"Who is going to be your maternity cover in any way? since your other manager will be on paternity, Smart decision by the way."

"Yeah… thank you."

Michelle was sat opposite me in the booth at the Rovers as we drank soft drinks and caught up with each other about what happened the whole week. Sure, we saw each other most days, I popped in for a quick drink before retiring to hibernate in my flat for the rest of the evening, replying to emails and watching terrible TV.

This week had been a whole other challenge that had been troubling me every minute of every day that Michelle was enjoying watching. People and their wondering hands that always found their way to my belly, my huge bulging belly that people thought they could touch whenever they wanted just because they could see it. Touch was not something I was a fan of any day of the week but now that people think just because I am carrying a baby, they can put their hands on me whenever they like and feel for themselves. Whatever happened to consent? Whatever happened to actually asking me? I would have said no every time but that was my prerogative as the mother carrying the baby. Michelle thought it was hilarious to see my look of disgust and me awkwardly trying to move out of their reach, she loved seeing it.

"Just… wasn't that the reason you said you hired Peter? To help when you go on maternity?"

"Yes… ok? It was a bad cover, I admit that. Well, I have Alya – "

"She isn't very experienced though, come on. I don't want you to be stressed – well stressed about work at least when you are supposed to be looking after your baby. I just want to make sure everything is ok."

Her eyes were shifting as she spoke to me, looking anywhere but at me, she was thinking something but didn't want me to know. I hoped she was thinking the same thing I had been meaning to ask her for a while, but I was trying to feel her out. Hopefully, this meant that she was also thinking of the same idea to put my worries to rest, it was like we were of one mind.

"I know she hasn't got enough experience, that's why I wasn't thinking of leaving her alone in charge of the factory. My plan was to ask someone that was really good in the factory to come back temporarily, some that knew the business, and no one could do the job better than them."

Her smile that she tried to cover was enough to tell me that her mind was thinking the same as mine and had the same idea. Me throwing in some compliments was definitely helping the cause and stroking her ego in just the right way. Sometimes things just worked out I guess; I couldn't believe that something in my life was so easy.

"Yeah, So, I will probably ring Sally Monday morning or something, try and get her to come back."

Michelle's face dropped and I couldn't help but smile at how naive she was being at my simple lie that if she was thinking clearly, was incredibly transparent.

"Yeah, I mean, if you think it's for the best and – "

"I'm joking you daft mare, can you fill in for me or not?"

"Oh, you cow, I can try and work something out I guess… tell me the dates tomorrow or something and I'll put it in the schedule. Just to make sure though, I am getting paid right? Because as much as I love you, I am not working for free."

"What? Yes of course you are, what type of business do you think I am running?"

Laughter finally filled the air again and I felt us both relax again after such a serious conversation, and it was nice to return to just having fun with someone I loved. Michelle knew everything about me, including my likes and dislikes, like not being touched with asking me. Even with her being the main person in my life that I trusted – well – the only person I trusted in the world, there were some things I couldn't tell her. Peter. Things involving that man were never a good idea to bring up to my best friend, she hated the man, and I don't think anything he did would change her mind. Did I blame her? No. If we considered everything that Steve had done to her in the past though, it would add up to what Peter did to me, it was never like that though in life. You will always remember the pain people caused the ones you loved but forget the pain that you suffered from someone who claimed to love you. It was poetic really.

"So, come on then, anything interesting happening at work? Any more flirting between Alya and Peter, tell me everything, it can get boring working here."

"Here? In the pub, it can get boring? I'm sorry, are we talking about the same pub? The rovers Returns where the most drama, probably in the whole world happens, are you insane?"

"Well… this week has been boring, and I need something to fill the hole that the no drama created. Fill the space, complete me."

"Gross."

My eyes weren't on her anymore though, they were staring at the entrance as Nick walked in, the family behind him. Something made me keep staring as they walked up to the bar and placed his order, we hadn't talked properly in a while but that didn't stop me from being curious, we were friends once, we used to actually care about each other. Before I could turn away, he saw me and we locked eyes, he caught sight of my stare and sent me a smile back with a little wave. It felt weird but I was already caught, so I smiled back and diverted my eyes as fast as I could, but I was caught again, only this time by Chelle as she looked behind her and saw Nick.

"Oh… Nick's here."

"Yeah, I can see that, Michelle."

"He can see that too."

It didn't make sense, I understood the message though and she was happy with her little dig, simple things pleased simple minds. It was awkward but if we both just got on with our evenings, everything would be ok, no misunderstandings or bad small talk.

He didn't get the memo though.

Nick never got the memo of what I was thinking.

Nick.

He walked over to me without a care in the world, as if I had invited him to join us, with a drink in his hand and a smile on his face. Michelle was excited to see what happened being in the front seat, I could practically see her bouncing with excitement, I wanted to lean across and slap her. Instead, I took a breath and turned my body towards him, sadly, that put my belly on display and like everyone else, his eyes focused on it.

"Hey, haven't seen you around in a while."

That was a lie. We had seen each other around for a while, we both chose to avoid each other, it was the right thing to do after everything we put each other through. We crossed the street to avoid one another, we would keep our heads down if we were in the same place and we kept conversations short and polite. Things were different now, even if we kept trying to pretend it wasn't, I still lied and he still said all those things to me, time wasn't going to forget everything, I wasn't going to forget. Best to just agree and avoid any more uncomfortably.

"Yeah, been a while, how are you?"

"Me? Yeah, I'm alright. I have loads of free time since this neighbour I have has stopped summoning me to help her with every little problem."

It was an attempt at banter, and it was a good attempt, but it just didn't feel right hearing it, I didn't feel like laughing or smiling. Something was just off, and I couldn't describe it. Instead of kicking up a fuss, I just tried to move on the conversation and ignore his remark.

"Yeah, well, I have got to try and sort things out for myself now that this little one is on the way."

I emphasised by pointing to my stomach and although he looked, I know he didn't need to as he had clocked it instantly, everyone does, it was huge.

"Not long left now aye?"

"No, thank God."

"Not having a great time?"

"No. I mean, I love him so much already but let's just say when he is older, I will be telling him every day about how much he enjoyed sitting on my bladder to keep me moving."

Nick was smiling at me, I was smiling back but it wasn't for him, it was for my son, it was involuntary whenever talking about my pregnancy which definitely made me less intimidating. Michelle shuffled in her seat, her movement dragging our eyes to her, and she spoke up, probably feeling a bit left out.

"It's true, if she had one of those Fitbit things, her step count would be right up there… Why don't you join us, Nick?"

Without even asking me, she began to move to make him some space in the booth, it didn't matter that I really didn't want him joining us and she knew that. Luckily, Nick looked embarrassed and glanced backwards at his family, they were all watching us.

"I would… But I should probably get back to my lot before they start a fight. Hopefully, I'll catch you later."

That was directed at me, both I and Michelle knew that.

My so-called best friend was smirking at me, winding me even more at her antics, not a care in the world apart from making sure she made some drama in my life. I continued to glare at her, it didn't do anything to her mood though, she was still looking like she was having a great time. Some days she really drove me up the wall even if it was all done out of love.

"Ok, one, I have already told you, you are not scary with your face all bloated from the pregnancy and the big belly causing you to sit sideways, it's hilarious. Two, I don't see what the problem is, we like Nick, he's a nice guy and Nick likes… us. Well – you. I was just being friendly."

"My face is bloated?"

"A little…"

"What?"

My hand dove into my bag to retrieve my mirror and I held it up trying to catch a glance at my reflection to see if she was right or not. I couldn't tell though, and it was driving it mad, was my face bloated?

"You won't be able to tell as I think it happened over time, it doesn't look that bad, I was just using it as a reason."

The smile on her face was still in place as she spoke which meant I still didn't know if she was telling the truth, I didn't know whether to believe her or not. She was infuriating, this pregnancy was infuriating, it had already done too much to my body and now it was attacking my face… maybe.

Time had started to pass, my eyes refusing to look in the direction of Nick and his family, not wanting to draw attention to myself or catch his eye. The conversation was light, even if I was still concerned with thoughts of what my face looked like to everyone else. It was a little after nine when another person approached our table and a bag was placed in front of Chelle, both of us looked up to see Peter, he looked good – I mean, he looked ok... mood-wise.

"Hey, Steve called about a bag Amy wanted… I don't know but I thought I would drop it off."

Peter and Michelle were still on rough grounds with each other, it was hard. Both of them were incredibly stubborn, neither would concede due to fear that it would let the other win. Michelle took the bag though and tried to dismiss him.

"Thank you, Peter, I'll go give it to her in a bit."

He wasn't moving. Peter was looking directly at me, and it was obvious that the intention that now he had seen me was to talk to me, without Michelle. They were both beginning to act like children, but I didn't care enough to fix their relationship, I just kept them apart. He must have heard Michelle sigh as I clearly heard it, she stood up and moved past Peter to the back of the pub. Just as I was about to make small talk, feeling a little awkward, he took her seat and started speaking first.

"How are you feeling today."

His atmosphere had completely changed from defensive and cold to warm and caring, it was going to give me whiplash one day. I was getting used to it though, recently he had taken to asking me constantly, every day, if I was feeling ok, checking on me and his son's health as much as he could.

"Yeah, I'm good, we're good."

Just like usual, his eyes lit up hearing that everything was ok, and it gave me a warm feeling that he cared so much, it impacted him so deeply. Peter was different, good, better, the man I wanted to be the father to my baby. Over his shoulder, I could see the eyes of the Platt family on us, as well as some of the other patrons, someone was always watching us nowadays.

"Oh, I asked Michelle to step in as a manager while we're off like we talked about, I'm pretty sure it was a yes."

"That's good… I better clear out my snacks before we go of because she will clear me out."

That triggered a laugh from me, he was right, and he smiled at my reaction which made me even happier than I could have such an effect on him from such a small gesture. Our banter was becoming just like how it used to be, and it was a nice feeling, it felt normal and right, something I had missed. Michelle was making her reappearance loud enough for Peter to take his cue to get out of her seat in time for when she got back, which he did as all conversation was over now that she was back. It was like having divorced parents that refused to speak to each other and I was the child stuck in the middle.

"Right then, I should get going, I'll see you Monday then Car."

"See ya."

My gaze fell to Michelle and her raised eyebrow told me that she had something to say, before she had the chance though, a commotion stole everyone's attention. Peter and Nick were standing chest to chest, staring at one another heatedly and I wasn't sure what started it. The only thing I definitely knew for sure was that it was definitely going to escalate and quickly if they weren't pulled apart now. Luckily, Gail begging Nick to sit back down did the trick, he hesitantly sat back down, still glaring at Peter. Peter on the other hand looked smug, he was about to say something to push Nick further until he caught sight of my gaze on him and left the Rovers without escalating or starting a fight.

"Wonder what that was about then?"

Her sarcasm told me that she knew exactly what it was about, maybe it was my pregnancy brain, but I had no clue.

"What do you mean?"

"Come on Carla… you. It has to be about you."

"Why would it be about me? Nick and I aren't dating…neither are me and Peter, you're overthinking it because you want drama."

Ignoring her annoyed stare, I went back to my drink and felt a pain lower down, it didn't feel good, but I knew it was probably just the baby moving to get comfortable and hurting me in the process like usual. As I finished off my drink, the pain struck again, slightly lower, my bladder was definitely being used, I needed the toilet – again. Rubbing the lower part of my belly to try and soothe the ache, I slowly stood up and stretched out my limbs. Now as I stood, I was feeling the pain a lot lower than normal, what else was this pregnancy going to do to me?

"I'm just popping to the loo."

Michelle paid me no mind as it was such a common occurrence but when I got further away from the table, my legs collapsed beneath me and I was the one the floor in a lot more pain. Nick was the first one to me and a crowd gathered around him, everyone concerned about the pregnant woman. The pain was intense and I groaned in agony, concerning those around me, no one was quite sure what to do right now but I did hear Michelle calling an ambulance which was the smart decision.

Another sharp pain attacked me, and I felt my eyes welling up in tears. Nick, with his arms supporting my back and keeping me upright finally spoke, it wasn't what he wanted to hear though.

"Can I do anything to help Carla?"

"Get Peter!"

Thank you again for all the love, more action will be coming in the next chapter. Please review, favourite, and follow. xx