Chapter Fifty-One

Lauren was upstairs packing her suitcase. She and her dad had decided on Italy as their destination. It was only for a fortnight but a fortnight would be long enough to get her head around things. She reached for her camera and put it in her handbag. She moved into the bathroom to get her shampoo when she heard someone coming up the stairs. Her mother paused in the doorway, looking at her daughter. 'You're sure this is what you want Lauren?' she asked her. Lauren nodded her head.

'Dad's right. I need to get away from here for a while' she told her mother softly. 'I think it will do me some good and probably you and Abi could do with a break from me too' she turned to look at her.

'Darling, we don't need a break from you' Tanya told her softly. 'Never think that' she licked her lips and sighed 'do you need some help packing?'

'I'm good, just getting my toiletries together' she said softly, 'but thank you for the offer' she carried her things back in to her bedroom, zipping them into her toiletries bag and placing it in her case. She picked up the case and her mother took it from her at the door and carried it down the stairs.

Max was waiting for her. 'Passport?' he asked Lauren. Lauren patted her handbag. 'Good. Well, I think we're ready to go' he looked at Lauren and she nodded and she turned to look at her mother and sister, wondering what to say to them. Before she had a chance to, Abi rushed forward and hugged her tightly.

'I hope this trip helps' Abi breathed into her ear 'I miss my big sister' she told her.

Lauren closed her eyes and squeezed her tightly. As soon as Abi released her she was in her mother's arms. 'You have a good time' her mother said softly 'take care of your dad for me?' she asked her and Lauren nodded her head.

'I will'

'We're only going for a fortnight not a year' Max rolled his eyes. 'Come on Lauren we don't want to miss the flight' he told her.

*XX*XX*XX*XX*

A week into their trip and Lauren was sitting at a table in a small café with her dad. He'd brought her a café latte and he was sipping a regular coffee. They'd been in Italy for a week and Max had hoped she would've confided in him by now. They'd been to several art galleries and had walked around some more scenic parts of Italy and the walls she'd built around herself seemed to be crumbling away a little bit. Even more pleasing to Max was the fact that she was starting to eat too. Not huge meals, but she was eating and being able to keep it down, which was a pleasing sign. He was hoping by the end of this trip that she would've gained a little bit of the weight she'd lost. He glanced up at her and saw she was lost in thought. 'Penny for them?' he said, nudging her knee gently with his foot. She glanced up at him.

'What?' she blinked in confusion.

'You were miles away then' he told her, taking a sip of coffee. 'Anywhere nice?' he teased her.

Lauren sighed and she looked down into her cup. She seemed to be thinking about what she was going to say to him. The next words out of her mouth were not ones he'd been expecting to hear. 'He's alive' she told him.

AN: I'm pretty certain that when Max was hoping Lauren would open up to him he wasn't expecting her to tell him that…I wonder what the rest of the conversation will lead to…back tomorrow, leave me a review.