Letting Go Of The Past, Holding On To The Future.
Part Thirty-Nine.
Rob turned the key in there door, "home sweet home", he whispered placing the suitcase against the hall wall, Karen held a sleeping Isla, it was the afternoon which meant she was going to need to be woken up but the journey had really taken it out of her. "I'll go pop the kettle on", Rob commented as Karen walked through to the lounge where she placed Isla on the sofa. Her eyelids opened, she looked confused, she sat up looking around before getting a little grizzly, "hey, it's alright we're home now", Karen sat next to her brushing her hair away from her eyes, she rolled over and lowered herself down on to the floor, well she managed to roll over and hang off the end of the sofa, "oh dear, shall mummy help you", karen helped her down and watched her scoot over into a space looking at her mummy as if to say, so where are my toys then. Karen laughed, "you'll have to wait till daddy's back", Isla pouted her lip,"nice try but I'm not leaving you on your own", Isla gave her a cheeky look, "and that's exactly why", Karen smiled at Isla. Isla sat on the floor, her legs stretched out in front of her, arms stretched out in-between. She looked up at the door and started laughing, Karen turned her head to find the source of laughter and giggled. Rob had come into the lounge wearing his green ireland hat, wrote on it 'I'm proud to be irish, even though I'm a tourist' which he'd bought from a tacky store in the middle of the town. "take that hat of you buffoon" she giggled. "Buffoon? No! I like my hat" he pouted playfully. Karen whipped it off his head before putting it behind her back, "I can't actually believe you bought it", "hey give me back the hat", "no!", Karen was being relatively serious, Rob took the hat back before putting it on the sofa, "it's not going to live on the sofa either", Rob gave her a playful pout, "just go lock it away", Karen laughed inside. Isla looked up suddenly no longer laughing, "come on then, shall we go find your toys", Karen held her hand out for Isla, "you coming squidge?", Isla sat there winging away with boredom, "do you want your toys or not Isla? Daddy's taking ages and I'm not picking you up, come on", Isla showed no signs of moving, "okay then, you can just sit there", Karen went and sat on the sofa turning on the telly to relax for a few moments, then Isla crawled over to Karen pulling herself up in the sofa, she grizzled and screamed, "oi!", Karen commented, Isla screamed some more, "you going to come and get them with me then? Yeah", Karen got up taking Isla's hand she walked a few steps before stopping, "gosh your a groutchy little wotsit when you wake up, just like your sister aye", Karen gave in picking her up, Isla instantly stopped screaming and looked at her mummy, "yeah I was talking about you", Isla put her little hand to her mouth looking shocked, "you sure get your charisma from your dad", Karen kissed Isla's head as she went out into the hall and looked for the bag that had Isla's toys in. Karen rummaged through the bags. Sighing in relief as she found the right bag. She picked it up in her free hand and taking them back into the lounge. She sat down cross legged on the floor isla sitting down In her legs. She got out isla's colouring book and crayons and turned it to the first clear drawing. She took out a purple crayon handing It to isla who scribbled big circles and squiggly lines on the paper. Karen smiled and started to help her colour in the drawing as rob came in, leaning against the door frame. He grinned at his little family, a beautiful wife, and a perfect daughter. Well that was untill Isla got bored and threw her purple crayon, "oi", Rob commented, "don't do that isla", Karen commented looking at her pouting place, "If you wanted it so much you shouldn't have thrown it missy", Karen commented, Rob came over and picked up the crayon placing it on the table, "guess who's coming home tonight Isla", Isla looked up intrigued, "Harry's coming home", Karen said with a smile, "hweee", "yes Isla", Rob said sitting down the other side of Isla, "and Jess, Aiden, Bella, Bex and Max will be here for tea too", Isla's little face lit up, "jss", she couldn't quite talk yet but you could begin to understand what she meant. "She's missed them", Karen said to Rob as she helped Isla colour in with a different colour but she wasn't really interested. "Should we play with your building blocks munchkin?" Rob said getting them out of the bag. He handed isla a block, which she looked at for a few seconds before throwing it at Rob. "Isla! No!" Karen said sternly. Isla began to cry, Rob got up and tool isla in his arms. "Ay, its alright. Daddy's fine. Its not as bad as mummy nearly hitting me round the head with a lamp, the first time I met her" he said calmly as he rocked her in his arms in what he hoped was a soothing motion. Karen giggled at the thought, it seemed so long ago! They'd come so far in such a short time, they acted and looked like a couple that had been together for years! "So when did Aiden say they'd all be round later?", Karen asked, "urmm he said around 4 half 4, that okay?", "it's fine, why so early though?", "they didn't want to just have a sleepy Bella, she's missed us apparently!", "aww will be nice to see them! Harry said he'd be back at around 2 so could be a busy afternoon. Which means Isla rose you have to be on your best behaviour", Karen tickled her tummy as she said the last part of her sentence, she loved making Isla laugh, her smile could light up an entire room! "I should start unpacking really", "Do you have to? Right now?", Rob asked, "well the suitcases can't just sit in the hall Rob they will all be here before you know it", "yes but I just want some time with my 2 special girls in my own house", Rob reached out his arm Karen taking him up on his offer of a hug, Isla was on his hip, she kept putting her hand on Rob's mouth, "he'll bite your fingers Isla", Karen smiled, Rob kept pretending to be a hungry troll as her fingers got closer, "nom nom", he'd say, "it's going to end in tears Rob", Karen warned him so he held her hand before it reached his mouth this time, "the trolls full now", Isla tried her chances at there little game once more but Rob showed her that the game had finished by putting her down in front of some of her toys which she became interested in, especially her elephant that she began to try to treat like a baby. "You giving your elephant a hug Isla", Karen commented, Rob now held her completely in his arms,Isla reached out her elephant as if to say look with a big smile on her face, "is your elephant asleep Isla?", Rob asked as Isla nodded, "you going to put them to bed?", Karen asked, "Isla?", Karen went and helped her pretend to put her elephant to bed tucking them in with her own blanket which she wasn't to keen on to start with, "Isla your elephant will get cold", Isla patted it down as best she could rather sweetly, "now you have to be really quiet so you don't wake them, shal we go and Sit in the garden then, while your elephant sleeps Isla?", Rob held out his hand, Karen and Rob both smiley as she managed to stand up before making her first proper steps over to daddy. "Well done munchkin, you are my little genius aye", Karen got up and had a big kiss and a cuddle for her. Karen help out her hand and isla grabbed it, as she struggled up from the floor, but grinning as she finally managed to get herself up. She walked a couple of steps to the door, before tripping up and falling back onto her bum, luckily a cushion was down on the spot she fell, so she wasn't hurt, just shocked. Isla's bottom lip began to wobble, and tears threatened to spill from her eyes. Karen quickly picked her up and kissed her lightly on the end of her nose, before holding her tight in her loving arms. She walked through the door, into the kitchen and into the conservatory and into garden, seeing rob had poured them a glass of wine and isla a bottle of juice. "I hope that juice is sugar free mister!" She said playfully, her eyebrows raising up. "Of course it is" he smiled and kissed her lips softly. She smiled against his lips, and pulled away. "Do you want to go on the swing baby?" Isla wriggled in Karen's arms, "I think she wants to try and master walking", Rob commented Karen put her down on the grass before picking her wine glass up from the windowsill in the conservatory. Rob followed Isla around the garden as she tried to walk around, he helped her up everytime she fell. "Are you a very clever girl", Rob said holding her in his arms, Karen walked over, "oh nice one Isla", "what?", Rob asked, "she's got a lovely grass stain on the back of her dress", "is mummy moaning Isla" Isla giggled, "Rob!", Karen moaned, he shot her a wink. She stuck her tongue out at him cheekily. Rob tilted his head to one side. "Yes.. Have you got a problem with that?" Karen walked over to rob slowly, putting her hands oh his chest, she undid his top button and loosened his tie, ruffling his hair too. "I really do love you" he grinned. "And I really love you too" she smiled and hugged him tight. He kissed the top of her hair. They walked together back onto the chair, karen sitting down onto his knee, leaning back into his arms, watching over their beautiful daughter lie on her belly, fastinated by the daisies all round her. "Can you see the pretty daisies Isla?", Karen said her head resting on Rob's chest contently. Isla sat herself up after rolling around a few times and began to grab hold of the daisies, her little eyes completely fixated by the tiny flowers, "do you like the daisies Isla?", Rob asked, Isla rather sweetly held out a mushed up pile of daisies for her mummy and daddy, "thank you Isla", Karen sat up and took the daisies off of her showing them to Rob as they both had a bit of a giggle. Karen placed the pile down on the floor before getting up to sit down with Isla, "and where do you think your going?" Rob teased, "anywhere away from you", she teased back, Rob smiled kissing her cheek as she got up. Karen sat down on the grass and began to pick the daisies Isla didn't quite understand and screwed up a few with her tiny fist, Karen laughed "no Isla", isla began to crawl around which at that moment was better than her walking as Karen began to make Isla a little daisie chain necklace. It was a long process having to keep an eye on Isla and occassionaly rescue her from going to far. Karen had finished it and popped it over Isla's neck, her tiny hands touched the necklace very delicately surprisingly, her chin seemed to be attached to her chest as she attempted to see what it looked like. "Oh bless you Isla, daddy don't you think Isla's necklace is pretty? You going to show daddy Isla?", Rob had just come out into the garden again, "very nice Isla" karen lay back on the grass, lifting Isla above her head as she made funny faces, kissed Isla's nose, blew raspberries on her belly and generally made Isla smile that gorgeous little smile. Rob came and led beside Karen, stretching his arm out, letting her cuddle up close to him, resting her head on his arm. "She's so perfect" karen said as she stared into Isla's baby blue eyes, very similar to rob's. "She Is. Just like her mummy" he said resting his head next to hers. "You really are a cheesy bugger sometimes scotcher" she giggled. "You love it really" he winked. "Of course I do" she smiled and kissed his cheek. The door bell went and karen looked to rob. "That'll be harry" she smiled. "Hweeeeey!" Isla said happily. "Yes baby, harry's home" karen and rob stood up, isla on karen's hip. They walked through the house to the front door, opening the door as they got to it. "HWEEEEY!" Isla screeched, instantly holding out her arms for her older brother. "Hello trouble" he said taking her out of Karen's arms. "I've missed you" he kissed the top of her head and rocked her in his arms. "Thanks for bringing him back charlie" she smiled politely, although it didn't reach her eyes. They were still cold. "No worries, see you soon" he said turning back, and heading to his car. "She's missed you a lot harry!" Rob commented, "I can see that! And I missed her to! It's not the most enjoyable thing being stuck with maria's kids!", "aye, don't say that Harry", "sorry mum". "Harry Isla has something to show you", "really?", harry asked looking at Isla who was on his hip, "you mean other than your very pretty necklace", "yep", Karen replied as she took Isla from Harry and placed her down on the floor, making sure she was standing before encouraging her to walk towards Rob, "Isla you going to walk to daddy?", Karen said to Isla looked very sweet as she thought through the process of walking in her head, "walking?", Harry commented, "just you watch", Karen said proudly, Isla began to walk to Rob who was waiting for her with open arms, she reached Rob before falling into his arms. Rob remained croutched down as he kissed her head, "you're so clever", he tickled her making her laugh. "I'm very impressed Isla", Harry commented at the fact his little sister could walk. "Harry its very sweet of you, but what your mum means is that your sisters and aiden and Belles are coming over for dinner tonight so may be another", "okay", Harry replied quite relaxed , "what was all that about?", Rob whispered to Karen cheerily, "Sorry just don't quite trust him yet, not that he'd hurt her but that bonds still a wee fragile", "I understand but you'll have to let him at somepoint, he's nearly 18", "I know", Karen just enjoyed the moment of her son and daughter enjoying the sun. "Not long till they all arrive", Rob commented. "Yeah will be nice to see them", Karen said breathly looking towards Rob, "come here, your getting all stressed and this was meant to be relaxing", Rob wrapped his arm's around Karen's shoulders as they both looked towards Isla as she ran Harry ragged around the garden, Rob gently kissed Karen's neck making her smile, "promise me you'll relax while everyone's here", Karen looked up at Rob, "Promise me", he knew her to well, "I'll try", "well that will have to be good enough for me". She smiled and rested her head against his chest. She kissed the side of his neck, biting it gently. He laughed and looked down at her. "Oh no! My wifes a vampire" he winked. She slapped his arm playfully. "You didn't seem to mind when I gave you that!" She said pointing to the love bite on the side of his neck, she giggled softly remembering ireland. "If I remember rightly, you rather enjoyed it!" She winked. His hand moved the spot, and grinned. "well, ill admit it was pretty pleasurable" he winked. Karen lifted her up higher to place her in the swing, Isla wouldn't sit down, "bend your legs, Isla", Isla wasn't upset she just wouldn't sit, Karen took her back on to her hip, Isla reached out her arms towards to swing, "you going to sit in it Isla?", Karen took her back to the swing attempting to sit her in it, "Rob, can you help me", "sure", Rob came over, "you have to sit down in the swing Isla", Isla was making this a game, "Rob can you hold her while I try and sit her down", "yeah, Isla it's more fun when you sit down", Karen managed to sit her down, "there we go", Isla laughed, "oh you would laugh, you little monkey", Harry commented, "you were worse when you were little mr", "me? Never", Harry smiled, "you had a phobia of swings", "really", Harry laughed, "yep, screamed whenever you were near them", Harry laughed again. "Who would of thought," he winked. "Hey, I'm a guy who likes to keep his feet on the ground, not swinging up in the sky where the chain could snap any second!" He argued, jokingly. Isla laughed causing Karen and rob to giggle. Karen stood behind the swing her hands placed on the back lightly, as rob stood behind karen, looping his arms around her waist, his head resting on her right shoulder, and putting his hands on top of as they slowly rocked isla in the swing. Harry was making funny faces at her in front of her, making her giggle. "Weeeeeeee" harry said as isla smiled her gorgeous smile, the smile that always reminded rob of Karen's. Isla was really enjoying herself, she leaned forward in the swing wanting to go faster, "careful Isla!", Karen commented slowing the swing down, Isla moaned in response, "isla, mummy's not pushing you any faster", Rob was about to but in, "and niether is daddy", "you meanie", "look at her she's leaning out the swing Rob", Karen said walking over to Isla picking her up, "come on you, you can push your little buggy grandma and grandad got you instead", Isla groaned as Karen put her down, she stood there crying as Karen walked over to the corner of the garden and picked up Isla's dolly buggy and her elephant Lottie, "hey, stop crying Isla", Karen placed the buggy down, croutching down next to Isla as she strapped in her elephant, "you going to push Lottie?", karen asked Isla who was now sucking her fingers before saying "no", and pointing to her little my first dolly in the corner, "you want to push the baby?", Isla toddled over and picked the baby up in an interesting way, pulling her elephant out and throwing it to the floor, "don't be so aggressive you", isla had her dolly in the buggy upside down as she began to race it round the garden, "careful you little terrorway", "well just aswell it isn't a real baby", the familiar voice of jess commented, "hello sweetheart", Aiden and Bella were close behind her. "Gwanddaddddd!" Bella shouted letting go of Aidens hand and running straight into rob's welcoming arms. "Hello princess" he smiled, and kissed his granddaughter's forehead. She flung her arms around him and covered his face in big, sloppy kisses. Karen giggled at this and rob just laughed tickling Bella's sides. "Have you got a hug for granny Karen over there?" He said cutely to bella, but sent a wink in the direction of karen. Her eyes narrowed at him referring to her as 'granny karen' it made her feel.. Old. "Nanny" she corrected him. "Mum! Why are you talking like that?" Jess questioned. Obviously karen's accent hadn't died down yet. "What d'you mean, darlin'?" Karen asked, smiling at jess. "You sound Irish?" Jess laughed. "I am Irish Jess, I picked up the twang again while we were there" she giggled, raising her eye brows at rob. "Nannnnnyyyy" bella jumped up at karen, hugging her legs tightly. "Hello Bells, you been being good for mummy and daddy", "yep", she said in her very cute voice, "one second Bella", Kare un wrapped her arms from her legs as she headed over to an Isla who appeared to be running a bit wild, "Isla, come here", Isla looked at karen and charged at her with the buggy, her little eyes twinkling and her face smiling away, "you having fun squirt", Rob commented, "nanny want to see my drawing", "yes please Bells", Karen croutched down and took the drawing of a pretty flower Bella had drawn, she held it looking at in detail, Isla began to pull at it, "don't snatch Isla", "no Isla", "Bella! Stop being so bossy", Aiden commented, "It's a secret drawing", Bella said in response to Isla tugging at it, "do you think Isla could have a look to", "go on Bells, secrets are more fun if you share them", Jess was now stood behind her little girl, "Isla can look, but nobody else... Not even mummy", she whispered to Karen , "Isla, look at Bella's drawing. Is it pretty", "flowa", Isla said, "that's right Isla", Karen kissed Isla's cheek and tickled her belly. "I'll keep it safe over here Bells before Isla decides to run off with it", Karen got up and headed to place it in the conservatory, Isla ran after her winging, "I'll be back in a minute", Karen carried on walking and Isla carried on winging, "oh alright come here you", Isla reached out for the picture, "no way Isla, this is Bella's", Karen placed her little girl down again who just stood and cried. Karen walked into the conservatory and placed the picture totally out of isla's reach. She then went back out into the garden. isla was still crying her eyes out. "don't be a silly t'ing" karen spoke softly, as she picked her up and rubbed her down her back. Isla calmed down and Karen put her back down on the floor and took her hand as they walked over to everyone. "Ill put your beautiful picture in a frame tonight,Bells" karen said smiling. "Yayyyy!" Bella giggled. Jess crouched down in front of isla, "is my little sister okay?" She said kissing the end of Isla's nose. She stood back up, and aiden put his arm around her. "So, did you's have a good time in Ireland?" Jess asked smiling. "Yeah, it was lovely! It was so nice to be back" karen smiled. "Were the floors dirty?" Aiden asked casually. "No, not when we left" rob smiled. Jess and Aiden shared a look and giggled to themselves. "Wha-" then rob realised what he said. "What did you say?" Karen said, rather confused. Rob whispered into her ear and she turned a deep shade of crimson. "I think Isla enjoyed it though she didn't sleep very well, think she missed her own bed", "careful Isla you'll come across as high maintenance", jess added before tickling her half to death. "Dwrink", Bella ran over saying, "do you mean can I have a drink?", Jess replied, Bella had her arms outreached, "what's the word I'm looking for Bella", "pwlease", "Aide if your going inside can you grab her drink from my bag", "sure". Aiden came back drink in hand, "here you go", "ta", she replied, Isla ran over just as Aiden was giving the drink to Bella, her arms reached out towards it, "No Isla that's Isla's, daddy has yours", Rob shaked her beaker incase she didn't believe them, "do you want some?", Isla turned her head and started playing with her toys again, "not good enough for you aye", Rob commented. "So it Bex coming?", Jess asked her mum, they were both sat on the grass watching there girls, "my turn Isla", ..."Isla!", "Bella wait!", Jess carried on with her conversation with her mum, "yes she is and Max I pressume and from the excited tone I'm guessing she brings news", as Karen finished her sentence Isla fell straight to the floor as Bella pushed her out the way to play with Isla's dolly. "Oh dear", Karen tried to say light heartily, "Bella Rose!", Jess was not impressed, "I told you to wait Bella", "mummmyy", Bella screamed, "stop it! You can say sorry to Isla I think you hurt her", Bella just threw a tantrum, "your okay aren't you Isla", she was crying but there was no screaming karen croutched down so she was the same height or similar to Isla as she held her in her arms, wiping her eyes, "shall we go sit over there with your dolly?", Karen took the dolly out of the buggy and placed isla on her hip before walking over to the adults where it would calmer and easier to calm Isla down. Bella stood still and cried her eyes out, her lip stuck out her eyes rid, the curly haired little girl bawled! "Stop it Bella!", Aiden said sternly, Jess got up fed up, she croutched down to Bella, "stop crying. Your being really naughty, you don't push people Bella! Especially when they're younger than you! So stop crying because your being told off and behave please", Bella whimpered, "I mean it Bella, no more. Or we'll take peppa pig away and you won't have her at bedtime", "no", she replied cutely ,"Right then, you be good just like we know you can be and come and say sorry to Isla", Bella took jess's hand as they headed over to Karen, "mum, I think Bella has something to say...so what do you say Bella", Isla was calm, not really sure of what was going on, "sworry", "Isla's alright Bella, but you have to be careful she's only little", Bella looked so sad, "right how about you come sit with me and draw some more of your lovely pictures", Bella smiled, "come on then", Karen smiled, she sat Isla down but she wasn't really interested instead scribbled the pens over her mummy's page, "no Isla, give it to me...ta", Karen took the pen from heer and put it out of reach, "that's very pretty Bells", "it's my uncorn", "your unicorn?", "yeh", "it's purple and has a weally big horn and she's really nice and pretty like nanny", "you are a cutie sometimes Bells", Isla was now on the ranpage about to walk all over Bella's drawing when Rob lifted her up, "that wasn't very nice Isla, no it wasn't, don't look at me like that, you're trouble!"
Isla put her hand flat down on his lips, with her oh-so-innocent face, her lips pouting cutely. Rob kissed her hand. "Dada" isla said, sweetly as she kissed his nose. Rob smiled and gave his daughter a loving hug before walking over to karen, sitting down on the chair next to her and picking up her hand, stroking it with his thumb."You are such a pushover when it comes to Isla Scotcher", Karen commented looking at Jess while they shared rolled eyes and smiles. "No I'm not, I just enjoy seeing her happy", Karen just smiled at him, "muma", Isla said pointing to her, "hey squidge", karen kissed cheek. It was obvious Isla was to become a bit of a chatterbox. Rob lifted her up so he could turn her around to face him, her ligs swinging either side of his legs, he took her hands before singing, "we"re going on a bear hunt...", his legs bounced her up and down, it was clear she was loving every minute of it!
She stuck her tongue out at him, as did rob. It was clear this had turned into a game. Rob blew a raspberry on her belly, making isla laugh as she wriggled. He gave her daddy a big, wet kiss then smiled cheekily at him. "Dadadada" isla mumbled as she put her hands to his lips. He kissed them and smiled. "Love you baby" as he said it, he took her in to a loving hug. Karen was watching her husband and their daughter... It still didn't feel real, like she was actually living in this fantasy world that most people dreamed about. She grinned and picked up his free hand, squeezing it gently. 'I love you so much' she mouthed to him. He smiled. 'I love you too'
Bella had now calmed down as was sat on the grass in the sunshine with her heart sunglasses on drawing some more pretty pictures, "Bells can you even see with those on?", Aiden asked his little girl laughing at the face she was making with them on, "nah", "then why you wearing them", just laughed, "because I cool", they all just laughed, "what are you Bells!", Aiden had to ask her again, "cool!...why you laughing", "because you are trouble", Jess was leaning forwards in her chair, her hands on Bella's shoulder as she kissed her cheek, "I'm not trouble", Bella replied innocently, "course not Bells", Aiden teased, "I'm not!", Bella was a little too young to always get the jokes and teasing, "I know your not, come sit me Bella", Karen took the opportunity to have some one to one with her granddaughter, she lifted her up on to her knee, "so how is my clever little granddaughter then?"
"Goood!" Bella replied, releasing a big sigh. "Wow, that was a big sigh for someone so tiny" karen smiled. "Fwed up" bella said cutely, holsing up her hands. Karen giggled. "Is that so" bella nodded. "Mummy and daddy won't buy me ice cweam, there was the ice cweam man on the woad! They said he had none left" bella rushed her words. She really had come on a lot in her speech! "Oh mummy and daddy are so mean! Should we see what nanny's got in the freezer?" Karen asked, standing up and putting isla on the floor, holding her hand as they walked to the shed. She got to the freezer and picked out an ice lolly, shaped like scooby doo. "Scooby" bella smiled.
Bella reached up, "one second let me open it", karen shut the freezer before opening up the packet, "here you go, hold it tight", Bella ran out of the kitchen, "don't run while your eating...Bella", Bella stopped, "thank you", Karen smiled and they walked out into the garden. Bella was already becoming really mucky, "Oh Bella, look at you", she had it all around her mouth, some of the ice cream beginning to trickle down her hand. "Icky", she said showing her mummy, "lick it then", she said, "mummy lick it", Bella said, "no you lick it", Karen sat back down, Isla was sat on Rob's lap cutely playing with her lip with hand, as if she were trying to blow raspberries.
Karen smiled at isla, who gave her a cheeky smile back. Karen looked over at bella who had now gone over to aiden. "Daddy lick it" she shoved her hand in his face. "Bella Lick it" aiden replied. Bella pouted and lifted her hand up and licked the runny ice cream off her hand, meanwhile she accidentally squashed the ice cream against her nose. Everyone laughed and bella looked at jess. "Wha?" She said raising her arms in the air, with her oh-so-innocent face on. "Come here you mucky pup" she said picking her up, and placing her on her knee. Karen passed her one of isla's wipes and jess wiped bella's nose. "Mummy!..NO!..ow" bella said as her lip began to quiver. "All done baby"
"Mummy's done no crying Bells", Aiden said, Isla was now on the floor crawling towards the ice cream stick that Bella had finished, Jess had put it by her feet because Bella was too messy to go inside. Karen leapt up moving Isla away from the stick as she picked it up, "I don't think so monkey", she went and popped it in the bin. "You are a right rascal, yep I'm talking to you monster", Rob said looking down at Isla who simply said , "dada".
The doorbell rang and karen got up. "That'll be bex and max" karen grinned at rob. She walked into the kitchen and through to the hallway, opening the door and smiling at the sight of bex and max. "Hi Darling" karen smiled at her eldest daughter and max. "Hey mum" bex hugged her mum. "Hey mrs scotcher" max said. It still filled her stomach with butterflies and her heart with love at being called 'mrs scotcher' she grinned. "Hey bex, max, but max, please call me Karen" she smiled as she stood back, allowing them in the house. They followed her out to the garden.
Karen walked out to the garden to find Isla sitting waiting for her, her little face lit up at the sight of her mummy, Karen scooped her up, "look whose here Isla", Karen beamed , "hello gorgeous", Bex took Karen into her arms, "hey Isla", Max said, Karen stood looking over at her eldest and youngest child together, "be", was all Isla managed, the rest was lost, "that's right Isla, Bex and Max are here",
Isla giggled, "somebody's happy", Max commented tickling isla's tummy. "Bex, Max how're you both", Rob came over to say hello, he wrapped his arm around Karen, "yeah we're good", "but I bet there hungry", she looked up at Rob, "alright I get the hint", he rolled his eyes smiling, "well were you planning on starting some food anytime soon", rob made a thinking face, Karen just sighed, "just get cooking Mr", Karen tapped his chest as he headed off to the kitchen, "is daddy going to make us some yummy food?", Bex looked at Isla, her little eyes lighting up at the mention of food, "not for you sweetheart, mummy needs to sort your tea out", "I'm sure it will be yummier Isla", Max added Karen smiled.
Karen smiled. Bex cuddled closer into max's arms as he wrapped his arms around her tighter. Karen smiled at them both, it was amazing how much things had changed within the space of three years! Bex had come back, her and charlie had divorced, she met rob, jess had a baby, karen fell pregnant and had isla, she'd made peace with her mum and brother, she'd married rob and she'd never been happier! "I'm just going to check how he's doing with the food, ill bring you all drinks out, what do you want?" Karen asked, smiling politely. "Vodka and diet coke for me, beer for aid, please mum" jess asked. Bex looked at max, who nodded and smiled. "Same here" she smiled.
"Okay I'll be back in a bit", she left Isla on the floor playing under Bex's watchful eye, "something smells nice", she commented as walked into the kitchen, "I hope your not being sarcastic", Rob was clearly feeling the pressure, Karen wrapped her arms around him as he cooked, her xhin burying into his shoulder,"it honestly smells lovely, have more faith in yourself", "thanks sweetheart", Karen gazed over all the yummy food spotting her eye on the boiling pasta, "Rob can see set aside some of the spare pasta so I can make Isla some tea", Rob moved to the left, and began to stir some yummy pasta mix just for Isla, "you are a star", she kissed his cheek, "where do you think your going", he cheekily commented, "to look after our daughter", "isn't Bex doing that?", "yes but Isla's hungry and you know how she gets when she's hungry", "you better go save Bex", Rob smiled Karen walked back over to Rob giving him a quick, but soft and gentle kiss. She headed out into the late afternoon sun it was still absolutely gorgeous! "Come here grumps", Karen looked at Isla who beginning to get all aggitated since she was hungry, "isla, Isla liste to...listen", Karen said soothingly, "daddy's made you some yummy pasta", Isla smiled, "yeah, does that sound nice?", Karen just smiled at her little hungry monkey who was holding tightly on to her little heart shaped glasses. "Maybe you should put these on before you drop them aye", Karen helped her to on her heart shaped spotty sunglasses, "beautiful Isla", Bex commented, she'd stayed by her mum to enjoy a catch up whilst Jess entertained Bella, unsuccessfully and Aiden and Max had a natter. "Oo by the way guys your drinks are in the shade on the windowsill in the conservatory", "so mum how was Ireland?", Bex asked, "It was lovely but it's good to be home", "did this one like it", "she found it all a bit confusing but she really took to your cousins", "your a bit of a social butterfly Isla", "she wouldn't sleep very well though"
"I bet she couldn't" aiden said under his breath, earning him a slap on his arm by Jess. "Ouch!" He said looking at her. She just stuck her tongue out playfully. Karen heard his comment, but chose to dismiss it. "Bet she missed her bed!" Bex said, smiling. "And her brother!" Karen smiled. "Aw bless her, cutie!" Bex smiled. "Just getting my drink" karen said as she walked in the conservatory, leaving isla under bex's supervision. Karen got her glass of white wine off the windowsill, peered through to the kitchen. Rob was now dancing and singing as he stirred the pasta, and was wearing hIs 'kiss the cook' apron. She giggled to herself as she walked In, wrapping her arms around him from the back, like he so often did to her. She kissed the back of his neck, making him turn round to see her smiling. "Someone is in a very happy mood today" karen commented. "Maybe I am" he winked. He pointed to his apron, grinning widely. She shook her head, and he pouted, holding onto his chest where his heard was. She rolled her eyes and walked over to him, catching his lips with hers, in a kiss that was almost as hot as the food. She broke away, their foreheads and noses still touching. "Come on you, dinner" she winked.
"You have a very hungry little girl out there", "better get on with it then", "mm I think that maybe a good idea", Karen left him to it, a drink in hand. "Aw Isla", Karen picked up her grizzly little girl, "daddy won't be long", "muma", she said between her tears, "oh baby", karen bounced her on her hip and looked for Lottie her elephant half way across the garden, "Isla, shh, you going to show everyone that you can walk now?, yeah?", Karen went and got Isla's elephant before encouraging her to walk, "do you want Lottie?", "yuh", "come here then, come on Isla", Isla toddled over to her mummy, before standing in front of her, holding on to her mummy's legs.
"Who's a clever girl isla!" Bex said walking over to her and kissing her gently on her nose, making her screw her face up cutely. She took her hand as they walked slowly across to where bex was sat and she lifted her up to sit down next to her. She snuggled into her big sister. Karen sat down next to jess, taking a gulp of her wine. "How's everything?" She asked, smiling. "Everything's good mum" she said looking up at aiden and kissing his lips softly. "Glad to hear it" she said, crossing her lips. twenty minutes later and Rob walked out into the garden, and went and stood next to karen taking a sip of his wine, before speaking. "The food's ready you lot"
"About time to!", Karen cheekily moaned, "come on Isla, shall go give you some tea and then we can get you into bed", Isla rubbed her little eyes and yawned, Karen picked her up, "oh you're a tired little girl"She stood up, and followed rob into the kitchen,everyone in tow. They sat down at the table, karen placed isla in her high chair, before sitting down in her chair next to rob. She started to eat her meal before turning to rob, "rob! This is delicious!" She said. "Don't act so surprised" he grinned cheekily before kissing her lips softly, discreetly. She smiled at him before continuing her meal.
She looked over at Isla who was rather messily eating through her dinner, "you are a mucky pup Isla", Karen just laughed, Bella on the other hand was being fussy, "Bells eat at least half of it", "nooo", Bella moaned, "I think you might make granddad sad", "no", Bella replied again, "look at him, he's very sad your not eating his lovely tea", "but I am", she said adamantly, "well eat it up then!", Jess helped aiden out, Bella gobbled it up, "you are a good", Karen commented trying to praise Bella's good behaviour.
"Yes!" Bella said innocently, as she grinned. Karen smiled tapped the end of Bella's nose cutely. Rob placed his knife and fork on his plate after finishing his food, and looked at karen, who had also finished her food. He smiled. "Glad you enjoyed my cooking, mrs scotcher" he winked, placing a hand on her thigh."I did, but you are a really good cook, thank you for cooking", Karen really had enjoyed it, "thanks Rob", "yeah dad it was really nice", "you liked daddy's tea didn't you", Karen looked over taking away Isla's empty bowl and wiping her face as she yawned, "oh Isla,you a tired little girl", "well it is past her bedtime rob", Karen took her out of her highchair and sat her on her lap, she could barely keep her eyes open, "oh Isla, mummy making you stay up", Bex commented at her half asleep sister, "oi, you could go put her to bed if you wanted missy", "nah, it's alright mum, I'll just let you have your coffee and get to bed", Karen and bex laughed.
Karen finished her drink then looked to rob. "I'm gonna go put her to bed,won't be long. She's shattered" she kissed his cheek as she got up and made her way upstairs putting her to bed. She walked up the stairs and made her way to isla's room. She looked down at her beautiful baby, in her arms who had now fallen fast asleep, sucking her tiny thumb. Karen smiled as she carefully placed her down in her cot, tucking her in and kissing her goodnight before walking back downstairs.
"If only every night was as easy as that", Karen commented sitting down in the lounge where the rest of them had moved to. Harry and Aiden were showing some videos on youtube which were keeping the room laughing. "She go down alright", rob asked as she snuggled down next to him, "well she was out before even reached the top of the stairs", Rob smiled, karen inclined her head to his shoulder, Bella came and sat with Karen she was all calm and fancied a hug with nanny, "you tired bells", Bella replied "no", really quietly, "you've warn her out mum", "well as long as she has had fun",
"Mum, we better get off now, we have exam's tomorrow so we need to get back tonight!" Bex said a over at the clock. "You sure darling?" Karen asked. "Yeah, I wish we could stay but its one of my final law exam's tomorrow, and its Max's second photography one" bex replied, taking max's hand as they stood up. "Okay darling, good luck to you both! Let us know how it goes." She said as she saw them out of the house."Take care you guys", Rob commented, the girls all shared hugs, Bella sleepily gave her auntie a big hug, "be good for mummy and daddy you, I'll see you soon", "you better", "I'll call you tomorrow after my exam", "okay", "see you", Karen smiled at bex and her granddaughters very sweet conversation, "right come on you, shall we go put your shoes on", "I'm too tired", "come on squirt", Aiden said taking her hand, "sit on the step", Bella was just zonked, "will be home soon, then you can get into bed", Aiden popped her shoes on, and Jess got her coat on, Aiden scooped her up, "thank you mum, we've all had a really lovely evening", "yeah not bad grub dad! Thanks for having us Karen", "it was lovely too see, now get going this little one wants her bed", "sleep tight Bells", "sweet dreams", nanny and granddad said there good byes before waving them off.
Karen smiled as they drove off, before shutting the door and sighing, leaning against it. "Looks like bella and isla aren't the only tired ones" rob commented, putting his hands on her waist, and kissing her forehead. "I'm fine" she smiled, and kissed his lips softly before going back in the lounge. "Where's harry?" Karen asked rob. "I think he went to bed about five minutes ago" he replied, as they sat down on the couch. Karen leaned over rob, getting the laptop off the side of the chair, and putting it in the middle of her's and rob's laps. She snuggled into his chest, as he hugged her tightly.
"So what exactly have you got planned here?", Rob asked, "well I thought you were wanting to move house, got to start looking at some point and don't know about you but try to avoid estate agents at all costs", "I thought you'd forgotten", "forgotten? I am rather looking forward to it, though do need to speak to Harry about it", "I'm sure he'll be fine since we're still in the area, there are too many memories here, we need to start a fresh, none of it is ours", Karen rubbed his arm, "I know and that's why this will be".
He smiled as they started to look at houses, "that's lovely, 5 bedrooms, a bathroom in the main bedroom, one downstairs and upstairs, a conservatory and a big garden, sounds perfect" he said looking at karen's reaction. She nodded and opened her mouth to reply but got stopped by the door bell ringing. "Ill get it" karen said, smiling. She kissed rob's lips and went to the front door, opening it. And instantly worrying. "Niamh?"
"And don't forget Chris", Niamh rather excitedly added, Karen was exhausted it had been a long day and it was half past 11, "so what can I do for you two", "well...", "you better come in then" karen said, Rubbing her eyes as they all walked through, "Niamh... Chris?", Rob commented confused, "yep, I don't have a clue why there here either", Karen went and sat back down whilst faced with a rather almost hyperactive sister, "we have some news", "guessing pretty big since you arrive at my doorstep at nearly midnight", it was so typical of Niamh.
Niamh grinned, squeezing chris' hand, who could give the Cheshire cat a run for his money. "Oh its big alright!" She exclaimed. "Well.. Go on then" karen said snuggling into Rob. "I.. I'm.. Er.. I'm pregnant! Were having a baby!" Niamh said excitedly. "And I'm moving over here to be with chris she added. Karen and rob's mouths had nearly hit the floor. "Wow! Congratulations Niamh!" Rob said.m "yeah, congratulations you two. But your just leaving mum on her own?"
"She's thankful for the peace, plus Ethan is still there", Karen was just so shocked her sister was having a baby with her ex deputy head, things couldn't get any crazier. Karen was knackered and as much as she wanted to celebrate she just wanted to snuggle up in bed with rob.
"So, are you staying at Chris' for now then?" Niamh nodded. "We were just on our way to pick up our takeaway and thought we'd drop in and tell you! We better love you's and leave you's. See you both soon" niamh said as they both got up. "Bye Karen, Rob" chris said, as he took niamh's hand and left the house. Hearing the door close, she sighed and sank down into the comfort of rob's arms.
"My sister sure choses her moments", "oh she does! How about we go up to bed it's late and I'm getting rather jealous of Isla", "sounds lovely, I just want to cuddle up with you and fall asleep"
"Sounds good to me sweetheart" he said kissing her forehead, as they stood up. They turned all the lights off and made their way upstairs, entering their room and flopping on the bed backwards. Karen got up and went in the bathroom, having a quick shower before going their room, and getting dressed. She got in bed next to rob, and sighed as she sank down into the mattress, and robs arms coming to envelope her in a loving hug. "Night Darling" he said sweetly. When he didn't get a response he looked down and saw his wife fast asleep. He smiled and rested his head on the pillow, their foreheads touching, as he fell into a peaceful sleep too.