Chapter Five

Carla was surprisingly relieved once Michelle had found out about her drinking problem. It made things somewhat easier working in the office. A week or so had passed now since Carla and Peter stayed at the hotel and Michelle found out about Carla's drinking problem.

Carla was sitting at her desk getting through her load of paperwork when Michelle entered the office with a takeaway coffee for both herself and Carla. "Here you go." She said as she placed it down on the desk in front of Carla.

"Thanks 'Chelle." Carla smiled as Michelle sat down opposite her sipping her drink.

"So, I just saw Leanne in Roy's and she said her and Peter have set a date for the wedding." Michelle said making conversation. Carla felt her throat go dry.

"Oh really… When?" Carla asked curiously.

"December." Michelle said. "I think it's made it quite real for Leanne now, but she's so excited." She added.

"That's nice." Carla said trying to sound pleased but he face said otherwise. "Pigs will fly the next time I get down the aisle." Carla mused.

"There's someone out there for you, Carla." Michelle said.

"That's easy for you to say, you've got Ciaran… When he's actually here." Carla said. Ciaran was currently working abroad for the next few weeks.

"I don't think there's a man out there for me… Every relationship i've had has been a mess." Carla sighed. "Even as a teenager." Michelle rubbed Carla's arm sympathetically.

Carla was completely devestated that there was an official date for the wedding despite the constant reassurance from Peter that he would end things with Leanne before they got married.

Peter had swung by the factory during lunch while everyone else except Carla was out. "Hey." He said as he leaned down and greeted Carla with a kiss. He could see that Carla was less than enthusiastic to see him.

"Michelle tells me you've set a date for the wedding which is pretty soon." Carla said and Peter looked down feeling ashamed with himself.

"She was getting suspicious and I just suggested it to her to stop her thinking anything." Peter said. Carla was about to snap back when Hayley had entered the factory as she'd forgotten her purse.

"Oh sorry, if i'm interrupting." Hayley chucked as she quickly grabbed her her purse.

"No, Peter was just leaving." Carla snapped.

"Carla-" Peter started but Carla wasn't in the mood.

"Bye, Peter." She said as she got up and opened the door for him to leave.

The remainder of the day went somewhat quickly and Carla had decided to keep herself distracted by working late. There was only so much work a person could do in a day and she soon decided to just go home.

As Carla opened the door to leave the factory, the sight in front of her made her feel like her heart had been torn out if her body and crushed. Peter, Leanne and Simon were walking down the street looking like the perfect family as Peter gently kissed Leanne. A smile spread across Leanne's face as she kissed him back and held tightly onto his hand. They truly looked happy and in love.

Carla turned around back into the factory and leaned against the door as a few tears threatened to spill down her cheeks. She knew deep in her heart that Peter was never going to leave Leanne. He would've done it straight away if he was that certain about loving her as much as he claimed.

When she was certain they wouldn't be on the street now, she decided to leave the factory, but not before stopping at Dev's to pick up the biggest bottle of wine he sold.

It was safe to say that evening Carla spent the night drinking away the hurt she felt and not replying to his texts.

Carla had also spent the next few days ignoring Peter. It wasn't until she physically bumped into him that she could no longer ignore him. She'd been walking over to Roy's when she turned the corner of the street she walked straight into him. "Are you still mad at me?" He asked as he looked around making sure there was nobody in ear shot.

"Yeah, I am." She said as she folded her arms. "Look maybe we should talk, somewhere private." She added.

Peter led her over to the Bookies. "We haven't got long-"

"Because Leanne will be back." Carla interrupted. Peter nodded.

"I've told you so many times I can't just hurt Leanne." Peter said as he faced Carla.

"Then let me make this easier for you… Me and you, we're done!" Carla said feeling as though she was going to cry. "You have led me right down the garden path to probably only stroke your own ego… I mean it's not the first time you've had two women on the go and once, is it?" She snapped.

"Carla, I love you." Peter said hoping that Carla would calm down. He genuinely did love her but things were too messy at the moment.

"No you dont! The only person you love is yourself… In fact I pity Leanne because who would want to marry a man like you in the first place?" She shouted.

"Carla, please-" Peter said not wanting things to end between himself and Carla.

"We're done Peter!" She said as she stormed out of the Bookies.

That same evening Carla has plonked herself down in the Rover's and as the same as last night drowned her sorrows in wine. Michelle entered the pub to see Carla drinking, for all she knew Carla had given up the booze. "Are you alright? I thought you were drinking anymore?" Michelle asked quietly as she sat down opposite Carla.

"Who are you? My mother? If I want to have a little drink, I will have one and enjoy every second of it." Carla said.

"What's happened?" Michelle asked.

"Pfft what hasn't happened in my life." Carla said.

"Do you need me to get Peter to see if he can give you some support-" Michelle suggested.

"No, don't you dare." Carla said. "He's not my keeper… Sometimes I just need to have a drink to let off some steam." Carla said.

"Yeah and the next thing you know you've been caught drink driving." Michelle whispered so nobody else could hear. Carla just groaned in repsonse.

"Michelle, I'm fine." Carla said sternly just wanting to be left alone.

"No you're not." She replied. "Being an alcoholic-"

"I am not an alcoholic!" Carla said

trying not to be too loud.

"You don't have anything to be ashamed for, after everything you've been through it's not a surprise that you need some sort of emotional crutch." Michelle said. "But i'm here to help you and to be here for you." Carla sighed. "I'm you're best friend, Carla… I'm not here to judge you, i'm here to help get you back on your feet." Carla knew Michelle wouldn't give ups she eventually gave in and let Michelle get her home.

Once Michelle had gotten Carla home and settled she made her way back home too. As she got out of her car on Coronation Street she saw Peter. At first she wasn't going to say anything because Carla didn't want him to know anything but then she quickly approached him. "Peter, you haven't heard off Carla have you?" She asked.

"About what?" He asked rather awkwardly.

"She's hit the bottle." Michelle said bluntly. "I don't know what's going through her head but it's like something has happened and she won't tell me. I was wondering if she'd said anything to you."

"Uh… No she hasn't, sorry." He said. "You know what Carla's like, one minor inconvenience and she needs a drink." He said bitterly. Michelle just nodded as Peter walked away in the direction of his flat.

Michelle was worried about Carla and there was something she wasn't quite being honest about.