It was the next day when Carla decided to accept the visiting order from Rob she knew it was probably going to end in an argument between her and her brother but she needed to feel free again and to do that she needed to see what he wanted. She drove to the prison and went through the procedures to visit someone. She entered the visiting area and saw her brother waiting at their dedicated station ready to talk to her.
"Rob" she says bluntly
"Carla" he says showing very little emotion
"I'm going to cut to the chase. You send me a letter after I get Peter to write to you about how I've been and then you have the audacity to reply and slag us both off along with putting a visiting order in that envelope for good measure. Some brother you are" she says angrily
"Oh shut your mouth Carla, you know how he rubs it in my face. I can't even get away from him in here not that I deserve it" he states while raising his voice
"You don't deserve to be in here, yet you killed someone? Logical" she rolls her eyes
"I did that for you to protect you from being hurt by him and to send him down so he got what he deserved" he says bluntly
"Oh well thank you Rob, worked really well that didn't it" she says sarcastically "Want to know something?" she asks
"Oh I'm sure you're going to tell me either way" he rolls his eyes
"He is a much better man than you" she says trying to push his buttons "So what he cheated? So what he's an alcoholic? He loves me and I love him. He saved my life, made me better, he cares for me 24 hours a day and I wouldn't have it any other way" she says calmly
"I'm going to leave now. I hope you have fun rotting away in here" she smugly smiles then leaves the visiting room
A while later Carla returns to the flat, she didn't feel like going to work after her encounter with Rob's arrogant attitude. She just wanted to chill and right now she wished Michelle was here so she can talk about the good old times instead of being reminded about the present times. She contemplates calling Lilah but she was determined not to let the past get to her anymore but maybe if she got it all out of the way today she wouldn't need to do it at a future date it seemed like the lesser of two evils. So, she dials the number on the business card.
"Hello?" Lilah's voice rings out from the other end of the phone
"Lilah, it's me, Carla" she says hesitantly
"Oh right? Bit of an odd time to ring but whatever" she mumbles
"I have some free time so I was wondering if you would like to meet" Carla asks hopefully
"Yeah I mean I could lie to my PA saying I'm going to check out some fabrics or summat" she giggles
"If you're busy-" Carla says before being cut off
"I'll be there, give me a place and a time and I'll be there" she says sympathetically
"Ok, my place, Victoria court, give me a ring and I'll come meet you" she says firmly
A while later Carla gets the call she has been waiting for and instantly grabs her keys to let Lilah in. Lilah was dressed professionally, a look she would not have done all those years ago where her skirt would be ten inches shorter then it was today. Her long dark hair, curled, up in a high pony-tail with her make up immaculately done almost like she paid it to get done professionally. She had a tight-fitted skirt on with a red blouse tucked into the waistband. Lilah followed Carla up to her flat only ready to start a conversation that would soon turn awkward.
"Would you like a drink?" Carla offers
"Coffee will be fine if there's one going" Lilah smiles "I'm surprised you wanted to contact me to be honest"
"Yes well, its good to talk about the past" Carla smiles "So how's business then?" she questions
"Really good thanks, if one company does bad the other does good and vice versa but I live for it" she smiles
"How many shares do you have in companies now, it's gotta be a lot" Carla says clearly impressed
"Trust me, it's a lot I have my portfolio if you want to have a look" she says
"I'm good thanks, I wanted to leave that all behind" Carla says quietly
"Did something happen?" Lilah asks
"You could say that" she says
"You don't have to tell me, I could probably guess by the way you're acting" she says smugly
"I didn't know you were a mind reader?" Carla asks sarcastically
"I'm not but I will give it a go" she says confidently
"Go on then" Carla prompts
"Ok, well I know that around this time last year your factory caved in, I'm guessing you felt bad and with me knowing that you always put your worker's safety first I doubt you would put them in danger, so you blamed yourself" she says strolling over to the kitchen counter and picking up the box of anti-psychotic medication "And the fact you have these on your kitchen counter, suggests to me that you blamed yourself so much you were in a deep depression therefore, a possible breakdown" she replies smartly
"How did you know? That's a pretty impressive talent" Carla states impressed
"Well I recognised the box and the fact your eyes constantly glance around the room checking to see if you're hallucinating? Am I right?" she says with a smile Carla nods her head in agreement as tears threaten to spill down her cheeks
"Don't cry" she smiles as the door opens to the flat presented with an angry Peter
"What have you done?!" Peter says with a raised voice
"Oh is this how it's going to be is it blaming it all on me" she shakes her head angrily
"Peter, don't it wasn't her fault" Carla pleads
"Ok, then if it wasn't her fault then why are you crying?" he questions
"We were just discussing business stuff then she noticed I was distant, she did some prodding and it just got a bit too much, she never forced me to open up, you have to believe me" she begs
"Ok, I believe you, I do" he smiles
"I'll leave you to it" Lilah says awkwardly
"No don't! I mean I want to ask you some questions please" she begs again
"Ok?" she replies taking a seat in the armchair she was previously sat in while Peter makes his way over to sit next to Carla
"How did you guess?" Carla asks
"Well, I guess it was just logical" Lilah states trying to ignore the real reason why she knew
"Oh come off it, if my family couldn't guess then I doubt a random person who's only known me through their father can guess just like that" she scoffs
"Ok fine" she huffs "I went through a similar thing to you"
"I doubt your whole factory caved in, Lilah" she states
"No but something" she pauses and takes a deep breath "happened to me and it ruined my confidence and myself therefore I developed depression" she says quietly
"You? with depression? You were the most confident 19 year old I ever knew" Carla says
"Yep well when you're beaten black and blue that opinion of yourself changes" she tries to joke
"What do you mean? Who beat you black and blue?" Carla asks carefully not to frighten the younger girl
"Carla, deep down inside I think you know who" she states shyly
"No! no he wouldn't not again, not after" Carla says getting worked up now
"Carla, I don't want you to get worked up about this ok. I feel bad now in case I've caused you to have a setback" she says worried glancing at Peter
"Can I ask a question, Lilah?" Peter asks
"Sure go ahead?" she says confused as to Peter's sudden interest
"Did Frank Foster rape you?" he asks sympathetically
"Yes" she says bluntly
"When?" he asks
"February 2012" she states "And by your previous reaction, Carla, he did the same to you?"
"Yes, he did" she says
"There's something I want to show you both, it means you'll have to come with me, if that's ok?" she asks hopefully
"Yes, we'll go, won't we Peter?" Carla asks desperate to find out about this girl
"Yes sure" he smiles in return
A short drive later Carla, Peter and Lilah arrived at the graveyard while Lilah stopped off on the way to get some flowers.
"What's with the flowers?" Carla asks
"You'll see" she smiles "Come on then you two" Lilah says as they follow her through the muddied graveyard. After what seemed like rows and rows of graves later, Lilah finally stopped in front of a headstone made out of black marble and gold writing.
In memory of:
Esme-Rose Sandringham
27.11.2012 - 28.11.2012
Fly high my angel x
"Not to act harsh or anything, but what are we doing here?" Peter asks trying not to be abrupt
"Ok well I'm sure with you both being business you can do the maths" she says sarcastically
"Is she your daughter?" Carla asks surprised
"At least someone isn't lacking in the brains department" Lilah states rolling her eyes
"Oh Lilah" Peter sighs sympathetically
"I come here every once in a while to put flowers on her grave to make sure she feels wanted, because she was wanted so, so much. I guess I never knew how much until she passed" she shrugs
"Lilah, is she Frank's? Carla asks
"Yes she is, he never knew and I am so happy for that, trust me" she replies firmly
"But the age gap" Carla winces slightly at it
"So? He never knew. She would never know. I guess you want to know why I kept her?" she says
"If you don't mind" Carla smiles understandingly
"Ok well. Think of it like this." She pauses "This life growing inside of me, innocent looking for love, looking to live a life. I thought that if I can provide the love she needed then she would be like me not like her father because he didn't love me. I would do damn right to make sure she didn't end up like him and that's what got me through knowing I could change something so negative into something so positive. When she was getting bigger each day meant that I could continue being strong for her" she says without a single tear
"You are inspiration you know that" Peter says putting a hand on her shoulder
"Well I do aim to please" she says "Sorry for being heartless, being somewhat emotionless gets me through it sometimes" she says with a chuckle
"She was pretty bad with her sarcyness when it happened to her" he says
"Anyway there's also something else I want to show you" she says as they begin to walk away from Esme's grave
Another short drive later they were in the suburbs of Manchester where there were abundances of town houses and large-scale property developments. They drove to a less built up area of Manchester where there were large properties some modern in design, some old cottagey type properties and bungalows. Lilah drove into her driveway parking her car at ease.
"Is this where you live?" Carla asks clearly amazed
"No. I just pulled up one some random person's drive where I know the code to get through the gate" Lilah says sarcastically while rolling her eyes.
"Come in, don't worry about shoes" she smiles as Carla and Peter follow her to an outdoor terrace with a fire-pit situated in the middle surrounded by comfy chairs.
"You have a nice place, must've cost a bomb" Peter says clearly impressed
"Well I can more than afford it" she says proud of her achievements
"You have a pool?" Carla questions
"Well, yes Carla you are staring at one, so I would say I do" she says laughing "I know you're in awe with my home but I did bring you here for a reason, take a seat" she says whilst turning the fire pit on
"What are we doing here, I'm guessing you didn't come here to gloat to us?" Carla says confused
"I'll be right back, just wait here" she smiles while going back into the house and entering the living room obtaining a cream coloured box with a baby pink ribbon tied around it and a small, white wooden box with a gold plate on it she reappears on the terrace
"What's that?" Carla asks inquisitively
"Take a look yourself" Lilah says gesturing for Carla to take the box
Carla sits the box on her lap and undoes the bow which was presented on the top. She doesn't take the lid off. She stares at the box for a while longer confused as to why it was here, why Lilah wanted her to do this.
"Why don't you want to look?" Lilah asks
"I-I think I know what's on this box, that's all and it scares me" she says
"Ok? You don't have to look if you don't want I just though you'd like to see" she says gently
"I do it's just it's hard" Carla says, tears in her eyes
"Ok I'll tell you what. You don't have to look right now ok because I'm guessing you're thinking this is a memory box. Am I right?" she questions
"Yes you are" she glances back at Lilah and smiles
"And I'm guessing you've been in a similar situation to me, which is why you don't want to look?" Lilah asks
"Yes I have" she states
"Look, its getting late, why don't you guys stay tonight we can have a laugh, talk about trivial things it'll be fun, then tomorrow you might want to look in that box if not, it's fine" she smiles
"Ok we'll stay but I don't have my medication" Carla says glancing at Peter
"You'll be alright, you have your immunosuppressants we can just take your anti-psychotics as soon as we get back" he says
"Come on, I'll show you to your room" Lilah says as they follow "I have a spare pair of pyjamas if you need them"
After a couple of hours talking about anything and everything, apart from the box, Peter and Carla decided they were going to call it a night and head to bed. This left Lilah with so many questions which none she had the answer to. Why was this woman in her house so similar to her in many ways but were no way in each other's pockets yet it seemed like she has known her for years on end. There was a connection there, a mutual understanding of people who had similar experiences to each other. There was no way she was going to let this go. No way.