"Are you still refusing to talk to me?" Carla sighed, as she bumped into Peter at Dev's shop.
He immediately retreated, turning around and pretending to look at the array of fruit on the shelf.
"Ey." She cornered him.
"Hmm?" He frowned, pretending to be clueless.
"Peter," She rolled her eyes. "I know you're avoiding me."
"I'm looking at the fruit."
"When have you ever wanted fruit by choice." She raised her eyebrows, knowingly.
"What do you want me to say, Carla?" He snapped.
"Why did you leave during the night? Peter, you had hypothermia!"
"I don't want to stay in the same place as my lying, cheating Ex."
"It was more than that and you know it," She swallowed. "You completely switched off after I told you-..."
"After you told me you were killing my child." He hissed, quietly.
"Well, it might not be mine but I'm still connected to that baby in your stomach. And you're punishing it for your stupid mistakes!" He added, angrily.
"It's not like that," She whispered. "I can't be a mum, Peter."
"You should've thought about that before."
"Oh, come on. What's happened to you? I thought you'd understand. After everything last time, you think I can go through all of that again?"
"I thought that you'd be more determined to have a baby after last time." He calmed down, checking that Dev wouldn't be ease dropping.
"I just can't do it. I can't put a child through that." Her voice croaked.
"You've got so many people to support you. And there's other options. Adoption?"
Carla exhaled; wiping her cheeks as a single tear slowly rolled down. She couldn't have this conversation right now. Her brain was mush and she couldn't think straight so she shook her head and walked out.
As she took the short walk to the factory, her felt her breath quicken as she started seeing coloured dots cloud her vision. She began getting really dizzy and off-balance, so she took a deep breath and leant against the wall. Her legs suddenly felt really heavy, she could barely move them.
"Carla?" Peter shouted, coming out the shop and instantly quickening his pace to catch up with her. He could tell something wasn't right.
She remained silent, internally panicking as nausea started to rise and her vision became more blurry.
Before she knew it, everything went black.
Peter gasped as Carla's body slumped beneath her, her head lolling to the side in her unconscious state.
"Carla!" He knelt down and gently shook her. "Carla!"
"Is everything alright?" Abi frowned, rushing to the pair and crouching down.
"She's fainted." Peter mumbled, swallowing back a lump that formed in his throat.
"You need to get her to hospital. Should I call an ambulance?" Abi asked.
"Carla, wake up." He whispered, shaking her again.
"Mmm." She muttered, her eyes fluttering open.
"Car? Are you okay?"
She exhaled as her eyes opened fully, frowning as she sat on the floor with Peter and Abi sat in front of her, looking anxious.
"You fainted," Abi told her. "Should I call an ambulance?"
"I'm fine." Carla croaked, trying to stand up but Peter didn't let her.
"No, I'm driving you to the medical centre. We need to get you checked out." Peter looked at her, knowingly.
Too tired to argue, Carla nodded and eventually gave in.
As Abi left the pair to it, Carla grabbed onto his forearm as he helped her to stand.
"Are you alright?"
"I'm scared," She whispered. "The baby..."
"The baby is going to be fine."
"I know I said I wanted to get rid of it-..."
"We don't need to talk about that," Peter said as they began walking. "We just need to get you a doctor."
"No, Peter. I can't lose another one," She whimpered. "Oh god."
This was the first time Carla had shown any care towards her unborn child. He could tell she was already out of her mind with worry, and that she so desperately wanted to support and protect them. This was confirmation that she did want this but she was just scared. And either way, whoever the father was, he was going to be there for her.
"It's okay," Peter shushed her, kissing her on her temple. "It's probably because you haven't eaten."
"I'm sorry." She cried.
"Shhh, you have nothing to be sorry for, baby."
Carla fidgeted with her fingers and she lay on the hospital bed, rapidly peeling the skin around her fingernails as her hands trembled.
Peter watched on; biting his lip in concern as he watched her anxious state get worse as time went on. The longer they waited, the more hope he lost. The midwife had been gone for ages now and he couldn't help but believe this was there fate, their baby was gone. Although he would never tell Carla this.
He worried about how Carla would take the news if it was the worst case scenario, what if she had another relapse? But also, the possibility of losing his child could set him in the direction of the nearest pub. His hands continued to shake as he battled the booze. The bitter poison had never felt more appealing than now, the perfect way
to calm his overwhelming emotions.
"Sorry I've been a while-..." The midwife said, walking over to Carla's bed.
"Is it gone?" Carla interrupted, her voice wavering as she looked up, trying to take in any indications from the midwives face whether the baby was okay or not.
"I can assure you everything is perfectly fine and right on track."
Carla exhaled a long breath, groaning in relief. She placed her head in her hands and softly cried.
"Hey, everything's okay." Peter leaned forward, placing his arm around her and kissing her head.
She nodded, gently. Wiping her eyes and smiling up at Peter.
"Yeah." She whispered.
"Now, you're blood test suggests that you have low sugar levels. Have you been eating well recently?" The midwife asked.
"I've been so stressed, I-I've skipped a meal or two."
"You need to focus on yourself, Car. This can't happen again." Peter said.
"I know and I will."
"I'm happy to discharge you as long as you take it easy."
"Thank you." Carla sighed, gathering her things before walking out.
Peter followed on, assuming Carla had decided to keep the baby because of her reaction.
"You sit down, I will make you some lunch." Peter instructed, guiding Carla to the sofa and grabbing a throw so she could make herself comfy.
"Stop fussing." She muttered, rolling her eyes.
"We both need to sort ourselves out, Car." He shook his head, speaking loudly from the kitchen.
Carla ignored him, turning on the television and flicking through the boring daytime shows.
"There you go, He placed a plate onto her lap and sat down at the table, turning over his chair so he was facing her. "Cheese and pickle sandwich."
"I can't stomach this, Peter. It'll only come back up." She grimaced.
"You need to eat, Carla. You heard what the doctor said."
An awkward silence fell over the pair as Carla slowly but surely started eating the sandwich. She knew she had to, but it didn't make it any easier. Her stomach churned and even the smell set off her nausea and it didn't make it any easier with the nerves emphasising this. The thought of what she said the night before had stuck with her but she was just scared. Scared of the massive responsibility and commitment that could be thrust upon her if she admitted to her change of heart.
"How was that?" Peter questioned, taking her empty plate to the kitchen.
"It was fine, ta."
"At least I can still do something right." He chuckled, moving her legs so he could sit onto the sofa and then he put them onto his lap.
"I know none of this is easy but this is still a huge shock that we both need to digest." He added, glancing at her dull expression.
"Carla?"
"Hmm?" She deadpanned, staring ahead.
"What's wrong?" He asked, nudging her gently to pull her out of her trance.
"I'm scared, Peter." She whispered, wiping her eyes as tears started flowing.
"What about?"
"I care about this baby, today proved that. But I'm so scared to become a mother, what if I can't do it? I feel like I've just been put into an impossible situation and I have no options." She explained.
"You do have options, Car. It's normal to panic at the beginning, every single mum-to-be does. But I know you love this baby and can't get rid of it."
"I really love it," She paused. "But that makes it worse. I can't go through another miscarriage. I can't lose it. I don't want to get attached."
"And you won't if you start taking care of yourself." He reassured himself.
He quickly realised that she never wanted to abort this baby because it was unwanted; she was trying to protect herself of possible heartbreak before it was even confirmed. She was terrified of going through it again. But he was desperate that he'd take care of her throughout the pregnancy, and prevent any stress that could come her way. And this meant he had to sort himself out, he couldn't burden Carla with it anymore. He needed to get help and recover so he could be around for her.
"I don't even know why you're here. This baby might not be yours and I can't be a single mum. I can't do this alone." She cried.
"You will never do this alone," He grabbed her hand. "Whether that child in there is mine or not, I will love it. And you have Johnny and Jenny too. So many people are here to help you."
"I couldn't handle it if it was...Adam's." She mumbled.
"That might be something we just have to face." He shrugged.
"I-I think I'm keeping it." She exhaled, a deep sigh as if she was letting go of any anxieties regarding the situation.
"You are?" His eyes lit up.
"Yeah," She smiled softly, squeezing his hand. "I'm having this baby."
Hope this is okay! Is there anything you'd like me to write? Any ideas - dm my twitter (@carlafanx) or leave a review. Thanks for reading, a lot more drama to come.