"Hello, Mrs Connor," Hayley smiled, being friendly. "Can I get you a coffee? Decaf of course."
"Ooo, go on then," Carla's head shot up. "At least I can pretend it's the real thing, eh?"
"I'll make it now." Hayley nodded, as she opened the door to leave the factory office, she heard a disturbing shout.
"Mrs C!"
Carla stood up, sighing deeply. As she walked on to the main factory floor; she stared at Beth's face.
"When are we going to find out who's covering you for maternity leave?" Beth questioned.
"We've been dyingggggg to know! Made a poll and everything." Sean said, enthusiastically.
"More like we just want to know so we can tell Sally where to shove it!" Beth snapped.
"Excuse me!" Sally gasped.
"Alright!" Carla interrupted them. "When have I once mentioned maternity leave?"
"Well, you're not staying the whole time are you? A quick meeting between feeds? I know I have my Craigy but a tap on babysitter isn't in the job description. I hate kids." Beth squirmed.
"No, Beth!" Carla grimaced. "I don't want my kid to see your ugly mug."
"Hey!"
"Mrs Connor, I can control these lot. So you know the professional role I have in this business. I can control them all-…"
"Sally, she isn't giving you the job!" Sean laughed.
"Teachers pet." Izzy sniggered.
"I've got your coffee, Mrs Connor." Hayley piped up.
"Put it in my office, Hayles." Carla said before turning back to the factory lot. "I'd prefer less gossiping, and more stitching. If it's all the same to you. Once I've sorted cover, you guys will be the first to know. But for now, I'm only six months pregnant and will be here for the foreseeable."
As Carla walked off, shaking her head, she wondered why she ever even hired half of them.
"Them lot, can speak for England can't they." Hayley giggled.
"Tell me about it, Hayles." She replied, taking a sip of her drink. "Oh, how I wish this was normal coffee."
"It's all worth it," Hayley gleamed. "How are you doing? Is it all going well?"
"Yeah, it's going good. It's weird. But I never thought I'd actually be excited. Seeing my body grow, my hips widening, my bump growing. It's all so different. Peter's been amazing."
"I'm so glad to hear that."
"Do you remember when I found out I was pregnant?" Carla laughed. "I was a wreck."
"You were but I knew…"
"Knew what?"
"That you'd go along with it. You don't have the heart to get rid of your child. You wanted it, you just let fear get in the way." She explained.
"Yeah, I think you're right," Carla agreed. "I can't imagine it with anyone else, not even Liam. But Peter being so excited and doing anything for me, it makes me feel even better. Even on the hard days."
"Do you have plans to tell us all the gender or are you keeping it a surprise? I'm dying to know!"
"Me and Peter decided to keep it to ourselves, it's nice to have a secret. You lot can all wait!"
"I'm so nervous." Carla mumbled, sat in the car with her hands entwined on her lap.
Peter had reassured her more than once that it would be perfectly okay, why wouldn't it be. But they hadn't been feeling movement yet and it struck concern with Carla. She just wanted everything to be perfect. She'd read online that movement can come later on in the pregnancy when it's your first, but rationality doesn't work as well when you're panicking.
Peter insisted on driving, and had forced Carla to have lots of water ready for the scan so they could see the baby clearer. He was more than excited, and that was definitely helping Carla with her anticipation. He woke up, leaping out of bed with a massive grin on his face as he made a fry up. Simon was at Leanne's, but it was all so domesticated. It was a lot to get used to, but Carla loved this version of her life.
"I know you are, but everything will be okay." He replied, placing his hand on her thigh.
"You're not a midwife." She shook her head, biting her lip.
"No but I'm also logical." He raised his eyebrows, titling her head to look at him as they waited as a red light.
"So much can go wrong," She exhaled. "You don't realise it until you actually get pregnant. It's not as easy as carrying a child and giving birth."
"Worrying isn't going to help though, is it? It'll just make you more stressed and that, Connor, isn't good for the baby."
"Yeah," She nodded, hesitantly. "You're right."
"Woah." His eyes went wide.
"What?" She panicked.
"Did you just admit that I'm right?"
"Ugh, Peter! Don't mess with me like that when my nerves are shot!"
"So if you can just lay on the bed for me, and lift your top up." As the midwife gave her instructions, Carla followed and tightly grasped Peters hand as if her life depended on it.
"This gel might be a bit cold," She smiled, politely. "But you know that from your twelve weeks scan."
"The twelve week scan feels like a lifetime ago. Doesn't it, love?" Peter nudged Carla.
"Mm." She bit her lip, anxiously, as she stared at the ceiling.
"It's normal to be nervous, everyone gets like that. But you're pregnancy has been on track throughout so try not to let the nerves ruin the experience," The midwife suggested. "Right, let's look for this baby."
After a few seconds, Carla piped up…
"Is everything alright?"
"Just getting into position," The midwife said. "Ah, there we are. A nice strong and regular heartbeat. Congratulations."
"Oh my…" A hand flew to Carla's mouth, tears instantly making their way down her contoured cheeks.
The baby looked so different now; you could tell it was a baby. A hand by the mouth, feet curled up. It was so different from when they'd previously seen it.
"That's our baby, Car." Peter croaked, a silent tear rolling down.
"Everything is perfect by the looks of it," The midwife smiled. "Would you like to know the sex?"
"You can tell?" Peter asked.
"Baby is giving us a pretty clear idea." She joked.
"What do you want to do, baby?" Carla questioned.
"It's your call, love. Completely up to you." He beamed, so proud of the woman that lay before him.
"Yes, we'd like to know please." Carla stated.
"Congratulations. You will be having a…"
"We wondered if you were gonna show up!" Peter joked, parked outside the factory, the window down.
Simon sat in the back seat, still unhappy at their relationship but trying his hardest to stop being so bitter, even if Leanne was encouraging him to do so.
"Sorry!" Carla sighed, rushing down the steps and entering the vehicle. "Me and Hayley got chatting, you know what we're like."
"You said you were only popping in to see how it's going."
"I know but I'm only six months, I still need to work." She shrugged.
"We agreed to take it easier," Peter raised his eyebrows. "And what did we say about heels…"
"I'm not a child, Peter." Carla snapped. "Sorry."
"That's okay, baby. Are you excited about today?"
"Not as excited as Simon probably is," She smiled. "Ey, Si? How are you feeling?"
"Good." He replied, bluntly.
"What's your favourite animal?" She asked.
"A monkey."
"That's where he gets his behaviour from. Hmm?" Peter laughed.
"I'm not a monkey." A smile crept on Simon's face.
"You might be able to hold some of the animals, Si. Maybe even a snake." Carla said.
"Mum said you're a snake," Simon giggled. "And a black widow spider. Maybe you belong at the zoo."
Carla coughed awkwardly, praying that Peter wouldn't get angry and ruin the atmosphere.
"I mean…she's not wrong." Carla joked, awkwardly.
Peter tutted, turning up the radio as the rest of the journey was in silence.
"Dad! Dad! It's a monkey!" Simon bounced excitedly.
"Ah, look! Do you want a photo with the monkeys, you and your dad." Carla said, getting her phone out her bag.
As she captured the photo, Simon rushed off in search of other animals.
"SI! Slow down." Peter called out.
"I didn't expect it to be so busy on a week day." Carla said, linking arms with Peter.
"Oh well, at least he's happy. I think he is anyway," Peter replied. "And how are you today? You were out the door very early this morning."
"I'm fine," She rolled her eyes, lightheartedly. "Stop fussing. I just need normality back in my life. I need to be myself. And that is going to the factory still, it's what I'm good at."
"But you're getting on a bit, you need to take it easier. I know you don't like to hear that."
"I know my body, I know when I'm overdoing it."
"If you say so..."
"The girls did mention maternity leave. I need to decide who is going to cover." She sighed.
"Best get your thinking cap on, Connor." He smiled. "Hayley?"
"She's good at the job, but I think she's too nice. Do you think she'll be able to control Beth and Sean?"
"True," He but his lip in thought. "Michelle? Sally?"
"Dad! They have hippos!" Simon yelled, rushing over to them but flying into Carla in the process.
"Simon!" Peter shouted.
As Simon accidentally ran into her, she flew into Peter, luckily not falling to the floor as he caught her.
"It's okay, Peter. I'm okay." She mumbled, catching her breath and standing straight.
"I'm sorry," He deadpanned. "I want the hippos, dad!"
"Excuse me! Say sorry properly. She's pregnant, Simon! That could cause serious damage, do you not understand!"
"I said I'm sorry, didn't I!" He glared.
"It's fine, Peter." Carla muttered.
"No, it isn't!"
"I'm fine and the baby's fine," she said. "Let's move on."
"I want the hippos!"
"I'm sick of this attitude." Peter shook his head.
"Calm down." She whispered to him.
"I want Leanne." Simon snapped.
"Right, come on. Let's stop this. The hippos are over there, let's go." As she followed Simon and dragged Peter, they tried to enjoy the rest of their day.
"I don't know what's happening to him, Car. He knows exactly how to wind me up." He shook his head, Simon walking in front of them.
"You and I both know why he's like this..."
"Leanne." He stated, receiving a nod from Carla.
"He'll grow out of it. He can't stay like it forever."
"I don't know about that, he's pretty stubborn."
"Like father, like son." Carla joked.
"I'm not stubborn." He said.
"Yes you are," She laughed before stopping in her tracks, a hand to her stomach. "Ooh."
"What? Carla, what is it?" Peter's eyes widened. "Simon! Stay there. Carla?"
"That felt weird." She narrowed her eyes before a smile crept onto her lips.
"Carla, what? Is this because of Simon?" Peter panicked.
"What's happening?" Simon asked.
"A kick," Carla gleamed. "The baby is kicking. Feel..."
As Peter placed his hand on her stomach, he grinned happily.
"Oh my god," He whispered. "That's amazing!"
"Simon, do you want to feel?" Carla asked, gently.
"Okay..." As Carla guided the little boys hand to her stomach, he gasped and looked in confusion.
"That's your little sibling, Si." Peter exhaled.