Was I imagining the words I was hearing? I slowly pulled my phone away from my ear, I was in denial, so consumed in my worries that I didn't even realise I had dropped my glass; causing it to smash into tiny pieces, at this current moment it was what I wanted to happen to Lucy's face.
"Lauren! Babe? Who was that?" Joey fretted whilst trying to move me away from the broken glass.
"Toby, Lucy, taken..." I replied in a panicky tone - even though it probably made no sense to him, I understood, Lucy was doing this to get to me, she had always been this low.
"Lo, you're not making any sense, please talk to me, whatever it is I can help, like I said I would" Joey pleaded.
"Lucy picked Toby up from the children's group, he barely knows her, what if I never see him again, what if she.. She"
Joey cut me off, probably to remind me to breathe, with all these possibilities running through my head I didn't know what to think I had to leave, Toby needed me.
"I need to leave, I'm sorry Joe but this was a mistake, If I wasn't so busy with you this wouldn't have happened I need to go" I apologised to Joey and left the Vic, only to be followed out the door.
"Wait Lauren!" Joey shouted from behind me.
I'll help, alright? We'll find him I promise, they can't have gotten far " Joey tried his best to reassure me, he took my arm and rubbed it the hope that it would comfort me. The truth Is I couldn't rest until my boy was back with his mum and not in the care of a physco.
"Do what you want, I need to go now" I was harsh but he knew I was hurting.
/ Lucy/Toby
"Where are we going Lucy!?" Toby asked excitedly
"What have I said about calling me Lucy? It's Aunty Lulu to you" She replied playfully, tickling the little boy.
"How about we go and find your daddy huh?" Lucy watched as her nephews eyes widened and so did his grin.
"YEAH! PLEASE PLEASE CAN WE AUNTY LULU PLEASE!" Toby exclaimed
"Shhh okay, okay someone is excited" She giggled trying to hide her fears of being heard.
"We need to hurry up though, otherwise he might leave before we get there, come on" Lucy said in a childlike tone whilst looking around ensuring Lauren wasn't following them, knowing she only had limited time she hurried him along.
Lucy was convinced she wasn't doing anything wrong, in her mind she was doing Toby a favour and it also happened to be that she could get what she wanted, to crawl underneath Lauren's skin, take something she cared about, like her friend had done to her with Joey, it was the best of both worlds.
Lucy carried Toby across the square towards the house she grew up in, knowing full well Peter was inside with Alice, an evil smirk planted itself across Lucy's face as she opened the door, making sure to close it behind her.
"Lucy? Is that you?" Peter hollered as he made his was down the stairs with Alice in tow, only to be greeted by his sister and his son who had suddenly become shy; hiding behind his aunty.
"Say hello to your daddy" Encouraged Lucy who was now crouching at Toby's level.
"Hellow Daddy" His son said looking up before nuzzling into Lucy.
Alice smiled at the little boy and then at Peter, nudging him slightly, the one quality of her boyfriend she disliked being his stubbornness.
Peter stepped forward, looking back once at Alice who nodded
"Uh... ahem..H-hi" Peter replied through a nervous laugh.
There was sign of relief in the room coming from all parts, the corners of Peter's lips raised slightly.
The 'moment' was abruptly interrupted by banging on the door, Lauren's voice echoed through the house.
"Lucy Beale open up right now!" Lauren shouted
"I can see you, are you stupid as well as deaf I said open up!"
Peter shook his head in disbelief at his sister
"Of course Luce, you stole the kid, what is wrong with you?" Peter snapped
"Well? Anyway what is he still doing here? Answer the door or I will"
Given the ultimatum, Lucy chose the latter option; she stood back and waited for Lauren to barge in.
"WHERE IS HE? MY SON, WERE YOU IN ON THIS TOO? I THOUGHT YOU MADE YOUR FEELINGS CLEAR WHY WOULD YOU GO AND MESS WITH A CHILD'S HEAD LIKE THIS?" Lauren shrieked.
Before waiting for a reply Lauren pushed passed Peter, Joey close behind trying to tame her.
"ARE YOU MAD LUCY? DO YOU NEED TO BE PUT IN A HOSPITAL? BECAUSE IF YOU DO I CAN SEND YOU THERE" Lauren threatened.
"Alright, leave it babe- not in front of Toby, yeah?" Joey said on behalf of the little boy who was now in tears.
"Look what you've done now, SHH Toby, it's okay mummy is so sorry she wasn't there to pick you up, I promise it will never happen again, you have my word "Lauren comforted, now cradling him in her arms.
"Now can you be a big boy and go and wait with Joey outside?, mummy will be there in a minute", At first Toby was unsure, looking at him with puffy eyes but obeyed when Joey held out his hand.
Lauren waited until she heard the door shut to continue, protecting her son's innocence.
"What the hell were you thinking? You stupid cow- taking my son, yes that's my son without my consent, I was worried sick, you don't just do that and as for you Peter I didn't realise just how heartless you are, you make me sick the lot of you." Lauren had no idea where this energy was coming from but found it hard to stop, he angry soon became tears.
"Don't talk to her like that! She was only giving him some attention, seeing as you weren't you piled him off with a bunch of strangers at the community centre!" Defended Peter.
"You what?! Excuse me, I have been doing the job you haven't for the past 4 years so don't you dare play the concerned father role, stick to being the protective sibling it suits you better. Lauren threw back.
Peter was about to continue before Alice gave her views on the situation which provided a well needed wake up call for the pair.
"WILL YOU ALL JUST SHUT UP? I'm sorry but there is an innocent young boy who will end up in the middle of your bickering and Lauren you should know what that is like, with your parent's at each other's throats constantly, do you really want that for Toby?"
Lauren just scoffed at her cousin's outburst, everyone else stood in disbelief.
"And Peter, you know I love and nothing will change that, but how can you honestly not care for your child? It's beyond me, I'm no parent myself but I'm speaking from experience when I say that growing up without a dad was the hardest task of my life but then again you both wouldn't understand you had one. Now you two can carry on, but I'm sick of it." With that Alice shot upstairs.
Realising the truth in her words but too proud to admit it, Lauren left the Beale residence in rage.
/ (Lauren's POV)
"Hey babe Joey called" from over at the swings with Toby, they seemed to be getting on well which if I'm honest helped with my temper.
"Hi boys, having fun?" I said through a smile seeing them bond.
"How are things now?" Joey asked.
"Well let's just say you're sister might be an idiot for choosing Peter Beale, but she isn't as stupid when it comes to family"
"That's Al for you" was his reply.
"Toby, let's go home, you need a bath" I called and he came over.
"Mummy I don't want you anymore, you took me away from daddy, I want Joey he lets me go on the swings and have fun" Toby said
"Tobes what are you saying? Is someone over tired?" I said refusing to believe he meant it.
"Joey, can you take me to grandma's house please?" Toby requested.
"Come on mate, you need a nap, you don't mean it you love mummy" Joey said taking Toby's hand.
It hurt hearing those words coming from Toby, it hurt that he wanted someone else more than me, even if that person was Joey, I put it down to the fact that he needed a man in his life a man who wasn't Peter Beale.
/
Joey walked us to my mum's house, Toby didn't want him to leave when we were at the door, secretly neither did I, so I invited him in for coffee; strictly coffee.
However when we got inside, it looked as if Joey was going to get more than he came for..
"Lauren can you take Toby into the living room please, I need a word" My mum said sternly.
I did as she said for the first time in a long time, returning swiftly as I could feel the tension between Joey and my mum building.
"What is it mum, can't it wait?" I said with a sigh.
"No Lauren It cannot 'wait', don't you think your poor brother has done enough of that for all of us this afternoon?!" She asked rhetorically.
After a few moment I caught of raised eyebrows from my mum it caught on
"Oh my goodness, mum I am so sorry I completely forgot, I was so busy with-" She cut me off
"Let me guess... Joey?! You're little brother was waiting two hours to be picked up, I got a phone call during an important meeting to say that I had to come and collect him immediately as the community centre was closing.
"Don't even try to excuse yourself Lauren, I trusted you to look after BOTH of the boys, instead only had one on your mind didn't you? And it wasn't you're son."
"Tan, this isn't Lauren's fault neither is it mine, if you had taken a moment to listen you would know that Lucy is to blame for all of this" Joey tried to explain.
"No Joey, this is down to Lauren as per usual, I have only ever tried to help you Lauren and have been there for you when people like Joey walked away" My mum stated in a matter of fact tone.
"How have you been there for me? ay!. Toby and I were forgotten when you were too busy with your perfect daughter and your perfect business, if anything you haven't helped me, you caused my wreckage of a life" Truths and feelings were spilling out of our mouths, Joey was left to watch, occasionally placing his hand on my shoulder when he thought things became too heated. Sometimes you just have to let a mother and child argue, other times it can result in worsening the situation; this was one of those times.
"If I have been so much of a problem to you Lauren, why don't you just get out?, yeah , get out , take Toby, take your bags and go elsewhere. I'm sure if Joey loved you as much as you think he does then he would happily take you on, and you're baggage."
"All I can say is good luck, remember she's a Branning" My fired this at Joey before storming out.
/
2 ARGUMENTS IN ONE CHAPTER OMG!
Maybe Peter will listen to his love if nobody else?
Will Joey be willing to take on Lauren and her plus one?
I am going on an overnight trip tomorrow, therefore I probably won't be able to update until Thursday, but I hope this will keep you going!