Chapter 11
“Come here, I want to show you something.” Lisa took Carla’s hand as Carla led Lisa over to the memory wall where she had ever so beautifully displayed all Carla’s family photos.
Not letting go of Lisa’s hand, Carla took a deep breath and started with the photo of Jenny & Johnny. Carla knew she didn’t have to really expand on Roy & Ryan and Carla had talked about Michelle, so she focused on the other unfamiliar faces to Lisa.
Pointing to the older man with her free hand, she began.
“This was Johnny. He was my biological dad of which I didn’t find out until I was 40. Turns out he’d had an affair with my mum so that’s why he wasn’t really in my life, although he was always around in some form. I just thought at the time it was because I was friends with his children, but he gave my mum money as I grew up. He came back into my life in 2015 and that’s when I found out everything…then 6 years later, he was killed in a storm trying to save his wife, Jenny who’s the woman in the picture with him. She runs the local pub where I moved away from. That’s one of the things that keeps me comfortable here financially. I guess you could call it a blessing in disguise, but it still doesn’t replace the fact that she stole £250,000 from me-“
“You’re joking Carla?! £250,000?! Why didn’t you go to the police?” Lisa was horrified. She hadn’t meant to interrupt but her copper temper flew. “Sorry, sorry…I-“
“It’s okay Lisa.” Carla smiled gently, relishing in the care Lisa showed. “I didn’t go to the police because claiming ownership of the pub was in exchange for me not going to the police” Carla sighed.
“You, Carla Connor are really special, do you know that?” Lisa smiled as she pulled her in for a kiss. You want to try telling that to the people I moved away from. Carla thought to herself.
Carla groaned as Lisa pressed a kiss to her lips. She then spun Lisa around, wrapped her arms around the front of Lisa’s waist and rested her head on Lisa’s shoulder. She figured she’d need Lisa a bit closer to get her through the next photo.
Lisa loved the feeling of being in Carla’s arms, but she knew it wasn’t for her. She knew she needed to be the comfort to Carla for whatever was about to come.
“The young woman in that photo. That’s my half sister Kate, who’s out there somewhere, travelling the world.” Carla said softly.
“But when she lived in Weatherfield, she fell in love with her best friend, Rana. That brought a whole load of complications itself as Rana was set to marry Zidane who was also a close friend of Kate…Rana had an affair with Kate and after it all blew up and came out, they got engaged and were set to marry in 2019 until the roof of my factory collapsed, killing Rana.” Tears came in Carla’s eyes now and Lisa tried to turn to face Carla to offer some comfort but Carla wouldn’t let her.
“Wait Lisa, I need to keep going” Carla said softly, brushing Lisa’s hair to one side so she could press a soft kiss to her neck, in acknowledgment that she knew Lisa wanted to offer her some form of comfort, but right now having Lisa in her arms was enough.
Carla felt Lisa’s body shiver slightly as a little moan fell from her mouth at the touch of Carla’s lips on her neck. Lisa cleared her throat in order to compose herself as this was not the time to get turned on, but it was becoming apparent that both women wanted each other more, especially when Lisa found Carla’s ability to open up to her in such an emotional and vulnerable way, incredibly sexy.
“I could have prevented the roof collapse…I knew it needed fixing…I just thought I’d share that with you, you need to know exactly who you’re getting involved with.” Carla spoke quietly as she struggled to hold back the tears. Carla knew deep down it wasn’t entirely her fault, but she also knew she could have prevented it.
Lisa leaned into Carla who was still holding her from behind. “Look, I’ve told you before I’m passing no judgement on your past Carla. In fact, I’ve thought about things between us a lot…and ever since I asked you that question of who you’d trust to bury a body with and you teased me into thinking you actually had…if you really had Carla, I just don’t think I’d be able to walk away from you.” Lisa then pulled Carla’s arms around her a little tighter, Lisa herself learning to open up to Carla even more.
“You’re incredible, Lisa Swain” Carla whispered into Lisa’s ear and Lisa felt Carla’s hot breath on her neck. Desperately trying to compose herself again, as she let Carla continue on to the last man in the photo.
“And then we have Aiden, my half brother” Carla could barely hold it together now. “He…” Carla cleared her throat.
Lisa not being able to take it any more, span round to face Carla, searching her eyes. She took Carla’s face into her hands, brushing softly at her cheeks with the pads of her thumbs, gently wiping the tears away. “He didn’t tell anyone how he was feeling and he umm…committed suicide.” Carla blurted out.
Lisa could see the pain in Carla’s face and gently started kissing away any tears that continued to fall. She sensed Carla wasn’t finished yet.
“He’d planned it sooner but…I needed a kidney transplant so he delayed his own suicide when he found out he was a match, and soon after our operation was successful, that’s when he-“
Lisa kissed Carla on the lips. She’d heard her the first time, she wasn’t going to allow Carla the hurt of having to say those words again. Carla fell into Lisa’s kiss, lovingly, as if it repaired everything inside her that felt broken.
As they parted, Lisa searched Carla’s eyes again. Then as her hands drifted down to settle on Carla’s hips, she slightly lifted the fabric of Carla’s shirt, seeking permission first.
“Can I?” Lisa asked carefully.
A mumble fell out of Carla’s mouth, granting her permission.
Carefully, Lisa lifted up the fabric of Carla’s shirt to reveal the scarring left from the operation. She gently traced her fingers over the scarred flesh. Lisa saw and felt Carla’s body react to the contact. Carla felt her legs start to give way underneath her, as she gripped the table she was leaning on behind her.
Carla moaned Lisa’s name.
With one hand, Lisa supported Carla while she continued to trace a pattern along her scar with the other, then as she knelt down in front of Carla, she placed gentle kisses along her scar that sent ripples of pleasure through Carla at the soft, delicate touch.
“Oh god…” escaped Carla’s mouth a lot louder than intended as her hips jerked at the touch of Lisa’s lips.
A light laugh escaped Lisa, she revelled in the way she made Carla react. She stood back up to face a crimson coloured Carla who couldn’t quite look at her.
“Hey…” Lisa used her fingers to lightly push up Carla’s chin to meet her eyes. Lisa pressed a gentle kiss to Carla’s lips, then wrapped her arms around the brunette, their heated bodies pressed together.
“That Carla Connor, was incredibly sexy” Lisa whispered into her ear.
“I can’t believe how you did that” Carla whispered back.
“Oh trust me, there’s so much more to come” Lisa’s voice husk, her breath hot on Carla’s neck.
Lisa hadn’t intended to elicit such a sound from Carla, the touch of her scar and soft kisses were meant to be a pure show of care, compassion and affection but Lisa revelled in the noises that had passed Carla’s lips.
Lisa refocused now, not wanting to get caught up in the heat of the moment, grounding herself, she looked at Carla seriously now, bringing them both back to the raw emotion of what had been said.
“Are you okay?” Lisa asked softly, pressing a soft kiss to Carla’s forehead.
Carla buried her head into Lisa’s neck in embarrassment. “Yeah…I just need you to not tease me like that or I might not be able to apologise for my actions” Carla grazed her teeth on Lisa’s neck, tempted to bite down but she didn’t need to, she got the reaction she wanted as a soft, breathy moan escaped Lisa’s lips.
“Now we’re even” Carla smirked at Lisa. Feeling quite proud of herself, although highly aroused, but still very overwhelmed, and the heaviness of today’s sharing was certainly weighing down on her.
“Touchè?” Lisa shot back at Carla. A smile playing on her lips, but soon turning to a frown as she sensed a shift in Carla, who was unable to quite keep up the playful facade.
“Hey…” Lisa spoke softly. “Talk to me, what’s going on?” Lisa’s voice laced with concern.
“Today has been a lot” Carla replied. “I feel…I feel overwhelmed, I feel emotional, I feel very turned on but I also feel like I’ve let you down completely.” Carla admitted, shyly.
“How so?” Lisa asked softly. She couldn’t possibly understand how the other woman thought she’d let her down, unless it had been to do with the teasing that hadn’t escalated.
She thought how Carla could be nervous, but it was normal to be nervous with someone new. Lisa thought she knew that more than the both of them, especially after not being with anyone for six years. Maybe relationship history was something they’d have to discuss before things did escalate sexually between them.
“This is going to sound so stupid” Carla sighed. Moving away from Lisa and sitting on the sofa.
“Carla…” Lisa started gently, moving over to her.
Sitting on the sofa next to her, but keeping a little distance, conscious that Carla was feeling overwhelmed.
“Nothing we ever talk about or share is ever going to sound stupid, please believe me when I say that” Lisa focused on Carla.
Carla looked up at Lisa, her soft expression looking back at her. “Why do you always make everything seem so easy?” Carla asked.
Lisa unsure whether she was supposed to answer or not, tried anyway. “Because it is, when you don’t have to do anything alone.”
Carla’s heart ached at Lisa’s response. Aching at how many years Lisa had had to do everything alone.
“I feel…like I’ve let you down because I’ve turned what was supposed to be fun and exciting, playing question games with you, getting to know each other, today into me being an emotional mess…I’m overwhelmed with everything from all I’ve shared today to…”
Carla hesitates and Lisa edges closer to her, closing the distance slightly but still not quite in reach of Carla so she doesn’t feel suffocated and Carla closes her eyes, takes a deep breath so she can continue.
“…To the fact I’ve never been with a woman and that doesn’t scare me Lisa, it doesn’t scare me in the slightest but it does make me feel incredibly nervous…” Carla dares eye contact.
Lisa shuffles closer, listening intently and then opens up with “you don’t think I feel nervous?” Lisa blushing at her own vulnerability now.
“Yes I was with Becky for a long time but Carla, I thought she was it for me. I thought she was the rest of my life. Becky’s the only woman I’ve ever been with and to be quite frank, when she was…”
Lisa closed her eyes as her voice broke and Carla closed the distance between them both, taking Lisa’s hands in hers. She felt Carla take her hands, and at the comfort of her touch, opened her eyes to continue
“…when she was taken from me, even after that, I never thought there would be anyone else…and then you came along” Lisa smiled softly.
“Anyone can be nervous with a new partner Carla…I haven’t been with anyone since Becky. So I’m going through all my firsts a second time round with you…first butterflies, first date, first kiss, first time together and everything else that comes with a relationship because proper relationships take work. I swore to myself I’d be alone for the rest of my life, forever a widow…” Lisa, smirking now “but for some reason, I’m prepared to do it all over again, with you.” Lisa closed her eyes and chanced a kiss to Carla’s lips.
Carla smiled at Lisa.
“What?” Lisa blushed.
“You used partner and relationship.” Carla stated, matter-of-fact.
Lisa felt the heat stronger in her cheeks.
“Well” Lisa bit her bottom lip. “Do you want to be in a relationship…with me?” Lisa asked, hopeful.
“Do you?” Carla deflected the question and Lisa shot her a knowing look, but given how open and vulnerable Carla had been with her today and since she seemed to end up pouring her own heart out too, she answered.
“Yes. I do. Carla…I didn’t sign up for casual, it’s not what I’m built for. I want something real, honest and raw so yes, I want to be in a relationship…with you.”
Still holding Lisa’s hands, Carla pulls her in for a hug. She whispers in Lisa ear “Yes. Of course I want to be in a relationship with you.”
“Carla…” Lisa says, searching her face. “You’ve never let me down. We have time Carla, to get to know each other emotionally, mentally…physically and I’m in no rush. I want to take my time with you, with us. I’m not perfect Carla and I won’t always get things right but I’ll do my best.” Lisa smiled teary eyed.
Carla leaned in to kiss Lisa’s tears away. “Are you busy tomorrow?” Carla asked gently.
“Yeah…” Lisa pulled a sad expression and she saw the disappointment in Carla’s eyes. “I think I might be seeing my girlfriend tomorrow, why?” Lisa teased.
Carla grabbed a cushion and playfully threw it at Lisa. “I’m taking my girlfriend out actually, so I was just letting you know I’m not available tomorrow, you know, in case you called round.” Carla said, matter of fact, keeping a straight face.
A smile tugged on Lisa’s lips. “Touché, Carla Connor” Lisa raised her eyebrow, as a blush fell on her cheeks, she cleared her throat.
“Yes, you heard right.” Carla said, softly. “I’ll be in touch.” She winked at her girlfriend.
Lisa really didn’t want to leave, but they’d both had an emotionally tough day and she also didn’t want to get in the way or spoil the surprise of whatever Carla had planned for them tomorrow. As Lisa headed for the door, she kissed her girlfriend goodnight, the sheer emotion and vulnerability that had hung in the air around them had evaporated with that simple kiss. In that moment, Lisa realised she was falling for Carla, she was almost neck deep and there was quite simply no going back.