"You know I don't know what you're here for Carla, to berate me or console me." Peter said a stormy look in her dark eyes as Carla pursed her lips together. "I'm here to make you see that whatever you decide to do you don't need that pickling your liver, clouding your judgement." She said as she moved a strand of hair behind her ear and looked at him imploringly. "She's gone, the best thing to ever happen for me and Si an…and she's gone." Peter said, his voice filled with despair as Carla sighed softly feeling a deep sense of compassion for the broken soul opposite. "Peter, I know it seems like the end of the world right now bu…"
"Oh you do, do you. You've never found out that your fiancée, sorry wife has been playing away with the man whom she was once married to."
"Yeah when they were kids."
"You're bound to think there's nowt wrong with what they're doing. After all you were engaged to Tony and saw nothing wrong with playing away with your former brother-in-law." Peter said as Carla shook her head. "I think that's a little uncalled for. Anyway that was different. Peter you're a good, kind man; Tony wasn't." Carla said as she looked into Peter's warm brown eyes and hoped he understood that no matter what happened her feelings for him were not likely to dwindle no matter what he ended up doing.
She'd dreamt of him many nights, and even in her dreams it had seemed at times as though Liam was telling her that Peter would be good for her. That he'd protect her and love her now that Liam was unable to. "You know I bet Tony felt like his heart was tearing out of his body when he found out about you and Liam, hell I know I felt like mine was when I found out about Leanne." Peter said as Carla reached out a hand and placed it on his upper arm. "Don't you dare compare yourself to that monster. You didn't get someone to get rid of…of the opposition." She said as she struggled to keep her composure.
"It doesn't mean I haven't felt like going over to the Platt's and beating that bastard to a pulp." Peter said his voice filled with raw pain and bitterness. "Yeah but you haven't. You're a better person than he could ever be. And is Nick worth it hmm, who's to say he won't run to the police and press charges if you do. Where would that leave Simon hey?" She said diplomatically knowing Peter adored his young son. He looked down and she sensed he was struggling to control his emotions. "You know you'll be no good speaking to her now anyway, not with that stuff inside you. Why not wait until tomorrow when you've sobered up. Have you eaten?" She asked gently as Peter snorted.
"Come to play Nigella now as well. I'm touched." He said as Carla decided to ignore his sarcastic words knowing he was hurting. "Look I'm only going to make sandwiches so there's no need to get overly excited." She said as she went to help him sit down. He was still unsteady on his feet, not helped at all by his recent consumption of alcohol. "Gerroff!" He said pulling away from her as she went to help him into the armchair and she recoiled slightly. "I'm sorry." He said sensing her distress at his attitude towards her. "No, it's okay. You're angry and well I'm the only one here right now for you to take your anger out on."
"Don't mean you should put up with it. I wouldn't." Peter said as Carla smiled slightly patting his hand. "No, you just had to put up with me throwing myself at you when I were drunk. I think we're even." She said as Peter sighed. "Why are you been so nice to me. I don't deserve it." He said as she knelt down by the side of chair. "I think you're been pretty hard on yourself. You don't deserve what's happened to you I know that much." Carla said as she stood up and lightly brushed her lips against his temple.
Leanne sat at the table in Janice's flat, her blonde curls rapidly falling from the angelic ringlets that had framed her face in her wedding dress. Her lips were cracked slightly as she sipped a cup of tea with trembling hands. "Why Lee, what were you doing messing about with him?"
"I dunno. I…I just felt th…this spark an…and well things happened." Leanne said as she wiped at her teary eyes. "You stupid girl. Nick was never any good for you, not then and not now. So what are you going to do now?" Janice said as Leanne shrugged.
"I need to see Peter. I need to explain to him." Leanne said as Janice rose her eyebrows questioning her stepdaughter. "Do you think that's wise love. He's upset, no doubt angry. Seeing you might not be the best thing for him at the minute." Janice said for once been wise in her advice. Leanne sniffed as she nodded knowing that her stepmother was probably right. She dug her nails angrily into the palm of her hand as she thought of what Simon would think of her when he found out. Another wave of sobs came over her as she pictured his little eyes filled with anger and hurt. "He's go…going to hate me isn't he." She said as Janice looked at her and sighed. "I don't know love. But your not doing yourself any good sitting here working yourself into a state." Janice said placing her hand over Leanne's. There was a buzzing sound and Leanne's ring tone echoed out. Leanne bolted from her chair to answer the phone and she looked at the caller ID. She bit her lip as she saw 'Nick' flashing on the screen. She paused unsure as whether she should take the call or not. After all her liaisons with Nick had been the catalyst that had broken her ideal world to pieces. She furrowed her brow and decided to reject Nick's call not wanting nor knowing what to say to him at that moment.
Simon sat on the living room floor at Ken and Deirdre's house playing monopoly with Amy as the three adults crowded into the kitchen. "Well I didn't think he was going to do quite that." Tracey said as she sipped a glass of fizzy water and Ken shook his head. "Did he need to know Tracey really!" He said in an angry whisper as Deirdre looked to the two children playing, completely oblivious to what was going on. "I think he had a right to know his misses was playing away. Especially when her bit on the side was making out he was Peter's new best mate. Whatever I thought of Tweety-Pie at least he'd have never done that to Peter." Tracey said as Deirdre shot her a look. "Tracey, don't call Ashley that. He was a good friend to Peter if…if he hadn't done what he did that night then…then god knows what would have happened." Deirdre said in a hoarse voice.
"Okay, still I'm just saying." Tracey said as she leaned back against the worktops. "Dad's acting like it's all my fault when all I did was tell the flaming truth." Tracey said as she pouted slightly.
"Right get this down you." Carla said as she placed a chicken salad sandwich in front of Peter who smiled slightly. "Thanks."
"Don't mention it. I'll put the kettle on too in a minute. You'll thank me later on." she said able to smell the fumes of alcohol on his breath. "What should I do Carla? I don't know if I can trust her." Peter said as he swallowed a bite of his sandwich and looked imploringly at the brunette. "I can't tell you what to do Peter. Just take things slow 'ey." Carla said as she put her plate on the coffee table with her sandwich.
"I don't even know if I want to see her right now."
"Well I think that's probably reasonable in the circumstances. Peter love, there's no right or wrong way you're meant to feel when something like this comes out in the open." Carla said as she reached out and rubbed Peter's arm supportively.