Abby sat on the couch alone, she had been smoking ever since Luka had picked up Alex a couple of hours ago to calm her nerves. She took a long drag and lifted her head back so her eyes were at the ceiling. A knock at the door startled her and she stubbed out her cigarette wondering who it could be. She peered through her eye hole and saw Carter stood outside waiting patiently.
"Hey what are you doing here?" Abby opened the door with her head tilted slightly in a questioning way.
"Uh I'm here to look at your heater; I thought I could be at your assistance." Carter bowed forward in her direction causing Abby to smile.
"Oh sorry I forgot, come in."
"What's wrong?" Carter asked immediately he could sense when Abby was upset, he was one of the few who could.
"Oh nothing." Abby threw herself back down on the sofa and pulled out another cigarette from the virtually empty packet.
"You don't fool me Dr Lockhart" Carter placed himself next to her and started to unbutton his jacket. Abby tried to light the cigarette but her cold fingers failed her from doing so, she called out in frustration.
"Here let me," Carter took the lighter from her hands and lit her cigarette. She took a long drag and brought her legs up tucking them underneath her.
"I wish you wouldn't though." Carter said and immediately regretted it when she threw him a sideward glance.
"I suppose what I think doesn't really matter anymore."
"Yeah Carter…you made your feelings perfectly clear in the letter."
Carter winced wishing Abby hadn't just brought that up. He's always regretted breaking up with her that way, she didn't deserve it. Abby took another long drag sensing she had just created an awkward situation.
"So what's troubling you?" Carter asked changing the subject.
"Oh it's Liana, she got really upset today in a video store and I don't know something's been bugging me since."
"She was upset?"
"Yeah she started crying hysterically and thrashing out at me."
"Abby she's a kid."
"I know, I know but I just feel I'm not spending anytime with her…sometimes I feel like I don't even know her." Carter gently rested his hand on her shoulder and gave it a little squeeze.
"Abby you're a great mother; you do what you can for her."
"Mum" they both turned to see Liana standing in the doorway.
"I can't sleep." Abby stood up and stubbed her cigarette out in the ashtray.
"Liana, you've hardly slept at all the last few days. Is something on your mind?" Her small daughter started twiddling her hair between her fingers and kept her eyes firmly on Carter. He gave her a little wave and smiled.
"Liana!" Abby failed to get her attention.
"Come on lets go back through, I'll tuck you in."
"Mum I can't sleep I'm not tired" Liana's voice sounded irritable and annoyed.
"It's late though and you have school tomorrow."
Liana stood still refusing to move and pouted at her mother.
"MUM I DON'T WANT TO SLEEP!" Liana startled them both by screaming out and stamping her foot. Abby unsure of what to do looked to Carter for reassurance. He shrugged his shoulders slightly and nodded in his direction beckoning for her to bring Liana over. Liana saw this and moved closer to the settee keeping her eyes firmly on Carter, watching his every move. He patted a spot next to him and motioned for her to sit down. She considered his gesture and then began to speak.
"I wanted to get Liar Liar, my friend Ally said it was the best film she's ever seen. She said there was this really funny bit with a pen and- and he can't say the colour of the pen."
Carter watched as the small child tried quickly to get out what she was thinking. He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear as she composed herself. Abby's face expression remained blank as she focussed her attention on Liana and the conversation with Carter.
"Liana it's almost ten." Abby held out her arm so she could see for herself the time. Liana pushed Abby's arm away from her face and kept her eyes firmly locked into Carter's.
"Have you seen Liar Liar?" she whispered.
Carter rested his chin on the sofa and shook his head.
"Me neither," Liana turned quickly and took long strides into the kitchen. She dragged a chair up to the counter and climbed on it to reach the counter.
"Liana what are you doing?"
"I'm hungry, I want a cookie."
"No, it's nearly ten you're not getting a cookie at this time of night." Abby quickly grabbed her as she stepped onto the counter to reach above the fridge. Liana squirmed in her arms and kicked Abby in the stomach so she would put her down.
"Ouch" Abby dropped Liana to the ground as she doubled over in pain. Liana hit the floor with a thud and she scrambled up quickly with tears in her eyes. They poured down her face as she blinked a couple of times. Carter stood up and briskly walked over. Liana pushed past him and ran into her bedroom sobbing. Abby's eyes welled up with tears and she stared after Liana.
"Something's wrong," she whispered, "Carter something's wrong with her."