Chapter 21

*JL*JL*JL*

The door swung open again a few minutes later, Mandy entering the room. Joey and Lauren sprang apart, his hand keeping a tight hold on hers, for support and for comfort, something Lauren was extremely grateful for.

"on second thoughts Lauren, I'd like you to go please" Mandy admitted

"No way" Joey proclaimed "where is she supposed to go, Mum?"

"At this moment in time, I don't care, Joey" she informed her son

"I know this is a shock, Mum, but this is Lauren's home" Joey replied

"The home your father and I so lovingly gave your dear cousin?" Mandy questioned "we welcomed her into our home, I treated you like you were my daughter" she said pointing at Lauren, her voice growing in volume by the second. " And this… this is how you both repay me. Joey, you forget we did this for you, to make you happy. What possessed you, eh?"

"I think I better leave…" Lauren whispered standing up but joey caught her arm, gently moving her into his embrace, but continuing the argument with his Mum.

"Apart from the fact that I love her?" he inquired, raising an eyebrow at his Mum

"Love?" she scoffed "Joey, sweetheart, you don't know the meaning of the word"

"Maybe not. But I do know that I wanna spend every single day for the rest of my life with Lauren. She makes me happy, she makes me laugh…if that ain't love then I don't know what is and there is no way she's leaving here, and if she does, I go too" he informed her

"Joey, come on" Mandy chuckled "we both know you're not capable of holding down a relationship. In a few weeks Lauren's just going to be another notch on your bedpost"

"Don't you dare" he proclaimed

"You know what… I'm glad she's not my daughter! The pair of you are so selfish…"

The tears started to fall down Lauren's face as Mum and son continued to argue, an argument she, they'd caused. Having had enough, she hurried from the room.

"That was totally uncalled for Mum…Lauren, babe wait!" Joey following her up the stairs, ignoring his Mum's calls to come back…

"Babe, what're you doing?" he asked as he entered their room to see her packing a bag.

"I think it's best if I stay at the B&B tonight" she admitted, continuing to stuff clothes into a bag

"Right, I'll come with you then" he replied, pulling his gym bag from the side of the wardrobe

"Alone" she sighed, stopping Joey from opening his chest of drawers "you need to sort things with your Mum. I can't come between you two"

"You haven't. It's her" he stated "if she can't accept us then that's her problem, not mine, not yours. Talk to me, Lo, tell me what you're thinking"

"I just wanna be on my own" she admitted, grabbing her coat from the back of the chair, hurrying down the stairs and out of the door.

Joey raced down the stairs after her but she was gone as he reached the hallway. He knew she'd come back when she was ready. Entering the living room again, he saw his Mum sat on the sofa, a whisky in hand… "I hope you're happy now. Why can't you just listen to people and get all the facts before you fly off the handle, eh? You've really hurt Lauren, and me…"

"Joey, where're you going?" she questioned

"Out" he informed her, grabbing his coat from the hook.

so that's Lauren gone... Mandy furious and Joey... wait and find out i'll be back later xxx