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Chapter Text

The Rovers had been plastered with flyers for weeks and now said flyers were beginning to infiltrate the rest of Coronation Street. ‘HALLOWEEN SPOOKTACULAR!’ printed in bright orange surrounded by pictures of pumpkins and ghosts. Carla had rolled her eyes every time she’d seen one. She had half a mind to start ripping them down and binning them altogether just to inconvenience Daisy bleedin’ Midgeley but decided against it. She reached the doors of the factory, her movements stilling when she spotted a flyer taped to her own factory without her permission. She ripped it down in a flash. Shoving the crumpled flyer into her coat pocket with a huff.

It had been a few months now since Peter had left subsequently followed by Simon and all of a sudden Carla felt alone. She wasn’t completely alone of course, she had her nephew Ryan. But she had a feeling something was going on with him. He had started leaving the room to take calls, his voice dropped to a whisper so Carla couldn’t eavesdrop. She suspected he was seeing someone, happy for her nephew unless said girlfriend turned out to be Daisy again, but selfishly left wondering if he would one day abandon her too.

Carla decided to push all thoughts of her personal life to the back of her mind. It was time to focus on the factory and get things back on track after everything with Stephen and then things with Peter ending. She flitted through a few days of mail, a thick envelope catching her eye. She opened the letter in an instant, hurriedly reading the pages before leaning back in her chair with a sigh. Divorce papers. Brilliant. Just what she needed really.

Not that she could blame Peter or say that she couldn’t see this coming. But it was still a blow to see the official confirmation that her marriage was over. Another failed relationship. And she didn’t have much faith in the local dating pool either, picking between walking red flags or washed-up bitter divorcees. She laughed to herself at the thought of now belonging to the latter category herself.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a sudden sharp knock on her office door. She shoved the divorce papers into the top drawer of her desk, shouting at the other person to come in. Ryan came in, a smug smile on his face.

“Morning Auntie C” he said with far too much enthusiasm considering how early it still was.

“Didn’t hear you coming home last night” Carla mused as Ryan took the seat opposite her.

“Yeah well, got lucky didn’t I” he wiggled his eyebrows with a suggestive smirk.

“Right, for my nephew you are way too comfortable clueing me in on your sex life ya know” Carla scrunched her nose at the thought.

“Well at least one of us is getting some” he teased.

“Have you just come in here to pick apart my personal life, or lack thereof” Carla questioned, waggling her pen at Ryan.

“Mmmm nope wouldn’t dream of it” Ryan replied. “But you have been in a bit of a funk. I’m not judging, I know things haven’t been easy on you the past couple of years. I thought I’d try and cheer you up”

“Oh my hero” Carla responded sarcastically but smiled so Ryan knew there wasn’t any malice. “So have you brought me a present or are you hear to practice your stand-up routine?” she asked.

“I’ve brought you a present” Ryan confirmed. Carla looked at his empty hands in confusion. “A pretty big present to be exact”

“Is it covered by some sort of invisibility cloak?” she queried.

“It’s at the flat. I wanted to be there when you…opened it” he finished with a hurry. “Come on then what are we waiting for?”

“Ryan I can’t just leave” Carla said, beckoning to the files that were spread over her desk. “I’ve got work to do”

“I’m sure the boss will let things slide” he said with a knowing smirk. “And I’m sure Sarah owes you” he said, letting Carla ponder his words.

“This better be worth it” she said, finally persuaded by Ryan.

“Oh I have a feeling it will be” he said, as Carla packed up her things. The pair hurried back to the flat they were sharing with each other. When they got to the door, Ryan pulled out an silk eye mask, beckoning at Carla to put it on.

“Oh you really have taken this seriously” Carla nodded at the eye mask in amusement.

“Humour me” Ryan replied, placing the eye mask over Carla’s eyes. He carefully guided her up the stairs. Carla knew they had reached the top of the stairs when she heard the sound of Ryan’s keys dangling and the door being unlocked. Hearing the flat door had been opened, Carla took the eye mask off in a hurry, her curiosity piqued at whatever her nephew had planned for her. Her eyes widened when she saw what Ryan had been planning.

“MICHELLE!” Carla beamed as she rushed to her best friends side pulling her in for a long embrace. “God I’ve missed you” she broke apart from the embrace slightly her hands resting on Michelle’s arms.

“Hey stranger” Michelle grinned once Carla took her in her arms. “And god I’ve missed you too” she laughed.

“So this explains all the late night phone calls and secrecy” she turned back at Ryan who pretended not to have a clue what Carla was referencing. “I thought you were back together with Daisy!” she admitted, half relieved that this did not appear to be the case.

“Pfft as if. That ship has sailed and sank” Ryan laughed. “But yes it is something we have been planning”

“You need cheering up” Michelle announced. “And seeing as Ryan’s obviously been doing a rubbish job…”

“Oi” Ryan interjected but Michelle continued anyway.

“There was only really one solution. Me” she laughed.

“Well like I said I’m so glad you’re here. How long are you here for?

“Just a long weekend sadly, all I could get off work” Michelle explained. “However still plenty of time for us to have a catch up, maybe even a fun Halloween night in the Rovers?” she raised her eyebrow suggestively as Carla pulled a face. “Oh come on Mrs, it’ll be fun. I’m sure you’ll have that pirate gear stashed away somewhere” she laughed. “No, I know, let’s go into town later. Boozy lunch and a bit of Halloween costume shopping?” she asked.

“Oh go on then” Carla laughed pretending Michelle had twisted her arm. “Definitely thinking something with a mask on to conceal my identity though”

“Alright Batman” Ryan laughed. “Who are you hiding from then?”

“Absolutely no one, still doesn’t mean I don’t have my street credit to uphold” she retorted by sticking out her tongue in response.

“Right lets get a move on then” Michelle headed towards the door, beckoning at Carla to follow. “Don’t wait up son” she smiled at Ryan playfully pinching his cheek. The pair exited, the sound of their laughter fading into the distance.

__

Meanwhile Lisa Swain was sat in her bedroom glaring at the costume she had brought a week previously that had been carefully hung up against the frame of her bedroom door.

“Stupid” she muttered, shaking her head in disbelief that she’d managed to get roped into this situation anyway. A bloody Halloween party in her brand new local. She’d only agreed to go because her friends were keen to see Lisa’s new house and the area for themselves. Since moving to Weatherfield, Lisa had kept her head down. She interacted with people for work purposes only, determined to keep up that strict no-nonsense persona that she had permanently adopted since Becky passed away. If only Bex could see her now, she’d be cackling at the thought of Lisa willingly agreeing to go to a costume party in the first place.

“Mum can I borrow a tenner” Lisa’s thoughts were interrupted by her teenage daughter Betsy coming through the door like a herd of baby elephants. The costume Lisa had carefully hung up fell to the floor. Betsy picked it up glancing at the costume and back to her mum. “You going as a mime or…?” she glanced at the black and white striped long sleeve top.

“No I’m going as a robber” Lisa pointed out. “You know because I’m a copper”

“That is SO lame” Betsy rolled her eyes as she hung the costume back up before Lisa could have a go. Lisa looked at her daughter in amusement. Remembering why she had come to Lisa in the first place, Betsy changed her tune. “Actually it’s pretty ironic”

“That’s the point” Lisa confirmed.

“About that tenner?” Betsy asked hopefully. Lisa sighed, she’d given Betsy a fair bit of money this week already. But since Becky died she felt like she had lost her way a bit with Betsy. Any small disagreement could escalate into a screaming row and Lisa didn’t have the energy to fight her at the moment.

“In my purse” she said as Betsy grinned. “Remember you’re still babysitting Isla tomorrow night” she said, thinking of her friend Em’s six-year-old daughter.

“Yes I haven’t forgotten” Betsy rolled her eyes. “I’m staying at Sab’s tonight though, thanks for the money. You are thee best” she grinned as she exited the room. One less drama Lisa thought, now all she had to do was get through tomorrow night with her closest friends and try and actually convinced them that she was doing good since Becky died and wasn’t a total lost cause who had no life outside of work. Yeah, she was screwed.

Chapter Text

The doorbell rang just as Lisa had finished getting ready. She blinked at her reflection and sighed. She wasn’t one for Halloween outfits but looking in the mirror she did wish she’d made more of an effort. Especially now she was half a bottle of wine down and could feel herself beginning to loosen up. “I suppose that’ll have to do.” she muttered to herself.

She picked up the final part of her outfit, a superhero style mask that covered her eyes, and bounded down the stairs. Upon opening the door, a burst of laughter and cool October air rushed in. Her closest friends stood on the other side of the door. Em, dressed as a witch, balancing a slightly sleepy Isla on her hip. Rob as Dracula and Cat, ironically dressed as a cat.

“Finally!” Cat announced, pulling Lisa in for a hug. “Thought you’d bottled it.”

Lisa smirked as she broke away, stepping aside to allow everyone inside. “Yeah, because missing a night of warm lager and grown men in cheap Dracula capes would be such a tragedy.” She looked pointedly at her friend. “No offence Rob.” she grinned.

“Don’t knock it,” Rob said, brushing past her. “I’ve been looking forward to this all week. You only live once.”

Lisa gave him a look. “In your case, once is already looking like enough.”

“Jealousy doesn’t suit you, Swain” Rob shot back. “Nice place you’ve got here, thought we were never going to see it.”

Before Lisa could reply, Betsy appeared at the top of the stairs, arms crossed and eyebrow arched. “Aww look at the Boomer’s all dressed up for their night out. Don’t stay out too late, care homes get funny about missed curfews”

“Cheeky mare.” Cat muttered. “Come and give your Auntie Cat a cuddle missus.”

“Charming child you’ve raised there.” Em joked with a smile as she put Isla down.

Betsy bolted downstairs, accepting a hug from everyone. Lisa’s best friends were more like family. Betsy remembered both her mum’s hosting games nights and dinner parties for their little group. All that seemed to stop when Becky died. Betsy had hoped that tonight would remind her mum of the old times, that life can carry on even when your world has been turned upside down.

“So, which one of you is most likely to end the night with a dodgy kebab and a sprained ankle?”

“You’ve met your mum haven’t you.” Rob replied without missing a beat.

Lisa pretended to gasp in mock offence. “Never had a dodgy kebab if I’m honest.” she muttered, feeling a little perkier at the thought of a greasy post-night out kebab.

Betsy smirked, kissing her mum on the cheek. “Have fun mum. If you’re late home, I’ll add interest to the babysitting gig.”

Lisa rolled her eyes but chuckled. “I don’t think so young lady. There’s money for a takeaway on the side in the kitchen.” she told Betsy.

“Isla’s bedtime is nine.” Em told Betsy. “And that means nine, not ten minutes before we’re due to get back.” she grinned, thinking of Betsy’s last babysitting shenanigans. “Don’t let little miss here twist your arm.” she ruffled her daughter’s hair and kissed the crown of her head. “Be good, both of you.”

“Yeah, yeah.” Betsy waved them off, calling after them “Don’t break a hip trying to keep up with the young ones.”

The group’s laughter carried all the way down the street. Lisa smiled warmly at her friends. She had missed this, friendships, normality. Despite doing her best to shut everyone out, her friends had continued to persist and Lisa was glad. Maybe there was light at the end of the tunnel after all.
___

Across Weatherfield, Carla Connor her bedroom, fastening the straps on her heels. The mirror reflected back a vision in black silk: a dress slit daringly up one thigh, a neckline that showed off the right amount of cleavage, and a black swan feathered mask covering half her face. Carla smirked at her reflection “Not bad at all Connor, you’ve still got it.”

Michelle came in with a wolf-whistle. “Bloody hell. Giving Mila Kunis a run for her money there.” she said sincerely as Carla preened.

Carla smirked. “Well, can’t exactly show up looking like I’ve let myself go just because Peter’s gone. You know how the residents of Weatherfield talk.”

Michelle wriggled into a sequinned great Gatsby style dress, tugging the hem down. “Honestly, you just need to get yourself out there again. Find someone before you end up a washed-up divorcee like me.”

Carla arched an eyebrow. “You’ve been divorced five minutes, Chelle. And technically I’m not even divorced.”

“Exactly!” Michelle said, grabbing her clutch. “Strike while the iron’s hot. Otherwise, you’ll be that sad woman sat alone in the Rovers with a bottle of wine.”

Carla laughed, sliding in her earrings. “Bottle of wine alone? Sounds like a dream” she mused. “Plus, I highly doubt I’m going to meet my soulmate at a Halloween party in the Rovers. Pull the other one.”

“Never say never,” Michelle sang, linking her arm through hers as they headed out.

---

The Rovers was unrecognisable. Plastic skeletons dangled from the beams, cobwebs stretched across every corner, and someone, Carla had presumed Glenda, had gone overboard with the pumpkin fairy lights. Which was just as well really, seeing as the Rovers was plunged into almost darkness.

The jukebox was cranked to full volume. Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’ blaring out as half a dozen or so punters attempted the zombie dance in the middle of the floor. The place was jam-packed. Carla had recognised quite a few locals, exchanging words with Sally and Tim who were dressed as Danny and Sandy from Grease as well as Kirk who had donned an inflatable T-rex costume.

“Now this,” Michelle said, clinking her glass against Carla’s, “is what I call a party.”

Carla scanned the chaos, amused. It wasn’t exactly her idea of glamour, but there was something infectious about the atmosphere. She downed her drink in a few big gulps, before making her way through the crowds for another.

Lisa and her friends had staked out a booth near the corner. Rob was already onto pint number three, Cat was lecturing him about pacing himself, and Em was telling the most hilarious peak office gossip stories. Lisa found herself laughing more than she had in months. But laughter had a way of leaving space behind it, and into that space crept the familiar ache the reminder that she was only pretending she was fine.

“You know what, Lis?” Em said suddenly, leaning across the table and shouting over the music. “You’ve done amazing since Bex. But you can’t sit in the shadows forever.”

Lisa blinked, caught off guard. “Em…”

“She’s right,” Cat cut in. “Becky wouldn’t want you on your own for the rest of your life. She’d want you to move on.”

Lisa forced a laugh. “Alright, agony aunt. Let me enjoy my lager in peace, will you?” she said with a smile trying to hide her annoyance.

But their words stayed with her. Lisa began to drink faster, determined to outdrink Rob and to numb the ache deep inside her. A few hours passed and Lisa found herself up dancing to Def Leppard’s ‘Animal’ The room was beginning to spin by this point and the pub had grown hotter, louder, and stuffier, Lisa slipped outside, grateful for a breather.

She must have been outside for less than a minute, slumped against the dark alleyway inhaling deeply in a bit to calm down.

“You alright there love?” a voice further down the ginnel came suddenly causing Lisa to almost jump out of her skin. Upon clocking a woman, fittingly dressed all in black with a feathered mask covering her nose upwards, Lisa spoke.

“Sorry,” she said as she composed herself. “I didn’t see you there. You gave me a fright.”

The womanxstepped closer, a smirk tugging at her lips. “Well, it is a Halloween party after all…” she mused.

Lisa glanced up and down at the woman in front of her. She’d hazarded a guess that they were roughly the same age, maybe a few years in it at most. She felt her mouth go dry. This woman was a vision, wearing a beautifully fitted black dress that left very little to the imagination. Her hair was pin straight and fell loose just above her cleavage where Lisa couldn’t help but stare. Worried that she’d be clocked for gawping, she steadied herself and cleared her throat.

“Black Swan?” she beckoned to Carla’s outfit.

“Very perceptive” she hummed in approval. “And you’re a mime?” she glanced up and down at Lisa’s costume.

Lisa gave a surprised laugh. “I’m a robber actually” she debated whether to explain the irony behind her outfit but decided against it.

Carla tilted her head in amusement. “And there was me thinking you’d just left it too late to get anything else on Amazon”.

Lisa laughed; the sound surprising her with how easy it came. “And what if I told you that I planned this outfit weeks ago?”

"Then seeing as you've put so much thought into your costume, I'd let you rob me blind" Carla laughed.

For a moment, they just looked at each other out of curiousity. Lisa noticed the way the Black Swan’s eyes sparkled behind the mask, like she was used to being looked at and enjoyed the attention. Carla noticed the way Lisa’s eyes softened when she laughed, and how even a mask couldn’t hide how tired she looked.

“Didn’t fancy staying in there?” Carla asked, nodding at the pub and leaning in a little closer causing Lisa’s breath to hitch slightly.

Lisa shrugged. “It all got a bit much. My mates, they mean well, but they’ve been giving me the whole ‘move on with your life’ speech.”

Carla rolled her eyes at the similarities between them, assuming Lisa to be a divorcee like she was. “Story of my life. My best mate reckons I’ll find true love in the Rovers dressed like this. As if.”

Lisa chuckled. “Sounds like we’re both hiding from well-meaning pep talks, then.”

“My mate’s ditched me for her ex” Carla said with a low husky laugh. “Apparently nostalgia’s more exciting than me.”

“Harsh” Lisa smirked. “I’d have picked you over a trip down memory lane.” She blurted out boldly, the alcohol seemingly doing the talking for her.

“Oh, would you now.” Carla’s eyebrow arched above the edge of her mask, her lips curling into a sly smile.

Lisa suddenly felt warmer despite the chilly night. She shifted awkwardly, breaking eye contact. “Sorry I er don’t know why I said that. I don’t even know your name” She stammered.

Carla stepped closer, close enough that Lisa caught the faint scent of her perfume. “You don’t strike me as the type of woman who says things they don’t mean” she said continuing in that husky voice that was igniting a fire in Lisa’s stomach and causing her heart to thump so fast she thought it might literally break free from her body.

The pair stood inches away from one another, hearts beating fast due to an exhilarating combination of alcohol and sexual tension. From the corner of her eye, Lisa noticed her friends in the distance watching them with undisguised interest.

“Oh, for crying out loud,” Lisa muttered under her breath.

“What?” Carla asked, spinning round to see what had caught Lisa’s eye. Her friends had ducked, but Lisa still had that undeniable feeling that she was being watched.

“My mates appear to be watching like a hawk” she laughed. “Ironic really” she laughed as the sound of Rockwell’s ‘Somebody’s Watching Me’ played in the background.

Carla grinned, wickedly. “Well. If it’s a show they want…”

Before Lisa could respond, Carla leaned in, slid a hand to her jaw, and kissed her. It wasn’t tentative. It was bold, messy, fuelled by alcohol and mischief and the tension that had been bubbling through them since they first clocked eyes on one another. It was smooth, confident like she had done it a hundred times before.

For a second, Lisa kissed her back giving as good as Carla gave. Her knees threatened to give away when she heard Carla moan into the kiss. Suddenly panic shot through her veins. She pulled away, breathless, eyes wide like a deer caught in the headlights.

“Sorry. I have to go.” she stammered, before bolting down the street, not daring to look back. Carla heard some wolf-whistling break out down the street.

Carla stood heart pounding, lips tingling and the ground swaying beneath her, a firm reminder of how much she’d had to drink. “Well,” she thought to herself as she adjusted her mask. “That was unexpected.

Chapter Text

Lisa woke early the next morning to the sound of faint bickering from Betsy and Isla downstairs. She stretched out with a groan, nose wrinkling in disgust upon clocking the half-eaten festering kebab on the side of her bedroom table. Her stomach lurched but she couldn’t bring herself to leave her bed yet. She shuffled on to her other side to be greeted by Em propped up on the pillows, sporting a grin like a cheshire cat looking far too chipper considering the colossal amount of booze they had consumed last night.

“Jesus Christ, Em.” Lisa muttered. “You scared the life out of me.”

“Good morning sleeping beauty.” Em mused, ruffling her friends head as Lisa winced in response. “Or should I say Cinderella given last nights shenanigans”.

The memories of last night came to Lisa in a flash. The softness of Black Swan’s lips and how it contrasted with the harsh taste of alcohol, the warmth of another body pressed close for the first time in years and how Lisa had panicked and run away without even looking back once. Her stomach lurched as she struggled to comprehend how she felt. On one hand, the kiss was electric – awakening feelings in Lisa that she hadn’t even realised she’d been missing. But on the other hand, part of Lisa couldn’t help feeling like she’d betrayed Becky.

“It was nothing.” she feigned nonchalance as though she hadn’t kissed another woman for the first time in over 20 years.

“Nothing?” Em queried in mock outrage. “It was definitely something alright. You nearly swallowed each other whole. Didn’t know you had it in you Lise.”

“Yeah alright alright.” Lisa muttered. “But it hardly matters, it was just a drunken snog in the alleyway with some random woman I’m never going to cross paths with.”

“That may be so.” Em nodded in reply. “But it might give you the push you need to get back out there, find someone to spend those lonely nights with.”

“I’ve got Betsy” Lisa rolled her eyes in response. “And I’m thinking about getting a cat.”

“Don’t you dare.” Em shot back instantly. “I can see it now, Betsy gone for Uni and you’ll turn into a stereotypical cat lady.” She added. “A cat won’t keep you warm on those cold winter nights.” she teased.

The conversation was interrupted by the sound of footsteps thundering up the stairs. Lisa shot her friend a quick look.

“Not a word to Bets.” she whispered as the door sprung open.

“GOOD MORNING!” Betsy hollered, grinning when her mum winced and clutched her head in response. “I take it someone,” she nudged Lisa in the ribs. “Wasn’t drinking responsibly? And yet I get in trouble when I have a hangover.”

“That’s because you are underage.” Em waggled her finger at Betsy in response as she snuggled her own baby in close. “Right who wants breakfast?” she asked. “Let’s give your mam a bit of time to herself.” She stood up from the bed, shepherding the two girls out of the room. Lisa shot her friend a grateful look as the door closed. Before long she nodded off again, the events of last night playing over and over on a loop in her mind.

___

Meanwhile across Weatherfield, Carla was having a very different kind of morning. She’d spent most of this morning doubled over in agony and confined to her en-suite bathroom, clutching the sides of the toilet bowl. She tried to recall the events of last night, drawing blanks once Michelle had hit it off with Steve and Carla had started mixing her drinks. She was somewhat relieved to find she’d managed to make it home in one piece.

“Morning.” Michelle burst into the bathroom with a post-coital glow on her face that made Carla want to throw up again. “You look horrific love.”

“Thanks.” Carla croaked. “This is your fault you know. You and Steve MacDonald” she trailed off as her stomach started cramping again. Michelle handed her a glass of water and some pain killers, gesturing for her to take both. She sat down beside Carla on the floor of the en-suite.

“I’m sorry” Michelle said genuinely, despite the post-coital glow not dimming in the slightest. “Tell you what, I’ll make it up to you. We’ll have a long lazy morning watching all the rubbish you like and then I’ll treat you to lunch.”

“My hero” Carla gave a weak smile in response.

“And you can fill me in on the rest of your night.” Michelle added. Carla laughed in response.

“Mmm might be difficult. After you swanned off all I’m drawing is blanks” she laughed. “But I can’t have got up to much if I made it home in one piece” she added quickly.

“Oh never say never” Michelle retorted as Carla swatted her arm playfully. “Right I’m going to go to Roy’s and get you the biggest, greasiest bacon barm” she announced as she stood up. “Don’t go anywhere.” she said with a wink.

___

Em and Isla left swiftly after breakfast and Lisa spent the rest of the day trying to feel somewhat human again. Coffee, paracetamol, hours of MAFS on the sofa with Betsy followed by the greasiest Hawaiian pizza known to man once she felt she could stomach food. By 6pm she was feeling vaguely human again. She glanced over at Betsy who had been quieter than usual this afternoon.

“Bets” Lisa paused the TV. “You okay?” she asked.

“Yeah.” Betsy nodded, though Lisa clocked the way she had curled up in a ball, using her arms to keep her legs in close. She knew Betsy only did that when she was feeling nervous. “I’m just worried about work experience tomorrow” she admitted.

Ahh yes work experience. That Lisa had forgotten all about of course. As part of her college course, Betsy needed work experience. The college had arranged it all and luckily it was local so Lisa could drop and pick Betsy up if needed. She realised then that she’d forgotten to scope out the place, ask around in the pub if there was anyone who knew the owner. She cursed herself, upset at how worried Betsy seemed.

“Oh darling you’ll be fine I promise” Lisa reassured her. “Tell you what, we’ll go for breakfast beforehand tomorrow and then I’ll walk you over.”

“You won’t walk me in though will you?” Betsy questioned as her eyes widened in horror. “I can’t go in to work experience with my mum holding my hand.”

“I will drop you off at a respectable distance away from the premises.” Lisa smirked. “But listen Bets, you will be great. Just make sure you’re friendly and attentive and try not to muck around too much on this.” she gestured to Betsy’s phone that she was beginning to wonder if it was surgically attached to her. Betsy grinned, placing her phone face down on the coffee table in front.

“I’ll try” she nodded solemnly. “Right. I’m going to head for a shower and an early night” she stood up and began to exit the front room. When she reached the door, she turned back to look at Lisa. “I’m glad you had fun last night. You know Mum wouldn’t want us sitting around here moping all the time. We need to find that happiness where we can. Night night” with that she went up the stairs before Lisa had a chance to respond.

First her friends, now Betsy too Lisa thought. She knew deep down that everyone was right, that there was nothing wrong with trying to rebuild your life and find some joy. And she knew that Becky wouldn’t want them moping or arguing with one another. Sure, she didn’t feel ready to live life as she did before Becky died but maybe it was time to live for more than just work and Betsy. Baby steps Swain, she told herself. Baby steps.

__

Lisa rolled her eyes as she walked up to the counter at Roy’s Rolls for the third time the following morning. Betsy had managed to wangle a free breakfast, two hot drinks and now she had coaxed Lisa into buying her lunch for her first day of work experience. Well to be fair to Betsy she had just asked for lunch money, but Lisa wasn’t daft and not willing to have her hard-earned cash possibly contributing to a bottle of vodka for Betsy and her mates. They had settled on a sandwich and sweet treat. Lisa stood patiently at the side waiting for Roy to ring it up.

“There you are” Roy presented the food as Lisa took out her card to pay.

“Thanks” she smiled in response. “Thought I’d treat my daughter before she starts work experience at the factory nearby. Underworld isn’t it?” she said. She might have forgotten to fish for information in the pub, but the detective in her couldn’t help but question the locals.

“That’s right” Roy nodded.

“Do you know the owner? Or anyone who works there” Lisa questioned.

“I do” Roy confirmed. Lisa bit her lip, trying to hold back her annoyance.

“Right, well is there anything you could tell me? Just so I know what Betsy’s walking into.” Lisa responded, realising that she had to be direct in order to get the information she needed.

“The owner Carla is a dear friend of mine” Roy said. “Your daughter will be left in very capable hands”

“Thank you” Lisa smiled, feeling somewhat reassured and impressed upon learning the owner was a woman. She had a soft spot for strong independent women and it was all Betsy had known growing up with both her mums striving to have successful careers. She gestured at Betsy to follow her, aware they’d be late if they loitered any longer.

They were halfway across the street when they heard her. Carla Connor, dressed head to toe in black, her phone pressed to her ear and her back to Lisa and Betsy. Lisa eavesdropped enough of the conversation to infer that if she was not the owner, she certainly was quite influential. She bit her cheek in amusement as she watched the woman verbally accost the person on the other end of the line, before she froze mid-step upon recognising that distinctive husky tone.

The woman from the ginnel. The one she’d kissed on Halloween night.

Carla turned slightly, dark hair cascading over her shoulders and Lisa caught a full glimpse of her face for the first time without a mask. Sharp cheekbones, cool eyes and unmistakably sophisticated. The kind of woman who turns heads without needing to try. She headed into the factory without so much of a glance back.

Before Lisa could get too in her head, a perky older blonde lady came bustling out from the main entrance like a woman on a mission, making a beeline straight for Betsy.

“Betsy Swain” the woman stuck out her hand. “I’m Sally Metcalfe, I’m here to get you settled in.”

Lisa stayed in a daze as she heard Betsy being led inside by Sally Metcalfe, her stomach twisted in a knot. She lingered for a moment longer, staring at the factory front and her own uneasy reflection in the window before heading down the cobbles.

__

Well at least the group chat had found it funny. Lisa had rolled her eyes at the responses she’d received when she told them that the woman she’d snogged in the alleyway was none other than Betsy’s new boss. Too many crying laughing faces for her liking if she was being honest.

She pulled up her chat with Betsy again, starting to worry that her texts had gone unread and unanswered. She’d messaged three times, ‘How’s it going?’ on her lunch break, ‘Need picking up?’ when she’d finished work for the day and ‘Don’t make me come in there’ now that she was stood outside of the factory.

She sighed, pocketing her phone. 10 minutes ago she’d watched loads of workers leave but there was still no sign of Betsy. Enough was enough. She stepped inside awkwardly, scanning for Betsy who was nowhere to be seen.

“Can I help you?” Carla’s voice came from the office. Lisa headed in the direction the voice came from, internally telling herself to act cool, calm and collected despite feeling none of the above.

“I uh sorry” she stammered struggling to form the words. “I’m just looking for my daughter Betsy. She wasn’t answering any of my texts.”

“Ahh that’s because I have her phone” Carla responded with a glint in her eye as she took Betsy’s phone out from her top drawer. “It was distracting her, I hope you don’t mind” she said with a laugh as she handed Lisa the phone. “I’m Carla by the way, I own the factory”.

“Lisa Swain” Lisa said in response, relieved Carla seemed to have no recollection of their interaction the other night though she still felt awkward. “I’m surprised you got this off her without a colossal kick-off” she smirked gesturing to the phone.

“Well I wouldn’t say it was a colossal kick-off” Carla hummed in response as Lisa covered her face in mortification. “Oh don’t worry about it, teenagers these days are practically blimmin attached to them things.”

Just then, Betsy appeared in the office holding a stack of boxes and looking tired after her first full day in the working world.

“What are you doing here. I thought I told you to wait outside” she said moodily.

“Oh charming” Lisa laughed in response. “Right let’s go, nice to meet you Carla” she said to Betsy, eager to leave the factory before she could put her foot in things or even worse Carla started remembering things. She hurried Betsy out of the door before Carla had time to reply.

“Yeah see you” she eventually replied, her curiosity piqued as to why this woman she’d never met before seemed so eager to get away from her.