Thank you for all your reviews! It really does keep me going on this story. A little time jump here and hopefully you like it!
A month had passed and it was the day of Kate's hen do.
Nick had moved out and in with Gail. Leanne had been sad but seemed to be getting over Nick quite quickly, after all she was used to breaking up with him.
Kate and Rana had set a date for their wedding, which was not long after the hen do, so all the Connors were excited for them.
Peter had started his own business online, he invested into a company that helped recovering alcoholics to attend meetings and give them support. Carla was really proud of him and all the good he was doing in the world. He had come a long way from the person he was before.
He kept half of the money for himself, so he had something behind him and before he invested the business was already set up, meaning it didn't cost that much to become a partner. Peter had all these ideas and all the good will to help others because he knew what it was like to hit absolute rock bottom.
"Are you all packed?" Peter asked Carla.
"Yes" Carla replied.
Peter placed a passionate kiss onto her lips. He pushed her backwards so she fell onto the bed leaving him to fall on top of her "Have you got time" he asked in between kisses.
"No, I have to meet them in ten minutes and your daughter is right outside that door" Carla reminded him.
Just on cue Haisley ran through the door "bundle" she shouted, jumping on top of Peter who was still on top of Carla.
"Haisley" Carla called "you are squishing me"
"That's what daddy was doing, so I joined in" she innocently said, shrugging her shoulders.
"Come on let's walk mummy out" Peter said, distracting the four year old.
Peter was staying at Carla's whilst she was on holiday, it was easier as all Haisley's things were there. He had practically been living there anyway but they hadn't actually had that conversation yet.
"What am i supposed to do without you for a few days?" Peter asked, wrapping his arms around her waist.
"Have long cold showers" Carla winked, pushing him off of her.
"You owe me" Peter said, slapping her arse as she walked away.
Carla lent down to Haisley "I am going to miss you but you are going to have the best time with daddy" Carla had never actually left Haisley for more than a night so this was a big thing for both of them.
"I will miss you mummy" Haisley said, giving her mum a hug.
"You can call me whenever you want too" Carla told her "and daddy will let me know what you have done throughout the day"
"Ok mummy" Haisley said. Peter pulled her suitcase to the front door.
"Do you want us to walk you over?" Peter asked.
"No, I want to say goodbye here" Carla smiled "so no one is watching"
Carla gave Haisley another hug. She kissed her head and pulled her in tight "be good baby, I love you"
"I love you too mummy" Haisley replied.
Carla stood up and looked at Peter "I love you as well" she told him, placing a passionate kiss onto his lips.
Once finished Peter told her "I love you, have a great time"
Carla smiled at them both. She took her suitcase handle and walked out of the flat, leaving them both behind.
Over outside the Rovers, Kate, Rana and Michelle were there waiting for Carla. Jenny and Sophie were there too.
Sophie had gotten over Kate because she knew that she loved Rana. They had become good friends since then and Kate wanted her there. Kate did invite the factory girls but they decided on a party in the Rovers when she returned as it was expensive for them.
"Here she comes" Michelle said "Look at that suitcase, you know we are only going for four days"
"Yes Chelle" Carla laughed. She pulled Kate in for a hug.
"I am so glad you are coming" Kate said.
"Try and stop me" Carla told her, giving her suitcase to the man to put in the minibus.
"Ready?" Kate asked, excitedly.
The ride to the airport was a fun one, the music was blaring and the bubbles were popping. Carla had packed a bottle for the whole bus to share on their way. Her suitcase was as big as it was partly because she loved her clothes but also because she packed all the typical hen do decorations.
The flight was fine and clear and was over before the women knew it. Once they had collected their luggage, it was time to get the bus to their hotel.
"This is beautiful" Michelle said on arrival at the hotel.
"Only the best for my little sister" Carla told her.
The women all got handed a welcome drink and were given their room keys.
Carla and Michelle were sharing of course as were Kate and Rana. Which left Jenny sharing with Sophie.
"This is lovely" Michelle said as she and Carla entered their room. They pulled in their suitcases.
"She deserves to have a great time" Carla told Michelle who nodded in agreement. Carla took out her phone "I am just going to phone Peter to tell him we are in the hotel"
"Hurry up we have a schedule to stick too" Michelle said, tapping a piece of paper she held in her hands with times and activities on it.
"I know" Carla laughed.
Carla: Hello
Peter: Hello you
Carla: I am just calling to let you know that I am in the hotel safely.
Peter: That is good news. Thank you for letting me know.
Carla: How is Haisley?
Peter: She is fine, she is already missing you, you have lots of pictures to come home too.
Carla: I will facetime her tomorrow so I can see her, but I have to go. We have things planned.
Peter: ooo what plans?
Carla: Can't tell you it's hen do stuff, girls only
Peter: well you have fun and I will miss you
Carla: I will miss you too!
Peter: You go and have fun, I love you.
Carla: I love you too, bye Peter
Peter: Bye love.
Carla got changed into her bikini ready for the first activity which was, sunbathing in a private cabana with drinks on tap.
She took her phone out in the bathroom and sent Peter a picture of her in the bikini. Peter loved Carla with a tan and in a bikini, it was a big turn on for him.
Carla: Image sent.
First day bikini, don't worry I will send you another one later with my tan lines in. ;)
Peter: I can't wait, it'll keep me going until I can kiss all the tan lines myself ;)
Carla laughed at her phone, gathering Michelle's attention.
"Come on, put him down" Michelle joked.
"I am coming" Carla said, placing her phone in her beach bag so she could follow her out the door.
The two women met the others in the private cabana.
"This is just what the doctor ordered" Carla told them as she placed her towel on a sun bed.
"It is perfect" Kate told her from the sunbed next to her.
Later the women had a private dinner party in one of the hired rooms. Then they were out in a nearby bar.
"I am so excited for later" Kate told everyone.
"Me too" Sophie said.
Kate took Carla's hand "I am so glad you are here with me"
"Me too Kate" Carla smiled at her.
"I mean it, I like having a sister"
Carla squeezed her hand "Me too"
"Come on you two less of that and more of this" Michelle said, handing both the women a cocktail each.
Carla laid on her sunbed catching the sun for the rest of the afternoon with the group. They had a good relaxing afternoon which was good because the evening wasn't as relaxing.
After the afternoon the women all made their way to their rooms for showers and to get ready for the night ahead.
"How about this?" Michelle asked, holding up a dress.
"Yeah that's nice" Carl replied.
"What are you wearing?"
"This I think" Carla pointed to a dress hanging on the chair.
"That is amazing, why is it I never look as good as you?"
"That is a lie and you know it"
Later, all the women were gathered in the private room for dinner. Drinks had been flowing all day so everyone was a bit tipsy so the food would hopefully sober them up a little.
"So let's go around the table and say the worst ex we have ever had, this will make us appreciate who we are with now" Jenny suggested.
"I don't think that is a good idea" Michelle said, knowing most of everyone's history.
"Oh come on, it's a good hen do game, I googled it" Jenny said a little on the drunk side.
"Well if she googled it then it must be true" Kate joked.
"I will go first" Rana said "I guess every ex I have ever had as they have all been male, which means I was never really myself"
Carla was oddly quiet. She knew exactly who her worst ex was but she didn't really want to broadcast it.
"Mine was probably Will, or maybe even Steve" Michelle laughed "although Steve is Steve"
Sophie went and then Kate, who described some mistakes from their past.
"Mine was a man called David" Jenny started "He cheated on me, that's got to be the worst"
The table looked at Carla, she was unsure of why, whether it was because it was her go or maybe because Peter cheated. She had a good range of ex's to choose from Frank, Tony, Nick even Paul.
"Your go" Jenny probed.
"I am not sure I want to answer" Carla said, timidly.
"You have had loads of ex's" Jenny stated.
"Alright Jenny thank you" Carla answered.
"Shall we play another game? I have some cards in my bag" Michelle said, trying to change the subject.
"No, we have all had a turn, it's Carla's go" Jenny said, who was unaware of the emotional distress she was placing on Carla because of the amount she has had to drink "Is it because it's one of Michelle's brothers?"
Michelle and Carla glared at Jenny. How dare she bring up the Connor brothers.
"Carla, you don't have to, let's play cards" Kate said, taking them from Michelle and looking at the rules "Ooo brides addition"
"No, why won't you share with us Carla, we are all family now" Jenny said pushing.
"Jenny leave it" Michelle warned.
"Frank" Carla said, standing from the table and leaving for some fresh air.
The whole table went quiet. All of them, apart from Kate and Rana, knew about Frank and what he had done to her.
"Who's Frank?" Kate asked, picking up on the atmosphere, looking at each person to give her an answer.
"I am going to see if she is ok" Michelle said, standing.
"No I will go" Kate insisted.
The rest of the table continued having a few drinks to try and defuse the situation.
Kate found Carla sitting on a sunlounger on the beach watching the waves.
"Carla" Kate called, softly from behind her "Are you ok?"
"Yes, sorry Kate, I just needed some fresh air, all that drink was going straight to my head" Carla lied.
"Are you sure that's it?"
Carla nodded.
"Jenny was out of order, pushing you like that"
"No, she is just being Jenny"
There was a short pause in conversation, Kate was unsure whether to ask this question but she did anyway "Who is Frank?"
"My ex fiance" Carla told her.
"Why was he the worst?"
Carla squeezed her eyes shut with a sigh, hoping Kate wouldn't notice "I will tell you about Frank, but not on your hen do"
"Why?"
"He was a bad man, that's all" Carla took her hand "I will tell my sister all about him, but not here, this is your trip"
"If you are sure, come on, come back to dinner" Kate said, knowing she wasn't telling her something important but she didn't want to push.
They both returned together for dinner. All the women continued to have fun, they played a few games and drank loads of alcohol. It was time to go to the bar but Jenny was already too drunk to go anywhere.
They put her to bed and then continued on to the bar. There were so many people partying and dancing. The group had an amazing night together but felt it in the morning.
Carla opened one eye without moving her body. She looked around the room and saw Michelle asleep on the bed next to her. She slowly sat up, raising her hand to her head.
"Ouch" she said to herself. She had a headache, she had not been this hungover since before Haisley.
Michelle looked like she was in the same position when she woke up. "What happened last night?" she asked Carla.
Carla laughed "we had a good time that's all"
"We did?"
"I haven't drunk like that since before I was pregnant"
"That is a long time" Michelle reminded her.
"I'm going to be sick" Carla shouted as she ran into the bathroom.
"Wow, it has been a while" Michelle laughed "Do you need a hand?"
"No, don't come in here" Carla shouted back, she didn't want Michelle to see the scene that was occurring in the bathroom.
Back in Weatherfield, Peter was loving his time as a full time parent. He had just dropped Haisley off at nursery so he could work.
He saw Nick on the way to work. Peter shook his head at the man who tried to take his girlfriend.
"Peter" Nick called but he ignored him "Peter" he called again.
"What do you want Nick?"
"I want to apologise believe it or not"
"Too late for that"
"I know Carla is away with the girls and I wanted to catch up alone, I will always have these feelings for her but I will back off"
"Back off?"
"Yes, I will let her come to her own senses"
"Nick, you haven't done anything but tell her your feelings, you don't have to back off because she told you were to go last month and she will always tell you no"
"Ok" Nick said casually. He had thought about Carla and Haisley a lot over the last month. He wanted a family of his own and he thought that was part of Carla's appeal. Nick wasn't going to give up without a fight and he knew exactly who would help him.
Peter shook his head and continued to walk away, he didn't have the time to spend on Nick.
Peter spent the day at work but was glad when it was time to get Haisley from nursery.
"Is mummy home yet?" she asked as she ran over to him from her nursery door.
"No not yet, two more days"
"That is a long time, I miss mummy"
"I miss mummy too but what would you like to do for dinner?"
"Can we have pizza?"
"I don't see why not"
After an evening full of pizza and Disney movies, Peter was happy when Haisley was finally asleep. He loved her so much but sometimes she was hard work.
Peter fell asleep not long after Haisley. It was 2am and Peter woke to the sound of Haisley calling out for Carla.
"Mummy" she shouted "Mummy"
Peter rushed into Haisley's bedroom, flicking on the light "what is wrong princess?" he asked in a panic.
"I want my mummy" Haisley demanded.
"Oh Haisley come here" Peter scooped her up and pulled her in for a hug. "How about you come and sleep in mummy's bed with me?"
Haisley rubbed her eyes and nodded at her dad's suggestion. This was harder than he thought it would be. Carla and Haisley were so close, but Peter didn't realise how close until she was gone.
Luckily, Haisley could smell her mother on the bed sheets and it brought her some comfort, enough comfort for her to fall asleep for the rest of the night so Peter could get some sleep too.
This was going to be hard.