Next week in Coronation Street, Dee-Dee Bailey finds herself at an emotional crossroads as she begins to second-guess her decision to give up baby Laila—her biological daughter with Joel Deering. What was supposed to be a temporary arrangement spirals into a whirlwind of unexpected emotion as Dee-Dee, who initially intended for the child to be adopted, starts to bond deeply with the little girl in scenes airing Monday 5 May on ITV1 and ITVX.

When her brother James returned to the United States to support his injured partner Danny Tomlinson—who remains in a coma following a devastating car accident—Dee-Dee stepped up to help care for baby Laila until James could take her across the Atlantic. But what starts out as a temporary act of support quickly becomes something much more personal.

As Dee-Dee spends time with Laila, her maternal instincts begin to surface in ways she never anticipated. Feeding, soothing, and simply holding the child awakens a deep sense of connection. Despite Laila being the child of Joel—a man whose lies and deceit shook Dee-Dee to the core—Dee-Dee begins to feel something she never expected: unconditional love.

Her inner turmoil becomes too much to bear alone, so she turns to a trusted confidante: Eileen Grimshaw. During a quiet, heartfelt conversation, Dee-Dee reveals her growing fears—that she’s becoming too attached to Laila to follow through with the adoption plan. As a seasoned mother herself, Eileen listens with empathy but doesn’t sugarcoat the truth. She encourages Dee-Dee to listen to her heart rather than focus solely on the original plan or on trying to be selfless for her brother’s sake. Dee-Dee is stunned by Eileen’s clarity, but the advice hits home.

Meanwhile, Uncle Ronnie catches a tender moment between Dee-Dee and the baby. Watching her gently cradle and coo over Laila, Ronnie is moved. It’s clear to him that something has shifted. Later, Dee-Dee confides in her close friend Alya Nazir. Tearfully, she admits she’s developed a strong emotional bond with Laila, a connection that’s becoming harder to deny by the day. Alya, knowing the heartbreak Dee-Dee has endured in the past, urges her to reconsider giving up the child. She reassures her that James—though hurt initially—would understand Dee-Dee’s decision in time, especially if it came from a place of genuine love and emotional truth.

But Dee-Dee’s dilemma isn’t just emotional—it’s moral. If she chooses to keep Laila, she knows she’s essentially taking away James’s opportunity to become a father, a role he has prepared himself for since agreeing to raise the child after the fallout with Joel. James had selflessly agreed to raise Laila, giving her a stable home in the States. With Danny now lying in a hospital bed, unconscious and clinging to life, the stakes have never been higher.

The choice in front of Dee-Dee is nothing short of agonizing. Should she honor the original arrangement and let James take Laila to America to start a new life as planned? Or should she act on the maternal bond she’s developed, even if it means disrupting her brother’s future and taking on the enormous responsibility of single motherhood herself?

Everyone close to Dee-Dee sees the conflict clearly. They know she’s not a woman who takes decisions lightly, and they can all see the shift in her demeanor. She’s no longer just a temporary caretaker—she’s becoming a mother, emotionally and spiritually. Yet, the enormity of the decision looms large. Dee-Dee knows that no matter what she chooses, someone will get hurt. The question is: can she live with herself if she hands over her child and walks away from what may be the most powerful connection she’s ever felt?

As the day of James’s return approaches and preparations are made for Laila’s departure, Dee-Dee finds herself running out of time. Her heart says one thing, but her head tells her another. Torn between two possible futures—one where she lets go and another where she starts a new chapter as a mother—Dee-Dee must make the most difficult decision of her life.

Will she follow through with the original plan and give James custody of Laila as intended? Or will she embrace this new and unexpected role, claiming the right to raise her daughter and rewriting her future? One thing is certain: whatever path Dee-Dee chooses, it will be a turning point not just for her, but for everyone around her.

And in the aftermath—no matter what choice she makes—will Dee-Dee find peace, or will she be haunted by regret?

Don’t miss this emotional and powerful storyline unfolding next week on Coronation Street.