Sunday was one of my least favourite days, nothing ever happened, the shops had shorter hours and there was never anything to do. This week's roundup though was even harder as I had been invited to the Platt family meal with no way out, it was my first family meal with them to be officially introduced as Nick's girlfriend. It had only been a day after Nick had lost his baby so even though I tried to decline his invite, I didn't want to put up too much fight and hurt him even more, so he won the fight, I was going. It was still the morning and for once in an awfully long while, or so it felt, we slept in our own beds, we slept apart, not together. The day had been strange for us both so ending it separately was one more nail in the coffin, something to cement that this wasn't a normal day and to maybe hint that things were slowly changing between us. Maybe Nick and I were finally coming out of our honeymoon phase, maybe this was how things were supposed to be.

It was just past eleven, my washing machine was echoing through the flat and the dishwasher was finally unloaded after being put on at the beginning of the week. I wasn't really a domestic goddess but there wasn't much else you could do on a Sunday but chores, what other option did I have? Currently, though, I was online shopping, trying to bring some happiness into my otherwise drab morning. It wasn't clothes that I was looking for this time, this time I was hunting for a specific size picture frame, something to hold the picture of my ultrasound so that it was nicely protected and proudly shown. The picture was an unusual size, I found a few though, only one I liked, only one that would fit my interior design. On the final step though, I found myself doubling my order, purchasing two instead of one. My mind tried to rationalise that it was for the next ultrasound picture I would be getting but I knew that it was mainly driven by an idea of a gift – a peace offering to my new factory manager and baby daddy.

My payment details went through before I could backtrack my actions, so I got up and closed the laptop, trying to forget all about it. Why did my mind always fall to him? I needed a shower, I needed to get ready, I needed another coffee, anything to distract my mind right now. A text from Nick stopped my mindless walking back and forth between the bathroom and the kitchen, still not having made up my mind.

'Hey, I have some prenatal vitamins on order that I was going to give to Erica, I feel weird about returning them. Did you want them?'

Prenatal vitamins?

Those pills you take when you are pregnant, I remember when I was newly married and Paul's friend's wife's who had just gotten pregnant used to natter about them. During my last pregnancy, I never even thought about them, let alone took them. I don't know if they are essential, if they are helpful or what, I never was good at doing research or knowing about things, I guess pregnancy wasn't any different. It felt weird taking them from Nick, especially so soon after the miscarriage of his baby but I guess it would be weirder if I didn't take them from him. I guess he was just trying to be caring, left with no other choice, I replied before I jumped into the shower.

'Ok, thanks, I'll buy them for you if you are sure xx'.

It was just less than an hour later that Nick came knocking on my door, he was here and to be honest, we didn't even think to arrange a time to meet. I was done with getting ready and was just slipping my top on as I walked to the door. Nick looked different today, brighter, lighter but not the same, like he wasn't the same person, I felt like I was looking at a man I didn't know, so it felt even weirder when he moved in to kiss me. Even the kiss felt different. He moved into my flat with me and just looked around, it felt weird to say but even the air felt different around us, the atmosphere. I didn't understand.

"So, you ready for meeting the family as my girlfriend, Mrs Connor?"

"I mean, we could still cancel Nicholas."

"No, you don't."

I was in his arms, I was being kissed and it felt fun, it felt like when we first started dating, we were smiling through the kiss and when he pulled away, he took my hand. He began to pull me to the doorway, and I realised that I was being pulled to leave for the meal already. I thought I might have had more time to convince him to stay, to make sure we didn't leave, and could have stayed in my flat all day with each other.

"Nick…"

"Come on you."

As much as I wanted to throw a tantrum, moan, and complain about how much I didn't want to go, I didn't, he didn't need the extra hassle today. So, I gave up, let him drag me out of my home, and locked my door as we walked down the stairs and out of the building. As soon as we were out on the street, I dropped the act and matched his pace so that I was holding his arm instead, I wanted to be close to him right now, an act of comfort. We walked in silence, but Nick wore a smile every step of the way, he was content and that made me happy too, hopeful. Just as we reached his mother's house, we stopped by Leanne shouting a greeting to Nick and I tried not to feel the slap of being ignored by her, even though I was standing just next to him, practically hanging on him.

"Oh, hi Leanne."

"Hiya, what are you to today?"

Feeling left out and with Nick either not noticing or not wanting to start conflict, he carried on talking to her like I wasn't being ignored like she didn't have a problem with me. My eyes moved away from her to help distract me and they fell on Simon as he came out of the Kabin, probably the same place Leanne had come from. There was definite joy bubbling within me that when he looked up and noticed who his mom was speaking with and that I was there too, his face lit up and he jogged over. I don't know where the two were in the conversation and I didn't care, neither did Simon as he interrupted them both to say his piece to me.

"Thank you, Carla, I knew you wouldn't break your promise."

A large part of me tried not to cringe at that remark as I knew I was remarkably close to breaking it, to not following through on what I said. Still, best not tell him that, let him think of me as a hero instead of the alternative.

"Sure, Si, your wish was my command."

That finally got the attention of Leanne and she turned to me, being nosey and wanting to know everything, not wanting to be left out.

"Why? What did she do Si?"

Simon took his chance to go mute there, not wanting to give anything away, just shrugging at him mom as she stared me down, waiting for me to explain. Nick was also looking at me, even though he knew, maybe he forgot, or thought it was something else, but I decided to just get it out of the way so that we could have lunch with his family, and I could get home.

"I gave Peter a job at the factory, Simon asked me to let his dad know if there was an empty position, there was, and Peter took it."

Leanne looked confused and smug, she looked at Nick with her eyebrows raised as if questioning what he thought. That alone annoyed me, she could ask him when they worked together when they spent time together being divorced just like me and Peter but not in front of me. Men never told me what I could or couldn't do so it felt rude and demeaning that Leanne had the nerve to think about Nick's opinion, it was my factory and as much as I liked Nick, we had only been dating a short while, why would he get such a big say in my life?

"Anyway, we should probably get going before Gai sends out a search party, right Nick?"

"Yeah, I'll see you later Leanne."

Luckily, he took the hint and we walked away together to the Platt household; I was trying not to think that I was actually happy we were finally getting there instead of still talking to my ex-best friend. The feeling of relief only lasted the seconds it took to get in the door, be let in my David, and ended at the enormous amount of news one household could make. If it wasn't Max playing his games on the TV loudly, it was Kylie telling off Lily or it was Sarah and Bethany yelling at each other. I hadn't heard a noise so loud even working with half of the street when new gossip had just been uncovered, this was triple that and more.

So, doing my best, I bit the inside of my cheek and tried to grin and bear it as Gail came over to welcome her obvious favourite child whilst I stood to the side of him.

"Sorry for all the noise Carla, you know what Bethany and Sarah is like."

No, I didn't, if she was just apologising for them then I really didn't understand how the rest of the noise was normal. Nick just smiled kissing his mother on the cheek and put his arm around my waist. It was comforting but I was also slightly alarmed that he was so ok with the noise level and the current destruction of the house, I guess everyone had different parenting styles because I knew know that this wouldn't be me and Peter, I mean me and the kid when they were at Peter's as well.

Nick moved us both over to the spare armchair as I balanced on the arm, I thought the place I grew up was cramped, it was nothing compared to this though. Although Nick tried multiple times with David or Audrey, the place was too loud to hold an actual conversation and I couldn't follow anything. We sat, just watching the kids have fun as we waited for Gail to finish cooking, which was about another half an hour, at which time, we tried to cramp around the table and the TV was finally turned off.

The food looked as good as it was going to get but it still made me feel queasy from just the smell, sadly it was another pregnancy symptom that I needed to try and hide. It was more important to be discreet as of course, the first topic of conversation that the family decided was appropriate for right now was the miscarriage of Nick's baby. Now I wasn't only trying to pretend like I didn't want to throw up all over everyone's dinner but now I needed to be a comfort for my boyfriend as my hand was resting on his thigh for support.

"How is Erica?"

"Yeah, she's… well, she's doing as well as expected."

"So, you have spoken to her then?"

"Yeah, yesterday, she's obviously upset but she's getting there."

As he explained himself, most of the family turned to look at me, I suppose looking for a reaction, something to give me away but it was my suggestion that he talked to Erica, grieved with her. Instead, I smiled at my boyfriend, not knowing what else to do as they discussed such a heavy and a new topic that normal people would think was too insensitive to ask, I guess that was family though, nothing was off-limits.

"What about you Carla?"

As Gail spoke my name, I looked up and was met with everyone's face directed at me as I realised by their plates that I had zoned out or they ate amazingly quickly. Even Nick was looking at me, waiting for my reply, I had no choice but to admit that I wasn't listening.

"Sorry, what was that Gail, I was miles away."

"I was asking how work was, how are things at the factory?"

Before I could reply though, Audrey jumped in, clearly having a lot to say as the whole family often did, I didn't have anything against them, it gave me some time to move around the food so that it looked as though I had at least eaten some of it.

"Yeah, I heard Sally has left, she was talking in the pub about it."

"Oh really? How are you going to manage now then?"

I guess it was finally time for me to speak up.

"Things are actually really good right now at the factory, lots of orders, people will always need underwear. Sally wants to move on, be her own boss, I can't blame her though, I couldn't imagine working under someone again."

I assumed that my answer was good enough so I carried on shuffling around my food, almost daring to shove a bit of broccoli in my mouth but Nick had more to say which surprised me, I assumed he would understand.

"Not too busy though right? Got to be more careful nowadays".

Really? Did he really just hint at my pregnancy in front of all his family? And since when did I even ask for his opinion on my workload? I stared at him as these and more questions floating around my head, he must have sensed my anger as he quickly tried to cover for himself.

"I just mean, without a supervisor now, one man down and all that."

"Sarah is looking for work".

Said woman moaned at her mom as she suggested her for work, clearly not actively looking but how did I phrase this carefully to my boyfriend's family that I already hired my ex-husband, which Nick knew about?

"Actually, I have already hired someone, they are starting tomorrow."

If was a fast turnaround, I knew that, but I hoped no one would notice just how quickly, what with Sally only just telling me that she was leaving. Everyone was quiet for a moment, eating their food but Audrey called me out, she was surprised and now I was falling down a bigger hole.

"That quickly, did you know Sally was leaving then?"

"No, I just knew someone who wanted a job if one came up."

"Oh, and you gave her a high position so quickly?"

"Yeah, I know their work style and he knows the business, it's probably the only role in the factory that he can do."

Suddenly our boring conversation took everyone's attention as they all tried to work it, some of them already guessing that it was Peter. I mean, who else could it be? I really dropped myself in it now. By saying the word 'he' it took all suspicion out of it being Michelle and who else could it be?

Gail was the first to voice her guess as everyone watched in amusement.

"Oh, do we know them? As the only man, I know that worked so high up in the factory was Peter."

She was laughing at the idea which slowly died down as I wasn't laughing, still just toying with my food on my plate, annoyed that Nick hadn't jumped in to help yet.

"He needed a job, I needed a manager, Nick knows, there is nothing wrong with that, the clients have been asking after him in any way."

Their eyes darted to Nick, wanting to see how he would react and even I could tell his smile didn't seem real, it was tight and too forced. Surely, he was a better actor than that. Luckily, Kylie jumped in with a conversation about Lily that took everyone's attention but mine and Nicks, we sat silently through the rest of the meal.

When the meal was done, I offered to help tidy up but was rejected by Gail as she forced Kylie and herself to do it, I was forced to sit next to Nick again and listen to a conversation between him and his brother that I wasn't a part of. I was hungry too; Gail's meal didn't appeal to me, but the chippy did right now, and I wished my stomach was quieter as it growled to anyone that would listen.

Luckily, it wasn't long before we left, and was walking down the street, Peter calling my name stopped us though as I heard Nick grown, I chose to pretend like I hadn't heard that.

"Hey, sorry I know it's a Sunday and I could have text, but I thought I could just ask you as you are right there."

"It's fine, what is it?"

"Are you ok with me starting tomorrow, I just didn't want to step on your toes already and - "

"Peter, it's fine, just come tomorrow, normal time, it will be fine."

Before I could say anything else, or Peter could reply, Nick felt his presence known and sneaked his arm around my waist with his hand resting on my stomach. That gesture alone felt weird, but he spoke up.

"We better get you to the chippy, don't think I didn't notice you didn't eat anything; we need to make sure you eat, sorry Peter."

He led me away, but I knew that comment must have had an effect on Peter as he knew exactly why it was important, I ate

I am still getting used to my new keyboard so bear with me for any mistakes, hopefully, I got rid of most of them. I hope you enjoy this chapter, let me know your thoughts.