Chapter 8: Lucky

AUTHOR'S NOTE

Hi, remember me? Yeah, I know it's been awhile, but I've been so busy. I work 8-5pm every day and I have a class from 6-9:45pm every night but Friday. On the weekends I crash. I can't wait till June 30th when my class will finally be over!!

So, anyway, sorry for the wait. Here's a short chapter to show you that I haven't forgotten you all, and I'm still interested in continuing with this story...

Bienvenue à Paris! The sign overhead read as the five travelers entered the Parisian airport. "Ah, home sweet home," Gui sighed with a smile. "Are you sure you all can't stay on for a few days? I would be more than happy to give you the grand tour of Paris."

They other four looked at each other. Carter was the first to respond. "We'd love to, but we're all anxious to get home ourselves." The others nodded in agreement.

"But thank you so much for everything," Gillian said as she approached him for a hug.

"Oh, think nothing of it," Gui responded. Abby too offered Gui a hug. She wasn't saying much, however. The whole experience the past couple of weeks had left her at a loss for words. She stood back while the others chatted and held Carter's hand firmly.

Gui waved goodbye to his new friends, and after another round of hugs, Gillian also headed off to the gate where she would catch her next flight to Montreal.

"I guess I should get going, too," Andrew finally spoke. One part of him was reluctant to leave, but the other part felt awkward, like a third wheel standing with Carter and Abby holding hands.

Sensing that Abby might want to say her goodbyes to Andrew privately, Carter offered a firm handshake to Andrew and quickly excused himself to use the nearby restroom.

"So, you're not on the same flight as us?" Abby asked, half staring at her shoes.

"No," Andrew replied, "I have to catch my connection flight to San Francisco in JFK."

"Ohhh..." Abby answered.

"Andrew..." "Listen, Abby..."

They both started at the same time and stopped with a smile.

"You go first," Abby offered.

"I just wanted to say that I wish you two all the best," he said as he approached Abby for a hug.

Abby hugged him tightly in return. "Thank you so much," she said softly, "for everything," she added with a soft kiss on his cheek.

"Carter is a lucky man," Andrew said with a smile. "You both are incredibly lucky. What you two have is incredible. I just hope I find it too someday."

"You will," Abby answered. "She's out there somewhere, waiting for you."

"Well," Andrew said after a beat. "I'd better hurry before I miss my plane," he added, glancing down at his watch.

Abby smiled and wiped away a tear.

"Goodbye, Abby."

"Goodbye, Andrew," she answered as he turned around and disappeared into the crowd. Suddenly Abby felt Carter gentle hand on her shoulder.

"You okay?" he asked.

"Yeah," Abby replied and turned to him with a smile. "Let's go home."

And with that, she leaned her head onto his shoulder, he wrapped his arm tightly around her, and they made their way to their gate.
"Excuse me. Excuse me, sir."

Carter removed his headphones to answer the man across the aisle who was gently tapping him on the shoulder.

"I'm sorry to bother you, but do you happen to have any aspirin? I have an awful headache," the man asked.

"Umm," Carter glanced over to Abby, who was fast asleep on his shoulder and impeding his movement at the moment. "Yes, in my carry-on actually, but..." he glanced from Abby to the man in order to make him aware of his restricted range of motion at the moment.

The man nodded, "Ohh..."

"I can get some for you if you can get my carry-on out of the overhead compartment," Carter offered as he pointed above him. The man happily obliged, and Carter quickly retrieved the aspirin for him.

"Thanks," the man said as he swallowed the aspirin with a swig of water. "Bill Sampson," he introduced himself.

"John Carter," Carter responded with a handshake.

"I am anxious to get home," Bill said. "My wife is due any day now and I am afraid I am going to miss it," he said with a smile.

"Is it your first?" Carter asked.

"Yup," the man replied.

"Congratulations."

"Thanks. I hated to have to take this business trip now, but what can you do? Do you, uh, have kids?" He motioned to he and Abby.

Carter glanced over to make sure she was still asleep. "No, not yet," he said quietly.

"Were you two on vacation in Paris?" Bill asked.

"No," Carter responded with a smile and a shake of his head. "We were doing some volunteer work in Africa. We're both doctors."

Bill smiled. "It must be nice working together."

Carter returned the smile. "It is. So how long have you been married?"

"It'll be two years in September. You?" he asked.

Carter looked at Abby apprehensively. She looked sound asleep. "It was just a year in February," Carter said quietly.

"Yeah..." Bill leaned back in his seat. "It isn't perfect, but I love her. I wouldn't change it for the world. Becca's my angel. I feel very lucky to have found her."

"I know what you mean," Carter responded. "I feel very lucky, too."

Abby smiled lightly as she shifted gently on Carter's shoulder. She had heard every word, and she couldn't agree more.