Chapter 18:

Carla took Simon back inside. He ran and hugged his granddad. Carla grabbed her bag and car keys.

"Where are you going?" Deirdre asked.

"To the station. Could you look after Simon for a bit?" Carla asked.

"Do you really think that's a good idea?" Deirdre said.

"I need to go down and see what's going on." Carla replied and with that she headed out the front door.

She was walking into the station as Peter was being taken through.

"Peter!" she shouted.

"Car baby" he said trying to run up to her but the police held him back.

Carla ran to him instead and rested her hands on his cheeks.

"Please don't go. Me and Simon need you." She begged.

"Car, I promise I'll be back. Someone's set me up." Peter replied.

"I can't live without you." Carla sobbed.

"Neither can I baby but stay strong for Simon. He needs you and promise him that I'll be back." Peter said.

Then the officers started dragging him away.

Carla gave him one last kiss and then he was gone. She stared after him for a while then headed back outside to her car.

"Are you sure you don't want to stay the night?" Ken asked as Carla was leaving with Simon.

"Thanks for the offer but I need some time to explain to Simon. Peter told me some things I need to tell him." Carla replied.

"You saw him at the station?"

"As he was going in, yeah. Then they dragged him away."

Simon walked to the front door where Carla and Ken were standing.

"You ready little man?" Carla asked and Simon nodded sadly.

"C'mon." she said gently, putting her hand out towards Simon. He took it and they headed across the street.

"Can I get some sweets?" Simon asked.

"I suppose so after everything that's happened today." Carla agreed and took Simon to The Kabin.

"Carla, I'm so sorry." Rita said while Simon was choosing his sweets.

"Thanks Rita… but Peter didn't do this. He was with me all that night at the flat. Someone's set him up." Carla replied.

"I know he hasn't done this. Peter wouldn't be that silly and wouldn't risk losing you and Simon." Rita said and Carla paid for Simon's sweets and they headed home.

Once they were home, Carla put Simon to bed and she sat on the couch for the rest of the night and cried.