Sorry for the spam but here is the next update, thank you for the reviews x
It was a long night for all of them, the loss of someone who meant so much to the very present. Gail dropped Emma off at Carla's and offered her condolences and in a way, Carla was touched. Michelle arrived back from Spain and immediately wanted to see her best friend and Kate. The three of them cried together and shared memories of Aidan together from their childhood and the recent memories, some from Michelle and Robert's wedding. Today, Kayte and Carla were on the way to see Johnny in prison, both of them nervous knowing that they cut all contact since they went down; both of them going through the ritual of handing ID over then their belongings.
"Dad!" Kate says as they enter the room, Johnny hugging Kate close as well as looking at Carla
"Come here," Carla says bringing him in for a hug, all of them sitting around the table
"What happened to Aidan?" he questions as Kate glances to Carla knowing she was the one who found him
"I was dropping Hayley off at nursery and Emma off at Gail's, I noticed the workers were waiting outside so I got Sarah to open the factory up for them and get started on the latest order. I went to his flat and rang the buzzer but nothing so I had no choice but to use the spare keys, I shouted about the place, it was weird he was living out of boxes but then I went into the bathroom and that's when I found him"
"Did he look peaceful?" Johnny stammers as Carla closes her eyes, the horrible memories filling her mind
"I guess so," Carla says quietly as Johnny takes her hand "I'm so sorry"
"Something must've happened," Johnny says as Kateb nods in agreement causing Carla to sigh
"I don't know" Carla whispers "He seemed so happy and upbeat, it was weird and a shock"
"Kate, could you get us some coffees?" Johnny questions as Kate frowns glancing between her dad and Carla
"Ok" Kate smiles slightly leaving the room temporarily allowing Johnny to talk to Carla
"I know this is a really bad time but I need you to look after her for me," Johnny says quietly as Carla frowns "Promise me, Carla"
"I promise" Carla narrows her eyes in confusion
"I also need you to promise me something else," Johnny says as Carla closes her eyes "Promise me, Carla"
"I promise," Carla says as Johnny takes both of her hands in his
"Ask to see Rob" Johnny states as Carla scoffs in response "He's straightened himself out, he's done well in here, just speak to him ask to visit, for me?"
"Ok, I'll think about it, but if Peter doesn't want me to then I'm not coming," Carla says firmly as Kate returns with the coffees, placing them on the table
"Have you thought of funeral arrangements?" Johnn questions as Carla glances to Kate gesturing for her to speak
"We were actually wondering if you had any ideas?" Kate questions as Carla smiles "Something that you want?"
"White lilies" Johnny smiles "Aidan loved white lilies"
"He did" Carla smiles as Johnny nods "Is there anything else you want to ask us?"
"I'm just trying to process it myself, to be honest with you. It's hard to that in here" Johnny says gesturing to his surroundings "How's Hayley and Emma? I bet they've grown"
"Yeah, Hayley's a right little madam, confident and she's the apple of her dads eye" Carla grins as Johnny chuckles "And as for Emma, she was diagnosed with foetal alcohol syndrome when she surpassed the age of one, she's very behind in her development because of it but she's doing well, has therapy four times a week, spends time with Nick's family. Peter's actually going to adopt her, we have a date in court next month to change her name to Emma Barlow"
"That's great" Johnny smiles "Well, not great that she has that thingy but everything seems to be going well for you all which I'm pleased about"
"Yeah, it is" Carla smiles as Kate takes her hand "Michelle got married as well to a guy called Robert"
"Oh really?" Johnny questions as Kate and Carla both nod "Well he is a very lucky guy then"
"He is, she's absolutely smitten" Carla smirks at Kate who laughs slightly "The factory's going well and so are Peter and I, so overall things are running smoothly"
"Do you reckon they'll let you out for the funeral?" Kate questions as Carla takes a sip of her coffee
"It depends I think but we'll just have to see, please ring when it is in advance so I can be there?"
"Of course we will," Kate says confidently "Look, we need to get back as we're going to look through Aidan's flat to find a picture for the funeral…"
"Right" Johnny nods "Thank you for coming the both of you and Carla, think about what I said"
"I will" Carla smiles "We'll see you at the funeral if you can come"
"Bye girls"
Carla and Kate headed back to the street and parked he car outside of Aidan's flat ready to look inside to see if they could find a picture. Kate constantly harassed Carla about why Johnny wanted to speak to her in private forcing her to reveal that Rob wanted to see her causing Kate to sigh in annoyance at the fact more pressure was being piled onto Carla which she really didn't need right now but they both pushed it to the back of their minds when they entered Aidan's flat.
"It's so still isn't it?" Kate questions folding her arms across her chest "It's weird"
"I know," Carla says quietly "Why don't you start on that half of the room and I'll do this half?"
"Ok" Kate smiles as there was a knock at the door "I'll get it" she smiles as Carla nods beginning to look through the boxes, the sound of Michelle's voice bringing her great comfort
"Hey," Michelle says gently bringing Carla in for a hug, "I thought you could do with a hand?"
"Yeah I guess we could" Carla smiles as Michelle places her bag down on the sofa "I'll start on this box," she says as Kate begins to laugh
"Hey, Carla" Kate giggles handing her a photo album causing her to narrow her eyes "Look at you in this!"
"Oh for god's sakes, I thought I burnt every one of those!" Carla exclaims looking at the photo's from her and Pauls wedding "I look a right mess!"
"You had a perm!" Kate cackles as Michelle bursts out laughing "Oh I am keeping that!"
"No" Carla whines as Michelle and Kate share a look "I look so stupid I can't believe that was the fashion back then!"
"We need to use this for a Christmas card!" Michelle exclaims as Kate nods causing Carla to playfully hit her
"Stop it, we're meant to be finding pictures of Aidan here" Carla reminds them as Kate rummages through the box and pulls out a few photos
"Here" Kate smiles "There were when we were in Tenerife"
"Oh, that's a good one" Carla smiles as Michelle has a look "What do you think?"
"Yeah I like it, it really shows him, if you get what I mean," Michelle says as Kate nods looking at the photo "I can't believe he's gone"
"Me as well," Kate says sadly continuing to rummage through the box and pulling out two envelopes "Oh, well that's odd"
"What, love?" Carla questions as Kate hands over the envelope "Addressed to me?"
"Yeah, that's Aidan's handwriting" Kate informs them as Carla nods tearing the envelope open and pulling the paper out
I'm sorry
"What?" Carla questions in confusion "I'm sorry" she recites what's in the letter before looking at the envelope "Dated last week?"
"Maybe it didn't get posted or he forgot?" Michelle questions as Carla stares at the picture "Babe?"
"It…it all seems so final" Carla frowns in complete shock as Michelle smiles slightly running a hand through her hair "Like he didn't know what to say"
"Let me see," Kate says as she hands Carla another envelope, both of them exchanging the pieces of paper, Carla tearing hers open
"His will" she frowns as Michelle looks over her shoulders "Oh god…"
"Why would he give Hayley his property?" Carla questions as Michelle shrugs "Why would he give a three-year-old a flat?"
"I don't know maybe as an apology?" Michelle says as Carla sighs knowing she was probably right "What about his shares in Underworld?"
"To my loving, niece Hayley Michelle Barlow and Emma Tilsley-Connor my fifty per cent share in Underworld, split in equals" Carla recites as Michelle frowns in confusion "To be managed by my beloved cousin Michelle Sinead Connor until they both reach the age of eighteen"
"What?" Kate questions as Carla glances to Michelle who swipes it off her "You're not serious?"
"Well it's written in black and white" Carla scoffs as Michelle sighs "I mean it could've been worse…he could've left it to one of the workers?"
"Yeah, I get that" Michelle groans "It's just odd though, why me? He hasn't given a reason, maybe we need to go to a solicitor to question the credibility?"
"Yeah maybe," Kate says as Carla nods "But either way, we can carry on his legacy?"
"Exactly" Carla smiles as Michelle grins as well before glancing at the time "You should get going Carla, you need to pick Emma up from Gail's"
"Oh, yeah," Carla says taking the will of Kate "I'll see if Peter can get Adam to have a look at it"
"That's a good idea, you go and we'll finish up here," Kate says as Carla nods leaving the flat so that she could collect Emma
She hated the walk. Everyone questioning how she was and how she was coping as well as having the audacity to say if Aidan knew he was loved then why did he do what he did, it irritated her, of course, it did but what's done is done and everyone had to find a way to move forward. Carla knocked on Gail's door and was greeted by Emma walking to her causing her to lift her onto her hip and Gail smile sympathetically at her.
"Do you want a brew?" Gail questions as Carla sighs knowing she should probably get back
"Yeah ok," Carla says anyway knowing she hadn't really given the Platt's the time of day recently "A splash of milk and one sugar"
"We can have the posh biccies" Gail smiles as Carla nods tickling Emma who squeals "Before you ask she's been very well behaved"
"That's good. No meltdowns?"
"We were going to have a start of one but we managed to eliminate it by cuddling" Gail explains as Carla laughs slightly "But overall she's been really good, how are you?"
"You know me, I soldier on" Carla smiles taking her mug of tea whilst Emma looks up at her perplexed "You kind of have to when you're a mum to two"
"You also need to grieve as well" Gail reminds her as Carla sighs knowing she was right
"It's weird. I cry but feel nothing?" Carla states as Gail nods taking her hand into hers "I just don't want my sadness to effect the girls"
"You need time for yourself too, Carla," Gail says as Carla rubs her eyes "You look shattered"
"I know, I am" Carla replies quietly "I just keep thinking about Aidan and keeping things afloat, it's what I do y'know"
"I know" Gail smiles "Why don't you take the day off and spend some time with your family, ask Peter to do the same? And before you say 'what about the factory?' think about your family and put them first?"
"I guess you're right" Carla smirks as Gail grins "We should be getting back before Peter wonders where I am"
"You can say, daddy, Carla. I gave you my blessing for a reason" Gail reminds her as Carla nods not wanting to rub it in her face "Go and spend some time with your family"
"I will, and thank you for the brew"
Carla and Emma headed home and were greeted by Peter and Hayley who were doing some colouring in the kitchen causing Carla to sit Emma down in her booster seat so she could join in. Carla beckoned Peter over so they were out of earshot so that Hayley couldn't eavesdrop onto the conversation. She didn't really know where to begin though or what to begin with leaving Peter worried that it was something bad and that something else had happened but after giving her time she finally spoke,
"We found some pictures for the obituary as well as the funeral" Carla states staring at the table watching Hayley and Emma colouring in
"Ok," Peter smiles putting his arm around her shoulders "Anything else?"
"Yeah some weird things happened" Carla states with a confused look on her face "We found his will"
"Right, I'm guessing he left everything to you and Kate?" Peter questions as Carla shakes her head delving into her bag to obtain it and handing it to Peter who opens it "Oh…"
"Yeah, exactly what I said, look at the Underworld shares," Carla says as Peter looks at the words
"Left to Hayley and Emma, managed by Michelle... so essentially you and Michelle are equal partners until the girls reach eighteen?"
"Well, I was hoping that you could maybe get Adam to give it a read to see if it's credible…I'll pay him, of course, but…this is just weird"
"Yeah, I can give him a ring, how about we pop by tomorrow?"
"Ok," Carla says finishing off her coffee as Peter smiles "I also spoke to Gail and Johnny at the prison"
"Really?" Peter questions as Carla nods placing her mug in the sink
"She suggested that we take a day off to spend with the kids so I was just thinking maybe we could do a memorial type thing for Aidan, we could write messages on pieces of paper from all of us and send them up into the air using balloons?" she pauses "And as for Johnny, he said that Rob wants to see me..."
"As for Gail, that seems like a really good idea, love but as for Johnny why on earth would Rob want to see you?" Peter whispers "It might help Hayley understand a bit better as well" he adds
"Who knows, we'll speak about it more later, about Rob that is..." Carla says "I'm glad you think the balloon thing was a good idea...I just hope that the girls will be ok"
"I'm sure she will, we just need to keep talking to her" Peter suggests as Carla nods "Why don't we all sit together and we can watch a film?"
"Yeah, I might put one on in here that way they can colour and watch as well," Carla says as Peter nods giving her a kiss on the lips which grows more passionate causing Peter to push Carla against the counter "The girl's Peter"
"Oops" he grins as Carla smirks "Go and choose a film" he says smacking her arse as she walks off, he couldn't help but wonder if she was putting on a front but he knew he needed to be there for her in case it all came out at once, he needed to protect her as well as let her grieve in her own way, he just hoped that this wouldn't affect her too much and that everyone was able to move on and come to an agreement…