Slightly changed ages around a little. Peter's 44, Carla 35, Leanne 34 and Simon 8. Leanne did cheat on Peter with Nick but nobody else besides Carla knows this and Peter is unaware. Carla is in sole charge of the factory and has yet to meet Frank. She does however have feelings towards Peter but following an announcement from Leanne and Peter she's tried her hardest to just think of Peter as a close friend and nothing more. Leanne and Carla never fell out in this. Anyway I'll stop rambling and let you read on. Not much Carla in this chapter either.
"She's gone." Two simple words that made Peter's heart almost stop. They had to be wrong, she was so healthy, so full of life. Looking forward to welcoming their precious new baby into their lives but it had all changed when the labour wasn't progressing, and the doctors had started to display concerned faces as they had checked the statistics of mother and baby and in moments they were rushing her into theatre, telling Peter he had to wait outside. "You're wrong, she can't be." He stammered as he furrowed his brow slightly unable to comprehend their words. They were meant to be taking their baby home, enjoying been parents together, watching Simon adjust to life as a big brother. "Your daughter is stable Mr Barlow, in the Special Care Baby Unit. I'm so sorry for your loss." The doctor said as Peter felt hot angry tears sting his brown eyes. "Did she meet her? Before she…she…"
"Yes, she saw her. I'm so very sorry for your loss." The doctor said as he asked if there was anyone Peter wanted them to contact. Peter shook his head, it was only 2 in the morning and there was no need to let the rest of the family not enjoy a few more hours of blissful sleep, her still very much alive to them.
"Can I see my daughter?" Peter asked as he sipped a lukewarm cup of tea one of the nurses had brought to him in the relative's room. She nodded knowing that right now anything to help this poor man's suffering needed to be done. "I'll take you up to the unit in a minute or so." She said gently as Peter sighed twisting his wedding ring around his finger. How could fate be so cruel as to take away his angel, the woman who had helped him in his darkest days. "Did you and your wife have a name for the baby?" The nurse asked as Peter smiled slightly. "We liked Megan for a girl. Megan Elizabeth." Peter said as he bit his lip. "How can I be a good dad without her? We were meant to do this as a couple. She wasn't meant to leave me, to leave us." He said as the nurse bit her lip watching the man almost crumbling in front of her.
Gazing down at the tiny girl Peter felt his heart ache that Leanne would never get to experience the delights of having a baby daughter. "She's a little small and until her breathing settles she'll be on a respirator but otherwise she's a healthy little girl. 6lbs 6oz." A paediatric nurse said as she smiled at the man stood over the incubator. "Your Mummy loved you so much sweetheart." Peter said as his voice sounded raw. How was he ever going to cope been a single father with a newborn and eight year old son, who would no doubt struggle coming to terms with loosing his stepmother. He shook his head slightly as he sat down at a plastic seat besides the incubator postponing the inevitable of having to inform their friend's and loved ones of Leanne's passing.
Carla unloaded the boot of her car as the smell of a bacon sandwich hit her and she rolled her eyes at the offending article in Sean's hand. She grabbed her expensive, oversized bag and a armful of files. "Have you heard anything from the hospital yet?" Hayley asked as Carla's eyes widened.
"What? Why?"
"Leanne, she went into labour last night. I only know because Stella was busy waiting for news at the Rovers." Hayley explained as the gaggle of factory staff waited for Carla to open up. "Well I've not heard anything yet. Though I suspect it'll be Stella who'll have the latest news." Carla said as she opened the door to the factory letting the staff in. "You going to buy us all a cake in celebration of the new baby then Mrs C?" Sean asked.
"Erm it's not mine Sean so no!" Carla said as she went to check her phone and see if there were any texts from Peter. She found no message so quickly tapped one to him. 'Any Baby News Yet? Give Lea my love. Carla.'
Peter looked down as his phone vibrated in his pocket. There were numerous missed calls and texts from family and friends wanting to know any developments and he knew he couldn't put things off forever. Megan slept contentedly in her incubator, unaware of the huge loss she had already experienced at such a young age. "I…I have to go." Peter stammered as he realised that wallowing in his own grief only delayed him breaking the news about Leanne to his and her families. "We have your contact details Mr Barlow so if we need to get in touch at any point we can get hold of you." The paediatric nurse said as Peter nodded as he gently stroked Megan's arm through a hole in the side of the incubator. "I'll be back later princess." He said as he knew following delivering such shattering news to his and Leanne's families he'd need to spend some time with the tiny girl.
