Chapter 9
It was 6 months since Karen and Rob had decided to make things official and today they were all
going on a picnic with Karen's family, it was to be the first time Rob was to meet the Byrne clan. It
was the first day of summer and it was actually warm, despite what the weather forecast had
predicted. Jess was wearing a pretty summer dress and cardigan and Harry was bouncing around
in his shorts. Karen was frantically trying to pack up some of the food for the picnic before Rob
arrived and they needed to leave which was proving difficult with Jess and Harry arguing in the
lounge.
'Right can you two stop arguing or we won't be going anywhere' Karen had been really looking
forward to today and so far it had been stressful and tiresome.
'but Jess won't let me hold my ball'
'Jess just give him back the ball'
'but what if he drops it in the road later?'
'Jess we're at home now he can have his ball' Karen really did wonder what planet her children
were on sometimes.
'Now can you tidy these toys away before we leave and put the things your taking in the hall.'
Karen hoped disaster had been everted and headed back to the kitchen to finish off.
'Mummy when is Rob getting here?'
'he'll be here any minute'
'can I take my bike?' Harry replied,
'not today poppit, we're going in the car and it won't fit'
'but I really want to take it' Harry was starting to get upset and Karen could feel a tantrum brewing.
She took through the picnic bag to the hall and could sense a little Harry following her around.
'please mummy' he whined
'Harry we can't take it, but you'll have your ball to play with and Jess is taking her skipping rope.'
Harry was having none of it and he started to cry.
'Harry please' Karen couldn't wait till Rob got here at least then Harry might cheer up a bit.
The doorbell rang but instead of Harry calming down he just through a longer tantrum which Karen
gave up on trying to resolve.
'Someone's looking very summery today' Rob commented on Karen's appearance and gave her a
kiss, before sensing she was feeling a little stressed.
'What's the matter?'
'oh it's just Harry, he's adamant that he's bringing his bike'
'i'll have a word'
'thanks.'
Karen went to get Jess to come and put her shoes on and get ready to go so at least there was
some chance of them actually arriving on time.
'Bud what's the matter?'
'mummy won't let me bring my bike and I really wanted to show Grandad that I can ride it without
my stabilisers' Rob was feeling quite proud of Harry
'but it won't fit in the car' Rob replied, Harry got upset once more.
'How about we take a video and show Grandad instead, what do you think?'
'YEAH!' Harry replied his tears suddenly disappearing and a smile actually gracing his face,
rosy cheeks and a snotty noes the only remains of his previous tantrum.
'Right come one then' Harry and Rob got up and headed to sort out this video.
'Right you boys ready?' Karen asked,
'one sec, just going to film Harry on his bike' Karen sighed,
'Rob we're going to be late!' he walked over to Karen to explain
'Harry wanted to take his bike to show your dad that he could ride it without his stabilisers'
'so you figured you'd film it instead' Karen finished his sentence 'and this is why I love you' the
words kind of fell out without a second thought and it startled the pair. Rob couldn't help the smile
that emanated from his lips as he kissed Karen and whispered in her ear,
'well it's just as well I love you too'
'go on then get on with his little movie of yours.'
'Is auntie Emma going to be there?' Jess asked her mum sweetly, clearly excited to see all her
family. 'Yes and Noah and Ella and Grandma and Grandad and I think Uncle Craig might even be
there'
'Uncle Craig's coming!' Harry bounced back into the room. Karen's younger brother was always
one for getting her two over excited. He was that cool young uncle that would encourage you to
do all the things that mummy would usually say no to or grimace at the thought of.
'All done'
'Right then lets go' Karen ushered her children into the car.
It wasn't too long of a trip but Harry had fallen asleep and Jess was busy looking out the window.
Karen suddenly noticed that Rob was looking a little on edge. She placed her hand on his thigh,
'stop worrying' Rob had said similar words when Karen had met his family.
'I'm not, i'm just a little nervous I guess' it was then that Jess caught on to the conversation.
'You don't need to be nervous Rob, Auntie Sarah is really lovely and she's really pretty and
Grandad is just silly' Karen was grateful for Jess's input it was quite sweet.
'I'm looking forward to meeting them' Rob replied.
They parked up and Karen attempted to wake up Harry but he'd managed to fall into a really deep
sleep.
Rob gently woke him, 'come on then sleepy head we're here!' Harry was a little confused as he
opened his eyes. Karen unloaded the car and Jess skipped out. 'Come on bud i'll give you a piggy
back'
'Rob, i'll race you. I bet I beat you' Jess posed the competition,
'What do you think bud, do you think Jess will win?'
'NOOOOO!'
Jess started running and Rob with Harry on his back followed on after which left Karen in hysterics.
Rob gave up and let Harry down who quickly sprinted off in sight of his family.
'Your such a big kid at times' Karen commented when she finally caught up with Rob.
'What can I say, I'm a big kid at heart'
'well I'm not going to argue with that' Karen teased.
They soon caught up with Harry and Jess who were being smothered with hugs and kisses from
Grandma and Grandad and Auntie Emma.
'Rob gave me a piggy back Grandad!' Harry declared rather over excitedly.
'But i beat you both in the race' Jess replied which Harry agreed with quite sweetly.
Cathy gave her husband Jim a look of complete happiness at the sight of their daughter with Rob
as if to say, see what I've been telling you about.
'Sorry we were late!' Karen explained as she sat down and settled in as it were.
'Rob was filming me on my bike without my stabilisers. I wanted to show you Grandad but my bike
wouldn't fit in the car' Harry explained proudly.
'Without your stabilisers! What a big boy you are Harry. I'm very proud of you mister' Jim gave him
a big proud grandad hug.
Little Ella suddenly started to cry she was now nearly one and getting cuter by the day,
'oh no Ella, crying isn't allowed today' Karen commented sweetly,
'you going to give Auntie Karen a hug Ella' Sarah said as she passed her little girl to her sister.
'Haven't you got more beautiful' Karen was really revelling in the moment with her baby niece.
Jess came and sat with her mummy and Rob and gave her baby cousin a kiss,
'can I hold her?' she asked,
'of course you can' Sarah replied proudly,
'ok, you have to be really careful. Hold your arms out' Karen tried to explain but she didn't quite
understand so Rob helped her.
Karen carefully placed Ella into her little girls arms, 'make sure you support her head' Rob also
encouraged as he took a photo of the two of them.
'I would like a baby sister' Jess declared which took Karen and the rest of the adults by surprise
with her directness. 'Ella's really cute' Jess said as she placed another kiss on her little cousins
head. Karen felt rather awkward, how did she respond to that! Rob placed his arm around Karen's
waist whilst Jim, Cathy and Sarah all looked on at the couple with cheeky smiles. Maybe they knew
something Rob and Karen didn't. Luckily it wasn't long before Noah bounced into Karen's arms
'hello monster, and how are you! I hope you've been being good' Karen tickled him
'i'm always good' Sarah almost laughed out loud,
'yes, i'm not sure I'd be using that to describe the new habit of peeling off the lounge wallpaper.'
Sarah explained. 'Always great when a 4 year old thinks you need to redecorate' she continued.
'Noah, you wouldn't do that would you?' Karen teased. He laughed in response and ran off to play
with Harry.
'So where's Craig?' Karen asked,
'Oh he's coming but he thought it would be really good to go out for a hard night's drinking the day
before seeing his nieces and nephews' Cathy responded unimpressed and clearly ready to make
his life a nightmare the minute he arrived.
'Oh well this could be fun' Karen teased almost reading her mum's mind, oh how alike they were.
A young man, complete in joggers and hoody wearing sunglasses appeared.
'I think the car crash has arrived' Sarah responded attempting to suppress a laugh, they'd all been
there but it was there little brother and they couldn't help but tease him.
'Wow, I'm so pleased you made such an effort to see me' Karen teased which Craig mockingly
laughed back at.
'What time did you get in?' his dad asked ,
'about half 7' Craig murmured back
'What?' the adults grimaced.
'I'd been up for 2 hours with this little madam at that time, guess we know who to call on next time
hey Ella' Sarah teased some more.
'Oh alright you lot' they were all really close, but Craig being the baby was rather fun to wind up
sometimes.
'Oh Karen, it seems that you forgot to introduce this handsome devil to me' Craig used his cards
against his big sister in order to try and win back some dignity.
Karen blushed and jokingly smacked Craig's leg as he laughed.
'nice to meet you Rob, we've all heard a lot about you' it was clear that even Craig who was
seriously hungover was getting the same good vibe that Rob really fitted into their family and made
his sister happy. 'Thanks you to.'
Harry bounced over noticing that Craig had arrived and bundled all over him, Karen held back from
telling Harry off, rather pleased with her sons timing.
'I think that just about gets you back for the cheeky macho brother stuff' Karen responded before
saving her brother from being completely mauled by her son.
'Will you come and play football? Please! Pretty please' Harry begged and Craig took a deep
breathe in bracing himself for running around which he wasn't quite ready for in his state.
'Come on, i'll come join you' Rob offered to Craig as Rob whisked Harry onto his back and
teasingly prevented him from getting the ball as he pelted down the field passing the ball to Craig
who whacked it into the make shift goal the boys had made.
'Men never grow up do they!' Sarah commented,
'Nope' Karen said in agreement
'your telling me, I live with your father' Karen and Sarah laughed.
'Yes Grandad's silly' which earned Jess a seriously tickling from her Grandad.
'Well he's earned my approval' Sarah commented, Karen knowing damn well what she was
commenting on.
'He'd do anything for those two and it's clear he adores you. I saw that arm around your waist.'
Karen felt like a school girl.
'He makes my little girl happy which is all that matters to me' Jim said, Jess sat on his lap having a
cuddle. She was definitely a grandad's girl.
Karen looked over at Rob who was making Harry, Jess and Noah's day and bonding with her
brother in the process.
'A certain person I don't like to speak about would never have even considered doing that' Cathy
commented. Karen knew her mum was right. Charlie was never that hands on, he never just let the
kids be kids.
'I really like Rob' Jess piped up, her children's approval meant the most and she could just see
from Harry's hysterical fit of giggles and hear in Jess's words that they were more than happy
with their mum's relationship.
It had been a lovely summer's day but it was time to be going home.
'Come on Harry, we've got to get home for tea'
'but Uncle Craig's teaching me how to do handstands!'
'Craig' Karen moaned, it was just typical of Craig to be teaching her little boy all these stunts of his.
'Chill he's fine' Karen sighed as she picked up the stuff, Rob placed his arm around Karen to
reassure her. They'd finally packed up their stuff, Rob was holding Harry's ball. Ella had fallen
asleep and Noah was in his grandad's arms exhausted after the days activities. All was calm until
the distinct sound of Harry crying filled the air. Karen sighed, why did Craig's activities always end
in tears, he was such a boy.
'Alright Harry, come here' Karen gave her little boy a hug as tears rolled down his cheeks.
'Where does it hurt?' Rob asked concerned
'my arm' Harry whimpered and let Rob have a look, it was little graze but no harm done.
'You can be such a nitwit sometimes Craig' Karen replied. She wasn't annoyed with him, he was
her little brother but he did make some pretty stupid decision sometimes.
'Right do you think we can go home now?' Karen asked her sad little boy.
'If you kiss it better' Karen smiled and gave it a magic kiss before ruffling his hair. They said
goodbye to everyone, Karen giving her nephew a big hug and a kiss and admired her sleeping
niece. Hugs and kisses were shared before they all headed home. They got seat belted up, Karen
checked how Harry was feeling before they began the journey home.
'I would really really like a sister mummy' Jess declared again, it really was something that was
embedded on Jess's mind.
'No girls are smelly, I want a little brother'
'I'm not sure it quite works like that guys' Karen replied trying to diffuse the situation. She was
rather embarrassed, she still felt like her relationship with Rob was still new. He could tell a mile
away that she was uncomfortable and rested his hand on her thigh as she had done on the way,
which made her look up at him. He held a warm smile which told her he rather liked the ideas her
children were concocting.