5th May 2013. It's Christmas. Bring on the DRAMA...
Chapter 32.
"Merry Christmas, Lesley," Lauren said when she came downstairs the next morning.
"Merry Christmas, honey." Lesley looked at her in concern, "Did Joey sort everything out last night?" she asked.
Lauren nodded, her cheeks flushing. "Yeah." She looked around the kitchen. "Do you need me to do anything? Help get anything ready to take to mum's?"
"You can help me finish these mince pies..." Lesley said, "I've already got some made but I always think they taste nicer when they're really fresh."
"Sure..." Lauren said, pulling an apron from the back of the door and putting it over her clothes. She didn't really want to have to change her outfit today so she needed to stay clean.
The mince pies were just coming out of the oven when Joey came into the kitchen, "Something smells nice..." he said with a smile, kissing Lauren on the cheek.
"It's the mince pies..." she giggled.
"I don't think it is, baby." He whispered to her and chuckled when he saw her blush. "We need to leave in just over an hour," he told them both. "Alice is coming down in a few minutes. She's a bit nervous about today... it's her first family Christmas."
"Let's hope it's not the usual Branning saga," Lauren said softly.
"I told you, babe, this year's going to be special." Joey reminded her, kissing her forehead.
*JL*JL*
Joey had loaded the car up with the presents and food while the three women in his life made their final preparations. He'd managed to convince them that they should dress up a bit, seeing as it was a family occasion and when they walked out of the house he whistled in appreciation. "You all look amazing," he said, helping each of them into the car.
They pulled up outside 5 Albert Square and walked up the steps to the house. Max and Tanya opened the door and ushered the quartet into the warmth. Lauren looked around the room, "Where's Abi?" she asked.
Max glanced at Tanya before looking at his daughter, "She asked if she could spend the day with Carol, rather than be here. We thought about it and decided it was probably easier for everyone if she did."
Lauren nodded, not saying anything because she couldn't get anything past the lump in her throat, "LAUR! MERRY CHRISTMAS!" Oscar shouted as he barrelled into the room, hugging his sister eagerly.
"Merry Christmas, little man..." she whispered to him. She felt Joey's hand on her back and knew he was offering her some comfort. She wished it made her feel better but it really didn't.
"We thought we'd do things a little different this year, Lauren." Her mum said. "We're going to do the presents now."
"Okay." She said, thinking it was all a little strange. She went to sit on the couch with her brother.
"I'm just going to get the stuff in from the car, baby." Joey said.
"Do you want a hand?" she asked.
"No, I'll be fine. You stay here in the warm." He blew her a kiss and then dashed out of the room, closing the door behind him.
*JL*JL*
Ten minutes later the seven of them were gathered in the lounge. "No Santa suit this year, dad?" Lauren asked with a smile.
"Nah, your mum made me get rid of it." He said. "You're a bit old for that now anyway..."
"Maybe..." Lauren admitted, although she'd always really liked it when her dad appeared dressed up as Santa and handed out the gifts. It made her feel like his little girl again.
The presents were passed out among the family and were opened eagerly. Oscar was irrepressible, bouncing on the couch as he waited for it to get back to his turn again. It was nearly dinner time when the gifts were finally done. Tanya and Lesley went to finish getting the food ready and then they sat down to eat their meal. The atmosphere at the table was light and everyone was smiling. It was practically a revolution for a Branning family Christmas and Lauren was waiting for something to go wrong. Alice helped Lesley and Tanya clear the table once the food was over. Lauren was going to go with them but Joey grabbed her hand under the table so she stayed where she was.
"What's wrong, Joe?" she asked once it was just the two of them at the table. Now she was looking at his face she could see he looked a little tense.
"I've got another present for you..." he told her softly.
"You should've given it to me earlier." She said.
"It wasn't the right time then." He got up from his seat and walked out of the room. Lauren glanced at her father as he watched him leave the room and she wondered what was going on. Whatever it was, it seemed her dad was in on it. Joey walked back in carrying a large box that was carefully wrapped. He placed it on the table in front of her. Lauren looked at him then noticed that the rest of the family were all standing watching her as well. She suddenly felt very self-conscious. "Open it, baby girl." Joey whispered.
Lauren took a deep breath and carefully tore the paper off the box... to reveal a box inside. She glanced at Joey again, seeing him biting his lip as he watched her. She turned back to the box and lifted the lid. She gasped when she saw what was inside and her eyes met Joey's. "I don't understand." She whispered.
"I thought we could get married..." he said, staring into her eyes, "Today." Her eyes widened as she realised what he was saying, "Please say yes because I've organised it all... with a bit of help from your parents."
"And me!" Oscar piped up.
Joey laughed but his focus was on Lauren. He wasn't sure how she was going to react. She looked up at him, "Okay." She said softly.
Joey's face was filled with a huge smile as he heard her say that one word. He strode over to her and kissed her gently. "Thank you..." he whispered.
"We'd better get you changed, Lauren." Tanya said, clapping her hands together. "The guests will be arriving soon."
Everyone sprang into action and began to move around the room. Tanya, Lesley and Alice all moved towards Lauren and pulled her from the room and up the stairs. Alice brought the box up with her. They gathered in Lauren's parent's room. "Did everyone know, apart from me?" Lauren asked.
"No, sweetheart, it was just me and your dad."
"And Oscar..." Lauren added.
"Yeah," Tanya smiled, "They had a trip out the other weekend. Oscar helped Joey choose the rings. Joey said only your little man was up to the job of assisting him apparently."
"He said that?" Lauren said.
"Lauren, Joey loves your brother almost as much as you do," Alice said.
"What did you think of the dress?" Tanya asked.
"Did you choose it?" Lauren asked.
Tanya nodded, "Joey told me to choose something you would like and get it put in a box. He wrapped the box but he hasn't seen the dress." She explained.
"What I've seen of it, it looks beautiful, mum... and very me. I hope it fits me."
"You're going to look beautiful in it." Tanya reassured her. "Now, come on, we need to get this done. Let's start with your hair and make-up." Tanya said, swinging into action. Twenty minutes later Lauren was ready to put her dress on. "I have a little gift for you, Lauren." Tanya said, opening her wardrobe and pulling out a gift bag.
Lauren opened it and found some underwear inside. "Mum..."
"Well, I wasn't sure what you'd be wearing when you came over and I decided you should have something nice on... something that Joey might appreciate later..." she added with a smirk.
"Mum..." Lauren said in embarrassment.
"Auntie Tanya..." Alice said, looking a little ill at the thought of it.
"Alice, it's perfectly natural for your brother to want to ravish his wife on his wedding night." Lesley said and Lauren looked even more embarrassed.
"I'm going to go and change into these in the bathroom," she said hurriedly. Her mum passed her a gown to put over the top of it for her return to the room. Lauren made a dash for the bathroom before anyone could say anything else that would embarrass her. She stared at her reflection in the mirror and what she saw amazed her. She looked so different and it wasn't just the hair and make-up... she looked happy. She looked different and yet she was still looked like her... she was still the girl Joey fell in love with. She quickly changed into the underwear from her mum and she knew Joey would love it when he got to see it later. She pulled the gown on and ran back to the bedroom.
Her mum reached for the box that lay on the bed and lifted the lid. Carefully she pulled the dress from inside it and held it up for them all to see. It really was a beautiful dress. "Off with the gown, Lauren." She instructed and Lauren did, feeling a little vulnerable as she stood in her underwear before Joey's family. Her mum helped her put the gown over her head, making sure to avoid her hair and then she did the zip up the back. It fit her perfectly.
Lauren gazed down her body and saw how the dress clung to every curve she possessed. "Mum, the dress is stunning." She looked up at her, "Thank you."
"I think it's the person inside it that makes it look that way, sweetheart." Tanya said and Lauren felt tears forming in her eyes and a lump appeared in her throat.
"Joey's going to be blown away by the sight of you, Lauren." Lesley said, smiling at her nearly daughter in law.
"I guess it's almost time..." Lauren whispered.
Tanya checked the time and nodded, "You've got about ten minutes." She stepped forward and kissed her daughter on the cheek, "I'll send your dad up... he's so looking forward to walking you down the aisle."
"Where is the wedding taking place anyway?" Lauren asked.
"In the square gardens... by the Christmas tree." Tanya said.
Lauren glanced at Lesley and Alice, "And Derek?"
"Jay is keeping him and Abi out of the way." Tanya admitted. "Oh, I nearly forgot..." She dashed to her wardrobe again and reappeared with a wrap to go around Lauren's shoulders, "To keep you a bit warm," she said as she fastened it. "The finishing touch..."
"Does she have something old, borrowed and blue?" Lesley asked, "The dress is new obviously."
"Good thinking..." Tanya said.
"What about Grandma Reenie's bracelet?" Lauren suggested. It was something she'd seen a lot when she was a child and when her Grandma had died it had been given to Lauren by her Granddad. Her mum had been looking after it for her ever since as Lauren hadn't wanted to lose it.
"Yes... that's definitely old." She retrieved the bracelet and fastened it around Lauren's wrist. "I've got the perfect thing for blue..." she said. "I wore these in my hair when your dad and I got married last time." She said, pulling some slides out of her jewellery box, "I'd love it if you would wear them, darling." There were tiny blue stones in the slides and they were gorgeous.
"They're beautiful, mum. Won't they count as borrowed as well?" she said.
"I guess they will..." Tanya put the slides into Lauren's hair and then covered her mouth with her hands as she gazed at her daughter. "Beautiful, Lauren."
"Thanks mum." Lauren said. Alice and Lesley hugged her gently before making their way out of the room with Tanya. Leaving Lauren alone.
There was a soft knock on the door and when she looked up she saw her dad standing in the doorway. He was dressed up in a smart suit. "You look beautiful, babe," He told her softly, "Like a real life princess..." he added with a smile.
"Feeling a bit like one too, if I'm being honest..." She smiled at her dad, "Thanks for helping Joey to organise this..." she whispered.
"He came to me and your mum about six weeks ago and asked if we could help him with this. He told us he wanted to make an honest woman of you before you started trying for a baby."
"Well today's definitely the day to be doing that." Lauren murmured.
Max stepped closer and lifted her hand in his. "You've got mum's bracelet on..." he whispered, his thumb brushing over it.
"It's my something old..." she said softly.
"I think she'd be pretty proud of the person you've become, Lauren. And your granddad would love the fact you're wearing it and thinking of her today." Lauren looked up at her dad's face and saw the emotions on it as he spoke of his mum; the first woman he'd ever loved. "I remember the day dad gave this to her. It was just after your Uncle Jack was born." Pain washed over his face at those words, "It was a present to celebrate how Jack had completed the family..." Max shook himself slightly from the morose thoughts, "Your granddad loved your grandma very much and she loved you so much as well... It's only right you should wear it today."
"I take it Abs didn't want to come?" Lauren whispered.
"We didn't give her the choice... Joey said she wasn't invited. He was adamant about it. He said today was about the two of you and she wasn't going to spoil it or take the focus away from you." Max said, "Once he said that we had to agree with him. She would've done something to spoil the day for you. So I've paid Jay to ensure her and Derek won't be here."
"And you think he'll be able to manage that...?"
"He'll be fine. Carol and Bianca are also helping..." Max admitted.
"I take it they're not huge fans of me and Joey either?" Lauren whispered, biting her lip.
"They're not as opposed to it as your uncle and sister but they chose to not come to the ceremony. They said they would help Jay with his task." Max looked down at his daughter, "Don't let other people spoil your day, babe. Joey has put a lot of effort into this. He's invited your friends and family to be here to witness you getting married. Those who choose to not be there aren't people you need around you. You just need to walk to Joey, say I do and enjoy the day. That sounds pretty simple, right?"
"Yeah... I think I can manage that." Lauren said with a smile.
"We should be going downstairs." He said. He took Lauren's arm and led her down the stairs. The house was empty. On the side by the telephone was a bunch of flowers for Lauren to hold and it was then she noticed her father has a buttonhole in his jacket that matched one of the flowers in the bunch she was carrying. Max saw her looking at the flowers, "Joey chose them... He told me to tell you what they were and why he chose them." Max reached inside his jacket and pulled out a piece of paper. He glanced nervously at his daughter, "The black ones are Christmas roses... they're actually poisonous but they used to be used to treat paralysis so they seemed appropriate for that reason as well as the seasonal reference. The purple flowers are Asters and they're the birth flowers for September which is both Joey's birthday and when you got engaged. They symbolise love and trusting. The small white flowers are Gypsophilia or baby's breath. They signify innocence and pureness of heart. There are snowdrops as well in the bunch... they represent hope. And then there are the roses. Joey included two types in your bunch. The red and white ones which we also have as buttonholes show that we're united; both the unification of you and Joey and that we're united as a family. The red ones I'm sure you realise represent Joey's true love for you."
"Thanks dad..." Lauren said with a smile. His words told her just how much thought Joey had put into the whole day. "I think we have somewhere to be, don't you?"
TBC
A/N: Okay, so I said there would be drama... I didn't necessarily mean it would be the bad kind. Do you think this makes up for the mess Joey made of last Christmas? The rest of the wedding will be posted later today. Get your hankies ready... it's a bit of a tearjerker...