Letting Go Of The Past, Holding On To The Future.
Part Four.
Let the Party Commence
When Grantley is excited you know that the party has to be good. The door bell rang, people were arriving. Rob lent in for a sneaky kiss with his eyes closed, Karen let him kiss her hand, they both laughed. "You better go get the door, they'll be freezing". It was Janeece, the schools "secceh", she handed Karen a present for Bella and gave Rob a hug. "Want a drink Janeece?", "Yeah if you don't mind". Karen handed Janeece a glass of white wine. "Oh my, Cheryl's getting big isn't she Janeece", Bex exclaimed. "How old is she now?", "Oh erm... 3 I think" Janeece said uncertainly. Karen and Bex shared a worrying look which almost left them in stitches of laughter which was broken up by Cesca and Jonah's arrival with 2 month old baby Finley (Fin for short) it was still a little awkward between Karen and Cesca but because of Jess's close friendship with Jonah they had settled their differences which was helped by knowing and seeing each other outside the work place, seeing each other as real people rather than just colleagues. All the guests had arrived in time to welcome Jess and Aiden, Jess pushing the soft pink polka dot pram, Bella completely zonked out oblivious to the noise surrounding her. "Hello sweetheart", Karen welcomed her little girl into the family home. Before long everyone surrounded Jess and baby Bella though Karen and Rob did a pretty good job at making sure they weren't overwhelmed by the situation with Bella still being so little. Everyone was talking about babies well it was hard not to with Cheryl, Finley and now baby Bella in the house. "Do I sense someone becoming a little broody" Rob teased Karen, "I am so proud of Jess, she is doing so well", "We always knew she'd be fine!", Rob finally sneaked in the kiss that Karen had so cheekily dismissed earlier. "Got ya", Rob teased once pulling away; Karen just smiled completely lost in his eyes.
"She's beautiful Jess!" Jonah said staring at Bella in the pram – who was now beginning to find this all a little overwhelming. Cesca was stuck talking to Grantley slowly losing the will to live, she shot Jonah the occasional Help me glances but Jonah just winked. When Cesca got away the first thing she said was "Jonah your de-"she was interrupted by a sneaky kiss from Jonah. "That better eh Ces?" Jonah said cheekily. Karen and Rob were sat in the bathroom sharing a passionate kiss, until rob pulled Karen into the kitchen where the party seemed to have hit. "Guys I have a few things I would like to say, first of all, I'd like to say a massive congratulations to Jess and Aiden on the birth of their GORGEOUS daughter Bella", Rob knelt down on to one knee, everyone gasped. "What? Can't a guy tie his shoe laces anymore?" He stood up put his hand in his pocket. Everyone gasped again. "Guys really?" He handed Karen a piece of bread, passing the party nibbles around. "Ouch! There is either something hard in this or it is really overdone!" Karen laughed until she was faced with the object imbedded in the bread; it appeared to be an engagement ring! Karen looked at Rob whose cheeks were now a rosy colour as he began to get down on one knee, this time it was the real deal all joking aside this was the moment he wanted to be special. A moment that was so important to him, he had never been surer about anything in his entire life. "Karen I know it hasn't been long, but I know you are the woman I want to spend the rest of my life with, will you marry me?", Karen's head tilted to one side, her eyes flooding with tears, Rob rose from the ground capturing her in his arms "Oh not again, I didn't want to make you cry", "Of course I will marry you" Rob was overjoyed picking his gorgeous fiancé into his arms lowering her down with a signature kiss, "not all tears have to be sad, these are definitely happy", Rob Smiled leaving his mark on her lips once more before placing the all important ring on her finger. Karen finally got a chance to look at all the people around her, there were smiles and congratulations all round. Karen specifically looked around for her three children to get an idea as to how they had taken it. Jess was smiling away Aiden's protective arm around his family which just made Karen smile. Harry and Bex made their way over, "Congratulations mum and Rob", Harry was the first to speak which surprised Karen but also reassured her that he was definitely okay with it "You deserve to be happy with Rob", he finished with before giving his mum a much needed hug, which only started the tears off again. Bex followed soon after but bounced into her mum's arms. "Show me the ring!" Karen smiled taking in its beauty it was so dainty yet so sophisticated, not to big nor too small. "Rob you have pretty amazing taste I have to say", Rob felt an accomplished smile fall across his face. "I am so happy for you both, mum don't go doubting and over thinking this, yes you haven't been together long but you make each other happy which is all that is important. This is what you both want so just go for it" Bex knew her mum all too well. Bex walked off to rejoin the party. "You'll get your thank you later" Karen teased as she too found herself being dragged into congratulatory conversations, alone times to get their heads around the excitement of now being engaged would have to wait a little longer.
Rob and Karen locked lips once again, Rob swung Karen round in a circle, the door flew open and Charlie came barging in "Why did nobody tell me my daughter had, had her baby!", He shouted in fury which was understandable but that still gave him no right to barge in the way he did. Charlie soon spotted the engagement ring on Karen's finger. He laughed "You can't actually be serious, you have only know each other a few months", "Over half a year", Rob added proving to Karen he really cared about her. "We love each other Charlie" said Karen who was feeling kind of embarrassed, "Dad, why don't you just leave. This is going to do no good for Jess or the baby!" Charlie was calmer towards Bex but his fury built up as he turned around to leave "You're a little slapper Karen!", Charlie slammed the door behind him. Karen ran off into the bedroom and burst into floods of tears, boy had she been doing a lot of crying today, one minute she was down the next she was up and vice versa. Rob came running after her, her wrapped his loving arms protectively around her body, when she was in his arms she felt untouchable. Like nobody could hurt her. Rob was her rock. Rob dried her tears and gave her a much needed hug before taking her back to the party. "I doesn't matter what he thinks or says because I love you Karen", that was all Karen needed to give her back some of the strength she lost to Charlie only a matter of minutes, she knew for certain Rob was everything she ever wanted and needed.
