Opening up the doors to made her heart thud. It had been 3 years- three years since a heavily pregnant Carla sent away her husband, three years since he was found not guilty of the murderer of his mistress. Three years since she had to give birth to their baby all alone.
Now it was time time to face the man who hurt her so badly beyond words. She couldnt be in the same town as him and not say hello. He couldn't see her walking around with Hallie and want to talk. She needed to control his reaction. She had been told by Michelle and Aiden that he was off the drink she now was going to see it for herself. She had left Hallie sleeping in Aidans flat earlier in the morning soon as she had taken a new found liking to him. She had left at 6.30 in the morning to meet nick at a motorway service station. It was a frosty exchange but she was in no mood to get her back up so early in the day so she just took Amelia and drove back to Manchester. Any other day she might of argued but not this day.
Holding Amelia in her arms she took a deep breath and walked into the pub. It was empty thank goodness. And there he was behind the bar. In the same pub where he exposed his affair standing there.
"Hi peter" Carla smiled adjusting her daughter on her hip.
"Carla ?" a stunned Peter responded. She was standing right by the entrance of his pub taking him back a few years. She still looked as glamorous as ever even though she was holding a small baby. He knew this baby wasn't his but he couldn't help feeling like he was seeing what could have been. What could have been if he didn't mess it up. "I thought I'd never see you again what are you doing here" he eagerly awaited an answer from his ex wife.
"just seeing family for Christmas" she responded already judging the fact that he was sober whilst trying to ignore the butterfly's she was feeling shocking her slightly. "I heard You were running this place and I thought I better see for myself" she laughed.
"No no Carla youve got it wrong I'm sober I've been sober for months" the man quickly made clear sounding almost desperate in his attempt to convince the woman.
"Relax Peter I can see you are" she smiled sitting down on the bar stool before placing Amelia on the top of the bar.
"And who is this little one" Peter grinned placing a hand on the top of the baby's blonde hair in an attempt to act calm even though inside he was anything but.
A pang of hurt hit Carlas gut as she saw him interact with the baby. They could have had this ! Why did he have to ruin what they had together.
"This is my daughter Amelia" she replied smiling at the baby stroking her cheek "she's ... well what shall I call it ... temperamental so be careful" she laughed.
Peter wondered where their baby was, he had seen pictures that carla had given to Ken and was dying to meet her but knew he had to tread carefully so darent mention her just yet. All the same seeing Carla as a mother had thrown him. He was speechless.
"Anyway, hear you're going to be a dad again, seriously I'm made up for you! I bet Simons pleased"
"Oh yeah yeah I am Simon is to when you can pin his down for 5 mins" he chuckled not really knowing what to say. "Do you want a drink"
"Yeah go on then I'll have a fizzy water"
"Motherhood changing Carla Connor is it"
"Just have a banging headache from yesterday's Prosecco marathon" she joked back, she could have said a lot more about how mother has had to change her how being left alone with a screaming baby in the middle of the night and no sleep led her mind to some dark places. But she held back. It wouldn't help.
"some things will never change, still I'm surprised you can be bothered when you have a baby that young to look after" he reasoned with the women admiring her beauty at the same time.
"oh no I didn't have Amelia yesterday, Saint flipping Nicolas had her, but we won't go into that drama today." she responded quickly a little hint of irritation in her words. "That's why I'm here so early I had to go and pick her up"
Saint Nicolas... Father Christmas had her" Peter tried to work out what she was talking about confused "love are you still a bit merry".
"Father Christmas ... what? No peter I'm talking about her dad ... Nick" she answered the confused looking man although the look on his face made her realise it needed an extra explanation "Tisley... her dad, she spent Christmas there. So I trundled all the way down the motorway to get her this morning" she clarified.
"Ohhhh ok I see sorry wasn't following I didn't know about nick and you" Peter spoke trying to take in the information, he had only been back for a short while and he wasn't up to speed on the gossip.
"Oh no, not anymore, now he's just a massive pain in my neck" she cant help herself biting back "still I'm sure working in here you'll hear all about that in no time"
"Oh talk of the town then"
"Something like that I suppose... still it left me this little one so can't worry about all that to much right" she kissed Amelia's head as the baby played with some toy keys Carla had given her.
"She really is the spit of you you know love " he smiled in awe of the baby and in more awe of Carla as a mother. He wasn't around throughout Carlas first pregnancy but he can remember her being in doubt of her ability to mother. A regret that he will always have. "Motherhood , it suits you" he complimented causing Carla to blush.
"Yeah well you don't see me when she's been screaming the house down all morning, Hallie's in a tantrum, and I'm trying to get ready at the same time as making them breakfast, I'm not sure it suits me then" she laughed looking down at the floor.
"Hallie" he says quietly under his breath, was this his daughter, should he ask... he was dying to but didn't know if he should.
"You what" Carla questioned not catching what he said.
"Hallie ... lovely name that" he responded not being able to stop.
"Yeah well I'm glad you like it! After Hayley died I wanted to pay tribute but not replace her you know, it's the best thing I could find in the baby books" she giggled.
Did this mean she was his daughter ?
Peter was confused Carla was acting like he's should know this stuff already but he didn't, no one had relayed any information to him except a few pictures or maybe they had , he just couldn't remember through his drunk haze.
"Peter are you ok" Carla asked concerned for the man as he stood behind the bar looking spaced out "come over here sit down a sec" she suggested concerned he might faint picking up Amelia and moving onto the chair behind and sitting down with the baby on her knee followed by peter. "Peter it's clear your doing better now and we'll little Hallie she needs her daddy back in her life and well I was wondering if you would be up for the job?" She asked wanting to wrap up the conversation.
"Hallie" Peter smiled speechless " there is nothing more I would love to do then meet her" he responded the corners of his mouth turning up as he thought about his daughter excitedly "thank you so much Carla I wont let you down"
"Please don't peter...you've caused a lot of hurt, hurt that I am still recovering from to this day... don't put that on my little girl" Carla spoke up a tear coming out her eye... anything to do with her children made her cry but this was more than that, this was about the hurt she had experienced and probably not dealt with to this day.
"Oh Carla I'm so sorry" Peter stood up moving to hug her " don't peter , please don't ... I'll be fine, as long as you look after our daughter like you say you will"
"Of course I will I promise I will. Carla...do you have a picture of her ?" He responded now through tears himself.
"Yeah of course I do did you not get the photos I sent to your dad?"
"no I haven't seen any photos not since she was a baby I mean come on love I've only just found out her name"
"You didn't know her name was Hallie?" Carla questioned confused. " I send your dad photos and information monthly I just assumed he would pass on the information... god I'm sorry Peter if you had no idea"
" right... well that's nice isn't it it looks like he hasn't passed that information on to me" Peters attitude turned to anger.
"Peter, look I told Ken not to let you contact me maybe that's why, maybe he knew in your drunken state the more she was talked about the more you turn up and cause a load of bother and ruin it for you both. All I've been doing is trying to protect her Peter" Carla reasoned sympathising with the man. " don't get angry Peter you can't change the past but I do know I've got a little girl across the road who will love you if you can stay sober long enough" the woman picked up her phone and showed him a picture of the three year old from the day before dressed in an oversized beige fur coat and black unitard and black hunter boots. "Here - This is your daughter"
"Oh wow" peter spoke up teary "wow, I thought Amelia was the spit and image of you but Carla she's your double"
"Yeah I must admit there's not a lot of you in her is there" she chuckled "although her quirky little personality I might be able to blame on you"
"I bet she's a right little madam isn't she"
"No she's a good girl actually, she's very shy, she leaves the sass to her little sister"
"Give her time love" Peter chuckled "I'm sure you'll corrupt her"
"Oi" she laughed
"Tell me, was she a good baby"
"Um...she used to be fine until you put her down which when I was trying to work a full time job and look after her by myself it wasn't the most ideal" she pointed out rolling her eyes noticing Peters face drop slightly.
"I'm sorry Carla I should have been there"
"Yeah you should. But what's the point of going over old ground, the best way you can apologise is to stay sober and be a good dad to her"
"I'm not going to mess this up"
"Well you better get ready to come and meet her then."
"What now ?"
"Unless your busy ?"
"No no ! Don't be daft I'll just let Toyah know and grab my coat"
Come in" she directed to Peter grabbing the door to Aidans flat shuffling in. "Where is Hallie"she questioned Aidan who was standing by the door looking at Peter.
"Playing with her bratz dolls the bedroom" Aidan responded confused why the man was in his flat.
"Oh have you been playing along, I know you secretly want to" she wound him up. Before noting that Aidan was still looking at Peter. "Aidan this is your other niece Amelia" Carla added pointing to the baby on her hip in an attempt to change the subject. "And she wants a cuddle" she added dangling the baby in front of him so that he had no choice but accept her into his arms.
"Hold on I'm not that great with baby's..." he spoke up holding the little girl awkwardly and slightly panicked.
"Yeah neither was I, and trust me no one is good with her she's to much of a firecracker, but she wants attention" Carla laughed finding her brothers face amusing " Me and Peter are just going through to Hallie for a minute can you keep her busy in here ? "
"Urmmm" Aidan hesitated.
"Brill thanks bro ...don't make her cross you'll regret it" She laughed walking through opening the bedroom door with Peter behind her ignoring her brothers look of dismay.
The little girl was playing by herself very content Peter just stood in complete awe of his little girl, the one he thought that he would never see. She was wearing a red velvet dress with a black t shirt underneath her dark long hair going down her back in waves.
"hello darling I'm back how are you" Carla softly spoke sitting on the bed where the little girl was playing causing her to look up.
"Mummy !!!!!" The little girl excitedly dropped her toys and sat on her mother's lap in relief she was back.
"You having fun with your new toys in here ?" Carla asked running her fingers through the little girls hair. "Oh silly uncle Aidan has he not brushed your hair yet!" We will have to make that look pretty in a minute won't we" she joked looking at the nots running through her dark hair.
"Yeah silly uncle aidy" the little girl squealed.
Peter is still just watching from the door way completed starstruck by his own daughter and mesmerised by carla softness towards her own child. It was true what she had said before she wasn't good with babies a few years before and she wasn't even that great with children but here she was being really caring and attentive.
"I've got someone I'd like you to meet"! Carla gestured for Peter to come through and sit on the bed "this is Peter" Carla informed her making the young girl attach her body to hers coming over all shy "and he wants to say hello to you because he is your daddy" the little girl hid her face into Carlas chest doing her usual shy behaviour. "It's ok darling sit up properly he want to play toys with you" Carla tried to move the little girl so that she was sitting up although she remained where she was burying her head.
Peters face started to become more serious due to the fact his daughter didn't want to meet him. "It's alright Peter she does this with everyone it's not you" Carla tried to resure him after seeing him panic placing a hand on his shoulder.
"Maybe we should do this another time" Peter panicked "I don't think this is doing her any good" he stood up concerned.
"Peter honestly she'll come round she's like this with everyone" Carla tried to calm the situation down.
"I don't want to make her feel uncomfortable, I'll go" he repeated walking out the room.
"Peter come back" Carla called before hearing the front door slam. Leaving a massive sigh coming out her mouth."What is that Daddy of yours like ey" She muttered before Aidan walked into the room holding Amelia "Dad wants to know if we want to go across the road for a drink"
"Uncle Aidan might want a rest from carrying you Hallie your getting heavy" Carla laughed as they made there way over to the bistro "you know Aidan she does normally walk when she's with me" Carla laughed at her brother being soppy with her daughter.
"Yeah well not when she's with me she doesn't not princess Hallie" He pulled a face making her laugh.
"I'm going to have to see Ken with her a bit later and meet up with Simon at some point" Carla thought out loud prizing her hair out of Amelia's hand as the baby sat happily on her hip.
"Yeah well sounds fun... I mean we have a lunch to enjoy first though right!"
"Yeah course... calm down Aidan I'm not taking Hallie off you yet" She rolled her eyes playfully before spying Gail at the end of the street outside her house. "OH for gods sake of course she had to be out just as I am walking past." She sighed unimpressed "I'm gunna have to stop and get a tyrant of abuse now" she begrudgingly spat out walking closer towards her.
"Gail" Carla acknowledged.
"Carla, your finally letting me meet my grandchild then she responded with a straight face causing confusion on Carlas face "so it's ok for her to meet your family but mine is not necessary?" The woman continued to stare.
"What? Half my family haven't met her yet this is the first time she's been up, And I thought you had been to Nicks loads of times, he had her yesterday he told me he was spending the day with you?"
"Oh will you ever stop lying, The drama that comes out of your mouth, you won't let her travel in the car that's why Nick has to come and see you every other weekend in Devon" Gail spoke in an upset tone her statements infuriating Carla, she had been more than fair sharing her daughter with Nick and had only encouraged him to take her to meet the Platt's,
"Gail, THATS not true, if Nick hasn't taken her to see you you need to take that up with Nick." She snapped back at the older women completely sick of Nicks lies causing the older woman to back down. "Look have a word with your son and then come and find me because I can't get any sense out of him so maybe you'll be able to" she replied before continuing to walk down the street along side her brother.
"What was that about" Aidan questioned causing Carla to shrug.
"I'm raging what does she mean she hasn't seen Amelia? He's told me to my face they've met... Aidan, can you take the girls inside and order me a large glass of wine, I'm phoning the Moron" she snapped moving her shoulder closer to Aidan so that he could take the baby off of her.
Walking into the bistro holding two children Aidan couldn't have felt more out of place. Luckily a women had been at the door to hold it open or he would have struggled as there was no way an already anxious Hallie was letting go of her Uncle with her mother out of sight.
"Ohhhh woooow Aidan what a modern man youve turned out to be" an amused Kate shouted out. The image of Aiden awkwardly walking through the doors and towards everyone at the table with two children clinging onto him amusing everyone.
"Where's Carla" Johnny asked confused how his son had been left with her two children.
"Outside on the phone to Nick, she told me to come in here, i get the impression I what she has to say to him isnt to child friendly" He relayed truthfully "anyway will someone take the baby so I can sit down with Hallie" He responded not feeling to comfortable holding such a small child causing Johnny to jump up at the opportunity. "And Kate, Carla wants a large wine, go and grab her one will you, and grab Hallie a juice while your there" he suggested while passing Johnny his baby grandchild before sitting down at the table.
"Ohhhh now arnt you a little cutey, you don't mind Grandad holding you for a bit do you" Johnny gushed at Amelia.
"Well Carla recons she's the feisty one out of the two" Aidan laughed.
"Well at least this one will look at me in the eyes" Johnny laughed looking at Hallie who is silent and tucked into Aiden.
"Yeah well Hallie just knows a good thing that's all dont you Darling" He looked down and tickled her neck causing her to look up at him and laugh. "Where's Michelle I bet she's dying to see the baby"
"Out the back I think" Johnny responded his voice causing Amelia to burst out crying. "Oh dear... there, there ... shhhhhh - Kate help out will you love"
"I don't know what to do"
"Just take her from me, pick her up, distract her" Kate, unsure of what to to took the baby making the child's cry's even louder.
"Well that didn't work did it... Aidan she knows you you take her"
"Nono I'm already holding one child" Aidan smirked amused at his sisters panic
"WHAT on earth is going on here" a bemused Jenny asked returning from the loo.
"Carla left Aidan in charge of the baby but now she's crying and we can't stop her" Johnny panicked
"wait a second she didn't leave me in charge, you were the one who made her cry" Aidan spoke up above the piercing screams.
"oh for gods sake you lot does it matter who is in charge we just need to get her to stop crying the place down, give her here" Jenny gestured taking the baby from Kate and trying to settle her with no luck.
"Well I see that you have met your granddaughter" Carla walked towards the table amused knowing her daughter would have given them all the run around.
"She's got a set of lungs on her that's for sure" Aidan laughed " can't think where she got those from"
"Oi you" Carla retaliated picking up her screaming child calmly and holding her close to settle her rubbing her back until she slowly calmed down. "Is that mine" she looked over at the wine glass on the table that never looked more appealing after her Voicemail to Nick.
"Yeah it's yours" Kate responded.
"Flipping hell, what a day already and it's only 1.30pm" she sighed sitting down rocking the baby in her arms looking down at the child fighting the urge to fall asleep. "This baby is wiped out I think, god knows what time Nick kept her up until last night, she's going to have to have a nap but it's gonna throw her routine right out the window, honestly this happens every 2 weeks when he has her, talk about pain in my flaming neck"
"Well it was Christmas" Kate reasoned getting a death stare from her sister.
"I've left the pushchair in my car I might have to go and get it because she's going to fall asleep and I'm going to get a dead arm" The women thought aloud before taking a gulp of wine causing the people at the table to laugh under their breath clearly seeing that the woman at the table was in no mood.
"Is that my little niece I've been needing to meet in forevever? " Michelle gushed from behind squeezing Carlas shoulders before sitting next to her.
"Oh no leave her where she is we don't want to start a screaming war again she's only just fallen asleep" Aidan chimed in.
"HAHA - Yep, she's been in a great mood thanks to Nick" The woman rolled her eyes looking at her friend.
"Well she looks good as gold asleep to me" Michelle smiled looking down at the baby in her friends arms before feeling a glimmer of sadness.
"Do you want to hold her" Carla asked unsure how her friend would repond knowing the heartache she had gone through that year.
"Yeah, of course I do ! Give her here while you go and get the buggy" Michelle reached out as Carla carefully moved the sleeping baby into her arms.
