Chap 8

Michelle and rob arrived at the cafe just as Peter Carla and the kids were finishing up their breakfast.

"Two coffees to go please Roy" Michelle asked.

"Rob and ichelley" Lia shouted out over to them as they noticed the cosy little group in the corner table of Roy's.

"Well good morning you lot.." Rob smiled as he picked Lia up and she was laughing as he tickled her. "Hey Carla you'd wanna get a move on love we've got foster at 9" Michelle commented

"Oh crap I totally forgot Michelle you keep him sweet while I get this little one to crèche please"

"Hey ill run Lia into crèche and you go prep with Michelle ill be back in time" rob interrupted.

"Oh rob your a little star.. Right then chelle lets get going.. Peter ill text you later ok.. See you Simon" Carla gave Lia a quick kiss as she ran over to the factory with Michelle.

The meeting with frank was going well he seemed really interested in placing an order but Carla couldn't help feel slightly uncomfortable around him some of his comments and his hands seemed to land in inappropriate places which hadn't gone unnoticed by rob who was fuming at him.

After he left the 3 decided to go to the bistro for lunch. After some bitching and moaning about frank rob decided to change the conversation.

"So Lia's a little chatterbox car" rob commented and noticed how Carla seemed a little uneasy.

"Yea she's a little character all right" Carla laughed.

Michelle went to say something but rob cut her off immediately as he had more to say and didn't want Michelle changing the topic if conversation.

"Oh yea I was asking her all about her weekend and she was very forthcoming" rob smirked.

Carla just nodded hoping he would drop it but that was very unlikely.

"She told me she had a sleepover in peters"

"So" Carla snapped.

Rob laughed "she said that her mummy forgot her Jammies and you slept in peters room"

Carla froze. Peter had failed to mention all Lias little questions on the way to Simons friends on Sunday morning so this was all news to Carla that Lia had seen her in peters bed. Naked.

"Wind your neck In rob" Carla muttered as she picked up her drink.

"Carla. What the hell.. You and Peter?" Michelle jumped in.

"Look I was planning on telling youse today but then the whole thing with frank and then rob didn't give me much of a chance really"

"How long has it been going on sis?" Rob seemed angry as he spoke.

"Look it's a very recent development believe me"

"I don't believe you for a second you've been screwing him all along Carla no wonder he asks how high when you say flaming jump" rob spat.

"You listen here roberto. You believe what the hell you want.. Peter cares about me and Lia. I don't have to explain meself to you..Or anyone for that matter" Carla stormed out of the bistro.

How dare rob interfere in her life like that? Yea he probably was only thinking of her and Lia's best interests but its not like he had been the doting brother the past couple of years.. She thought to herself. As she left the bistro she wasn't thinking she was on auto pilot as she headed straight for the bookies.

"Hi Deirdre is Peter about?"

"No love he's gone to watch Simons footy match he be another hour at least"

"Oh right. Not to worry" Carla turned to leave.

"Hey Carla why don't you and Lia join us for tea tonight Peter and Simon are coming" Deirdre smiled.

Carla hesitated she wasn't sure whether Peter had told them the news or not. Deirdre noticed Carla's unease. "He came around this morning after he'd dropped Simon off and he told us that you two were an item now"

"Oh I see. Listen" Carla was interrupted by the sound of the bookies door chiming signaling someone had entered the shop as she turned she seen ken standing behind her.

"Afternoon Carla" he smiled. "Hello ken"

"Go on love what were you saying?" Deirdre urged her to continue.

"Yea. Em well I just want you two to know that this is a really recent development and I understand your concern I mean there are two kiddies involved. One without a mum and one without a dad and I never want to replace Leanne or Simons real mum and Lia will always know that Liam were her daddy but Peter and I really care about each other and it's not like we're jumping on head first we sat and discussed all this firs" Carla was rambling as ken interrupted and Deirdre came from around the counter to make sure she was ok.

"Carla" ken began "myself and Deirdre are delighted that you and Peter have decided to give it a go. You were a rock for him when Leanne left and it's obvious you two care deeply for each other. Honestly we're over the moon so please don't ever feel that we think bad of you"

"Has someone else said something to you Carla?" Deirdre asked concerned.

Carla felt relieved that they seemed to accept their decision. "Oh just my idiot brother"

Carla left the bookies a while later feeling a lot better. She felt as though a weight had been lifted. If ken and Deirdre could accept it then everyone else could like it or lump it.