Chapter 34

The restaurant they'd gone to was one of Laurens favourites, a little Italian place called Giorgio's. It had always been her favourite, they did the best pizza around. It held great memories of her childhood for her too, it was a place of safety and comfort to Lauren.

It was the place she and Joey had most of their dates, where she had birthdays as a child where her Mum and Dad had taken her when she'd passed her GCSE's with amazing results, which now according to her Dad had been washed down the drain. It's a shame their visit that day wasn't under as pleasant circumstances.

"Ah Mr, Mrs Branning ! We haven't seen you in a while!" the soft Italian accent of Giorgio's wife made Lauren smile, a feeling of nostalgia well and truly taking over, as the beautiful Italian lady fussed over them.

"Hi Fran, we've just had lots going on that's all" Tanya smiled, taking a quick glance at Lauren who shuffled awkwardly in her chair knowing her Mum wanted her to try and hide her growing bump.

"we've not seen you either Lauren with Joe ! we miss you in here !" she smiled studying a little more… "oh ! Mamma Mia … un Bella bambino!" Lauren smiled nodding, she understood Italian well, having studied it at school.

Francesca, looked at Lauren a bright smile on her face as Max and Tanya sat head in hands. "ye…I'm pregnant"

"you look beautiful Lauren… Bella ! Now what can I get you ?"

The Branningsn deliberated over the menus for a while before giving Fran their orders, awkwardness returning as she left them alone.

"I wish you wouldn't openly discuss it Lauren…" Max said in disgust, waving his hand in the direction of her stomach.

"sorry Dad, but she asked… it would have been rude not to answer her… or to lie."

"you want to pray there's no one here we know Lauren !" he scorned

"I'm sorry Dad" she whispered tears filling her eyes.

Their food was served to them a little later, it was exactly how Lauren remembered it. The smells the taste… everything. She closed her eyes as she took a mouthful, savouring the taste. "I hope her parents like Italian food"

"whose parents Darling?" Tanya asked

"the babies… no one should miss out on Italian food!" Tanya smiled softly receiving a nudge from Max. "I have to talk about it… if I don't I'm scared I'll forgot"

"Lauren…" Tanya turned to her daughter taking her hand "you'll never forget darling"

Sniffing to stop the built tears from falling, she placed her fork down. "I need the loo.." she murmured pushing herself up and waddling to the toilets.

"What did you say that for?" Max accused as his eldest disappeared from sight.

"well it's the truth she won't ever forget" Tanya sighed "look Max maybe we aren't doing the right thing…"

"we are Tan. End of conversation" his voice filled with finality.

*JL*JL*JL*

Lauren sat in the toilets perched on the toilet seat, crying silently as she stared blankly at the door. She heard several people go in and leave again, so she's guessed she'd been in there for a while. She waited for the door to close again, so her coast was clear. She looked a mess, a very big pregnant mess and didn't want the embarrassment of being seen.

Walking out of the cubical she was in a complete daze, only coming out of it when she collided into the person leaving the cubical next to her. "sorry"

"Lauren?" Laurens heart dropped at the sound of the familiar voice. She looked up meeting eyes with the female. "Darling…"

"Sara…" Lauren bit her lip as Joey's Mum pulled her into a huge hug.

"oh sweetheart how are you?"

"what are you doing in here? God you can't see me, good Dad will kill me if he finds out people know are here" she sobbed leaning back against the wall, her hand rubbing her stomach softly as the baby kicked.

"I haven't seen you since Joe left Lauren and that was weeks ago, how are you ?." Lauren let herself be comforted by Sara, her own mother wasn't going to and her Dad definitely wasn't.

Suddenly she froze, dread running through her "please tell me uncle Derek isn't with you?" The silence said it all… "he can't see me" she shook her head in panic

"it's alright, we've finished eating… I'll go and get your Mum and I'll make a quick exit with Derek ok?"

Lauren nodded "thank You… Auntie Sara, how's Joey?"

She smiled weakly and nodded "he's good. He's coming home in a few weeks, he'd love to see you…"

"I'd love to see him too but that can't happen…" Sara frowned but decided not to push it, Lauren was in a state as it was.

"I'll go get your Mum…"

Luckily for Lauren, Sara had managed to get Derek out of the restaurant without any of the other Branning been seen. Max and Tanya hadn't been impressed and had insisted they left the restaurant as soon as they'd finished eating to avoid another risky situation. There hadn't even been as much as a cake for Lauren.

Arriving home, Lauren had had a complete breakdown, she had spent the entire night glued to Abi's side, refusing to be left alone in case she did anything. The prospect of Derek seeing her had really unnerved her and all she wanted was Joey.

She lay on her bed staring at the ceiling she looked at the clock briefly and then glanced at her bump she sighed..."happy 18th Lauren "

poor Lauren ... next chapter posted tomorrow it's full of drama and has a very mean cliff hanger!