Max isn’t wanted at Abi’s funeral
LOCKED OUT OF ABI’S FINAL GOODBYE, CAN HE CONVINCE HIS FAMILY TO LET HIM PAY HIS RESPECTS?
“To think that Tanya could be so cruel is shocking for Max”
Grief-stricken Max is left further devastated this week – as bitter Tanya bans him from attending their daughter
Abi’s funeral service.
Although Tanya and her former husband had a brief moment of reconciliation when they turned off Abi’s life-support machine, she still blames Max for their little girl’s death, and can’t bear to be around him. Meanwhile, Max has had no contact with his ex since that terrible day, and he’s left confused after he can’t get a straight answer about what’s going on with Abi’s funeral arrangements. So when he goes on to question his other daughter Lauren, she delivers a crushing blow…
“Lauren tells Max that Abi’s funeral has already happened, and he wasn’t invited!” explains our Albert Square informant. “He just can’t take that in. The idea that Abi could be laid to rest and he wasn’t there is unthinkable to Max. No matter what happened between them all, Tanya let him be present to hold Abi’s hand as she slipped away. To think she’d be so cruel as to bury their daughter without him is too shocking for Max to believe.”
DRIVEN TO DESTRUCTION?
The next day, Max is in a terrible state as he demands that Lauren go over the story again. He’s been drinking to numb the pain – and after his eldest gives him a few harsh home truths, Max heads off to speak to Jay at the undertakers’.
Jay tries to be professional, but when he refuses to tell Max where Abi is buried, the frantic fella grabs his car keys with the intention of driving off to find her grave. Fortunately for Jay, Mick is on hand to step in and stop Max in his tracks…
“Max may not like what Mick has to say, but he’ll certainly be given food for thought,” teases our insider. “He’s lost in his own fears and remorse over what’s happened, and it could just take someone who’s not closely involved to give him a bit of perspective on all this.”
FRAGILE TRUCE
Lauren is stunned when her dad later turns up and explains that he understands why they held Abi’s funeral without him, and he’s going away for a bit. She never expected him to be contrite – but after Max asks for details about the memorial, Lauren is tongue-tied. She can’t seem to offer a clear picture of what happened when the family laid Abi to rest… and it’s not long before Max realises why.
“Lauren is lying – the funeral hasn’t actually happened yet!” reveals our snitch. “She’s been trying to find a way to make
Lauren can’t bear the thought of Max upsetting things”
sure Max doesn’t turn up at the real funeral when it happens, so Lauren pretended that it was all done and dusted!
“Tanya has told her that Max isn’t welcome, and so Lauren has taken it upon herself to intervene,” continues our mole. “She is finding it hard to cope, and can’t bear the thought of Max upsetting things further at the church. It’s just another example of how much this war between Max and Tanya has messed up everyone involved.”
SAYING GOODBYE
After he discovers the truth, Max hits the bottle again. He keeps demanding the details of the funeral – and Lauren warns him that if he shows up, she’ll leave his life for good.
On the day of the funeral, the Brannings – including Jack, Lauren and Cora – are all in attendance. Left out in the cold, Max is desperate to say his goodbyes as well, so will drama erupt at Abi’s final send-off?