Enjoy :)
Carla looked down at the text Peter had sent her earlier. 'Meet me by the big pond, at our cafe'. She smiled regretfully thinking back to one day during their affair, where Peter had taken her to the park and they had spent the afternoon in the little pond side cafe, which ended up becoming their regular haunt. Where they could 'sit down, hold hands and just stare into each others eyes like a couple of of daft kids'.
She gingerly stepped in 'The Daisy Cafe' as it was known. She sighed a little scanning the room, listening to the tinkering of pots and happy chatter of families. She saw Peter, sitting at a small table overlooking the pond, he'd ordered her a coffee and was sat their, staring at her like they'd never been apart.
She nodded, smiled a little and stepped towards him.
'I didn't think you'd come' he said, immediately standing up and embracing her before she had a chance to pull away. He felt her tense in his arms, refusing to let herself love him again.
He pulled away and sat down.
'Where's Henry?' He asked looking disappointed.
'Oh.. he's with Dean's parents, he wasn't in a good mood' Carla said, which wasn't a lie, but the truth was she hated being left alone with him, and couldn't bare Peter, or anyone for that matter seeing how fractured her bond with her son truly was.
Peter nodded, although she could see the pain in his eyes. '
There was a pause as both contemplated what exactly to say.
'How are you?' Peter started, looking into her eyes and pleading with her for the truth.
'Fine, good..' Carla said, not thinking about her answer much.
'Really?'he pressed.
'Why wouldn't I be, I'm in love, got a man who loves me, a baby, a new house.. my life is perfect' Carla said, trying to sound convincing but knowing deep down Peter wasn't fooled. She looked down, absentmindedly stirring her coffee.
Peter nodded, taking in what she had now, she'd done well for herself, but he could see the pain behind her eyes.
'Why did you leave?' he asked her quietly.
'You know why' Carla said looking out of the window.
'I have an idea.. but.. oh Carla, I would have left Leanne.. I promise I would have' Peter said.
'No you wouldn't have Peter. See, if you really loved me, when I left you would have found me, you would have left Leanne and you would have found me' Carla said, a solitary tear running down her cheek, only to be swept away aggressively.
Peter shook his head, and reached out for her hand. Within a moment of touching her, he felt like his love for her, weightless feathers that had fallen reluctantly to the bottom of his heart in her absence had been wiped back up sharply by a fresh gust of passion.
'Carla, it was Simon, I didn't know where you were, Michelle wouldn't tell me, and I looked, but I thought you needed space.. and I couldn't.. ruin Simon's life.. if I wasn't sure you wanted me' Peter tried to explain.
'You knew I adored you, you knew it.. I risked everything… the trial.. for you.. because I loved you' Carla said, her hand still covered by Peter's.
'Carla, I love you, I love you so much, I swear, I'll drop everything for you, we can be together, now, tomorrow, forever' Peter said, desperately wanting to rekindle the relationship they had.
'No, no' Carla said closing her eyes.
'And Henry..' Peter said.
'He's not yours' Carla said quickly.
'He is Carla. I know he is, I can feel it, the dates work out' Peter said.
'Dean is his dad' Carla said, biting her lip.
'No, I am.. when did you.. find out..?' Peter asked.
'Your not' Carla said.
'When?' Peter asked again.
'About a month after I left.. I thought it was stress.. you know, with Frank.. I was late and.. then I found out and I was devastated. I wanted an abortion.. but it was all too much.. and then I met Dean, and he was so nice, and he cares, and he wants kids, and he'll look after me.. he won't leave me' Carla mumbled.
'I've hurt you so badly' Peter whispered, looking at Carla.
'How's Leanne?' Carla asked out of the blue.
'Leanne?' Peter replied.
'Yes, Leanne, your wife' Carla said.
'Carla, I'm not here about her' Peter said.
Carla's phone bleeped in her pocket.
'Is that Dean?' Peter asked her.
Carla nodded.
'I need to get home' she said.
'That's not your home, Carla, we belong together, not you and him' Peter pleaded.
'I've got a new life now.. I need to go' Carla stood up and pulled her arm away from Peter, unable to make eye contact with him.
'Tell me you don't love me' Peter said.
'What?' Carla said.
'Look me in the eye and say it' Peter argued.
'I.. don't Carla said, biting down on her lip.
'I don't believe you. Carla, I love you more than I've ever loved anyone. Please don't do this' Peter said.
'I'm sorry.. I can't' Carla said, pulling away and rushing out of the cafe leaving Peter standing, defeated