At Christmastide, everybody reminisces Carter's seven months in Congo. After working out how to run the clinic with Red Cross support, joining an expat network, not spared of jealousy and geopolitical rivalries, he fell in love with Franco-Congolese AIDS worker Makemba, who vilified him for personally financing a single mother's expensive treatment US-style, as all must give way to her project for affordable 'mass' treatment. In Chicago, where Luka is itching to resume NGO work, Christmas presents are collected for Carter's clinic, but Makemba tops it all with 'noel baby', which John feels should be raised in the US, so he finally decides to return, at least to handle his inheritance, and asks her along, to decide about heir future as a family.
—KGF Vissers