Thank you for all your kind reviews I can't tell you how pleased I am that people are still interested in this story thank you. On with the next chapter ...
Carla paid Roy and juggled the three coffees and sandwiches while trying to put her purse back into her oversized handbag. She had begrudgingly bought Frank dinner in an effort to keep the peace especially while Michelle was still so fragile. It was obvious no matter how hard Michelle was trying to hide it that she was still in a lot of pain and Carla was worried that she was forcing herself to be back to normal to soon. Slowly she made her way up the cobbled street towards the factory inwardly cursing at her choice of footwear 4 inch heels could be precarious at the best of times but coupled with balancing her purchases and avoiding the dips in the cobbled street walking was proving to be a difficult task. As she rounded the corner an ambulance sped past her lights flashing and sirens blaring. The noise startled Carla and she cursed as she jumped at the sound spilling hot coffee over her hands in the process. Sucking her now burnt thumb she marched forward scowling as she noticed the majority of her workforce standing in the street outside the factory doors with worried and fearful expressions.
"We holding a bleedin' protest or summat? Why aren't you lot at your machines stitching the McKenna order?" Looking around the group expectantly no one answered her and with everyone looking at her so worriedly she began to feel uneasy. Turning she noticed Hayley coming down the steps tears streaming down her cheeks "Hayles what's going on?"
"Oh Mrs Connor it was awful we came back from dinner and she was just lying on the floor not moving we didn't know what to do you weren't there and Mr Foster had left". Carla felt her blood run cold and she struggled to keep the tremor out of her voice as she asked the question she dreaded the response to "Who was on the floor Hayley"
"Michelle Mrs Connor she was unconscious there was blood all around her I didn't know what to do so I called an ambulance they have just taken her to Weatherfield general" flustered Hayley was wringing her hands obviously upset but Carla couldn't breathe let alone respond all her brain could think of was not Michelle nothing could happen to the woman she had only just realised she loved.
"Hayley can you look after factory I need to get to the hospital" her voice shook and she dropped the coffees spilling it down herself as she hurriedly looked through her bag for her car keys.
"I'll look after the factory Carla I don't think you should be driving while you are so worked up its dangerous" Carla turned at Franks oily tones as he made his way across the street and as she looked into his smug face she inwardly shuddered at the gleeful look on his eyes "I'll call you a taxi and Hayley here can go with you"
"I don't need your help or your pity Frank!" Hayley looked worriedly between them sensing an argument brewing she quickly tried to pour oil on troubled waters.
"I agree with Mr Foster Mrs Connor I can come with you to see Michelle that way if you need anything you don't have to leave her" Carla nodded numbly and she allowed herself to be bundled into the taxi that Frank had flagged down as she opened the door she hesitated as Frank placed his hand upon her own
"Give Michelle my love won't you it would be awful if anything happened to her" wrenching her hand from under his grasp she scowled, ready to unleash fury, until Carla felt Hayley's gentle hand on her shoulder guiding her into the back of the waiting taxi. Sitting on the cold leather seat her stomach lurched and panic began to settle in her mind she felt tears in her eyes and felt momentarily grateful when Hayley took her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze one which she returned wishing that the journey to the hospital would be over as soon as possible.
"Mrs Connor someone will update you with Ms Connors condition as soon as possible at the moment all I know is that she has been taken into resuscitation for assessment now please take a seat" Carla opened her mouth to argue but she was quickly steered away by a concerned Hayley
"Mrs Connor calm down she's in the best place possible we just need to sit tight and wait for news" Carla felt the tears build in her eyes and she took the tissue from Hayley's outstretched hand gratefully. Blowing her nose she smiled shakily and turned to face her favourite employee "I'll bloody kill the little bugger who did this to her if I get my hands on him" Hayley nodded in agreement
"It happened outside the garage didn't it? Can Kevin not check his CCTV footage? You could take it to the police station" Sighing exasperatedly and dragging a hand through her hair Carla replied "She won't press charges she says the lad used mate about with Ryan. I've tried to persuade her but she's not having any of it" Hayley scoffed and Carla knew that Hayley would be feeling the same frustration especially knowing that the lad could cause damage to another unsuspecting victim.
"I still think you should ask Kevin Mrs Connor in case she changes her mind" Carla smiled "I think I will thanks Hayles and its Carla none of this Mrs Connor rubbish I'd like to think we were friends and I certainly won't be calling you Mrs Cropper!"
They both laughed a little too hard at Carla's attempt at lightening the mood but both of them felt glad of the respite the humour provided. Hayley nodded in agreement both of them settled into an easy silence both lost in their own thoughts the silence was broken when Hayley gestured around them "Sometimes you wonder why so many people are blighted by a run of bad luck" Carla looked at her inquisitively waiting for her to continue "Well look at you we would be here for a long time listing all the misfortunes you have endured in your lifetime"
"Is there a point to this Hayley" Carla felt uncomfortable she didn't like to talk about her life or past experiences and this conversation thread was making her feel awkward
"I'm just saying it doesn't seem fair does it?"
"If anything happens to her Hayley I don't know what I'll do" the words were out of her mouth before she could stop them and she angrily swiped at her eyes as the tears built once more. "God what would the staff say if they could see the state of me"
Hayley looked sympathetically and passed Carla another tissue "They would say you were human Carla. Michelle seems, to me anyway, like the closest thing you have to family and anybody would be fraught with worry if it was a member of their own in there" they settled back into silence Hayley understanding that Carla needed the quiet and Carla being thankful for her friend's quiet support. Hours later and Carla was trying to convince Hayley to go home it was coming up for five and she didn't want to inconvenience her by encroaching on her evenings plans. Hayley was refusing to leave but before they could argue further both their heads snapped sideways as Carla heard Michelle's name being mentioned. The receptionist nodded in their direction and Carla stood as a young doctor approached them tentatively "excuse me are you waiting for news on Miss Connor?"
Frank was worried he could feel the stress building in his stomach and he didn't like it one bit. As much as he wanted Michelle out the picture a small part of him was chastising himself for going too far he couldn't afford for this to come back on him. He had been overjoyed to come out of his recent court case a free man he didn't think he would be so lucky the next time. Michelle had surprised him today his threat of telling Carla all about her sickening infatuation with his woman did not have the same fraught reaction as it had just a few days ago and it made him on edge. If Michelle wasn't scared then this meant she would be likely to confess to Carla just what happened that night and he would have some serious explaining to do. His stomach squirmed as he realised that this would be something that he would easily be able to worm his way out of. Starting at his computer screen the darker side of his mind began to try and think of a way around his current predicament "if Michelle died would it really be such a bad thing?" Frank shook his head forcefully yes he enjoyed holding the upper hand over people he revelled in the feeling of complete control and if he was honest with himself he had enjoyed the rape of Carla far more than he ever would have expected and sometimes his mind would crave to enjoy the experience again. What he wasn't though was a killer he just didn't have it in him to snuff out the light from someone's eyes and although he hadn't beaten Michelle with the intent to cause her fatal injuries his soul still shuddered at the thought of her death and the impact it would have on his life.
Trying to take his mind of his worries he logged onto his computer and brought up the recent order log. Looking at the backlog of work irked him more and he marched out of the office intent on giving the staff a piece of his mind. "Right you lot enough chat we need the McKenna order out by this evening" muttering to themselves he raised an eyebrow at his disgruntled staff daring them to argue.
"Have you heard anything from Mrs Connor Mr Foster?" His scowl deepened and he rounded on Fizz "No I haven't at the moment Michelle isn't my concern and neither is she yours now please get back to work I'm not paying you to sit here and gossip!" after the machinists had settled behind their desks, each of them muttering and glaring darkly in his direction, and work resumed Frank made his way to the kitchen intent on making himself a strong coffee. As he returned to the office he heard the sound of the front door open and he tried not show his annoyance when his mother walked through the door she smiled and made his way towards him and he forced a smile onto his face.
"Mum what a pleasant surprise" pulled into his mothers overbearing embrace he returned the hug briefly then pulled away and gestured at Carla's chair "Sit down what can I help you with?" Frank winced slightly as the words came across more forceful than what he intended but if Anne picked up on it then she didn't let it show in her face.
"I was just at Roy's having a coffee he was telling me about Michelle's accident and I wanted to make sure you were ok?" Worry gnawed at his insides at his mother's words and he struggled to keep his face impassive
"I'm fine why wouldn't I be?"
"Well she's a member of your staff I can imagine it was a shock" his temper peaked at his mother's mollycoddling and he couldn't help but snap at her
"Michelle is Carla's staff member not my own I have no need or time for the interfering little chit and her well being is no concern of mine" Ann recoiled at her sons temper and she stood abruptly picking up her handbag she made her way to the office door.
"Well I just thought I would make sure you were alright but obviously there's no need ring me if you want anything" and before Frank could utter a word Ann had gone. Angrily he stood in the doorway and his scowl turned deeper as he noticed all the staff were now staring at him with appalled looks marring there features they had obviously had heard what he had said. In no mood to grovel he stalked back into the office and shut the blinds moodily throwing himself into his chair he let out an audible groan as he came to the conclusion there wasn't a woman in his life that wasn't hassle free.
Carla sat and wiped her stinging eyes her face felt red raw from where the tears had been steadily falling washing away her makeup as they fell. Outside the cold wind whipped harshly against her skin and she shivered wrapping her thin cardigan more tightly around her in the hope that it would provide some extra warmth. She knew she was being stupid standing out here wouldn't make the situation go away she couldn't ignore how poorly Michelle was but she couldn't go with the doctor and see her. Seeing Michelle would make it real and she couldn't cope with it she couldn't. The doctor had explained that Michelle was out of surgery and was stable but she was still in a critical condition the next 12 hours would be crucial depending on how they went they would know more about how quickly she would recover. For a moment Carla felt the heady rush of emotion wash across her body and she smiled shakily but then the panic had settled in when the young man had asked them to follow him to Michelle's room. Even with Hayley's look of encouragement Carla couldn't fight against her instinct to run and now she found herself leaning against the cold brick wall in the wind frightened and feeling the lead weight of guilt and desperately alone.
"You will have to see her at some point" Carla turned her head away she didn't want to see the look of disapproval that would be clearly written on Hayley's face
"I know" she breathed the acknowledgement quietly and felt encouraged when Hayley leant next to her and placed a steady hand on Carla's forearm.
"The consultant is waiting to speak to you so he can fully explain her condition"
"Can't he talk to you I -"
"I'm not a relative. No" Carla closed her eyes and took a deep breath trying to calm herself and her conflicting emotions.
"Carla, look at me, you need to go and see her. Do you really want to leave her all on her own in there?" Carla shook her head "Come on then I'll come with you"
"What did I do to deserve you Hayley" smiling Hayley took her arm and lead her purposely forward "Oh it's nothing Mrs Connor it's a pleasure"
"Hayley!"
"Carla sorry. Now come on it's this way let's find out what's happening and then I'll call Steve ask him to come and pick us up" trying to hide her unease Carla smiled shakily and walked quickly forward dreading seeing the state of her love lying in a hospital bed.