A week later, Carla was definitely on the mend and after a check up with a doctor, her head injury had healed and as long as she took it easy with her ribs, she was able to move around a lot more.
She was sick of the same four walls, and was looking for any excuse to go somewhere. Luckily, that excuse came today...
"My dads asked if we can go over for lunch today but I told him-..." Peter said as he walked into the back room, placing shopping items onto the table.
"Let's do it." Carla interrupted, carefully standing up and looking through the weekly shopping Peter had done in Freshcos.
"I told him we'd rearrange because you're still in pain." Peter raised his eyebrows.
"Peter!" Carla whined. "I'm fine, and I'm sick of staying here."
"You're not fine though, don't think I don't notice you wincing whenever you move."
"But that's expected. The doctor said I'm healing well and I can start to get back to normal-..."
"No, he said you can slowly start to do more but not push yourself." He cut her off.
"Baby, you're being overprotective." She whispered.
"It's only your dads. It's next door and I will be sat down the entire time." She added, wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling him close to her.
"Should I message and say we're up for it then?" He muttered into her lips, kissing her.
"Mmm," She responded, before walking out of his embrace. "I need to make myself look half presentable and have a shower."
"Hey," he gently grabbed her arm as she was about to walk away. "You look beautiful."
"Stop it you." She smiled, coyly.
"Peter! Carla! How wonderful of you to make it," Ken opened the door wider, letting the couple walk through. "Let me take your coats."
"Thank you, Ken." Carla smiled, wincing as she shrugged her coat off.
"Careful, love." Peter whispered, helping her take it off and passing it to his father.
"You take a seat and rest, Carla." Ken fussed, guiding them into the living room.
"Hey dad, Carla." Simon said, seated at the table.
"Oh, hey son. I didn't know you'd be here." Peter ruffled his hair.
"It's been ages since we were all together so I thought why not," He shrugged. "How are you Carla?"
"I'm alright, ta. How are you? How's college?" Carla said, grinning when Peter plonked himself next to her on the sofa and snaked his arm around her shoulders.
"I've been okay, and college is college." He joked.
"Oh, it's you two." Tracy rolled her eyes, strolling into the living room.
"Lovely to see you too, Tracy." Carla chuckled, sarcastically.
"Well I thought after you got in a fight with a driving car, you wouldn't be able to make it."
"Tracy!" Ken hissed from the kitchen, shaking his head as Tracy remained unbothered, glancing at her manicure as Steve followed her in.
"How are you by the way? When I saw you laying on the floor, I thought that's it, they got you." Steve piped up.
"Well I'm still here so sorry to disappoint," Carla joked. "But I'm on the mend, ta."
"Good." Steve said, walking into the kitchen to see if any of the food was ready.
"What have we got for dinner then, dad?" Peter called out.
"I made a classic roast-..."
"It isn't a Sunday!" Tracy exclaimed.
"And? It's been ages since we've all been together like this," Ken replied, as the doorbell run again. "Ah, that'll be Daniel and Adam!"
"Wow, it really is a full house," Carla raised her eyebrows before turning to Peter. "On second thoughts, I think I would've preferred to stay home."
Peter laughed, planting a kiss into her hair.
"Hey guys." Adam's voice filled the room as he walked in, followed be Daniel.
"Heya." Carla said.
"Oh, not you as well. Haven't you got murder cases to be dealing with?" Tracy groaned.
"Whats rattled her cage?" Adam asked.
"God knows," Peter shrugged. "I don't think she even needs a reason at this point."
"Oh, I can give you a reason or two." She snapped, sitting at the table in a huff.
"Dinner is ready!" Ken said, causing everyone to take a seat at the table.
"This is lovely, Ken." Carla nodded, digging into her meal.
"Ah, thank you Carla."
"She's right." Simon nodded, trying to take one of Peter's Yorkshire puddings.
"Hey, back off!" Peter laughed.
"Tracy, cheer up." Steve tutted, watching as the woman refused to eat and instead, crossed her arms at the table.
"Someone definitely woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning." Carla raised her eyebrows.
"I don't know what you're so smug about, Carla." Tracy hissed.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"That tart who gives Katie Price a run for her money with the amount of fake tan she wears, has been winding me up for weeks! I want her off the street!" Tracy ranted, causing Carla's heart to sink.
She hoped Tina wasn't going to be mentioned this evening; it was like the elephant in the room. They wanted to speak about it but it was far too awkward. When Carla had to rest at home, it was easy to pretend Tina wasn't back on the street because she wasn't getting taunted constantly. But now she was back into the real world, it was like a punch in the face.
"We said we weren't going to mention this!" Steve nudged her.
"We are all thinking it so why not! I'm sick of her already. You know, she even tried to cause a fight when I was with Amy earlier. It traumatised her! Who does she think she is?" She exclaimed.
"We don't want to talk about it-..." Peter sighed, glancing at Carla to see she looked lost in thought.
"Why not? Because it gets you too excitable?" She scoffed.
"Tracy!" Ken interrupted, loudly.
"For god sake." Peter tutted.
"And why are you keeping quiet, Carla? She messed up your life too."
"Because what can we do about it, Tracy? She wants a reaction so I won't give it to her." Carla piped up.
"I want to swing for her," Tracy moaned. "Have you spoken to her, Si?"
"No," Simon paused. "I hope she doesn't try to, I don't think she'll like what I have to say."
"Son, I don't want you getting into any trouble." Peter exhaled, noticing Carla was very quiet once again.
"I won't, dad. But I've heard how she's been treating Carla and it isn't fair, she's done nowt wrong."
"And what she's been doing to your aunt too, Si." Tracy reminded him.
"How are you feeling about it, Peter?" Steve questioned.
"Not now, Steve." He rolled his eyes.
"I suggest we stop talking about Tina and enjoy our food." Ken raised his voice, forcing everyone into an abrupt silence.
"Nice roast potatoes, Ken." Steve smiled, awkwardly.
"Sorry about that in there, dad." Peter sighed, walking into the kitchen and placing dirty plates on the counter.
"It wasn't your fault. We all know what Tracy's like." Ken sighed, as he began washing up.
"Yeah, Peter paused. "Do you want me to help with anything?"
"No, it's fine. But I did notice how Carla was being very quiet earlier during the Tina discussion, was she okay?" The older man frowned.
"I guess she just doesn't like her being brought up. She hasn't made the past few weeks easy."
"I can understand, but it seemed like more than that."
"To be honest dad, I'm worried about what Tina could be doing to her mental state." Peter confessed.
"Has she been showing signs of psychosis again?" Ken stopped what he was doing, giving Peter his full attention.
"Not necessarily. It's just...It's just Tina mentioned how paranoid she's been, and how she was apparently in a trance when she got hit by the car. And it's true, she has been paranoid. I just can't tell if it's for obvious reasons or something more." He explained, sadly.
"Have you mentioned it to her?"
"No, and I'm sure it's nothing because she's been acting herself most the time. It's not the same as last time in any shape or form."
"Anyone in Carla's position will be paranoid but you need to keep an eye on her, you know what stress can do to a person." Ken reassured him.
"Thanks, Dad. You're right."
Walking into the living room, Peter smiled softly as he overheard the conversation between Carla and his son...
"Don't worry though, you are my step mum and I don't want to see Tina at all."
"Si, I would never stop you from seeing her if you wanted to. I know how much you got along, and how heartbroken you were when she fell off the balcony-..."
"And how angry I was when I found out what she did with dad." He cut her off, raising his eyebrows.
"You know, I remember when you hated my guts."
"I said you looked like a monster." He laughed.
"You were ruthless, that's for sure." Carla scoffed, playfully.
"Hey, you two." Peter came and sat beside Carla.
"We were just chatting about how much he hated me back in the day." Carla said.
"You didn't half cause us stress, Si."
"My opinion has completely changed now. Carla's cool, a lot cooler than you, Dad."
"I am here, you know!" Peter pretended to be offended.
"She's laid back and let's me do what I want."
"So do I!"
Carla giggled, grabbing Peter's chin so he was facing her and then giving him a long kiss.
"That's the only thing I can't stand," Simon grimaced. "You two are always kissing." Causing them to all laugh.
A lighthearted chapter for everyone - I hope you are enjoying this still!