Sorry for the time between updates. I have been really busy but hope to carry on with the regular updates. Please let me know what you think!
The next morning both Carla and Peter woke up with grins on their faces.
"Morning sexy" Carla said to Peter.
"Morning beautiful"
"Last night was amazing Peter"
"It really was" Peter placed a kiss onto her forehead as she cuddled into him "do you think we made a baby last night?"
Carla laughed "I don't think it works that quickly baby"
"No but it just means we will have to do it all over again" Peter said, moving on top of her, ready to have more amazing sex.
After they had finished they were ready for the day, the couple walked hand in hand to breakfast to collect their daughter.
"Morning princess" Peter said, kissing the top of Haisleys head from behind her chair.
"Daddy" she called "sit with me"
"Can I join?" Carla asked her.
"Of course mummy"
"She is a daddy's girl then" Michelle answered.
"Yes, as much as it annoys me to say, she definitely is" Carla told them before asking "where are the happy couple?"
"They haven't come down yet, probably still at it like you two" Michelle joked.
Carla blushed "Chelle" she scolded.
Finally after Kate and Rana made an appearance and ate breakfast with the family it was time to wave them off for their honeymoon.
They gathered outside and watched as their car drove away.
"That's it, another family wedding over, nothing to look forward to now" Johnny said, as he walked into the hotel.
Peter caught wind of what he said and Carla noticed Peter listening.
"Thanks dad, only the birth of your next grandchild" Aiden huffed, placing his arm around Emma.
"Of course son, that is so exciting" Johnny said, saving himself in this situation.
The next day everything went back to normal. Carla and Peter went to work and Haisley went back to nursery.
"Carla, we need to talk" Aiden said, looking up from his computer.
"What is it? Carla asked, taking a sip of her coffee.
"Jack got in contact with me" Aiden started and on Carla's nod he continued "he wants to do some business with us"
Carla was silent for a moment "What did you say to him?"
"I said I will talk to you about it and if you are ok with it we can"
"Ok let me think about it"
"The thing is, he is coming in later"
"Aiden" Carla scolded.
"I am sorry but with the wedding and everything I didn't get a chance to talk to you about it"
"Right, well we can do business but I won't be here this afternoon, I have to take Haisley to the dentist"
"Are you lying to me?" Aiden asked, knowing she would do anything to avoid the awkwardness.
"No, it's in the diary" Carla pointed to the book on the desk "Check if you don't believe me"
Aiden looked and there in black and white it said Carla was going to be out this afternoon.
This was perfect for Carla, she didn't really want to see Jack and she was sure Peter would have something to say about it.
Carla was just about to leave to get Haisley when Jack turned up a little early, this was of course inconvenient for Carla but she had to be nice as she didn't want to be rude.
Unknown to Carla, Peter had seen Jack get out of his car and walk into the factory. Now the old Peter would have marched straight into the factory and had it out with Carla there and then.
But Peter thought to himself, that wasn't a very good idea.
"Afternoon all, sorry I am a bit early" Jack said, entering the office and offering his hand for Aiden to shake.
"No worries Jack, you are always welcome here, you know that" Aiden told his friend.
"Hello Carla" Jack said turning to her "Beautiful as ever"
"Hello Jack, thank you" she replied shyly "Right I will leave you too it, I have to go"
"Ok, I will fill you in later Carla" Aiden told her.
"Bye Jack, it was nice to see you again"
"Bye Carla"
Once Carla had left the office Jack turned to Aiden to ask "Where is she going?"
"She has to take her daughter to an appointment, she didn't actually know you were coming" Aiden told him.
Jack was a bit upset he wouldn't be dealing with Carla, but he was happier to know that she didn't know he was coming which meant she wasn't actively ignoring him.
That evening Peter was waiting for Carla and Haisley to get home. He had been thinking all day about her afternoon with Jack.
"Daddy, my teeth are perfect" Haisley said as she ran into the flat. Peter picked her up and gave her a cuddle.
"Well done princess we must always look after our teeth" Peter told her. He put her down so she could play with her toys.
"How was your day?" Peter asked Carla.
She had slumped herself down on the sofa because taking a four year old to the dentist was a task in itself.
"It was ok but I had to bribe her to open her mouth"
"Oh no what did that cost?"
"A new set of clothes for her doll"
"That kid is so much like you it hurts" Peter joked "she is obsessed with clothes" Peter took a seat next to her.
"Very funny" Carla pulled him in by his collar and placed a kiss onto his lips.
"Mummy what's for dinner?" Haisley asked, entering the room with her arms full of stuffed toys.
"I don't know baby, let me see what we have" Carla told her, releasing Peter from her grip.
After a pretty normal evening in, Haisley was asleep after Peter read her a story. It was his turn to do bedtime as they both took it in turns to give the other a rest.
"Peter, I am going for a shower, do you want to join me?" Carla said, biting her lip.
"No it's ok, I am a bit tired love"
Carla scowled at him. He never would resist a shower with Carla.
"What's wrong?" she asked him.
"Nothing, like I said I am just tired"
"Fine but this is your last chance, you owe me" she said, walking away. Carla was unsure but she didn't want to push him. She let this one slip.
The next day was just like any other day. Carla and Peter got up for work and took Haisley to nursery.
Carla thought Peter was a bit distant throughout the morning but she chose to ignore it and concentrate on Haisley and the new order at the factory. She must admit she didn't like the idea of working with Jack but once he was there and the awkwardness left she was fine with it.
She hadn't told Peter about Jack yet as there was nothing to tell, when he would be more involved she would tell Peter then. Jack was only in contact through emails.
Peter of course knew and the longer Carla went without telling him, the more it annoyed him.
Peter went about his day as normal, he was really busy. There were a few groups he was running that were back to back. He hardly had any time to think about Carla and Jack.
Carla was having fun at the factory, Aiden was happy with his life at the moment. Emma was making his life great, the baby was growing nicely.
Emma entered the office.
"This is a nice surprise" Aiden said, getting up from his chair to place a kiss on her cheek.
"Hello Emma" Carla said with a smile.
"Hey guys, I thought I would come and steal you for lunch" Emma said to Aiden.
"Oh I can't babe, we have loads to do here" Aiden told her.
"Go on Aiden, I can take it from here"
"I know you can but Jack is coming in later and I wanted to deal with him" Aiden said, knowing that Carla wouldn't want to speak to him.
"I can do that" Carla told him "I can speak to him, it is purely business"
"If you are sure"
"I am, go, go and have lunch" Carla nodded towards the door "don't rush back either"
"I get the feeling that she doesn't want me back" Aiden joked to Emma.
"Come on you, see you Carla" Emma said, taking Aiden's hand and leading him out of the office.
Later on Jack knocked on the office door, right on time.
"Afternoon Carla"
"Afternoon Jack, please take a seat" Carla said, gesturing towards the chair "Can I get you a drink?"
"No ta"
"Right" Carla said taking a seat "shall we talk numbers"
"Carla, can I just begin with saying I really respect you for this"
"For what?"
"For working with me"
"Why wouldn't I, it's not like we ended badly, we decided to be friends"
"Yes I know but still I really appreciate it"
The pair then got on with the business they needed to discuss. An hour later everything was sorted and each party knew where they stood.
Carla was finished for the day so she went to pick Haisley up from nursery early.
"Mummy, I haven't had tea yet" Haisley said to her mum as she stood in the door of the nursery. She was clever and knew that someone came for her after she had her tea time snack.
"I came to get you early so we can have a girly evening"
"Where is daddy going to be"
"He will be home later, now are you coming or would you like me to leave you here" Carla asked, with a giggle walking away towards the exit.
"I am coming" Haisley said laughing following quickly behind her mum.
An hour later and the two girls were snuggled on the sofa watching frozen… again.
"I love this film, mummy" Haisley said. She looked up at Carla when she didn't get a reply. Carla was sound asleep "silly mummy" she said to herself shaking her head.
Haisley was good and sat there with Carla until the film finished. Then she woke her mum up.
"Sorry baby" Carla said, wiping her eyes.
"It's ok, I know you were tired"
"I was" Carla looked at her phone and the time was just past six. There was no text from Peter and he was usually home by now.
"Come on then, what shall we have for tea?" Carla asked.
"Chicken nuggets" Haisley shouted excitedly in return.
Carla normally wouldn't but she felt like treating her daughter "Ok, just for tonight"
A little while later after dinner was finished, Carla bathed Haisley and put her to bed. She looked at the time and it was now eight oclock and she still hadn't heard anything from Peter.
Carla was worried now. She phoned Michelle to ask if she had seen him. She then phoned Ken to see if he had been round to him but done it in a way where he wouldn't worry.
Carla was now really worried. She always heard from him, she knew that he was grumpy last night so maybe he was out drinking.
Her mind went into overdrive. Maybe he was drunk as he couldn't deal with the pressures of family life. Maybe he didn't want to have another baby. Maybe being with Carla was too much pressure again.
Carla laid on the sofa to let out some tears. Suddenly there was a knock on the door. She rushed over to the door "Peter" she called as she opened it.
"No I'm sorry, it's just me" Michelle said.
"Come in Chelle"
"You sounded so worried on the phone, I wanted to come and support you" Michelle pulled her in for a hug.
"Thank you, that's why you are my best friend, you know when I am not okay" Carla told her, pulling out of their hug.
"Have you still heard nothing?" Michelle questioned.
"No, nothing" Carla sighed "he was a bit distant last night and this morning, what if he is drinking?"
"I don't think he will Carla, he has so much to loose"
"That is what worries me, what if it has all been too much for him and he has finally snapped"
"He wouldn't, he loves his life with you and Haisley"
"What if I have put too much pressure on him again"
"What do you mean again?"
"Like last time, when he went off with Tina"
"That was not your fault, he was a different person back then but he has changed Carla" Michelle said trying her best to comfort her friend.
"Maybe talking about another baby has set him off, like when I was pregnant with Haisley"
"Carla, he didn't cheat and drink because of you or Haisley and he hasn't this time"
"Then why isn't he home" Carla wined, letting out some tears.
"Oh Carla" Michelle said, placing her arm around her friend and pulling her in. She could understand why Carla felt like this. She couldn't help it because she had experienced all this before.
The next morning, there was still no word from Peter. Carla had fallen asleep crying into Michelle's lap.
Michelle stayed overnight to keep an eye on her and to help with Haisley. She didn't want her to realize that something was wrong.
"Carla, I will take Haisley to nursery and then I will be right back" Michelle said to Carla who was still tucked up in bed. Michelle had got up with Haisley and helped her get ready for nursery.
"How come you are taking me?" Haisley asked "Where is daddy?"
"He got up extra early for work this morning and mummy slept in so me and you are going to walk to nursery"
Haisley seemed to buy that answer and walked nicely to nursery with her Auntie.
On the way back to Carla, Michelle kept an eye out for Peter. She didn't want to believe he was out drinking but what other answer was there as to why he wasn't home.
"Watch out Michelle" Aiden said, as she walked straight into him.
"Sorry, you haven't seen Peter have you?" She asked him.
"No, not since a couple of days ago why?"
"He hasn't come home and Carla is sick with worry"
"He isn't drunk is he?" Aiden asked, knowing Peter's history with drink.
"I don't know" Michelle shrugged "I hope not for Carla's sake"
"I will keep an eye out" Aiden said "I guess Carla won't be in work today"
Michelle shook her head "I have just walked Haisley to nursery"
Back in the flat Carla continuously phoned Peter's phone, which went to voicemail. She threw it across the room in frustration just as Michelle walked back through the door.
"I guess you haven't heard from him"
Carla shook her head "How dare he do this to us"
"You don't know anything yet Carla"
"He told me he would never do this again, make us wait up for him and worry about him"
Michelle took a seat next to her on the sofa.
"I told him I would never let Haisley know how it feels to worry about him and wait for him to come home" Carla told her.
"I know you did"
"That little girl deserves better than this" Carla said, standing up, pacing the floor "I deserve better than this"
Carla's phone then began to ring. Michelle hurried over to it, picking it up she saw Ken's name on the screen "It's Ken"
"I can't talk to him right now" Carla told her.
Michelle rejected his call and placed the phone face down on the table.
"Carla, come on we need to calm down so Haisley doesn't think there is anything wrong" Michelle pulled her in for a hug.
"I know, I can't help it"
"I know it's hard but Peter is a big boy and if he is drunk we will deal with it when he returns"
Carla nodded. She wiped her face, she knew Michelle was right, Peter would be home with his tail between his legs sooner or later and then Carla can deal with him. Right now Haisley was the most important thing and Carla had to make sure she isn't disrupted by this.
So is everything as it seems?