They all sat there, not saying a word
"So! How's you two?" Jenny piped up
"Good" Carla nodded
Michelle sat there still
She smiled at Carla sarcastically
"Carla.. a word?" She got up
"Mm.." Carla got up herself and they both went outside
"What are you doing back with him?" Michelle asked
"He loves me.. I love him.." Carla looks over to Johnny holding Cody whilst Peter makes silly faces at him making her smile widely
"Don't let him fool you.. I thought you two broke up!" Michelle said sharply
"We did! Then he came over a few weeks ago and.." she giggles
Michelle rolled her eyes
"Look Chelle it's my love life not yours" Carla tutted
"Why won't you drink the alcohol?" Michelle questions
"Maybe I just don't want a drink, what is this? 20 questions?" Carla answers
"Are you pregnant.." Michelle reluctantly asked, lifting Carla's head up
Carla didn't say a word
"Carla! Look what he did when you were pregnant with Cody!" Michelle shouts
Carla put her hand over Michelle's mouth "tell the whole street then!"
Michelle pushed Carla off and walked off into the distance, her heels clicking with the cobbles
Peter walked over as tears streamed down Carla's face
"Hey.. hey.. don't cry" he wiped them
"I'm going home" Carla pointed out before walking over to Johnny and taking Cody
"Carla!" Peter watched as she began walking back to her flat, Cody in her arms
He ran back in the bistro and grabbed the pram and Carla's stuff before running after Carla and catching her just as she walked in the flat
"Carla!" Peter shouted as he caught up with her
She turned to him, tears streaming down her soft rosy cheeks
He walked inside, putting the pram and bags down as he pulled Carla in for a hug
She began to cry silently into him
"Michelle was right.. it was a stupid idea to ever think me and you would work" Carla pushed Peter off and put Cody in his bouncer
"What, no! I love you Carla nothings gonna stop that.." Peter walked after her
"Is that why you did what you did then is it?" She turned to him
"That wasn't the reason, YOU know this!" He shouted
"Go home Peter.." she sat on the sofa
"You don't even live here!" She turned to him
"I'm not leaving you alone, not with our babies.." he came over, stroking her tummy
"Peter please.. just go" Carla moved his hand and gave him a gentle nod
Peter looked at her, walked out and slammed the door making Carla jump and Cody cry
She took a long deep breath..
26TH DECEMBER 2020
Carla began strapping Cody into his car seat in her car as he kicked and babbled and squealed in delight of curiosity of where they were going
Peter ran over as he heard his son from the other side of the street
He opened the door and picked his son up
"Hey little man!" He smiled as his son giggled
Carla turned to Peter in slight annoyance
"Where are you going?" He asked her
She refused to answer for a second
"Carla..?" He asked again
"To the hospital.. can you put him back in his car seat please" she got in the drivers seat and started the car up
He strapped Cody in and jumped in himself
"Did I say you could come!?" She sniped
"No but I'm not letting you do this alone Carla" he said softly
"You don't even know what it's for!" She stated
"So?" He pointed out
An hour later they were at the hospital, Carla was laid on the bed with the gel rubbed onto her stomach the nurse began to move the ultrasound probe round the stomach, a picture flashing on the screen
A little round dot sat centrally, about the size of a grapefruit
The nurse began the raise an eyebrow as she continued to move the probe around
Peter smiles widely at his little baby on the screen, showing Cody the little bean
"That's your baby brother or sister" Peter smiled as Cody giggled and clapped
Carla sat up slightly, sensing the vibe from the nurse
"What's wrong.." she asked
"I can't find a heartbeat.." the nurse pointed out in a soft tone
"I'm afraid your baby has died.." the nurse looked at Peter
Peter's face just sunk, his heart sunk
Carla seemed phased
"Carla.." Peter asked
"Mm?" She replied
"You okay?" he held her hand
"Mm" she began to wipe the jelly off her stomach and sat up
"Love.." Peter said as Carla picked Cody up and walked out to the car
The nurse had a look of guilt as Peter walked after Carla
"Carla you don't need to hide your feelings from me" he reassured her
She strapped Cody in and drove off leaving Peter standing in the middle of the hospital car park
A few hours later Peter stepped off the bus as Michelle walked along with Cody in the pram
"Chelle!" Peter ran over
"Hey.. Carla told me what happened I'm sorry" Michelle said softly
"Thanks.. listen do you know where Carla is?" He asked
"Oh she dropped Cody off and said she had a business meeting to go too" she replied
Peter nodded and ran to the factory, he needed to know Carla was okay after their previous miscarriage in 2014 which was his fault, he needed to know if he was to blame
He ran in
"Mr Barlow!" The staff all shouted
He ignored them and walked into the office where Carla was sat doing paperwork on the phone
He shut the door and sat down at the other desk, putting his feet up on the desk as she looked over to him, him looking back
10minutes later she hung up and turned to peter
"You can be so annoying sometimes!" She shouted
"No.. I'm not I'm just worried about you" he put his feet down and got up
"Peter just go home" she got up, putting the files away
He walked over to her
"Love.." he kissed her head
"Peter I'm okay, just go home, I'll call you later" she turned round to him
He kissed her gently to which she let him, looking in his eyes, she began to kiss him back, he kissed deeper, she did too, her eyes began to close, he pushed her up against the office door and locked it, taking his jacket off they looked at each other..
Did they want this?