It had been a month since Abby had confessed to starting the fire at Victoria Court and not much had moved on especially in the area of Lia's behaviour. She was clearly still struggling to move on after what had happened and yet still refused to talk to Carla. Carla had also tried her hardest to get Lia into counselling but she proceeded to refuse. They had since moved back into Victoria Court and Carla had tried her hardest to settle everything back to normal, she attempted to get Lia involved in even the slightest activity but her daughter still did not change. It was nearing the end of August and Lia was due to start college with Maisie in a few days, Carla was just holding out hope that it would help her daughter in anyway.
"I understand that Mr Reeds," Carla nodded talking on the phone to a client as Michelle came through pushing Fia in her pushchair, Carla gave her a smile and pointed the desk chair opposite her to take a seat, "Right well we will do everything we can to make sure this deal is the best you can get all throughout Manchester … okay speak soon lovey."
"Snapping up all Manchester's deals are we?" Michelle grinned as Carla sighed.
"Hopefully Chelle," Carla responded before turning to her niece, "And how are we today Miss Fia."
"A bloody nightmare," Michelle huffed with a slight laugh, "I haven't slept for the last 3 nights with her teething, screaming all the way through."
"Well your looking good for no sleep babe," Carla smiled at her.
"Thanks Car," Michelle grinned, "Anyway never mind me, how's madam today?"
"Radio silence," Carla sighed, "She came in late last night, I tried to talk to her but she just told me to leave it and she hasn't spoke to me since. I text her this morning to say good morning but she didn't answer, read it but no answer."
"What more can you do babe?" Michelle asked as Carla sighed.
"Well I've had an idea, but I can only do it if you help me," Carla replied as Michelle raised an eyebrow in wonder.
It was well into the afternoon as Lia was in town wondering about on her own when she stumbled into a new makeup shop that had just opened in the town. She browsed for a bit before picking up a few bits including foundation and mascara, she looked in her bag and found a tenner but nothing else more. She would usually get a little bit of money a week from Carla to treat herself and go out with her friends but as they hadn't been getting on at the minute, Carla had cut off her money. She went to put her foundation down before having a quick look between the doors and where the security was stood, she thought about what she was about to do for second before making her decision. At the end of the day, she didn't care anymore.
Carla and Michelle were leaving the Rovers after consulting Steve and Liz on their plan before making their way back to Victoria Court, just as a taxi pulled up outside the Barlow's.
"I don't believe it," Carla gasped as she watched a man step out the taxi with a bag over his shoulder.
"Peter?" Michelle questioned in a state of shock.
"Carla!" Peter exclaimed closing the taxi door and walking over to the women.
"What are you doing here?" Carla quizzed.
"Can we go back to yours? Talk?" Peter requested, Carla took a minute before nodding her head.
"Do you want me to give you guys some privacy?" Michelle wondered.
"No," Carla cut sharply looking to Michelle for support as she nodded her head and followed them.
"Where are the girls?" Peter asked attempting small talk.
"I was just going to get them from Rob now, you wait here. I won't be a minute," Carla explained heading across he street.
Carla had collected the twins and walked home with both Peter and Michelle, she had welcomed them into the flat and put the girls to play on the floor with their toys as she made them all a cup of tea.
"So, why you here?" Michelle asked.
"Well I've decided I'm moving back home, to Coronation Street," Peter revealed as Carla spun around on her heel, "I want to be a better dad to my girls, and I want to see Si more than I do as well."
"Peter," Carla began.
"And I know I let them down before but I feel better, I have my drinking under control, I'm working again. I really think I can do this Carla," Peter explained.
Carla went to answer as there was a knock on the door, she sighed before putting the tea bags on the side and opening the door to reveal Lia stood with two police officers next to her.
"Lia?" Carla asked confused.
"Miss Connor, I assume," The officer began as Carla nodded her head, Lia stepping into the flat.
"Yeah, what's happened?" Carla asked.
"We caught your daughter at a shop in town stealing some makeup," The police officer explained as Carla whipped her head around to face Lia.
"You must be kidding me," Carla responded as Lia sighed and looked away to Michelle who gave her a disappointed look.
"The shop has decided not to press charges however we strongly suggest you have a word with your daughter about her behaviour as we do not want to be arresting her again," The officer explained as Carla nodded.
"Yes of course, we are really sorry for wasting your time," Carla answered sighing as she they nodded and walked off, "Thank you!"
She shut the door behind them and turned to her daughter who began to walk off, "Yeah I know I'm grounded."
"Oi," Carla called as her daughter sighed and turned on her heel to face her, "Sit down now."
"I'm not a dog," Lia replied as Carla scoffed in shock.
"Lia," Michelle piped up as a warning.
"What, I'm not, I know what she's gonna say. How could you? Why didn't you just ask me? You're grounded," Lia summarised as Carla huffed.
"You know what Lia I don't even know what to do with you anymore. I've tried hard, I've tried soft. How else am I meant to go about this? How else am I meant to try and help you?" Carla questioned.
"I don't know but hopefully you finally figure out how to stop being such a shit mother by the time the girls get the age they understand what's going on," Lia bit.
"Lia!" Peter defended.
"Don't you start cause I haven't even bothered asking what you're doing here ... I mean if you wanna get back with her might as well crack on with it now. She'll drop me for her latest fella again anyway, might as well be you," Lia argued.
"You know what Lia I was gonna suggest this nicely but I can't do this anymore," Carla snapped, "Get out, you're going to live with Michelle."
"Course I am, shipping me off when things get tough," Lia scoffed, "I'll go and pack my bags then shall I."
"No don't bother," Carla stopped, silencing her daughter for the first time, "I can't stand the sight of you right now, get out... I'll send your stuff over later."
"Fine!" Lia shouted heading to the door and flinging it open, "I hope you don't fuck them poor girls up as much as you have me with your shit parenting!"
Michelle jumped off the chair and raced over to the door to shout down the stairwell of the block of flats, "Ophelia Connor!"
The adults sat in silence for a second processing the events of the last few moments, the twins still babbling between each other, the television playing in the background.
"Carla," Michelle said in an almost whisper.
"Will you go after her Chelle, make sure she's okay?" Carla whispered, Michelle sighed heavily at the sight of how defeated her best friend was so then nodded and walked out of the flat.
"Peter, can you take the girls please. I just need a minute," Carla sighed walking off to her bedroom.