What is Lucy up to? Carry on reading to find out! Enjoy
After I had dropped Toby and Oscar off at the community centre, I had some time to kill before Joey and I were meeting for lunch, he was now the manager of R&R, he had done well for himself.
I still didn't know where things were at for me and Joey, did I really want another man in my life when I had Toby? I guess I'm scared of forgetting about him, or making him feel like he is second best. If I was to start seeing Joey again I had to remember where my priorities were, it wasn't just about me anymore.
I was nervous for lunch but excited at the same time, it has been so long since I have had male company, I wasn't sure if me an Joey were going to walk away a couple or just cousins, either way I would be glad to have him back in my life.
I had no job or anything to keep me busy here in Walford, I found myself just walking around thinking, until it was 11:45, I was bored and Joey could clock and out whenever he wanted so I decided to turn up a bit earlier than planned; surprise him.
When I got to R&R Joey was refilling the mini fridges with all kinds of different drink- 'you can do this Lauren' I thought, I came off the alcohol for him all those years ago, now it was time to show him.
"Need a hand with that?" I said whilst striding confidently up to the bar, the confidence thing was an act, Joey made me nervous and I often ended up doing weird things around him- that's the effect he had on me.
"Well If you're sure you can handle it? It's not as easy as it looks" He challenged
"Jo, I might not be as clever as Abi but I'm sure I can do, unless you don't want my help? Maybe you're scared you won't be able to control yourself around me, you know with me having to reach below and things, there's a chance you could get a good view of my behind" I stated
He remained quiet, knowing that I was right.
I didn't take long for me and Joey to get back to ourselves, making rude jokes about each other, in a weird way it was comforting.
/
"What are you having then?" Joey asked as he walked up to the bar in the Vic
"Actually I don't drink anymore, I'm a full time mum now, I can't afford to drink both financially and emotionally, so just an orange please "I replied
He ordered the drinks, but had a puzzled expression plastered on his face
"What's wrong, you seem shocked- didn't you think I could keep it up for this long? Well I can and I have" I said shocked at his lack of faith in me.
"No not that, I'm just amazed at how serious you take motherhood, the Lauren I knew would never have stepped up to the plate, she was too busy being a teenager" He said seeming genuinely surprised
"Joey, babe being a parent changes you, you'll realise one day" I promised
"So tell me, what are you doing nowadays? In a relationship?" He wondered
"If that's your way of finding out whether or not it is acceptable for you to make a move, I can tell you now you're welcome to, no one has since Pe- Peter "I continued, I didn't want to hold back with Joey, not this time.
"If you don't mind me asking- what happened between you and Peter and if it was so bad why are you back?" He seemed like he was willing to listen, therefore I had to be willing to open up.
"I forgot to take the pill one morning, that's what happened and I got pregnant, Peter decided he wasn't ready for that kind of commitment, despite everything we had been through, it hurt" I took a deep breath before continuing, Joey hand was rubbing my back at this point trying to comfort me.
"And as to why I'm back here, that's Toby's fault again" I chuckled softly thinking about how his cheeky smile.
"He wanted his dad, Joey, but his dad doesn't want him, what am I going to do?" This catch up was turning into more of a counselling session but Joey didn't mind.
"Hey shh, none of this is your fault, babe, it's Peter's fault for missing out, even I can tell that Toby is a good kid and I'm not even his dad" He reassured me.
"Sometimes I wish you were, that way he would have a dad, I know you would never have walked out on me, like Peter did, not finding you after you left is a big regret of mine" I said honestly while looking into his eyes.
"Well I'm here now Lo, I'm here for you, all of you, and now that Toby is part of you, I'm here for you both – anything you need, okay?" His words were song to my ears.
"Although I'm not his dad and I haven't been there, I grew up without a man figure in my life, and I know how much he wants it, because I did too." Everything Joey was saying, acted as the conformation I needed- he was the one and I would be stupid to walk away from it.
We simultaneously leaned in for a kiss, he cupped my face, after a sweet but swift lip lock, I rested my face against his neck, taking in his scent.
But of course, this couldn't last forever, and I quickly thrown off my cloud nine when my phone rang; it was Lisa from the Community centre.
-Phone call-:
Lauren- Hello?
Lisa- Hi Lauren I'm just calling to confirm that we did the right thing in allowing Toby to be picked up by a 'Miss Lucy Beale' We assumed that her request was genuine seeing as she is immediate family?
Lisa- Lauren? Miss Branning Hell-
-The line went dead- and Lauren's heart sank.
AHH Lucy! A leopard never changes its spot ;) what about the cuteness of Joren aww!
I hope you liked this chapter; I have school tomorrow so will either update early before or after when I get home, sorry to keep leaving it on cliff hangers I promise it will get better! Thanks again for the comments they make me smile!
~Jess