"Al!" Joey called out, walking through the door of number 23, taking his jacket off as he walked. Throwing it over the banister he stretched, it had been a long day. Hearing his sister reply, he walked into the living room. "Hey" she said softly, he nodded in response. "It's a shame you couldn't come for the birthday drinks" she didn't sound angry he didn't go, just disappointed he couldn't see past his hate for their father to attend, not even for her. He just shrugged, sitting down on the sofa next to her.
"Aren't you going to ask who came or if it was good?" Alice questioned, making Joey roll his eyes. "I honestly couldn't care Al, but fine" he sighed. "Who went?" Alice smiled at him, before speaking. "Pretty much all the family, I'm so happy." She beamed. "I never expected Kirsty to get them to come." She paused, looking at him for his reaction as he spoke.
"Lauren came." He raised an eyebrow, last he'd spoken to his girlfriend she'd had the same view as he did, Derek's dead so let's move on. "I don't think she wanted to be there" Alice shrugged, "But it was nice to have her there anyway." Joey just nodded, he did wonder how exactly she'd been persuaded to go as he knew full well she wouldn't have gone by her own choice.
"You should probably go see her" she said, him raising his eyebrow in response. "I don't think she and Abi wanted to be there" Joey rolled his eyes, that's obvious. "Not because of Dad" Joey scoffed, but turned it into a cough when he saw the upset look on his sister's face. "Just with Kirsty planning it and Aunty Tanya there too, she wasn't happy." Joey groaned, they seriously needed to keep their drama away from Lauren. He was fed up of seeing his girlfriend hide how upset she got over her parent's stupid fighting.
"And Uncle Jack almost killed Phil" Alice said in a rush, causing Joey's eyes to widen. "Jesus Al, what the hell?" Alice just shrugged. "I don't know, Uncle Jack went mad shouting at everyone then Phil came in, in a terrible state and he collapsed after saying it was Jack." She sounded pretty panicked and upset, Joey quickly putting his arm around her to calm her down.
Jesus, this family never failed to bring the drama did it. He know gets why Lauren explained the family situation as she had. Alice sniffled next to him, wiping away her tears. "It was scary Joey." Joey hugged her tighter. "But you should see Lauren." He pulled a questioning face at her. "She seemed blank, Abi seemed heartbroken, according to Grandma Dot, they both were really close to Uncle Jack a few years ago." Joey hmm'd. "I'll text her, see if she wants to come over." Alice smiled, leaning into him. "Look after you both then ay."