As the revelations hit Ken one after another, he was clearly struggling to take it all in.

"Not worth saving? But until now, we thought your marriage was happy.."

"My marriage…". Peter laughed bitterly. In frustration, he suddenly needed to lash out.

"No offence dad, but I'd hardly say you and Deirdre are the best judges of happy marriage."

Ken, hurt, tried to appease him.

"Yes, we've made mistakes. And regretted them too. But we worked through it. Can't your extra meetings help? The counselling?"

Peter sighed. There didn't seem much point in prolonging the lies.

"There were no extra meetings, dad. Or counselling. Just Carla."

As the truth dawned, Ken looked disgusted.

"You make me sick. So you're not even trying to work it out?"

"I love Carla now. There's nothing to work out"

Peter folded his arms defensively, refusing to accept the hypocrisy of Ken's judgment, as his dad continued to plead.

"Just don't throw away a good relationship, like I almost did. Surely you owe us all that. At least try to keep your family together."

Despite knowing he needed his dad on his side, Peter just couldn't hold back as he unleashed his pent-up anger, the blood rushing to his head.

"How dare you! It's because of your cover-up that I'm in this mess."

Furiously, he brought his fist down on the table. Ken flinched, steadying the table as the cups shook, coffee spilling onto the surface.

But Peter had now lost all sense of proportion.

"You let me go ahead with a marriage that was all lies. Rotten before it even began. When any decent parent would have told me, you just kept quiet."

Ken looked down, but showed no regret, inflaming Peter's temper even more. With a father like this, what chance had he ever had for happiness?

"Guess you just wanted me off your hands eh. Palm me and Si off on anyone who'd have us. Forget about marriages based on trust, loyalty….." He knew how cruel, how hypocritical, he was being, but he didn't care any more.

"With your track record, doubt you even know what they mean.."

.

His words seemed to echo in the cold silence that followed. Even through the angry haze, he realised he'd gone too far. Had he lost his chance now to earn Ken's silence?

"Sorry. I shouldn't have said that dad."

Ken looked him directly in the eye.

"No. You shouldn't."

On edge, waiting for Ken to continue, fearing the repercussions, Peter felt his heart pounding heavily.

Finally his dad spoke.

"I know now we shouldn't have kept it from you. But you didn't see how guilty Leanne felt, how much she regretted it."

But Peter shrugged it off.

"It wasn't your decision whether to forgive her or not. It was mine. And you never gave me the chance."

Ken changed track.

"I'm sorry, I really am, Peter. But we thought we were doing the right thing. Whatever her mistakes, she regretted them. She's given you a stable family. What about Simon? Have you really thought about what he needs?"

.

It took all Peter's restraint to keep from raising his voice again. Standing, he walked across to the window, surprised at the sun still shining. It felt like he'd been trapped in this conversation for hours. Finally he turned back to his dad.

"How can you say that? He's the reason I did stay with Leanne. I tried so hard to make it work. To forgive her. To forget Carla..."

Deep down, he knew he was over-simplifying things, but the blinding intensity of his emotion blocked out any nuances. The betrayal still tormented him, a splinter that had only worked itself deeper with the passing of time. He added bitterly.

"But I bet you she'd have left me in a heartbeat for Nick if it wasn't for Si"

Ken shook his head vehemently, about to interrupt, but Peter spoke over him, pacing around the room.

"A year of marriage, and we've both been in love with other people. Both of us only stayed together for Simon."

He sat down again, sadly.

"I don't call that a marriage - that's a parenting arrangement!"

Ken sighed.

"But Simon sees her as his mum… He needs her."

Rolling his eyes in contempt, Peter lashed out again.

"So here's the lecture on good parenting eh.? The dad I barely knew when I was Si's age….

Ken finally looked ashamed.

"I got a lot of things wrong then. I admit that. But I was trying to do what was best for you."

"If Susan and I had even had one parent….. " Peter continued, his emotions raw. Then pulling himself out of self-pity, he tried to reason with Ken.

"Look dad. I've done everything I can to give Simon a stable home. But it's not working. This way, he'll still have Leanne. And he'll have me and Carla too. He'll have three parents who care about him."

For a moment he felt he was finally getting through to Ken. Then the onslaught continued.

"What kind of stepmother will Carla be though?"

"She'll be great" he insisted, bristling at the implied criticism. It still surprised him how many people seemed to realise Carla's tough act was just that. But honestly, if it hadn't been for the drinking, would he have known either?

"She's Ryan's aunt – he thinks the world of her. And so does little Liam. And anyway what did Leanne know at the start? She picked it up, and I know Carla will too. She's a successful woman. And Si already likes her"

Ken sighed.

"It's a hell of a gamble you're taking."

"Maybe a little bit" he admitted. "But I know how I feel, and she makes me happy. And Leanne doesn't any more. That's the truth, whether you like it or not"

"Believe me I don't". Ken's response was swift and heartfelt.

Despairing, Peter turned away.

"What kind of life would Simon have, if Leanne and I are both miserable?"

Suddenly, his phone started to ring. As Peter glanced at it, Ken looked at him with sad resignation.

"It's her isn't it?"

Guiltily, Peter nodded.

"I'll take it outside."

Heading into the yard, he lit a much-needed fag. Suddenly exhausted, he collapsed against the wall as he answered the call.

Sorry it's a bit dark this time – there's so much to draw on when Peter gets angry! Hope you enjoyed though...