"Morning," Carla grinned, gleefully, as she entered the bookies at midday. "Oh, it's cold!"
"Heya, love." Peter weakly smiled, leaning across the counter to give her a kiss.
"I didn't see you this morning. Everything okay?"
"Is that why you've come here? To check I've not drank myself to death?" He joked, a hint of attitude.
"Not at all, Peter. I trust you. But don't think I haven't noticed that you haven't been yourself recently." She shook her head.
"I went to the Red Rec. Just for a walk. Then I took Simon to school and came here. You were still fast asleep." He explained.
"I was just worried when I woke up and you weren't there, that's all. Was it a walk to clear your head?"
"What?" He frowned.
"A walk? To you know, to clear your head?" She prompted.
"I'm fine, Carla. Everything's fine."
"If you say so."
"What?" Peter said, watching as Carla stood there tapping her fingers on the table.
"Nothing," She shrugged. "I'm just waiting for you to tell me the truth."
"Less about me, how's our baby?"
"Our baby is feeling annoyed that its dad won't be honest." She said.
Peter chuckled, a smile forming.
"That's more I like it." Carla added.
"I promise you that I'm okay," Peter sighed. "It's just the same old stuff. You know, Simon being a nightmare. Except I could deal with the mouthing off, but when it's the silent treatment. How do I know how he's feeling?"
"Have you realised that he only stopped talking when you stopped him from seeing Leanne."
"We're not starting this again, Car. I've told you."
"It isn't fair, baby. That woman is his mum-…"
"No, she isn't." He cut her off.
"That's below the belt, you know that. He sees Leanne as his mum. He loves her. You can't punish him for her actions." She told him.
"He shouldn't have lied about you, and she shouldn't have laid a finger on you! Imagine if that hurt our baby? It would all be her fault."
"She didn't hurt the baby though, Peter. The only person it hurt was Simon and you can fix that. Come on. It was almost a month ago now!"
"Shouldn't you be getting back to work?"
"Changing the subject as per." She rolled her eyes.
"You don't want to leave the girls waiting," He teased. "And Sean."
"This isn't finished," She pointed at him. "Oh, and Peter?"
"Hmm?"
"Smile." She grinned, before leaving the building.
"Mum! I've been so excited to finally see you!" Simon jumped in excitement, stood behind Ken.
"Quick, Si. Let me come in before anyone sees us." Leanne chuckled, rushing into Ken's home.
Before closing the door, Ken looked around to check no one had seen before slamming the door shut.
Little did he know that Carla was stood by Audrey's Salon, narrowing her eyes. She knew what was going on.
"Oh, I've missed you so much." Leanne knelt on the floor, her face sinking into the boys shoulder as he wrapped his arms around her.
"I've missed you more," Simon said. "The past few weeks have been dead boring without you."
"Let's sit down." Ken guided the pair into the living area.
"What's she doing here?" Leanne snapped.
"Not a word, Tracy." Ken ordered.
"You can't tell me what to do in my own house." Tracy scoffed.
"It's a mother with her son. Imagine it was you and Amy. Leave it, Tracy." Ken said.
Tracy sighed heavily, storming out the door.
"Why does no one like you, mum?" Simon asked.
"I don't know, Si. I think they're just jealous at how close we are. But you know the truth, I'm not the bad guy here."
"Dad is. And Carla."
Leanne cleared her throat, not wanting to confirm nor deny.
"They aren't bad people, Simon. They just want different things for you."
"I hate them."
"That's your dad." Leanne said, gritting her teeth.
"Well, Carla isn't. She can't cook, she talks to me like a toddler."
"Have you not been eating?" Leanne frowned.
"Dad does it. Or we get a takeaway."
"That's not very healthy."
"That aspect isn't too bad. I love a takeaway." Simon grinned.
"Oh, I love you so much, Si." Leanne hugged him again, tears filling her eyes.
As Carla sat in the factory, her mind ran away with her over what she'd seen. Fair enough she agreed that Simon had to see Leanne, but the secrets would only lead one way. And if Peter were to find out, he'd be furious. Even more so if he knew that Carla knew.
She loudly sighed, the constant chattering of the girls and Sean was becoming an enormous distraction and with her recent dilemma, she really could do without it. She stood up, and aggressively pulled the door to the office open.
"Can someone tell me why I'm paying you to sit here gossiping? It's like working in a flamin' crèche!" Carla shouted.
"But Mrs C-…"
"I don't want to hear it, Sean! I can't hear myself think in there." Carla cut him off.
"If you'd just listen, Mrs Connor…" Sally began.
"What, Sally? What are you going to tell me that'll justify this nonsense?"
"You gave us a break, about five minutes ago. Do you not remember?"
"What?" Carla frowned, checking the time and exhaling.
"Are you okay, Carla?" Fiz asked.
"I'm absolutely fine, Fiz. As you were," Carla turned around. "But I'm still trying to work in here so keep it down a notch, yeah?"
"Baby brain." Beth rolled her eyes once Carla was out of earshot.
"She looks really stressed," Hayley frowned. "I hope she's okay."
"She's always okay, our Carla. She always picks herself up if something is on her mind." Sean said.
"It's not just her now though, is it? There's a baby." Hayley bit her lip.
"Heya, love! I'm making dinner. We need to get better at home made meals for our little one. Can't have it eating microwave meals!" Peter grinned, an apron on as Carla dumped her bag on the dining table.
"Tough day?" He added, sensing a foul mood. "I've told you this before, you should start looking into maternity leave, love."
"It's my factory, Peter." She snapped.
"Alright! But our baby is the priority now."
"Obviously I know that? What do you take me for."
"Woah, what's rattled your cage today? You were fine earlier." He held his arms up.
"I know my body more than anyone, I am listening to what it needs. And right now, I need to keep working."
"I understand that," Peter nodded. "You won't do anything to harm the baby. That goes without saying."
"Yes." She took her boots off, falling into the sofas soft depths.
"Anyway, what do you think, love? Spaghetti bolognaise made from scratch." He smiled.
"Smells good." She replied.
"Well, it's Simon's favourite. So at least I can please him with that." He shrugged.
"Where is Si? Is he still at your dads?"
"I picked him up an hour ago, he's in his room."
"Right." Carla looked down, biting the inside of her mouth in thought.
"It was quite weird though, he has a proper leap in his step. He was really energetic and in the best mood I've seen him in for months. I asked why but he didn't say."
"Hmmm," Carla stuttered. "Maybe with it being half term? Kids hate school. I sure did."
"Yeah, maybe you're right." He walked behind the sofa, firmly massaging Carla's shoulders.
She sighed in relief, tilting her head back so she was staring up at him.
"I love you." He said.
"I love you too," She smiled, weakly. "I'm sorry for being such a cow."
"You're allowed. Let's blame the hormones, Eh?" He joked.
"Deal." She chuckled.
"Oh, Heya son." Peters head turned as the curly-haired boy walked into the living area.
"Hi." He said.
"Doesn't dinner smell good? I'm cooking your favourite."
"I'm full." He stated.
"Full? How can you be full?" Peter's face dropped.
"Erm, grandad cooked me dinner."
"What? I told him not to." Peter groaned.
Carla shut her eyes, placing her fingers on the bridge of her nose as she overheard their conversation.
"Well, I was hungry." Simon shrugged.
"Then ask for crisps or biscuits. What did he cook you?"
"Ummm…" The young boys eyes wandered to the kitchen.
"Spaghetti bolognaise." Peter answered his own question.
"More for us, baby. I'm eating for two remember." Carla tried to lift the mood.
"That's annoyed me." Peter groaned, walking back into the kitchen area.
"Can I go to grandads tomorrow, dad?" Simon asked.
"Why do you like it so much there at the moment?"
"Aren't you happy that I have a good relationship with your dad?" Simon's sassed, his thick Mancunian accent present.
"I was going to take you out somewhere tomorrow. It's Halloween."
"Please, Amy will be there. I wanna go to grandads."
Carla sighed, this was only going to end badly.
"Oh wow! Look at you." Michelle cackled, dressed in a skimpy devils costume.
Carla smiled, embracing the younger woman. She was in a tight fitted black dress, her cleavage out and her bump highlighted. Her hair was pin straight, a set of cat ears placed neatly and she has a red lip and black smokey eye makeup. To pair with the dress, she wore fishnets and black boots.
"Peter was desperate to do a couples Halloween costume but not a chance. My employees are here, I need to keep my wits about me."
"Couldn't you have, I don't know, painted some whiskers on your face and a black nose. Maybe even a tail?" Steve piped up, dressed as a werewolf.
"A tail? Absolutely not." Carla laughed.
"And where is Peter?" Michelle asked, looking around the pub where a Halloween party was being held.
"He went to….Oh there he is!" Carla gestured for Peter to come over.
"I look scarier than all of you." Peter said, taking his vampire fangs out.
"There's no change there, darling." Carla joked, leaning her head on his shoulder.
Michelle cackled before her eyes landed in Carla's stomach, "not long now."
"Yeah, less than two months. It's flown by."
"You look like you're about to drop."
"Well, I hope not. I've got weeks yet." Carla fretted.
"Don't worry," Michelle said. "But are you sure it's the one baby?"
"I better be." Peter muttered, putting his arms around Carla and kissing her head repeatedly.
"Look at them," Stella tutted to Leanne, across the bar. "No shame. Stood there all loved up, knowing they've put you through hell."
"Tell me about it," Leanne sighed. "I'm getting to a point where I just don't care, Stella. All I want is Simon. As for Peter, I made a lucky escape."
"I've always said you could do better than him."
"Yeah," Leanne looked around before lowering her voice. "Keep this between yourself but-…"
"Hello, ladies." Sean sung, racing around the bar and twirling around in his Elvis Presley Halloween outfit.
Leanne rolled at eyes at her interruption before moving closer to Stella in fear of being heard, "I have been seeing Simons at Ken's. And it's been so special, Stella. He's been the happiest I've seen him in a long time."
"That's great but I just hope you're not doing more damage than good. If Peter found out…"
"He won't." Leanne cut her off.
"I'll check on the hot pots." Sean awkwardly said, wandering off.
"Should I order more shots?" Michelle slurred, leaning her head on Carla's shoulder as Carla rested her arm around her.
"I think you've had enough." Carla laughed, pulling a face at Peter who sat opposite.
"Wheres Steve? I need to find Steve. It's midnight soon, I need to kiss him." She lifted her head up.
"It isn't New Year's Eve, Michelle." Peter grinned.
"It makes a change not being in this state myself at a party." Carla said, rubbing the brunettes back as she rested with her eyes closed.
"Welcome to my world," Peter said before grimacing. "I don't miss feeling like that."
"Oh, I miss this part. Waking up tomorrow however…"
"I bet you're excited for your first night out after the baby." Sean said, excitedly, as he lifted up empty glasses.
"I don't know how soon I'll be out the house to be honest," Carla said. "Unless I'm running on two hours sleep smelling of baby sick."
"Everyone deserves a break! Simon can stay with Leanne considering he likes it so much recently and muggins here can look after the baby. Give me a time and a place and I'll be there with the Voddy!" He said, pointedly at Peter.
"Simon doesn't see Leanne anymore, but my dads always available."
"I'm available!" Michelle slurred.
"That's not what I heard," Sean raised his eyebrows. "But ignore me, I'm such a gossip!"
As Sean walked away, Carla bit her lip and tended to Michelle.
"Don't you think we should get this one home?" Carla asked.
"I wanna know what Sean was saying. It was like he knew something."
"Peter-…"
As Peter stood up and walked over to the bar, he started looking for Sean.
"What do you want?" Stella asked, bluntly.
"I don't want you, I want Sean."
"Charming," Stella gasped. "You're lucky you're not barred."
Peter would've laughed if he hadn't been distracted by Sean's sheepish expression.
"Sean, what did you mean when you said Simon staying with Leanne?"
"Oh you know, she used to be with him a lot."
"No, it was almost as if you heard something you shouldn't have. Something that's recent."
Sean felt Stella's glare and swallowed nervously, his eyes to the floor as Carla walked over to the bar.
"Can we go, Peter?" She asked.
"Yeah, off you go." Stella said.
"Sean." Peter nudged, knowing that he was desperate to spill something.
"Simon's seeing Leanne at your dads."
"Sean!" Stella shouted.
"What's this?" Leanne walked over.
"Are you serious?" Peters face turned a horrible shade of red, anger evident.
"Peter…." Carla begun.
"Is that why Simon wanted to go to my dads so much?" Peter interrupted.
"Stella!" Leanne shook her head.
"It wasn't me! It was him!" She gestured to Sean who was trying to leave to go to the back room.
"How dare you! Exploiting my son like that!" Peter shouted.
"He's my son too! I'm not sorry one bit. You have absolutely no right taking my son away from me."
"I don't think they meant it maliciously, darling. We've both noticed Simon has been a lot happier and nicer since he was seeing Leanne again, don't you think you should just let it carry on?" Carla piped up.
"Hold on…did you know?"
Leanne raised her eyebrows in shock, awaiting Carla's answer.
"Yeah," Carla exhaled. "But I only didn't say anything because I knew you'd react like this."
"Don't talk to me." Peter brushed past her, leaving the pub in a rage.
"It's like watching an episode of Eastenders." Michelle cackled, breaking the rooms awkward silence.
Not the best chapter, it's quite rushed but I missed writing and wanted to get this out.