Chapter 4: Carter's Story

Carter got into work and looked at his friend, Hank. "Hank, what was so urgent that you dragged me out of bed?" He asked.

"Well, the boss is looking for your reports on the last fire," Hank replied.

"You called me out of my house for this?"

"Carter, it was time for you to come to work anyways."

Carter sighed and fell back into his chair. He held up a picture of Dana with a smile. He outlined her face and then he opened the drawer to his desk. He removed a red, velvet box from his desk and opened it. Inside revealed a beautiful ring.

It was a medium pink sapphire with diamonds running along side the silver band of the ring. Two smaller diamonds sat on each side of the sapphire.

Carter was going to marry Dana. he wanted to spend the rest of his life with Dana. He was going to make Dana his wife. He looked up when Hank came back in. "Carter, there's a pretty woman here to see you," he informed. Carter put the ring back in his desk and stood up.

He walked out to the lobby and his eyes widened in disbelief. The woman stood up and walked over to him.

She had shoulder-length auburn hair, blue eyes, she was wearing white tie-up shoes, a knee-length white skirt, a pale pink blouse, and her hair was pulled back in a braid.

"Laura, Laura Watson, is it really you?" He asked. She nodded and embraced him. Carter hugged her back and then he set her down in disbelief.

"Wow! Carter Grayson, you haven't changed a bit," she stated her English accent sticking out.

"Look at you, you're gorgeous," he commented.

"Thanks."

"When did you come back to town?"

"I just arrived. How are you?"
"I'm great."

"Are you still saving people's lives like you dreamed to do in high school?"

"Yep, I'm a fireman now like I dreamed of being when I was in high school."

Then they decided to go have a talk in the park. "So, what have you been up to, Carter?" She asked.

"Well, I've been working hard and hanging out with my friends here and there," he replied.

"I'm surprised there isn't a golden wedding band on that left hand of yours. Are you dating any girls lately?"

Carter leaned back against the bench they were sitting on with a grin. "Actually, I am," he replied.

"Who's the lucky lady?" She asked.

"Dr. Dana Mitchell. She's wonderful, Laura. She's beautiful, smart, funny, and she's selfless."

"The dream girl you always told your friends about in high school."

"I guess she is."

"Do you plan on marrying her?"

"I am."

He looked over and saw a hurt look on Laura's face. "Are you okay?" He asked.

"Yeah, I'm fine. I'm really happy for you. A doctor, huh? How did that come to be?" She asked.

"Well, I was saving a little girl from a fire. The fire became so fierce that I had to break through a window with the girl in my arms. When I placed the girl on the ground, she was there putting an air mask on the girl's face. She captured my attention and my heart that day," he explained.

"It sounds perfect."

Carter nodded with a grin. "I love Dana more than my life," he explained.

"So, do you live together?"

"Yeah, we do."

"Can I see your house?"

"Sure, where's your car?"

"Oh, I took a cab to the fire station."

Carter then led Laura to his car.

When they got inside, she looked over at the mantelpiece to see pictures. Carter grinned and walked over to them. "That's me and Dana in this picture. This was taken a year ago during our first-anniversary. This is Dana's brother, Ryan, and in his arms is his wife, Kelsey. This is me and some of my friends, Joel, and Chad. This is Dana standing with Kelsey and her friend, Ms. Fairweather. Uh, this is Dana's dad with Dana and Ryan," he explained. She looked at the pictures in disbelief.

"I'm glad to see that you're happy, Carter. I guess it's too late for us," she murmured.

He looked at her quizzically. "What are you talking about?" He asked. Laura looked at him with hurt in her eyes.

"I came back from London to tell you that when I left it was a huge mistake. I shouldn't have left, I should've stayed her with you. I have thought about coming back for four years. I have waited to see you again to be with you again. I guess I'm too late," she explained.

"Laura, did you expect me to wait for you during those four years?" He asked.

"Yes."

"It's too late for that, Laura. We can still be friends though."

"I don't want to be friends, Carter."

Before Carter could react, Laura had thrown her arms around his neck and pressing her lips against his. He heard the door open and looked over her shoulder to see Dana standing there. "CARTER!" She shouted. Carter pulled out of Laura's arms.

"Dana!" He gasped.

He watched as tears fell down her face. "How could you?" She asked.

"This isn't what it looks like," he insisted.

"Really, it looks like my boyfriend is getting cozy with another woman behind my back."

Laura was fidgeting with her hands and Carter could tell that this wasn't going to end well. "Get out," she hissed. Laura ran out of the room and Dana glared at him. "How dare you, Carter Grayson? How dare you hurt me like that?" She demanded.

"Dana, let me explain," he insisted.

"No more talking, Carter. I don't want anymore lies," she snapped.

He watched her as she grabbed her suitcase and started throwing her stuff in the suitcase. When he tried to stop her, he had to duck when she threw the hairbrush at his head. She picked a picture up in her hands and threw on the ground and it broke. Carter watched her leave with a broken heart. When he tried to go after her, she had slammed the door. He looked out the window and she drove off.

Carter walked back to the bedroom and flipped the picture over. He cleaned up the glass and held the picture up. He sat down and pulled out a picture frame from the cupboard underneath the coffee table. He slid the picture inside and stared at it. He then placed his head in his hands and a single tear fell down his face.