Sorry about the last chapter, it was really written badly as I didn't really clear things up from the one before.
Carla and Peter still have the puppy and Simon did go back to Weatherfield with Steve and Michelle taking him back up there.
Today was the day that Carla and Peter were going to see the specialist regarding the possibility of Emma having foetal alcohol syndrome. They were definitely preparing for the worse and knew that Emma would most likely get the diagnosis but either way they were preparing for the situation. The preparations consisted of doing things as a family before the possibility of Emma's diagnosis. This ranged from going out on the boat Peter used to ferry people around the harbour as well as attending indoor play as a family, Carla seeing this as an attempt to stimulate Emma into developing which obviously didn't occur.
"Do you have her changing bag?" Peter questions as Carla nods holding it up as Peter smiles at her before bringing her in for a hug "Everything's going to be ok"
"I hope so, I've been mentally preparing myself for this for a week now, ready to digest all information thrown at me" Carla nods as Emma wakes up from her nap which she was taking in the car seat "Afternoon beautiful girl," Carla says as Emma smiles widely at her "I hope Tilly isn't being a pain for the babysitter as well" she laughs slightly referring to the puppy which they decided to keep which she also secretly fell in love with
"We should head in Car," Peter says as they sit in the car which was parked outside the children's hospital "It'll be ok"
"I hope so" Carla smiles as she gets out of the car "I hope Hayley's getting on with the babysitter ok"
"She'll be fine," Peter says "She's sociable enough, she's probably wrapped her around her little finger" he reminds her; it was true, Hayley was very confident and sociable even if she didn't seem it at first
"Yeah I guess you're right" Carla mutters lifting Emma onto her hip as she grabs a piece of Carla's hair to fiddle with "Do you reckon they'll be able to give her anything?"
"I don't know, love," Peter says as Carla nods defeatedly as they both walk towards the clinic that was where Emma was going to be seen "I'll book her in"
"Cheers," Carla says as Emma points to all the colourful arrangements on a display board "Do you like that Em?" she asks as Emma touches some of the tissue paper
"We need to take a seat," Peter says guiding Carla over to the seats where they were told to wait, Emma looking up at him expectantly "Hey," he says tickling her as she reaches her arms out grasping onto his hand
"Emma Tilsley-Connor?"
"Come on Em, we need to get weighed" Carla beams as Emma smiles at her as they walk towards the scales leaving Peter to take in the surroundings whilst he waited for Carla to return with Emma
"Was she good?" Peter questions looking up at Carla as she sits back down with Emma who looks up at the sound of Peter's voice
"She was a little superstar," Carla says kissing Emma on the head as Peter runs a hand over her head causing her to grip onto his wrist "Let Peter go Em"
"We're ready for you now" a nurse returns as Carla nods lifting Emma onto her hip as they walk into a consultation room
"My name's Dr Gibson"
"Nice to meet you" Carla smiles as Dr Gibson smiles "I'm guessing you've read her notes?"
"We have, so this is little Emma then?" Dr Gibson smiles as Emma looks at her expectantly before returning her attention to her mother "So you spoke to Dr Henshaw at your local GP about your concerns that Emma may have foetal alcohol syndrome?"
"We did yes," Peter says as Emma reaches her arms out wanting to be held by Peter who accepts
"Right, I want to run some tests on Emma if that's ok?"
"What sort of tests?" Carla asks wanting to know everything as Dr Gibson smiles at Carla's worry trying her best to reassure her
"Coordination tests, we would also need to do a blood test along with measurements such as height measurements" Dr Gibson informs Carla as she nods anxiously "Can Emma walk?"
"No, she can't even crawl either, we've tried everything to try and get her to walk. We even bought her a walker but nothing was working" Carla says as Dr Gibson nods "I can show you if you want?"
"If you wouldn't mind?" Dr Gibson says as Carla nods kneeling down on the floor and placing Emma on it as she sits upright, leaning forward before crying
"I know baby, you just need to do this for mummy" Carla whispers sitting on the floor with her as Dr Gibson joins them
"I'll place this toy here to see if she can collect it" Dr Gibson smiles placing Emma's stuffed animal on the floor, Peter watching on knowing this test was going to be a fail from the off "Emma?"
"Em, look," Carla says pointing to the stuffed animal as Emma bursts into tears "She gets really frustrated"
"Ok, so she's quite behind on her motor skills which is a sign something is not right," Dr Gibson says as Carla settles Emma again "This may be a really personal question Carla but why did you drink in pregnancy, do you have problems with drinking?"
"Um, I didn't know I was pregnant until I gave birth, I literally thought I was dying, I have another daughter she's two you see I wouldn't have been drinking if I knew she existed…"
"Sorry I came across as somewhat judgemental, we just need to understand how much alcohol was consumed during pregnancy"
"Well I went out on various nights out with my friends and drank a lot since I was due to get married, hen nights and all that" Carla response glumly as Dr Gibson smiles supportively
"Is it ok if I do some measurements on Emma?" Dr Gibson asks as Carla nods "Let's start with some height measurements" she says as Carla places Emma on the examination bench ready to take some measurements "When did you notice something wasn't quite right?"
"Probably around three months old, she wasn't really growing that well but there was a lot of stuff going on at the time I kind of just swept it under the carpet but when she started reaching the sixth-month mark she wouldn't sit up and she was struggling with eating solids I just thought it was because she was so small at birth, I guess I was naïve in a way"
"Don't blame yourself, Carla, you had no idea that you were even pregnant" Dr Gibson reminds her "Almost done Emma"
"You're being very good Emma" Carla praises her daughter who looks up at her "I know" she coos as Dr Gibson laughs finishing up what she was doing
"Right I'm done" Dr Gibson smiles as she gestures for Carla to sit back down next to Peter "From all the symptoms that I've seen today as well as the measurements I have taken I would say that Emma is on the foetal alcohol spectrum"
"Is there anything you can do for her?" Carla questions tearfully as Peter puts his arm around her shoulders
"We can provide therapies such as the ability to help her walking, a speech therapist to help her with her speech and when she's older many more therapies can be provided"
"What does her future consist of then?" Carla questions needing to know how serious this was for her daughter
"Most likely, Emma will be dependent on needing care for the rest of her life…I'm so sorry Carla," Dr Gibson says gently as Carla looks up at Peter with unshed tears in her eyes "Like I said there are many therapies out there to help you in the future"
"Will she ever walk?" Peter questions "Will she be able to do things that other kids do?"
"She may walk, we can provide therapies like I said to assist your attempts with getting Emma to achieve her full potential. I have a series of leaflets for you in this pack" Dr Gibson says handing the pack of notes over to Peter as he gulps at the number of leaflets which were in there "I know it seems overwhelming so what I recommend is going home and reading through the leaflets one at a time and writing down any questions you may have then at our next appointment we can look through them and discuss things further"
"Ok" Carla replies letting out a shaky breath as Emma grabs a piece of her hair "At least we know what's up with you now"
"We'll do whatever we can to support Emma, we're only a phone call away if you have any concerns" Dr Gibson reassures them both
"Shall we head home then, love?" Peter questions to Carla who nods breathing in Emma's scent as they pick her bag up and leave the hospital…
Carla and Peter headed home and got into bed after saying goodbye to the babysitter who was looking after Hayley. All four of them were snuggled in bed as they watch a movie embracing the good times they had together as well as allowing them to forget Emma's condition which would no doubt cause judgement throughout both of their families but all they needed to do was take one day at a time or even one hour at a time and not get too overwhelmed by the situation.
The time came when both Hayley and Emma fell asleep for their naps causing Carla and Peter to put them into their rooms to give them a chance to read through some of the leaflets Dr Gibson had for them as well as indulge in a series of snacks whilst they absorbed the information together. So that's what they did, they sat and read all the leaflets they were given causing Carla to cry and Peter as well.
"We can do this" Peter says as Carla scoffs "We've beaten so much Carla, we can support Emma in whatever way she needs"
"I just wish that she wasn't the way she is. I know it sounds harsh but I want her to have a normal childhood a normal life, something I didn't have and from the sounds of these leaflets ranging from the meltdowns, coordination problems, emotional outbursts and mental health issues I just regret a lot but don't regret her if that makes sense?"
"I get you and you don't need to justify yourself as I won't judge you" Peter reminds her as she smiles slightly glancing to the baby monitor in Emma's room "That's your little girl and me being her step-dad, I want to be there for every one of the possible mental breakdowns, meltdowns and every issue she may face because I love her because she is a part of you"
"What am I going to tell everyone?"
"The truth, they won't judge you"
"Yeah right" she scoffs "Gail will be in her glass tower waiting for another opportunity to fight for custody, she'll probably think I've been giving her alcohol to drink instead of milk"
"Carla, don't worry about everyone else yeah? We just need to focus on our family for now yeah?"
"I guess you're right," Carla says "I kind of just want to cuddle for a bit until the girls wake up then we could have dinner and then put them to bed then have some time to ourselves as it's been a bit sparse with worrying about Emma?"
"I'd like that, we could feed them then order in for ourselves? Maybe a Chinese?" Peter suggests as Carla's eyes light up eagerly "We mustn't tell Hayley though" he says pressing a finger to Carla's lips knowing that Hayley liked some aspects of Chinese food
"I agree, Just you and me cuddling on the sofa bed in front of the TV, that's exactly what I need"
That's what they did, after feeding the girls their dinner they put them both to bed and set up the baby monitor in Emma's room, Carla reading her a book to help her development as she sits in the rocking chair. Emma fell asleep pretty soon leaving Carla to place her in her cot and turn the light off leaving the sound machine on for some white noise before leaving the room. She entered the kitchen to Peter who was on the phone, he looked relatively sad causing Carla's heart to beat faster.
"What?" she whispers as Peter closes his eyes "Baby?"
"Yeah, I'll put her on, Steve," Peter says down the phone as Carla frowns in response taking the phone as Peter holds her hand giving it a comforting squeeze
"Steve?" Carla questions looking at Peter "Is it the baby…what do you mean he's gone?...Steve?...I don't know what to say, I'm so sorry…can I speak to her?...that's understandable…If she needs to talk to me you know I'm only on the other end of the phone…I'll leave you both to it, send her my love, bye Steve" she whispers handing up the phone and falling into Peter's embrace as he comforts her sobs
"It's ok" Peter whispers "You're ok," he says gently as Carla continues to sob into his shirt "Come on, let's sit you on the sofa, I'll get you a glass of whiskey"
"You don't have to do that" Carla frets wiping her tears as Peter pours her a glass of whiskey and hands it over to her "Ta" she replies downing it in one and wincing at the burning sensation in her throat "I can't believe I had a nephew, even for the little time…"
"I know" Peter whispers as Carla clings onto his chest as they cuddle on the sofa bed together, "Steve said that he looked really peaceful"
"Did he?" Carla questions as Peter nods slowly "I can't imagine the pain Michelle's going through"
"Neither can I" Peter murmurs as Carla looks up at him "I love you"
"I love you too," Carla says before humming "All those plans Michelle made, she video called me literally two days ago showing off all these little outfits she brought him, she was so excited, Peter and for it to be taken away just like that…"
"That's why we need to live life to the full isn't it?"
"Yeah I guess you're right"
"Maybe we should think about going back to Weatherfield?" Peter questions as Carla scoffs in response shaking her head
"No, Peter" Carla response icily "I'm not ready, I need to be mentally and physically prepared and I'm not there yet"
"Ok, it was just a suggestion" Peter reassures her as she sighs in response "I would never force it on you, y'know that right?"
"I know. It's just the thought of everyone asking questions and being nosey, I'm not ready to deal with that yet"
"Why don't we try and eat something and grab an early night?" Peter suggests as Carla nods taking his hand and leading him over to the island counter as they both sit up and pick at the Chinese
"It makes you think doesn't it?" Carla questions as Peter frowns, in all honesty, he was just enjoying her company and the companionable silence which was in the room
"What does?"
"Death"
"What does it make you think then?" Peter questions as Carla hums in response placing her fork down
"Well, how lucky we are to have Emma and Hayley watching them both grow, Michelle's never going to get that" Carla says as Peter nods not really knowing where this sentimental speech was going "We're so lucky Peter"
"I know we are" Peter response placing his fork down on the plate and taking her hand as he leans in to kiss her, his tongue sweeping across her mouth before he lifts her up placing her on the counter trying to avoid the plates as Carla wraps her legs around his body, her arms around his neck as they continue to kiss causing Peter to take her into the bedroom and show her the love she craved all day...