Chapter 2

She was frantic. In a state of panic. Pulse racing, heart pounding. Ideas and possibilities flew around her brain, though she had no time to process them. She strode to the door, letting down the latch. Tense. Nervous. Awaiting his arrival.

He entered the flat. Wet. Cold. Shivering. Their eyes found each other immediately. One pair chestnut brown. One pair emerald green. He held her gaze. She blinked first. It hurt her to see him like this. He looked rough, a mere shadow of the man she knew. Unshaven and soaked to the bone. Wide eyed, staring up at her. Confused. Unassuming. Fearful.

"Peter, love. What have you got yourself into?"

"Carla." He uttered it softly, a look of desperation in his eyes. One single word. Said more to her than a thousand could.

"It's OK Peter. C'mon, it's all right darling. She sensed his emotion and it cut her deep. She felt his pain. Embarrassment. Uncertainty. Regret.

"Carla, I've fallen off the ..." He stopped. Regrouped. "I've started drin..."

"Shhhh!" She stopped him mid sentence, placing a finger to his lips. She took a towel and gently began to dry his hair as he huddled into her body. Her warm body. Her inviting body

"Listen. Peter, you go into the bathroom. Have a shower, a shave and sort yourself out. You can tell me all about it after." She paused before continuing. "If you want to."

He was still shivering and struggled to speak.

"Thank You" he choked, giving her a meaningful look before heading toward the bathroom.

She waited to hear the powerful water jet before sitting down. She picked up her keys, deep in thought as she began to loop the keys around her index finger. Here they were again. Drawn together. Was it luck? Coincidence. FATE. As stupid as the thought was to her, she had started to half believe it. Her mind flickered to selfish thoughts. Peter, the man she longed for was in her shower right now. The state he was in she could probably seduce him tonight. Ensnare him. Have him. The thought evaporated as quickly as it had materialized. He needed her now. She understood how he felt. The embarrassment. The disgust. The self loathing. She would offer him every bit of support he needed. Every bit of support he had given her on numerous occasions. Deep in her own thoughts, she barely noticed him reappear from the shower, clothed in an old tracksuit of Paul's that she had found and then laid out for him. As she glanced at him she saw a changed man from the one who entered her flat a short time ago. Now he looked smart, clean shaven and polished.

"I tell you what; it's all pretty fancy in there. I wasn't aware I was showering at the Hilton."

"Well you know, a girl's got to pamper herself," she replied reciprocating his jovial tone.

"Can I book a bed for the night as well?"

Silence. His awkward comment had killed the small talk. He took a seat close to her, the silence hanging over them like a dark, billowing cape. She resolved to remain silent. Let him go at his own pace. Speak only when he was ready.

"I bet everyone's talking about my disappearing act eh?" He engaged her now.

"Oh yeh, Talk of the factory you were.

"Yeh?"

"Yeh, must have been for all of 10 minutes. Until they realized I'd bought them a pack of custard creams for their tea break."

They shared a smile. She wanted to keep some humour in the conversation, to help him feel at ease. To make him comfortable. It worked. His body language became more positive, more open. He looked ready to talk properly now.

"Carla, it just all overcame me, got too much to bear. I felt trapped. Suffocated. It was all I knew to get away from it all." He paused. She remained silent. "So I ran away, hit the bottle and didn't look back."

"OK, well wha..." He interrupted. She allowed it

"I did it because I'm weak. I'm a weak man. No use to anyone. I'm pathetic. As a friend. As a dad. As a husband."

"Peter, listen to me now." She leaned over and took his hand. Cupped it inbetween hers. He was touched by this. Her kindness. Her attention. She noticed this. "Hey, look at me, you are a good man, a great man. Look at what you've done for me. I wouldn't be here without you. Her tone was serious and firm. She spoke from the heart. "And what about your Simon eh? He's a credit to you."

He muttered a response that was inaudible to her. He was struck by her comforting words.

"Hey, you know I'm right, don't you?"

"Yeh" he replied, barely more than a whisper.

"Oh, you're going to have to do better than that. C'mon now, I'm right aren't I Peter?"

"Yes Mrs Connor," he responded firmly, holding his outstretched hand to his temple in mock salute."

They laughed together for a moment, though it seemed to last much longer. As the laughter subsided, she took a moment to be serious again.

"Peter, you know I care about you, don't you? In fact I care greatly."

"Yeh, I do. Thanks. And you know that I'm here for you whenever you need me?"

A silence penetrated the room once more. They sat together. Hands entwined. Eyes unmoving, locked upon one another. Time stood still in this moment. He raised a hand to stroke her hair. Her face. They sat now in a state of trance. He leaned closer, their breath now mingling and twisting into one wispy, invisible cloud. Lips moist and parted. They could get no closer without touching.

She broke the trance, gently clasping his wrist and withdrawing from the situation. She shook her head. Softly at first. Then violently.

"Peter" she spoke softly. "You have to go and see Leanne. This can't happen. Go home, talk to her. Tell her what you told me. She will understand. You know you have to go, right? You can't stay here" She spoke quickly at the end, determined to stay strong and not change her mind.

"Yeh, I know. It just felt so rig..." He stopped himself. Composed himself. "No, you're right. I'll go. I'll go now"

He raised himself quickly,running his hands through his hair. Still unsure what had just happened and how he felt about it. About her. He opened the door and turned for one last long, lingering look before slamming it shut as he left. The sound rung out, reverberating through her eardrums. Yep, she thought to herself. Back to reality with a bang.