Lauren's pov: I moved around the kitchen, collecting a few things for dinner.
"Helllo" Peter boomed through the house.
"Pete, I love you and all but I am making a special dinner for joey and I and I don't want to be disturbed!" I shouted back.
He came to stand in the kitchen and he took a seat at the table.
"Ahem" I said as he grabbed the newspaper from the table and put his feet up on the table in front of him.
I pushed his feet off the table.
"Make yourself at home why don't you?" I asked sarcastically.
"Oh I have and I will! Anyway.. Why are you doing a special dinner for joey when his birthday is In a few days?" He asked, focusing still on the newspaper in front of him.
"Joes going on a business trip all weekend, including his birthday. Which is very annoying if you ask me. I just want to spend my husbands birthday with my husband.. Is that to much to ask?" I stared out of the window. I watched the birds tweet and fly around.
"Mmm" Peter mumbled quietly. He searched up and down the newspaper thoroughly again and again. "A business trip eh?" Peter said suspiciously.
I nodded my head and once again pushed his feet of the table, wiping the table with a wet cloth to rid the dirt off my shiny table. "So you haven't even questioned this? Your husband has been acting really weirdly.."
This was true. I had only confided in Peter and no one else about this subject. Joey and I had a daily routine; he would wake up first, leave me a note which I would find on his pillow next to mine, I would get ready and get on with my day, Peter would come over and have a chat with me or we would go out for lunch, I would just relax, joey would come home and give me a kiss, I would of made dinner the day before and we would eat, we would watch some tv and head to bed. The last weeks were weird though. He would leave a note, I would wake up and eat breakfast, do MY daily routine, but lately joey had been late from work and I would eat dinner on my own, which meant joey had his dinner when we were supposed to relax together watching tv, and even then sometimes that would involve a heated kissing sessions which ended with us in bed ready for sleep. But lately I had been going to bed without those AMAZING heated kissing sessions and the also AMAZING sex sessions. On weekends he would rather spend his time either doing extra shifts at the R&R or sit In the vic drinking with his mates instead of spending time with his wife! I didn't understand it or him.. Anymore! I had tried to discuss it with him but he was having none of it. Those extra shifts at the R&R weren't even needed.. We were fine with money.. Plus joe was the manager of the club anyway. I worked from home which was sometimes boring.. I just created art for businesses like I did for my dad back in the day.. Me and joey had been married for a year now and even for our anniversary which was a few days ago he had given me a present and made the excuse the R&R was 'short on staff' AGAIN!
"Plus he didn't even give you any notice on your anniversary.." Peter carried on.
"Anyway what's happening with you, Alice and lola?" I asked Peter, trying to change the subject.
He sighed and gave me one of those 'I know what your doing' looks and replied to my question.
"As you know me and lola was just a fling while we were on holiday together as a group.. And it wasn't serious so when I started taking an interest to Alice she started getting mad. I told her it would of never worked and since then it's been awkward between us.. Especially since me and al have made it clear we both like each other." He said, sighing after every 5 words.
I nodded my head and cut up the carrots for mine and joeys meal. Peters phone beeped and suddenly he shot to his feet. I watch his face light up as he reads further on more of the text he was sent.
"Alice?" I questioned. He looked at me cheekily and bit his lip. I laughed loudly and was shocked to see a depressed looking joey stood in the hall way.
"Hey you!" I smiled. He faked a smile and took his shoes and cost off.
The door slammed and Peter hurried from mine and joeys house to where I would guess Alice would be.. Just a guess.
"Are you hungry? Cause I have a very nice meal cooking for us for later babe.." I teased him.
"Sorry babe. No can do. Work calls.." He said.
I frowned. "What?" I screamed at him.
"Calm down babe!" He whispered stroking my arm.
"No I will not calm down! Is this how it's always going to be? You making excuses to just get away from me.. I thought we were okay.. We are married for gods sake and the only time I see you is when your home from work at 2 in the morning!" I shouted back angrily.
"Okay babe.. We can do the meal when I get back." He suggested sweetly.
"It's not even about that! And back from where.. Exactly? Where?" I shouted back.
He sighed. "I told you.. I'm on a business trip.." He started.
"No! No! I don't believe you! You have been acting strangely and you are never with me anymore! If you don't love me anymore.." I said. The last part turning into barely a whisper.
He shook his head and went to put a strand of hair behind my ear but I slapped his hand away. "Of course I lo-"
"What's the point of being a part of this marriage?" I Interrupted him with a comment which blew him away.
He shook his head. "Your divorcing me?" He whispered.
I shook MY head and smiled at him weakly. "But if this marriage keeps going on the ways it's going.. I might just have to put an end to the suffering marriage." I let tears fall.
He sighed and put his shoes back on. "Your just being silly.. I have just been stressed."
"About what exactly? You don't think it rubs off on other people like maybe.. Your wife who lives with you?"
He went to leave and he did. I ran after him outside. He turned around. "Stop following me.. I need some time alone."
"Look joe.. That's all that your going to be soon.. Alone!" I whispered back to him. "What's stressing you?" I asked.
He sighed and looked at me lost. "Nothing.. Forget it!"
"No I won't forget it! What's stressing you out so much you can't stand to tell your own wife?"
We had now attracted a crowd which included my uncle jack and the rest of the family and walford residents.
"I said nothing..." He shouted.
"Tell me" I screamed.
"Just tell her joe" uncle jack said calmly. "She deserves to know or else.."
"You told uncle jack?" I whispered to joey. I pushed joey and broke down in tears. "Your killing me inside joe! Just tell me!" I screamed.
"Fine! I was going away this weekend and I was never coming back lo! It's not that I don't love you! Of course it's not.. I want to spend the rest of my life with you but- I have cancer! And I have been told I only have days to live. I was going to leave a note telling you all about it! That's why I was acting so strange- I am dying lo! And I didn't want to tell you cause I knew it would kill you- just like it would kill you watching me die. I have already told uncle jack who I am sure was acting distant to you as well. I'm so very sorry lo.. But I can't do it anymore.. Take the treatment.. Go to the appointments.. Just promise me one thing.. You won't drink.. And you won't blame yourself for everything. I hope you find love again lauren.. I love you! I'm sorry it had to be this way.. But the divorce papers will be at your door in just a few days or weeks I'm sure.. When I'm gone!" He cried. I watched him walk away after giving me and Alice a kiss. I sobbed and fell to the floor.
"Don't-" I croaked.
I couldn't believe it.. In just a few days joey would be gone forever. Dead. Done. And there was nothing I could do about it!