Peter smiled as he heard her keys in the door.
She walked in, glancing in and sighing at baby wipes, talc and oil on the dinning table. She hated the clutter.
'Hey beautiful, how was you're day?' he asked, Henry lying against his chest, so small and delicate.
'It was okay, how did it go with your Dad?' she asked.
'Well, you know how he feels about the situation.. but he loved Henry' he smiled assuring.
'That's good' Carla said.
'Right miss, I think it's about time you and Henry bonded' he said suddenly as she looked up and frowned.
'We are fine Peter' she said, though she knew her lack of feeling for her son was a cause for concern.
'No, you're not. You don't feed him, you don't wash him, and you don't ever hold him' he said.
'Are you saying I'm a bad mother?' she asked.
'No, I'm not saying that at all, but there is a problem and we need to address it, he needs you, and I want you to love him Car' Peter said determined to sort this out. He walked up to her, and tugged at her with his free hand, bringing her over to the sofa.
She looked apprehensively at him. 'I can't do it Peter' she said looking away.
Peter gently brought Henry off his shoulders, and cupping his head, lay him on Carla's lap.
'Look at him Carla, just look at him' he said, pulling her chin so her eyes were focused on their baby.
She stared at him; trying to see what Peter saw, but found herself just staring at a baby.
'I don't know what to say Peter' she said.
'Carla, he's your son, our baby, what don't you feel?' he said.
'Love' she responded as he looked sadly at her.
'Why?' he pressed.
'I don't know. I just feel so disconnected from him. I don't feel any instincts, I don't want him' she said.
He reached for her hand, and gently brought her fingertips to stroke Henry's soft cheeks, as he looked up at them with wide, curious eyes.
'Will you do something for me?' Peter asked.
'What?' she said.
'I know you won't like it, but please do it for me' Peter said.
'Do what Peter?' Carla asked.
'Can you feed him, just once, feed him yourself, it would mean a lot to me' Peter said as she looked bemused.
'Peter, I'm not going to breastfeed him' she said.
'Not even for me?' he asked.
'You sound well dodgy' she said.
'Shut up Carla, now listen to me, try this and then I won't go on at you' he said as she sighed.
'I don't know how to' she said.
'It will come to you, it isn't rocket science' he said.
'And you'd know this how?' she said.
'I'm an expert' he teased.
'Okay. I'll do it, just for you and just this once' she said reluctantly.