Thank you all for the positive reviews...Here's the next chapter...
Carla was in her hotel room; the place Peter always took her just to torture herself that extra bit more. She was lying flat on her back, her hand on her stomach as she stares at the blank ceiling wondering where her life went so wrong; images of past experiences replaying in her mind wondering if she was just being punished for all the mistakes she made over her life.
She must've been lying on her back for what seemed hours on end just staring blankly until she jumped when she heard a knock on the door which caused a sigh in response. Not even bothering to clear up her smudged makeup she opening the door so only a slither of the outside world was showing but she sighed in relief as Michelle's face stared back at her and let her into the room.
Michelle glanced around the well-made surroundings; the bed perfectly made still, the bathroom immaculate as well as the desk which contained a kettle as well as complimentary coffee and tea. Michelle's heart rate picked up when glancing to the mini-bar which was in the corner of the room which caused a smirk from Carla, Michelle rolling her eyes at the fact that this was probably the first time she had witnessed Carla smile since finding out her husband was screwing the local barmaid and found it inwardly quite humorous how Carla could read her mind.
"I 'aven't been drinking if that's why you're here…"
"I wasn't implying that you had"
"You were thinking it though" Carla confirms folding her arms across her chest and glancing down to her feet in a bid to conceal the tears which were pooling in her eyes from the memories of all the times Peter had told her not to drink which were now being replaced with Michelle; someone who she loved tremendously but it just wasn't the same as Peter
"Ok" Michelle replies honestly "I was, but I think me and you both know you have more to lose now if you begin drinking to cope with this-"
"I loved him 'Chelle…I still do" Carla looks up at her as the tears began to fall again; her whole body was numb but she started to think that because things were rocky from the start they were bound to be rocky at the end and as she was so wrapped up in her thoughts she didn't notice Michelle put her arms around her
"Oh babe, I'm so sorry" Michelle holds her close as Carla sobs; both of them sitting on the edge of the bed "When did it start?"
"I-I don't know" Carla stammers, "I told him about the baby, we were on the sofa after we argued in the factory then I told him, he apologised for not being there for me…now I know why"
"Do you need me to do anything?"
"I have all that I need"
"Ok, I need to tell you that I told Rob, about the affair and the baby"
"The baby" Carla whispers "How can I even go through with this on my own Michelle? Peter, he was meant to be there every step of the way now…I don't know what I'm going to do"
"You'll figure it out, babe" Michelle reassures her "Rob and I, we'll be there to support you, get you whatever you need; the both of you"
"I don't think I can bring this baby up on my own"
"You don't have to Carla" Michelle smiles slightly looking into her eyes; the eyes which resembled so much pain "You just need to give it time then you and Peter can come to come sort of arrangement when things have calmed down and you're not ripping each other's throats out"
"What do I do in the meantime? I hate him so much 'Chelle…I can't walk around pretending that life's breeze when he's caused me so much pain, how do I even go into Underworld knowing he will be there?"
"I'm sure Rob can help out? I can as well?"
"You don't have to" Carla frets knowing that she didn't want to seem to dependant "I can't ask you to do that"
"You didn't ask, I offered"
"I need you to do me a favour," Carla asks pulling away from Michelle's embrace "Do you promise me you'll do what I'll ask you?"
"I promise," Michelle said without a doubt, wanting to make Carla happy and that was something she needed to see to reassure her that there would be no drink consumed within these four walls "Whatever you need"
"Well, …you're not going to like it…"
After numerous rings of the buzzer, Rob Donovan had enough of waiting for the alcoholic ex of his sister to open the door; he was going to kick that door down if it meant the death of him, Carla's welfare was greater than the attention that it would bring to him. So he did it, he kicked the door down and ran up the stairs, gripping Peter by the collar of his shirt and laying into him; punch after punch was thrown the end result leaving Rob triumphant in his stride, so triumphant, he almost forgot that he was there for Carla's passport. So he rummaged around the place looking in the numerous drawers to find it…the only problem was he didn't notice Peter appear behind him and punch him in the head causing him to fall to the floor which just angered the situation more.
"I don't think so!" Rob shouts standing up and punching him back causing him to fall against the wall in the hallway "You hurt Carla so you'll have to go through me, you deserve everything you get"
"Where is she, Rob?" Peter questions quietly wiping the blood which was dripping from his nose as Rob lunges into him picking him up by the collar and dragging him into the living room; Michelle entering and looking on in complete shock
"Rob! Stop!" Michelle shouts dragging him off Peter "This isn't what Carla wants!"
"You've spoken to her?" Peter's ears prick up at this information as Michelle chuckles sarcastically; as if she was going to tell Peter where Carla was or what she wanted
"I think you've lost all rights to care about her now, Peter" Michelle exclaims incredulously "And you" she points to Rob "Go to Underworld, I want a word with you after I've spoken to Peter"
"I'm not done with you yet" Rob spits as Michelle pushes him towards the door leaving her to deal with the situation in a calmer manner
"Is Carla ok?"
"I'm not answering that question"
"Please Michelle, make sure she doesn't drink, for the baby, please"
"Peter, you do realise how pathetic you sound don't you? If you hadn't have shagged that bitch of a barmaid then she wouldn't be in this situation…you really are something"
"Don't…"
"Oh hark at it! Anyway I'm not going to waste my breath any further, I came to give you this" Michelle sighs giving Peter a small envelope containing a silver wedding band; he tips it out onto his hand and the tears form, his willpower not being enough to stop them falling
"Please Michelle, I need to see her"
"Let her go, Peter" Michelle shouts "I'm going now, please don't harass Carla, she doesn't need it, and if you do…I'm sure Rob will be in touch"
Michelle left the flat, she leaned against the front door, sighing in relief at how the horrible conversation Carla had inflicted on her was over. She knew she would be having words with Rob and the fact that he did the opposite of what Carla would want annoyed her quite a bit but she knew she had to keep her cool on the situation. She padded over to the factory bumping into no one other than Deirdre, causing her to sigh in response but the intrigue was there leaving Michelle wondering if she knew about the whole Peter, Tina, Carla situation.
"Michelle!" Deirdre calls out causing Michelle to sigh and turn around with a small smile on her face "What's going on between Carla and Peter?"
"I…I don't know if she would want you to know-"
"Michelle I can handle it" Carla appears pulling her car up beside her as Michelle frowns in response, she was meant to be at the hotel processing everything but no, she was obviously ready for a fight
"Carla, what's going on?"
"Your stepson decided to cheat on me with Tina McIntyre" Carla informs her bluntly as the tears seep onto her eyes; it was obviously too raw for her still causing Michelle to shake her head in disbelief at the whole situation
"What? Our Peter? He loves you so much I'm sure he didn't-"
"Save it" Carla cut her off "I don't want to hear another word. Michelle, my office now, I have an announcement"
"Carla you're meant to be-"
"Don't!" Carla exclaims before pushing the handbrake down and driving into her space at Underworld, Michelle following her as they both head into the factory, Rob sitting in the office causing a raised eyebrow from Carla
"What's he doing 'ere?" Carla questions glancing to Michelle as they both ignore the machinists' stares and head into the office
"I sent him here for punching the lights out of a certain someone-"
"Rob! That's not what I wanted, no matter how much I hate him I didn't want you to go around there and beating the living daylights over someone who now means nothing to me!"
"Oh shut it Carla…you're carrying his baby you have a part of that man growing inside of you. He deserves everything that's coming to him"
"Please" Carla cries exasperatedly "Just leave it, I don't need this"
"You said you had an announcement?"
"Did you do what I asked you to?" Carla questions as Michelle nods not so eagerly "Good girl" Carla smiles before taking herself out to silence the machinists "Right everyone listen up…As some of you may or may not know me and Peter are no longer together, and I have taken the decision to take a break for a bit…see it as a holiday and in this time Michelle and Rob will be taking over the management of this company and you will all obey them both otherwise you will have me to deal with when I return"
"Carla" Michelle sighs as she watchers her storm into the office "So where are you going to do?"
"LA" Carla informs them "I don't know how long I'll be, but I need to do right by me and this baby"
"You're keeping it?" Rob questions incredulously causing Michelle to glare at him "After everything he's done?"
"Rob…I appreciate you trying to stick up for me but you don't need to now because I'm going away so you don't need to be defending me or punching the lights out of Peter…no matter how much he deserves it and as for the baby, it's innocent in all this, it has a chance to live and be happy, it's time I stop trying to fight for my relationship and focus on a new one between me and my child"
"I understand" Rob smiles bringing Carla in for a hug, then Michelle following suit "Take care yeah?"
"I will" Carla confirms before turning to Michelle "Thank you for everything you…I promise I'll be back when I'm ready"
"Take your time, get my little niece or nephew up to full health before returning yeah?"
"I will" Carla smiles tearfully "But I need to do this for me, time to stop putting other people first and focus on the future"
"Come on, how about I drive you?" Rob offers as Carla sighs in response shaking her head knowing it was her on her own, well not entirely on her own, but it was time she looked to the future, her future with her baby.
"No, it's me and this little one now. I'll text you when I'm at the airport" Carla smiles as she walks out of Underworld and into her car; Michelle and Rob waving from the steps as Carla pulls off ready to start her adventure, her new life, with her baby…