As promised chapter 3!.. enjoy
"Oh darlings, Lauren look at you my beautiful girl and Toby; how are you mister? Have you been good for your mummy such a big boy now?" she exclaimed
"Hi mum, sorry to just turn up like this, I have some business to take care of and Toby really wanted to see his grandma" I explained handing Toby over to her open arms.
"No need to apologise, you know we love having you both here and it's great company for Oscar, look at me babbling on, come inside you must be freezing" she said while ushering me through the door.
I felt warm inside knowing we were welcome; I just hoped that it was the same story for Peter.
"So how has everyone been, what has been going o-"
"Grandma, do you know my daddy? Where is he? I want to meet him!" Toby interrupted
"Daddy lives close and his name is Peter" My mum replied, while giving me a disapproving look
"Tobes why don't you stay here and play with Oscar while me and Grandma have a talk, Okay? Good boy" I said and he obliged.
With that my mum took me by the wrist into the kitchen shutting the door behind her..
"What the hell are you playing at Lo? Bringing Toby to see Peter when he made it clear that he wasn't interested? You're only going to hurt yourself and that little boy, besides he's moved on, he is in a happy relationship with Alice, remember her? And Joey; blimey do you really want to wreck what you have Lauren because you will, especially around Joey!" my mum ranted, now trying catch her breath.
I was in complete shock, Peter with Alice? I wasn't angry I felt bad for Alice, worried even he isn't really what you could call reliable, as for Peter I envy him, being able to start again, not tied down.
My mum's words kept swimming around my head, wait.. Joey's still in Walford?
Back when my mum sent me to that clinic, I never did get to say goodbye to Joey, I spent months in rehab trying to sort myself out for Joe, so that we would work, he didn't end things because he stopped loving me I know that now, he ended it because it killed him to see me a broken women. My mum never mentioned him whilst I was recovering, but I never forgot, just put him to one side- had to focus all my energy into getting better for his sake.
I wasn't allowed any visitors in the early days, but when that changed, Peter was the first one there and the last to leave at night, throughout my entire stay he made me feel special sort of the same as Joey did.
Joey never visited, I wasn't annoyed with him or hurt, honestly I was pissed that I let things get this far, when I did finally return to Walford six months later, Joey was nowhere to be seen, apparently he had gone to his mum's, I thought it was Peter that I wanted – well he was at the time. Until we moved into our own place and I told him I was pregnant, things were never the same.
Now though, I didnt know how I felt about Joey being back, he was a distraction but when I think of him I get the same feeling as I did when we were together; and that's hard to ignore.
"Mummy I'm hungry, can I have chips now?" Toby pleaded
"Oh.. Yes, right I promised you chips, I'll get you chips!" I replied vaguely
"Mum can you watch him, I'll be back in 10, maybe even get a bottle of sparkling fruit juice for a catch up? I'm off the drink for Toby" I said even trying to convince myself
"Go, but don't drop anything on anybody at the moment, if you see Peter maybe you should arrange to talk, be civil" My mum suggested
I walked out the door, without agreeing to anything.
/
When I made it to the chippy, the person at the till wasn't who I expected to see.. it was Alice – Peter probably employed her seeing as she wasn't getting anywhere with the babysitting, she looked up from placing rolls on the food stand..
"Lauren Branning, my beautiful cousin, you look well what are you doing back?" Excitement laced her voice she always did get over excited.
"Alright Al, I'm here for a while, got some loose ends to tie up and wanted some family time, wasn't expecting to see you working here, life treating you well?" I enquired
"Yeah amazing, I have just moved into the Ian's house with Pete-, uh, sorry Lo I.." Alice stopped midway through her answer, once she had realised who she was talking to, I was quick to cut in..
"Look Al, you can mention his name, I don't hate you for falling in love, I just hope you know what you are letting yourself in for, don't go getting yourself knocked up anytime soon, actually I don't think Joey would approve" I reassured her, although I couldn't help mentioning Joey and being sour towards the end.
"Does he know? Joey.. does he know you're back?" She questioned
"No, I didn't tell anyone I was coming, but I'm sure you will for me" was my reply.
"Right, can I have a fish and chips children's meal please, don't forget the toy, it's Toby's favourite part" making sure I added the last part as I ordered.
Although Alice had just smiled at my comment I knew she knew who I was talking about, he wasn't any secret to be hidden away, maybe she just found it awkward to talk about; me having her boyfriends baby, this just confirmed that us Brannings were a bit of a odd family.
"Thanks" I said with a smile when she handed me the food
"I hope Toby enjoys his food, and maybe we could meet up for lunch at some point?" she asked
"I'd like that, Al, but better run it passed Peter first, ay?" I said softly
She just nodded in agreement.
/
Once I got Toby settled with his food I returned to the kitchen and greeted my mum and my nan; Cora who had arrived not long before me.
"Oh damn! I knew there was something I forgot, the sparkling fruit juice of course" I announced
"Not to worry, darling, I'm sure mum wouldn't mind babysitting for an hour whilst we went to the Vic?" My mum offered
"Seeing as I love Oscar and Toby so much, I guess you could go" Cora replied
" I don't know, I try to avoid leaving Toby; besides I won't be much of a drinking partner" I said trying to get myself out of this situation
"Hush up, you're coming with me, go get dolled up" mum ordered
/
20 minutes later I was ready, I decided to wear my two piece which consisted of a black leather skirt and a white crop top that had a slit in the top, usually I don't get dressed up so it was a rare occasion, my hair was slicked back with minimal make-up, after all it was only the Vic.
Having Left Toby and Oscar in the capable hands of my Nan, me and mum made our way over to the Vic.
I was scared to go in, as I feared the faces I might come across and watching people drink made me uncomfortable; jealous almost.
My mum led the way, once inside I recognised a group of people straight away, sat at a table close by were the majority of the Branning family, all but one of the members I wanted to see; Joey.
"Surprise!" My mum said in the same tone as I had said earlier when turning up.
"I know you didn't want anything too big, darling but these are the people who care about you most and who are glad to see you back", scanning the table I saw Alice who had obviously just finished her shift and I could guess who she was waiting for, although I wasn't going to be sticking around to see him.
"Mum I can't do this, none of you care about me, I mean really, you just feel sorry for me that I am lumbered with a son; a son that is part of me, a son that I don't regret even if the dad does, you are all scared to even mention his name – TOBY IS HIS NAME AND HE IS MINE, IT IS ABOUT TIME YOU ACCEPTED IT" I shouted the latter half.
This was aimed at everyone apart from my mum, she had only been trying to do a nice thing for me but I kinda rather she had of left it, that way I wouldn't have been faced with what was about to happen.
By now could feel the tears building up, what chance does Toby have, he isn't accepted within his dads family along with the majority of mine, I was doing more harm than good being here, as I turned around and avoided the stares that were coming from other punters and when I did look up I saw the faces of the men who I cared about, once.
Peter having heard my speech regarding our son, held the bridge of his nose with his two fingers, looking angered by my presence while Alice tried to calm him down.
Joey had a look of emptiness about him, and let out a big sigh, still watching me up and down realising what he had been missing and discovering the truth about my mini Branning.
Wow, this took me a while but loved writing it, I have more ideas brewing so keep reading! Chapter 4 to be added maybe later/tomorrow!
~Jess