Every night it was the same old routine, it was get up, go to work, come home, cook dinner, go to bed; a simple yet repetitive task which was comforting even in the deepest darkest depths of her thoughts which were mainly consumed with paranoia and thoughts about the deep desire she had for Liam. No matter how hard she tried to block it out, married life was a staple for that coming to the forefront as the more time she was with Tony the more it became apparent that this wouldn't last. Liam was happy and that's all that Carla wanted for him, he had someone who loved him, a beautiful baby on the way and someone who he supposedly loved over her. The more she thought about it the more she realised that it probably wasn't as perfect as it seemed.
"You've been distant all weekend" Tony muses and Carla turns around to look at him, a soft frown on her face "Come on Carla don't try and plead the innocent, what's bothering you?"
"I'm just not feeling great" she admits, a perfect cover story, well it wasn't as such she did feel quite rough but she put it down to the endless worry of Tony possibly knowing that something was going on between her and Liam even if it wasn't now
"Maybe we should book you an appointment with the doctor-"
"I'll be fine," Carla says and Tony narrows his eyes "Really"
"Are you coming into work today?" he walks over to the sink to place his mug in it, Carla nods slowly "Well I'll see you there later, I have some errands to run first"
"Of course, I'll see you later"
It was a while before she found the motivation to get to work after Tony left that morning. She knew he was up to something and she couldn't quite put her finger on it causing her to scoff in realisation at how this marriage was so far from a regular one. Wives are meant to know their husbands inside and out before getting hitched and her marriage to Tony was far from that and in a weird twisted way it sent a shiver down her spine. They didn't know each other and that in itself let her mind drift to thoughts of Liam. She knew everything about him, his favourite colour, drink, every little personality trait he had from the annoying ones to the gentle and loving ones and she found herself staring into space in awe at the fact she could have had that if she ran off with him that night. Instead, she married Tony because of Maria, she didn't overly like the girl, well, she was alright but there was no way she was going to be a spiteful, vindictive cow and take her baby's daddy away from her. She knew the damage of that from personal experiences not that her mum was much better when she was young.
"Where have you been all morning then?" Carla looks up from her papers as Tony sits at his desk, "Tony?"
"Making preparations for Christmas," Tony says and Carla tilts her head to the side, a soft frown on her face "We're hosting"
"What?!" Carla exclaims and Tony just laughs slightly "Why would you do that?!"
"All you have to do is sit there and look pretty, Carla-"
"Are you actually having a joke with me?" she exclaims and Tony sighs shaking his head "Who's even coming to ours then?"
"I honestly thought you would be pleased"
"Who's coming?" she demands and Tony sighs "Tony"
"Michelle, Steve, Liam, Maria..."
"Oh great, just great, is this meant to be some early Christmas surprise or summat? Because I can tell you something I am far from pleased" she glares and Tony frowns at her foul mood "You know what, I'm nipping out"
"Carla, wait-"
"No, Tony" she shakes her head and storms out of the office, Rosie bites her lip and Tony looked confused
"She'll be fine, you know what she gets like" Rosie tries to reassure him and he just nods slowly
"You know what Rosie, you're right" Tony nods and Rosie smiles at him "I don't suppose you could get us a coffee could you?"
"Of course, I'll be right back" she nods before practically skipping out of the room leaving Tony to hum thoughtfully at how he hit a nerve with Carla...
She was so angry and it wasn't even that deep and how she seethed irritated her more. Carla went home to cool down before returning to work, she bumped into Leanne on the way snapped at her and then headed into the office where there was a massive bouquet of flowers on her desk. Oddly she didn't have the urge to pick up the vase and chuck them against her office wall, instead, she sobbed over the fact she had been what she called herself a rubbish wife and unappreciative to Tony's 'kind' efforts and sorting them out a half-decent Christmas and to be honest with himself Tony found her behaviour very odd indeed. Oh how she wanted to confide in Leanne about how she would have to sit through a Christmas meal staring at Liam from across the table whilst he fawned over his lover and unborn child, she shivered at her thoughts. It wouldn't be that simple though, far from it and if she was honest with herself maybe engrossing herself in being hostess wasn't such a bad move so off she went with her tail between her legs to Tony to apologise.
"I'm sorry," she says and Tony nods at Rosie who leaves the office shutting the door "For snapping, you just caught me off guard"
"I wasn't doing it to annoy you, Carla, I genuinely thought you'd like to have Liam and Michelle there-"
"Yeah I do, I really do, I'm sorry..." she trails off and Tony nods standing in front of her, he places both his hands on her shoulder "You haven't cancelled it have you?"
"No, I haven't, I knew you'd come around" Tony smirks and Carla smirks back at him "I have to ask Carla and please don't get annoyed with me but are you ok?"
"How do you mean?"
"Well you weren't feeling well, you're snappy and off your food, distant. I'm just worried about you and it's not too late to see a doctor, see if we can get something to help you, we can even go private if you want"
"I'm fine Tony" she tries to reassure him and Tony nods slowly still very unconvinced, she bites her lip as she sees Liam approach the office door and knocks on it
"Ah, Liam!" Tony smiles as Liam enters the office hesitantly, Carla smiles slightly looking at him "I'm glad you got my message"
"Uh yeah, so what's this about needing help with getting all the grub for Christmas?"
"It's a bit early to be thinking about that, isn't it? It's the end of November" Carla chuckles and Tony frowns "Usually Christmas is a slapdash event-"
"Not when you're my wife it isn't" Tony points at her playfully and Liam laughs slightly "I've got a list for you as we agreed we'd go halves on the food as planned?"
"Michelle's supplying the booze so that's that sorted so shall I just remove all booze items from it?" Liam suggests and Tony nods "Great well thanks, how big of a turkey do we want?"
"It says the servings on the packet Liam, it's not that hard" Carla states and Tony rolls his eyes "Plus I am going nowhere near that turkey"
"I don't doubt it for a minute, we all know what happens when you go near any sort of edible bird" Liam grimaces and Carla glares at him "Anyway I need to get off back to Maria-"
"Keeping you a well-kept man is she?" Carla bites back and Liam narrows his eyes causing Tony to smirk at Carla getting wound up over her ex-brother-in-law's presence
"She's just not feeling too good and I want to be there for her"
"Make sure she's not contagious by Christmas" Carla chuckles "We don't want Christmas to be a washout event, do we?"
"I'm sure it won't be" Liam retorts and Carla slams her pen down on the desk "Anyway I should head off, thanks for this Tony"
"No problem and send Maria our regards"
"Will do" Liam nods before leaving the office, Carla looks at Tony who was eyeing her suspiciously
"What?" she asks with a soft frown, she watches Tony sit on the edge of her desk as she leans back in her chair "Tony?"
"I'm just more in awe of you every day"
"Is that it, is that all you had to say?" she looks at him confused and Tony nods "Well thank god you married me eh? Wouldnt want anyone else to snag that would ya?"
"No, no I would not" he confirms and Carla looks into his eyes before tearing her gaze away and looking at her work, an almost sinister smirk gracing Tony's face as a result...
Of course, they ended up in the pub like they did most nights with Carla propped up at the bar with a glass of red and Tony a brandy whilst Michelle wittered on to Carla about Steve messing up the order of booze for Christmas. Carla was far from pleased though, she just couldn't shift this dark cloud that was looming over her and she sighed lightly as she stared into her wine that was becoming more and more distasteful by the minute. As usual, Liam and Maria walked into the pub, she was obviously feeling better now, hand in hand like they did practically every night apart from Fridays - that was their dedicated movie night so Carla heard and that caused the nausea to rise at and for her to seethe at the fact Maria got Liam in her bed and she didn't, she got him all to herself whilst Carla had to sit and watch them from the sidelines. Leanne was right and Carla knew it, she wasn't going to give her friend the satisfaction and she was determined to make this work with Tony, there was no way she was going to chase after Liam Connor again even if it did make her inwardly miserable and it was starting to show.
"Are you ok Carla?"
"I'm fine" Carla snaps uncharacteristically at Michelle who practically jumps back at her tone "Sorry, I don't know what came over me..."
"You look rather peaky if you don't mind me saying and you've barely touched your wine" Michelle starts and Tony nods putting his arm around Carla's shoulders "Are you sure you're ok, love?"
"Yeah I just...works exhausting"
"I'm trying to help her out as much as I can" Tony cuts in and Carla nods before kissing him on the cheek
"I might head home actually I'm pretty shattered and I don't feel great, I'm just going to hop in a taxi, you can stay if you want" Carla squeezes him on the shoulder and Tony nods "I'll see you back at the flat"
"I won't be long, we'll just clear up some minor details about Christmas then I'll be back" Tony assures her and Carla nods before making a swift exit out of the pub
"What was that about then?" Liam chuckles and Tony shrugs, Maria narrows her eyes and looks at Michelle who was obviously thinking the same thing "I mean I know she's a moody cow and all that but seriously she's going to be taking liberties soon Tony, I don't know how you put up with it"
"I love her, that's enough for me mate" Tony smiles and Liam raises his eyebrows "She's been rather off recently, tired, lethargic, moody, snappy, the list goes on really. Thinking about it now I should go and be with her, if you have any questions about Christmas just let me know and yeah..."
"Oh right, it was nice seeing you Tony" Maria smiles and Tony nods "Wish Carla well from us"
"I will" Tony smiles before getting up and leaving the pub, Maria frowns
"That was odd" Michelle muses and Maria nods slowly "Wonder what's up with our Carla then?"
"Tony probably paired the wrong set of shoes together or hung her handbag up on the wrong peg"
"Liam" Maria scolds and rolls her eyes "I've said it before, she acts so strong but sadly I think things are finally catching up with her"
"Me and all, I mean what Tony listed didn't sound exactly great did it?" Michelle shrugs and Maria hums thoughtfully before shaking her head in disbelief at the thoughts in her head
"Yeah I mean, the only time I can relate to feeling the way he described was when I was pregnant" Maria shrugs before Liam practically spits out his drink
"Carla, pregnant?" Liam chuckles exasperatedly and Michelle shrugs "Come on you don't think..."
"I mean it would make sense" Michelle states "I felt the same with our Ryan, almost identical really but who are we to judge, they're obviously private people arent they? We have to respect that"
"Exactly, if they need support then they'll ask" Maria smiles and Michelle nods, she turns to look at Liam "Are you ok?"
"Um yeah" Liam scratches the back of his neck, Maria smiles slightly "I've just remembered I should probably let Ozzy out actually so you stay here and I will be right back"
"Oh yeah good idea" Maria smiles kissing him on the cheek "I'll conspire with Michelle about Carla"
"You do that" Liam nods rolling his eyes before making a swift exit out of the pub, he pulls out his phone and sends a text off to Carla knowing that they needed to speak sooner rather than later...
