Chapter Text
Carla and Lisa had formed an unlikely friendship. It all began after Peter left the cobbles, leaving Lisa feeling incredibly guilty that it was all her fault that he left causing him and Carla to break up. It was with that overwhelming guilt she visited the factory to apologise to Carla where she was reassured that it wasn’t her fault.
Carla had bought that ticket for Peter and she knew that in doing so it’d mark the end of their relationship.
From that moment Lisa had gone to apologise they’d formed a friendship and over time Lisa developed feelings for Carla, and unbeknownst to her, Carla had also developed feelings. One night after a few too many drinks they shared a moment where they almost kissed, then finally gave in a month later.
Lisa felt guilty for cheating on her wife, but being with Carla just felt right. Her relationship with Becky was complicated for starters; she had a daughter with Becky. But she also realised over time how Becky was sly and knew how to belittle her while passing it off as a joke. It was only when she was spending time with Carla that she realised it wasn’t normal.
Lisa began to have an affair with Carla until Becky grew suspicious and Lisa confessed. Becky was furious. She respected Carla for being a good friend to her wife and now she felt betrayed.
Becky told Lisa she didn’t want her to see Carla anymore and she had to call time on their affair by telling her it was over but Lisa couldn’t bring herself to end it. Sensing Lisa was slipping away, Becky decided to find a house in Ireland and told Lisa and Betsy they were moving. It was a drastic move but she would’ve done anything to keep their family together.
Becky dropped that bombshell a week ago and Lisa chose to keep it from Carla until the last moment so she couldn’t convince her to stay.
“You could’ve given me more notice you were coming round,” Carla grinned as Lisa stepped into the flat.
Lisa looked her over, taking in Carla in her lacy pyjamas and silk dressing gown. If she weren’t here to break her heart, she would have removed those clothes in an instant.
“I’m moving,” Lisa said flatly, cutting straight to the point.
Carla’s face fell. “Moving?”
Lisa nodded. “Tomorrow.”
“New house?”
Lisa nodded. “It’s not in Manchester.”
Carla looked at her, hoping this was a joke, that Lisa would burst out laughing any second.
“Where?” She finally asked, realising that Lisa was being serious.
“I can’t say. I’m here to tell you it’s over between us. Properly this time,” she emphasised, her voice wavered but she was determined not to break.
“We’re done?”
“I’m not going to pretend it wasn’t nice because it was but I have to put my family first.”
Carla swallowed hard, fighting back the lump in her throat. “Where’s this coming from? I thought you were going to leave Becky?”
“She’s my wife, and we have a daughter together. I can’t just walk away from that.”
Carla sat on the arm of the sofa and crossed her arms. “How long have you known you were moving?”
“A week.”
Carla let out a bitter laugh. “So, you continued to see me and had sex with me yesterday afternoon knowing you were going to come here and break my heart today?”
Lisa looked away. “I’m sorry. I knew if I told you, you’d try to convince me to stay.”
Carla’s voice broke. “We planned our future together.”
A tear rolled down Lisa’s cheek. “I’m doing this for my family. This is already hard enough for me to do, please understand.”
Carla shook her head. “No.”
“I should’ve ended this the moment Becky found out like I was supposed to do.”
“You don’t mean that,” Carla whispered, tears streaming down her face.
“I do,” Lisa said.
“Did this even mean anything to you?” Carla asked.
“I love you. That won’t just stop. But it’s over now. I’ve changed my number so you can’t contact me.”
It was Becky who insisted that Lisa change her number, claiming that it was necessary so they could rebuild their life. But Becky was also the account holder for the new SIM, so she could see who Lisa was calling and texting. She knew Lisa wouldn't take any risks to contact Carla if she was able to see who she was contacting.
“I hope you find someone who’s good for you. Goodbye, Carla.”
Without another word, Lisa turned and left.
“You’re good for me,” Carla sobbed as the door closed.
The Swain’s arrived outside a terraced house. Becky was excited to be embarking on a new journey, but Betsy and Lisa weren't. Only 18 hours ago, Lisa had shattered the heart of the woman she loved. Her love didn’t belong to Becky anymore but it belonged to Carla. But this was her family and she had to choose them. That’s what you do when you marry someone, right?
As they stepped inside Betsy grimaced. “This dump is our new home?”
“Betsy!” Becky scolded.
“What? We’ve gone from a three bedroom house to this.” Betsy shot back.
“It’s the only thing I could find in such short notice plus it's the perfect size. We only need two bedrooms really,” Becky shrugged.
“Betsy has a point to be fair,” Lisa chimed in.
Becky glared at her. “Don’t forget why we’re here.”
Betsy looked between them. “Why are we here?”
Lisa looked away.
“It’s a fresh start,” Becky replied, forcing a smile and clapping her hands together. “A new beginning for all of us.”
“You really think moving here is a fresh start?” Betsy asked. “You two will still argue.”
“We won’t,” Becky insisted.
“You say that but we all know you will. I had to leave my friends behind and it’ll all be for nothing.”
“I know and we’re sorry. You’ll be starting a new school in a couple of weeks, and I start my new job next week. We’ll make this place our home and look for a new house alongside it. But…to make up for it you can have the master bedroom.”
A wide smile spread across Betsy’s face. “Really?”
“Mhm,” Becky nodded.
“New job?” Lisa questioned.
“I wanted to make sure I had a job before we officially moved so I asked for a transfer.”
Lisa nodded slowly.
“Why don’t you go and unpack some of your things into your room?” Becky suggested.
Betsy nodded and headed upstairs.
Becky waited for Betsy to disappear up the stairs before looking at Lisa. “You went to see her yesterday didn’t you?”
Lisa shook her head.
Becky scoffed. “Don’t lie, Lise.”
“Yes,” Lisa admitted. “I had to say goodbye to her.”
Becky shook her head. “No, you really didn’t and I knew you and her were still carrying it on.”
Lisa looked at her. “How did-”
“It was obvious,” Becky interrupted. “Which is why we had to move here. Away from her and away from temptation. Lisa, this is a new chapter for our family,” she said, wrapping an arm around Lisa’s shoulders. “Carla’s in the past now and life is really looking up for us. I’ll nip out and get us some food,” she said, pressing a kiss to Lisa’s cheek and disappearing out of the front door.
Lisa sighed, sinking onto the sofa. She reached into her pocket and pulled out her phone. She removed the phone case revealing a strip of photos. It was photos that her and Carla had taken in a photobooth when they went out on a date. She ran her finger over Carla’s face. A flood of memories all coming back to her, she smiled sadly, blinking away the tears that threatened to spill.
She missed her.
Turning the photos over she was met with a line of symbols. Carla’s number. When she was changing her number she wrote down all the numbers of people she needed to message to let them know it was her new number and amongst those she had written down Carla’s number and changed them into the symbols on a keyboard, that way she’d have Carla’s number no matter what.
Lisa carefully placed the photos at the back of her phone before putting the case back on and began unpacking the plates from a box when Becky returned.
“I’m back,” Becky said, waving a bag. “Went to the chicken shop down the road.”
Lisa forced a smile. “I’m just going to go for a walk.”
While on her walk, all she could think about was Carla. Her chest tightened, and before she knew it, she found herself crying. She really was prepared to start a life with Carla but when Becky said they’d be moving here so they could save their family she suddenly realised why it mattered. Betsy was only fourteen and she needed both of her mums.
But did that really matter when her heart was elsewhere?
Walking through an estate with a row of shops, her eyes landed on a payphone and an idea formed in her mind.