1985 (#14) - Neil's concern for Lauren and Joanna's return from Milan

With her marriage to Paul and the resume of her singing career, things seem to be going better for Lauren than ever before; she is happy, in love and gets a great response from the audience. However, Paul worries about Lauren's constant mood swings, and she seems to be very stressed and irritated all the time. Concerned about the woman's health, Paul talks to the woman's father, Neil, who has always been her point of reference, and they are convinced that they have to do something for her. Meanwhile, Neil, who owns a chain of department stores, Fenmore's, contacts Carl to stop the constant shoplifting he endures. With Jazz's help, Carl installs hidden cameras and is shocked to recognize Lauren herself as the person responsible for the shoplifting. Carl immediately talks about it with Paul who can't believe his father even though, watching the videos, he is forced to admit Lauren's identity. Paul then shows Lauren's videos to Neil, who understands that his daughter's psychological situation is severely disturbed. Neil soon becomes convinced that all of Lauren's insecurities and torments are caused by the lack of a mother figure throughout her adolescence. Neil thus informs Paul of their past, revealing that his ex-wife and Lauren's mother, Joanna Manning, left after their divorce. In fact, Lauren has a deep resentment towards Joanna, having heard her say things that deeply hurt her; during a violent argument with Neil, in fact, Lauren secretly heard from her mother that she regretted giving birth to her and regretted not having an abortion, being the cause of all their problems. Paul and Neil understand then that Lauren's rebellious character was caused by this very episode, which evidently shook her deeply. Neil, then, understands that the only way to unblock the situation and solve the root of the problem is to convince Joanna, who lives in Milan, to return to Genoa City to confront her daughter. After some resistance, then, Neil manages to reluctantly get Joanna back to the city, informing her of Lauren's problems and problematic behavior. When Lauren notices Joanna's presence in the audience during one of her concerts, she is literally shocked. Enraged and annoyed by the woman's presence, Lauren takes it out on Neil and refuses to meet her mother despite her father's prayers. It's Paul, then, who persuades her to talk to Joanna, since this is the only way they could overcome and put aside their problems that are putting their marriage in crisis. Lauren thus agrees to listen to her mother, who apologizes to Lauren for hurting her, confessing that she missed her all these years they have been separated and that she wants to start their relationship all over again. In the end, Lauren and Joanna make up, overcoming all their problems, to the point that Joanna decides to stay in town for the joy of Paul and Neil.