Chapter 46

The first week of Joey being gone was very difficult. She spent the majority of time wrapped in joey's jumper and curled up in bed, sulking and hiding away from the rest of the world. She was still In bed on the following Wednesday, Joey having left on the two Fridays before, when the sound of keys in the door drew her from her state of recluse.

"Lauren Love? It's mum..." Tanya called our shutting the door behind her. She looked around the flat seeing piles of laundry by the washing machines, dirty dishes in the sink. She could see a pile of unopened letters on the side, the calendar still on the previous month, it was a complete mess. Tanya sighed and placed the keys on the side, thankful she'd acquired a spare set from Joey before he left. She knew things were going to be difficult for Lauren when she was on her own but not that bad. Since moving in with Joey, she'd been a very house proud person even making people take their shoes off for the first few months she moved in. Tanya stepped over the laundry and pulled the kitchen blinds open, letting a little more light in. "Lauren where are you?" there was a mumbled response from the bedroom, it too was dark when she got there, so she flicked the light on.

"Mum... do you have to? switch it off" Lauren moaned.

"Get up..." Lauren stared at her mother before rolling back into the pillows , she was shocked by her harsh tone. She'd tried the softly, softly, catchy monkey approach they all had but that hadn't worked so now she was going with 'you have to be cruel to be kind' . "I'm being serious Lauren, it's been a month and it was awful what happened to you baby, it really was but you need to move on. Your home is a mess, your a mess and you have a job waiting for you. You can't keep going on like this Lauren"

She rolled over in the bed and glared at her Mum "Why would I went to get up? This life sucks"

Tanya pulled back the covers, Lauren frowning in response "Then get up and start making it not suck" Lauren blinked a little and Tanya knew she'd upset her. "Oh baby, no I didn't mean to upset you"

"No your right... I'm being selfish aren't I ?"

"I didn't say that. I wouldn't wish what you've been through on anyone darling, I'm just saying you could try to get things back on track... yeah?" Lauren nodded "Starting with the flat" she smirked

"It's not that bad" Lauren protested, dragging herself from the bed and slipping her slippers on.

"Darling it's a tip in here... come on, i'll help you clean it all up and then you can have a shower and I'll take you to the salon and give you a little pampering" Lauren nodded and followed her mother into the lounge.

*JL*JL*JL*

It took them two hours to clean the flat from top to bottom and Lauren had even discovered the chocolate Joey had brought her as a surprise when they first moved in that had become lost.

True to her word Tanya took Lauren back to the square and gave her a full pamper. She had her eyebrows threaded, her hair stripped of the dye, her natural colour coming back through. Her Mum and Dad had cooker her dinner and she'd taken the twins to the park. She had to admit she felt like a different person by the end of the day and going back to a clean, fresh flat made it all the easier. It was that night she sat down at the kitchen table, pen and paper in hand and wrote her first letter to her man.

*JL*JL*JL*

She sat at the table waiting patiently for the post to arrive. It was already half 12 and of course today the post had to be late. Lauren had sent another letter to Joey three weeks ago and was waiting for his reply. It usually took three to four weeks for her to get a response and each time was like torture.

Lauren had so much to tell him in her last letter, she'd officially started her duties as a fully-fledged intelligence operative and was currently working in London at one of the signal bases. She'd been there for a month now and was really enjoying the job, she had headed a couple of operations so far, collecting the relevant information.

Joey had been gone for three months now and it was nearing Christmas, so Lauren was praying that his latest letter might inform her he'd be coming home.

*JL*JL*JL*

She busied herself with cleaning the flat (although it was already spotless) with the hope of trying to pass some time. Almost an hour later and there was the tell- tale drop of post in the boxes at the end of the corridor. Lauren was up out of her seat, leaving the door open and sprinting to the mail boxes before the post man had even left. She rummaged on the keying and opened the post box that belonged to her and Joey.

She picked up the pile of letters and hastily shut the box again. Bill, junk, bill, junk…Joey. Her smile stretched across her face and she sat, tearing the envelope open. Unfolding the paper she couldn't help but feel tingly at the sight of his scrawled handwriting. It want the best hut it was his and that's all she needed. She took the letter and sat in the sofa beginning to read.

To my beautiful Lauren,

Hi baby, it's so good to be able to finally have the chance to write to you. I miss you More and more everyday. I know you miss me just as much as I miss you, you said it enough in your letter.

Lauren laughed, imagining him laughing when he read the near on 50 'I miss you's ' in her last letter.

I guess you're counting down the days just as much as I am…I guess you want me to say I'll ne home for Christmas, but at the minute I don't know if that's going to be possible so I wont make any promises. But it's only 3 months and you'll get me for 2 weeks because we're all coming home in leave... I really can't wait to have you in my arms again baby... I have a little calendar and I cross off the days when I get up in the morning, just so I know I'm a day closer to being with you again. I promise you that when you come home I'll make it the best time of your life, we'll make up for lost time.

I'm so happy that you've thrown yourself into work. It makes me happy to know the army are looking after you. I'm even more impressed that you finally brought a car! It's about time too…

I've had letters from Mum and Alice, although they only seem to talk about you in there letters too. I'm glad they're looking after you, you deserve it…I know how difficult these last few months have been for you and I just wanted to say how proud of you I am.

My platoon are brilliant, we're all going good. I'm not impresses by the food though…I could really use a big portion of that amazing pizza you make. Anyway, I'm safe and well and sporting a bit of beard again…I know you like that look.

I've been keeping up with the news on how things are going back on home terrertory, and I guess you know how things are over here. I know they don't sound so good but just try not to worry too much ok? Mum says you aren't going out as much, so for me please, go out and have a bit of fun, no matter where you are you'll miss me like I miss you so at least miss me in a club or something ok?

I just want you to know that I'm so incredibly proud of you, more than you'll ever know. I know your mum and Dad feel the same : they sent me some pictures from Oscar and Olivia by the way, proper little artistes aren't they ay? Obviously picked that up of their big sister. They've taken pride of place right next to your beautiful face in the camp. I guess I'll end it there...

I love you baby, so much. I can't wait to see your beautiful face in 3 months. I can't wait to have you all to myself . The time will go fast, I promise. I'll be coming home to you babe.

Love you for eternity ,

Your Joey.

Lauren was wiping her eyes by the end of the letter, the slight smudge of the ink where her tears had fallen on the paper. She kissed the letter where he'd signed it and placed it back in the envelope. She held it closer to her chest, placing it across her heart "I love you to Joey". She stayed silent for a little while and then put the letter away in the box onto of the kitchen cupboard, with all the other letters for safe keeping. She'd read them all if she was ever having a bad day and they always made her smile. She had everything in that box, every letter he'd written, every notification either had received, their call of duty papers. Everything. The tears began to fall when she remembered all they had been through the last few months, they really had come far and she'd done it all pretty much on her own.

Lauren had got herself into a bit of a mess hadn't she? Mummy Tan to the rescue ! A little time jumps in there too... things are definitely looking up for them now, but it's still hard... back tomorrow xx