Owen pulled the rental car into his mom's driveway on a Saturday afternoon. He saw Don, his step dad, out raking leaves.
"Don," Owen called, getting out of the car.
"Owen," Don called, setting down the rake, "you're early."
"The border wasn't as bad as we thought," Owen replied, "is mom home?"
"She's just picking Manda up from dance," Don replied, "she's junior teaching some preschool classes and had her private lesson this morning."
"What type of dance," Teddy asked.
"Teddy," Don said, "I'm surprised to see you."
"Evenly didn't tell you," Teddy asked.
"She said Owen was bringing someone," Don said, "Manda hoped it was you."
"She's still dancing," Teddy asked.
"More than ever," Don said, "it makes her happy."
"Hows she doing," Teddy asked.
"She still misses her mom," Don admitted, "Linda is gone. She has been since Manda was almost 6."
"It's hard to be a girl without a mom," Teddy said, "I lost my mom when I was 8 and my step mom a few years ago."
"Teddy," Don said, "I'm sorry."
"If you want me to talk to her," Teddy offered.
"If she says anything," Don said, "she loves her time with Evelyn."
"Mom likes it two," Owen replied.
"She likes going to dance things with Manda ," Don agreed, "and the level of competition is getting crazy."
"It's good for her to have something to focus on," Teddy agreed.
"Has she talked about after highschool," Owen asked, "she's in 10th?"
"She is and turns 15 in a couple days," Don said.
"We'll have to go shopping," Teddy said.
"Nope, adding your name," Owen said, "I told mom what to get her and mom has access to my bank account while I'm in the sand pit in case anything happens so it's done."
"I'll go shopping," Teddy argued.
"That was really generous," Don said, "she doesn't need an ipod. It's wrapped and in our room."
"She'll use it and she likes music," Owen said, "you won't have to hear all that pop she listens to."
"Now you get to give it to her," Don said, "Tuesday."
"Dinner after school," Teddy asked.
"Yes," Don replied.
"Could we take her for breakfast and to school late," Owen asked.
"No," Don said, "you could get her up early. She has math first block and it's her favourite class."
"Math," Teddy asked.
"And science. She's really liking bio," Don replied, "I taught physics and shop. She wants to be a surgeon right now. We're letting her explore her science classes."
"Did she say why," Owen asked, "last time I was home a few months ago she was going to be an architect."
"She wants to be like her older siblings," Don said, "we can get her to college she'll need your guidance from there."
"I'll help," Owen agreed.
Evelyn slammed the car into park making Don wince. She leapt out of the driver's seat and ran to Owen.
"Mom," Owen beamed, pulling her into a hug.
"Welcome home," Evelyn smiled, "and Teddy it's good to have you."
"Owen," Amanda yelled, running to her step brother.
"Hey Manda," Owen smiled.
Amanda lept at him for a hug, "are you home? Are you staying?"
"I'm here for 5 days including your birthday then I have 4 months left," Owen said, "I'll be home when you switch semesters. How's school?"
"Good," Amanda said.
"What do you have right now," Owen asked, "which teachers?"
"Math with Mr Clark, Bio with Ms Scott, PE with Mr B, Geography with Mrs Pahl and French with Mr Payton," Amanda replied.
"Do they know who your big brother is," Owen asked, "I've had all but Ms Scott."
"Mrs. Pahl does," Amanda said, "we're doing country projects with the 5 themes of geography and I'm doing Iraq because I wanted to learn more about where you are."
"Mrs. Pahl may have told other teachers," Owen said, "but your last name is Pike."
"Mr B doesn't like me," Amanda said.
"He was always a tough one," Owen said, "former drill sergeant. Just do what he says."
"I suck at sports," Amanda groaned.
"Hey Miss Amanda," Teddy called softly.
Amanda looked for a moment, "Teddy?"
"Hi," Teddy smiled quickly hugging the teen.
"I thought Evelyn said you were coming but dad didn't agree," Amanda said.
"I'm here," Teddy said, "a few days then I'll probably move to Seattle when I'm done with my tour in february."
"With Owen," Amanda asked.
"We're dating," Owen said.
"You are," Evelyn asked, "Owen you could have told me that on the phone."
"Sorry mom," Owen said.
"It's only been a few days," Teddy tries to save Owen.
"So you're still okay in the guest room," Evelyn asked.
"Whatever is easy," Teddy replied.
"Guest room," Don declared and looked at Amanda.
Owen and Teddy took their bags inside; he put his bag at the bottom of the stairs to take up and showed her to the basement guest room.
"They would never know," he whispered, "I could come down here if you wanted me to."
"Your littlest sister," Teddy said.
"Only reason they have you down here so far from me," he groaned.
"Amanda what's the deal with her mom," she asked, "how did she pass?"
"She's alive," he replied, "Linda abandoned them. Her mom is somewhere in New Mexico think. Trying to find herself. We didn't have a choice. My dad was hit at work by a drunk driver. Your mom had an aneurysm. Even your dad and step mom that was unavoidable. Linda chose to leave her kid."
"Poor kid," Teddy said, "how old was she?"
"Maybe 4 when her mom walked out," he said, "don gives the date he filed for divorce."
"Just a baby," Teddy sighed.
"Manda was 7 or 8 the first time we met her," Owen said, "Don invited mom to bring us to his family's cabin in Whistler. I was 21 and Meg was 18. We expected his kid to be around our age. Then we met Manda. She had energy and just wanted attention. Meg did her hair for skiing and both of us to play cards with her. She was used to her cousins being around."
"All the kids when we went fishing," Teddy smiled.
"Yes," he replied, "that they treat like a litter of puppies."
"The 8 of them in a two year span. Puppies," She laughed, "you weren't there when they were swimming and jumping off the dock. It was a pack of baby seals. They were so fast and so confident in the water."
"You were lifeguarding, you said in your black bikini," he replied, "I saw. It was hot."
"Yes, me watching your baby step cousins play in 100 feet of ocean water off a dock," she laughed.
"The bikini. I like you in a bathing suit," he said, kissing her.
"Owen, Teddy," a voice called as the owner thundered down the stairs.
"Hey squirt " Owen called.
Amanda would never actually admit it but she liked her step brother.
"Evelyn wants to know if you're having dinner here," Amanda said.
"We are," Owen replied, "tonight, and Tuesday. We're seeing Teddy's sister tomorrow."
"Your here for my birthday," Amanda smiled.
"We are," Teddy said.
"Amanda May," Evelyn called, "is your homework done?"
"No," Amanda yelled up the stairs.
"Get it done if you want to go to Jillian's tonight," Evelyn said.
"I have tomorrow," Amanda argued.
"No you don't," Evelyn said, "you're babysitting the Holman kids all day and your cousins are coming for dinner."
"When did I agree to babysit," Amanda asked.
"I told Kristen this morning that you would," Evelyn said, "they always pay you so well."
"I guess," Amanda said, "Mrs Klassen is paying me at the studio two."
"First job," Teddy asked.
"Helping with baby ballet and jazz classes," Amanda said, "I have six classes a week I help with. I get to work with Miss Sheena and Miss Sydney."
"Better first job then I had," Owen said.
"What was yours," Amanda asked.
"I made fries at McDonald's," Owen said, "then got a job stocking shelves at the grocery store."
"I walked dogs and life guarded," Teddy said.
"Dog walking would be fun," Amanda said.
"You have Sammy," Owen said.
"Sammy," Teddy asked.
"Her black lab," Owen said.
"She was a Christmas gift last year from dad and Evelyn," Amanda smiled.
"Why haven't I seen this dog," Teddy asked.
"She's in the back yard," Amanda said.
"Let me meet this dog," Teddy smiled, "I love dogs."
Amanda ran up the stairs and opened the door from the kitchen to the back yard. Her one year old lab bounced in.
"Amanda hold that dog," Evelyn scolded.
Amanda sat on the ground with her arms around the dogs neck. Owen and Teddy sat down with the teen to pet the dog.
"She's very sweet," Teddy smiled.
Seeing his girlfriend talking to his step sister about her dog Owen went to talk to his mom.
"Mom," Owen said, "I get why you and don don't want Teddy to stay in my room with Amanda."
"What are you asking," Evelyn said.
"We get that it's your house," Owen said, "but we're thinking I could stay downstairs."
"Hide it from Amanda," Evelyn said, "we just had a huge fight with her about Chris going upstairs."
"I'm 30," Owen groaned, "Teddy is 32."
"If you had been together longer," Evelyn sighed, "what about Beth?"
"She wasn't right," Owen said, "just over a month ago. She's still in my apartment though. I told her she could stay until I'm discharged in February."
"That was generous of you," Evelyn said.
"I don't need it until then," Owen said, "she's to let me know if she leaves sooner and is still paying me the rent she always did."
"You'll move in when you get home," Evelyn asked.
"I will," Owen said, "do the remodeling I planned before the most recent tour. Maybe live here for a few weeks to do it."
"You could," Evelyn said, "on your own?"
"Hopefully with Teddy," Owen smiled.
"Her sister is here now," Evelyn said.
"Carly is we'll see Carly tomorrow," Owen said.
"Do you have any pictures from my project," Amanda asked Teddy.
"Let me look on my computer and camera and see," Teddy said, "I might have some. I have to see what's appropriate to share."
"What do you mean," Amanda asked.
"Something that won't get you in trouble at school and your parents will be okay with me sharing," Teddy said.
"Parent," Amanda corrected.
"How long have your dad and Evelyn been together," Teddy asked.
"Seven or eight years," Amanda said, "but she's not my mom."
"I know," Teddy said, "I lost my mom when I was 8 she passed away. But my step mom was amazing two. Shelly loved me and Carly. She didn't treat us any different because we were her step kids. We were just their kids. I was 12 when dad introduced us to Shelly and 14 when they got married."
"But my mom will come back," Amanda said.
"That doesn't mean you can't love Evelyn two," Teddy said, "and let Evelyn love you."
"But she has Owen," Amanda said then her voice dropped to a whisper, "and Megan."
"And you," Evelyn said, "is your homework started?"
"Can Owen and Teddy help with my geography project," Amanda asked.
Evelyn smiled Amanda was pretty independent her asking for help was good.
"I'm sure one of them will," Evelyn said.
"I will," Teddy offered.
Amanda walked upstairs to get her project and Teddy followed.
"You and Teddy," Evelyn asked.
"It's good mom," Owen said, "it's right. It feels different."
"You've cared about her a long time," Evelyn said.
"Since I met her," Owen admitted, "it's right. I love her."
"Go put your bag upstairs for your little sisters sake," Evelyn said, "where you choose to sleep I don't care. Keep in mind Amanda is 15."
"So don't let her see anything," Owen asked.
"PG," Evelyn said, "if you want to be affectionate that's fine but she's going to look to you and Teddy for modeling what's appropriate."
"Hand holding, hugs, got it," Owen smiled.
Owen found Teddy in Amanda's room.
"I'm going to run my bag down stairs," he whispered in Teddy's ear.
She turned and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek.