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20th May 2023
Carla was sitting in the rocking chair in the twins nursery staring out of the window looking at the stars, she had Isobel rested on her chest, the faint buzzing in the back of her mind giving some sense of noise and normality. The stars twinkled brightly over the dark sky, Carla smiling broadly staring out of the room before turning back down to Isobel who started to cry gently, Carla hushing her gently taking her to the window so she could see the moonlight cascade over the cobbles.
"Say hi to your sister" Carla smiles as Isobel starts to cry holding her hand out Carla seeing this as a way of Isobel pointing to the street
"You want to go out there?" Carla questions as Isobel snuggles down on her chest "Alright we'll go and be near your sister shall we?"
"Let's get you changed into something a bit warmer" Carla beams as she changes Isobel into some clothes and grabbing the sling so she could be held close, Isobel loved the sling
"Let's grab a bag shall we?" Carla smiles grabbing the changing bag which was in the room putting clothes and changing stuff in the bag as well as grabbing her handbag from her and Peter's room
"Come on then, let's go" Carla grins as Isobel snuggles into the warmth of her mother's chest, Carla sneaking downstairs grabbing her jacket as she sneaks out of the house, Isobel snuggled to her chest in the sling
"Carla?" Peter questions reaching out beside him to try and feel her body but no one was there, Florence's cries erupted the room
"Alright Flo, I'll change you sweetheart" Peter smiles picking Florence up and taking her into the nursery, noticing clothes were spewed all over the floor he quickly changed Florence holding her against his chest as he looks around the room to make sure everything was still there noticing the changing bag gone
"Hey, where's mummy gone?" Peter questions to Florence as she snuggles into his chest yawning, Peter going downstairs to see if Carla was down there
"Carla?" Peter calls receiving no answer Peter rushing through the house seeing that Carla was nowhere to be seen, before calling Michelle hoping she would answer considering it was 2am
"Peter…what the…" Michelle groans down the phone
"Is Carla with you?" Peter questions panicking as Michelle shoots up out of bed knowing exactly what this would mean
"No…it's 2am?" Michelle questions down the phone as Peter sighs audibly "Peter what's happened?"
"Carla's gone, she's taken Isobel and I don't know where she's gone" Peter panics as Michelle fumbles around putting some clothes on, the phone pressed to her ear
"Ok, I'm coming try not to worry" Michelle sighs ending the call as Peter cradles Florence, crying into her head as she sleeps
"It's ok, we'll find Mummy and get her better" Peter smiles gently kissing Florence's head as there was a knock on the door Peter going to answer it
"Michelle I don't know where she is" Peter panics as Michelle brings him into a hug, as Florence stirs starting to cry
"Do you want me to give her a bottle?" Michelle questions as Peter nods handing Florence to Michelle
"Hey beautiful, you look like your mum don't you?" Michelle questions preparing a bottle for Florence as she continues to cry Michelle rubbing the teat of the bottle against her lips as she accepts it
"There we are sweetheart" Michelle smiles as Florence drinks all of her bottle, Michelle going to burp her watching Peter finish his calls to people
"No one's seen her" Peter stresses as Michelle places Florence in the baby swing turning it on as she sleeps
"Ok, look she'll come back, she has done before, did she anything last night?" Michelle questions as he shakes his head looking at his phone
"She's left her baby Michelle, she's taken one and left the other, this isn't some trip down to the supermarket" Peter stresses as Michelle bites her lip knowing what this probably means
"I know ok, just stop stressing otherwise Flo and Aidan will pick up on it" Michelle smiles as Peter dips his head into his hands exasperated
"I might go out and look around for her…you never know" Peter says as Michelle nods
"I'll look after Flo and Aidan, don't worry" Michelle smiles as Peter brings her into a hug, grabbing his jacket, phone and car keys leaving the house
Carla was walking around the dimly lit streets of Weatherfield wondering where to stop off to rest, she had her keys and some cash on her with she withdrew at one of the cashpoints on the way, enough to get her some food and some things for Isobel for a few days knowing that she would need to protect her. She stumbled across a three star hotel which made her smile as if it was destined to help her in her quest to protect Isobel. She entered the reception, asked for a room with a cot and there she was nice and safe in a hotel room with her baby.
"Tell mummy where you want to go next sweetheart then we'll go ok?" Carla whispers to Isobel who was snuggled closely to her chest as she begins to whimper tugging at Carla's top
"You're hungry, ok then mummy will feed you…how about you guide me to Eloise then, I know you know where she is" Carla smiles adjusting her top so she could feed Isobel as she latches on, Carla stroking her cheek
"Do you want a little bath?" Carla questions going into the bathroom and filling the sink to a suitable temperature rocking Isobel against her chest
"There we go, let's get you unchanged sweetheart, nice and clean for your sister" Carla smiles as tickling Isobel's feet as she squirms, Carla lifting her up and placing her in the sink washing her body as she cries
"Oh dear, we really don't like being washed do we?" Carla grins as Isobel splashed the water with her legs, Carla grabbing the towel which she had sandwiched in between her legs taking Isobel out and drying her off as she stops crying
"There we go all clean for your sister, she'll be impressed that mummy's looking after you" Carla smiles broadly as she changes Isobel into some clothes watching as her eyes open
"You have such beautiful eyes sweetheart, your sister will love them when she sees them" Carla grins as Isobel snuggles into her chest grabbing a piece of Carla's hair
"Let's watch the stars then we'll set off at night again?" Carla questions to Isobel going to the window of the hotel room and pointing to the stars
Peter got a couple of hours of sleep in after his search for Carla proving fruitless, being woken up by Aidan was always a joy when he was bored but he didn't mind, he knew that if Carla was well she would want him to look after Aidan and Florence for her so he did with Michelle and Simon's help. Michelle made everyone breakfast which Peter was very grateful for, Carla's family and Peter's family arriving around nine to speak to Peter to try and understand when things got so bad for Carla and trying to help him piece together everything.
"Come in" Michelle smiles letting Johnny, Kate and Jenny in
"Peter what happened?" Johnny questions putting an arm around his shoulders as the doorbell goes again, Michelle going to let Roy in
"She ran away in the night I think, whilst I was asleep, she's got Isobel with her, taken the changing bag and gone just like that" Peter explains as Johnny sighs tears filling Kate's eyes as Florence starts to cry
"I can go if you want?" Tracey offers as Peter nods gesturing for her to go upstairs, returning with Florence a while later going into the kitchen and making her a bottle
"Does s-she have her kidney medication?" Roy pipes up as Peter rushes into the kitchen looking through the boxes
"She's taken the blister packs, hopefully she remembers to take them, did she take them before, you know when she ran away?" Peter questions to Roy and Johnny as they look at each other
"I would assume she was, that was until we found her at that hotel, she ran away again her drugs remained in the chest of drawers" Roy explains very matter of fact as Peter sighs
"Great, so she could just run away and leave them, like she did before?"
"You don't know that, she's obsessed with Isobel no doubt she would take her kidney medication to protect her?" Michelle questions as Johnny nods in agreement Peter sighing hoping what Michelle was saying would turn out to be true
"I hope so I really do" Peter sighs as Tracey walks over with Florence in her arms
"I think she wants her dad" Tracey smiles handing Florence to Peter as he holds her against his chest, Johnny reaching out to stroke Florence's cheek as she grasps onto his finger
"Oh Peter, look at her eyes, they look just like Carla's" Johnny smiles as Peter nods in agreement rubbing Florence's back as she settles on his chest
"There's got to be an explanation for this surely?" Ken questions as Peter sighs
"I should've been more observant, well I was I just didn't urge her to see anyone"
"Peter we've been through this" Michelle starts "She wouldn't have wanted to go even if you made an appointment it's just one of those things you can't control"
"Michelle's right son" Ken states as Peter kisses Florence's forehead as she tilts her head slightly
"I guess, what do we do now?"
"You could phone the missing person helpline?" Tracey suggests "They would most likely make an exception considering her history with mental health"
"Yeah, let's do that"
"I'll go back to the pub and make the call" Johnny assures him "That way you can focus on Flo and Aidan"
"Thank you Johnny, I appreciate it and sorry for not looking after her" Peter bites his lip guiltily as Johnny sighs
"This isn't your fault Peter, we just didn't act on the signs that she may be struggling" Johnny states "The quicker I get back the quicker they can help find her"
"I'll see you out" Michelle pipes up leading the Connor's out of the house
"We'll head off as well, leave you in peace" Ken states bending down to peck a kiss on Florence's forehead as him, Tracey and Adam leave
"Look you see, you have a lot of people on your side" Michelle smiles stroking Florence's head as she sticks her tongue out, Michelle laughing at her
"Oh Florence that's not very lady-like" Peter grins as Florence stretches her arms up to reach his beard
"You'll be fine, how about I take Aidan out and you can grab a couple of hours sleep with Flo?" Michelle suggests as Peter nods gratefully patting Florence's back gently
"Thanks 'Chelle, why don't you take Ava as well?"
"Yeah that's what I was planning, right I'll go get him ready, you have a sleep and try not to worry about Carla" Michelle smiles going upstairs to collect Aidan and leaving the house shortly after leaving Peter with Florence
"Want to know something Flo? I think you and me will be just fine you know, we'll find your mummy and get her better, if it is the last thing I do on this planet"