Chapter 2
Karen had decided to treat Jess and Harry to a meal out at Pizza Hut, it was a family
friendly atmosphere and had something they all liked, what a bonus! Karen sat cutting up
Harry's pizza whist Jess sat and ate her pasta. "Is that nice?" Jess nodded with a smile, "
here you go Harry" "thank you" "mummy can we watch that film tonight?" Jess asked "not
tonight, you both have school tomorrow" " we'll go to sleep as soon as it finishes" "no,
because you have school and you'll be really tired tomorrow" Karen carried on eating her
dinner, Jess did to but Harry sat in a grump. "Come on, eat up Harry other wise you won't
be able to have any ice cream", "no." He mumbled "you'll be hungry" "I don't want to eat"
he winged. "Harry this is your favourite don't waste it" he sunk back in his chair arms
folded. Karen didn't need this, not in a public place. "Mummy can I have some ice cream?"
" in a minute Jess, let me just try to sort out Harry" Jess sat like a good girl. "That's a very
sad face" a familiar voice spoke, Karen turned around "rob" she smiled, a smile full of
complete and utter warmth. "Fancy seeing you here" rob was an English teacher at
Waterloo road where Karen was head, they'd always got on well, it was nice to have
people she could trust at work.
"So what you doing here?" She asked then realising that sounded silly but he answered
anyway sweetly, "dinner with ALL the family" "sounds like fun" Karen replied sarcastically
"oh it is, loving being used as a napkin by nieces and nephew. What about you?" " thought
I would treat the kids, needed to get away from the house kind of day" "so what's with the
long face then aye" rob asked "mummy said no to watching a film before bed" Karen
explained "you meanie" Harry looked up at the less familiar man and smiled, "thanks rob"
Karen replied noting Harry's little grin. "Sorry" he replied guiltily, "why don't you come find
me once Harry's finished, taking my nieces to watch the fireworks you're welcome to join
us" " that sounds lovely" Jess was a bit apprehensive but it sounded fun and Harry well he
just didn't want to go to bed at bedtime. "The thing is Rob, was hoping to get these two into
bed on time" " oh don't worry it finishes by 7" Karen looked round at her children " would
you like to see the fireworks? "Yea " Harry replied eagerly, "that sounds lovely Rob" "well I
shall see you in a bit then" "you sure will". "Harry I shall compromise, if you eat these few
chips and pizza you'll be done" " can I have my ice cream?" Jess asked, Harry joining in
to. "Don't you want to see the fireworks?" Karen asked , "yes but Ice cream too" Harry
winged " you have to decide ice cream or fireworks, not both tonight" they decided on the
fireworks which secretly Karen was happy about.
They finished up and Karen walked over to Rob who was just putting on his coat "Karen,
you guys ready? " "yep" Harry stood close to his mum he was a little shy around lots of
people, Karen held his little hand. "This is Olivia and that monkey over there is Emilie. This
is Karen the headteacher at my school and Jess and Harry" Olivia and Emilie were 7 and 9
so a little bit older than Harry, he was only just 6 and this all seemed a little daunting. Jess
on the other hand was nattering away with the pair of them. "You okay darling" Karen
whispered to harry" he nodded unconvincingly, she squeezed his little hand in response.
"Right, Sarah I promise to have them back by 7" "okay, you girls be good, uncle Rob will
tell me if you haven't been" "your always good... Well most of the time" he teased. They all
began to head towards the door "Livvy" Olivia didn't hear her uncle wrapped up in the
excitement of meeting someone new "livs!" She turned around innocently, "where's your
scarf and gloves?" "Mummy has them" "go get them it's really cold outside" "I don't need
them" "you'll be cold later, I'm not coming home early because you're cold" she ran back
quickly with her gloves and scarf and dumped it on Rob, "Oi you!" She stuck her tongue
out "see what I have to put up with" rob joked with Karen.
They finally reached the fireworks, "there are lots of colours" "there are Harry, which ones
your favourite?" "The blue one" Karen smiled. The display was lovely, there weren't too
many people and they had the added bonus of sparklers! "Uncle rob, sparkler time" "sorry
what was that Emilie" "sparklers" "hmm think you're missing a few words there Em"
"PLEASE" Olivia screamed, "well that was an eager please" Karen commented, she hadn't
stopped smiling all evening. "Mum can we have some sparklers?" Jess asked her mum to,
Karen waited to see what Rob said to the girls. " come on then you lot lets go get some
sparklers" the kids were all really excited. "I guess you guys are having sparklers" Karen
said to Jess and Harry, who finally went away from his mum's hand. "Ow Harry!" Jess
moaned "Harry don't snatch, there are enough for all of you" Harry threw his sparkler to
the floor. Karen took him to the side "Harry does this mean your too tired to be here?"
"Noooo!" "Right then, stop being naughty and go and have fun with the girls" Karen gave
him a hug before encouraging him to pic up his sparkler as they all got lit by Rob. Karen
and rob looked on at the children "have you ever written your names with the sparklers"
rob asked, "look look I can do it" Jess replied showing her mum and rob how clever she
was, "well done sweetheart".
Karen and Rob enjoyed an adult conversation whilst the kids were occupied. "They are
lovely girls" "why thank you" rob said in his silly voice "my sister did good" "they adore you"
Karen couldn't get over how hands on with them he was, he blushed a little. "So how come
you never had any children?" The words left her lips before she could really think about it.
"I mean ... Sorry, that was personal" "it's alright, I just never felt like I was with the right
person" Karen bowed her head, "looks like they're having fun" rob laughed at their little
faces completely taken by the sparklers. Karen shivered a little, rob instantly took his coat
off and placed it over her shoulders "rob, you'll freeze" "came prepared, got my thermals
on" Karen laughed. Their eyes caught one another, a spark of electricity or was it the
smokey air, whatever it was they both felt it. They were both broken from the stance by
crying, "Harry?" Karen bent down as her little boy ran over, "what happened poppit?" "I
hurt my finger" Karen looked at Harry's burnt glove "oh dear Harry, let me go find some
water. Girls Karen's in charge a second" they were all really good, still playing with the
sparklers whilst Harry bawled his eyes out. "Kiss it better" "mwah" Karen kissed his little
finger, he stood blubbing "here we go Harry" rob damped some cloth he had got from a
first aided and wrapped Harry's finger for a bit.
They decided to call it a night, Harry was exhausted and the girls all needed to go to bed
too. "So I guess we better head of, said I would have them back for 7" "yeah, these two
need their beds" "I have had a really good night" "me too" "we'll have to do this again
some time, when this lot aren't here" Karen stood stunned, her eyes were a glow as she
held Harry in her arms. Had Rob just asked her out? "Urr yeah, sounds lovely". She didn't
want to sound too eager but something inside her was dancing. "I'll call you" Karen smiled
as they both turned and walked away, "mummy?" "We'll be home soon Harry and then you
can sleep" "noo" "yes" "coat" "pardon" Karen was confused, "your coat" Karen suddenly
realised she was still wearing Rob's coat. She turned around quickly "Rob! Rob!" He was
too far away, well maybe this was her excuse to see him at work tomorrow.