The next day came and Carla stretched out in bed, she hadn't had a very goodnight sleep but overall she was ok, she was awoken by Azalea who was screaming from her nursery, Carla immediately got up and tended to her daughter by picking her up and placing her down on the changing table to get her ready for breakfast. Aziza soon joined her mother in Azalea's room and helped her out which Carla found rather odd considering Aziza never liked to help her with anything and she kept herself to herself. Michelle watched on from the doorframe and yawned, she hadn't really had enough sleep especially after Carla's confession she was up all night tossing and turning unable to sleep wanting to try and figure out something that would help her best friend. She watched as Carla then took her girls downstairs and put Azalea in the high chair and grabbed her some porridge and fed her it all whilst Michelle got Aziza's breakfast ready knowing that Azalea was very demanding when it came to food.
"Train?" Carla questions making animated noises causing Azalea to open her mouth and eat her food; Carla collects all the residue from her mouth using the spoon
"Messy isn't she?" Michelle chuckles sitting at the table, Aziza eats her toast and chocolate spread
"Tell me about it" Carla whispers kissing Azalea on the head, her daughter reaches out to say that she wanted more "More?"
"Well she obviously wants more" Aziza drones, Carla raises an eyebrow turning to Michelle, Azalea bashes her fist on the high chair
"Impatient just like your mother" Michelle teases, Carla nudges her leg under the table and continues to feed Azalea "Aziza you're going to be late if you don't hurry up"
"Alright!" Aziza drones rushing upstairs to get ready for school, Carla chuckles
"Are you coming on the school run?" Michelle queries, Carla nods eagerly "Wow neve thought I would see the day"
"Oi!" she exclaims in defensive, Michelle grins "I have you know I spent a lot of time thinking last night and I just want to get on with my life and I think I'm finally in a position where I can you know"
"Well good on you" Michelle whispers kissing her on the head "Why don't you go and clean her up eh?"
"Yeah I think she needs it" Carla comments picking her daughter up and heading upstairs, Michelle smiles knowing that Carla's new outlook could be the making for her friend...
They eventually got ready and surprisingly they were running behind schedule which meant they could take a bit longer on the walk and go through the park which was something Aziza loved doing as well as Azalea. Aziza was pointing out the ducks to Azalea who was very engrossed in the whole thing which made Carla's heart fill with warmth and happiness for the future and for the present. They got Aziza into school and Carla was nervous about what the other mothers would say to her but they didn't comment on anything which made her feel a bit more confident over the whole school run scenario. They headed back and took a nice slow walk, Azalea was settled in the pram finally which made Carla smile as well as give her and Michelle a chance to talk. They were walking down Rosamund Street and that was when there was an abundance of police cars zoomed past them and headed toward the bistro causing Carla and Michelle to check out what was going on considering all the other neighbours were doing the same so it didn't look odd.
"What's happened?" Carla asks Sally who just shrugs in response, she glances around and Peter comes running over
"Hey, whats happened?"
"Not a clue" Carla bites her lip as they all keep their eyes fixated on the bistro, a police officer comes out with Faye as well who looked rather shocked
"Whats happened?" Sally questions to Faye who shakes her head feeling utterly repulsed "Faye?"
"I opened up because...yeah and Ray was on the floor...blood pouring out of his head, he's dead"
"What?" Carla's eyes widen glancing to Azalea who had woken up at the commotion "How?"
"Blunt instrument I think" Faye shrugs as Sally guides her over to the police officers who were waiting to interview her
"I don't know what to say" Carla whispers glancing down to Azalea she takes the pram and rushes off
"Let me," Michelle says, Peter nods watching Michelle dart off to be with Carla who was heading home "Carla wait!"
"No I just need time alone" she whispers entering the house, Michelle sighs entering as well "Are you not listening to me?"
"Babe look at me" Michelle whispers, Carla shakes her head "Speak to me about how you feel yeah?"
"I don't know how I feel, relieved maybe? Confused definitely, if I'm honest with you I don't want to talk about it and I just want to accept it for what it is"
"You seem awfully calm" she observes, Carla just shrugs "You are telling me everything arent you?"
"What's that supposed to mean?" Carla questions glancing to Azalea who was reaching her arms up to her indicating she wanted to be carried so Carla holds her
"Just ignore me-"
"Carla?!" Peter enters the house, Car
la raises an eyebrow at his entrance "They want to question you I think, well all of us"
"What why?" Carla scoffs "We haven't got anything to do with it..."
"Procedure" he shrugs, Carla nods slowly biting her lip and bouncing Azalea, she walks upstairs "Is she ok, she doesn't seem very surprised"
"It'll hit her soon...I don't suppose you could pick Zi up from school could you?" she questions, Peter nods slowly "Thanks Peter I might be able to try and get it out of her"
"Hm yeah" Peter nods leaving the house, Michelle pads upstairs into the nursery and looks at Carla rock Azalea in her arms
"Hey" Michelle whispers, Carla looks up before resuming her gazer on Azalea "Are you ok?"
"I said I wanted time alone" she responds gently, Michelle sighs and bends down in front of her "Please, I promise you I'm fine, I just need to comprehend it in my own way"
"Ok well I'll be downstairs if you need to speak to me; Peter's going to collect Zi from school so you don't need to worry about that"
"Thanks" Carla smiles watching her leave the room and shut the door "Twinkle twinkle little star how I wonder what you are up above the world so high, like a diamond in the sky..." she whispers to Azalea who was settled in her arms "At least Daddy's gone now and we can move on beautiful girl, get on with our lives so you don't have to see him ever again, you'll thank me, one day princess, you will..."
Michelle was sitting downstairs on the sofa, she was twiddling her phone in her hands waiting for acral to resurface from the nursery where she was settling Azalea. She stood up and headed to the cupboard under the sink and rummaged through it picking up the washing powder, she shoved the black clothes into the washing machine and turned the washer on the highest temperature, she leaned back against the sink and sighs and rubbed her forehead all she could do now was wait for Carla...
Peter was walking in down the roads to collect Aziza from school, he decided he would treat his daughter to a milkshake because he felt as if she deserved it as she had to put up with two warring parents as of late. He was standing in the school grounds and Aziza soon came out and ran over to him and he lifted her up into his arms albeit struggling a bit as she was a bit heavy now. He then told his daughter that they were going to go to a cafe on the way home to have a milkshake together which made her eyes light up and caused Peter to smile knowing he was doing something right. They headed into the cafe and Aziza chose the seats just like she always had to and they both ordered triple chocolate milkshakes.
"How has school been then sweetheart?" Peter asks, Aziza grins and nods "Good for once eh?"
"Yeah it's much better now Mummy's home"
"I knew she would make you happy again" Peter whispers poking her on the nose causing her to giggle "Is there anything you want...or should I say is there anything you could change?"
"You and Mummy together; I know it won't happen but if that's the thing that would make me happy it would be that" she responds, Peter nods slowly stirring his straw around his milkshake "So we can be a family, that's what I want"
"I want that too" he admits, Aziza grins "Do you want to know something princess?"
"What?" she grins, her eyes glinting up at him before she drinks her milkshake
"I reckon these last twenty-four hours have changed our lives and for the better" he comments thoughtfully, she pulls a face
"You're turning into grandad," she remarks, Peter gasps and nudges her leg under the table "What makes you say that anyway?"
"Put it like this baby girl, things always have a habit of coming back to haunt you later on in your life but this time I don't think they will I think we will finally be able to move on"
"If you say so...you and Mum can never seem to do anything without the dramatics"
"Mummy" he chastises, she rolls her eyes playfully "I just wanted to protect you all, you Azalea and Mummy, you deserve that because deep down even though sometimes I haven't shown it. You mean so much to me all of you and you always will"
"I love you" Aziza smiles widely, Peter smiles tearfully
"Good, I love you too, now drink your milkshake"
The end...
The question is Who Killed Ray?...
Unfortunately, you will have to find out in the sequel which will most likely be done over my Xmas break...