Chapter Text
After everything their family of three had been through, it had finally taken its final blow and the shattered pieces slipped through her grasping fingers. Instead of ending in betrayal or loss, they had ended amicably and in love with one another. So much so that she had let her husband go without her, watched as he flew from their perch to new horizons and now his son was flying the nest too.
"Bye Carla," Simon said with tears in his eyes and Carla coiled her arms around his back and neck like a boa constrictor, squeezing him tighter and tighter.
"I love you, Si... You take care of yourself, won't you? Keep your head on straight and don't let your dad upset you, okay?" She told him, cupping his cheek and kissing his forehead.
"I'll be fine, Carla!" He smiled softly. "Thank you for all you've done for me and my dad. Make sure you look after yourself as well, okay? I love you so much,"
She dragged him in for one more hug before he slid into the taxi with Steve and Leanne, driving for the airport where he would join his father in Spain. Carla watched as the taxi turned the corner and left the street, wiping the tears from her eyes, rushing over to Underworld. Not only was she saying goodbye to her stepson, but also the possibility of her husband ever returning to her. Not that she wanted him back, of course...
Limbs of lead, she hauled her body out of the factory after switching all the lights and machines off, the niggling aches grating through her bones and muscles, Carla found herself slumping against the bar in the Rover’s and ordering a very large glass of red wine. Today had been a disaster from the get-go with Simon leaving, the machines being temperamental, potentially making them miss deadlines for their orders and dealing with difficult, sexist clients.
Bobby called over to her and she sighed, plucking her glass off the bar-top and sliding into the booth opposite her nephew. Jenny swept over to them both, questioning how Carla was – they had not been speaking as much since the truth about the pub’s ownership was revealed.
She was halfway through her second glass wine when the Barlow clan burst through the door to - her - pub and hovered around her table. "You alright? What's up?"
"What's up? You traitorous little bitch! How can you even ask that?"
"I beg your pardon?" She snapped back.
"We know all about Bobby lying to the police." Ken explained.
"You pretended to be my friend - a great sister-in-law you are! When all the time you were helping him fit me up for murder!" Daniel exclaimed and Adam continued to glower at her. Bobby opened his mouth to speak but Carla slid out of the booth and held her hands up in surrender.
"I did not 'fit you up' for anything! Bobby lied and he shouldn't have done but he was trying to help Roy! I was just trying to help Roy and keep Bobby out of prison. Daniel, why would I want you to go down for something you didn't do?"
"To get back at Peter?" Adam suggested, a disgusted sneer on his face. "You found out he'd left you and jumped into bed with a younger bit of skirt, so you thought you'd hurt him by throwing his little brother under the bus."
Carla opened her mouth to make a scathing remark, but the words caught in her throat as she fought not to scream them at the Barlow’s. They had been her family for a very long time, and she didn't want to lose them. "I didn't know anything about Peter until a few days ago and I wouldn't do that!"
"You sided with Bobby! You've known him all of five minutes - what happened to a bit of family loyalty?"
"I didn't know what to do for the best! How was I to know that you'd be picked up for Bobby's incredibly vague description? It was wrong - I know it, he knows it and the police know it but it's over now and I’m sorry!"
"You're a horrible little cow, you know that? I hope you rot in Hell because we're done with you. No wonder Peter was dying here with you - he's actually thriving out there now he’s out of your clutches,"
"Alright - get out." Jenny demanded, ushering them out of the doors. "I won't have any of that in here. Especially not to Carla."
"Forget it, Jenny - I'm out of here." She said through gritted teeth, pushing past Adam and bursting into the cool evening air. It was only half-five, so it was still bright and filled with people wandering the streets. Bobby followed her, calling for her to slow down as his walking frame caught on the cobbled road.
He sat down next to her on the couch as she poured herself another glass of wine from a bottle she had open in the fridge. "I'm sorry, auntie Carla. I didn't mean to get you into trouble with them lot - I know you love them."
"It's not just them though, is it Bobby?"
"Eh?"
"Roy? You jeopardised everything with him and he is my oldest friend and the best father figure I ever had." She snapped and pinched the bridge of her nose, taking deep breaths. She took a large gulp of her drink and continued to stare into her glass.
"Maybe I should move out... I've caused you nothing but trouble and all you've done is helped me. I mean I just showed up one day and you gave me a home and a job and love, and I took advantage of that. I think I should move out..."
"Yeah," she said finally. Carla raised her eyes to meet his and shook her head. "I'm sorry, Bobby, but I think it's for the best."
"Oh, okay. I'll start packing now then - would you be able to send some stuff on to my mum's then?" She nodded and moved to the kitchen with her back to him. She made a cup of coffee and sipped on it, the bitter liquid scorching her upper lip. Her fingers gripped onto the counter, her knuckles turning white. "I've got everything I need for now - just send the rest when you get a chance, no rush."
"I'm sorry, Bobby…"
"It's not your fault, your still my auntie Carla. We can stay in touch if you want?" He said, forcing his cheerful tone as they carried his boxes to the taxi waiting outside.
"Of course we can," She sighed, frustrated, and he sprung a rapid hug on her. She patted his back and stepped back as he manoeuvred into the taxi, just as Simon had that same morning and Ryan had a few weeks previous. The taxi pulled away and she turned to open the door to her flat, wriggling the handle and barging her shoulder into the glass but it refused to budge, only creaking in vexation. She hadn't put the latch on the door, and it had swung shut behind her, effectively locking her out.
"ARRGH! Idiot! You stupid, stupid idiot! Damn it!"
She continued to curse loudly as she pounded her hands into the door, her palms striking the glass panel, causing it to rattle as her skin flamed red. She kicked the door with her heeled boot and craned her head to lean against the glass, frustration and sorrow streaking down her cheeks and dripping off her chin. "Idiot..."
The car door swung shut and DS Swain fixed her trouser pants, shoving her hands into her pockets as she glanced around the street, she had spent so much time on lately. It was a very close-knit community, everyone seemed to know everybody and everything about them. It would be near-impossible to have a single secret on the street. Except there was a secret – where Lauren’s body was.
Strained exclamations of a familiar voice punctuated the air and both detectives frowned as they turned in the direction of the woman’s shouts. Preparing to break up a fight, both rounded the corner, skidding to a halt when they saw the brunette assaulting her front door. DS Swain held out her hand to stop her partner approaching Carla as she saw her body sag against the door. She took a step closer to her, but Carla’s almost defeated fury snapped her to attention, and she marched across the cobbles and out of their line of sight.
"Someone doesn't sound happy," Kit mused and turned to DS Swain who frowned after the brunette. After a minute, she shook her head, pressing her lips together and returning her focus to her job. She urged Kit to follow her as they continued their investigation for the missing girl’s body.
Carla stormed back towards the factory as she still had her keys for the factory in her jean pocket, so she let herself back in and hunkered down at her desk. Swatting away the tears, she switched the computer back on and pulled up the spreadsheets for her finances along with her documents for their order with McGregor’s. Sarah had left her a few notes of other things that needed salvaging too that only Carla was suited to do.
-
It was half just after half six when DS Swain officially clocked-off duty and as she approached her car, she hesitated at Carla's flat. Her feet were already carrying her to the door before her brain had computed her actions and her fingers were already pushing the buzzer, waiting for the buzzing to be replaced by her velvety voice.
Lisa's phone vibrated against her hip, and she slid it out of her pocket to see a message from her daughter.
Casey’s mum said I can stay over here tonight so don’t wait up.
It would be nice to be asked instead just telling me. I am still your mother, young lady.
She’s already ordered pizza now so it’s too late
I’ll see you tomorrow – love you x
Knowing she wouldn’t get a response of equal sentiment, she made her way back over to her car, her foot hovering in the footwell with one hand on the wheel. “Damnit Carla,”
The blonde crossed the road to Roy's Rolls where she was greeted by the sight of Roy sweeping the floors and Nina scrubbing the tabletops. Both stopped what they were doing, staring at her with apprehension.
"Oh, I'm sorry, we're just about to close. Unless this is about Lauren's case?" Nina spoke before she could.
"Oh, it's a shame, I was going to get a coffee. Sorry, no, this isn't about the case."
"What is this about then, DS Swain?" Roy asked and Nina moved to his side. “I had thought we were finished.”
"I was actually wondering if you had spoken to Carla today?"
"Uh- not today. She hasn't been in at all. Is this about Bobby?"
"All charges were dropped against Bobby; no, it was more of a courtesy call – Mrs Barlow seemed quite distressed earlier."
"She is probably just overwhelmed with her family issues. I haven't cleaned the coffee pots away if you wanted one?" Nina offered and started making it before Roy could protest.
"Would it be cheeky to ask for two?" The detective asked with a bashful, half-smile but Nina smiled back at her.
"A splash of milk and no sugar," she said as she handed them both over, her smile suggesting she knew something about the detective.
"If you wish to speak to Carla, you should check the Underworld factory." Roy informed her and continued cleaning.
"Rule of thumb with Carla, always check the factory first. She practically lives there. Then she shares the rest of her time between here, the flat and the Rovers and occasionally the Bistro."
"Thank you," DS Swain smiled after paying for her coffees and wished them both a pleasant evening. She made her way across to the factory, squinting to see if the woman was in, and noticed a light on so she balanced the coffee cups on top of one another and opened the door. Once she was inside, the door shut quietly, the factory was in darkness, save for the spotlight in the kitchen area and the lamp sat on Carla's desk, the full-length windows of her office allowing her full sight of the woman. The factory was haunting in the dark having been so light outside, the silhouettes hovering garishly in their positions, witches’ fingers stretching towards the light.
DS Swain suppressed a shiver at the ghosts of the factory that resided there despite the numerous re-modelling it had undergone over the last two decades.
The owner was still scribbling away in an old notebook, referring to her computer, one hand clutched in her hair, pulling at her scalp. She bit her lip hard enough that Lisa was sure the woman had drawn blood, and the tell-tale mascara tracks down her face confirmed to her that she had been crying. The other half of her silky hair not wrapped around her fingers fell like a curtain over the documents she was correcting.
Pushing the door open with her hip, she grabbed the balancing cup of coffee before it tumbled to the ground and splashed on the fabric samples lay in front of her desk. Casting her gaze around the room, she observed the very modern looking factory with the sketches of lingerie and women in 50s French fashion. Carla’s empire.
Oblivious to the woman’s presence in her office, Lisa cleared her voice before speaking. "You ought to at least lock your door, you know? Especially since you didn't even hear me come in. Anyone could have waltzed in and stole something or worse - hurt you,"
Carla jumped, raising from her seat briefly and sitting up straight at the sight of the detective in her office. "Oh. Hi. What are you - doing here?"
"I came to check on you after this afternoon,"
Carla raised her eyebrow, confusion on her face as she set her pen down and closed her notebook to give the woman her full attention. "I saw you at your flat about an hour ago, you seemed very distressed. I could hear you shouting from around the corner."
"I appreciate the concern but I'm not-"
"You listened to me and my troubles, maybe I can return the favour? I brought you coffee from the cafe. Your friend Nina made it, and Roy said I would probably find you here."
"You got me coffee?" Carla asked and then the furrow of her brow deepened, her lips pouting slightly, emphasising her chiselled cheekbones. "You were looking for me?"
"What can I say? I've seen you angry and defensive, but you sounded like you were at the end of your tether... I was worried something had happened."
She took a sip of her coffee as she handed Carla the other and crinkled her nose in disgust. Carla sipped hers and licked her upper lip - she had missed her coffee at Roy's today. She stood up from her desk and took the take-away cup from Lisa's hand even as she protested, laughing softly. Lisa furrowed her brow as she followed the owner into the dimly lit kitchen area. She poured the bitter coffee into a new mug and pulled a bottle of milk out of the fridge, the warm glow illuminating her face.
"One or two sugars?"
"Oh - two please,"
"I presume Nina knew you were bringing me a coffee. That's how I always have mine,"
"I guess so," She smiled. "But really Carla, that's lethal. How can you drink that?"
"Do you know, I used to have no milk or sugar in my coffee - just straight out of the pot. Different life then, different person."
She handed the mug with the salvaged coffee in it back to Lisa and motioned for her to sit down at the table, Carla leaning back in her chair and rubbing at her eyes, taking a long sip from her coffee.
"Ta…” She said, licking the coffee drip from her lip. “Now are you going to tell me what got you in such a state?"
"I wasn't-" Carla began to exclaim but Lisa held her hand up.
"I can see you've been crying, and I heard you shouting at yourself and beating your door in… How are your hands by the way?” She asked, peering over to see them, her feather-light touch caressed her skin and sent shivers up her forearm. Carla daren’t move.
“They’re fine…” She breathed, swallowing hard. The brunette stared at her for a few moments, Lisa's eyes soft but persistent in their staring. She tilted her head to the side and smiled softly and Carla sighed, rolling her neck from side to side before speaking. "Everything's going wrong, and I can't stop it. I have to be in control, or I'll freak out - hence why I'm a bottle of wine down just in the last hour."
"Yes, I get the feeling that you're a bit of a control freak." Lisa smirked and Carla scoffed, smiling too.
"Everything here is still messed up because of Stephen and Peter's gone - which yeah, I bought him the ticket so he could be happy, but he's moved on already with some olive-skinned woman about fifteen years younger than me.” She spoke the words through gritted teeth, trying not to wince as the imagine of Tina McIntrye popped into her head. “My nephew Ryan has left to visit his mum, and I lost Roy and now I've lost all of the Barlow's who were the closest thing to family I had left and now Bobby's gone too, and my stepson Simon left this morning to join his dad and I'm all alone... Again."
"Why has Bobby gone?" Lisa cocked her eyebrow, tilting her head to the side again.
"Because Adam Barlow found out that Bobby's false statement is what caused you to question Daniel and I sided with Bobby when I corroborated his story so now, I'm a ‘traitorous bitch’ who almost drove my husband to his deathbed. Bobby is as much trouble as his dad - he suggested moving out and I agreed that it was for the best." Carla smiled a humourless smile as she spoke and then shook her head when her summation came to an end. She picked up her coffee again, hiding her face with her mug. “How does this keep happening?”
"I'm really sorry to hear that, Carla... But I can't imagine you being alone - what about your other family and all your friends? And I know things might be a bit tenuous with Roy at the minute, but it will get better."
"Most of my family is dead. My best friend, Michelle, lives in Ireland and my sister is in LA with my niece - my dead brother's daughter. My other brother, Bobby's dad, is in prison on a murder charge and as I said, everyone else is dead... I have work colleagues and Jenny but we're not close and I don't spend time with them."
Lisa pressed her fingers to her lips, her eyes wide as she stared at her with empathy and sorrow, her silvery-blue eyes shining in the kitchen spotlight. The strong, defensive and sometimes petulant woman she had been sparring with about how she carried out her job, she had never pictured to be a woman so lonely. The two pictures did not add up. She and her husband had been very much in love when she had seen them and now here she was, all alone.
"I'm sorry, I have no idea why I've just told you all of that." Carla said, drawing her attention back to the present. Jumping out of her seat, she washed out her mug, leaning against the counter and pinching the bridge of her nose. "I shouldn't be wasting your time; you have your own hell to deal with."
"It's okay, you don't need to apologise…” Lisa said, sliding out of her seat and placing her hands gently on Carla’s cold arms. “Carla?”
"Just forget about it. I just drank on an empty stomach on a school night. You don't have to-"
"My daughter is at her friend's house if you wanted to go and get something to eat – with me that is. It can be a shock going back to an empty home so suddenly..."
"I don't have to worry about that because I locked my house keys and my car keys inside my flat, so I can't actually get back in until I call the locksmith or see Bobby. Ken has a spare key but as I mentioned, they're not exactly my biggest fans right now."
"How about we get something to eat, and I can take you to Bobby or I can demand Mr Barlow gives you the spare set of keys?"
"I don't need babysitting, Lisa... And I also don't have my purse regardless so really I'm fine to stop here - it's warm and there is a pack of biccies in the cupboard if I get peckish."
"Oh - I'm sorry, I shouldn't have-" DS Swain said, pressing her hands against the table and pushing her seat backwards. "I'm sorry for being so unprofessional and overstepping."
Carla sighed and shook her head. "Don't be daft, I do appreciate you going out of your way, but you really didn't have to do that for me. I still don't understand why you came looking for me and then got me coffee and listened to me feeling sorry for myself. Your work is finished here, this isn’t part of your job description, and you already work overtime--"
"I was just worried - you didn't seem yourself.” Lisa interrupted Carla’s rambling as she could see she was becoming agitated. It was obvious the woman felt she wasn’t worth her time and unsure of her motives and all Lisa wanted to do was help calm the woman that had been driving her mad popping up at every turn… “Now I'm worried that you haven't eaten and you're alone. I am off duty so I'm not breaching any rules if we get food."
"... There's a Bistro or a kebab shop on the street. And I can ask Ken for my keys but I'm so tired I really don't want another confrontation."
"We can go to the Bistro if you like and then we can figure out what to do about those keys. I don't doubt you can get them back yourself," She smirked, shifting beside Carla to wash her own cup. Carla ran to her computer to switch it off and the lights too, glancing up to see the other woman leant against the doorframe, her foot crossed over her ankle. "Oh, you might want to wipe the mascara off your face."
Lisa rooted in her pockets for the same packet of tissues that Carla had given her a few days previous and handed them back with a smile. Carla chuckled and took the tissue, wiping it over her face. “Can’t believe you’ve been sat talking to me whilst I look like some form of clown or panda.”
“It didn’t seem all that important,”
“You’re not the one looking like a clown! I have a reputation to keep around here, I’ll have you know.” Carla said, mock indignation in her voice as she pointed her finger at her, causing the detective to chuckle as she stared at her shoes, waiting for Carla to lock up.
“I don’t doubt that for a second.”
Carla smirked at the woman as they made their way across the cobbles. Her comfortable stroll faltered, and she slowed as they approached Number One – the three Barlow men in a tense discussion at the front door. Lisa turned her head to look at Carla’s face as her expression returned to the stoic, stone-faced expression she had been faced with during so many of their confrontations. She hadn’t taken any notice of their disappearance until she saw her mask fall back into place.
"Carla!" A little boy shouted and bolted past Daniel and flung his arms around Carla’s legs.
"Hiya Bertie," she said and hugged the little boy in return. Lisa smiled at the sight but frowned at the thunderous shouting from the men at the door.
"Stay away from my son!" Daniel bellowed, storming across the road after the little boy.
"Alright, let's keep it civil, yeah?" DS Swain said, holding up her hands and angled her body to be slightly in front of the other woman to prevent him moving any closer to Carla. "Mr Barlow,"
"What's this? Got your detective protecting you now? Your personal bodyguard?" Adam sneered swanning over to them in his tan-trench coat.
"Leave her out of this! She was only doing her job," Carla warned, pointing her finger at him. "I need my keys for the flat back. Give them back and we're done."
"Forget it. I'm not helping you and they're Peter's keys."
"Well, he ain't coming back, is he!" The words burst from her throat, raw and broken as they cracked like lighting through the air.
"Carla," Lisa said softly before turning back to the Barlow men with a hard expression. "Please give Mrs Barlow her keys so you can go your separate ways."
"Why should I? It's not like she's done anything to help us – she broke the law!"
“The charges were dropped against both Carla and Bobby,” DS Swain explained calmly, while Carla exclaimed.
"Oh my god, Adam! Just give me my flaming keys! I was trying to protect Bobby and Roy - it had nothing to do with me that Daniel was questioned and he’s fine!"
Ken disappeared inside and brought the keys out to Carla. He placed the cold metal in her hands tenderly and patted her knuckles. "Stay clear of my family, you are nothing to us anymore. I am so disappointed in you, Carla."
She glanced down at the boy still trying to hug her and stroked his cheek. "Bye bye Bertie..." She whispered and shoved the keys in her pocket. Glancing at DS Swain, they took their cue to leave and continued towards the Bistro. Neither spoke as they entered and Carla only muttered when she asked for a table for two, her brain too distracted with thoughts to control her body properly. Toyah led them to a table and brought them two menus before asking if they wanted any drinks.
"Wine?" Carla asked and Lisa nodded. Once Toyah left the bottle of wine and two glasses, having already poured them some, Lisa tilted her head, gazing at the other woman. Her eyes were bloodshot, but her face remained impassive and vacant.
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah," She hummed and then seemed to snap out of her reverie. "Sorry, yeah no I'm fine. I just remembered that we can pay on our phones now. I'm too old to keep up with this world,"
"Give over! I get the feeling that you're going be in charge for a very long time to come..."
"Thank you for everything today, I shouldn't have told you the majority of what I have done but you're very good at your job and made me crack."
"Under the pressure of coffee?" She smirked.
"Oh, I'll pay you back for that an' all." Carla assured her but Lisa shook her head.
"I don't expect you to. It was an act of kindness. And I hope you know I'm only eating with you, so I don't have to go back to an empty house and eat alone,"
"Oh, so I'm doing you a favour then, giving you my amazing company?"
"Uh- I think we're both benefiting." Lisa narrowed her eyes as a smirk played across her lips.
The two women lapsed into silence as they flicked through the menu. Carla ordered a chicken and chickpea salad, and Lisa got a steak and salad. Once Toyah had taken their order and removed the menus from their table, Carla leant back in her chair and her eyes roamed over the woman’s figure. She had taken off her police badge and rolled her blouse sleeves up to her elbows. Her blonde hair was slipping from the bobble, and she could only imagine the loose strands were tickling her neck.
Lisa's blue eyes locked onto Carla's green ones, neither wanting to be the first to break and look away or blink and sever the connection holding them in the trance. The blonde raised the glass of wine to her lips and sipped the alcohol, not breaking the eye contact as she did so.
The sound of somebody clearing their throat caught their attention and both women flicked their gaze to Nick standing beside their table with two plates of food. "This looks intense,"
"Can I help you, Nick?" Carla asked him as he remained beside them, smiling slyly after setting their plates down. "Do you not have a Bistro to run?"
"Not right now, everyone's eating and chatting away. I can stay as long as I like," he shrugged.
"I'd also like to be one of those people eating because I'm starving and I ain't eating with you standing there like a creep." She commented and Lisa had to stifle a laugh with a cough.
"Since when were you two friends?” He asked, motioning his head towards Lisa. Carla glared at him as he pretended like she wasn't sat right there. "Since she let you and Bobby off with breaking the law? Or since she arrested Roy?"
"Excuse me! I'm perfectly capable of doing my job adequately - unlike you it seems. Now our food is going cold so unless you want a bad review for poor customer service, I suggest you let us eat in peace."
Carla glanced up at Nick's shocked face and then back at her plate, scratching her neck and shifting in her seat, pressing her lips together, failing to hide her amusement. As he walked away, still somewhat awed, the laughter finally broke past her lips and Lisa chuckled too. "I'm sorry for the hassle I've caused you. I know you said you would've been alone anyway but at least you wouldn't have wasted your time and money on me and you wouldn't have been bothered by everyone I have a history with."
"I've dealt with much worse, Carla."
"I don't like that people are questioning your integrity just because you're having dinner with me."
"I'm allowed to have a life outside of work, you know? And it wasn't just my call to have any of the charges dropped, so really, don't worry about it. I appreciate the concern," She smiled, and they finally tucked into their food. Carla sipped on her wine, inhaling the alcohol fumes as she did so. Lisa glanced up at her, biting her lip as she cocked her head to the side.
“Are you going to be okay?”
“I’m always okay,” Carla smiled, wafting her hand as though physically brushing off the question. “You will be too; it won’t stop hurting but you adapt to the pain and then you can start to move forward. You don’t move on – or I haven’t - but you do move forward, and you just hope that if you do ever get to see them again in the next life or whatever, they can forgive you for all the horrible, shameful mistakes you made in their absence.”
“That sounds like a heavy burden you’re carrying with you…”
Carla shrugged, not wanting to express the shame she felt regarding her past: the cheating, gambling and drinking, the lies… “Wine helps but work keeps me afloat. Sometimes I feel awful for putting the factory before everything and everyone else, but I’ve put so much into it and Paul and Liam poured their lives into it and then my dad and my brother…”
“But you’ve been there the longest?”
“I’ve come and gone a few times but yes, it’s had a lot of different owners but it’s my baby – it always comes back to me.”
“My daughter really would love it there if I could just get her to channel all of that energy and emotion into her work she’s go so far, and she might even be happy again.” Lisa said, her gaze boring into the table in front of her, her hand clenching around her fork.
“Well, why don’t you let me know when you she’s free and we can figure out this work experience, eh? Or just arrange a time for us to meet and discuss what she’d be interested in?”
“Are you sure because with the way she is right now, she’s a handful but she’s a good kid – not even deep down, she just is.”
“She’s struggling,” Carla shrugged. “I get it. Although I can be a bit of a bad influence, just ask anyone around here. Or don’t, I wouldn’t want you to get a bad impression of me…”
“Does it matter what I think of you?” Lisa smirked, a teasing lilt in her voice.
“Well- not-” Carla stumbled over her words, turning her face away with a blushing smile. She had a bright smile stretched across her lips when she turned back. “I couldn’t care any less about what anyone thought of me…”
“Liar,” She smirked and sipped her wine as Carla scoffed, clamping her hand over her heart and swooning in her chair provoking her to throw her head back as a guffaw burst from her lips and tears sprung to her eyes at her dramatics. Clearing her throat, Lisa sat up straight again, glancing around her at the other customers who were casting their eyes at them. Carla shook her head and tilted her head down so that her hair hid her face and smiling eyes.
“You could always use the work experience as an incentive for her to revise and do well on her exams?” Carla suggested, moving the conversation back to a safer topic.
“Yeah? Do you think maybe if you met her and discussed the conditions with her, she might listen or maybe if you just set a date and I told her the conditions?”
“Well, that would be up to you,” She shrugged. “I don’t mind meeting up with her if we could agree on a date or I can type up a letter for her or you could tell her – however you think she’d best respond.”
“She doesn’t respond to me full stop… Instead, she just lashes out at me and tries to find new ways to hurt me.”
Carla reached her hand over to Lisa’s and squeezed her fingers, rubbing her thumb over the back of her hand. “It will be okay… Eventually, she’ll be okay and then when her pain has eased a little, you’ll be able to ease your own pain.”
“Thank you for this, Carla… For this and the work experience and giving her a chance.”
“It’s no problem at all, I’d love to be able to help both of you in making your lives a little easier or easing the pain a little even if it’s just giving your daughter a little distraction or focus on the future.”
Finishing up their food and paying up, the two women headed out into the chilly evening. Carla shivered, rubbing her hands up and down her arms. “You need to get back inside; you’ve had no jacket on and it’s freezing.”
“Hey, I’m just glad I didn’t have my slippers on when I was saying bye to Bobby. Everyone would think I’d gone out of me tree again, granted last time I was wondering bare foot so slippers would be a step-up.”
Lisa slowly turned her head, staring at Carla with wide eyes. Carla shrugged and continued walking in the direction of her flat. “I told you I had a history of mental health. I’d like it to stay there to but-”
“It must have really hit you hard, Stephen drugging you, thinking you were going to such a dark place again.”
“I was terrified, Lisa…” She smiled helplessly. “You couldn’t possibly imagine the fear of knowing your mind is spiralling and there is absolutely nothing you can do about it, until soon you don’t know reality from insanity, dead from the living.”
“I’m sorry I couldn’t help you, Carla… I did my best, but I know you felt like I was dismissing you,”
“I’d rather forget about it now. He’s gone. Peter’s gone – I need to start over again.”
“Do you not think Peter will come back?”
“I honestly don’t know… He’s been gone before but then he always came back for Si. Now Si’s with him, there’s no reason for him to come back. It’s okay though, what with Bobby arriving the day after Peter left, everything with Roy being arrested and the factory, I haven’t had the chance to dwell on it.”
“Does it scare you? Now things are settling down. Bobby’s gone, Roy’s free, the factory is on the mend, are you afraid to face the feelings?” Lisa asked and Carla raised her eyes at the audacity of such personal, invasive questions. However, she thought about it and only managed a shrug. Lisa smiled sadly, touching her hand to the woman’s back briefly, Carla cackled and spun around as they reached her door.
“Fancy a brew?”
“I’d love to, but I have to get home to Betsy.”
“Oh well, maybe next time?”
“Maybe,” The detective grinned and Carla couldn’t resist the smile that spread across her own face, watching round the corner as Lisa slid into her car, waving out of the window as she drove away. Taking a deep breath, she rocked forward onto her toes and back onto her heels, the remnants of the smile sticking to her lips.