Peter rubbed his eyes as he slowly awoke, sunlight basking through the windows as he looked around bemused at where he was. His neck ached a little bit too and he took a moment or two before everything that had happened yesterday came flooding back to him. "I didn't want to wake you up, you and Simon looked so peaceful." A soft voice said as heels tapped against the floor of the apartment and Carla perched on the arm of the armchair. "What time is it?" Peter asked as Carla glanced at her watch.
"8:40. I rang your Dad and said it might be best he rang the school and say Simon will be absent for a little while." Carla explained as she sipped her coffee. "Can I get you a drink or some breakfast?" She asked as Peter sighed. "I could seriously do with a whisky right now." He said despairingly as Carla shook her head. "She wouldn't want that Peter. Believe me I know it's easy to seek solance in a glass but Simon and the baby need you." She said gently as she placed her cup down and went to make him a coffee wishing that she could do so much more for the broken man.
"Do you think he's been drinking Mam?" Tracey asked as she sat at the table looking down at some toast not feeling hungry. True she and Leanne hadn't gotten along too well but she wasn't daft, she was well aware how pivotal she was to keeping Peter sober and not falling back into alcoholism. They might squabble and such but she did love her adopted brother to pieces. "I hope not. Carla text me last night to say he'd turned up there so I hope that he stayed there where she could keep an eye on him and Simon." Deirdre said as Ken sighed as he looked at his paper, the worldwide news seeming to pale in significance when he thought of the huge loss his son and grandchildren were enduring, not that the tiny newborn girl would have any comprehension of the huge loss she had experienced. "I wonder if he'll hold the poor little one today. I mean I know it's a huge loss for him but he needs to bond with Megan, now more than ever." Deirdre said as Tracey furrowed her brow slightly. "What didn't he hold her?" She ventured as Ken shook his head putting his paper down. "He couldn't, walked off in tears. Then like your Mam says, Carla text and said that he was at hers with Simon. Least he's safe there and she won't let him drink."
"I can't believe it, it still seems like I should wake up and Leanne will be lying in a hospital bed holding our daughter." Peter said as he sipped his coffee at the table as Carla reached out and placed her hand over his in a comforting gesture. "It feels numb doesn't it. I remember that feeling too well." She said as Peter looked up and saw sadness in her green eyes. "I'm sorry. I forget that other people have had losses too. How selfish is that!"
"Don't apologise. I lost Paul almost six years ago now an..and well it still seems strange sometimes. I won't lie to you it's not easy an…and there'll be days when it's hard to drag yourself out of bed bu..but you have a good reason to with the kids. You're their dad." Carla said as Peter groaned and rubbed his throbbing temple with his fingers. "Poor kids. I'm useless. Simon always tells me I burn his dinner and forget which day he has PE. I'm not going to know what to do with Megan." Peter said as Carla shook her head, a sympathetic look in her eyes. "Peter, people will help. You've got so many people who love you and the kids." Carla said keen to ensure him that eventually things would be okay. Peter nodded slightly, glancing over to the sofa where Simon was shuffling about a little no doubt soon to wake up. "Do you think he's ready to go and meet Megan today?" Peter ventured unsure as Carla shrugged.
"Why not ask him. He's a clever lad and he'll tell you what he feels up to. If it's too soon then I'll look after him if you want, or until maybe your Dad and Deirdre can pick him up." Carla said as Peter smiled at her. "You know, you're an angel Carla." He said as she giggled a little.
"An angel, well that's not a label many of them on the street say in regards to me." Carla said as Peter shook his head. "Well the people like that, it isn't worth valuing their opinions." He said as Carla nodded and gazed over to where Simon was waking up.
Stella wiped her eyes as she spoke to her former boyfriend Les on the phone. "The hospital sa…said it was a haemorrhage…..Erm she…she had a girl Megan…No I…I guess it'll be soon, I…..I'm sorry th…that we had to ring you li…like this…I understand….I'll be in touch with the details as soon as we have them…..Okay. Bye." She ended the call and crumpled into a new wave of tears as Gloria hurried to her side, a mug of tea in her hand. "Here love, oh sweetheart."
"I only just got back in her life Mam! An….and now she's gone." Stella sobbed as Eva sat quiet on the arm of the sofa. She hadn't appreciated her Mum finding Leanne, it had pushed her out a little and she'd envied the attention her Mum had seemed to bestow on Leanne in guilt perhaps of the fact she had missed out on so much. "I should have be..been a better sister." She fretted as Gloria rubbed her granddaughters shoulder. "Oh darling, sister's always squabble and I think deep down you both loved one another. You need to remember she still needs you now, to look out for your niece." Gloria said wisely. Eva nodded as she wiped her tears with a tissue. "I guess, I mean Peter will be rubbish with choosing her clothes and things won't he." She said as Stella managed a teary laugh at her daughter's words knowing it was likely true.
Gail looked at her son worriedly as he almost robotically sipped his lukewarm coffee. "Nick, you look so pasty. I know it's a shock about Leanne but well these things do happen." She said as Nick glared at her in a manner that she was used to associating with her younger son, David. "I'm not stupid I know that these things happen. It shouldn't have happened to her though." Nick said as Gail frowned slightly. He was bound to be upset after all once he and Leanne had been childhood sweethearts, much to her dismay, but that had been over a decade ago, but he seemed more upset than he should have been.
Simon had finished his toast and orange juice, shaking his head at the offer of cereal or sausage and eggs. "Dad I'm late for school." He said as he looked at the ornate wall clock. Peter sighed as he looked at his young son. "I thought perhaps you should stay off for a few days mate. Besides today I wandered if you wanted to come up to the hospital with me and meet your sister." Peter ventured gently as Simon's chocolate eyes looked up. "Can I say goodbye to Mum?" Simon asked in a quiet voice as Peter felt tears well again in his eyes. He shook his head unable to speak. Carla had been listening in and gently ventured to the side of the seat Simon was sat on and crouched down so she was at his level. "Simon love, I know you want to say goodbye to your Mum but it wouldn't be your Mum now, it might upset you an…and your Dad desperately doesn't want you hurt. There's a funeral though, and that's where you can say a goodbye, and if you really want I reckon your Dad would let you draw a picture or choose some music for it." Carla said as Simon's lip quivered and he threw himself into Carla's arms who hugged the little boy in her arms knowing right now he was still coming to terms with the news that his beloved stepmother was dead. "Will…will you come wi…with us to th….the hospital?" Simon sniffed as Carla shushed him stroking his back gently as he hugged her, his little arms around her neck.
Michelle shook her head as she looked at the curtains drawn at number 1 , the news had startled her when she'd heard it. Carla hadn't told her, no doubt having thought it unfair to broadcast the news until all of Leanne's family were aware but last night Karl had explained that the family had suffered a bereavement. Michelle had initially thought it had been the poor baby who had passed away but Karl had continued aware there might have been misunderstandings and then passed on the tragic news that Leanne had died due to complications during the birth of her daughter. "It's like some soap opera isn't it!" Beth said as she took a drag from her cigarette on her break. "Not really, this is real life."
"Is Mrs Connor okay?" Kirk said compassionately as Michelle smiled softly at him, for all he lacked in brain-skills there was no doubting Kirk was a kind spirit. "I think it's hit her hard, Leanne and Peter are close friends. She might not be in for a few days." Michelle said.