That afternoon Evelyn, Teddy, Leo and Allison arrived at Megan's.

"I forgot how great her view is," Teddy said.

"It is," Evelyn agreed, she had been here more than the rest of the family had been, she had spent a few months of the pandemic here.

"Mommy who lives here," Leo asked.

"Auntie Megan and Faroke," Teddy replied.

"Do we know anything," Evelyn asked.

"Owen said she's a mess and wants to come home," Teddy replied.

"Megan was when Derek left," Evelyn said, "has he said anything about her emotional state."

"Megan's only seen her cry a couple times," Teddy answered.

They knocked on the door and Owen let them in.

"How's lyss," Teddy asked as soon as Owen released her from a bear hug.

"Not sure," Owen said, "there's a lot to unpack. She needs us but she's afraid she let you and I down."

"No," Teddy assured, "absolutely not. She's doing what is best for her family."

"She's really insecure right now," Owen said, "she's not trusting herself, that's not our Lyss."

"Break up and adapting to being a single mom," Evelyn said, "give her time."

"Leo, Allison we're going for a walk," Owen said, "there's a playground on the beach."

Owen took his kids for a walk and Teddy followed Evelyn out to the sun deck. Alyssa sat in a chair with a note book making a list while the girls napped in the shade.

"Hi sweetheart," Teddy smiled, putting her arms around Alyssa from behind.

Alyssa turned to look at Teddy, "I failed."

"No," Teddy declared.

"I don't know how to make it work," Alyssa said, "Matt emailed a list of demands about an hour ago and I'm trying to get it all to work."

"What is he asking for," Teddy asked.

"No child support," Alyssa sighed, "I'm fine I make more than double him but it's the principle of it. How did it work when I was in high school?"

"We never had a formal agreement," Teddy replied, "Owen did most of the big things but there was never a question of if you were with me I fed you, he always did your allowance but if it was my night would give it to me to give to you or give it to you the day before as you got older. I did your makeup and toiletries, I was picky about what you had and good quality ones your skin was so sensitive."

"I still use some of the same brands," Alyssa said, "it's the same mascara because it works and looks good."

"The pink and green tube," Teddy asked.

"Yea," Alyssa admitted.

"I use it " Teddy replied, "let's see this list."

"It's my wants and Matt's emailed demands," Alyssa said, "I got a job offer in Seattle yesterday that I want to take. Mountainside running surgical tools at the Seattle office that opens in February. They'll let me finish my leave with the girls and I'd start helping set up and staff my department in Seattle. It would be part time for a few weeks to do that."

"Can I see the list," Teddy asked.

"Sure," Alyssa replied, passing over her list.

Teddy read through Matt's list of demands

No child support

Share of the house if sold

No medical costs from when the girls were in Seattle

One day a week custody on weekends only

Kids to stay in Burnaby

All holidays with him

Birthdays with him

Limited contact with Megan, Owen, Teddy and Evelyn

Jacey to have ability to make decisions in an emergency

She skimmed Alyssa's list of wants

Primary custody- Matt every other weekend

No over nights until the girls were fully on solids and done breast feeding

Child support

Move to Seattle

Christmas and American Thanksgiving with her

Share of medical costs

Primary decision making

No contact with Jacey until together over 1 year and I meet her first

"This is calculated on his part," Teddy said, "'have you seen a lawyer?"

"I have," Alyssa replied, "before I came down. I've been calling and emailing with him. I forwarded Matt's email and am trying to decide where I can compromise."

"His once a week and your every other weekend add up to the same amount of time," Teddy replied.

"It's deciding what I can sacrifice to move to Seattle," Alyssa said.

"The Thanksgiving thing he can have Canadian and you have American," Teddy said, "Christmas I'm sure you can work out."

"Easter I can negotiate," Alyssa said, "and I want their birthday."

"What about the money demands can you negotiate," Teddy asked.

"He owns no part of my house. I never took money from him towards the mortgage, just the utilities," Alyssa replied.

"Can you fight it," Teddy asked.

"It was documented before we moved in and he hasn't paid for so much as a lightbulb," Alyssa replied, "anything on the house was just my money. I can agree to moving to Seattle but no further. I will bring the girls up to him for one of his two weekends a month and he can come down the other. We can stay with Jarrett's. They'll all be okay with two nights once in a while, I'll just rotate through different people's houses so I might stay once every 6 months with someone."

"Other than this how are you," Teddy asked.

"Processing still," Alyssa said, "auntie, I failed my girls."

"No," Teddy assured, "you are showing them self respect. That is the best lesson you can teach them. You saw me end things with Mark Sloan because he didn't want what I wanted and a stable relationship with me. We had talked about you and Sloan in the same house."

"She had her third baby," Alyssa replied, "we still have each other on social media. And what was your plan?"

"My house my rules," Teddy replied, "no back talk and no cursing. Dress code and make up I could leave alone. Mark agreed that she needed boundaries but didn't know how to do it. I knew how to set up boundaries. Both of you had to go to school and do well. Curfew was a sticking point for Mark, he didn't like giving one and I thought you needed it."

"You and uncle Owen were strict," Alyssa replied, "I will be. I know they need boundaries and guidelines. It's called gentle parenting now. Have boundaries and guide the kids. Respect the emotions and opinions but the boundaries stand."

"It was called authoritative when we had you," Teddy said, "aka teach your kid to be a good person. It's what we do. Teach and model appropriate behaviour. Respect the child but also teach respect"

"I will," Alyssa said, "I worry about them not having a dad day to day. I didn't but…"

"You had Owen," Teddy said.

"He showed me how I should be treated," Alyssa said, "how he treated and talked to you and Christina. How Henry talked to you and treated you. I saw it modelled. I want someone who acts like Uncle Owen or Henry."

"And Matt," Teddy asked.

"Did at first but changed over time," Alyssa said, "but the girls changed it. He wasn't here when I needed him. He's not hands on with the girls. I failed them. He's never got up at night to feed or change, he was sleeping in the guest room so they didn't disturb him. I failed them, I failed Alex and Celeste."

"You haven't," Teddy promised, "Alyssa this is hard right now but you can do it."

"If I take the Seattle job," Alyssa asked.

"Then you sell your place and move in with us while you look," Teddy said, "come home. You and your girls can always come home to us. It will always be your home sweetheart."

"I'm scared," Alyssa replied, "I have to figure out custody and getting the girls to Seattle. If Matt tries to stop me I can't. But I need to come home for my mental health. I don't have the support I need in Burnaby. I have Jarrett's but I can't talk to them like I do with our family."

"Come home," Evelyn said, "and Lyss is it getting warm out here for these gorgeous girls?"

"I think they're okay in just onesies out here," Alyssa said, "they've been napping out here most days since we came down. I like the water."

"Can I lift one up," Evelyn asked.

"Let them sleep grandma," Alyssa said, "picking them up when their sleep wakes them up and then Alex won't resettle and is just cranky until her next nap."

"Celeste," Evelyn asked.

"Will wake up and stay up but is my better sleeper," Alyssa said.

"Alex is fussier still," Teddy asked.

"She is," Alyssa replied, "Celeste is easy going. But they've always been like that even inside."

"Lyss what do you want to do," Evelyn asked.

"I haven't decided yet," Alyssa answered, "Grandma, I don't know. I'm still deciding how I feel."

"What can we do," Evelyn asked.

"I don't know," Alyssa replied, "I haven't been thinking about myself and my feelings. I've been so focused on my girls. Alex and Celeste have to come first. I don't have time to feel. I have time to plan and make decisions but not to feel."

"You have to," Evelyn said, "Alyssa, I learned this when your grandpa died and I told your mom this when she and your dad separated. You need to feel it. You have feelings about this. Can you list them for me?"

"Anger, rage, disappointment, disgust, sadness," Alyssa listed.

"Okay," Evelyn said, "plan?"

"I want a therapist," Alyssa said.

"Then find one," Evelyn said, "go to therapy. Help yourself deal with it."

"When," Alyssa asked.

"Talk to your mom," Teddy said, "Megan will babysit so you can go to therapy."

"I'm a single mom," Alyssa said, "I'm a single mom."

"I was your mom is," Evelyn said, "it doesn't mean a thing."

"But how is that giving them a stable home," Alyssa asked.

"Two parents does not mean a stable home," Evelyn said.

"You can create a stable home with you and your girls," Teddy said, "they need to be with adults who love them. Alyssa stable means loved and reliable, you don't need Matt to do that."

"It's a failure," Alyssa said.

"Never," Teddy promised.

Alex began to fuss.

"Hi sweet pea," Alyssa smiled, scooping her baby up, "let's clean your bum then have a snack."

"What's for snack," Teddy asked.

"Milk," Alyssa replied, "we're tasting solids at breakfast and dinner when I have mom to help me."

"Okay," Evelyn said, "can I feed this sweet girl? We can try solids."

"I guess," Alyssa replied.

"We'll wait for dinner," Teddy replied, seeing Alyssa wasn't sold on Evelyn giving her daughter solids.

"I don't want to overdo it," Alyssa said.

"What are they eating," Teddy asked.

"Just the baby rice cereal mixed with milk," Alyssa replied.

"We can do it," Evelyn said, "you could try other foods."

"We want to give it 5 days then will introduce a new food every 3-4 days," alyssa said, "I want to be cautious. They're delayed in a few milestones, about 3-4 weeks, which makes sense."

"Then do it at dinner and tomorrow we could add lunch with solids," Teddy suggested.

"I've called their paediatrician in Burnaby, we're going with her recommendations," Alyssa replied, "I want to be cautious."

"Premature babies are very different," Evelyn agreed.

"They are," Alyssa replied, "Matt blames me for that. That they're premature and that my blood pressure spiking was my fault. He blames me for having to deliver and recover in Seattle. That it's my fault."

"None of that was your fault," Teddy assured.

"Alyssa even if you had been home your worry about Faroke and your mom would have been a factor," Evelyn said, "your blood pressure was up before your brother got sick. Matt wasn't caring for and supporting you. Not how you needed to be and that's on him. You did not do anything that hurt your daughters."

"Alyssa you were asking them to stop labour until your water broke," Teddy said, "you wanted them to stay in as long as possible. Alyssa you were in a difficult position and you had to make tough decisions. You chose to be with your mom and brother. I think it was the right choice but it wasn't an easy choice."

"He was really mad at me," Alyssa admitted, "we fought about it a lot. He wanted me to go back to burnaby. He wanted to control and manipulate me. He didn't want me with you guys or mom. He liked me isolated from my family. But I have to go change Alex. She gets a diaper rash so easily."

"Go," Evelyn said, "I'll watch Celeste."

"Bring her in if she wakes up before we're back," Alyssa started.

"I'll change her," Evelyn said, "bottle?"

"Blue lid in fridge," Alyssa replied.

As Alyssa walked away Celeste began to stir.

"Your mommy is not okay," Teddy shook her head as she picked up the baby. But Grandma and Oma and Granny are here and we'll make sure she is. We'll help and we're going to hold you and love you and snuggle you. I think your mommy needs some real sleep."

"This looks like her not sleeping," Evelyn agreed, "the circles under her eyes the messy bun. She's not taking care of herself."

"We'll have to talk to Megan." Teddy said, "Lyss and her kids are in Megan's room. You're in the guest room and the four of us are on the landing."

"Where's Megan," Evelyn asked.

"She said she's got an air mattress in her room," Teddy replied.

"We're fine," Alyssa said, joining them with Alex in her arms.

"When was the last time you slept throughout the night," Evelyn asked.

"A year ago," Alyssa admitted.

"How would a nap feel," Teddy offered, remembering what used to make Alyssa feel better when she was sick.

"There's no time," Alyssa replied.

"There is because we're here," Evelyn said, "Alyssa Evelyn Hunt you have to take care of yourself so you can raise your babies. You are almost exclusively breastfeeding twins. You have been through a horrible break up. It's a divorce in everything but name. Alyssa you are going through the mental and emotional equivalent of a divorce."

"If I stop then I feel it and I don't want to feel it," Alyssa said.

"You have to," Teddy direced, "go take an hour Lyss, have a nap or a bubble bath and let yourself process a bit. It will feel better after."

"I guess," Alyssa said, reading Teddy's tone and body language.

"You're going upstairs and we have Alex and Celeste," Evelyn directed, "when was the last time they were out of your sight?"

"Faroke sat with them so I could shower this morning," Alyssa replied.

"Other than to use the bathroom," Teddy asked.

"Mom last week so I could take Faroke to volleyball and do some shopping ," Alyssa replied, "they're always with me."

"You need to have time for you," Teddy said, "we take it and Evelyn babysits."

"But," Alyssa said.

"An hour you're in the house but we have your girls," Teddy said, "go have a bath or a nap. We will come get you if we need you but there's bottles in the fridge and they've both just ate."

Alyssa knew there was little point in arguing with Teddy and Evelyn and went upstairs leaving her daughters with her aunt and grandma.

"Their names," Teddy said.

"They chose Theodora for Celeste not Dianne," Evelyn said.

"Last names," Teddy asked.

"She accidentally on purpose did it wrong," Evelyn said, "Wolff didn't make it on the birth certificates as the last name. Matt wanted his first when they went to do them so Alyssa didn't put the hyphen in. They're Hunts. Wolff is a second middle name."

"Like Alyssa has Jarrett," Teddy asked.

"Yes," Evelyn replied, "I like that their Hunts."

"So do I," Teddy agreed, "you know Megan did the same thing on Alyssa's birth certificate."

"I like that my grandkids and great grandkids are all Hunts," Evelyn replied.

"So do I," Teddy replied, "looking from Alyssa's perspective it's a family of very strong women. Knowing you, Lyss and Megan from when I met your mom she was incredible. I can see why Alyssa wanted that for her girls."

"My mom was a single mom after my dad passed, I was after Rob," Evelyn said, "Megan was and yes she calls you auntie but you were as much a single mother to that girl as Megan was and don't ever kid yourself about that. She learned that women have to be strong and independent and support themselves. It was never an option for her to learn that."

"She's 30," Teddy said.

"I know and my baby is 49," Evelyn said, "but right now Lyss is that little girl who just lost the person she depended on most. She was sure she would marry Matt that they would have their family and settle down in that house. She's so proud of that house and that she bought it and did it all herself. He helped with physical labour on it but she's paid for everything in that house."

"I know she's proud of that," Teddy agreed, "and she can have her home where she chooses. But Evelyn she's not that little girl, she's a woman she has to be allowed to decide what happens next and they have custody to work out."

"She's the mother," Evelyn declared.

"But courts want 50/50 these days," Teddy replied, "both parents' rights."

"They belong with us," Evelyn said.

"She's got to fight that," Teddy answered, "Matt wants contact with us limited."

"He can't stop her from seeing her family," Evelyn said.

"He's demanding they stay in Canada," Teddy replied, "but she's going to fight it."

"She should," Evelyn agreed.

Teddy and Evelyn played with Alex and Celeste until Owen and the little kids came back from the play ground so they could all have lunch. Teddy convinced Owen to let Alyssa be alone, to take the time she needed to process. Teddy led Leo and Allison down to the beach again so they could dig in the sand and build sand castles. They enjoyed playing outside together.

Evelyn took Alex and Celeste upstairs and laid them in their beds smiling seeing that Alyssa was also asleep. She knew sleep was the best thing for Alyssa right now, that she needed rest.

When Megan came home she found Alyssa sitting on her bed talking to Alex and Celeste.

"You look better rested," Megan commented.

"Grandma made me nap," Alyssa replied.

"They're really worried," Megan said.

"Matt emailed me a list of demands," Alyssa said, handing over the notebook that was beside her on the bed.

Megan skimmed the list.

"No," Megan said, "you don't give in to his games. Talk to your lawyer."

"I forwarded his email," Alyssa replied.

"Lyss you need to protect yourself and your girls," Megan said, "you're in a much better position than I was. We couldn't go after Derek because I didn't know his parents names. You have Jack and Dianne's information, you have his sister's information Alyssa you can go after him. He's got no legs to stand on."

"He's their father," Alyssa said, "he does. And we were living in BC so it's going to be complicated. I don't have their citizenship papers for Canada yet. We did it when they were about 3 months but it's a year and a half processing time. I won't get it until they're nearly 2."

"There you go," Megan said, "they're American citizens."

"And I messed up the hyphens on the birth certificates," Alyssa replied, "when Matt decided he wanted Wolff first when we did the birth certificates I didn't put they hyphen in so legally their Hunts."

"So did I," Megan said, "how long were you thinking of this?"

"I wasn't happy once we went back to Burnaby but I thought it might be post partum so I talked to my doctor but it wasn't," Alyssa said, "I talked it all through with my doctor how isolated I felt, how I felt like I was alone and doing it all by myself then realised Matt wasn't around. When they were about 3 months old I started paying more attention to what he was doing, it felt so wrong but I would check his phone and the mileage on his truck. I noticed that he had marked himself off on the Search and Rescue calendar but told me he was going on a rescue. I started tracking the lies. Then Kira saw him out with Jacey and it clicked. She saw him and was suspicious so sent me a photo. He cheated and my closest cousin caught him."

"Lyss," Megan sighed.

"Mom it hurts," Alyssa admitted, "worse than any part of this. Why wasn't I enough?"

"I don't know," Megan said, "I wish I had answers Lyss. But we know it says more about him than about you. Matt is in the wrong here, he's the one that screwed up. He's the one that isn't good enough."

"Why am I never enough," Alyssa asked.

Owen had heard the last question and joined them, "Lyss we are all here because we love you and you are so important and so loved. It's not about you not being enough it's about him not being man enough to respect you. It's on him."

"But," Alyssa said.

"No you are enough," Megan said, "you are more than enough."

"But he left," Alyssa said, 'he chose not to be with me."

"Because he's not man enough to handle and intelligent strong woman," Owen said, "he's the one who isn't a man."

"Dinner," Teddy yelled up the stairs.

"Lets go eat and give these two some oatmeal," Megan said, "who do I get today?"

"Alex," Alyssa said, "you're the only person other than me she's really happy with and I've had her more today. Celeste needs mommy time two."

"She does,' Megan agreed, "you do a lot of balancing."

"I have to," Alyssa said, "but I wouldn't have it any other way with them. They're what's keeping me going."

"I know," Megan said.

"You've kept all of us going at some point," Owen said following them down stairs.