Chapter 28:
Christmas Day
Carla
"Merry Christmas." I hear a soft whisper as my eyes flutter open. I feel so cosy, wrapped up in Nick's embrace, him placing kisses into my hair. I shift around to face him, his hands linking behind my back and our faces practically touch we're so close.
"Hm." I smile, kissing him gently. "Merry Christmas. Can we just stay here forever?"
"I wish." He whispers, smoothing the hair out of my face and studying me lovingly. "How's little one this morning?"
"Well they must be feeling festive because they've given me the day off nausea." I ponder, placing a hand on my tummy. "So that's my Christmas present off them."
"Mm, good." Nick nods, kissing my forehead and I sink back into his chest, falling back to sleep.
Nick
"Ok, if I fall over, this is on you." She stumbles down the stairs, one of my hands over her eyes, the other holding her up, supportively.
"I'm not gonna let you fall over." I laugh, releasing the hand from her eyes and her vision adjusts to the scene I had laid out around the Christmas tree.
"Wow Nick." She nods, impressed. "When did you manage to do this?"
"When you fell asleep and I had to carry you up to bed." I remind her and she smiles, falling back into me as I link my hands around her bump.
"You have your uses, don't you?" She taps me on the arm, before moving forwards to sit on the sofa.
"Tea?" I offer, heading into the kitchen and flicking the kettle on.
"Please." She replies, and I watch as she curls up, resting her head against the cushion. "You got me the ball then?"
"Wow was that obvious?" I laugh, as she points to the big parcel in the corner. "It was horrible to wrap up."
"You didn't need to wrap it up." She tells me, biting her lip as she scans the room. "What's the time?"
"Nine." I check the clock on the wall, before carrying a mug into her.
"Ooh a lie-in and all." She takes it from me, putting it down on the coffee table. "It must be Christmas."
"What time is everybody coming over?" I ask her.
"Half ten Michelle and Robert are getting here." She informs me. "Which means we had better her started, I guess."
"Here." I pass her a small parcel from the pile I had stacked up. She stares at me for a moment, trying not to seem excited before unwrapping it.
"Ah, sweetheart they're gorgeous." She opens a box to find a pair of earrings I had bought her. "Thank you."
"That's ok." I smile as she admires them.
"That's a pricey company." She observes the logo on the front of the box. "Bet they didn't come cheap."
"Is that what you care about?" I laugh and she shakes her head, closing the box and putting them down on the coffee table.
"You're gonna put me to shame." She grins, pulling herself up to pass me a present. I begin to unwrap it carefully, taking a book from inside the paper. No, a photo album.
"What's this?" I frown, as she comes to sit next to me, nestling her head into my shoulder as I open it.
"It's an album of our photos and... Moments together and things, kind of like a story." She explains, as I flick through the pages. "I made it whilst you were in hospital... To show you that... Even if you do forget things sometimes, it's ok... And you'll have this to, you know..."
"Carla..." I trail off, glancing across to where she is blushing slightly. "You actually made this?"
"Yes!" She scolds me and I can't help smiling as I smooth the glossy pages over. "See you must be special; I wouldn't have gone to this effort for anybody else. Ever... See I didn't know what the results would be then, did I? And I just thought, if it was bad news, this would sort of be a way of showing that I was going to stand by you, no matter what."
"...You're incredible." I whisper, turning my head back to look at her and she tugs on the neck of my pyjama top, kissing me softly for a moment.
"You like it?" She finally asks, glancing over the picture Michelle had taken at our engagement party.
"Carla this is the most special thing anyone has ever done for me." I admit and she smiles, not removing her gaze from mine for a moment.
"Apart from carrying your baby." She points out and I feel so in awe of her. She was the strongest person I knew, respect didn't even begin to explain how I felt about her.
"Yeah well it all comes down to you, doesn't it?" I tell her and she chews her lip for a moment, staring at me silently. "Thank you, so much."
Carla
"Hi, merry Christmas!" Michelle beams as I open the front door, wrapping me in a hug. I had only just finished getting ready, so it was a good job they were slightly late.
"Ah merry Christmas darling." I kiss her on the cheek, forcing an awkward smile at Robert as he acknowledges me. Well this felt weird; inviting Robert Preston over for Christmas dinner. But he made Michelle happy so, sacrifices could be made.
"You look gorgeous, I love this." She points to the new red dress I was wearing, which I had bought a week ago when having to endure the pain of buying everybody else's presents. I was wearing my new earrings to match and my hair was in loose waves around my shoulders.
"Thank you." I squeeze her hand as she walks past me, Nick exiting the kitchen and shaking Robert's hand formally.
"Honestly, you two do own a business together." Michelle scoffs, watching them as she sits down on the sofa. "Anyone would have thought you'd just met."
"Yeah well men don't jump on each other like you two do." Nick points out, winking at me and I sit down next to Michelle.
"Oh, congratulations by the way guys." Robert pipes up. "This one only decided to tell me last night."
"Yeah and it's a good job I did." Michelle points to my tummy. "That's some good going for thirteen weeks."
"Hmm." I shoot her a playful glare, placing a hand on my bump protectively and glancing at Robert. "Thank you, anyway."
"Can I get you both a drink?" Nick offers. "Wine, prosecco, beer?"
"Oh, well if you've got prosecco?" Michelle smiles and I envy her for a moment, taking a reluctant sip from my glass of something fizzy Nick had picked me out in the non-alcoholic aisle. Then again, it was quite nice, so I wasn't complaining that much. "It is Christmas after all."
"Yeah, go on, I'll have a glass too." Robert nods, reaching down to squeeze Michelle's shoulder.
"Uh, in that kitchen you." Michelle points. "And don't be drinking too much, I don't want my turkey being decapitated."
"Nice image." I pull a face. "Careful you'll put me off turkey and all."
"Thank you for my makeup." She squeezes my hand, as Nick and Robert disappear into the kitchen.
"You're very welcome." I return, pointing to the heels on my feet that she had bought me. "Thank you for these, they're surprisingly comfy."
"So, what did Nick get you?" Michelle lowers her voice once we are out of earshot. "Do you like my new necklace, by the way?"
"I was just looking at that, actually." I lie, but convincingly as I gently take the pendant, admiring it. "Yeah it's beautiful, present off Robert was it?"
"You know it's nice to actually get a Christmas present off the person you love." She nods. "Rather than just a cheap blouse his mate picked out or a phone call to say he won't be home for a few more weeks..."
"Steve?" I guess.
"Of course." She rolls her eyes. "Nice to feel appreciated, isn't it?"
"Yep." I reply, still finding this situation a bit awkward as there is another knock on the door. I stand, going to answer it and see Roy on the doorstep. "Roy! Merry Christmas."
"Merry Christmas." He replies, hastily returning my hug. "I wanted to leave you valuable time to yourselves before I made an appearance... Although I see you already have company. I hope I am not late?"
"It's Christmas, you can't be late." I remind him, pointing to the armchair. "Please, sit down."
"Thank you very much for my new tapes and jigsaw. I've got you a gift." He pulls it out of his bag, handing it to me. "Since I usually forget, I thought I would correct my actions this year."
"You didn't have to." I tell him, but taking it all the same. I unwrap it cautiously, pulling out a box, which I open up to find a silver broach in the shape of a bird.
"It was Hayley's..." He confesses and I look up, surprised. "I think she would want you to have it, as a token of her congratulations."
"Roy..." I gasp, carefully pulling it from the box as if it would break. I feel Nick's hands on my shoulders all of a sudden and he kisses the top of my head.
"That's nice." He observes, clearly not overhearing the conversation beforehand.
"Roy I can't accept this." I whisper, trying to give it him back and he holds his hands up. "It's precious."
"Like I said Hayley would have wanted you to have it." He repeats. "I know she would have been most proud of you."
I try to force back tears, not wanting to cry so early on in the day and ruin my makeup already. But I was and I can hear Nick sighing as he walks around to kneel next to me.
"I'm sorry guys." I cry, as Nick laughs, squeezing my hand. I try to fan myself to get the tears to go away and Michelle rubs my back affectionately. "Ugh, I'm such a mess... Roy, it's so beautiful."
"...Merry Christmas." He nods, curtly and I take his hand in mine.
"I never cry, why am I crying so much lately?" I sigh, placing it back in the box and staring down at it for a moment. 'She would have been most proud of you'. If there was one person to truly break and mend my heart at the same time, it was Roy Cropper.
"Well, do you want me to spell it out for you?" Michelle prompts me, and I forget what I have asked for a moment. "Oh I was awful with Ryan... Well, Alex. You know I used to watch the Titanic just so I could give myself a reason for being emotional?"
"You didn't have a television." I remind her.
"Yeah but they used to do reruns of it at that scuzzy cinema near the estate, that one where Liam worked for a bit." She reminisces. "I'd skip school and bunk off there on the days he was working because he could get me in for free."
"Seems like a lifetime ago, that." I pause in thought.
"Well, it was." Michelle shrugs, as Robert sits down on the arm of the sofa, putting his arm around her shoulders.
"Yeah... And now Ryan is twenty six and I'm finally pregnant." I raise my eyebrows, shocked at the thought. "Parallels, hey?"
"Well!" Nick jumps up, clapping his hands. "This is turning into a very deep Christmas already. Roy, can I get you a drink?"
"Oh... Just a water will be suffice." He smiles, appreciatively and I pull on Nick's t-shirt before he can walk away, causing him to bend down and kiss me quickly.
"Do you want anything gorgeous?" He offers and I get butterflies as he says it.
"I'm alright thank you." I smile as he walks away. I catch Michelle staring at me, a content smile on her face and nudge her, playfully.
"Mm, is this from the Bistro?" Michelle calls to him, pointing at her glass.
"It better not be." Robert responds, jokily as Nick enters again, passing Roy a glass of water.
"Don't worry I've funded the till, put money back into my own pockets." He rolls his eyes.
"And mine." Robert points out.
"And mine." Michelle adds and I turn to Roy, exasperatedly.
"Feel a bit left out, don't you?" I tease, watching as Roy tries to muster up some logical response, as the doorbell sounds.
"I'll get it." Nick sighs. "Three guesses for who that could be."
"Ugh, and two don't count." I mutter, reluctantly rising because I knew I would have to greet our guests. "Babe, do you want to get some chairs from the kitchen and put them around. There's not gonna be enough room otherwise."
"That's what I was hoping for." He drones and I laugh as he opens the door, allowing the rabble of Platt's to enter the living room.
"Hi! Merry Christmas!" Bethany immediately rushes over to me, almost knocking me over.
"Ok, baby?" I prompt her and she immediately moves away, glancing at my stomach.
"Oh, sorry." She smiles, and I run my fingers through her hair briefly.
"I love this plait did you do it yourself?" I admire and she nods, as Gail rushes over to me.
"Hello Carla, glad tidings and all that." She beams, hugging me without consent.
"Mm, sure is." I mumble, as she slowly retracts from me. They were like a tap you can't turn off; they keep flooding in uncontrollably.
"Hi." David pats me on the back and I'm grateful he doesn't try to plaster me with hugs and kisses like the rest of them. "Thanks for agreeing to put up with us."
"No problem, happy birthday by the way..." I trail off, flashing him a smile. "Where's Sarah?"
"Oh, on her way." David tells me, putting his arm around Shona. "Her and Gary were having a domestic."
"Another one?" I raise my eyebrows, as Max wraps his arms around my waist. "Hiya mate, merry Christmas."
"Merry Christmas auntie Carla!" He choruses and Lily holds her hand up to high-five me, which I attempt to do with hesitation.
"Oh my goodness." Sarah finally steps through the door holding Harry's hand, accompanied by Audrey who is pushing an empty pushchair. "Have him." She pushes him gently towards me and I pick him up with difficulty, opening my mouth wide to pull a face at him. He laughs, and I sit down in the other armchair, placing him on my lap because I knew Nick would tell me off if I was holding him when he emerges from the kitchen. "What a nightmare of a day, already!"
"You what?" David drones. "You haven't done anything but eat those biscuits I bought for mum and go on about the fact Gary bought you half price flowers."
"Well they'll be dead tomorrow!" Sarah exclaims, staring at me for some kind of back-up.
"So where is he?" I ask, as Audrey closes the door, backing the pushchair against the wall. Harry grabs my finger, trying to bite down on it.
"He's coming in a bit he had to go and give Faye her present." She sighs. "Honestly, I bet she gets something really expensive as well."
"Well it's not all about that, is it Sarah lovey?" Audrey reminds her as Nick carries a stack of chairs out from the kitchen, displaying them in a circle around the room.
"Oh I'll sit on one of those." I stand, supporting Harry on my hip. "Audrey you have this chair."
"No!" She replies, abruptly and Nick raises his eyebrows at me. "You sit where you feel comfiest. Oh Sarah, you shouldn't have lumbered her with a toddler already."
"I'm sure I can cope." I tell the sea of eyes staring back at me before giving up and sitting back down.
"I need a drink." Sarah groans. "Nick I want some of that prosecco, where is it?"
"Yes your majesty." Nick huffs, glancing around the room as everybody starts to take a seat. Lily tips a bag of toys out on to the carpet and I roughly try to count how many people we had actually invited round. Honestly, we had a fairly large living room, but I was pretty sure it didn't intend to accommodate a capacity of thirteen people and a toddler.
"So, how has your Christmas been so far?" Gail sits down on the chair next to me.
"Peaceful." I reply before lowering my voice. "Until now."
"Oh hi Michelle." Audrey finally greets her, sitting down next to their sofa. "I didn't realise that was you for a second."
"Hi Audrey." Michelle smiles and gives me a look as if to wonder why I ever invited her in the first place.
"Have you got us any presents?" Bethany asks, sitting down next to Michelle on the sofa, where I was originally sat.
"I have." I nod as Harry slides off my lap, running over to play with Lily's toys and I suddenly can't believe how much he has grown. "Here you go." I slide the massive stack of presents in to the centre of the living room with great difficulty. "Find your names, they're on there somewhere."
"Uh, I don't think you need anymore presents off Carla." Sarah points out. "I think she's done enough for you these past few weeks."
"Yeah, where's my present Bethany?" I tease her and she glances at me awkwardly.
"The pleasure of my company at the factory from now on." She replies, smartly, finding her two presents and sitting back down. "Ooh, I've got two. I must be the favourite."
"Right here we are." Nick carries a tray of drinks in, placing it down on the coffee table and handing them out, before coming to sit on the arm of my chair.
"Oh cool, can I have some prosecco?" Bethany exclaims, pausing mid-unwrapping and turning to look at Sarah.
"Go on then." Sarah sighs, taking a glass for herself. Nick gets up, handing me a glass of the non-alcoholic stuff and I smile appreciatively as he sits back down and wraps his arm around my shoulders.
"No way! You didn't!" Bethany exclaims, pulling the makeup palette out of the wrapping paper. "This is that one I was showing you mum, look."
"Have I got a present?" Max asks and I nod, pointing to the pile.
"Yeah it's the one with snowmen on it." I tell him and Nick kisses my forehead, affectionately.
"You're amazing." He whispers, so nobody else can hear and I smile at him, shaking my head slightly.
"Carla you don't realise how good this stuff is!" Bethany continues, snapping me out of my trance.
"Oh trust me I do." I respond. "The woman droning down my ear in the shop informed me enough."
"Ok, where's my present I'm excited now." Sarah roots through the pile and Michelle gapes at me, causing me to laugh.
"Max can you find my present?" Lily pokes him and he groans, reading the names on the packages and handing her one before tearing his open.
"Cool!" Max shouts and Audrey tries to quieten him. "A cricket set?"
"Ah well Nick said he'd teach you how to play so." I pat Nick on the arm and he looks up at him expectantly.
"Not right now." Nick prompts him. "Maybe when the weather is a bit warmer."
"Wow!" Lily exclaims, opening her present and excitedly finding the unicorn palace thing I had bought her, that I had absolutely no clue about. "Can I play with it now?"
"That was a gamble." I point to it, looking at David. "I just went to the recommended aisle in the toy shop."
"Carla I thought you had decided to steer clear of gambling." Roy prompts me, quietly and I don't know whether he's joking or not.
"Shh." I nudge him, grinning all the same. I didn't even care at this point in time, I felt so happy, despite the chaos. Everything seemed like it had slotted into place. For the first time in forever I didn't have something tragic on the horizon, or any worries hanging over me. Maybe this is what 'normal' is, perhaps after all these years I was getting a taste of what it felt like at last.
And I loved it.
Nick
"Remind me why I'm cooking the dinner at your house?" Robert asks me, putting the turkey back in the oven.
"Look, I had just as much idea about this as you." I remind him. "Ask the girls, not me."
"Well that's done for now anyway." He sighs, fanning himself with a tea towel. "Full house."
"You know I don't actually realise how hellish they really are until I actually have to spend time with them." I nod, glancing through the crack in the door. My gaze moves to where Carla is holding one of Lily's unicorns for her, watching as she parades the other around the carpet. I was so in love, I couldn't believe it. "Any more drinks?" I announce, reluctantly heading into the room and gran raises her glass from where she was sitting chatting to Roy. I take it from her, topping it up with the whiskey that was on the mantelpiece; because clearly that was too much effort for her to do herself.
"More of this." Bethany gives me her glass and I observe her.
"How much have you had?" I ask and she shrugs.
"Oh lighten up Nick, it's Christmas." Sarah smiles at me, holding her glass out.
"Hey, she's your daughter, it's your call." I take it from her, heading back into the kitchen and opening another bottle from the fridge. "Babe?" I call, sticking my head out of the door and she looks up, rising from her chair and coming towards me. "You alright?"
"Fine yeah." She nods, despite already looking shattered.
"Don't overdo it." I warn her and she rolls her eyes cheerfully.
"Darling, I'm not ill." She whispers, leaning over to kiss me. "You care too much."
"And that's a bad thing?" I ask and she smiles, as I put the bottle back in the fridge, arranging a few more glasses on the tray.
"No." She murmurs, pausing as she meets my gaze. "Are you happy?"
"Do you really need to ask that question?" I chuckle, letting go of the tray and wrapping my arms around her waist. "Yes, I'm happy."
"Sure?" She checks, pressing her thumb to my chin.
"I promise." I whisper, kissing her momentarily before voices sound from the living room.
"Ugh, we can see you, you know?" Bethany raises her voice. "Where's these drinks?"
"Duty calls." Carla pokes my chest, grinning as she spins around, heading back into the living room. I grab the tray, lowering it on to the coffee table and handing Bethany her refilled glass back. The front door opens suddenly without any knock or ring of the doorbell and Gary appears.
"Don't knock then!" Sarah exclaims, although I don't think she cares about his lack of manners, and is more intent on starting another argument. "You know this is Nick and Carla's house? You can't just barge in whenever you feel like it!"
"Sarah it's alright." Carla calms her, as Bethany sits down on the arm of the armchair she is sat in.
"So which one looks better?" She points to the illustrations in the manual she's found inside her palette.
"Well why don't you try them both?" She suggests. "Alternate them between days?"
"Thanks for my top, it's dead posh." She holds it up against her. "Can I wear this for work?"
"That was the intention." Carla nods. "Have you tried it on?"
"Yeah, I took a picture in the toilet." She gets her phone out. "Look."
"Nick, have you got any more nibbles?" Gail pokes me in the arm and I stare down at her.
"Mum have you scoffed that whole bowl?" David observes, sat next to her with Shona on his lap. "Is this just so you haven't got to cook Christmas dinner? Because it's half twelve now and you haven't even started."
"Yes well I'm enjoying myself, David!" Gail moans, handing me the empty bowl and I sigh, standing up and pouring the rest of the crisps into the bowl, passing them back to her.
"Yeah well maybe share them around?" David suggests. "You haven't even offered Carla one and she bought them."
"Oh... Do you want a crisp Carla?" She holds the bowl out and Carla winces at the smell.
"Oh, no thank you." She pushes the bowl away slightly. "I wouldn't dare take them from you anyway, Gail. You enjoy them."
"I bet you feel even more nauseous having us around, don't you?" David asks and I glare at him, pushing him so he grins at me.
"Oh of course not." Carla lies, sitting back in her chair. "It's a pleasure..."
"Oh yeah, how much have you paid her to say that?" David chortles, staring up at me. Shona slaps him lightly on the chest and he ruffles her hair absentmindedly.
"David!" Gail hisses. "Don't be so rude! Nick loves having us around, don't you Nicky?"
"Yes..." I sarcastically reply, watching as Harry runs towards Carla, climbing up on to her lap and sitting facing her as he plays with her necklace.
"Craig's popping over." Bethany informs me, staring down at her phone and I glance around the room.
"Uh, this isn't a homeless shelter." I prompt her. "I really don't think this room can cope with many more people in it."
"Oh well David can go in the kitchen then." Bethany sticks her tongue out at him.
"Oh Carla, there's some snacky things in the bag by you if you want to feed him." Sarah points to it and I shake my head at her. She was just in her own little world, a prime example of how not to parent, though I suppose she could be worse. She did love Bethany and Harry, she just didn't go about it in the right way sometimes.
"Breadstick?" Carla offers him and he takes it, crunching it loudly and I smile just watching them.
"I tell you what, if Sarah ever croaks it, I know who they'll want to go to." David indicates to Bethany and Harry, pointing at Carla. She stares at me awkwardly, although it was a compliment, it still embarrassed her, I could tell.
"David!" Sarah snaps, draining her glass and reaching for another one. "That's a horrible thing to say."
"No it's not!" David objects. "It's fact, especially on this street, you've got to be prepared."
"David!" Mum glares at him. "Stop that now... Besides, they'd go to me."
"Uh, no thanks." Bethany pulls a face and mum looks offended by this. "Is that true mum? If you died, would we go to uncle Nick and Carla?"
"Bethany I am not discussing this on Christmas Day!" Sarah retorts, prodding Gary in the side. "Gary, tell her?"
"It is a bit of a morbid discussion." Gary grumbles, clearly not interested.
"Oh please?" Bethany begs and Carla tries to hold nervous laughter as she looks at me, holding a stick of cucumber for Harry to eat.
"Bethany I am still very much alive and breathing!" Sarah snaps. "Merry Christmas to you too... But yes, Harry would go to Nick and Carla."
"What?" Gail gasps and Carla looks shocked at this.
"Well mum they are his Godparents!" She points out. "That's sort of the purpose."
"Ha, good luck bro." David nudges me and I go to sit down on the arm of Carla's chair again, protectively.
"I'm gonna go and help Robert." Michelle sighs, bored with the discussion as she heads towards the kitchen.
"Well what about me? Where do I go?" Bethany demands and I groan, as gran puts her head in her hands.
"To the rubbish dump." David teases her and she glares at him. "With any luck, unless anyone is planning anything within the next year, you'll be an adult anyway... Somehow."
"Right can we change the subject now." Sarah shouts, sloshing her prosecco over the carpet and Carla suddenly stands up, placing Harry down on the floor and running up the stairs. "Look David, you've upset Carla now!"
"I haven't upset her!" David objects. "Bethany has."
"Right just shut up." I snap and the room falls silent. I get up, heading towards the stairs, the silence deafening as I reach the top, opening the bedroom door cautiously. "...You alright?"
"Yep." Carla nods, staring out of the window.
"Look, I'll tell them to go." I sigh, going over to her and tilting her eyes to face mine, which she fights.
"Nick, it's fine." She assures me. "They're just all very intense. I'm not used to having such a big and excitable family, am I?"
"Yes well I don't know why the theme of Sarah's death got brought up." I mutter, holding my arms out and she walks into them. "So we don't even need to discuss that."
"It's not that." She mumbles. "It's an honour, in a way... Never got told of that plan though."
"They'll be going soon." I tell her, grazing a finger along her cheekbone. "...You're honestly brilliant with Harry. If you'd have told me this time two years ago I'd be watching a scene like that in my living room, I'd have laughed."
"...Cheers." She mutters and I exhale.
"Hey, I didn't mean it like that." I reassure her. "I just meant you've come along way."
"Yeah well I was all set to be a mum, wasn't I?" She whispers. "My body thought so, anyway, leaking breast milk for no baby to drink... I guess it's intuition, maternal instincts for the wrong child, I don't know..."
"Or you're just being a Godmother?" I suggest and she finally looks at me, sighing the same way she did the night we first slept together. "Fairy Godmother."
"Hm, wouldn't quite put it like that." She smiles slightly and I place a soft kiss on to her lips, as she wraps her arms around my neck. "I'm not wearing a tutu for anyone."
"Shut up." I grin, gently slapping her bum and she laughs, her eyes studying mine.
"You shut up." She bites her lip, happily before kissing me again.
Carla
"Right we're going to get off." Audrey stands up, at last as I reach the bottom of the stairs.
"Oh are we?" Gail frowns, putting her empty bowl down.
"Yes, Gail, we are." Audrey decides, indicating to David and Shona who stand up reluctantly.
"Carla, I am really sorry." Sarah approaches me. "It's my stupid brother, he never picks the right time for anything."
"Oi!" David snaps and Audrey groans, steering him in the direction of the door.
"Really, it's ok." I assure her as Bethany comes over to me.
"Yeah I'm really sorry for what I said." Bethany apologises. "I didn't want to upset you."
"You didn't!" I persist. "Honestly, now you'd better be on time on Wednesday, yes?"
"Ten o'clock, got it." She beams and I narrow my eyes at her. "Joking, I know it's nine."
"Careful you don't want to be sacked before you even start." I tease her.
"No you don't, come on, we're going." Sarah tugs on her arm. "Before you can do even more damage."
"Oh are you going?" Nick appears behind me as he gets to the bottom of the stairs. "What a shame."
"Oh well if you want us to stay?" Gail starts.
"No, no we understand." Nick holds his hands up and I rest my head in his chest. "You've probably got loads to do."
"Well..." Gail ponders, before she is ushered off by Audrey.
"Come on." Audrey flaps, grabbing the pushchair. "Merry Christmas."
"Merry Christmas." I smile back as she closes the door behind them. "Ahhh..." I moan, loudly, going over to the sofa and sinking down on to it. "We survived."
"I must say, that was a rather... Interesting gathering." Roy finally chimes in and I roll my head across the sofa cushions to face him.
"You can say that again Roy." I nod. "You can say that again."
"Right what can I get you?" Nick leans down.
"A shot of vodka." I joke and he raises his eyebrows at me. "Decaf coffee would be nice, at least I can pretend it's the real thing, hey?"
"Oh have they finally gone?" Michelle cheers, peering through the kitchen door and hastily approaching the other sofa.
"Did you not guess from the hugely decreased noise level?" I scoff as Nick goes off to get my coffee. "I'm sorry I put you all through that."
"I felt more sorry for you!" Michelle exclaims. "Talk about putting you on the spot."
"You should be resting." Roy insists, a concerned tone to his voice. "It is not good to be surrounded by such unnecessary chaos."
"Really, everybody I am ok!" I object, as Nick hands me my drink and sits down next to me. "You're all acting as if I've just survived a car accident... When I survived a car accident... Multiple car accidents."
"Ok!" Nick raises a finger to my lips, using the remote control to flick some Christmas music on the television. "That's enough of that, thank you. It's Christmas Day, so we're going to enjoy it."
"That was delicious, thank you." I push my plate away, satisfied.
"You're all very welcome." Nick replies, knowing it would wind Robert up.
"You what?" Robert laughs cockily. "You weren't even in the kitchen for half of it and when you were you stood there eating the scraps of bacon."
"You wouldn't let me anywhere near the food!" Nick reminds him and I exchange a look with Michelle, causing us to laugh.
"It wouldn't have turned out as good as this if I had, would it?" He prompts and Nick rolls his eyes. "So who's doing the washing up? Michelle?"
"Uh, no!" Michelle retorts, shooting him a look.
"I'll do the washing up." Nick sighs, standing and collecting plates up. "If you turn that music up, Car."
"Yes boss." I salute him, jumping up and grabbing the TV remote. "Uh, hold on." I stop him before he goes into the kitchen. "Come here." I pull his spare arm, my hand falling against the back of his head as I kiss him momentarily. I pull away to notice Roy awkwardly staring around the room and laugh at Michelle's put-out expression. "Do you remember when we were teenagers and me and Rob would gate crash your place on Christmas Day?"
"I remember my mum moaning about it." Michelle teases, coming to sit next to me. "And we had that takeaway turkey pizza from shady Sue's."
"Ew." I scrunch my nose up at the thought. "But then we'd all sit around playing charades and Liam would do Jaws every single time but we'd never guess it."
"Yeah because his shark impression was so awful!" She reminds me and I laugh at the thought. "Darling I'm just gonna pop to the loo."
"Can I say something?" Robert suddenly sits down next to me and I look to where Roy has gone into the kitchen to offer to help Nick.
"Ey?" I frown, slightly nervous as he sits down with as much distance as possible between us on the sofa.
"I just wanted to say that I'm glad you're happy." He admits and I avoid his gaze, staring down at the carpet. "Things worked out in the end, didn't they?"
"I guess." I mumble. "Although I'd still change what happened without a seconds thought."
"I wouldn't." He responds and I force myself to look at him, shocked at his response. "Because if it hadn't, I'd still be stuck with Tracy."
"Yeah well I suppose you did have a lucky escape there." I relax slightly after gathering what he meant. "You know it was never your fault; in fact you actually did the right thing, the best thing. It was Tracy who ruined it all for me."
"Yeah well she ruined it for herself." Robert says quietly. "What happened between us was a massive mistake and I hope Nick realises that now. I mean, like I told you before, he married one of the most gorgeous women in Weatherfield-"
"Yes, he knows that now." I cut him off, not wanting to get into a conversation this uncomfortable. "The mistake part." I add, so I didn't seem too vain.
"He's lucky, you're a good person, Carla." He tells me and I hesitate, finally looking at him as Michelle appears, wrapping her arms around his neck and we snap out of the silence we were in.
"What's going on here then?" Michelle smiles, kissing his neck, affectionately. "You two are actually talking?"
"We were actually discussing your wedding." I lie, brightly and she looks excited at the thought. "And what the colour scheme is going to be."
"Oh we haven't even set a date yet." Michelle sighs, sitting down on his lap. "Never mind colour schemes."
"Well that's what he said." I nod, pointing at Robert before getting up and heading towards the bathroom. I lean up against the door once I am inside, staring back in my reflection opposite. Why would he bring that up? On Christmas of all days, when he knew it would get to me and remind me?
I take a deep breath, steadying my heart rate and composing myself. It was in the past, this was the future, time to move on.
"Mm." I sit down in Nick's lap, leaning against his chest as he pulls his arms around me. I nibble on chocolate from one of the packets that were lying around the boxes of unwrapped presents.
"You alright?" He checks and I nod slowly.
"Tired." I mumble, lowering the chocolate and closing my eyes momentarily.
Nick
"Ah Michelle, you couldn't get that could you?" I look up at the sound of the door, moving my gaze from where Roy was quietly completing his jigsaw, to Michelle. She was lying in Robert's chest contently watching some Christmas show on television. "It'll be your family."
"I'll tell them to be quiet." She gets up, noticing that Carla was still asleep on me. I didn't want to wake her; sleep was valuable and she didn't get enough of it as it is. "Hey, keep your voices down."
"Why?" I hear Kate before she appears, followed by Aidan and Johnny. "Oh, Merry Christmas Nick." She whispers, before hugging Michelle. "Merry Christmas."
"Had a good day?" Michelle asks them, quietly as she embraces the other two. I hold up my spare hand to wave at them as they come to sit down.
"Yeah amazing." Johnny nods, leading Jenny in by her hand. "I see sleeping beauty has conked out already."
"Lightweight." Aidan teases her despite the fact she couldn't even hear him. He sits down in one of the chairs we still had laid out.
"I'd get you a drink but uh..." I point to Carla. "I'm too busy getting a dead leg."
"I can assist." Roy stands as Johnny and Jenny sit down on the other sofa. "What will everybody be drinking?"
"I'll have a beer if you've got one going?" Aidan asks and I nod at Roy. "Kate'll have white wine."
"I'll have a scotch, ta." Johnny adds.
"I'll have a wine and all." Jenny finishes as he nods, tallying it up and heading into the kitchen.
"So, good Christmas so far?" Kate asks.
"Yeah apart from the eventful morning." Michelle sighs, taking a sip of her drink.
"Why, what happened?" Johnny looks worried.
"Two words; my family." I roll my eyes. "A nightmare, the lot of them."
"Two glasses of wine?" Roy carries them out of the kitchen, offering them to Jenny and Kate, before disappearing again.
"Thanks Roy." I smile at him appreciatively as Carla begins to stir, mumbling as she wakes. "Afternoon."
"Mm..." She murmurs, moving her head slightly and seeing where she has drooled on my t-shirt, quickly wiping it off. "Ugh... Sorry."
"Alright for some, falling asleep in the middle of the afternoon." Aidan checks his watch and Carla sits bolt upright, realising they were there.
"Oh God, how long have you been here?" She asks, shocked. "Oh wow that's embarrassing."
"Merry Christmas to you too." Aidan reaches a hand out to nudge her. "Nice bump."
"Shut it." She glares at him and he laughs, taking his beer from Roy. "You made Roy get the drinks?"
"He offered!" I tell her. "Besides, I couldn't get up."
"You should have woken me up." She yawns, sitting up on my lap from where she had slid down slightly. "What time is it?"
"Half four." Kate informs her, checking her phone.
"Do you want anything?" I offer, linking my hand with hers.
"Nick, you sound like you're working." She smiles, patting my chest lightly. "It's all I've heard all day."
"Uh, don't be nasty!" Michelle objects. "He's sat there for hours whilst you've dribbled all over him."
"Michelle!" Carla shouts, throwing a cushion at her, childishly. Michelle grins, holding it up and threatening to throw it back to her.
"Don't even think about it." Carla glares at her and I exchange a look with Johnny.
"I remember when you two hated each other." Michelle bites her lip, her eyes twinkling at the thought. She leans forward, putting the cushion in her lap and observing us carefully. "Back when you both ran the factory based on vanity."
"Uh, we never hated each other!" Carla retorts, catching my eye and trying not to smile. "He was just difficult to work with, don't know how you guys do it."
"I never knew you two used to run the factory together?" Kate frowns.
"Oh yeah, a very long time ago." Michelle continues to wind Carla up.
"Oh it was 2010." Carla rolls her eyes. "It's only... Seven years... Wow."
"Me and Leanne used to think you'd get together." Michelle teases and Carla exhales, clearly wound up and I laugh, squeezing her hand. "I bet there was a lot of sexual tension in that office."
"I'm just going to... Get a glass of water." Roy coughs awkwardly, heading in to the kitchen and Carla shoots Michelle a look.
"Stop that now." She hisses. "Besides, he was far too cocky for me."
"You were far too cocky for each other." Michelle points out and I tilt Carla head upwards to kiss her. "Both gone soft now."
"Maybe we have." Carla shrugs, staring up at me with a hint of a smile on her face. "I'm not even complaining."
"I feel sick." Aidan groans, putting his head in his hands and Kate slaps him lightly.
"I actually do feel sick." Carla suddenly mutters, an unpleasant look casting over her face.
"Bathroom?" I point, as if she didn't know where it was and she gives me a look.
"Ugh... Yeah." She sighs, finally rising and heading towards the downstairs bathroom.
"It's your turkey." I joke to Robert once she has gone and he flashes me a sarcastic smile. Michelle shakes her head at me, a satisfied expression on her face as she leans back into his chest. "Right, I'd better go and check she's alright."
"She's like a dog." Aidan contemplates out loud. "You know one of those small yappy ones; feed it, water it, take it for a walk and it'll fall asleep on your lap."
"Yeah I really wouldn't tell her that." I tell him, knowing for his sake it wouldn't be something she would pleasingly hear.
Carla
"Babe we're gonna get off." Michelle kneels down next to where I was lying on the sofa, staring at the television but not watching it. "Thank you so much for having us today."
"No it's fine, you weren't the problem, it was the other visitors." I smile, meeting her gaze and she kisses me on the cheek.
"Take care of yourself." She squeezes my hand. "Merry Christmas."
"Merry Christmas." I return as she stands up. "Love you."
"...Bye." Robert waves, awkwardly as he opens the door, allowing Michelle to step out of it. He stares at me for a very brief moment, and it makes me feel uncomfortable, before he forces a smile, nodding and heading out of the door.
"Thank you very much." Roy stands, from the armchair. "It has been a wonderful day."
"Wouldn't quite put it like that." I smile at him, sitting up.
"Oh please, don't get up on my account." Roy frets and I raise my eyebrows.
"Don't be silly." I laugh slightly, holding my arms out to hug him and he comes towards me, hesitantly returning my embrace. "Thank you for everything. Helping out, the beautiful present. Roy, it's just..." I pick it up from the coffee table, admiring it. "I won't want to wear it because it's so special."
"Whatever you decide to do with it, I know Hayley would be very pleased that it is now yours." He nods and I hold his gaze, glancing at Lauren's pot in the corner.
"I know me and you don't believe in all that stuff but..." I trail off. "If, you know, there is... Somewhere... I bet Hayley's looking after her."
"I'm sure she would be honoured until one day you are reunited with her once more." Roy's voice is so genuine and I bite my lip, forcing back tears.
"You know, Roy Cropper... You deserve the world." I dare myself to look at him, tears rolling down my cheeks.
"I had the world." He nods, and I can see he's hurting underneath, today of all days. I reach my hand out, squeezing it supportively and we stand there for a moment in comfortable silence.
"Merry Christmas darling." I whisper, kissing him on the cheek and hugging him again.
"Merry Christmas." Roy replies, before pulling away and picking his bag up, heading towards the door. I start to cry more, kneeling down by the flowers and resting my forehead on the marble pot, breathing in the earthy smell. I knew we needed to put it in the garden, but I liked it being in here with us, whilst we watched television or ate or just talked. I felt like she was here with us.
"Merry Christmas, angel. I love you." I whisper to the ashes, and I feel Nick next to me, wrapping his arm around my shoulders and I allow him to hold me, protect me, love me. Just me, him, and our two children.
