Robbo’s been doing the best he can since his beautiful daughter Grace made her arrival in the world a few weeks back. But with Grace’s mother Tori (Penny McNamee) still in a coma after suffering a major stroke just hours after the birth, Robbo (Jake Ryan) is more stressed and run-down than he’s ever been.
Watch: Robbo’s ‘stupid stunt’
Thankfully, help is on its way ‒ in the form of an unexpected home visit by Robbo’s parents Wendy (Amanda Muggleton) and Ian (Frankie J. Holden)! But the greatest surprise is yet to come.
Wendy and Ian waste no time voicing their disapproval that their newborn granddaughter is living in a share house, before making a shock proposition to their beleaguered son. They want Robbo, Jasmine (Sam Frost) and baby Grace to leave the Bay for good and move permanently to the country with them!
“Wendy and Ian want nothing more than to have Robbo, Jasmine and Grace living at the farm,” says Jake
“Robbo’s first family were killed, and Wendy and Ian lost two grandchildren. Robbo disappeared off the face of the planet for a couple of years after that, first by going undercover and then with the amnesia, so they lost a lot of time with him. This is now a real chance to make up for lost time as far as Wendy and Ian are concerned.”
That said, Robbo’s initial response to the suggestion is far from positive. He and Jasmine can stand on their own feet without his parents’ help or support, he angrily tells them.
But given time to think, Robbo can’t help but feel that his parents might be right – farm life could indeed be a fresh start for his young family in a safe and loving environment.
Raising the idea with Jasmine, Robbo is surprised to discover his wife would, in fact, welcome the move. The same, however, certainly cannot be said for Tori’s older brother Justin (James Stewart).
Arriving back from the city where, along with younger brother Mason (Orpheus Pledger), he consulted with Tori’s medical team, Justin is furious to discover that Robbo is contemplating leaving the Bay forever with Justin’s newborn niece.
“The idea definitely doesn’t go down too well with Justin,” confirms Jake.
For, as Justin sees it, this is proof that Robbo has given up on Grace’s comatose mother Tori.
“Robbo’s main concern is what’s best for Grace,” says Jake. “But he’s stuck between a rock and a hard place. He cares for Tori a great deal, but there’s simply not much he can do for her at the moment. Tensions do flare again between him and Justin, and you can understand where they’re both coming from ‒ but emotions get the better of both of them.”
Meanwhile, the big question remains – Will Robbo, Jasmine and Grace be farewelling the Bay forever?
“This is certainly not an easy decision for Robbo to make,” reveals Jake.
To read more, pick up this week’s issue of New Idea.
