Chapter 36
By the time they reached Tanya's Lauren had fallen asleep too, although Joey suspected it wasn't a very good sleep, she kept frowning and yelling 'no' in her sleep. He understood her nervousness, Tanya didn't seem like the most approachable person and from what he'd seen and what Oscar had said, it seemed she wasn't overly keen on him and Lauren being together. Joey knew it would mean a lot for Lauren to know who her father was, she'd never really said much about Greg apart from what had happened when she was younger and when she did talk more about him, Joey always got the impression that their relationship was somewhat fragile. He hoped for everyone's sake, that Tanya would be able to give Lauren some information about her father.
He turned the engine off and gently tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and placed his lips on hers, kissing her softly to wake her up. Lauren smiled in her sleep and her eyes fluttered open as she respond briefly to the kiss. "We're here, sleepy head"
Lauren looked out of the window "That was quick"
"You've been asleep for the last half an hour baby…" they heard a door open and saw Tanya and Greg standing on the front door step. "We should wake Oscar and Abi up"
Lauren shook her head and took her seatbelt off "I can carry Oscar in, he won't wake up. Just wake Abs"
Joey climbed from the car and walked round to Lauren, gently placing his hand on her arm "You wake Abi and get the bags, I've got Oscar" she didn't argue with him knowing even if she had tried she wouldn't win.
They walked to the front door a little surprised when her Mum and Greg didn't say anything. Lauren stared as they stood in the doorway, her mum looked like shed been crying. Tanya was about to take Oscar from Joey, apparently not wanting them to go in "Actually Tanya, we need to talk to you if that's ok?" Joey asked smiling gently at Lauren as she stood closer to him.
"Erm…yes, yes come in" she and Greg moved backwards "Abi Take Oscar up will you, so we can talk to your sister."
Joey handed Oscar over to Abi after Lauren had kissed him good night "Thanks for a lovely day. We can do it again sometime can't we?" she asked hopefully looking at her mum and Dad.
"Of course we can Ab's, we'll sort something for in the new year alright?" Lauren said, her sister nodding and disappearing upstairs. Lauren turned back to see her mum waiting for them.
"Do we need to sit down?" Tanya asked walking into the living room. Joey and Lauren followed them and Lauren looked at Greg who was yet to speak.
"We were hoping to talk to you on your own mum" Lauren said, hoping Greg would take the hint. Lauren and Joey shared a glance and Joey hugged her a little tighter against his chest, seeing her emotions beginning to bubble to the surface.
Tanya saw the gesture and began to worry a little, she looked nervously at Greg "why don't you get Oscar sorted ?"
"I can stay if you'd like?" he asked
"No it's fine, honestly, tell Oscar I'll be up in a while." Greg nodded and gave her a kiss, to which Lauren rolled her eyes.
He slid past the two of them and paused in the doorway "Don't get upsetting your mother" he warned "She was very upset to find out from a newspaper paper about your little… engagement"
Joey's arm tightened protectively around his girl and he moved forward a little "Who do you think you are talking to Lauren like that?" Greg scoffed and ignored Joey, leaving the room and going upstairs.
Tanya took a sip from the wine glass that was conveniently on the side table and then sat down "What do you want Lauren? Why are you here?"
Lauren and Joey both sat on the sofa opposite Tanya, their hands holing tightly to one another "We wanted to speak to you about something. This is something I've been thinking about for a long time, forever really but even more so recently"
"Stop beating about the bush Lauren, what is it?" Tanya asked
Lauren took a deep breath and closed her eyes "I want to find my biological Dad." She said calmly, opening her eyes to see the complete emotionless of her Mum.
Tanya stood up and walked towards the door, shutting it presumably to ensure Greg didn't here. "Why in God's name do you want to do that?"
"Because he's her dad and she has the right to know who he is, that's why. This is something Laurens wanted all her life, we're getting married in the future and Lauren wants her Dad there" Joey said, beginning to get annoyed by Tanya's attitude.
"Greg will be there Lauren, he'll give you away! He's the only father you're ever going to need." Her voice raised in volume as she yelled at her daughter.
Lauren gritted her teeth and shook her head "Greg is not my Dad, never has been. Did our conversation the other week not give you the slightest indication of that" Joeys hand settled on her arm to calm her down. "The truth is mum, I have a right to know who my Dad is, and he has a right to know about me, so either way I'm going to find him."
"Well, like I told you the last time you asked, I don't know who he is… it was a very long time ago and a very big mistake"
Lauren blinked away tears, her head falling to Joey's shoulder. "Is that all I am? A mistake?" she sobbed "Did you ever even want me?"
"Deep down yes. But the situation may have been different if it wasn't for your Nan, she encouraged me to keep you. So yes Lauren, I did want you but, you were a mistake." Tanya sighed and looked at Joey and saw the pure anger in his eyes. "Look, your father doesn't know about you because I didn't want him to, I've gotten rid of every memory he was in. You need to forget about this stupid idea you have about finding him and leave the past alone."
"why can't you understand what she's saying?" Joey asked looking at Tanya. She remained silent. "Come on babe, we're going home."
Tanya didn't even try to stop them from going, but Lauren paused in the doorway, wiping her eyes on her sleeve. "You know what mum? I'm happy you met Greg, because your two of the same. I will find my Dad. And I will tell him I've tried to find him and why he doesn't know about me. Tell Abi I'll get in contact with her about seeing her and Oscar again."
"I'm not sure that'll be a good idea…" Tanya said.
"That's not your choice. You stop me seeing them and they'll hate you for it… and it'll all be your own fault. Take a look in the Mirror Mum, look at who you've become, you're not my Mum any more. You need to divorce Greg before he does to you, what he did to me…"
"What are you talking about?" Tanya frowned "You can't spin lies to make yourself feel better because you haven't got what you wanted." She spat.
"I'm not lying Mum. Greg hates me, he's told me that on many occasion… you need to ask him how I met Tyler and why I ended up pregnant at 15...you need to ask him what he did when he found out I was pregnant " She took Joey's hand and walked down the path in silence. "Oh and you might want to know what kind of 'business' it is he's running and with whom. Goodbye mother".
Well that went well didn't it ? I will be Posting again later possibly even twice! Because yesterday fan fic wasn't working I wasn't able to post, but au seems in order now so I will be back later! thanks for an of year reviews, not many of you are liking Tanya and I don't blare you! Xxx