I can't be bothered to write out Peter and Leanne/ Peter and Ken talking, so the short is, Leanne is devastated, Peter's has told her he just can't do it but wont say why. Ken is obviously surprised and disappointed, but Peter's keeping mum about the real reason he's broken it off with Leanne.
Carla glanced over at the bookies as she pulled up her car outside the factory. It had been a week since Peter had broken it off with Leanne at their wedding, and she'd barely seen him. She knew he was busy, spending time with Simon, trying to explain to his son why he and Leanne were no longer living together, and she knew she was being selfish, but she couldn't help wish he'd draw himself away for one moment to see her.
'Hey..' her thoughts were cut off by a despondent voice. She spun round on her heel, taken aback by a straggled looking Leanne in front of her.
'Leanne.. hey, are you okay' she asked before instantly regretting it.
Leanne shrugged, looking down and biting her lip.
'Leanne.. I'm so sorry.. I haven't come to see you.. it's just.. I wasn't sure.. how.. you know?' Carla said trying to come up with an excuse for why she hadn't come to comfort her best friend in her time of need.
'It's okay.. I just need.. a friend right now' Leanne said.
'Oh Lea, you know you've got a lot of those.. come er', do you want to come in.. have a brew?' Carla said, although she knew she had lots to get through she felt obliged to offer Leanne some of her time when she'd neglected her role as a friend this last week.
Leanne received a few sympathetic smiles and nods as Carla ushered her into her office.
She poked her head round the door, 'Make us a couple of brews please Seany, ta' she said before returning to Leanne.
'How 'av you been.. coping?' Carla asked, her ability to mask the truth so well rehearsed from past practiced.
'Umm.. not well' Leanne said her eyes brimming with tears as Carla looked down.
'It was so sudden.. and I don't know why?' Leanne said, a sob escaping her mouth.
'Why it happened?' Carla said softly as Leanne nodded.
'He was excited, he hadn't let on he had any doubts before, and then he humiliates me infront of the entire church' Leanne said, tears slipping down her cheeks.
'Oh Lea.. have you spoken to him?' Carla asked, having not heard from Peter since their last meeting a week ago.
Leanne nodded. 'He said he was sorry, and that he did love me, just it didn't feel right and that he couldn't pretend it was, and that he was grateful for everything I'd done for him and that I'd always be Simon's mum' Leanne sobbed as Carla's heart broke at the pain she'd caused her friend.
'I thought we had a future.. we'd be a family, we were talking about kids the other day, kids.. how could he do this to me?' Leanne said, almost questioning herself.
'Maybe.. maybe he's done the right thing though?' Carla said apprehensively, unsure of how Leanne would respond.
Leanne looked up, 'What do you mean?' she said.
'Well.. surely it's better he.. did this now than in a couple of months when you would be married and it would be much harder..?' Leanne said.
'Carla!' Leanne said, her eyes red.
'What? Leanne I know it's hard honey, believe me, I've had my heart broken many times, but I look back and think it could have been so much worse' Carla tried to explain, trying to relieve some of her guilt.
Leanne bit her lip. 'But I love him so much, and then there's Si, oh Carla you should see hi, he doesn't understand, he's so confused and all her wants is for Peter to come back and it all to go back to normal' Leanne said.
'Kid's are resilient Leanne, trust me' Carla said.
'How would you know?' Leanne frowned, her tone almost bitter.
'I was one once, me Mam had countless boyfriends, most druggies, addicts of some sort, I was beaten black and blue, forced to..' Carla trailed off. 'Listen, all I'm saying is relationships break down all the time.. he's bound to be upset but he will come through it, just like you will' Carla said tapping her finger on the bridge of Leanne's nose, her dirty secret eating away at her.
Leanne gave her a half-hearted smile. 'I hope so' she whispered.