Chapter 21 – Secret Santa
Christmas Eve…"From your secret Santa" Jerry hands over Abby an Xmas gift.
"Thanks Jerry" Abby taking the item and looked at it. The size wasn't very big and it was beautifully wrapped, maybe it's a perfume and specially gift-wrapped in-store? She had hoped this present is better than Dubenko's gift she got last Christmas. It was a book called "Rats, Lice and History". She thought she would never get to read it, she did manage to find time for it when was off sick recovering from Post Traumatic Stress from her abduction. Abby chuckled at herself remembering what she had said to Moonlighting med student Jake about working Xmas. She did not know him; he was just someone to cover seasonal staff shortage. Abby quoted "Next year I am going to invent a family, so I don't have to work Christmas!" Oh god! She predicted her own future and could have invented one with him! Abby so pleased it's Carter's baby because he would give his child security and a good future, well she hope so, she must bring herself to tell him, matter of timing it right.
She unwrapped her gift carefully pulling the paper away and sees a black box like a jewellery type case. She gasped when she opened the box; it was a beautiful Swiss 23K gold dress watch. It must have cost hundreds of dollars and it is obvious that she knows who is her Secret Santa is… Carter! No one else here would spend that kind of money on his or her colleague.
"Bling bling!" said Jerry leaning his towering structure over the petite brunette, having a nosy. She smiled at him and puts the gift in her pocket.
Abby walked down the corridor looking for Carter, she noticed that he was in a side room; she stepped forward to the window and sees him looking down smiling at something. She moved sideways to be nosy without being obvious and looked in an angle. She could not see anything but he noticed her presence and waved her in. She nodded back at him.
"Are you looking for me?" Carter asked. He was holding a newborn in his arms "Isn't she beautiful?"
"Erm… Yeah she is" Abby stood there with her mouth wide open with her eyes fixated on the broody Carter!
"Some sad person dumped this baby, how can anyone do such thing to a such precious gift like her" He puts the baby back down in the crib. "Are you ok? You want something?"
"Oh yeah, I just want to talk to you, but it can wait" Abby said, rubbing her hands calming her nerves.
"We can talk now, I'm on my break"
"Ok wanna go for a walk and get a coffee from over the road?" Abby asked doing a pointing gesture over her shoulder with her thumb.
"Sure" Carter replied with his face all lit up.
Abby and Carter walking down an aisle in the Jumbo Mart, browsing around waiting for the queue to quieten down.
"I'm surprised that you decided to work an Christmas again," She asked.
"Who am I gonna celebrate with? Gamma's not around anymore. I am not spending it my bickering parents"
"Good point" She nodded
"What about you? You going to spend it with Maggie and Eric?" He chuckled; he knew that would wind her up.
"Jeez! Carter I'm not answering that" she sniggered, nudging his arm.
They both join the queue at the coffee bar. They both stand in silence and playfully looking each other – He looked at her, she looked away, she looked at him, he looked away like a couple of teenagers having secret crushes. Carter studied Abby's face thinking that she has a wonderful glow to her complexion.
"Erm if you're not doing anything, why don't you join us for Christmas dinner at my place?" She asked huskily.
"Yeah that be great, I'll love to come and who's on your guest list then?"
"Me and Neela will be slaving away in the kitchen" Abby pursing her lip, looking up like she is thinking. "While Ray, Chuny and Jane drink up the booze"
"Mmm Ray, Chuny & Jane?"
"Yep, unfortunately their families live too far away"
"Ok what time you want me to come?"
"Be there for one o'clock"
"Next please!" The counter assistant interrupted.
"Two large coffees please"
"No erm make mine a hot chocolate please" Abby smiled.
"Are you ill?" he chuckled giving her that look Abby not drinking coffee?
"I'm fine, I just fancy hot chocolate for a change" She looks away, shamefully, telling him a white lie.
The counter assistant handed over their drinks.
"Do you miss Doc Magoo's?" Carter asked, taking a sip of his coffee, looking around inspecting the place.
"Sure I do, brings back memories" She winked at him
He blushed and opened the door for her and followed. They were standing about outside the store; Abby is leaning against the wall and Carter is facing in front of her.
"Thank you for the watch" She smiled "It's beautiful"
"What makes you think I'm your secret Santa?"
"Erm… let me think…" Abby said, pulling a cute face "Nobody here would spend that amount of money on a colleague"
He laughed at her; they both cross the road to the ambulance bay and walk to an empty bench. They both sit down. Abby tilted her head back against the wall to look up at the clear starry night. She is moving her lips trying to go over what to say to Carter about the pregnancy, she can feel the butterflies in her tummy. Carter looking at her in admiration attracts her attention by moving her eyes to look at him.
"What a beautiful starry night, doesn't look like it going to snow again tonight…" Abby said, trying to make conversion to prevent the awkward silences.
"Yes it is beautiful" he replied then smiled at her "Beautiful like you"
Her heart jumped, she looked away shyly and cleared her throat.
"So what did you get from your secret Santa then?" Abby asked changing the subject, taking a sip of her hot chocolate, with both hands wrapped round the cup, trying to keep them warm.
"I haven't got it yet, I'm curious what I'm going to get"
"Hmm… yep it's gonna be a big surprise"
"Yeah? You know what it is?"
"Of course I do, I am your secret Santa"
"I'm sorry you lost me? Where is the gift?"
Abby puts her cup down and gets up. She faced Carter who is still sat down. She took in a big deep breath. She nervously unzips her coat, which leaves her pale blouse exposed.
"Give me your hand," She asked, putting her hand out to him, it was shaking from her nervousness, she knows that this has to be done sooner or later.
He raised his hand up and placed it onto hers; she takes hold of it, then pulled it to place it on her tummy.
"This is your gift," She said, rubbing his hand over her bump; He frowned and started to shake his head with confusion.
"I'm pregnant…" Abby announced, swallowing hard, trying to hold back her emotions "with your child"
In shock, John Carter's jaw dropped to the floor and his cup with the contents, fell to the ground, when accidentally lets go of it. He got up to her eye level and looked at her. She looked back into his eyes, she can see they are welling up, he choked back the tears … he was speechless…