Black Lace
Chapter Thirty-Four
My phone buzzed on the bedside table, early this morning, I checked the time seeing 8:30 glaring at me on the screen. A text message, who would possibly be texting me at this time, I could hear Joey and Bradley talking downstairs, those were the only people who would possibly be texting me at a time like this. I opened the message, it was from my doctor, and with everything going on I had completely forgotten I had an appointment.
'Hi Miss Branning, just a quick message to remind you of your appointment at the surgery this morning at 10:35am' I shut my eyes sinking my head into the pillows, and sigh.
I must have drifted off again, because I woke up to knocking on the door, Joey with his head popped around the door a jar. "Hi Babe, your phone's been ringing like crazy, surprised it didn't wake you up" He said gesturing towards the phone still on the bed. I checked the time seeing it was only 9:00, I sighed with relief. I had 3 messages from Abi, 1 missed call from Abi and a voicemail. Opening the messages almost broke my heart, if that was even possible, reminding me of the nightmare I was currently living in.
Message 1: 'Hi favourite sister, was wondering if I could take my nephew out for the day and maybe stay at mine and Jay's? Give his mummy and daddy sometime alone x'
Message 2: 'I've just rang your house phone, its engaged, I've tried ringing Joey's phone it goes straight to voicemail, I've given up ringing your phone you're probably still asleep ha x'
Message 3: Oi you won't be my favourite sister much longer if you carry on ignoring me, let me know what's going on, I bet Zack wants to see his auntie Abs x'
I burst into tears, without even realising I could hear sobbing and it wasn't until I could feel my chest jolting I realised it was me trying to stifle my crying. Joey had me in his arms in an instant, my sobs not only my body jolt but his too. A few minutes I couldn't hear the screaming or the crying coming out of my mouth, I had silenced the room was quiet every now and then broken by the odd murmur from Joey, "It's gonna be alright, sh, sh, sh, it's gonna be alright" had soothed me.
"Bradley and I are going to get our son back today, you are going to go to the square, go to your mums and that way I know you're safe do you understand?" Joey said in a tone I had heard many times anyone else I would have thought patronising but Joey this was him being protective, I felt almost scared already knowing I was going against him.
At 10:15 I snuck out of the house, God knows how, Joey hadn't noticed and Bradley was out already on a mission to find his nephew. I couldn't help but feel guilty about disappearing and not telling Joey what would be going through his head when he found out I wasn't there and another stab of guilt not being there to help get our son back, leaving it all in Joey's hands.
I arrived at the surgery, sitting on the hard blue seat. I hadn't been sat long when my name was called by a lady who had a face that could calm a hurricane. My once pounding heart was back to a slow pace just by looking at her.
"Miss Branning, you're here to have a few blood tests I believe, the Walford practice transferred your details and I already know you know everything after you've had these tests you'll have the scan, it says here on your records that you know all about the scan for cancer because it runs in the family?" I nodded words not being able to find words.
I had got my results an hour later, they were now in the bottom of my bag I couldn't open them not with everything going on at the moment. I had requested the doctor not tell me anything else and just put everything I need to know in the envelope and when I opened it I would get in contact again if needs be, she told me considering the situation she would but only this once, but advised me to open it when I got home.
At 12:00 I finally arrived back home after what felt like a lifetime in traffic. I inhaled the air before opening the door. I heard laughing, something I hadn't heard in days. My babies laughter, maybe I was hearing what I wanted to hear maybe this was a dream.
"Hello" I called out not expecting the reply
"Mommy" I heard before feeling two little arms wrapped around my legs, a walking, talking Zack was below me and I froze, my tears splashing onto his hair and face as he looked up at me with his gorgeous brown orbs. "Mommy no cry" He spoke again when I had him in my arms.
"No, not anymore baby boy, not now you're back" I whispered holding him to my chest as Joey walked out of the kitchen, I told you I'd get our son back" He whispered taking us both into his arms.
A while later Joey had explained to me all about how he had managed to speak to Olivia and what he had said had touched whatever heart she had and had brought Zack, I only asked for him to tell me the basics and not everything that our son had been through, Joey had called me police and Olivia and Derek were now in custardy for kidnap and Derek for all the things he had done in the past, it all catching up with him.
Joey and I had taken Zack to bed together for the first time and I had taken it upon myself to check on him every 10 minutes. Bradley and Joey said that it was ridiculous but I needed to see he was still there. After checking on Zack for the fifth time I took myself off into the bedroom shutting the door behind me, I pulled the envelope out of my bag and ripped it open ready to face the bad news. A white piece of paper with my blood results on. I stood of the bed, not wanting Joey or anyone else to find the paper, the news making me cry for the third time today.
Opening the wardrobe and pulling out a little blue box with all the stuff Zack had when he was first born. My pregnancy test confirming I was pregnant, Zack's first curl, his cord, all the scan photos, his and my name tags from the hospital at that time he was only baby Branning and also a pair of his first scratch mits. And now I needed another box, this time pink, this box would not have as many things inside, not yet anyway, but the most important pieces of information…A piece of paper telling me that the blood test had revealed I am pregnant and now photo's showing my healthy, strong baby girl…
SO Lauren's pregnant again, but why doesn't anyone know? Why hasn't she told Joey? Next chapter Joey and Bradley's POV up until Zack coming home. You decide and how long before Joey finds out about baby Branning number 2. Sorry if everyone was expecting more drama from this chapter, I just thought Lauren had had enough of that. But maybe a little bit drama between Olivia and Joey in his chapter..?