10th of June 2007.

"Thought we could put these cuff links in with him, they're off mum and dad for his 21st." Liam said, having just come from Carla's bedroom.
"Yeah, that'd be nice." She smiled through the sadness, pushing the lump in her throat back down. She couldn't do this again. She couldn't break down again.
"They've probably got a few bits and pieces they want to put in as well." He told her, placing the cuff links in the box.
"Yeah. I'm sure. You know what, if were meant to be putting stuff in that coffin that meant the most to him, I'm tempted to sling in that damn espresso machine." She joked, needing to laugh so she didn't cry.
"Maybe a sewing machine or two." Liam joined in, as it suddenly hit Carla that she'd never see Paul again. He'd never shout at the girls in the factory. No more late nights working. She would no longer have to wait for him to get off of the phone to clients, or watch him get stressed out at the latest big customer. All of that was gone.
"I can't bare this." She confessed. The lump in her throat not shifting, the tears flooding her eyes.
"Hey, come here." Her bother-in-law comforted, pulling her in for a hug.

"Is that it then?" Liam asked her, as she came out of the bathroom. She needed to freshen up after the breakdown she'd just had.
"One last thing." She replied. "But you have to promise me you won't say anything. Not Michelle, your mum or dad. I mean it - no one. Understood?" She threatened.
"Oh, now I am intrigued." He joked, not expecting it to be anything serious. Perhaps an embarrassing photo of the pair of them, or part of an inside joke. He knew about the Marilyn Monroe snap. Maybe there were more in the collection?
Carla reached into her hoodie pocket, fresh tears rolling down her face as she did so. When she pulled out the last thing to put in the box, Liam's heart sank.
"Oh Carla, you're not." He spoke softly, now knowing exactly why she'd want to keep this from everybody right now.
"Surprise." She announced, before choking up again. Next to the cuff links and a photograph of Carla, Paul, Liam and Michelle at their wedding, she placed the pregnancy test that she had taken just twenty four hours earlier. Her brother in law pulled her in once more, rubbing her back gently and comforting her as she cried. The pair stayed like that for ages, before she stood up straight again. She lead them to the sofa, needing to take a break from everything else. She felt like she owed him an explanation, and the only person she could talk to was Liam; he was the only person that knew.

"It's funny. When we agreed not to have any kids, I knew that there was a part of him that was disappointed. But I think he thought that, in a way, he still had Ryan, so it wasn't that bad. It's not fair that the only chance he would have had at fatherhood... He should still be here Liam." Her voice cracking as she spoke.
"I know." He agreed, taking his hand in hers. "He would have been over the moon." Liam added, smiling at the thought of his businessman brother holding a baby. He couldn't help but think it would have been the making of him.
"Yeah, maybe." She sniffed, wiping her eyes. "We'll never know now anyway." Carla added sadly, in her heart knowing that he would have warmed to the idea and made the best dad.
"Was it planned then?" He asked, it would have made sense for it to be. Carla and Paul were never ones to make decisions on a whim. Not any as big as this, anyway.
"No. Just poorly timed. Typical that, in't it." She sighed, staring off into the distance.
"You know what my mum would say if she was here, don't you?" He partly chuckled.
"Oh, she'd go on about how it's a gift from God." Carla smiled, knowing Helen far too well not to be able to hazard a guess at her reaction. She believed in things like that, especially being so religious. While Carla never got the whole religion thing, she was starting to think that it may just have been a blessing - the last thing left of Paul now he had gone. It was either that, or a cruel joke. Maybe it was payback for Paul leaving Ryan without a dad all those years ago.
"Exactly." Liam smiled, nodding slightly.
"Well, I'll tell you this for free - it didn't seem like a gift when I was wide awake at half four this morning, unable to go back to sleep." She retorted.
"Are you going to tell her?" He asked, wanting to be there when she did, if only to see the shock on her face.
"Your mum?" She asked, with Liam nodding in response. "I don't know. I reckon I ought to get the funeral out the way first." Carla told him, as he hummed in understanding.
"I'll tell you what, I'm gasping. Do you want a brew?" He asked, going over to the kitchen to boil the kettle.
"Yeah, go on." She nodded. "I'll just nip to the loo." Carla added. Liam continued to make the cups of tea, as Carla made a shocking discovery.

"Oh no." Carla mumbled, her heart sinking. Her mind went into overdrive; tears immediately streaming down her face.
"Carla, are you ok?" Liam asked, seeing his sister in law appear from the bathroom.
"I'm bleeding. Oh my god, Liam. What do I do?" She panicked, the uncontrollable tears still rolling down her face. She didn't think she could cry anymore given the last few days, but it was an almost immediate reaction. The intense fear and shock taking her by surprise.
"I'm going to take you to the hospital, ok?" He told her, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "We need to get you checked out." He added.
"Just a few days ago, I was drinking so much..." She reminded him, a sick feeling washing over her. Guilt hit her hard. Why hadn't she thought about the possibility she could be pregnant sooner?
"This isn't your fault." He assured her.
"Who else's fault could it be?" She asked him, her voice tear stained; her throat feeling raw. She didn't even have the energy to snap at him.
"Just stay calm, ok. Let's just get you to the hospital and see what they say." Liam replied, taking control of the situation, knowing that he needed to. Carla needed him now more than ever. Liam knew that Paul would have wanted him to take care of Carla, and this was his chance to prove to himself he was up to the task. He needed to do this for her. He needed to do this for his brother.

Let me know what you think! Next chapter will be out on Sunday. x

Twitter: 0liviaWrites