"Carla?" Roy knocked twice on her bedroom door
"Yes, Roy?" Carla answered, stepping out from the room and securing an earring to her lobe
"It's uh- it's Peter, he's asking if he can pop up for a minute," Roy gestured to the intercom
"Oh," Carla breathed out, before taking the receiver from Roy, "yeah, come up, Peter," she said as she pressed the buzzer. "I wonder what that's all about," she mused aloud, putting her hands on her hips and looking about in confusion.
"Would you prefer if I made myself scarce?" Roy asked, as Peter's footfalls on the steps in the hallway became louder.
"No, Roy, you don't have to do that," she responded, walking into the main area, "I'm sure it's nothing dire, love." She assured him as Peter entered the flat, casting an awkward smile to the cafe owner
"Hiya Roy," he greeted him, looking a bit flustered, "sorry for intruding, but I just wanted to have a quick word with Carla before this engagement party thing," he motioned to the woman now sitting on the couch and pulling up her boots and Roy gestured for him to enter
"What's going on, Peter?" Carla asked, her head remaining down as she zipped up her left boot
"So, you are still seriously planning on going to this?" he asked, standing beside the sofa and placing his hands on his hips
"Yes, why shouldn't I?" she zipped up her right boot, and raised her eyes to look at him
Peter scoffed, "Did you not listen to a single word that nurse said?"
"Yeah," she responded rising to her feet and placing a hand on her bump, "a strong and healthy heartbeat, that's good enough for me."
"Carla-" Peter tried to reason with her
"Look," she cut him off, "my brother is getting married, and we," she tapped her stomach, "are the only family he's got." Peter sighed, looking down to his shoes as she continued, walking over towards Roy, "so I'm going, and I will kick high and smile...well, not literally, obviously."
"I should hope not," Roy stated from the kitchen, as Carla chuckled and patted him encouragingly on the shoulder
"Look, Roy," Peter began, "do you mind if I have a minute alone with Carla?"
Roy looked to Carla, assuring she was fine with the request, and she smiled at him, "I'll be okay," she whispered
"Right, well, I'll be downstairs, if you need me," The cafe owner stated
"I'll pop down before I head out Roy," she said as he nodded at her, casting a final awkward glance to Peter before heading out
Carla sighed and turned back to Peter, "well?" she shrugged, "should I be sitting down for this?"
"Maybe," Peter began carefully, watching as she pursed her lips and sat down at the kitchen table, and he followed suit, "Carla, I'm just worried about you going tonight. We had a scare yesterday with the baby, and then with your anxiety attack this morning..." Carla's eyes shifted away from his in embarrassment and she folded her arms across herself protectively, "I'm just worried you're going to get more stressed out. I mean, this is your brother and me half-sister's party after all-,"
"-held at the place your ex-mistress works..." Carla interjected, and he looked down ashamed, "don't worry Peter, she's not scheduled on the rota tonight according to Steve, and she's lucky Liz hasn't sacked her yet for all the agro she's caused them the past few weeks,"
"How'd you mean?" Peter asked perplexed
Carla shrugged, "barely showing up for shifts, causing fights with Tracy and other punters, taking too many breaks," she picked at her fingernail absentmindedly, "Look, Tracy had asked that she not work tonight because she didn't want her night ruined by a scowling barmaid, so you can relax. She won't be there to cause trouble with me."
"I wouldn't be so sure of that," Peter responded
"Why? What's happened?" Her brow furrowed
"She's just been threatening me again," Peter sighed, wanting to tell the truth to her and not some weak attempt at deflection, "she said she's going to tell you a bunch of lies, knowing that you'll most likely believe it because of my behaviour since our wedding, just so she can hurt you."
"Because hurting me more than she has done will give her even more satisfaction?"
"Because she knows that seeing you hurt will be like stabbing me in the chest a thousand times with a dull blade," he almost whispered, his voice thick with emotion, "I can't bear to see you in pain, Carla. Not again..."
Carla felt her breath hitch in her chest, her eyes becoming glassy as she watched the torment etch across her husband's face, "then enlighten me as to what she plans on telling me," she whispered, offering him a lopsided smile as he looked into her eyes,
"Carla-" he exhaled deeply,
"Peter," she leaned forward and placed her hand supportively over his, "as much as you may want to, you can't wrap me in cotton wool. I survived hearing about the affair, and all the gory details she threw at me. In fact, I've survived a lot worse...I know I'm not as strong as I pretend to be, but I am strong, Peter. I'm not made of glass. Just-," she took a deep breath, "just, prepare me for it now, eh?"
"Mind if I join you?"
Carla was roused from replaying the conversation she had with Peter in the cafe flat earlier that evening; raising her head from her lime and soda to see Tracy, standing next to the booth.
She offered a small shrug in response, "it's your party, Tracy," she replied, taking a sip of her drink and lowering her eyes to the table as Tracy slid into the booth across from her. Carla lowered her glass to the table and gave Tracy the once over, "you know, red really suits you Tracy," she said genuinely, "honestly, it does," she replied quickly, noting her sister-in-law's demeanour shifted to a defensive one, almost as though she were bracing for a cutting remark from Carla, "you should consider wearing it more often." She smiled at her
"Thanks," Tracy replied, inwardly feeling a little chuffed at the compliment, "enjoying the party?"
Carla nodded, "I am actually," she glanced to where Rob stood talking to Peter, "I don't think I've ever seen him so happy." Her lips tugged into a smile as she watched her brother and her husband being civil to each other for the first time in years.
Tracy nodded to the two men at the bar, "that down to you and all, is it?" she asked
"Is what down to me?"
"Them two," she gestured with her head, "standing at the bar, having a drink instead of trying to pummel each other into the furniture," she snickered, taking a sip of her wine
"Oh, yeah, I suppose it is," Carla scratched her head, smiling as her brother glanced in their direction and winked at her, "I just asked Rob to back off Peter a bit. I don't want him being pushed over the edge with everything that's gone on, and I asked Peter to lay off Rob and all," she sighed, "I didn't expect them to actually do it, though. To be honest Tracy, as much fun as you and I may have had winding each other up, I was sick to the back teeth of them doing it."
"Preaching to the choir, love," Tracy agreed with her, "so anyways, how are things with, you know?" she gestured towards Carla's stomach with her eyes
Carla narrowed her eyes suspiciously at the woman opposite her, and cocked her head to the side, "I'm sorry but I do have to ask Tracy: why haven't you given me any grief about Tina and Peter yet? I thought you'd be chomping at the bit, considering you were right all along..."
"How'd you mean?" Tracy leaned onto her elbows on the table, her face furrowed in confusion
"I mean you called this months ago, remember? The day after Peter and I announced we were engaged? You said and I quote: 'Peter will be bored before the first dance'," Carla lowered her gaze, her glass pausing on the way to her lips, "pretty accurate prediction actually, weren't it?"
Tracy let out an uncomfortable sigh, "Honestly Carla, I can't promise you that if it have had been anyone else, that I may have been more inclined to get on me high horse; but even I wasn't expecting that," she snorted derisively, "I mean, of all people, Tina flamin' McIntyre"
"You can say that again," Carla muttered into her glass,taking a sip and lowering it once again
"Honestly though Carla, I weren't right. My brother is anything but bored of you. He loves you. He's an idiot to be sure, but he loves you. I mean, if he didn't he would have been shacked up with Tina by now, wouldn't he?" she took a gulp of her wine, "I mean, it's not like he hasn't had the opportunity, either?"
"What do you mean?" Carla asked,
"She's been throwing herself at him for weeks since he's been back from rehab! The first few days she wouldn't leave him alone. Honestly, babe, real bunny boiler stuff! Practically stood outside the flat in nowt but a trenchcoat hoping she could seduce him back, and he all but slammed the door in her face every time. I'm telling you Carla, if she had been a bottle of whiskey he would have chucked her in a skip and made sure she was shattered to smithereens," she leaned back in her seat, "look, I don't blame you for not trusting him, but I'll tell you something for nothing: that man loves the bones off of you, and he will stop at nothing to win you back." She drummed her fingers on the table before sliding out of the booth, pausing to stand next to Carla briefly, "umm look, if I don't get the chance to tell you later, thanks for coming, eh? I know it weren't easy, but I know how much Rob wanted his sister here, and I'm glad you came and all." she placed a hand on Carla's shoulder before heading over to where Tony Stewart was beckoning her.
Carla barely had the chance to shake off the shock of Tracy's last words before Michelle slid into the spot where Tracy had been, "I don't know what is disturbing me more," Michelle said, "the fact that the engagement cake says 'Congratulations Tracy and Roy' and it has put all sort of uncomfortable images in me mind," she shuddered briefly, "or Tracy being nice to you..."
Carla thought for a brief second, her eyes glancing up to the ceiling, "I know what's disturbing me more..." she responded in a deadpan voice, causing Michelle to laugh at her friend's discomfort.
"Would you calm down, Peter," Rob scolded him, "You staring at that door, trying to use some sort of repressed Jedi mind trick, is not going to stop Tina from barging in 'ere, is it?" He took a sip of his pint, "Besides, you told Carla what she threatened to tell her, so you've removed the element of surprise from her which is all she really had in her back pocket, innit?"
Peter sighed, twirling his orange juice in his hand, "yeah, I suppose you're right. I just hate seeing Carla hurting," he glanced over his shoulder briefly to where she sat, smiling and laughing with Michelle, "and knowing I'm the cause of it, just makes it unbearable."
Rob narrowed his eyes at Peter, "is it true what you told Tina earlier? About how you and my sister first got together?"
Peter nodded. After Tina stormed out of the pub's back garden, Rob and Steve had made themselves known, much to his surprise and relief, and assured him they'd heard Tina's threats and would back him up if needed to Carla; but Rob hadn't mentioned anything about what Peter actually said to Tina. And he wondered if that was the real reason he was thawing toward him this evening. "Yeah. I was in love with Carla and wanted to be with her before we ever actually, got together..."
Rob nodded, "I just assumed it happened like Tina had suggested: that you started sleeping together, you got caught out and chose Carla because you had to make a choice."
"Had that little faith in my love for your sister, eh Rob?" Peter snapped irritably
"What? You mean, after how quickly you started sniffing around Leanne? Twice? When Carla walked out on you when you started drinking again during your custody battle? Telling Leanne you wanted her back..." Rob asked him in hushed tones
"That was a stupid throw of the dice on my part to try to keep Simon," Peter responded back, his voice also low so as not to draw attention to them, "I thought Carla was done with me, and me mind was all muddled by the drinking and the possibility of losing Si forever along with Carla..."
"And how about the moment you thought my sister was gone to LA for good, eh? You immediately started trying to get Leanne back-"
"That's not what that was, I was rebounding while also trying to turn the screw on Nick,"
"Well, I mean, come on Peter do you blame me for thinking you were just using my sister? The first time I met you, you were shouting the odds at her! That along with you sniffing around Leanne so quickly made it look like you were, like emotionally abusing her or something! She were a shell of herself when I came back here, and I've never seen her take crap like that from any man before," Rob sighed his fingers drumming angrily on the bar, "of course I didn't know what she had been through all them months prior though, did I?" he took a sip of his pint, as his mind flashed in anger at knowing Carla had been raped and he had had no idea. He looked to Peter, "look, maybe I should have given you more credit than I had done-"
"No, I can understand why you didn't now," Peter acquiesced, "look Rob, I won't lie. I care about Leanne. We've been through a lot, and we'll always have Simon to connect us, that won't change. But I'm in love with Carla; I've never stopped being in love with Carla..." he stated, not noticing how the bar had suddenly gone quiet as he continued to lay his heart on the line to Rob, "She is the most important thing to me, next to Simon. I'm a coward and an idiot, and I don't know what she ever saw in me, but I love your sister with every fibre of my being. I love her so much it tears me apart when I'm not near her. And that may sound pathetic, but it's the truth. I will do anything I can now to prove how much I love her and that little baby she's carrying."
"Baby?" Beth's voice popped up from behind him, and he closed his eyes in horror, "Carla's pregnant?"
"Oh no," he whispered, his head dropping onto his elbows on the bar,
"Wait, who's pregnant?" Liz said, coming to stand by the bar
"Carla, according to him!" Beth pointed to Peter
"Well, that wasn't quite the distraction I was expecting but it'll do," Tony whispered to Tracy, "don't be late..." he reminded her as he moved back towards the door
"What - what did she say?" Sean asked, a large smile forming on his face as he glanced back and forth from Beth to Peter to Rob
Rob patted Peter on the shoulder, "I'm going to be an uncle," he stated proudly.
Peter ran his hands over his face, 'you ponce!' he scolded himself, 'she'll never forgive you for this, now!' he despaired until he felt a soft hand run gentle circles upon his back.
He knew that touch.
He stood upright and turned around, bringing him face to face with his wife, her eyes lined with unshed tears, while the many whispers in the pub about the way she was holding one hand to her stomach as she squared up to her husband, surrounded them like a fog, "I'm sorry," he whispered, "I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to blurt it out like th-"
Her lips were suddenly upon his, her hands placed on either side of his face, drawing him ever closer to her and she kissed him with the same passion they had the night he first told her he loved her. He wrapped his arms around her, his hand sliding up to the back of her neck where he held her, unable to contain the tears that traipsed down his cheeks; in complete disbelief that this was actually happening to him. He could faintly make out the whoops and whistles coming from Steve and Sean, but he was so blissfully happy in this moment that it all fell about him like white noise.
Rob moved next to Tracy, his arm slipping around her waist, and pressing a kiss to her temple. He wasn't thrilled that Carla had seemingly forgiven Peter this quickly after the affair had been revealed, but he couldn't deny that Peter's little speech about how much he loved Carla tugged even at his own heart. For all his faults, the man did love her; that much was clear.
Carla pulled back from Peter, her forehead pressing against his, "did you mean that?" she sniffled, "did you mean what you said to Rob?"
He pushed her slightly away from him, his hands coming up to hold cup her face and he looked directly into her misty eyes, "I meant every single word..."
"A toast!" Tracy said, as Carla pressed a soft, chaste kiss to Peter's lips once more, "to the luckiest fetus in the world: Peter and Carla's baby!" she raised her glass
"Peter and Carla's baby!" the crowd joined in, all raising their glasses
"SPEECH!" Tracy shouted, suddenly
"Yeah! Speech!" Beth, Rita, Emily and Dierdre all chimed in simultaneously
"No, No, Tracy, come on, it's your night!" Peter stated, turning and holding an embarrassed Carla to his side
"SPEEEECH!" Tracy shouted again, smirking when Peter finally acquiesced.
"Alright, okay," he started, "well, as you can imagine, we were both shocked at first," he began, his eyes drifting to where Emily and Mary stood, smiling at his nervousness, "Carla-" he paused, about to make a joke about her being a non-typical yummy mummy, but thought better of it, instead turning to face her and using his thumb to wipe a tear from her cheek, "you know, she was scared to tell me she were pregnant. She was scared because she thought it would change our relationship. That it would cause me to not love her as much as I did. And more than anything, she was scared because she always felt that she would never be a good mum. But she already is," he smiled at her, "because she has been patient and selfless with my son even when he wasn't very warm to her. And now, I swear them two are like two peas in a pod and are actually ganging up on me," he chuckled as the punters laughed with him, and Carla smiled back at him, her eyes filling with fresh tears, "when she finally did tell me, I were admittedly, terrified. Terrified I wasn't going to measure up as a dad, and make the same mistakes I did with Simon. I already had started, as you all are aware..." he drifted off, "but when she asked me what I wanted that night, I just knew it, in my heart: I wanted a baby with the love of my life, with my Carla," he grasped her face between his again, "Now, I know I've made some horrible and unforgivable mistakes already, mostly due to my being an absolute coward of a man, but if you give me the chance, I will prove to you and to our little bundle, that I will be the man that you've always believed I was. The man you saw even when I didn't see it myself. I'm over the moon that you are carrying my baby, Carla..."
He pressed a kiss to her lips before drawing her in for a hug, both of them taking in the cheers around them before a deafening silence fell upon the pub. Peter felt his stomach flip, and glanced to the main doors of the pub, where a vengeful looking Tina stood glaring murderously towards Carla.