Chapter 5 - We Need To Find Her Father

SUSAN'S P.O.V.

I knew it. I knew that Carter wouldn't show up. He left without even letting me know. Doesn't he understand that we really have to talk about Joanne? That he has to talk about her? It doesn't work like this. He has to do a test, because otherwise Joanne will be forced to go into foster-care at one time or another. Even if Abby wakes up tomorrow, there'll be too much damage to let her go anytime soon.

I just spoke to the social worker the same day and he said it would be great if I could take her for a little while. I know this won't be a long time solution. We simply don't have enough space. But at least she has a place for awhile. I feel kind of strange as I go upstairs to take her. I don't think they told her yet. She smiles at me brightly as I enter the room.

"Good morning Joanne!" I greet her.

She waves at me, "Hello Dr. Lewis." She's just too cute.

"I have good news for you," I start and her eyes seem to grow. "They said that you can stay at my place for awhile if you like."

"Really," she asks, not really sure if she should believe it or not. "I can stay with you?"

"Yes, honey. At least for awhile," I reassure her.

She smiles happily, "This is awesome. Mom would like me to stay with you, I believe."

"Yes dear, she would," I nod as I start to pack her few things. Apparently she doesn't have that much to wear, but maybe she can take some of Amy's clothes.

"Do you have kids?" Joanne asks curiously as we are driving home.

"Yes, I have a daughter. She's not that much older than you. She's eight. I think you guys will get along very well."

"That's cool," Joanne says with content in her voice. "I always wanted a sister to play with."

Seven Years Earlier

"I don't understand these kinds of women," I say while throwing my used gloves into the trash , "They have everything. They have money, a husband, a nice home, but when it comes to children they're like 'No way, this will ruin my career, my life whatever.' This is no reason to throw a life away."

I look at Abby and wait for an answer, but she doesn't say anything. We just had a 30 year old woman in here, who found out that she was pregnant. Apparently she wasn't happy with this news since the child would ruin her life. She didn't say it that way, but she looked as if she was thinking it. She had everything a woman wants.

"Earth to Abby!" I try to shake Abby out of her staring, but she doesn't react. "What's the matter with you?"

Suddenly she looks at me seeming mad, "She has her reasons Susan, just accept it!"

"Hey, that's no reason for you to speak to me that way!" I counter. Why does she behave like this all of a sudden? "What's your problem?"

Abby doesn't say anything for a while. Then she looks at me totally angry but also sad in some kind of way, "I had an abortion when I was still married to Richard. We had kind of everything at home, but I had my reasons!" I just stand there saying nothing. I didn't expect her to say something like that. "So, don't talk like this until you know all the details!" She doesn't even dare to look at me anymore, speaking with a shaking in her voice.

"I'm sorry Abby, I didn't know.." I begin trying to minimize the damage, "I didn't mean to hurt you"

"It's okay, it happened and I can't change it anymore... so..", she answers plain, "It's just that I didn't want to pass my Mom's disease, to ruin another life. I also never talked to Richard about kids, I was too terrified."

"It's ok Abby, no one's blaming you." I say and she just nods.

I'm sure that she's blaming herself

Everything worked out well with Joanne, she's one of those rare easy going children. She and Amy got along so well that it was not easy to get them to bed the night she arrived at our house. I'm happy for her. She needs something to reduce the tension right now.

The next morning I arrived at work a bit earlier, to finally catch Carter. And I'm successful. He's sitting in the lounge drinking a coffee as I enter the room.

"There you are!" I say not without a little underlying tone in my voice.

"Here I am," he answers without emotion.

"Can we talk now?" I ask him, "Because it's very important."

"Well at least I'm done then afterwards", he pulls his coffee mug aside, "Then talk."

"John, they discharged Joanne yesterday. She's at my house at the moment. But I can't take her for a long time, we don't have enough space and we barely have time for our own daughter," I start carefully, "We need to find her father..."

"And what does that have to do with me?" He asks me annoyed.

"There might be the possibility that you are Joanne's father. Joanne was born in August, Abby left in March. So she must have gotten pregnant when she was here. You guys were still together back then..." I look at him, trying to see what he's thinking now.

"This is ridiculous!" He laughs at me, "We were always careful. Maybe she had an affair or something. I'm definitely not the father!"

"John, please just take the test to make sure. You never know..." I'm shocked by his reaction. He seems to be totally ignoring the possibility.

"Susan, I'm not the father! End of discussion!" he says angry, "I have to go now, Abby needs me!"

"John, wait!" I shout at him, but he just leaves.