Back to normality?

Chapter 14

The next morning, Michelle had gone home to get change after warning Robert not to be in the flat, and Carla was stood in the kitchen, a mug of coffee in her hands.

"Morning love, how did you sleep?" Peter asked as he grabbed his own cup.

"Not too bad; I'm helping Michelle out today"

"I heard what he's done; you want me to come with you?"

"Thank you, I think we'll be fine; but listen, thank you" she said, putting their cups down and wrapping her arms around his neck.

"What for?"

"Not giving up on me; even during them five years apart, you were always there when I needed someone, even if I didn't appreciate it. You got me through some of the worse times of my life, even as friends; even when I was pushing you away, ignoring you, you still tried. I'm glad in a way the psychosis happened, it brought us closer together; made us realised that we were always meant to be together"

"I was an idiot to throw everything we had away; and I know how lucky I am you gave me another chance. I'm not gonna make the same mistakes again" he said, kissing her.

"Good" she smiled. "Because I've been without you and my life is so much better with you; and I know I have my bad days but you still look after me"

"You deserve to be looked after and spoilt; have you eaten?"

"Yeah; I'm meeting Michelle at ten"

"I'll walk you over; did Si get off okay?" He asked, picking his cup up again.

"Yeah, he's really enjoying it" she said, putting some bread in the toaster for him.

"Good; I'm glad he's found what he wants to do with his life"

An hour later, Carla and Michelle walked into the Bistro, hand in hand, to find Robert  waiting for them; giving her hand a squeeze, she went through to the kitchen to put her jacket away.

"I don't want you here" Michelle said.

"It's half my business"

"Not anymore; I want you to leave. Sign it all over to me and leave; you stay and I'll make life hell for you and that tart"

"Try it"

"I hate you; you took my heart and stomped all over it. You told me you were glad I wasn't pregnant because you didn't want kids and yet, she's pregnant. You told me you couldn't be here because you were helping kids in need and the whole time, you were with her; laughing behind my back" she cried as Carla came back out and took her hand. "I don't want you here..."

"You heard her; back off and do one" Carla sneered.

"You weren't saying that when we were at it behind her back" he tried, knowing she wasn't in the right frame of mind when he took advantage of her vulnerability and Michelle had known that.

"It was once and you know I was in the middle of an episode; I wouldn't have looked twice at you otherwise"

"Really, you think I didn't notice all the looks; what we did had nothing to do with your illness. It was you been a bitch to your best friend..."

"Hey, they asked you to do one" Peter said from the doorway, having waited to see Robert leave before going to work. "I suggest you get your stuff and do one"

"You gonna make me?"

"I'd love nothing more, trust me but you're not worth it; I value my relationship too much to waste it on decking you"

As he finally gave up and left, Michelle went out back and Carla stood in Peter's arms.

"You okay?" He asked, feeling her trembling slightly in his arms.