'Put her down,' Sally demanded, her mouth wide open as she held the factory door, peering through the gap.
Johnny froze, glaring at Carla. He looked furious, particularly as he'd been caught. He dropped Carla and started laughing.
'You've misunderstood love, just a bit of a play fight, is all.' Johnny said, stepping forwards to Sally. 'Things were said and she gave me a bit of a roughing up, you know Carla, ey?'
Sally didn't look all that sold as her eyes met Carla's. The factory boss looked shaken up and quite frankly, petrified. Play fight or not, it didn't look the least bit friendly.
Johnny continued. 'I er, got off on the wrong foot. I'm a good bloke, really, you know, family man. Just got a little heated and I lashed out when I shouldn't have. Don't tell me you've never been there?'
She didn't look away from Carla. 'No, but I'd never attack someone, certainly not so violently. Carla doesn't exactly look like she's been play fighting.'
'It's not what it looked like, honest,' Johnny turned back to Carla. His stare was eerily familiar. He wanted her to fabricate lies. 'Isn't it Carla? Didn't things just get out of hand?'
Carla still had herself propped against the filing cabinet. 'It's okay... I'm fine Sal.'
Sally frowned. 'Mrs Connor, are you sure? You're shaking.'
Carla barged past Johnny as quickly as she could, grabbing her handbag from her desk. She was certainly about to throw up.
'Mrs Connor!' Sally called after Carla as she ran into the toilets.
Peter and Simon had agreed to a Friday night pizza and film combination, which usually involved watching something about high-speed car chases or violent bad guys. It wasn't really a mystery why Simon had snapped months earlier and had a violent streak; those films offered ideas for violence. Still, Peter decided it was better to watch something about car chases and villains than sit through another cheesy Rom-Com like Carla had. What was that film she made him sit through the other week? Runaway something? Involving weddings? Either way, he was adamant anything was better than Julia Roberts in countless wedding dresses. Things had been moving at a rather pleasant rate, he thought. Nothing was rushed or frantic, but it was as though they had tried to clean the slate and move slowly to starting afresh. It was impossible to forget the betrayal Peter had committed during their marriage, and the crimes Rob had committed because of Peter's actions, but it was as near to starting over as they could achieve.'
'Right Si,' Peter started, pinching the 'Taking the Pizza' menu from his son's hands. 'We need to decide what we're having, and decide this carefully.'
Simon's eyes narrowed as his Dad propped his feet up against the footstool of No.1. 'It's picking pizzas Dad, not stocks and shares. It's not exactly hard.'
'That's where you're quite wrong, my boy. See, if we pick something relatively inoffensive like a Margarita, your Granddad will be all over it like a tramp on a kipper, but he wouldn't touch a Diavolo.'
'Oh okay, we've gotta play the game.'
'Exactly. Tracy hates meat feast pizzas, so she wouldn't dabble with one of them. And if you took any leftovers to Leanne's you'd have to hide the Hawaiian.
'Dad, have you been thinking about this all day?'
'I might have considered it, slightly. Look, what would you rather, I mull over pizza choices to a fine art, or you share it with every man in Weatherfield and their dog?'
Simon laughed and sarcastically replied, 'You don't feed dogs pizza, Dad. Look at Eccles.'
Peter rolled his eyes. 'You know what I meant. So, meat feast with extra chillies? Garlic bread with cheese? Chips?'
'All the essentials.'
'See, what did I say? I know best, don't I? Mr. Wise, me.'
Simon sighed. 'Dad, could I ask you something?'
Peter nodded, 'What's the matter? Don't tell me you're hankering for a Margarita.'
'No. It's about relationships. Well, I heard Nick and Leanne arguing this morning. I don't want them to split up again. Nick's great, and he makes Mum really happy.'
Peter rested his hand on his son's shoulder. 'Look Si, sometimes we do end up fighting with the one we're with, even when we love them. I think Nick and your Mum have been through a lot over the past few months, and things have been tough on them. I think it's only fair that they have their own spats.'
'But Dad, they sounded really angry. What if they split up and its my fault?'
'Si, they're grown ups. They have issues and problems, but I am sure it'll be just fine. I don't think it helps they work together, but even so, they always end up making up and fixing things. Every road leads back to them. They'll sort it.'
'Is that like you and Carla?'
'Me and Carla? How d'ya mean?'
'All roads leading back to the same person, despite everything. Is that the same thing with you and Carla?'
He smiled. His son was growing into quite the attentive young man, even with the battles he'd encountered. 'Yeah mate, you're right. It's exactly the same as me and her, but perhaps a little messier than Nick and Leanne. That's the important thing to take from this Si: your Mum and Nick have their problems and happy times just like Carla and I do, but ultimately, we couldn't live without the other.'
'That's gross Dad, I don't want to know.'
Peter ruffled Simon's hair and laughed with him.
The lunchtime rush in the Bistro had rapidly morphed into the early evening rush, and Gail still hadn't heard from Nick or Leanne, who had completely forgot her desperate pleas for a family intervention. She felt wounded, but it was purely accidental that they'd let it slip. She propped herself up on one of the Bistro barstools, making eye contact with Steph who was returning change to a customer.
'Is everything alright Gail?' Steph asked, leaning over the bar.
Gail snapped. 'Not really! Here I am trying to resolve my family's issues and all of them ignore me!'
Leanne was sat with two walk-ins who hoped they could use the Bistro for a business function. It was a booking that would generate quite a healthy sum of money and she was rather chuffed with her achievements to bump the business partners up from a standard buffet to the luxury option with bottles of prosecco. She was practically beaming.
'So, if we take a £100 deposit now, that'll allow us to confirm everything for you. Is there anything else I can help you with?' Leanne said, sounding like a true businesswoman.
'Well, we were hoping to organise one of these fairly regularly - is it possible to do that sort of thing monthly?'
Leanne's smile grew wider. 'Absolutely! We can tweak the details to suit you; if you'd prefer an early morning meeting, we could sort that, or late afternoon. We have a wonderful chef who is always on board.'
The pair smiled back at her, shaking hands with her.
'There you are!' Gail said to Nick, who was preoccupied, watching Leanne over in the distance. 'Nick? Nicholas? Are you listening?'
Nick snapped out of his trance. 'What? Yeah, Mum, what is it? I'm kind of busy in here.'
'I was trying to stage a family get-together tonight. You know, all of us, you and Leanne included. She seemed to suggest you'd be going it alone, but I think it would do us all the world of good to stick together.'
'I don't know Mum, things aren't exactly plain sailing at the moment.'
Gail rolled her eyes. 'Come on! It wasn't that long ago that you were pining after her - now you've got her! Sort your problems out Nick. You never know what's around the corner or what might thwart your future - just look at what happened with your Dad.'
Nick hung his head. He knew his father's death was unexpected and tragic, not long after Sarah's birth and he'd fought with Gail. Little did Brian know his last moments alive were the night they were. It was for that reason that Nick always held things close.
'Right fine, I'll see what I can do. We're pretty stumped in here though, there's lots of bookings - I don't know if we'll make it.'
'But...But I've bought all the things especially for it. I even got the bus into town to buy posh starters and desserts. I thought we could make it special.'
Andy and Steph had listened in the entire time, prepping drinks behind the bar.
'I'll do my best Mum, but I just don't know-'
'Nick, Nick, we'll cover!' Andy said. 'We can manage, can't we Steph?'
Steph nodded in agreement. 'We'll be absolutely fine! There's what, seven of us here now? So if you and Leanne go, the rest of us can manage!'
Gail's face lit up. 'Come on, please say you'll join us?'
Leanne marched back over to the bar, armed with the booking diary and the details of the pair she'd spent the last hour smooching up to, all in the name of business.
'Success?' Nick asked, turning away from his Mum and to his partner.
'Yeah.' Leanne replied, coolly.
Steph, Gail and Andy looked awkwardly at one and other.
'Steph and Andy said that they can cope tonight and you two can come to ours,' Gail looked delighted. 'That's you too, Leanne.'
Leanne's eyes flashed to Nick. 'I'll stay here.'
'But, I went out especially. I even bought those starters you like from M&S, the fancy tempura prawns. Please, Leanne.'
'Lea, come on. It's not Mum's fault we're having a domestic.' Nick's tone was pleading. 'I thought we were supposed to stick together.'
'That's what I thought,' Leanne began. 'But then you decided to push me away.'
'Push her away?' Gail looked confused, flitting between Steph and Andy in search of answers.
'Oh Christ, not these two again,' Robert had emerged from the kitchen, rolling his eyes as he made himself a lime and soda. 'You've been ripping into each other all day. Talk about unprofessional.'
'Oi!' Nick and Leanne barked, in unison.
Leanne put her head to her hands. Nick reached for her. 'Why don't we go into the office, hey? Talk about this somewhere more private?'
Gail's ears pricked up. 'It would be nice if you two settled your differences, you know, so I don't have to watch you hurl steak knives across the table.'
'Don't worry Mum, we'll both be there.'
'7.30?'
Nick nodded as Leanne walked off to the office. 'That'll be great Mum, we'll see you then.'
'Bye love,' Gail said, jumping from the barstool and making her way out of the Bistro. Nick followed shortly behind her, into the office.
'How much do we reckon they'll start shouting again?' Andy asked, watching Nick close the office door.
'Pfft,' Robert laughed. '20 quid says something gets thrown and Leanne storms off.'
'20?' Andy mused. 'You're on mate. 25 quid says Leanne refuses to go.'
'Ooh, you're on!'
'Boys!' Steph shouted. 'That's not helping! Come on, it's not exactly ideal having the two managers arguing, is it?'
'It's up to them two. If they want to plunge the business into the ground by fighting, who are we to stop them?' Robert asked. He was met with silence.
'Ugh, it's just daft - they clearly love each other!'
'I don't know. He was fairly chipper in the kitchen this morning, and he did seem keen to fix things with her.'
Andy agreed. 'Yeah he seemed fairly jolly when I got here at eleven. I think he'd been talking to somebody, as there were two empty coffee cups where he was sat.'
'What?' Steph frowned. 'Why - but who would he have been talking to? Leanne didn't get here until 12ish. We started at the same time.'
'He did have someone in here,' Robert began. 'I heard voices out here when I was doing prep in the kitchen.'
'What kind of voice? Male? Female?' Steph looked at the two men. 'Guys, this is important! What if Nick's playing away?'
'It did sound like a woman,' Robert shrugged. 'I wouldn't assume it means Nick's doing her, whoever she was.'
Leanne was perched on the sofa in the Bistro office, whilst Nick paced around the room.
'What's going on with us,' he sighed. 'We seem so deflated, so miserable. Do I make you unhappy?'
'No,' Leanne started, her expression softening. 'No, look, of course you don't. I don't like this either and it's draining. I just- well, I just worry that you're tired of me, tired of us, and that you're biding your time and playing away. I'd understand if you were. But Nick, please, I've been messed around and hurt by Peter in the past, so please, don't carry this on if you've got someone else.'
Nick moved closer towards her, placing his hands on her shoulders. 'You don't seriously think I'm cheating, do you? Look, I love you Leanne, I always have and I always will. I'm not going to give up what we've got for somebody else. Even if Liz Hurley came through the door.'
'Liz Hurley, really?'
Nick smirked. 'Not even if she pleaded with me. So come on, let's not let this break us, yeah? Haven't we gone through enough already? Let's start planning for the future, our future. We can't change the past, but we can change what happens next. Let's be happy.'
She smiled back at him. 'I guess, for once, you're right.'
'Well, I have my moments.'
He gave her a light kiss on the lips, and the two shared an embrace.
'Does this mean I've got to endure your mother playing Come Dine with Me?'
'I'm afraid so. Think of the prawn starters she bought you. Tempting hey?'
'It's going to take a lot of alcohol for me to endure this family intervention. Good god.'
Carla occupied a table on her own in the corner of the Rovers, close to the jukebox and not too far from Michelle and Steve, who were occupied with the bar. The pubs and bars were beginning to become unbearable, particularly as it was November 30th, which meant soon enough, every drunk would absolutely destroy the Christmas classic, Fairytale of New York.
She ploughed on with another glass of red, hoping it would blot out the world around her. Out of the corner of her eye, Michelle had watched Carla for a good ten minutes, concerned.
'Carla, are you gonna nurse that all night?' Michelle laughed, trying to catch her best friend's gaze. Carla looked miles away.
She offered a fake smile, but even Michelle saw straight through it.
'Come on, bring that round the back and we'll talk.'
Carla quietly shook her head. 'I'm fine, Michelle. I've just got a lot on my mind and if I'm honest, I don't know if anyone can really do much to change things.'
Michelle slid in to the sofa behind the table next to Carla. 'I am deadly serious here. You can't shut me out like this, nor can you go cold on Peter either. It's not him, is it?'
She felt her eyes swell with tears, and she shook her head. 'No, no, he's actually done nothing wrong. He's oblivious; he's oblivious to it all.'
Michelle closed the gap between her and her best friend, ensuring she knew it was a safe space to talk openly, and that none of the regulars could hear their conversation. Then again, the music in the Rovers was thumping so loudly that she was expecting a call from Ken at any point, pleading for peace and quiet.
'Peter's oblivious to what?'
'Chelle, please don't poke the ant's nest. It's best I keep my mouth shut and plod along. It's just better for everyone, really it is.'
'Well, would you tell Peter? He'll be beside himself with worry if he saw y-'
Sally and Tim had walked through the doors of the pub, and Carla hadn't gone unnoticed. There was still concern plastered across Sally's face, which was why she barged her way over and into their conversation.
'Carla, are you okay after before?'
Michelle looked puzzled, her eyes flicking between Carla and Sally. She settled on staring at Carla for clues instead. 'What happened before?'
'With Mr Connor's Dad. I opened the door and it all looked rather aggressive. If I hadn't opened the door at that point, who knows what could have happened!'
'Johnny?' Michelle was definitely confused. 'What was Johnny doing getting so aggressive with you?'
'Chelle, can we just drop this, yes? Sal, I'm fine, thank you.'
Neither Sally nor Michelle was convinced by Carla's tone. 'He had you pinned against the filing cabinet, his hands around your throat. Not to sound blunt but-'
'You'll say it anyway,' Carla muttered. 'Flamin gob on legs.'
'Pinned up against the filing cabinet? Why was he doing that Carla? That's not right at all. Was Aidan there? What about Kate? Did the others see all this?'
Carla didn't even have the opportunity to speak.
'Well, thankfully the others didn't see or hear anything as Sean was blasting Wham! so loud that we may as well have renamed the factory Club Tropicana. Anyway, the others didn't see or hear anything. They kept gossiping about who Johnny was and why he was there, but other than that the rest of them are none the wiser. I could have told them what I saw but I didn't. It didn't look like a situation to gossip about.'
'It's all fine, Sally. A misunderstanding,' Carla sounded so detached from her own voice. The answers were from auto-pilot mode.
'Well, I've said my piece. But look, it didn't seem all that normal and I didn't like how violent he was. I'm not convinced by what I see in the suit. He looks a fraud.'
Sally trotted off to the bar and joined Tim, sipping the white wine he'd bought for her. Michelle, mouth held wide open, turned back to Carla, frustrated.
'I think we need to talk, don't you Carla?' Michelle finally spoke, gesturing to the back room of the Rovers.
The staff at the Bistro ploughed on with the evening shift, the frosty relations between the managers had eased, and the place seemed that bit happier.
'Are you lot certain you can manage without us?' Leanne turned to Steph who was wiping and resetting a table for six. 'I feel a bit bad, leaving you lot. I was supposed to close tonight.'
Steph wafted her cloth in Leanne's direction. 'It'll be fine - honestly. I think you and Nick need to stop being so hard on yourselves, and each other. Go tonight and relax a a bit. We've got a busy few weeks with the run up to Christmas, so take the breaks and enjoy - even if you have to put up with Nick's family.'
Leanne laughed. 'Er, yeah, I wouldn't exactly label it a night off. God, if you never listen to anything I tell you Steph, listen to this: always, and I repeat, always, scout out how dysfunctional their family are - you know, before you commit.'
'I'll certainly keep that in mind.'
'I mean, seriously pay attention. Mother-in-law, brother-in-law, the whole hog. I think Audrey is about the only one who actually likes me.'
'Tough crowd?'
'It's like being fed to the lions spending time with Nick's family.'
'Hm, I don't know, Gail was desperate for you to come with Nick earlier. She even bought the starters you like. I think Gail has a soft spot for you. Perhaps she sees herself in you ey.'
'I suppose Nick's Mum and Dad did do the rounds and married twice.'
'And they say lightning strikes twice? That's actually so weird. You and Nick have copied his parents.'
'Suppose we have,' Leanne laughed. 'But if I ever start to resemble Gail, slap me.'
Steph chuckled. 'Well, we did think there'd be a bit of beef before. What with you and Nick in kill mode. It all got a bit full on; the lads put bets on and were gossiping about Nick having a coffee with some woman this morning.'
Leanne stopped cleaning down another empty table. 'Woman?'
Steph turned on her heels to look at Leanne. 'Oh, er, something about him having a coffee in here this morning. I wouldn't read too much into it, Andy and Robert were mucking around. You know what lads are like.'
'Did they say who she was? He never mentioned anything to me.'
'No, no, Robert said he didn't come out of the kitchen as he was prepping. He just said Nick seemed to be in a better mood when she left. He said he heard voices for ages - it might have been a business thing. I doubt there's anything to worry about.'
Leanne definitely wasn't convinced. So something was amiss. 'Nick and I got into an argument this morning and he came straight here. It's a joint meeting diary; he had absolutely nothing planned for this morning.'
Steph shrugged awkwardly. Her mouth had run away with her and she was certain she'd poured the fuel over the fire that had just been put out. 'I don't really know Leanne, I think she was here for an hour or so. I've no idea. It's just what the boys said.'
There was one way to gain clarity over the woman's identity and how the meeting panned out, and that was by accessing the Bistro's CCTV. Leanne waited for Steph to busy herself with the bookings sheet, and slipped off into the office. Nick was sat behind the desk, sorting paperwork and orders.
'Hey gorgeous,' he smiled as she peered through the door that was slightly ajar.
Leanne smiled as best she could. 'I think Robert needed you in the kitchen, some last minute details for Sally and Tim's wedding.'
Nick rolled his eyes, sinking back into the chair. 'This bloody wedding. I think it's taken more time and effort than any of our wedding's.'
'Yeah, perhaps.' Leanne's voice sounded somewhat shaky. She hoped he hadn't noticed.
'I can't wait for December 4th to be over and done with. I think Wills and Kate had a more lowkey affair than Sally has planned. Just think, four more days and it'll be almost over!'
'Yeah,' Leanne agreed with a half-smile. 'Robert's waiting. We need to be at your Mum's in an hour too.'
Nick stood up from the desk, holding his hands up. 'Alright, alright,' he leaned across, dropping a kiss on Leanne's lips. 'I'll handle Robert. I know how much you hate organising Sally's wedding. It's a good job I love you, isn't it?'
'Very good. Gwon, Robert doesn't have all night. Neither do we.'
Nick offered her one last smile before he finally left the office. Leanne took the office chair and logged back in, before opening the CCTV on the computer. She tried to rewind to the morning as quickly as possible before Nick returned. Even if he had done nothing wrong, didn't she have a right to check? Wasn't he always suspicious of her?
The CCTV whizzed backwards in time; the lunchtime rush passed before Leanne's eyes as quickly as it had happened. 12.31. 12.03. 11.44. There she appeared on the camera, starting her shift and heading into the kitchen just before she and Nick had their second argument of the day. 11.12. 11.04. 10.58. Andy appeared. He cleared a table of two coffee cups, whilst Nick remained seated. Leanne glanced at the office door. Still no sign of Nick. Bingo. 10.36. There was Nick sat chatting away to a woman. Leanne's breath caught in her throat. She couldn't quite make out what the woman looked like, so she continued to rewind. 10.12. A clearer picture.
Long, luscious raven locks that fell just beyond her shoulders. A leather jacket. The sympathetic looks. It was bloody Carla.
Aidan had brushed off Eva when she phoned him earlier that Friday evening, when he'd abandoned the meeting with Carla and his Dad. Eva seemed to have no concept of time and when was appropriate to demand somebody take the afternoon off, but quite frankly, he was beginning to find some of her demands too much to handle. Despite being somewhat abrupt with her over the phone, he felt quite guilty about it as the day passed, and he tried calling her several times afterwards to make amends. She was seething, understandably, and rejected every call he made. She understood he was busy working, and that he was wrapped up in the financial mess with his Dad, but she certainly didn't deserve the harsh treatment from him, especially when she was practically beside herself. She'd used the calendar from her phone, the one in the flat, the period calculator app, and each one emphasised the growing problem: her period was late.
How would she cope, if she was pregnant? Her and Aidan had only been secretly meeting and sleeping together; there was no official label or exclusivity with him, so was a baby really the way to start their relationship? Of course not. What would she do? Abortion? Adoption? Keep it? How would she cope? Would he even want anything to do with her and her baby? How would Jason feel if he found out? After all, there was no chance the child was his, but wouldn't it sting him to know his own errors had led her to conceive a child with another man? He'd have to watch them raise their child together on the same street. And what about the experiences of women around her? Her sister had suffered two miscarriages - four years apart. Was it fair for Eva to sit there wishing she wasn't pregnant when Leanne was probably hoping she was? It did seem cruel. Why would the gods give Eva a baby but pinch Leanne's? What if it isn't a pregnancy? Eva's mind had gone into overdrive.
Aidan was fed up with Eva's blatant refusal to acknowledge him, and so, desperate times called for desperate measures.
Tap.
Tap.
Tap.
Pebble after pebble tapped against the window of Eva's flat above the kebab shop.
She sat at the table with her head in her hands, blocking the sound out.
Tap.
Tap.
Tap.
'Eva,' Aidan bellowed from the Street below. 'Eva, come on, this is daft and incredibly childish, even for you!'
That had wound her up enough. 'Ya what?' She yelled back, opening the window. 'How's about you try answering your piggin' phone once in a while!'
Aidan rolled his eyes, a huge bunch of flowers in his arms. 'Look, I'm sorry about that - I did answer you when I had the opportunity!'
'Yeah, and you were vile towards me, spoke to me like dirt on the bottom of your flamin' shoe! I've had my fill of men treating me like crap, and I don't think I can tolerate much more!'
'Eva, please! Look, I'm sorry and I'm here now to patch things up. I even bought you these,' he gestured cautiously in case she was about to hurl water over him.
She relented somewhat. 'Alright. Come up. I need to speak to you.'
Aidan darted up the stairs, putting the flowers in Eva's hands as she opened the flat door to him. He planted a kiss on her cheek. She hardened.
'What's the matter Eva? I'm here now.'
She paused, and pointed over to the table that was littered with diaries, notepads and a carrier bag from the pharmacy.
'Are you plotting murder?' He joked, slightly panicked.
She shook her head and took a seat at the table, encouraging him to do the same. She threw her diaries in his direction.
'November 15th I was supposed to have my period. I'm late, Aidan.'
His eyes bulged, grabbing the diary from her.
'Does that er, happen, er, often?'
'If you're asking whether my periods are as unreliable as buses, you're gonna be sorely disappointed.'
He nodded, still feeling panicked. A baby? Crap. 'So, you could be-'
'Pregnant. Cheggers. Up the duff. Baking a bun in the oven. Yes, Aidan, unfortunately, I might be.'
'If you are-'
'It'll be yours, yes.'
'That wasn't what I was about to say, Eva. If you are pregnant, what do we do?'
She shook her head, staring at the pharmacy bag in front of her. She'd bought a pregnancy test earlier in the day and rung Aidan earlier in the hopes of sorting it sooner. Obviously, they hadn't. She'd mulled it over and panicked until the evening. 'I-I really don't know. I don't think I want a baby - not now - anyway.'
He agreed. 'Me either. I hadn't exactly planned for us to become so serious so quickly. I was enjoying the fun and going slowly.'
'Me an' all.'
'It could be negative.' He offered, the optimism in his tone weak.
'It could be. I haven't taken the test.'
'Shall we- can you do it now? So we know?'
She nodded, grabbing the bag and heading into the bathroom.
Eva returned moments later, placing the test down in front of them on the table. It was, of course, face down.
'If it's positive,' he began. 'Would you want to keep it? I'll support you, regardless.'
She shrugged. 'I've no clue. I mean I saw Lea lose two babies. Do I want to abort a baby when she's suffered? I don't know. I don't even know if I could cope with a child. I'd probably leave it on a bus.'
Aidan sighed. 'Not to panic you even more, but I've killed all the house plants at mine.'
'That doesn't help, Aidan.'
'I didn't think it would. But look, I guess we just wait and see what that test says and then move from there. If it's positive we can talk it through, maybe even wait a little while, before we decide to do anything?'
She agreed, tapping her false nails on the wooden dining table.
'How long do you have to wait?' He asked impatiently, sitting on his hands to hide his nerves.
She assessed the packaging again. 'Three minutes. It's been a minute and a half.'
'Christ.' He looked at the table. 'So erm, it was nippy out, wasn't it?'
'Aidan, what the he-'
'I'm trying to pass the time and I talk out my backside when I'm nervous.'
'Oh. Well yeah, suppose it was cold. Practically froze my tits off taking the bins out of the Rovers.'
He smiled. 'See, it's working.'
Eva glanced at her phone. 'Aidan, we've ten seconds.'
They nodded in agreement.
'5,4,3,2,1.'
'That was the shittest New Year's countdown I've ever done,' Eva laughed, taking a deep breath. 'Ready?'
'Ready.' Aidan steadied himself.
Eva let out a laugh.
'It's positive.'
'What?' Aidan panicked.
'No, I'm kidding. Just wanted to see you lose it a bit.'
'So you're not pregnant?'
'No. I'm a bunless oven!'
'Oh thank god.'
Carla paced around the back room of the Rovers whilst Michelle made two cups of tea. She knew she ought to keep to the tea, but in all honesty, she much preferred the idea of being back in the front of the pub, quietly sipping merlot alone.
'Sit down will ya, you're flapping around like a demented wasp,' Michelle walked through, armed with two teas. 'Like your trapped behind the glass.'
'Cheers.'
Michelle sat down and Carla reluctantly took the seat opposite. 'What's got into you lately? Is it you and Peter? Are you having doubts now you're back together?'
'What?' Carla looked puzzled. 'Chelle, Peter and I are fine. Thanks for the vote of no confidence though.'
'You know why I've my concerns. It wasn't all that long ago he w-'
'Shagging your barmaid. Yes. I was there. Been there, done that, bought the 'I was cheated on' t-shirt.'
Michelle sighed. 'I'm not on the attack, you know I'm not. I'm just worried. You're not yourself. And what's all this with Johnny? Why do I feel you're not being honest?'
'Because I'm not.'
'Then what is it? A problem shared and all that. You know I'm always on your side, whatever it is.'
Carla paused. Could she share her problems with Michelle, really? One problem she knew she could discuss freely, but the other was fairly risky. What if Peter happened to find out about either?
'I just, I'm a bit haunted by something.'
The chills of opening up about her past hit her hard.
'Haunted? By what? And it's not to do with Peter?'
Well, part of her problems were linked with her, Peter and their past. The other part of her issues was from a time in her life when she was oblivious to Peter Barlow.
She shook her head, her eyes swelling with tears.
Michelle reached out a supportive hand, letting it rest on Carla's arm. 'Carla, come on, you know you can talk to me.'
She shook her head again. 'I can't. I have to keep this to myself. It's for the best, to keep safe and keep those I love safe.'
'Safe? Is someone threatening you? Blackmailing you?'
She nodded, just as the tears fell. She started to scratch at the flesh on her arms as a distraction from the words leaving her mouth.
'What Sally saw earlier - it was linked to it.'
'Johnny? Oh come off it Carla, what would Johnny have to threaten you with? Don't be ridiculous.'
'It's true,' Carla was looking through her tears in disbelief at Michelle. Johnny had wormed his way into their good books. 'I- I don't want to get into it all.'
'I don't understand. Johnny is a good man - he's got Aidan and Kate who he raised almost single-handedly. He's not a bad bloke. Not at all.'
'How much do you remember of us lot, playing as kids?'
Michelle pulled a face. 'What?'
'Me, Rob, you, Paul, Liam, Aidan. When we were kids. Kate was too young to join in, but we'd muck about on the estate, playing chicken, goofing off. Causing trouble, you know, general things.'
Michelle nodded. 'I remember. We all grew up and out of that though. You and Paul were all over each-other at about 14. That I remember very clearly.'
'Okay, do you remember much of Johnny?'
'Vaguely. Most of the time he was with Kate, she was only young and she had no Mum either. I do remember him with your Mum a bit too.'
'As do I,' Carla shuddered. 'Did you know he was knocking off my Mum?'
Michelle looked appalled. 'I-I didn't know, no. When?'
'It was when he was married to Louisa. They were at it for ages, Chelle. I'm surprised none of you knew.'
'We were oblivious.' Michelle was stunned. 'Was it going on, when, is that why Lou, is it why she ran out and got hit by a car?'
Carla nodded. 'Yes. My Mum told her the truth about the affair.'
Michelle was now full of tears, her hands left Carla's and were over her own mouth to conceal her shock.
'Anyway, I'd caught Mum and him. Well before the truth came out. He needed it to remain a secret. I was 14.'
Michelle hadn't moved an inch, but she was listening.
'It was partly why Rob was determined to protect me when he killed Tina. He said he'd failed to protect me as a kid, and that he wanted to do his duty and protect his sister. He said he couldn't keep me safe when I was younger, but he was desperate to.'
'Chelle, we've got a rowdy bar out here, I need a hand,' Steve appeared at the door, pleading with his wife, who was just as emotional as her best friend. 'Sorry - is now, er, a bad time?'
Michelle went to speak, but Carla stepped in, reaching for her handbag. She wasn't ready to divulge the full truth to Michelle, or anyone, for that matter. It was painful enough to skirt around the topic as she had done. 'Actually no, you're alright Steve. I've gotta go. Thanks Chelle.'
The Platts were gathered around the cramped dining table at Gail's. Leanne hadn't uttered a word about finding Carla on the CCTV. She was certain she was better waiting the situation out, gathering her evidence gradually. She'd had that rather genuine heart-to-heart with Nick in the office, and ultimately, he had no reason to keep her and mess around with Carla. Besides, Leanne was sure Carla had reunited with Peter again.
'Right...which one of you is playin' footsie with me,' David glanced round the table, irked by the foot that had been rubbing against his for the last five minutes.
Nick shifted awkwardly and turned to Leanne. 'I thought that was your leg?'
Kylie sniggered. 'I only thought incest went on in Wigan?'
Gail rolled her eyes, passing the roast potatoes over to Bethany. Sarah's plate remained full, and the food untouched. 'Honestly, boys, grow up! Sarah love, aren't you hungry?'
All eyes shifted to Sarah, who looked drained and deflated, despite making her shift at the Rovers. She was, however, vacant for the whole shift. Michelle had watched her with deep concern for the whole day. Sarah shook her head. 'I just feel a bit off - I think I'm going to excuse myself. Sorry.'
Gail's shoulders shrunk and Bethany watched her Mum slope off upstairs.
'Is she alright?' Leanne asked.
Nick shook his head. 'She's not been right for ages. A good month or so.'
David and Kylie glanced at one another.
'She's fine,' David began. 'Probably just hormones - feeling a bit off. I'm sure she'll be reet.'
Bethany and the others weren't so convinced.
'I don't know David, she doesn't seem all that well. I've had 'hormone' issues but-'
David stopped Audrey from speaking any further. 'Gran- too much.'
'Especially when we're ploughing through Mum's rare beef,' Nick winced.
Kylie and Leanne grimaced whilst David mock-gagged.
'Shall we take her for some form of counselling, hm?' Audrey suggested. 'Perhaps she needs to see somebody properly.'
'She has been through the mill lately, what with Callum,' Gail agreed. All eyes turned to Leanne. 'Then again, so have you Leanne.'
Leanne moved awkwardly. She felt Nick rest a hand on her thigh in support. 'I think I'm just lucky I've got lots of support. Maybe Sarah feels a bit alone? I don't know, like she needs a relationship?'
Bethany frowned. 'My Mum isn't a 30-year old virgin.'
'We all knew that,' Kylie retorted. 'Wasn't even a 13-year old virgin.'
'Alright,' Gail interrupted. 'Now now. This isn't going to help. Perhaps we should talk about something else.'
'Yes!' Audrey beamed. 'Now Nick, how's the Bistro?'
Nick smiled at Leanne. 'Great, yes! Lea took a big booking earlier, it'll set us up for a good while. We've got Sally and Tim's wedding of the century next week, too.'
'Oh the joy,' David rolled his eyes. 'I wonder when the Hello! special will come out?'
Nick chuckled. 'Tim doesn't scream Hello! magazine, he asked me what hors d'oeuvres were the other week.'
'What's a horse doofer?' Kylie asked, gaining a laugh from the majority of the Platts. 'What's so funny?'
'Hors d'oeuvres, you wazzock,' David laughed.
'I'll be grateful to stop hearing about this wedding,' Leanne said, rolling her eyes before sipping her wine. 'Flippin hate fussy weddings.'
'You'd know, you've had enough of em.' David joked.
Nick and Leanne frowned.
'They've been married twice,' Gail said. 'I married Nick's Dad twice - it's not that bad.'
'Go for three, get the hat-trick,' Kylie chuckled.
'Perhaps mix it up this time though guys. Keep us on our toes. Three weddings with the same bride and groom can get tedious.' David offered.
'Where's this come from?' Audrey was baffled. 'Are you engaged?'
'What? Not again!' Gail looked flustered.
'No! We are not engaged!' Leanne said. 'Crikey.'
'Don't suppose Nick can afford it - are you still paying off your divorce from last year?' David was such a tyrant.
'Shut it, David.' Nick barked back.
'Who wants sticky toffee pudding!' Gail changed the subject, wafting ice cream and custard in front of them all in the hopes of shutting her youngest son up.
'Sampling the wedding menu, are we?' He continued, still on the subject of marriage.
'David!' They all chorused, rolling their eyes as Gail served the dessert.
Nick turned to Leanne and gave her a strange look, a smile wide across his face. She met his gaze and smiled back, before looking at the rather odd bur rather lovely, dysfunctional set up she had with the Platts. Perhaps a Gail-induced headache and family intervention wasn't so bad, after all.
Hello, it's me again!
Thanks again for the great reviews; it's so fabulous to hear what you all think and what your thoughts are on this fic!
It's so nice to hear all your predictions, so do keep plotting and guessing.
I'll try and upload again as soon as I can, as we move nearer to Christmas 2015 (even I'll admit it seems like such a long time ago!)
There's still lots more twists and turns to come. This chapter has obviously narrowed down the pregnancy to either Carla or Sarah!
Stay safe one and all, and I'll be back asap.
