Joey and Lauren locked eyes from across the room. Her eyes reflected shock and disbelief; his eyes betrayed no signs of emotion, just a steely glare. Neither one was willing to back down and look away first. Eventually Peter broke the stare by stepping in front of Lauren blocking her direct view of Joey.
"Hey babe, I think you should just listen to your dad and go to the kitchen. There is a lot to discuss and we don't want to do it in a room full of people right?" Lauren jolted back to reality, a few seconds had passed but that look of intensity felt like it had lasted so much longer.
"Yeah, yeah, you're right. Dad lets go?"
"Um yeah" Max replied. "How about we head over to the car lot? We will have privacy there and then that way the party can continue here"
"Okay sounds good" Peter answered for Lauren.
"You guys can leave your bags here, Ben and Jay will take them upstairs for you, and I'll come too as I am family after all" Abby said.
"Alright, let's go. Sorry for the interruption everyone" Max apologized as he grabbed the keys off the table and opened the door.
They made their way over to the car lot in a clustered group. No-one talking, just walking. Abby settled herself on the desk once inside, Lauren took the chair with Peter stood directly behind her and Max just settled for pacing in front of them all in the small space, he stopped and put his hand on his hips.
"So why didn't you warn me you were coming?" he asked.
"Ugh, I can answer that dad, because she's Lauren. She's selfish and thinks the world revolves around her and you always let her get away with murder so why would this be any different?" Abby offered up as an explanation.
"ABBY! What is your problem? I haven't done anything to you and I'm not selfish!" Lauren retaliated.
"That was pretty harsh Abby." Peter said.
"Quiet all of you. Abby you're lucky I even let you come seeing as you live with the Mitchells now I don't even know if you are family, so any more lip from you and you're out. Do you understand?" Max asked.
"Yes Dad" Abby replied with a look of deject.
"Okay good. Now back to my earlier question. Why no warning for the visit?" Max asked again.
"Let me explain Max" Peter offered. "Firstly it's not a visit. We are back for good, Lauren decided that she was "homesick" and I didn't have much choice but to return with her or lose her. The reason we didn't tell anyone we were coming was because we weren't sure what kind of reception we would receive. Besides it was all very last minute, there wasn't time to really plan out the home coming. I guess we just assumed you would be happy to see us."
"Why is Joey in our house dad?" Lauren burst out. Peter shifted uncomfortably behind her.
"That is the least important thing right now Lauren. Do you know how worried I've been? You never once called, not a text, a letter and bloody postcard… Nothing! So how do you explain that?" Max demanded.
"Selfish" Abby muttered under her breath.
"We wanted to fall of the grid so to speak Max, you know be untraceable" Peter responded.
"Shut up Peter and stop responding for my daughter!" Max shouted. "And what's all this talk about leaving last minute and being untraceable? If you've gotten my daughter into trouble with the law or gangsters or worse you're dead."
"Oh be quiet dad" was all Lauren offered in terms of a response.
"Well. Are you married? Where's the baby?" Max demanded, looking around for any signs of rings of prams.
The questions hung in the air unanswered….
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