Chapter 16
Later that evening back at the hospital, Max and Tanya were sitting in the waiting area, refusing to leave without Lauren. Max was flicking through a newspaper whilst Tanya filed her nails. Abi watched her parents in disbelief, they were still too concerned about their precious reputation to even be in the same room as their daughter.
"You may as well go home. They're keeping her in" Abi informed them
"And leave her here with him? No way" Max proclaimed
"What's the worst he'll do, eh?" she questioned "care? Because that's all you've apparently been doing for the past 3 months, and now she's in hospital"
"That's enough, Abi" Max sighed
"Sorry" she replied "truth hurt, does it?"
"Excuse me, parents of Lauren Branning?" a doctor asked
"That's us, is everything okay?" Max inquired
"Things are as good as they can be for now. I suggest you go home and come back tomorrow morning when you've had time to cool off. I don't want to speak out of turn here but neither of you are good for your daughter right now" she admitted
"We're not leaving without Lauren" Max informed her
"I'm sorry, Mr. Branning, but you don't have a choice" she replied "Lauren needs fluids intravenously, and frankly, in my medical opinion, the care she's been getting at home concerns me, she was lucky she was found when she was or we could be having a very different conversation right now, I also want her to see a member of my psych team"
"Psych team?" Max exclaimed
Noticing
that her husband was getting agitated at the doctor's words, Tanya placed her hand on his arm… "Come on, Max, let's go"
"She'll be fine" the doctor assured them, answering their unanswered question
"I suppose you're letting him stay?" Max questioned, glancing towards Joey who was sat by Lauren's bedside in her room.
"Yes I am" the doctor informed him "he was the one who brought her in and he knows how to keep her calm. Now I'll get someone to ring you tomorrow to give you an update on the situation, but until then, I suggest you stay at home"
Abi nodded her head , thanking the doctor as she and her parents left the room.
*JL*JL*JL*
On returning home they made their way upstairs into Lauren's room.
"What're you doing?" Abi questioned as she watched her parents busy around the room
"fixing the lock on this door" Max informed his daughter
"Dad, you can't" she proclaimed "Mum, tell him!"
"We know what's best for Lauren, Abi. Now go and get your pyjamas on and go to bed. You've got school in the morning" Tanya replied as she cleared up the broken pieces of china from the floor.
"She's not committed a crime. She's having a baby" Abi sighed
"Not by my watch she's not" Max sighed
"What are you gonna do? Hold her in here until she gives birth and then take the baby from her?" Abi inquired
"If we have to, yes" Tanya informed her "now bed please. Not a word to anyone"
"Mum, please, you can't seriously be okay with doing this to your daughter, or to Joey" she asked "Laurens ill she'll end up killing herself if you pair carry on!"
"Abi!" she proclaimed "enough, okay? I don't want to hear another word about it. Now bed"
Tanya and Max really have no idea what they're doing to Lauren do they ? And they're still adamant to have her locked back in her room. Maybe Abi can get through to them ? Who wants another chapter ?