Black Lace
Chapter twenty-six
HAPPY EASTER TO ALL MY READERS! x x x
"Lauren, it's Joey for the I don't know how many times, where are you?" I said leaving another message, what was the point in having a phone if you aren't going to answer it. Just as I was about to call a cab to take me back to Walford the door opened, reavling a ginger haired male, I had never seen before, I just stared at him with raised eyebrows and he seemed to have the same facial expression.
"Er, can I help you?" He questioned me "Are you a friend of Lauren's?" He asked again.
"I'm the father of Lauren's son, who are you and who do you think you are walking in here asking me questions?" I demanded
"I'm Lauren's older brother Bradley, Zack's uncle and I think you'll find I'm the owner of this place meaning I can ask you as many questions as I like when you're on my property" He informed me, in all honesty this was not how I expected to meet Bradley. Before I could say anything else the door opened again reaveling a struggling Lauren with a very sleepy Zack on her hip, he was still awake and had his thumb in his mouth and his head on Lauren's shoulder. Lauren however didn't just have Zack, she had about 10 shopping bags to.
Bradley was stood behind the door and Lauren had yet to see him as she placed the bags on the floor and went to shut the door with her now free hand. "Hello stranger" Bradley laughed at her expression "Hey!" Lauren beamed at him, with tears in her eyes "Let me take Zack to bed, you sort all this out and we'll have a chat once you've done" Bradley said I was waiting for Zack to start screaming like he did with me, but he didn't he laughed instead. Lauren kissed Zack and stroked his face and in that instant Zack closed his eyes and fell asleep.
Lauren exhaled through her nose and picked the bags up again and placed the bags on the lounge coffee table rooting through the first bag and pulling out banners, balloons, bluetac and a pump.
From what I could tell I was getting the silent treament but to me, I was the one that had the right to be in a mood I was the one who shouldn't be talking to her. I watched her as she struggled to reach the top of the mirror to put a banner up, instead of asking me for help she carried on trying, in the end I took the banner out of her hands and placed it where she wanted it, with no trouble, she went to carry on doing what she was doing "How about a thank-you Lauren" I said standing infront of her so she couldn't move until she said it she looked me in the eye the anger was evident in them.
"Don't get me started Joey if that's the way you're going to play it the only person who should start saying thank-you, is you and a lot of them at that" She whispered not wanting to wake Zack
"Me? Where should I start then? Should I start where you left me last on a list of emergency contacts" I raised my voice.
"Well yes but that's the last thing you should be saying thank-you for, it was in the interest of your son that you were last, I would say you owe me a thank-you first but I don't want it, I shouldn't be thanked for bringing up my son for a year of his life without you, how about, Bradley, my mum, Lynne, Abi, Alice, Whitney, Tyler everyone that looked after Zack made sure he was ok" I said
"How are you we ever going to move on from this if you don't drop it" I hated when she brought up the past, why couldn't she leave it.
"Look Joey, either stop moaning about little things or leave it's as simple as that" she said, I could tell she was being serious but I couldn't see what I was doing wrong.
"Oh so you saying you don't love me? you don't want Zack to live in the same house as his daddy and mummy? Is that what you want Lo?" I glared at her.
"Well I've lived in the house with the arguing parents, with the dad that could easily replace the mum and you've lived in the house were the dad leaves or gets angry. So no, if things are going that way I don't want Zack to live with his mummy and daddy being like that" She replied instantly.
"Don't you dare compare me and my dad, we are nothing alike, I'm trying to be a dad, I'm new to all this I need your help but all you seem to do, is patronize me" I said shouted at her getting in her face, I grabbed the closest thing to me and smashed it to the floor.
It was like Bradley had flew down the stairs, his eyes were instantly on Lauren who was sheilding herself from the glass she was trembling.
"Come upstairs Lauren, Joey you clean up this mess and get everything sorted or get out" I did as he said, in complete shock at what I just done.
Hate writing Joey in a bad light but I've got plans for him later on in the story so don't worry guys!