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Carla swallowed hard. She took a deep breathe, the though of Peter's arms around her spurring her on. She unlocked the door, 'Dean?' she called out.
'In here' he replied, she could feel the smile in his voice, and felt sick to her stomach. Was she making a huge mistake, she loved Peter, but was he reliable? Was he going to make this work?
'How was your day?' he said, greeting her with a soft embrace. She tensed a little in his arms, it didn't go unnoticed.
'Hey, you okay?' he said, his hands on her shoulders. He saw tears int he corners of her eyes.
'Carla?' he said, concern clear on his face.
She pursed her lips. 'Dean.. I think you need to sit down' she said firmly.
'Carla, what's happened… are you okay?' he said, glancing over at Henry who was asleep in his bouncer.
'Oh Dean, I hate to have to do this, I really do' Carla said.
Dean's face fell 'What?' he said.
Carla looked away from him, sniffing, several tears tumbling down her cheeks.
She couldn't contain the sob that chocked her.
What she was about to say, she'd said before and it hurt so badly to say it again.
'You've been amazing.. you've been.. the best, and I love you so much, you know that don't you' Carla said.
Dean nodded apprehensively 'Why do I feel your about to break my heart' he said sadly.
'I'm so sorry.. I'm so so sorry.. you don't know how badly I've dreaded this.. I swear, if I didn't feel it was the only way I wouldn't do it' Carla said.
'Why Carla?' Dean said.
Carla took a deep breathe. He deserved honestly.
'Peter.. he, he's..' Carla mumbled.
'Peter?' Dean said as Carla nodded.
'That bloke who came round the other day.. your old 'friend' Dean said.
'Yeah, that's him' Carla sighed.
'You've been having an affair with him..' Dean said.
'No! No, I haven't, I swear on my life.. no.. he's an.. old flame like' Carla said.
'Oh..' Dean said.
'Oh Dean, you deserve the truth.. Peter's, he's Henry's father, he's the guy who broke my heart all those months ago' Carla said.
'Henry's.. father' Dean said looking over at the child he'd grown to love as his own.
'Dean, I love you, I love you so much, but remember when I spoke to you.. about him right at the beginning.. you always knew I still loved him didn't you' Carla said.
'Yeah.. that I figured' he said.
'And he turned up out of the blue the other day.. you don't know how angry I was.. I hated him for it.. but, you know.. I also still loved him.. and he's promised me the world, and I just can't turn him down.. after Liam.. I can't loose another' Carla said.
'But you can loose me?' Dean said.
'Don't say that. You've been my hero these last few months, and I will never, ever forget that.. I'll never take that for granted, you're amazing, wonderful, and any women who.. who is with you will be the luckiest women alive' Carla said.
'I was going to propose to you.. tomorrow' Dean said as Carla's eyes widened.
'Propose..' Carla said.
Dead laughed. 'Yeah, how silly was I, thought you'd accept n'all. I imagined me, you, Henry, maybe another kid, in this house.. you know, a family' Dean said.
'Dean.. oh Dean I didn't know' Carla said, the guilt suddenly overwhelming. She leaned in to hug him, and he accepted, she could feel his tears damp against her skin.
'I didn't want to hurt you.. I didn't want to, I swear, Dean please forgive me' Carla said.
'I love you so much.. I've never felt this before' Dean said.
'.. so yeah, I'll forgive you, if you're happy.. if he'll treat you right.. if he can.. continue what I wanted to do' Dean said as Carla held on to him.
…
'Leanne' Peter said, his voice had a serious tone to it. He'd dropped Simon off at Ken's, not wanting him to be effected by the impending fallout that was to come.
'Yes love' Leanne said, unaware that she was about to loose her husband, forever.
'We need to talk, now' Peter said.
Leanne looked up 'Is everything okay Peter?' she asked.
Peter shook his head. 'No, I need to do.. tell you something' Peter said.
'Tell me what Peter, spit it out?' Leanne said sitting beside him.
'There isn't any easy way to do this. I don't want to hurt you, but.. I'm sorry.. this isn't working any longer' Peter said.
'What? Peter, I don't understand.. we're fine.. we're.. perfect' Leanne said, in her eyes, Carla was in the past, she hadn't heard from or of her for months, and her and Peter had mended the cracks that had formed previously.
Peter shook his head. 'No, we're not. You deserve the truth, I owe you that. You've been so supportive of me these past few years, and I really am grateful for that.. but, I'm not happy.. and we can't go on' Peter said.
'Well thanks a bunch Peter, you spring this on me.. completely out of the blue.. and expect me just to nod my head and agree with you?' Leanne said, her voice raised as she contemplated what he was saying.
'No, I don't expect that.. I know this.. is sudden, but I couldn't lie any longer' Peter said.
'Is there someone else?' Leanne said.
'Well!' she spat, tears in her eyes.
'Carla' Peter said.
The name was clear, there was no explaining to be done. Leanne heard it, and her heart clenched into a fist.
'Carla. What?' she said shaking her head, how? She and Peter hadn't seen each other since she moved away…
'I went to visit her the other day. The moment I saw her Leanne.. I'm sorry, the moment I saw her, I realised.. ' Peter said.
'What, that you loved her, just like that?' Leanne said, getting angrier.
Peter looked down. 'I realised a long time ago Leanne' Peter said.
'When?' a tearful Leanne said.
'December' Peter said as Leanne did a mental calculation.
'9 months ago, nine months ago!' she said.
Peter nodded.
'Leanne, your going to find out, so there's no point hiding it.. I'd been, I'd been having an affair with Carla… I was going to leave you back then, but then she just vanished, said she couldn't cope with the idea I wouldn't leave her.. and then, then I found out.. that, we had a baby' Peter said as Leanne's eyes widened, confused.
'WHAT!' Leanne said.
'You've got a kid, with that cow' Leanne said.
'Don't Leanne.. I've only know about a week, Michelle was babysitting.. and that's when I decided to see Carla and realised he was mine' Peter said.
'He' Leanne said.
'Yeah, Henry.. listen, I don't think it's fair on you to talk about it.. so I'm just going to leave.. you don't have to go anywhere.. I think it would be best.. if I just went' Peter said as Leanne sat crying on the sofa.
'You've.. I can't believe you.. how could you.. with her' Leanne said.
'I'm sorry.. I really am.. but I couldn't string you along any longer'.