Back to normality?

Chapter 62

On Monday morning, after getting Matilda ready and settled in the car, Carla picked Michelle up and headed for the hospital; parking the car and knowing her friend was incredibly nervous, she took her hand and gave it a squeeze.

"It'll be okay, you'll see"

"I hope so"

"I know you're scared and I really don't blame you; let's just get the appointment out the way and then we can talk, eh?"

"Car...I don't know if I can..." she said, her voice quiet and shaky, head facing her lap.

"Hey, look at me" she said, waiting for Michelle to look at her. "I'm gonna be right there with you, it is just to make sure everything is okay and then we can leave; make the important decisions another time. I won't leave you, I promise"

In a room twenty minutes later, with Carla's hand in her and Matilda happily in the pushchair, Michelle answered the midwife's questions before lying on the bed; seeing her friends small bump, Carla squeezed her hand.

"This will be cold I'm afraid" the midwife warned as she squirted the gel before running the doppler over her stomach.

Closing her eyes, Michelle waited for for the familiar sound of a heartbeat before bursting into tears; with the relevant checks done and with it obvious Michelle wasn't in the right frame of mind to discuss anything, the midwife made another appointment for a few days later before leaving the room.

"See, everything is fine; let's get out of here" Carla smiled.

"It's actually real" she whispered, staring at the screen of her baby.

"It is" Carla agreed. "And whatever you decide, you have everyone's support; it has to be your choice"

"Before I saw it, I could pretend it wasn't happening, make excuses for the weight gain; I can't ignore it now"

"You can't but that doesn't mean you have to make a definitive decision right now; you have the meeting with the estate agent this afternoon, don't you?" She asked as Michelle wiped the gel off her stomach and stood up, putting her jacket back on.

"Yeah, at two; Tom's coming with me"

"He gonna move in?" She asked as they left the room.

"Dunno, feels a bit too soon to be thinking about it"

"Not if it's what you both want; if you take the apartment, I'll help out whenever I can but it might be nice, having him there to be hands on. Have you talked any more about the baby?"she asked as they made their way back towards the car park.

"Not really, I was too worried about today"

"And now you know it's okay?" She asked as they reached the car.

"I have no idea" she sighed, lifting Matilda onto her hip so Carla could put the pushchair into the boot. "Already been four months gone, I don't have a lot of time to make decisions; I know I've already decided to keep it but there's so much more to think about"

"Michelle, only you know what's the right thing to do; it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks. Do you love Tom?" She asked, lifting Matilda into her car seat and buckling her in, shitting the door.

"I do" she answered as they both got into the car.

"Then that's all that matters; it doesn't matter where you live or if you live together so long as you're happy and content with the decision you've made"

"What if it doesn't work out? I don't think I could do the single parent thing again" she asked as Carla began to drive.

"You'll never be alone, no matter what you decide; you've got Peter and I, and the lads and all your friends, not to mention, Tom. He didn't run when you told him, did you?"

"No..he didnt; he was more concerned about me and how I feeling"

"Sounds to me like he could be the real deal"

"I think he is" she admitted, smiling to herself.

As they arrived back on the street, they saw Tom waiting for them outside the flat; nodding to Carla, Michelle got out the car and hugged him. Taking his hand, they headed up to her flat to talk whilst Carla lifted her daughter onto her hip; knowing Peter was at work, she headed into Roy's where Anna was behind the counter.

"Is Roy around?" She asked.

"Upstairs, go up if you want" Anna answered, passing her by to give the plates of food in her hands to the waiting table.

"Thanks Anna"

Entering the flat, she found Roy sat on the sofa, surrounded by a small box of  belongings; sitting next to him, she settled Matilda on her lap and smiled.

"Sylvia's birthday?" She asked, more of a statement than a question.

"You remembered?" He responded, looking at her, noticing the brooch on her jacket out of remembrance.

"Course I did; how you doing?"

"I'm fine; not working today?"

"No, had something to do with Michelle; we just got back and thought you'd like to see your granddaughter"

"She's getting more like you every day; wait til she starts talking, between your stubborness and Peter's temper, you're gonna have fun"

"Peter said the same when I was pregnant; I'm not looking forward to the attitude if I'm honest. At the minute, I'm doing okay, there's no real stress and I can rest when she does but once she starts walking and talking, I guess I'm concerned it'll affect me...mentally" she admitted.

"You seem to be doing a lot better lately"

"I am, I really am Roy"

"And you know anytime you need space, you're welcome here"

"I know; this was always my safe haven, even when Hayley was here" she smiled. "I should get off; I'll come and see you soon, have a proper catch up"

"Okay"

"Say bye to Grandpa Roy" Carla smiled, lifting Matilda's hand to wave at the elder gentleman before leaving.