Letting Go Of The Past, Holding On To The Future.
Part Thirty-Six
Karen got out of the shower and hurriedly got herself dressed, she was running late having been up seeing to a poorly little Isla along with Rob who had agreed to stay home and look after her, "you sure your okay to stay, I'm your mum or dad wouldn't mind", "honestly Karen it's fine, I don't think she'd take to kindly to grandma's cuddles today, do you not remember how she reacted to Harry last night", "fair point, I better be going. I'll see you later I won't be late, love you both", Isla kissed Isla's head making a sad face at Isla's sad tear stained one, "bye darling", Rob said before kissing her goodbye. She brushed past them both and headed for the door, she was now running late, damn! "Come on then you, we'll be alright with out mummy for the day won't we", Isla began to cry, "Oh Isla your really not well are you munchkin",
He wiped away her fast flowing tears and kissed her forehead. "Shall we put some pictures up today? Surprise mummy?" He said in his baby voice looking into isla's big sad eyes, it broke his heart to see her like this. He went over to the kitchen breakfast bar and picked up the whole family picture of rob, karen, isla, jess, aiden, bex, harry and bella along with two of Rob and karen on their wedding day. He got his screwdriver and drill out, with the nails and put them on the floor in the lounge. "Right munckin you going to sit on the beanbag with your blanket if I put some peppa pig on aye", he placed her down her eyes red and puffy from crying, he gave her, her blanket which was instantly cuddled though the minute Rob left her she whimpered, "I'm just here, daddy's not going anywhere", Isla was restless but Rob had his eye on her as she settled with watching what was on the screen, Rob opened the bag on nails leaving them on the floor as he began to hammer in the first nail, which startled Isla, "sorry Isla", he tried to tap more gently, what would karen say to all this, so much for nursing his little girl. He tied the string around the first picture of the entire family and hung it proudly on the wall it did look good, he turned around to seek his little girls approval only to find her crawling out the door, "aye, come on crawling around is the last thing you need", he cuddled her in his arms for a while before placing her back on the beanbag whilst he finished off the picture hanging, he tied the string to the second picture reaching up to hang it, Isla began to crawl towards Rob she wanted a daddy hug, that's what would make her feel better,she had found her dummy on one of the sofa's on her first trip and was now sucking on that. She got closer to Rob just as she was about reach her hands up towards him, a sharp metal object pierced the skin of her left leg. Rob dropped the picture not breaking it at the sound of her piercing cries. "Isla!" He said panicked as he picked his crying daughter up. He looked at her knee and gasped. It was covered in blood. He ran into the kitchen, wetting a cloth and pressing it against her leg to try and stop the bleeding. He rinsed it in the cold water and put it back on his little girls tiny leg. "We better tell mummy ay" he said keeping a hand pressed firmly on the cloth on her leg. He picked up his phone and rang karen. "Hello?" He heard karen say from the other end of the phone. "Hey darling, isla's had a little accident.." The mood changing between the two people. "What sort of accident rob?" Karen asked angrily. "She had cut her leg with a metal nail.." He said softly. "How! You idiot!" She said even more angrily. "Karen! I've cleaned it up! I was putting our wedding photo's up and she crawled over to me and caught her leg on a nail!" He replied back, agitated. "What the hell were the nails doing on the floor Rob?", "I sat her down on the beanbag she was nowhere near them", "I can't believe your actually trying get out of this one", "it was an accident!", "Rob she's not even 1! You can't just make her sit like a dog", "I'm sorry!", "what's the cut like?", Rob checked his little girls leg, Karen could hear her cry, "well to be honest it looks worse than I thought", "is it still bleeding?", "yes", Rob replied sheepishly, "get her to hospital Rob", "okay", "I'll meet you there", Karen hung up, "I'm so sorry Isla, will you forgive me aye", Isla cried out in pain he held her in his arms as he pressed something to her leg, it was bad. He felt awful Karen was so angry but then again she had a right to be she left home this morning leaving her husband to look after her poorly baby and this is what happened. He carried Isla to the car once putting a plaster, the only one in the house on Isla's leg, it would have to do! "I'm so sorry baby", Rob felt awful and Isla wasn't making it easy for him as she squirmed as she was strapped into the car. Rob drove as fast as he could having given Isla her dummy to try and soothe her but her leg was sore, she spat it out and began to cry even louder. "Oh Isla come on shhh, we'll be there soon...and mummy will be there. Oh how she's going to kill me" Rob was screwed to say the least. He reached the hospital and parked up badly before getting out and carrying Isla towards the door, Karen was already waiting outside the hospital. "Oh Isla, come here bubba", Karen took her off Rob, "oh one second I'll just go rescue her dummy from the car... She spat it out", Karen rolled her eyes and tried her hardest not to sure her anger and saddness whilst with Isla, Rob came back, "here you go munchkin", Rob took a deep breath in, Karen passed her back to Rob whilst she looked at Isla's leg, "right you going to be a brave girl and show mummy your leg?", Karen pulled back the plaster which was drenched in blood, "no wonder she's screaming. How could you be so iresponsible Rob? She crawls around. You can't take your eyes off her for a second!", "I was trying to surprise you", "well you sure as hell did that! I just ... Her leg...she's really caught it! All I can say is your damn lucky she didn't crawl on to it", Karen took Isla who was so grizzly back in her arms Isla inclined her head to her mummy's shoulders, she needed her right now, "I know baby, the doctors going to mend your leg and make it all better. Your being so brave", Karen kissed the top of her head. She shot rob a look and walked straight past him and into the hospital to A&E rob following hanging his head and sighing. He sat down next to her on the chair, and an hour and a half later of nothing but isla's screams and cries and awkward silence and glares from karen to rob later, isla was called in. "Isla Scotcher?" Kare stood up and held her close, holding her leg up. Karen sat down on the chair, rob stood next to her looking down at his angry wife and hurt daughter. "Let's have a look at this leg then, isla?" the doctor said rolling her pants back and taking the plaster off once again, it was still oozing with blood. Isla began to cry louder as he pressed a wet cloth down onto her knee again. "Oh baby" karen said kissing her daughters cheek. Isla wriggled a little before Karen passed Isla her elephant, "you left this in my car monkey", Karen brushed her hair away from her face, Isla calmed down her breathing grizzly and eyes still rolled tears but there was no screaming, "that elephant is a saint at times", Rob commented Karen shooting him a look as if it to say, your sarcy comments really aren't helping right now. "So how did we do this then?", Karen looked over at Rob, "I was stupid enough to leave a packet of nails on the floor whilst putting up pictures, she's not feeling very well so I sat her in a beanbag with her blanket and dummy but seems she had other ideas", Rob felt awful and the doctor could tell so tried to put him at ease, "don't worry she's going to be fine we just need to sterri strip this up, I'll give you a packet so it can be replaced if it comes loose, it should heel on it's own accord", Rob sighed a big sigh of relief, "if she persists to appear groggy and sore, just give her a dose of calpol should be enough to relieve the pain and Mr Scotcher don't beat yourself up this accidents happen", "thanks", Rob replied guiltily, "come on then you, shall we take you home, you can have a much needed sleep I think", Isla grumbled, "not liking the sound of that is she", "she doesn't but I do", Karen smiled at the doctor before leaving his room thankfully, "well she's a little fighter", "don't even start Rob", Karen whispered through gritted teeth! Rob shook his head and sighed heavily , as if to say, 'oh god'. He followed Karen. "Karen, ill take isla home.." He said softly. "No. I'm coming home anyway." She replied bluntly. He walked to his car tears brimming his eyes. It wasn't his fault! He'd apologised and she's was going to be okay! What was she mad at him for? They arrived home twenty minutes later and both parked up and got out. Karen walked past him, obviously still annoyed and shut the door before he walked in. Well that was childish, he thought. He opened the door and went over to the counter top where karen had sat isla down on. She looked at her knee and kissed it better. "Do you want a cuddle with mummy before bed ay?" She asked walking up the stairs. Rob sat down on the couch and sighed putting a hand to his head. Meanwhile karen was upstairs putting isla in her cot. She kissed her on her head and shut the door. She took a deep breath in to the sound of the front door opening and the kids pouring in, laughter filling the house which would usually fill her heart with joy! She reached the stairs, "jess do you really have to dump your coat on the floor by the door", she moaned, "sorry mum", jess replied, not even the slightest bit of cheek in her voice. Karen bashed past Rob has she headed to start on dinner anything for her to just have time on her own "those nails better be off the floor, you never know one of the kids might tread on it this time!", Karen was still fuming inside, her little baby girl had gone to hospital. Karen began a simple cheesy pasta dish, the pasta was boiling and Harry had offered to grate the cheese, his way of apologising for everything that he had put his mum through. Tonight really wasn't a night to have her daughter pop in with Aiden Bella was with Naomi which was a shock to everyone's ears! "Dad that all looks nice", "thanks son", he smiled as he picked up all the nails before heading to his tool box. "Gosh what is it with everyone, our parents seem so grumpy!", Jess replied, "think there just tired, we better not stay to late", Aiden maturely replied, "yeah", jess smiled, "guys dinners ready", Karen managed to say her anger still bubbling but it was mainly sadness. "This looks good", "well Harry helped so think the thanks is to him, thanks love", the kids were all a bit confused as to the slight silence between Karen and Rob, they were usually so loved up so caring towards one another but tonight... If only they knew. The food was gobbled up and loaded into the dishwasher. "Mum we better get off!", "already!", "yeah well need to get Bella and put her to bed", "okay love well I'll come and see you out", karen held back "the lounge all sorted, will I be safe to sit in there in a bit", "for god sake. Do you know what think I'll just go to bed", Karen rolled her eyes as she went to say goodbye, she hugged her daughter and step-son, "whatever he's done mum, you'll get through it because you love each other and because you love isla", the words hit her in a positive way, work her up out of her childish antics. Karen smiled slightly at jess, and waved at them as they drove off, closing the door when they were out of sight. She leant back on the door and sighed. She walked into the kitchen getting a large glass out and filling it with red wine. She took a deep sip and threw her head back. She missed his hugs, his kisses, their random banter but she couldn't help but feel let down by his careless ways. She walked into the front room and flopped down onto the sofa and took another large sip of her wine and wrapped herself in the blanket on the top of the couch. Shortly after she heard footsteps. The door opened and he walked in. "Before you go off on one on me, hear me out" he said before she could talk. Karen slowly nodded. "I just wanted to surprise you, make this house feel more homely, like its ours. I should of been more careful, I'm sorry.." He apologised looking her directly in the eye. She could tell he was genuinely sorry and he meant every word he said. "I'm sorry too, I flew off the rails. I just felt betrayed Rob, you offered to stay and look after while she was ill and we all ended up in A&E!", "I know, I'm sorry! I feel so bad, she's so precious to me it broke my heart to hear her scream! And then I felt worse because I knew how much it would break yours", "oh Rob, I am so sorry! I've been so childish", "I can understand why", "you shouldn't have to, accidents happen, she was lucky she only managed a deepish cut", "she's just accident prone is our monkey", "you can say that again", Karen got up off the sofa and shared a long embrace, before sharing a short but longing kiss. "Mum what's going on between you and...", his sentence was cut short at the sight of his mum and Rob, "Isla just had a bit of an accident today, but it was my fault and she's okay now", "well as long as your all okay", Harry wasn't one to drag on or start arguments so simply slipped passed and popped on the Tv. Karen kissed rob's lips again softly and smiled. "I'm sorry rob" she nestled her head into his chest. "Ay, none of this is your fault. Its all sorted now sweetheart. She's alright" he kissed her hair. "I love you" she said, slightly muffled in his shirt. "And I love you also". "I'm going to get an early night, you going to come up?" She asked him and he nodded. "Yeah" he smiled and picked up her hand. "Harry, don't stay up too late" karen said to her son who was engrossed in the latest episode of the voice. "Yeah, well be quiet you two and I'm sure i'll be able to sleep. Usually manage" he said easily not taking his eyes off the telly. With that they looked at each other laughing and rolled their eyes as they walked up the stairs with her, hand in hand. They opened the door to their bedroom. Karen collapsed down on the pillow she was exhausted emotionally and physically and wanted nothing more than for Rob to wrap his arms around her, her head buried in his chest as fell asleep to the gentle sound of his chest rising and falling. Rob began to get ready for bed, "don't you fall asleep now or you'll never wake up again to get changed", Karen sighed, Rob just smiled, "oi lazy bones, I heard that", Karen rolled up and got ready to before sinking back into bed Rob climbed in next to her "I really am sorry", he whispered in her ear ever so sweetly, "I know, I could never stay angry at you", she looked up opening her eyes and smiled. He looked her in the eyes, "good, because I don't like it when your angry at me." He kissed her lips softly. She smiled at him before kissing his cheek and nestled her head into his strong chest as he wrapped his arms tightly around her, bringing her closer to him. "Night sweetheart, I love you" he whispered. "Night, I love you too" she replied sleepily. "Oo Rob", "yes", "if she's no better tomorrow maybe your mum and dad's", Karen winked winding him up , "you are so mean", "oh you love it really", Karen nestled into his chest, "I'm kidding, sleep well".