Truths Told

Tuesday Steve said to Peter the truths we’ve all been saying. Friday, Rita did the same with Tina. Neither recipient paid a blind bit of notice. But at least the words were said.

Peter having a pity party for himself behind the Rovers. Steve happened by, so Peter told him all about the mess his life was. Steve told him that if he loved Carla as he said he did then he should stay with her. That if he cared at all about Simon and his unborn child then he should stay with Carla. That if he was ruining Carla’s life by staying with her then why wouldn’t he maybe ruin Tina’s life as well if he ran away with her.

Peter whined on so Steve asked the central question, “what do you want?” and Peter answered honestly, if unhelpfully, “I don’t know.” In essence, Steve told Peter to grow a pair, the words he used in their next counselling session on the Rovers’ patio.

Tina says her goodbyes

On Friday, Tina was saying her goodbyes. At the Kabin, she told Rita she was in love and leaving with her new man. And he is married. And he is Peter Barlow.

I don’t know why she would think that Rita would just say ‘congratulations’ and wish them well. But evidently she didn’t expect the volley she got from Rita. Rita’s words were not diplomatic. He uses people. He’ll leave you for the next passing fancy just as easily as he’s leaving Carla. He has a son. He’s only been married five minutes.

Tina’s rebuttal was that Peter had known the marriage was a mistake while he was doing it because they already loved each other. Didn’t make it any better in Rita’s books. He did pretty well out of the “mistake.” So he’s moving on backed by Carla’s resources? “Love for sale” was Rita’s opinion on Peter’s loyalty. That comment tipped Tina over the edge.

Tina matched, and surpassed, Rita’s angry words. Who is Mrs. Tanner-Sullivan-Fairclough to sneer about anyone else buying or selling love and friendship, she spat. Rita slapped her. This is a relationship casualty that I would lay at the doorstep of Peter Barlow. As Tina said before the blow-up, she and Rita have been friends, mother-daughter, grandmother-granddaughter. But no more, not unless Tina has the chance and desire to do a huge amount of grovelling.

Before the night was out, Tina got some home truths. Including the truth of Rita’s words, in the spirit if not the specifics of her charges against Peter. She heard the evidence of Peter’s lies from his own mouth. Rita wasn’t at the Rovers to say “I told you so” but Steve was. The look he gave Peter said “you’d better get yourself out of this somehow, mate.” He then gave Tina the same look.

I just hope Steve gets left out of explanations. He might want to use one of those tickets to Portsmouth before Michelle finds out what he knew and when he knew it.