Chapter Two

July 2004

Susan Lewis grumpily reached a hand out of the bed for the phone. “He-llo,” she grunted.

“Hi, Susan, it’s me. Carter.”

“Who?”

“Carter. Remember me? We used to work together?” He sounded little worried.

“Carter, of course I remember you. I just couldn’t hear you. Do you know what time it is? Where have you been?” As she asked questions, Susan began to wake up more fully.

“Florida,” he said simply.

“What? Why? What were you thinking? No goodbyes, nothing?. One day you were just gone. What the hell?” She was awake enough now to gripe at him.

“I know. I’m sorry about that.”

Susan looked at her alarm clock. She didn’t have to be up for another hour. John Carter was really starting to get on her bad side.

“Listen can I call you back later? I have to work today and I just got off a double from yesterday. I’m exhausted and you’re not being all that talkative.”

“You’re working today?”

“Yeah, why?”

“I tried to call Kerry at home last night, but she’s moved. Can you get me her new number?”

“What? Why?”

“I’m moving back”

“From Florida? Why?”

“Gamma died.” He tried to keep the pain out of his voice, but he was pretty sure she could hear it.

“Oh, God, Carter I’m sorry. Is that why you took off?”

“Yeah. Things came to a head with her illness and I came to terms with the fact that nothing was really keeping me there, so...” He trailed off.

“What about Abby?”

“What about her?” He couldn’t deal with this again. He’d been up all night putting Gamma’s things in order. His back was killing him. He just wanted to get some sleep, but even that was going to be useless. He hadn’t been sleeping well since he’d left Chicago. Now she wanted to talk about Abby. The woman who had haunted his thoughts and dreams for two years.

“Well, hmm. For starters, you could have stayed for her. For seconds, have you even picked up the phone to call her since you left? For thirds, I know you haven’t and why not?”

“Susan, it’s complicated...”

“No, Carter, it’s simple! Do I have to spell it out for you?”

“Look, I have to settle a few more things here first, but I’ll be in Chicago for good by the end of next week. I want to know if there are any positions open at County. Will you do me a favor and keep your ears open? I’ll give you a call next week, okay?”

“Fine...” she said, not really wanting to be a part of this homecoming. She wondered if and how she should tell Abby. They hung up and Susan laid back down in bed, but couldn’t go to sleep. She stared at the ceiling. Carter was coming back.