Back to normality?

Chapter 47

The next morning, with Matilda settled in the pushchair, Peter and Carla headed over to the medical centre where Ali squeezed them in and did the blood test himself, marking it urgent; afterwards, Peter headed to work, covering Carla's shift at the Bistro, while she headed over to Roys, wanting the company. Entering, she found it busier than it had been in a while; not seeing a table free, she went to leave when Roy came over.

"Not staying?" Roy said.

"You're busy"

"Put the pushchair out back and hold Matilda, keep me company"

"Okay"

Ten minutes later, she was stood at the side of the counter, Matilda on her hip as Roy carried on cooking.

"How are you doing?" He asked, passing her a coffee.

"I'm okay Roy"

"I saw you yesterday, going out with Michelle"

"Yeah, she took me somewhere, to get my head together; it's been a bad few days" she admitted.

"And now?"

"I had a blood test this morning, to test my levels; have to wait for the results but I see Scott again in the new year"

"Anything i can do to help?" He offered after handing a bacon roll and coffee to Kevin.

"You're okay; I'm gonna take Matilda upstairs for a bit, if you don't mind?"

"Take as long as you want; I'll come up when Anna gets in"

"Thanks Roy"

Settling down on the bed in the spare room, her room when she needed a space to escape, she laid Matilda on her chest and rubbed her back; when Roy popped up an hour later, both mother and daughter were sleeping soundly. Throwing a blanket over them, he left them to sleep; when Peter popped in at lunch time on a break, Roy sent him up with some sandwiches for them. Seeing them still lying on the bed, he carefully laid next to them, rest a hand on Matilda's back before stroking Carla's hair out of her eyes; watching as she woke up, he smiled and kissed her forehead.

"Hi" she whispered. "What time is it?"

"Lunchtime, you two must've been tired; Roy said he came up about an hour ago and you were both sparko"

"I only laid down to settle Tilly" she murmured, rubbing her eye and she snuggled into his embrace.

"It's been a long few days; you haven't had a great deal of sleep in about a week"

"Even when I do sleep, it doesn't feel like i have"

"I know, hopefully your results will show something up"

"Why aren't you at work?" She asked, it suddenly clicking.

"On a break; you weren't a home or answering your phone so I came to ask Roy if he knew where you were"

"Sorry" she whispered, her eyes closing momentarily before opening again.

"Don't be, go back to sleep: spend the day here and I'll come by when I've finished to pick you up."

"I should go home" she said. "Can you ask Chelle to have Tilly?"

"Come on, let's get you back then I'll sort it"

Half hour later, Peter had gone back to work, Michelle was entertaining Matilda in the living room and Carla was lying on the sofa, blanket over her as she watched her daughter playing, slowly allowing the sleep to take over once more.

"Looks like mommy is really tired today, isn't she?" She said softly to the young child. "How about we get you some dinner?"

When Carla awoke again, she found Michelle sat on the armchair, drink in hand as she flicked through a magazine she'd found lying around; rubbing her eye, she realised the flat was quiet.