This article contains spoilers for tonight’s episode of EastEnders, which airs on BBC One at 7.30pm or can be streamed now on iPlayer.
Despite their earlier set back, Peter Beale (Thomas Law) and Lauren Branning (Jacqueline Jossa) are engaged to be married.
The couple have had a rocky year, in the wake of Lauren struggling with addiction in the wake of the Peggy’s club crush.
She had found that pain medication wasn’t helping her injuries, and she was beginning to become more dependant on it.
To make her symptoms worse, Lauren was expecting a baby, and she stole a bottle of liquid morphine.
Peter wondered whether she had fallen off the wagon with her alcoholism, and outright accused her of hitting the bottle. To prove that she was totally clean, she binned the morphine and promised to go cold turkey on the drugs.
However, it wasn’t long before his Cindy Beale (Michelle Collins) stepped in, and began supplying her with an alternative narcotic.
The whole ordeal was exposed in spectacular fashion at Christmas, with a mystery assailant whacking Cindy around the head with a snow shovel.
With the whole of Walford wanting to know who was responsible, the finger was pointed towards Lauren. She admitted that she had seen her lifeless body on the ground, but hadn’t committed the offence.
In February we learnt the truth – it was actually Kathy Cotton (Gillian Taylforth), but only Cindy and Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt) privy to the shocking fact.
Earlier this week, Lauren was concerned ahead of her baby scan as she hadn’t felt the child move since the night before.
Peter assured her that things would be ok, and that he would be back in time to attend the scan with her – but soon became preoccupied by his estranged mum.
Cindy had gone to stay with her old pal Gita to escape the drama of Albert Square, but there was a problem. She’d gone AWOL again.
Lauren was, understandably, furious that Peter had focussed on his wayward mother and forgotten to head to the hospital. He then decided that he needed to show commitment to their family, and got down on one knee.
To his surprise, she declined the proposal.
It transpired that she had serious worries about potentially being Cindy’s attacker, and couldn’t go through with the marriage knowing that she might’ve been responsible, but was too drugged up to realise.
Kathy came clean, and said she didn’t want to come in the way of her happiness. But that left Lauren with another dilemma, as she now faced keeping the secret from Peter.
Crisis talks took place in today’s episode, as Lauren was forced to reveal the damning information.
Peter raced around to Kathy’s house, appalled to learn that both his gran and father were keeping it from him – and told her that she should be imprisoned for her actions.
As he approached Lauren, she dropped to the floor and produced her engagement ring.
On this occasion, Peter was the one who had to decide! Totally bewildered by what was happening, he said yes, and the two received a round of applause from the Bridge Street traders.
Something tells us that their joy could be short-lived… especially when Cindy eventually returns.
EastEnders continues Monday to Thursday at 7.30pm on BBC One.
