
"I think we should go get some lunch now," he told her.
"Runts, get over here," Anna yelled.
Ethan, Landon, and Molly were sanding near them in a matter of seconds.
"Can we have lunch with mom?" Landon asked.
"You want to eat at the hospital?" Carter questioned.
"They have yummy grilled cheese sandwiches," Molly said.
"We can walk over to the hospital and see if she can take a break. If she can't, we are going someplace else," he told them.
Carter picked up Molly, and told Landon to hold Anna's hand. They made their way to the hospital. Stopping once so Ethan could tie his shoe.
"Wait here," he instructed setting Molly in a chair in the waiting room.
He returned a few minutes later with Abby.
"Mommy," Molly jumped up to give Abby a hug.
Abby picked her up, and they took the elevator to the cafeteria.
Carter purchased four grilled cheese sandwiches and two house salads.
They sat at an empty table in the corner of the room.
"Anna, before I forget Luka is here, and he said he wanted you to come find him after lunch," Abby told her.
Anna nodded and went back to her grilled cheese.
"What made you go out today?" Abby asked Carter.
"I believe I decided that when Anna started referring to me as the warden," he told her.
"We need to get the house stuff settled soon," she said quietly.
"I talked to a few different contractors. They should be able to finish the work before Christmas," he said.
"Where are we going to live until then?" she asked.
"There is always Gamma's old house," he suggested.
"We are not living in the Carter family mansion," she told him.
"Abby, our house isn't exactly a shack," John commented.
"I know that, but we decided that we wanted the kids to think they were normal being millionaires isn't normal," Abby stated.
"They are going to have to find out sometime," he said.
"No," Abby said firmly. "We can rent something until the our house is ready."
"You're no fun," Carter told her flicking a tomato at her.
"Stop, you are setting a bad example," she scolded.
"I told you that you were no fun," he said with a smile.
"I'm going to go talk to my dad," Anna told them.
"All right, we'll come find you when we are ready to go," Carter told her.
Anna looked around the ER. She spotted Luka near the patient board.
"Hi," she said from behind.
"Hey," he responded with a smile. "I have a surprise."
"Mom said I could go to Africa?" she questioned.
"Not quite, but I think you'll like it," Luka told her.
"Tell me," she pleaded.
"Nope, tonight. I am going to let you know tonight," he said. "I'll pick you up after work."
"Why can't you tell me now?" Anna whined.
"It wouldn't be a surprise if I told you now," he explained. "Are you feeling better?"
"Yes, but you are just trying to change the subject," she accused.
"I'm not going to tell you," he said.
"Come in," she begged. "Just a hint."
"No," Luka stated. "I think John is waiting for you. You better go."
"Fine, but you better show up tonight," Anna told him.
"Or what?" he questioned.
"I don't know, but it will be bad," she threatened.
"See you tonight, Anna," he said before returning to the board.
John took them back to the hotel so Molly and Landon could take a nap.
"Is it all right if Anna and I go to the pool?" Ethan asked upon their return to the hotel room.
"Fine, but if Anna starts wheezing come back right away," he instructed.
"We will," Ethan promised.
Anna and Ethan had been swimming for over an hour when Carter brought Molly and Landon to the pool. They stayed there the rest of the afternoon until Abby joined them.
"Anna, you might want to get ready," Abby told her.
"I think it is time for the other fish to get out of the water too," John told them.
The kids toweled off, and Anna hurried back to the room to change. Luka arrived twenty minutes later, and Anna was still in the shower. He waited in the living area with Abby, Molly, and Landon.
"Luka used to live in a hotel," Abby told them.
"Really?" Landon asked.
"Yes, before the hotel, I lived in a house boat," he told them.
"Wow, was it fun living in a boat?" Molly asked.
"I enjoyed it," he told them.
Anna appeared a few minutes later her was still wet.
"I'm ready," she told him.
"You don't want to dry your hair?" Abby questioned.
"No, not really," Anna said.
"Then I guess we can go," Luka said. "We should be back around ten."
"Whenever," Abby said. "Do you have a key to the room?"
"No," Anna answered.
"Here take mine," Abby said handing Anna key.
Luka and Anna walked to the El station and took a line Anna had rarely been on.
They got off in a residential area and walked about ten more blocks.
"This is the surprise," Luka said pointing to the house.
"You wanted to show me a house?" Anna questioned.
"My house, well our house," he explained.
"Oh gosh, I can't believe you bought a house. I thought you liked to be able to pick and move whenever you wanted," she said.
"There is something that just keeps bringing me back to Chicago," he told her with a smile.
"Let my guess, it's me," Anna replied.
"We are about seven blocks away from your school," he explained.
"Wow, so we aren't too far away from Mom and John's," she commented.
"Too far to walk, but not that far," he told her. "Want to look inside?"
She nodded eagerly, and he opened the front door. The house was much smaller than Anna's other house, but it was perfect for Luka and Anna. There was a living room, an eat-in kitchen, 1 and ½ baths, and three bedrooms.
"There isn't much of a yard," Luka told her.
"It doesn't matter. This is awesome," Anna said.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* Note from Banana Belle *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
I hope I cleared up what was going on with Anna. If there is anything that is confusing, let me know. Thank you for the reviews. I can't wait to read the feedback on this chapter.