#thankfullness

“Thank you for inviting me Tina.” She felt Taron move beside her, his sisters still in his arms. “Right…” She turned to look at Rosie and Mari. “I heard that you girls want to make waffles.”

“Did you bring cwtch?” Asked Mari, ignoring her question about waffles and asking about the beloved blue dinosaur they were desperate to meet.

“Cwtch is still afraid of airplanes Mari. He really wanted to come but he is looking after my couch.”

“Your couch?” Asked Taron with a wink.

“Yes my couch. Now waffles. If we don’t get started on them soon, we will be having them for lunch.”

“Yes, yes of course, Lets go inside. We can’t stay out here all day.” Agreed Tina, finally composing herself, thankful for Robyn’s gesture and change of conversation with her children.

Taron carefully put his sisters down and they walked to stand beside Robyn. “Can we put chocolate sauce on our waffles.” Asked Mari as she slipped her hand into Robyn’s left while Rosie took Robyn’s right hand.

“Can we show you our bedrooms and Taron’s room?” Asked Rosie.

“I can’t wait to see it all girls. Let’s start with Taron’s room.” Grinned Robyn and she let the girls walk her down the path and into Taron’s childhood home. “Come on rocketman, I know you love waffles.” She called not bothering to turn around to talk to him, letting her voice carry back to Taron in the air.

Taron stood beside his mam and sighed. “She is a delight Taron.” Laughed Tina. “And I know you are friends, but you are in trouble. She is a sweetheart. I am looking forward to getting to know her.” She gave him a hug around his waist. “You do look tired.”

“Robyn has given me this wonderful throw for my birthday and it helps me sleep. I slept great last night.” Taron slept in his own bed, while Robyn had slept in his guest room and he was thankful for his present because as he buried his face into the soft fleece, he could faintly smell Robyn’s perfume from the soft material and he had a wonderful peaceful sleep.

“Hmmm.”

Taron walked away from his mother and started to wheel Robyn’s case down the path. “I did mam. I promise. I am just getting used to being back at work.” As he walked past her, he slipped his arm around her. “Please try and not to worry about me so much.”

“I am your mother, I will always worry about you but knowing Robyn is around, makes it a little easier.”

Rosie ran back out of the house and down the path to her family, her little sister following her. “Come on Taron! Robyn said she is going to make rainbow waffles with us!”

“Taron let’s go you slow coach!” Mari shouted at him before following her big sister back into the house.

“Yeah Taron come on! Rainbow waffles! Let’s go, let’s go, let’s go!” Robyn popped her head out the front door of the house laughing. “Rainbow waffles!” She shouted again winking at him and turned and followed his sisters back inside the house. She popped her head back out. “Thanks for bringing my case by the way.”

Tina stood laughing at her son as he stood with a half smirk half grimace on his face. “Come on Taron. Rainbow waffles for breakfast.” She linked her arm with her eldest child. “I love her more than I did before. She is wonderful.”

“Yes she is. She is one of a kind.”

They walked together into the house, both laughing as they stepped into the kitchen and Robyn already had the two girls dressed in aprons with one on herself. “We’re making waffles!” She grinned while Taron, though he desperately wanted to frown at her, found his lips in a grin.

“Right so where do we start?” He asked rolling his sleeves up.

After a very colourful breakfast of rainbow waffles and a lively chat, Taron’s family and Robyn sat around the table talking, the young girls taking every ounce of Robyn’s attention asking her question after question about every photo in the book she had made for their brother and had requested that they could make a rainbow cake for Taron’s birthday.

“Rosie! You have just had rainbow waffles.” Scolded her mother. “And Robyn is not going to spend her day baking with you and your sister.”

“But you said that we weren’t allowed bake a rainbow cake with Taron when he was home.” Countered Rosie. “You said when we were talking to Taron when he was at Robyn’s house that we had to wait until Robyn came to visit us and she is here now and we haven’t got a cake for Taron’s birthday and he has to have a cake. He is only home for a day before he’s gone back to work.”

Taron looked guiltily to his mam and then to Robyn, who was smiling at his sister.

“You are good.” Robyn grinned at Rosie and then looked to Taron. “She is good. Nothing works better to change a mother’s mind then a little guilt trip.”

“Robyn you are not under any obligation to make a rainbow cake with any of my children. Rosie, Mari, Robyn is our guest and here to spend her time getting to know our family.”

“But it’s for Taron’s birthday. He has to have a cake.” Said Mari a little sadly. “It’s his birthday weekend.”

Robyn looked around the dining room which the girls had decorated with balloons, banners and hand drawn pictures for their brother’s birthday. Although Rosie and Mari had been very excited to meet her, they hung out of their brother as she showed them how to mix and colour the waffle batter, the girls making Taron help each of them, almost fighting a little for his attention and had made sure they sat either side of him at the table. Robyn felt so at home in Taron’s family’s presence before she even stepped inside and been welcomed by Tina and Taron’s step-dad Guy who had sat down for breakfast with them. Robyn’s home dynamic was so different to Taron’s and where it was just her and her parents, here there was a wonderful young family who were animated in their conversation and almost had to contest to get their say in at the table. There was so much love for each member of the family and it was obvious without saying it that having Taron around was such a treat for his young siblings and they missed him terribly when he was working.

“Tina I really don’t mind.” She said looking to Taron’s mam who was still giving her daughters a look that all mothers had.

“Absolutely not. Robyn no.” Tina looked to the young woman who sat opposite her at the table but although she could give her own flesh and blood a look that meant no, the one she was receiving from the grown woman who had saved her sons life, was one Taron had spoken to her about many times. Tina understood a little better now why Taron caved so easily to what Robyn said, and why she was able to help her son so much. “Oh, alright fine.”

The girls shouted excitedly and started to talk over each other to try and get Robyn’s attention.

“We will make Taron a cake but I don’t think we can make a rainbow surprise cake.” Her words silenced the girls. “It is way too big girls. Taron and I had to give most of the cake we made to my neighbours but we can make a rainbow swirl cake and how about some chocolate frosting.” She enjoyed how their eyes lit up and saw the same expression in their brother’s face. “Taron likes chocolate frosting. Sorry to ruin your cake surprise.”

“Is there going to be a surprise in my cake?” He asked, eyes wide with hope.

“You shall have to wait and see.”

“I am going to apologise now Robyn. This was not how I wanted your day to be.” Tina reached over the table and took her hand. “I had told the girls not to do this. They are just so excited to see you.”

“No need to apologise. I am happy to spend the time with them. They are just darling’s, little mini Taron’s. I can keep up with them.” She winked at Tina.

“I have no worries about that.”

Robyn took a glance to Taron who was blushing a little. “So, girls, rainbow swirl cake?”

With increasing enthusiasm, and after cleaning up the breakfast dishes, Rosie and Mari gave Robyn a tour of the kitchen presses so she could find what she needed to help them make Taron’s birthday cake.

“Can we put a surprise into the cake?” Whispered Rosie to Robyn as they helped her place all the ingredients they needed for the cake on the counter in the kitchen.

“Of course we will.”

“Taron will love it.” Agreed Mari.

After they had collected all the ingredients for the cake, Robyn had everything they needed except the chocolate frosting and surprise for the middle. Tina watched on amused as Robyn interacted with her daughters, while Taron stood by her side.

“Where does she get all the energy from?” Tina asked.

Taron shrugged his shoulders. “No idea. Just the way she is. I knew the girls would love her.”

“She is so good with them but doesn’t she work with children?”

“Not children Rosie and Mari’s age, much younger but she just has this way with people in general. Treats everyone like they are the most important person in the world.”

“I am so glad she was there for you Taron.”

“Me too.” Taron gave his mam a kiss on her cheek and moved over to where Robyn and his sisters were whispering to each other. “Ok so let’s share the secrets.” He said leaning on the counter.

“I am sending you off to do your favourite thing.” Robyn said to him. “Shopping for surprises for cake but not jam!” She said pointing at him, his lips falling into an ear to ear grin. “No jam.”

“We need the frosting for the cake.” Said Rosie.

“So, you can take your sisters and go shopping.” Robyn patted him on his shoulder. “I know you like shopping but we don’t need coffee beans or jam.” She handed him a list. “Please get everything and that one is most important.” She said pointing to the last thing on the list. “Should be easy to get. Decorations are everywhere.”

“You aren’t going to come with us? I can show you some of the town. You can see the ocean. I know you love it.”

“Nope. This is one for you and your sisters. They are so happy you are here and are planning such a wonderful birthday cake for you, you need to go with them. I am going to stay here, with your mam. We’re going to have a chat.”

“I want to stay here. I need to stay here for that chat. Mari and Rosie can go to the shop by themselves.”

Robyn laughed. “Sorry rocketmen. You knew this was coming. Go and spend time with your sisters.” She leaned in closer to him. “You are leaving them on Monday. They are desperate to spend time with you.” Taron looked to Robyn and smiled a little sadly, his smile changing to a happier one when she pulled him in for a hug. “Don’t let them see you sad and enjoy your time with them. Be thankful your mam pulled out the guilt card. You wouldn’t be here this weekend otherwise.”

“Neither would you.” He kissed her cheek and let her go. “Right we have some shopping to do.” He said looking at Mari and Rosie. “Go and get your coats.” The girls cheered and ran out of the kitchen. Taron turned to his mam. “Just be nice ok?”

Tina grinned at her son when she saw the lightly worried look on his face. “I will protect her with my life, just like you do.”

“Oh I don’t doubt that at all. Just don’t go overboard with the stories.”

“Taron, as far as I am concerned, Robyn has complete and full access to every embarrassing story I have about you. After what she had done, she gets everything!”

Robyn enjoyed the look of terror on Taron’s face and laughed as his eyes grew wider and his mouth dropped open. “Please be here when I come back.” He asked his voice a little quiet.

“I have a cake to make. I am not going anywhere.”

Mari and Rosie came running back in. “We’re ready!”

Looking to his siblings and then back to Robyn, he sighed a little. “Right well then I guess we are going shopping. I have a list. Be back in a while.”

“Take your time love. Robyn and I have a lot to talk about.”

With a few more goodbyes and half push out the door, Taron finally left with Mari, Rosie and the shopping list, while Tina and Robyn made their way back to the kitchen.

“So where do we begin.” Laughed Tina as she pressed down the button for the kettle to make some tea.

Once the hard subject of what happened at the 7/11 and hospital had been thoroughly discussed, Tina needing to know every little detail especially when she realised Taron had held a lot back, she had asked about her son’s time at Robyn’s home, cringing when Robyn told her about all the mischief Taron had gotten up to while she was at work.

“I am guessing he left a lot of those stories out too.” Laughed Robyn when she took in Tina’s appalled face at the glitter story.

“I swear I did raise my son with manners and respect.”

“It’s ok. I have promised to get him back and he knows it too. I just haven’t figured out with what yet, but I will.”

“You need help with that, just ask.” Robyn watched as Tina’s face swiftly changed from smiling brightly to a much more serious and concentrated look. “I know my son can be hard work but if he takes his frustrations with regards to the media and papers out on you with harsh words and confrontation, please don’t take it to heart.”

“Tina…”

“Just hear me out Robyn before you say anything. He understands the negativity that comes with his job and what he does and he knows he is constantly being scrutinised but it’s the protection of his friends and family and keeping them a secret and out of the media that he struggles with the most. He is an incredibly private person and when any story gets out about any of us or his friends, he takes it to heart as a criticism against him personally. He was an emotional mess after he made his press statement about what happened to him and I don’t think I have ever seen him that stressed over something to do with the media before, terrified of how they were going to spin the story, how they were going to perceive you.” Tina reached for Robyn’s hands. “You are just so important to him and when he goes off on a rant about the media it’s because he cares and then he gets frustrated because you are a strong woman who fights him and he is not used to that. He isn’t used to having someone who is not in the public eye to take the stories so well. He is used to being the one who takes care of it all with Lyndsey’s help but now he has you too and I think he is struggling a little with these new developments in his life.”

“He definitely gets frustrated with me.” Agreed Robyn.

“He doesn’t do it intentionally.”

“Oh, I know that but my defensives just go up when he tries to tell me the way I should be acting.”

Tina laughed. “I have told Taron never to try and tell a woman how to think but he is still learning that lesson. He was a little upset with your reaction to the twitter comments from the pictures at Elton’s party, which by the way, you looked beautiful.”

“Thank you Tina and yes, I know that. He was more than a little upset. He was angry with me when I told him I had read them all.”

“Only because he doesn’t want to read what is being said about it. He has been there and it is a hard thing to swallow. He loves you very much and just wants to safeguard you.”

“He has told me this but there is no really no need for it. I know I got angry with him too over the whole thing. As much as Taron is getting used to this new friendship, so am I. I haven’t had someone who is willing to fight for me in a long time and I am used to doing it by myself that when someone kind of comes at me for doing what I believe is right, well, it doesn’t end too well.”

“You are both very alike in some ways. Willing to fight for your own cause even when the cause you are fighting for is the same.”

Robyn smiled a little. “He is a wonderful man Tina and I know he only does what he does because he feels so responsible for what the media say about us, about me. When I look at those pictures from Elton’s party, I don’t read the words at first. I concentrated on the photos. That picture that was printed of us hugging was two friends being reunited. When they printed the one of Taron swinging me around, it reminded me of how much fun he is and the one of when he leant his face into my hand, it speaks volumes for the connection that we have with no words. I know how protective he is of me and I knew that from the moment he stepped into my home but believe me I am just as protective of him too. I am sure he told you about everything I did for him but he pulled me from a dark place too. He holds such a special place in my heart. We have already agreed that our relationship has been fast and furious and only Taron and I can truly know how we feel and understand what we went through. I know there are things I don’t know how Taron and there are things he doesn’t know about me, so sometimes it can be hard for me to let others in and Taron has really helped me to see how important that is but sometimes I can forget and I have a pretty thick skin. It still scares me at times when I think about it and I won’t ever forget the imagines of him unconscious under my hands or how the bruises on his chest matched the ones on my hands but then I think about him singing in my kitchen, him cuddling the blue dinosaur or just sitting on the couch relaxing and I smile and I mentally hit myself for being so mad at him over such trivial things like the opinions of those who don’t know Taron and I. I will always try to ignore what the media say and focus on the positives. People are going to talk, it is natural. I just hate to see him so annoyed over it and then I get annoyed cos he is annoyed and the more I try to brush it off and calm him down, the more frustrated he gets and then I get equally frustrated with him.”

Tina laughed. “You are both definitely alike.”

“Our bubble together at my home was wonderful but also not a true representation of reality. We come from very different worlds and slowly we are merging them together and I don’t for one-minute regret going with him to Elton’s auction. It was a wonderful event and I enjoyed it all.”

“Even the dress?”

“Your son has good taste.” Grinned Robyn. “But then he also loves to snoop.”

“You both looked wonderful together. I loved how fierce you looked Robyn and while Taron stood oozing confidence, you did too. I think you both showed the world a little that you were going to take no shit from anyone, if you excuse my language and I agree with Lydney when she said that it was the most perfect event and way to introduce you officially to the world. Just don’t tell Taron I said that. He thinks it was all his doing.”

The two laughed. “You secret is safe with me. Look Tina, I love your son and he will always be a part of my life and I adore how he just wants to keep me safe but as I have told him many times, I am a big girl and I can look after myself. If Taron wants to do it too, that’s fine by me but I have to draw the line somewhere. He can’t be angry at me for wanting to stay true to myself.”

“No, he can’t but he will try his God damn hardest to do it anyway.”

Robyn smiled a little sadly. “Yeah I know.”

“He hates it when you two have a disagreement. He also hates how headstrong you are and have this look that can make him so anything. I have seen that look Robyn. It is a good one. You might have to teach it to me.”

“Oh, believe me, Taron uses those beautiful green eyes to his advantage too.” The two women laughed. “I think it is something that we are going to have to learn to compromise with each other and try not to get so heated in our discussions because I have a feeling there will be more appearances together in our future and we can’t have the same arguments every time. Also, because things are still so fresh, as in we have only met each other and it was our first time in public together, of course the media and the fans are going to talk and get bitchy but it is going to take time before they get bored of us and our story. We are going to have to get used to the attention. Taron and I met in an unusual way which although was horrific, I am glad for because it has made our introduction to the media a little easier and what could be have been a shit storm has only been a little bit of thunder. We have been lucky and I try to tell Taron that but he has not got great listening ears sometimes. I will always be here for him Tina, always.”

“Have I thanked you yet?” Asked Tina, feeling so blessed that Robyn was in her son’s life. When she listened to her say that she would always be there for Taron, she believed her one hundred percent.

“Once or twice.”

“You are going to be a permanent feature in his life Robyn and I don’t think Mari and Rosie will ever let him push you away.”

“I don’t want to push him away. Like I said. We just need to keep figuring what we are out.” Tina gave her a wink with tears in the corner of her eyes which Robyn ignored. “He is my best friend and a firm part of my life and I want to give you a hug so I don’t have to look at you because you are going to start crying and if you start crying I am going to start crying.” Standing up with Tina, Robyn took Taron’s mam in for a firm hug. “He is such a delightful caring and passionate person with a wonderful soul and giddy boyish personality and you have raised a wonderful perfect man and I love him to bits and he loves you more than anything in this world.”

“You are coming a close second Robyn.”

“Never Tina. Never.”

“Are you giving away the secrets to the squishy Egerton hug mam?”

Taron walked into the dining room carrying the shopping, a little worried when he saw his mam and Robyn in a tight hug, Mari and Rosie behind him with their own bag,

“I don’t think a hug has secrets Taron.” Robyn let go of his mam and winked at her before turning to Taron, taking in his worried expression and giving him his own wink. “Even a squishy one. You just give a squeeze and volá, squishy hug.”

Taron placed the shopping bags on the table. “There is so much more to an Egerton squishy hug then a simple squeeze.” He was glad to get the small wink of reassurance from her.

“Oh really?

“Yes chicken.” He replied as he started to empty the shopping bags while Robyn rolled her eyes at him.

“Taron why do you call Robyn chicken?” Asked Mari. “She is not a chicken. She is a princess.”

“It is just a nickname Mari.” Explained Taron. “She calls me rocketman.”

“Yeah because of Elton but Robyn is still not a chicken.”

Robyn laughed as Taron’s face was plagued with different emotions as he thought through the best way to explain about her nickname. “It just is Mari.”

“I still think you should call her princess instead.”

The females in the room laughed while Taron picked his sister up into his arms. “Well Mari you are my princess and Rosie too so I can’t have three princesses.”

“Four.” Taron looked to his mam as she spoke. “Isn’t your mother a princess too?”

Robyn took a step closer to Taron and swung her arm around his waist. “Oh what a hole you are digging for yourself.” She giggled giving him a squeeze.

“Knew this was going to happen but in other news, we got all the shopping done and ticked everything off the list.”

“Well that is wonderful.” Taron looked down to Robyn and saw the happiness in her eyes and without thinking kissed her forehead, enjoying they extra squeeze she gave him. “So how about we make some cake then?”

“Do I get to help or am I not allowed because it’s my cake.”

“We are all going to make it together.” Confirmed Rosie.

“Right then, we had better get started.” Said Robyn. “Tina if you would excuse us, we are going to make a cake.”

Tina smiled. “As long as you promise to supervise my children, keep the peace and patch them up if something happens.”