Back to normality?

Chapter 19

By the end of October, six weeks after their break to the Lake District, Carla had gone from strength to strength; she'd done three shifts a week at the Bistro every week since been back and her frame of mind was better than ever. On the last Monday of October, Peter was awoken to the sounds of Carla throwing up in the bathroom; padding into the room, he held her hair back until she was finished.

"All done?" He asked as she leant back against him.

She nodded and sighed, willing her stomach to settle; dragging herself to her feet, she leant against him as he settled her on the sofa with a glass of water.

"You feeling okay?" He asked, checking her forehead for a temperature.

"I'm fine, must be something I ate or a bug or something"

"You should rest today"

"I'm supposed to be helping Michelle" she said, resting her head against the back of the sofa.

"You are going nowhere; I'll call in and see her on my way to work. You are gonna stay here and rest; you're looking a little pale"

Sighing, she nodded and closed her eyes; as the morning went on, she started to feel better and it was only when she looked at her diary to check her next appointment time with Scott, did she realise the date.

"Peter, can you come home?" She asked as he picked up her call.

"I'm at the office, I'll be five minutes" he answered, hanging up.

Running into the flat, he found Carla pacing the floor with her arms wrapped around herself; she stopped when she saw him enter.

"What's wrong?" He asked, out of breath.

"I think I'm pregnant" she whispered.

"Okay, do you have a test?" He asked, knowing she'd brought some since they agreed to start trying.

"I don't want to"

"Why not?"

"What if I'm not?"

"Then we'll deal with it; you need to know, one way or another"

She nodded and went into the bathroom; ten minutes later, they looked at the results.

Positive - 5-6 weeks.

"I'm scared Peter" she whispered, snuggling into his arms.

""I know but things are different this time, I'm different this time; no more stress, no more factory or alcohol to deal with. Just me and you keeping our little one safe..." he said, placing a hand on her flat stomach.

"What if it happens again?"

"We can't think like that; first thing we do is get it confirmed and then we talk to Scott"

"Peter" she whispered. "I feel sick"

Within seconds, she was back in the bathroom; when she was finished, he sent her to lie in their bed whilst he made a couple of calls. At just after three that afternoon, they left the medical centre and sat on the bench outside Audrey's salon; sighing, she snuggled into his arms and rested her head on his shoulder.

"You heard what the doctor said; everything looks okay. Scott is coming round tonight so we can discuss what happens next; let's just focus on the happy news. We're having a baby..."

"I can't lose another one"

"You won't; let's just take it a day at a time"

"I don't want anyone knowing, not yet"