Today was the day of Michelle's scan. She was nervous as obviously her age was getting on and she just didn't want to have to go through heartache again. Carla was attending it with her as she also had an understanding about how hard scans could be when done on your own. Carla was determined to be Michelle's rock throughout this pregnancy.
"Right, are we getting a taxi?" Carla asks Michelle
"I don't mind, up to you" she shrugs "Not from street cars though"
"I'll borrow Peter's car then" Carla says
"Or, you could use Lilah's" she suggests
"Alright then bet the cheeky mare hasn't left any fuel in it though" Carla laughs "But that means we have to use a taxi to get it"
"Oh yeah, that's true we'll just use Peter's then" Michelle says
"It will be alright you know" Carla says gently "Just remember what Lilah said"
"I know, I'm just thinking too much that's all. Let's get going" Michelle suggests
After a short taxi ride to the hospital, Michelle and Carla went up numerous flights of stairs and lift rides to find the Maternity ward.
"Trust you to get lost" Michelle says playfully
"I have you know that I am better at directions then you" Carla states
"If you say so, but I know the truth" Michelle retorts going towards the receptionist
"Could I have your name and date of birth" the nurse prompts
"Michelle Connor, 21st April 1976" she says
"Take a seat a midwife will be with you shortly" the nurse smiles
"You oldie" Carla jokes
"Yet you're one year older than me, for someone who used to be in business you're not very good at maths" Michelle says sarcastically
"Alright sarcy point taken" Carla huffs "Should have bought the latest edition of vogue"
"We're in a maternity ward" Michelle hisses
"A bottle of bubbly would be better then" Carla sighs
"Michelle Connor?" the nurse questions as both Carla and Michelle get up and head to the room
"Have you had any problems during your pregnancy?" The midwife asks while prepping the ultrasound machine
"No, not that I know of anyway" she shrugs
"Is this your first baby?" The midwife asks
"No, my last pregnancy, I had a late miscarriage, but the almost 30 year old acts like he's 10 half the time and the other acts older than his age" she says
"Oh I'm sorry to hear that" the midwife says sympathetically "Who are you if you don't mind me asking?" she says pointing at Carla
"I'm her best friend" Carla states
"Shall we get started?" the midwife says as Michelle nods
The midwife runs the probe over Michelle's lower abdomen to try and find the perfect image
"Is everything alright?" Michelle asks concerned
"Just bare with me, taking measurements and stuff" The midwife says with her eyes on the screen "There we go!" she exclaims turning the screen around for Michelle to see
"Is everything alright?" Michelle asks
"Everything's great, baby's a bit on the large size, how many weeks did you say you thought you were?" the midwife asks
"Umm around 12" Michelle shrugs
"Your baby is around 15 weeks" the midwife says as Michelle goes pale
"Chelle? Are you ok, I thought-" Carla says confused before being interrupted
"Everything's fine" Michelle persists
"I'll print off some pictures and I'll see you in a month or so" the midwife says before leaving the room to get the pictures
"Chelle?" Carla questions carefully
"Don't, not here" she persists as the midwife returns handing them the pictures
"I'll see you soon, goodbye" the midwife smiles
"Leave it Carla" Michelle says sternly
"Alright fine, but you know I'm here if you want to talk" Carla says calmly
A while later Carla and Michelle drove home. Michelle spent the whole journey staring down at the picture tracing the outline of her baby's features. Carla pulled up in Victoria court and parked in the designated parking space.
"You going to speak to me? Otherwise I will go and see Peter" Carla sighs
"Ok, fine, I thought I wasn't as far along as I thought" she lies
"Well I kind of gathered that, why are you being secretive about the father then" Carla asks
"20 questions isn't it" Michelle sighs
"Do I know him? Is that why you wont tell me?" she persists
"He doesn't matter" Michelle says firmly
"Alright suit yourself, you coming with me to annoy my fiancé or going to the flat?" Carla asks
"Flat" Michelle states bluntly "I'll see you later" she says as she gets out the car
"Bye then" Carla says rolling her eyes before heading to the bistro
"Oi Carla!" Leanne shouts from across the road as Carla rolls her eyes
"What?" Carla replies bluntly
"Charming, I don't suppose you've seen Simon lurking about" she sighs
"No…Should I have?" Carla asks
"No, want a drink?" Leanne asks out of complete boredom
"You do realise you're talking to Carla, right? The person you are supposed to hate" Carla raises her eyebrows
"I'm not blind, you look like you could do with a drink. Bistro?" Leanne says
"Sure why not I have nothing better to do" she shrugs as they make their way to the bistro
"Hi Peter" Carla says chirpily
"Hey love, Leanne" Peter says
"We're having a drink together, so I will have a glass of white, Carla?" Leanne asks
"Can I have a small red, I promise it will be the one" she asks Peter
"Fine as you've been behaving yourself" he says sticking his tongue out at her
"So then, how are the wedding plans coming along then" Leanne asks
"It's just the dress really" she shrugs
"Please don't go for another massive purple thing" Leanne says
"Don't worry the last time I did that my husband turned out to be a psychopath so no, put it like this it isn't traditional" Carla smiles happily talking about her and Peter's wedding
"So it isn't white" Leanna asks
"You'll have to wait and see" Carla says
"Boring, anyway if me and Nick ever think about getting married we definitely wouldn't do it the same as before" Leanne says
"I think it's nice to switch it up a bit every now and then I guess" Carla shrugs "How's it going with Nick anyway?"
"He seems really distant at the moment, like he's hiding something, I'm probably thinking way too much into it" Leanne reveals "What was he talking to you about anyway?"
"He wanted information on Lilah to do with a business contract she had with underworld, he wasn't happy especially as Lilah's gone abroad for a few months" Carla explains hiding the real reason
"Oh right, why didn't he just ring her PA?" Leanne replies confused
"I guess because we were on his doorstep he took great pleasure in harassing me" Carla suggests
"He didn't get angry with you though?" Leanne asks
"Just a bit, but nothing I can't handle, if anything else happens I will let you know" she smiles "I best be getting off now, I have to see Michelle"
"Alright, take care, if you see Simon send him home" Leanne says as Carla gets up to leave the bistro heading in the direction of her flat.
Carla enters the flat to see Michelle furiously packing her bags making sure she has everything, unbeknown to Michelle, Carla hovers in the doorway watching her pack everything she has.
"And where do you think you're going" Carla asks
"Away" Michelle replies bluntly
"Please just talk to me Chelle, if I was in this position you would want me to talk and not bottle things up" Carla persists
"Fine. The baby isn't the guy from Dubai's" Michelle huffs
"Now we're getting somewhere. Was he from another country then?" Carla asks gently
"Yes" she states
"I don't understand" Carla says utterly confused
"Ok, look please don't have a go at me?" Michelle questions
"Go on" Carla sighs
"I went back to the UK for a bit after saving the profits I got from the bistro, I went to see Robert in an attempt to buy his shares because my plan was to gift 50% to you for your birthday. So obviously he said no but if I paid 20k more for his 50% share then he would do it, we started this argument after finishing a few bottles of wine then we booked a room, well you can guess what happens next" she says
"Oh 'Chelle you still love him don't you?" she smiles sympathetically
"I think I always will, he saved me Carla" Michelle says tearfully "Now I have created an unintended mess" she sighs
"Speak to him?" Carla suggests
"No, he is not dropping his other kid with that Vicky to come and be a father to mine" she says sternly
"So you're just not going to tell him?" Carla asks
"Nope, why should I? He left me because I was struggling with not wanting another baby after Ruairi so he lived a double life so he could have the best of both worlds. I'm not playing the dutiful wife role with him. After everything he's done I don't want this baby knowing its father, not after he cheated on me a strung me along, its not happening" Michelle says thoughtfully
"You're still leaving?" Carla asks
"I don't know, I just need to get away for a bit, sort my head out" she shrugs
"Use Lilah's place? I have the keys we could go, me and Peter could stay for company if you're worried about being lonely" Carla suggests
"I would like that" she smiles "I'll go put these cases in the car"
Later that evening, after asking Peter, the trio made there way to Lilah's house. They ordered a takeaway and used Lilah's pool and just had a laugh, they didn't talk about the elephant in the room but Michelle was thankful for this as she didn't have to think about it. Michelle decided that she wanted to bring this baby up as a single parent which was better than her baby having to share it's father. There was one thing this baby would have in it's life and that was it didn't have its father disappointing it but it had the love of its Auntie Carla and Peter as well as its big brothers looking out for it.