Two updates today, I have so many ideas it's unreal to be honest, I hope you enjoy this and the direction at which this is going, thank you all for the reviews I am getting it's really encouraging me to write more
21st May 2023
Johnny reported Carla and Isobel missing to the police, Peter also found out that Carla never took her phone which worried him immensely he just wanted Carla home so he could get her the help he needed. Michelle and Steve stayed the night in Simon's room as Simon decided he was going to stay with Leanne for a bit to give Peter some space knowing that it would be helpful if Michelle was there for him. Peter had the worry of the twins check-up today, luckily it was with Carla's GP which was Ali so that was helpful, he didn't have to explain things, so he was preparing to take Florence to the appointment and leave Aidan with Steve, Michelle and Ava back at his.
"Peter" Ali smiles as Peter unstraps Florence from the pram causing her to let out little whimpers once he got in the room
"Could you undress her then we'll give her a weigh" Ali smiles as Peter goes over to the examination table to undress Florence handing her to Ali as she cried loudly
"Oh we really don't like this do we Flo?" Ali grins as the scales settle "She now weighs 6lbs exactly"
"She's been pigging out on bottles that's why" Peter grins dressing Florence again as she stops to cry, Peter giving her the dummy he had in the changing bag hoping that it would calm her down
"Still heard nothing from the police or Carla then?" Ali questions sympathetically as Peter sighs
"She left her phone so she's out there with no phone, a baby and a changing bag just for Isobel, I just don't know any more Ali, I don't" Peter sighs as Ali smiles Florence's eyes opening to take in the surroundings looking at Ali
"Hey Flo" Ali grins looking at her as she sucks on her dummy "Did she show any signs of struggling?"
"It was weird at first she was fine with Florence then she started getting obsessed with Isobel, leaving Flo out, wouldn't feed her then she got no sleep, she was just obsessed with watching Isobel, so she just spent nights looking at the stars and on the rocking chair with Isobel on her chest, I tried to get her to see sense, go to the doctors with me but she wouldn't have any of it, in the end I had no choice to give up as I kept angering her"
"It's hard on love ones when your partner doesn't bond with a baby, did she feel down about having the babies at all?" Ali questions as Peter sighs
"No she was so happy with Isobel and Florence to start off I guess it just stemmed into more"
"Alright, why don't you get off and look after Flo, I'll update these notes then, I'll also put them onto Carla's notes so if she is admitted into hospital somewhere they'll contact you" Ali smiles as Peter nods appreciatively strapping Florence into the pram as she lets out a wail
"Does she not like the pram?" Ali questions as Peter laughs shaking his head
"No, she hates it" Peter grins as Ali walks over to give Florence a tickle on the tummy
"She'll come back, she did before, then she'll get the help she needs" Ali smiles as Peter nods hoping that what Ali was saying was true
"I hope so I really do"
Carla was sitting on the armchair in the hotel room holding Isobel to her chest waiting from any indication from her to take her to Eloise, she decided that she might take Isobel out for some fresh air as it might help her come to her senses and help Carla find Eloise, so she packed up her stuff, the changing bag and her kidney drugs which she left on the side knowing she would need them to protect Isobel and headed downstairs to hand the key back to the receptionist making a break for the exit.
"Tell me where sweetheart" Carla whispers to Isobel rocking her in swing as she snuggles into her chest Carla glancing from left to right before continuing her journey getting on a bus and heading to where Isobel wanted her to go
"She's lovely" an old woman comes and sits next to Carla on the bus, Carla immediately putting her hood up to shield herself from this strangers stares
"Yeah" Carla states glancing down to Isobel who had her eyes open looking at the old lady
"How old, she looks very young" the old lady states hesitantly as Carla glances down to Isobel
"A couple of weeks" Carla mutters as the old lady smiles reaching her hand out to touch Isobel as Carla swipes it away getting up with the changing bag as the bus came to a stop running out onto the pavement glancing from left to right, continuing with her journey knowing that it would've been a couple of stops away anyway, she would just walk the rest
"Tell me where" Carla sighs as Isobel squirms, Carla rubbing her back as she follows her instincts which led her to a graveyard which looked scarily familiar
"Why have you taken me here sweetheart?" Carla questions hesitantly as Isobel starts to cry Carla's heart racing as Isobel shifts around uncomfortably, Carla walking through the graveyard and coming across Liam's grave
"Why, Isobel?" Carla questions as Isobel continues to cry, Carla going to one of the bushes nearby and picking some flowers as placing them on the grave hoping that it would calm Isobel's cries
"Do you want feeding sweetheart?" Carla questions walking over to a secluded bench and adjusting Isobel so she could feed which she gratefully accepts as she smiles glancing down to Isobel who was feeding nicely, Carla playing with the hat she was wearing as she finally finishes feeding, Carla picking her up and grabbing a cloth from the changing bag ready to burp her
"Why did you lead me to our Liam's grave then?" Carla questions as she burps Isobel
"Is Eloise here Isobel?" Carla questions outright placing Isobel back into the sling as she snuggles down against Carla's chest, Carla putting the changing bag on her shoulder
"Mumma" the sound of a child calling it's mother rings out and fades into a prominent echo
"Baby, is that you?" Carla questions glancing around as Isobel opens her eyes looking straight ahead, grasping into Carla's finger as Carla glances down looking at Isobel staring ahead
"This way?" Carla questions as she walks off in the direction of the stares of her daughter…
Peter arrived home to Michelle and Steve making lunch for them all, taking Florence out he made his way into the kitchen to make her a bottle knowing it was about time she had a feed. Michelle smiling solemnly at him knowing how hard it must be for him without having Carla here with him, Peter doing the same ritual, taking a bottle out of the steriliser, scooping two spoonfulls of formula and adding the water, placing it in some cold water to cool it down for a while before rubbing the teat against his wrist, then Florence's lips as he sits down at the table.
"How's she doing?" Michelle questions knowing Peter had a doctor's appointment for Florence today, well Florence and Isobel, luckily he didn't have to explain as Ali knew the ins and outs of Carla's disappearance
"Yeah she now weighs 6lbs so she's doing well, didn't like being weighed though" Peter smirks as Florence feeds, her eyes going heavy as she does it
"Ey…she's becoming a little piggy like her sister was" Michelle grins going to peck Florence on the head as Peter takes a bite of the sandwich Michelle made
"Yeah Isobel loved a good feed…poor Carla got milked dry sometimes when they both fed off her" Peter grins at the memory as Michelle sighs, Aidan coming into the room instantly seeing his dad and rushing to him
"Dadda!" Aidan grins hugging his legs before going to sit on the chair next to him at the table
"Hey Aidy, how are you?" Peter asks as Aidan nods in agreement to suggest he was fine, gingerly reaching out to touch Florence's feet and tickle them gently
"Tickle" Aidan grins as Peter rolls his eyes, Michelle placing a sandwich down on the table which he grins at
"Thank you Aunty 'Chelle" Aidan grins as Michelle gasps at how well Aidan's speech came out
"Since when did he speak so good?" Michelle questions as Peter smirks burping Florence
"Carla was teaching him phonics, gave her something to do whilst being bed bound, I said to her that he wouldn't understand and that he wouldn't get it but by the looks of things he does understant" Peter laughs as Michelle shakes her head as Ava's cries ring out through the baby monitor
"Ah someone wants feeding" Michelle grins heading off upstairs to feed Ava Peter grinning at her
"Dadda park" Aidan suggests as Peter bites his lip as there was a knock at the door, Aidan getting excited at the prospect of being entertained, Peter walking to answer the door seeing Roy stood there
"Come in Roy" Peter smiles as Florence stretches her arms, Roy going to sit on the sofa
"I thought these addresses may help you when looking for Carla" Roy smiles handing Peter a handwritten series of addresses of places they searched when Carla last ran away
"Oh, thank you, I don't suppose you heard from her?" Peter questions knowing it was a shot in the dark
"No…I haven't but I plan to go into town later…if I see anything of concern I will be sure to contact you as soon as I return" Roy smiles slightly as Peter nods gratefully
"Thank you" Peter smiles as Roy nods courteously, leaving the house, Michelle coming down from upstairs carrying Ava
"Was that Roy I heard?" Michelle questions as Peter nods handing Michelle the list of addresses
"Roy searched these addresses the last time Carla went missing, one of them is probably the hotel she was staying in last time" Peter smiles as Michelle raises an eyebrow curiously reading the peace of paper
"Some of these addresses make no sense why is a cemetery listed…?" Michelle questions as she glances to Aidan, a thought coming into her head
"Peter…you don't reckon she's been to Aidan's grave?" Michelle questions as Peter narrows his eyes knowing it was one of her hallucinations last time
"Let me ring Johnny ask him to look with Kate" Peter smiles going to the phone and ringing Johnny, placing Florence in the baby swing going to speak to Johnny
"Johnny's going to go and have a look at the graveyard he also offered to check Liam's graveyard as well" Peter smiles as Michelle nods Ava smiling widely at Peter
"Hello little miss Ava" Peter grins tickling her chin as Ava smiles wider
"Dadda, mumma?" Aidan questions appearing next to Peter as Peter sighs knowing Aidan was going to ask questions
"Mummy's gone away for a bit, but she'll be back I'm sure of it" Peter smiles bending down to Aidan's level as Aidan pouts
"When?" Aidan questions
"I don't know sweetheart if I did then I would tell you" Peter smiles as Aidan huffs hugging his dad
"Aidy why don't you go and get your coat from upstairs and we'll head to the park yeah?" Michelle offers as Aidan grins heading off upstairs to find his coat as Peter breaks down in tears
"Oh Peter…she'll be back" Michelle reassures him
"I know she will but I just can't stop these images filling my head of last time, she did so well at recovering" Peter cries as Michelle brings him in for a hug handing him the box of tissues, Steve coming through the door biting his lip looking awfully guilty
"Steve what's happened?" Michelle sighs as Steve sits down next to Peter
"Look I can't believe I'm actually saying this but I was giving this old lady a lift and you know how old people like to natter…anyway she was saying how she took the bus today but she needed a taxi to actually get to her house…well she said she was sitting next to this woman with a baby, she had a black hoody on and a baby in a blue sling, looked around two weeks old and that the woman looked rather agitated, wouldn't let her touch the baby…she said she got off at the bus stop on Hocks Street in town"
"Wait, Carla has the blue sling with her and her black hoody" Peter's eyes light up as Steve nods slowly
"Yes but anyway I dropped her off and raced back to Hocks Street to see if I could spot her I drove around until I got another call but no I didn't see her but I thought it was too much of a coincidence not to tell you"
"Wait, why is she at Hocks Street, that's near the cemetery" Michelle starts trying to piece everything together "That's where Liam's grave is! You need to ring Johnny again, Peter" Michelle states as Peter nods grabbing his phone and going off to phone Johnny
"Did this lady say how agitated Carla looked?" Michelle questions frantically
"She said she looked agitated, that's all, I only just realised that it could've been Carla on the way here" Steve sighs as Michelle hugs him, Peter reappearing
"He's going to go and check out Liam's grave, he'll give us an update" Peter beams hopeful that they might be able to track Carla down
"Right, I'll order a takeaway and we can all chill wait for news"