Dee-Dee recently told James she wanted to raise baby Laila herself, even though she’d earlier agreed he could take on that role. That change caused a rift in the Bailey family in Coronation Street. James didn’t take it well, and Ed tried to hold the peace while Michael got caught in the middle. What happened next left the family divided, and brought on a day none of them expected.
A Broken Promise and a Family Divide
Not long ago, Dee-Dee had told her brother James that he could raise Laila. At the time, she felt it was the right move, especially with Joel Deering, Laila’s biological father, being completely out of the picture for all the wrong reasons. James, already attached to the child, took on the responsibility. But Dee-Dee recently changed her mind. She now wanted to raise her daughter herself. The decision left James devastated, and the tension between them quickly began to show.
Ed, hoping to calm things down, invited the family to breakfast. He wanted everyone to talk openly and clear the air. But James wasn’t ready to move past the betrayal. When Dee-Dee gently encouraged him to express how he felt, James became even more upset. He couldn’t understand how she could take back such a big promise. Later that day, Dee-Dee ran into Billy Mayhew and confided that she could see why James felt hurt. Still, she told Billy that the decision was final, she couldn’t change it now, even if it meant more conflict.
Coronation Street: Departure Plans Spark Fear and Accusations
Soon after, Dee-Dee was called into work. Before leaving, she offered James a sincere apology and asked him to care for Laila. James agreed and even said he was fine just being “uncle James.” But while Dee-Dee was gone, James answered a call from Ethan and confirmed that he still wanted the job abroad. He said he’d send his flight details shortly.
Alone with Laila, he quietly told her that he didn’t want to go, but her mother’s decision had left him with no choice. Later, Dee-Dee and Ed bumped into Billy again. He mentioned seeing James getting into a taxi with his suitcases.
Alarmed, they rushed home, only to find that Laila and her blanket were both missing. Dee-Dee panicked and insisted they contact the police immediately. That’s when Michael walked in from the kitchen holding Laila. Michael explained that James had told him about the job and asked him not to say anything and didn’t want the family to try to talk him out of it.
According to Michael, James had said it was too painful to be around Laila or Dee-Dee anymore. However, Michael didn’t hold back his frustration. He told Ed and Dee-Dee that it was unfair of them to assume James would abduct Laila. In his words, James had no intention of harming anyone, he just needed space. Michael added bluntly that, in his view, James was better off staying away from both of them for now.
Coronation Street: A Delayed Flight and a Last-Minute Offer
Just when it looked like James was gone for good, he came back. His flight had been delayed, and he returned to drop off Laila’s blanket, which he’d packed by mistake. But his return only stirred more tension, and another argument broke out. While they were in the middle of it, news came that his flight had been delayed again. That pause gave Dee-Dee a chance to speak honestly. She told James he didn’t have to leave.
Dee-Dee suggested that instead, they try to co-parent Laila. She admitted she didn’t know how they’d manage it, or what the day-to-day would look like but she believed it was the best thing for the baby. James didn’t respond right away. He looked uncertain, clearly still carrying the weight of everything that had happened. But after a moment, he agreed to give co-parenting a try.
This new arrangement may give Laila the chance to have both James and Dee-Dee in her life, but nothing about it feels settled yet. The pain from the past few days still lingers, and rebuilding trust between the siblings won’t happen overnight. The Baileys may have found a temporary solution, but the emotional damage won’t disappear with one agreement. Stay with Soap Opera Daily for every update from Coronation Street and the latest twists from Weatherfield.