Part Three

Three weeks had passed since their arrival in Atlanta. Abby drove her rental car back to the apartment. After flipping through endless channels and trying to read a book, she grabbed the keys and walked downstairs to the mailroom. Somehow she had received a letter from her brother, a few bills, and a letter addressed to both she and Carter. Abby looked at the return address and saw it was from County. She sat down by the pool and opened the letter from Eric.

Dear Abby,

Hey! Well, I'm better. I have a small place down in Texas, this city called Little Elm and I just wanted to say that I'm sorry about any damages I caused to you or John (or "Carter" if you prefer) both physically and emotionally. I know you two were only trying to help. Tell him I said hi. Call me ok? (214)555-8906.

-Eric

Hope you liked the daisy!

Abby smiled briefly and folded the letter back into its envelope. She set the letter from County to the side and started to open the bills. A shadow crept in her view of the sun and a spot of water dripped onto her hand. Abby looked up and saw a man grinning like a little boy on Christmas morn. "May I help you? Abby asked in her trademark tone.

"Yes actually." The overly cocky, but handsome man answered. "I'm looking for a woman in her thirties, brunette with some fading blonde highlights, yeh high, and is sarcastic. Oh and goes by the name of Ms. Lockhart."

"Excuse me?" Abby smirked standing up to meet Mr. Arrogance.

"Oh yes," he extended his hand, "My name is Michael Villaforte. A friend of Mr. Carter."

Carter walked along the empty corridor. The grey walls and white tile made one feel uneasy. He stopped by the vending machine and got himself a Hershey bar. Carter waited by the glass double doors for Abby. It seemed as if he always was waiting for her. The white Volvo pulled up right on time.

"How was your day?" Abby asked.

"Good Mom. Timmy even let me play with his GI Joe at recess!"

"John."

"Abby." Carter simply stated, breaking off a piece of chocolate and handing it to her.

"Want to go swimming?"

"Don't have swim trunks."

"I got you a pair at Target for fifty percent off."

"You're not the swimming type."

"Fine, I'll go without you."

"You met Mike didn't you?" he laughed.

"Who?" Abby asked trying not to smile.

"Mike with a French accent Mike. Michael Villaforte. I talked to him the other day and thought you two could go out some time while we're here."

"I saw a wedding ring on his hand."

"Ouch."

"We're leaving in two weeks anyways."

Carter flopped on the couch the moment they hit the door and immediately fell asleep. He awoke to the sound of Abby snoring on the chair across from him. He looked at the clock and realized it was already nine at night. He peeled his blanket off of him and draped it on her. She looked to peaceful when she was sleeping. Carter brushed a strand of hair off her face and smiled. But his smile faded away when he glanced at her wrist, which was still inhabited by the cast. Carter became frustrated with himself and yanked open the freezer to delve into some Rocky Road ice cream. Abby slowly opened her eyes to find Carter holding the envelope from County in his hands; still stuffing ice cream in his mouth.

"Go ahead and open it." Abby said wrapping the blanket around her and seating at the kitchen table across from him. He opened the letter upside down and out came a flood of folded pieces of paper.

Abby grabbed the one nearest to her and started to unfold it.

"They look like letters."

"Good one Sherlock."

"This one is from Susan."

"What's it say?" Carter asked, rubbing his temples.

"It says…

Dear Carter,

Hi! I hope all is well. Sorry about the comment I made about 'last time' so…Don't come back with a farmer's tan. Tell Abby I said hey and that I hop her wrist gets better. Love ya both!

-Susan

"You told her about last time?" Carter asked in disbelief.

"It was when Paul came in, remember? I wanted restraints and she needed to know why."

"That doesn't give you the right-"

"Susan and me are friends. Girlfriends talk about past boyfriends. Besides, didn't think you'd mind considering-"

"Considering what?"

"You two are close."

"And why did she have to bring up your arm…" Carter trailed off and stared at the table.

"Carter," Abby tried, "John sit down."

"I need a beer." Carter walked towards the door.

"No…" Abby jumped from the chair and blocked the door.

"Out-of-my-way."

"No." Abby stuttered. His fists were clenched and the look in his eyes told her not to mess with him. She slowly stepped aside as he brushed past her and slammed the door shut.

Abby let out a heavy sigh not realizing she had been holding her breath. A single tear escaped her as she quickly brushed it away. Her eyes fell upon a tiny red envelope with her name written across it with handwriting she knew all to well.

Abby:

This letter has more than one direction or at least that's how you say it in English. How are you doing? I'm sorry about your wrist and I know he didn't do it in good faith. You are a brave woman. You went back to school and yet you're by your friend's side when he is at his worst. That's what I have always loved about you. Your loyalty. I hope everything turns out the best for both of you. Abby you can always come talk to me if you're up to it. I miss our conversations. Come home soon.

LK

Abby could here his voice inside her head as she read the letter, the soft-spoken Croatian accent of his. She was surprised at his words because if all this were true he held his feelings deep at work. She brought some vanilla ice cream from the freezer and plunked down onto the couch. Abby knew the next morning would be hell. Either Carter would have a sullen hangover, or there wouldn't be a Carter at all.

She though Carter's instincts were right. She needed a beer. Instead she finished the pint and threw it away in the trashcan that was overflowing.

Carter stopped at the end of the stairs and looked back. In front of him lay a road of past addictions and pain. Behind him lay his anchor. Behind hi lay hope. Behind him lay Abby. He realized, as he began to calm down, that he had grabbed one of the letters. He sat down in the middle of the stairwell and began to read.

Carter:

I write to you not to say that I know how you feel but to say I can understand what you are going through. When I lost my family in the war I thought that life couldn't go on and that it was the end for me. I felt like drinking into eternity or punching a concrete wall until my hand eroded away. But I didn't. I didn't because I knew that was not what Jsna would have wanted. My wife would have wanted me to move on; and so I did. Makemba wants you to move on. So you should. Don't take Abby for granted. In less than a year she will be a doctor and who knows where she might go or do. I am proud to say that I have once loved her. Now you have been given a second chance. It's your choice. I hope you are coping well.

LK

Carter laughed at himself. He was perturbed. He chunked the piece of paper at the wall and held his head in his hands. He hated him. How could he just 'move on'? So what if he lost his whole family, Carter just lost the son he never had. He grabbed at his hair and tore at his shirt until it was untucked. In the back of his mind Carter knew that Luka was right; even about Abby. He hated how Luka was always right.

Abby cleared the doorway with gallon sized trash bags full of crap. She walked backwards down the stairs struggling to balance her with the bags.

All he heard was a shriek and a crash. A moment letter he saw Abby in his lap surrounded by a pile of trash. She jumped again at the sight of seeing Carter. Now it was her turn to stare.
"I never left." He said. Carter picked off rice that was on her shirt and put his hands around her waist to help her back up. She secretly smiled. The mere thought of him not drinking tonight made her happy. It made her happy to think that they were above it.

"What have you been doing here all this time?"

"Thinking?"

"About…" Abby asked, starting to pick up the trail of trash.

"You." Abby looked at him then he quickly continued. "And Luka and Kem and…you." He smiled a bit. "You know I'm really sorry about your arm I didn't mean to-"

"I know."

Abby stood up and tied the first bag up again, her back facing him. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. Abby was surprised by this sudden action but just wrapped her hands around his. All he wanted was a hug; all he needed was a hug. Thank you.