After delving into his car and finding a black jacket to put on, Peter got into Carla's car with her and then she began to drive.
She continued to keep Peter guessing the entire journey and the best and most realistic option he could come up with was that she worked somewhere like a bar or a restaurant.
He'd guessed this way because it was almost seven pm and that no shop or factory would really be open at this time.
Peter had guessed right.
Carla parked her car in one of the car parks in town where it seemed a lot busier than it had been before and after a quick minute or so walk, she and Peter were stood outside a building which was painted black and silver.
"This is it." Carla said, standing proudly and yet somehow sheepishly in front of what looked like a restaurant and bar.
Peter looked through the windows of the building and saw that there were lots of happy people sat at tables and tucking in to many things to eat. Even though it was a Monday night the room was rather full and he couldn't help but smile at Carla as he said,
"This is where you work?"
"Yep." Carla nodded, looking even proud as she stood before a slightly taken aback Peter.
"Nice name." He grinned nodding up at the sign which said, The Southern Star
"Yes well I can't actually take credit for that one cause it was called that when I got ere…" Carla grinned, "I kinda like it though… Sounds all mystical n stuff." Peter smiled warmly at the look on Carla's face as she stared up at the sign herself.
She began explaining how she'd bought the place off a couple who were moving to London but then she looked back at Peter and suddenly stopped talking because he was staring at her so lovingly.
At the risk of something else slightly inappropriate happening, Carla reached out and took hold of Peter's sleeve as she said,
"Come on then, Let's go in." She pulled him towards the entrance and as they walked inside The Southern Star, Peter chuckled out loud and said,
"Alright!"
In one corner of the vast restaurant started a long and swanky bar which ran from each room to the other. It had black and silver stools running along it and behind it there were several people mixing cocktails and serving drinks to happy customers.
"Hiya Ian..." Carla called, nodding towards a middle aged man who was stood by the entrance, he was dressed all in black but had a silver tie on and he smiled at Carla as she walked up to him. "This is Peter." Carla said, pointing at Peter and smiling.
"Hi Peter." Ian said with a nod, "Hi Miss Connor." Peter tried not to grin foolishly when he heard Carla get called Miss Connor instead of Mrs Tilsley and he practically beamed at Ian as he shook his hand and said,
"Hi Ian, nice to meet you."
"You too." Ian nodded, "How are ya Miss Connor?"
"I'm… fine." She said as she looked back at Ian, "How's everything in ere tonight?" Carla then asked, bending forwards so she could take a look at Ian's clipboard where he had all the bookings for this evening written down.
"Perfect." Ian said with a nod, "Got a lot of solid bookings for the night and the Taylor party have arrived… they are in very good spirits."
"Good." Carla nodded back at Ian in a friendly manner, she looked down at the rose gold watch she was wearing on her wrist and then quickly said to Peter who had been watching her, "Come on then…"
Peter stared at his surroundings as he began to follow Carla through what was very clearly her restaurant. She took the time to introduce him to all of her staff and when she did she simply said,
"This is Peter..." Carla smiled each time she spoke his name, which made Peter feel immensely pleased because it genuinely seemed like she was happy to have him around.
After introducing Peter to pretty much everyone, Carla said she was going to put her bag, coat and car keys in her office and left him alone to take in more of his new surroundings.
In another corner of the very large room, there was an empty space, which Peter guessed could be used as a dance floor because there was also a sound system and a potential space where a DJ could possibly stand if needed.
"Thursdays, Fridays n Saturdays." Carla said, watching Peter who was looking at the dance floor in awe. "That's when it's busiest ere… we ave a DJ n everything."
"It love it…" Peter said, turning and looking at all the wooden tables, some were empty and some were full of customers who were in the middle of eating, there was also some music playing loudly enough for everyone to hear but not so loud it made it so that they couldn't have conversations. "It's fantastic in ere Carla… it really is."
"Thanks…" Carla said looking proud again, "It were a right quiet n calm place when I first got ere... way too much like the Bistro…" Carla paused as she said the word Bistro and then shook her head as she then said, "Anyway I asked the staff for some ideas of what they thought would liven the place up a bit n ere we are..."
There was one particular table right in the middle of the restaurant that was very lively, it was full of women who were all wearing different coloured feather boas around their necks. Carla grinned as she began to approach the table and as Peter followed her, he realised the table that they were walking towards was a hen party.
"Evenin ladies." Carla beamed with her hands on her hips as she reached the table, which must have had a least ten, or so women sat at it. Lots of the women smiled at Carla and said very loud and friendly hellos before she got to ask them, "Is everything okay with your meal tonight?"
"Well we're all still on our starters but it's lovely so far thank you." Said one woman who was wearing an L plate on her back. Peter guessed that she was the bride, She was a small, blonde lady who seemed slightly sheepish about the whole event although the rest of her party didn't act shy about things at all, in fact a few of them were already eying Peter up and down and one particular red headed woman grinned widely at Carla with raised eyebrows as she said,
"Who's this then Carla…?" All the women at the table turned to look at Peter who smiled at them charmingly and as a few of the tipsy women wolf whistled at him, Carla raised an eyebrow back at the red head and said,
"This is Peter… he's… an old friend." Peter waved at the table of women ahead of him, which earned even more wolf whistles.
"An old friend?" Said another woman who had brown curly hair and a large glass of wine in her hand, she giggled and then said to the woman sitting next to her, "I wouldn't mind an old friend like him eh?" The table erupted with laughter again as Carla shook her head at them and said,
"Well… I'm glad you're all aving a good time so far, I'm just gonna be over by the bar if you need me, Okay?"
"Okay." Said The Bride who smiled at Carla warmly, clearly excited about the night she had ahead and about her upcoming wedding too.
"So is there anything I can help you with before I leave you to it?" Carla asked with her head on one side. The brown curly haired woman laughed out loud as another one shouted out,
"Don't suppose you've got us a stripper?" There was another chorus of laughter as the Bride rolled her eyes at her very loud and enthusiastic friends. Peter was sure that Carla was going to laugh too and she did at first but then she began speaking,
"Oh I'm afraid not ladies…" Carla's green eyes practically sparkled as they swivelled in the direction of Peter. She grinned at him wickedly and then said, "Unless… Peter wants to help out of course… " This of course made all the eager women who were sat at the table collapse with laughter again. Carla nudged Peter in the side playfully and then enticingly said, "Well?"
"Ahhh… I'm sorry ladies…" Peter began, shrugging his shoulders apologetically and shaking his head at an amused Carla before turning his attention to the ten women who were watching him excitedly, "My stripping days are well behind me I'm afraid…"
"Rubbish." Said one woman shaking her head, "I reckon you've still got loads of stripping days in you."
"No no, you've caught me a few days after retirement…" Peter joked, "Besides, it wouldn't be fair on the other customers..." The women watching Peter all let out a disappointed moan as Carla looked him up and down in a way that almost drove him crazy, she didn't say anything however but her look was enough to make Peter stare back at her.
"Oh go on… just give us a private show…" Said the oldest woman at the table who just so happened to be the brides Mother. Peter went to graciously say no once again but then Carla laughed out loud and said,
"Yeah go on Peter… give us a private dance… y'know you want to"
There were many... many things that Peter could think of to say as he looked at a very entertained Carla.
Most of the things he could think to say to her were rather dirty things and as she stood in front of him, smirking in a way that almost made him quiver, their gaze was suddenly interrupted by a member of Carla's staff who tapped her on the shoulder with the company phone in hand.
"Agh, I ave to take this…" Carla said, looking apologetically at the Hen party, "But keep working on this one… He might weaken…" She pointed at Peter, poking him playfully on the arm and grinning before she said, "He's secretly dying to get his kit off in public one last time…" Carla then bent down to the tables level and whispered, "He's not wearing any under wear after all..." She then stood up quickly and winked Peter before taking the phone off her employee and saying, "Carla Connor speakin..."
Even though he was slightly mortified, Peter couldn't help but laugh at what Carla had just said and as she walked towards a door which obviously led to her office it meant that Peter was left alone with a table full of women who knew that he wasn't wearing any underwear.
Ten minutes had gone by by the time Carla had returned to the restaurant. She laughed when she looked at the Hen party table because Peter was now wearing a bright pink feather boa around his neck and someone had also pulled up a chair so he was now sitting directly next to the bride.
Carla walked up to the very full table and grinned as she placed a hand on each of Peter's shoulders and said,
"You guys don't mind if I borrow Peter for a while do ya?" Peter didn't even give the women at the table a chance to answer Carla. He practically jumped up from the chair he was sat on and waved goodbye to the women as he said,
"Goodbye Ladies." The excited and now very tipsy women had all started on their meals at this point so they reluctantly waved goodbye to Peter as he stood in front of Carla. She raised an eyebrow at him and pointed over to a quiet table in one corner of the restaurant.
"You hungry?" Carla asked as she and Peter walked over to the table, he was still wearing the bright pink feather boa and made Carla laugh again as they sat down at the table she'd had got prepared for them.
"Starvin..." Peter nodded, sitting down on one of the chairs, he couldn't help but notice that Carla had looked at her watch again as she tucked in her chair.
"Well it's a good thing I've asked my chef to whip us something up to eat then ain't it?" She nodded, smiling at Peter as she leant forward and plucked at the feather boa he was wearing. He laughed sheepishly as he quickly whipped it off and then said,
"Ohhh your chef eh? How fancy."
"Well owning the place does ave it's benefits." Carla preened as Peter practically threw the feathered boa towards her. She laughed out loud as she caught it expertly and placed it on her lap. Peter chuckled and leant forward as he said,
"Honestly…" He turned to look at the hen party table and shook his head as he looked back at Carla and said, "Who has a hen do on a Monday?"
"Errr someone who is flying to Paris tomorrow…" Carla explained, "The Bride's aving a proper Hen Do out there but some of her friends n family couldn't make it to Paris hence why they are in ere tonight."
"Ohhhh…. I see." Peter nodded slowly, "That makes sense I spose... I was talking to the bride's mother… she's the one in the red." Peter said, pointing over at the lady who was wearing a red dress and jacket, she must have been in her sixties and Peter grinned as he then said, "I don't reckon she's going to be clubbing the night away in Paris do you?"
"Ahh…" Carla nodded with a smirk, "Well I wouldn't be too sure about that Peter, I mean I got Gail Platt in a nightclub on my hen night so anything could happen."
"What? Are you being serious?" Peter asked, clearly amazed by this news that Gail had actually gone out on Carla's hen night and at first she was happy to divulge more information.
"Dead serious..." Carla said, trying not to laugh herself because she knew that it was a rather ridiculous image. "We actually hijacked the DJ booth at one point… I think I called myself MC Underworld…" Carla shook her head a little in a cringed out fashion as Peter laughed and said,
"Ohhh I would ave paid good money to see that." Peter was thoroughly enjoying the reminiscent look on Carla's face as she spoke and continued to smile as she carried on talking.
"It was pretty hilarious… The security guy got narked at us n actually phoned the police… Gail thought they were strippers so she started man handling em all… long story short we got arrested n all of our men had to come n collect us from the police station." Carla explained, raising both eyebrows and shaking her head still in disbelief that all of that even happened.
"Sounds like a good night." Peter said because he genuinely thought so.
"It was…" Carla began, still laughing at first but then remembering how it had gone when she and Nick had got home, she remembered the way he had treated and spoke to her and it made the smile suddenly disappear off Carla's face within an instant.
Peter saw the look she had on her face now and it was so drastically different to the one she'd had seconds ago, that he knew she was now thinking about Nick. She shuffled about in her seat and looked down at her watch again which showed that it was half past seven pm... Carla took a deep breath as the atmosphere between her and Peter had very suddenly become intense.
He cleared his throat awkwardly and desperately racked his brain for something useful to say, wishing he knew where to start and how to begin to tell Carla he knew exactly why she was clock watching.
"I'm gonna go n get us some drinks from the bar…" Carla said quietly and she quickly got up off the chair and made her way over to the bar area so that she didn't have to endure too much of the horrible energy that had taken over the table she and Peter were sat at.
She ordered Peter a lemonade and originally she'd ordered herself a very large glass of wine but when she looked back at Peter she realised that she simply couldn't drink it in front of him.
He smiled at Carla warmly even though he felt like an idiot for making her think about Nick and also for not realising why she had been looking at her watch so much earlier... It wasn't just her watch Carla was looking at either, He had realised that Carla had been looking at the time all day.
She smiled back at Peter from the bar, not knowing what was going through his mind but thinking about how long he had been sober for and how hard it must have been, for this reason Carla just couldn't seem to take a glass of wine back to the table… Even though she could really do with one right now.
Instead she ordered another Lemonade and when she brought the two non-alcoholic drinks over to the table. Peter put his head on one side and said,
"You really didn't ave to order a Lemonade y'know."
"I know…" Carla said with a nod, she picked up the feathery boa that she'd left on the chair as she sat back down on the chair opposite him.
"Okay... I ave to say…" Peter began, I'm really… pleased."
"Pleased?" Carla repeated slowly, she watched Peter for a moment who smiled at her for about the a thousandth time that day and said,
"Yeah… I'm pleased to see how settled you are here." Peter said, "I mean anyone else would ave crumbled… moving to a brand new town and starting a brand new business… but not you…" Carla smiled modestly at Peter, not knowing what else to say to him which was good because he continued and said, "I'm not surprised though… I mean you've always been one of the strongest people I know..."
"Thanks Peter…" Carla replied, she was still smiling at him coyly but then her smile faded as she said, "Although If I'm honest I weren't feeling so strong last night… or this morning for that matter…" she couldn't help but glance down at her watch again during the small silence and Peter couldn't help but lean forwards slightly and say,
"It was just after eight o clock wasn't it?"
"What?" Carla replied, looking up at him with wide eyes as he lowered his voice a little and said,
"You know what." He pointed down to Carla's watch which showed her he understood and as she nodded slowly he said, "I'm here..."
"I know." Carla replied quietly, she took a deep breath to stay calm as she knew she couldn't lose control in her new place of work. She smiled at Peter softly and said, "and Thanks... for being here..."
"You're welcome…" Peter said, he took his own deep breath this time and bit his lip before he said, "Tell me to mind me own business but… Did you… ave the nightmare last night?"
With tears in her eyes... Carla nodded at Peter slowly. She was genuinely moved but not at all surprised that he had remembered about the nightmare that she always seemed to have this time of year. The previous years... the ones that he had been there for, He'd always made sure he stayed up with Carla as late as possible and he had always found it difficult to sleep himself, knowing that Carla could have this nightmare at any given moment.
Peter wondered if Nick knew about the nightmare and Peter wondered what Nick did about it if he did.
"I knew I would ave it…" Carla began, "I always do don't I? I dunno, somehow... it still came as a surprise though... Like I guess I never stop hoping that the last nightmare I had... will actually be the last..." Carla shivered as she spoke and as she absentmindedly rested a hand on the table in front of her, Peter gently reached out and took hold of it.
He didn't quite know what to say at this point just that it truly pained him to hear that Carla really was having the same nightmare that she got for the first time five years ago.
"It's okay…" Carla said, knowing that Peter was finding it a little difficult to know what to say at this point. "I think I should be more than used to it by now..."
"No." Peter said, shaking his head adamantly and giving Carla's hand a little squeeze, "No one should ave to get used to something like that... No one."
Carla didn't speak... She just gave Peter a sad smile and shrugged as if to say, That's life and for a moment they sat in another silence.
Peter saw Carla's eyes glance in the direction of her watch again even though she tried really hard not to look. He shook his head slowly before gently taking hold of her wrist and starting to un do her posh watch.
"Oi…" Carla began but she knew full well what Peter was doing right now and it was so sweet that made her smile as he softly said,
"No more clock watching…" He tenderly removed the watch from Carla's wrist and slipped it into his pocket before saying, "I'll give it back to you when you get home, okay." He had placed his hand back onto Carla's as she nodded at him and said a very heartfelt,
"Okay."
A good few moments went by before Carla and Peter both realised that they were actually sat holding hands and it took all the strength that they inside them not to grin idiotically at their current situation. Another serene couple of seconds went by before a waiter came along with two steaming hot plates full of food and as he stopped in front of Carla and Peter's table, he smirked at their joined hands.
"Ahhh…" Carla said softly, letting go of Peter's hand gently and smiling at the waiter who was stood next to the table. "Thank you Noel."
Noel, a blonde haired waiter with bright blue eyes, placed two plates of food on the table in front of both Carla and Peter, One was a plate of swirly pasta covered in tomato sauce and cheese and the other was a plate of Steak and chips. The well done steak was garnished with what looked like leaves of basil and the chips came in a round silver bowl and as Peter looked down at it, Carla smiled and said,
"I chose that for you… I hope you don't mind… you still love a good steak right?" She watched Peter who looked up at her almost in awe because she had remembered that a steak and chips is one of his favourite meals.
"Course." Peter eventually said, nodding as Carla looked thrilled. She picked up her own fork in silence and began on her pasta as Peter then said, "Thank you."
"You're welcome." Carla replied, putting some pasta into her mouth and smiling again at Peter, unable to work out how sitting here in her restaurant with him could feel so normal. They both had an extremely pleasurable conversation whilst eating dinner, one that was full of laughter and joy.
After spending so many hours together Carla and Peter were so much more than comfortable with each other and it was clear to everyone watching them that they were two people who cared about each other… a lot. After both ordering banoffee pies for pudding and wolfing those down too, Peter foolishly decided to go and give the Hen Party back their feather boa... of course he ended up being dragged back into the chair he'd sat down on before.
"Carla… help me out ere..." Peter cried as she got up from their table with their empty drink glasses in her hands.
"Oh please, you love the attention…" Carla laughed as she walked towards the kitchen door. What she still didn't realise was that the only attention Peter wanted was hers and whilst he was reluctantly occupied, she got on with the usual things she did during her nights at work. Not having her watch on her wrist really did make a difference and Carla found that the night practically flew by without even her even realising it.
The significance of today still lingered in the back of Carla's mind of course but she was able to get past that thought when she looked over at Peter... especially when he smiled at her.
The Hen party finally released Peter from their gasp at half past eleven but that was only because the restaurant had begun closing and they were the only people left in there other than the staff. As two waiters began to clear the table and get rid of all the empty glasses and plates, Carla approached it and smiled as she said,
"I really hate to chuck you out ladies but I'm afraid that's time..." Peter got up off the chair as did the other women and once again he was comically wearing a feather boa around his neck.
"That really suits you y'know." She said, smirking at Peter who went and stood next to her.
"Yeah who'd ave thought bright pink was my colour eh?" Peter replied making Carla giggle.
"Have you had a good night?" Carla asked as the Bride excitedly approached her.
"Yes it's been fantastic." The Bride grinned widely and unexpectedly hugged Carla, when she let go she then said, "Honestly it's all been perfect Carla. Thanks so much." Peter smiled as Carla nodded humbly at the compliment she had received but then the redheaded woman raised a finger and said,
"Actually I ave one small complaint…" Carla turned to this woman and Peter frowned slightly because he couldn't possibly see how on earth this woman could be complaining, after all she seemed to have been the one who ate and drunk the most.
"Oh really? What is it?" Carla asked but then the red head grinned at Peter and said,
"That we didn't get this one's kit off in the end…" She actually went as far as to poke Peter in the stomach who was too relieved that Carla wasn't receiving complaints after all that he just stood and took it.
"Ohhhh…" Carla laughed as Peter shook his head modestly. "Well what can I say? If Peter say's that he's retired then he's retired n I don't think there's any changing his mind."
"Oh I dunno…" Peter said, pulling the feather boa from his neck and then wrapping it around Carla's instead, He was smirking wickedly at her as then said, "I could be convinced to take my clothes off… just for you that is." Carla rolled her eyes but she was unable to not smile foolishly at Peter all of the Hen party women began another chorus of wolf whistles and laughter.
"Sounds like you're in for a good night then Carla…" The Bride said, nudging Carla excitedly. Carla just nodded but kept quiet because she knew that any thing that she did say would only encourage Peter even more.
By the time all the drunken woman had left the restaurant it was almost quarter to twelve and as the last one walked out, Carla yawned as she shook her head and said,
"For a moment there I thought they'd never leave."
"Tell me about it." Ian said, with an arm full of menus. Carla looked over at Peter who was wondering around as if he wanted to help out a little.
"Sit down Peter, we won't be long." Carla said tucking in chairs as she spoke.
"No…" Ian said, shaking his head and walking over to Carla, "Me and Noel can finish up ere n lock up, you and Peter can go if you want." Noel was behind the bar and nodded when Carla turned to look at him.
"Are you sure?" She asked, her neck still adorned with shocking pink feathers.
"Of course..." Ian nodded, taking the menus he had in hand over to a sliver stand by the entrance and saying, "Besides it's almost all done now anyway."
"If you insist… Thanks for tonight boys." Carla nodded appreciatively, she looked at Peter and said, "I'm gonna go n get my things from the office."
"Alright." Peter nodded, he was still wearing his black jacket as Carla disappeared through a door that led to her office. Once she was gone, Ian smirked over at Peter and asked,
"So… Peter… how long ave you known Miss Connor then?"
"Erm…" Peter began, not really knowing whether to be directly truthful or not. He'd guessed this meant Carla hadn't mentioned him to anyone and eventually settled with, "Ages… years n years actually… although it's also been a good year n a half since we saw each other last."
"Oh okay…" Ian nodded, "Well I bet you're glad to see her."
"Yeah I sure am." Peter replied nodding enthusiastically.
"We're so glad to have Miss Connor ere, she's really turned the place around…" Ian said as he walked back over to Peter, he leaned against the table Peter was stood at and smiled as he said, "I mean don't get me wrong we like our old bosses but Carla's great isn't she?"
"Amazing." Peter nodded truthfully, "You lot are so lucky to have her ere."
"Oh we know… We all really like her… she's strict as anything but also a right laugh too..." Ian said to Peter and took another quick look at the door Carla had gone through to check that she wasn't on her way back before then saying, "Are you the ex husband?"
"Errr... yes." Peter replied back, once again unsure what to say. He couldn't actually tell if Ian was talking about Nick or not and nodded awkwardly.
"You're not the one who broke up with her on the day of the wedding though right?" Noel said from the bar, lowering his voice just so Carla couldn't hear but sounding slightly threatening all the same. "Cause if you were..." Noel said with an eyebrow raised.
"Definitely not." Peter said, furrowing his eyes together and shaking his head at the idea of being mistaken for Nick. "That guy is a complete and utter prat."
"Good." Noel said, smiling at Peter now he knew that he wasn't Nick.
"So you're the other one then…" Ian said, nodding slowly and smiling in a way, which made Peter suspiciously say,
"The other one?" Ian laughed at Peter as Noel started wiping the bar down with a damp clothe. "Carla told you about me then?"
"Well…" Noel began, glancing at the door once again to check Carla wasn't already on her way back. "Not exactly…"
"Not exactly." Peter replied slowly.
"Yeah… basically when Miss Connor took over the place she suggested that as a way to break the ice we all have a lock in so she could get to know us all… long story short and a lot of bottles of wine later she told us she'd been married... a lot." Peter nodded and waited for Noel to continue but then Ian did instead.
"She said that two of her ex husbands were dead and that out of the two that were still alive, one left her on the day of their wedding and the other…" Ian stopped talking because he wasn't sure he should continue and looked at Noel who raised an eyebrow and who was brave enough to say,
"Miss Connor said the other husband was the love of her life."
"Oh… I see." Peter said, his heart beginning to pound as he tried really hard to not actually jump with joy. He was mighty glad to be referred to as the love of Carla's life rather than the husband who cheated on her and as he stood in silence, Ian grinned at Peter and said,
"You can't tell her we told you that of course… I'm not even sure she remembers saying it…"
"I won't." Peter laughed, nodding at Noel and Ian in an amused way.
"I'll say one thing more though…" Noel said from the bar, "I don't think we've ever seen Miss Connor smile like she has done tonight."
"That is true." Ian agreed, "It's really good to see her smile like that..."
Peter only had a moment to grin stupidly because sure enough, Carla appeared with her coat on and her handbag in her hand, she sensed that the three men in the room had just been talking about her and looked between them as she self-consciously asked,
"Should my ears be burning?"
"Absolutely." Peter nodded, walking towards Carla and saying to Ian and Noel. "It was nice to meet you both."
"You too." Noel said.
"Will we be seeing you tomorrow Peter?" Ian asked, grinning at Carla and raising both eyebrows up and down comically. Peter didn't know what to say to this question and looked at Carla who shrugged and said,
"That depends..." She looked at Peter and then asked, "What were you lot saying about me?"
"Nothing." Peter grinned.
"Yeah nothing." Ian repeated as Noel nodded and also said,
"Nothing." Carla squinted at them both and shook her head as Peter began walking towards the door of the restaurant,
"Once again, it was really nice to meet you both." He said smiling at Ian and Noel, he then looked at Carla and said, "Are we going then or what?"