Back to normality?

Chapter 76

Unfortunately, Peter's attempt at controlling his urges came to a head the following weekend; throughout the week, he had managed to stay strong, attended daily meetings, and return to work but the relief Carla had felt was short-lived. After a particularly bad shift on Friday afternoon, Peter had succumbed to a glass of whisky before he'd left the Bistro. As soon as he entered the flat and kissed Carla, she knew he had broken his promise; asking Simon to take Matilda out for a walk, she turned her attention back to her husband.

"How many?"

"One"

"Peter..." she sighed. "Why?"

"Bad shift" he shrugged.

"There's gotta be more to it than just a bad shift; you've fought against it all week"

"It was just one drink, no big deal," he said, grabbing a glass of water.

"It is a big deal Peter; you know what even one drink will do. You've been sober since 2019, you've dealt with my psychosis and my bad days and relapses so why now?"

"It's who I am Carla"

"It's who you were, not who you are now; you've, we've, come so far so please don't let it get to you now" she pleaded, hoping to get through to him. "Please don't give up now"

"I won't have anymore, I promise," he said, putting the glass on the counter and resting his hand on her cheek.

"You've already broken your promise, Peter, one drink is all it takes"

"No more" he repeated. "It was one small drop of whiskey; if I was going to relapse I wouldn't have stopped at that, would I?"

"But you've had some, however little; next time, you'll say 'just a little more'  until it's a whole glass, then one becomes two and...I can't handle it, Peter"

"I'm sorry I've disappointed you," he said, going into the bedroom and shutting the door.

Sighing, she ran her fingers through her dark hair and rested a hand on her bump to soothe their baby; biting her bottom lip, she went into their bedroom and sat on the bed.

"You haven't disappointed me but I'm scared of what will happen next," she said, looking over at him.

"What do you want me to do?"

"Tell me the truth; why did it happen?"

Sighing, Peter rested against the headboard and gestured for Carla to do the same, an arm around her shoulder so she could curl up against his side.

"Something snapped; there was an arrogant posh git obviously on a business lunch with a younger female. Kept making inappropriate remarks; she was clearly uncomfortable and you know our policy. So I made sure she got out safely and this guy...he'd just ordered a drink from Bethany and started on her so I took over, the drink was on the side, and I asked him to leave. He wasn't welcome if he was going to act inappropriately towards any female, staff or otherwise..."

"And...?"

"He said something that I wasn't expecting"

"Which was?"

"He recognized me"

"From where? The Bistro?"

"A photo from your desk at Underworld, back when we were working together. So then he starts asking all these questions about you and he'd heard certain things etc and I threw him out, but his drink was still there and before I knew it, it was gone"

"What had he heard?" She asked, quietly as if she already knew what was coming.

"The usual, what had happened and I must've been glad to get out of there; I knew there was something about him when he came in and spotted me but it wasn't until that point it became clear"

"So people are still talking about me? Even after three years"

"Not people, just one stupid idiot; I'm sorry I gave into the urges. I'll phone my sponsor in a minute and I'll go to the meeting first thing, I promise" he reassured her, kissing her hair.

"Thank you for sticking up for me, and for the other women, but I need you to focus on fighting for yourself, for us, for our family"

"And I will; I'm going to do something else too. I'll talk to my dad, you were right; you can't do this alone"

"You don't need to do that, not if you're going to keep your promise?"

"Today was a blip; I'll get back on track and be the person you married"

Lifting her head, she kissed him before settling back on his shoulder; she soon drifted off as she listened to Peter on the phone with his sponsor followed by Ken. When she woke an hour later, she smiled at the sound of her daughter's laughter; she found her in the bathroom with Peter making funny faces with the bubbles from her bath.

"Mama" Matilda beamed.

"Hey, pretty girl" she smiled, sitting on the edge of the bath. "You having fun with daddy?"

"Dada play"

"You okay?" Peter asked, as Matilda went back to playing with her toys.

"Mm, the nap helped; are you?"

"I'm getting there; I'm sorry I let you down today" he apologised, again.

"Let's just focus on the future, eh? Shall I get Simon to get us some chips?"

"Sure"

Kissing Tilly, then Peter, Carla found Simon in the kitchen.

"He had a drink, didn't he?" Simon asked.

"Yes, a small drop but yes he did"

"Why now?"

"Today was a bad day after a long week but together, we can get him through this; I know you've seen first hand, more than most, what he's gone through but honestly, he is trying to not let it take hold again"

"It wouldn't be fair on Tilly, or you"

"Or you but he's recognised he's done wrong and considering what I've put him through the last couple of years, it's time to support him; shouting and him or having a go isn't going to make things better"

"True" he agreed.

"Anyway, can you run the chippy for us? Your dad doesn't feel like cooking tonight..." she asked, handing him the money from her bag.

"Sure, usual?"

"Thanks Si, get yours as well"

"Any special requests for you?" He asked, putting his jacket on.

"Not tonight"

As Simon left, Carla sent a quick text to Michelle before rejoining her daughter and husband in the bathroom.