Friday night Alyssa let herself into Owen's house.
"You don't knock," Matt asked.
"Nope," Alyssa replied, "Uncle Owen would think it's weird."
"Lyss," Teddy called, hearing the alarm panel beep as the door opened.
"Auntie Teddy," Alyssa called back.
Teddy joined them in the entryway and quickly hugged Alyssa.
"Auntie Teddy, this is Matt," Alyssa introduced.
"It's nice to meet you Matt," Teddy said shaking the young man's hand, "have you two eaten?"
"Snacked," Alyssa replied.
"Your uncle just scrubbed out," Teddy replied, "Leo is in bed and Allison is chilling in her swing. Owen is grabbing Chinese."
"Allison is still up," Matt asked.
"She's 3 weeks," Teddy said, "she goes to bed in her bassinet when I go to bed. Come in. Lyss you're in your room and we thought Matt you would be in the guest room."
Alyssa looked at Teddy questioningly, "I don't mind the guest room."
"Your call Lyss," Teddy replied.
"We'll work it out," Alyssa said. She showed Matt the guest room.
"We can't be in your room." Matt asked.
"I don't know," Alyssa said, "this bed is bigger. I only have a double upstairs. But my room is between Leo's and the bathroom and across from Uncle Owen and Auntie Teddy's."
"So they don't want us," Matt asked.
"I wasn't even thinking of that," Alyssa admitted, "they like to think I'm still a kid sometimes. What do you want to do?"
"Where are you more comfortable," Matt asked.
"I'm torn," Alyssa replied, "I don't like sleeping down here, I'd rather be in my room but I want to be with you."
"Is that a choice," Matt asked.
"They can't say anything," Alyssa said, "they're not married. They weren't even dating when she got pregant with Allison."
"But you said your Aunt and Uncle raised you," Matt said.
"They did," Alyssa said, "but they were best friends and I was split between their houses a few miles apart. Uncle Owen lived here and this way my base and Auntie Teddy was 10 minutes away."
"Where do you want to sleep," Matt asked.
"My bed," Alyssa replied, "but this is the first time I've brought someone home. I've never brought someone here."
"Why," Matt asked.
"Wasn't right," Alyssa said, "this is a big step for me. Mom and Uncle Owen never introduced me to someone unless it was serious. We're talking about living together it's getting serious."
"It's been almost a year," Matt said.
"It has," Alyssa smiled, "we're going to find a place after summer's over?"
"We are," Matt said.
"I'm still thinking about buying," Alyssa said.
"I don't have a down payment," Matt said.
"I don't want to mix money like that yet," Alyssa said, "but I have a down payment. I don't want to rent. I can afford a down payment on a town house."
"What do you want to do," Matt asked.
"I'm buying and if you want to move in we'll work it out and have a rental agreement," Alyssa said.
"Okay," Matt said, "your uncle?"
"He has to accept we're adults," Alyssa said, "I think this time we stay down here then maybe another time in my room. Ease Uncle Owen into it."
"Your uncle, not her," Matt asked.
"Auntie Teddy knows I'm an adult,' Alyssa said, "she's always been my sounding board. I didn't have normal parents. I don't always know where I stand with my mom and that's okay. I'm working on it. Auntie Teddy is the closest thing I have to a real mom. All those firsts you go through in highschool and college Auntie Teddy was there. My graduations it was Uncle Owen and Auntie Teddy. I call them Uncle and Auntie but they are the people who raised me."
"But the pictures on the stairs with people in army uniforms," Matt said, 'you said your mom is with the American army."
"All my parental figures are veterans," Alyssa said.
"So your aunt," Matt asked.
"She's a major," Alyssa replied.
"Lyss," Teddy called, "are you hungry?"
"Yes," Alyssa bellowed back.
She lead the way upstairs and into the kitchen, she found Allison in the baby swing a little drowsy but content and picked her up. Teddy smiled seeing Allison and Alyssa as Alyssa snuggled the baby.
"Your uncle is picking up pizza," Teddy said, 'requests?"
"We're easy," Alyssa said.
"Matt what do you do," Teddy asked.
"I'm a framing carpenter," Matt replied, "I build houses. You?"
"I'm on maternity leave right now but I'm a cardiothoracic surgeon," Teddy replied.
"What does that mean," Matt asked.
"I work primarily on hearts and things inside your ribs so heart and lungs," Teddy replied.
"That sounds intense," Matt replied.
"It can be," Teddy replied, 'I like cardiac traumas and the speed of it."
"How do you learn to do that," Matt asked.
"I trained in cardio first then added the trauma piece in the army," Teddy answered, "drinks?"
"Water is good tonight," Alyssa said, 'you'll have one with me tomorrow?"
"Your birthday I will," Teddy assured.
"And Grandma is coming for dinner," Alyssa confirmed.
"And your mom," Teddy replied.
"Mom," Alyssa asked, "but."
"She wanted to surprise you and I know you need a heads up," Teddy replied, "she's staying at grandmas."
Alyssa shook her head.
"We said no to her staying here," Teddy replied, "dinner tomorrow. She really wants to be here for your birthday."
Alyssa nodded.
"She's trying," Teddy said, "Lyss she's here no Nathan, no Faroke just your mom."
"Okay," Alyssa whispered.
Owen came in a few minutes later and Alyssa watched nervously as he talked to Matt.
"Lyss breathe," Teddy whispered, "it's okay Lyss."
"I didn't know Mom was coming," Alyssa said, "I wouldn't have brought Matt."
"No," Teddy assured, "you should bring Matt. I've been looking forward to meeting him."
"Mom and I are always a bit rocky," Alyssa said, "we're better at a distance and when I have my space."
"Why you and Matt are here and she's at Evelyn's," Teddy replied, "it's a few hours tomorrow Alyssa."
"Lyss if you have a moment," Owen said, "I do have a letter for you from your mom she's never asked for them back but there is one for your 25th and I think you should still have it and read it. We have our cookies and beer?"
"Cookies and beer," Matt asked.
"It used to be cocoa when she was younger," Owen said.
They chatted for a while over pizza and after dinner Owen and Alyssa sat in the living room with the letter while Teddy and Matt chatted in the kitchen.
"She doesn't get me,' Alyssa said.
"I think she's trying," Owen said, "she's working through a lot of trauma. Alyssa meet her half way, extend an olive branch. Don't change who you are and what you do for her but let her in."
Owen passed Alyssa the envelope and she opened it slowly reading the letter.
Happy 25th Birthday Alyssa,
25, wow you're an adult. I don't know what other letters grandma or uncle Owen have given you up to this point. I wish I was there, my sweet girl, to see you as an adult. I wonder if you've found someone to share your life with and to be your partner. Wherever you are I hope you're safe and healthy and loved. Alyssa you are a woman now, strong, powerful and independent. Your voice is the most powerful tool you have no matter where you go or what you are doing. Alyssa I wish I was there to see how incredible you are. I wonder if you're married or have babies of your own. I want to give you a big hug and tell you how much I love you. If you miss me squeeze your locket tight and remember I always love you. I am watching even if you can't see me. Go take a walk down by the beach or along the water, that was always where we had the most fun. Go feel the wind in your hair and the sun on your face. I love you.
Remember Ladybug I will always love you and you will always have all of my love,
Mom
"I wonder if she remembers what she wrote," Alyssa asked.
"Share it with her when you're ready," Owen said.
"Lyss," Matt asked.
"Mom had written letters for every birthday she would miss up until my 25th," Alyssa said.
"I have two more hidden," Owen said.
"What are they for," Alyssa asked.
"She wrote one for when you get married and one for when you have your first child," Owen said.
'Long way off," Alyssa said, 'both of them."
"You never know kiddo," Owen said.
"We're going to move in together," Alyssa said, 'after Christmas."
"Why so long," Owen asked.
"I'm buying," Alyssa said, "I need to meet with the bank and go look."
"If you want me to look at the house I'll come," Owen said.
"I will," Alyssa replied, "I want you and Auntie Teddy to come look with me."
"We will," Owen assured, "you think the new year is a good time line?"
"It is," Alyssa said, 'time to look and go through the process with the bank."
"Do you know what you need to do," Owen asked.
"I'm doing research and taking my time," Alyssa said, "but it will be mine and mine alone."
"I've done that with this place," Owen said.
"But Matt will live with me," Alyssa said.
"I know," Owen said, "Lyss it's the first time you've brought someone home."
"I know," Alyssa said, "but mom. I've never introduced anyone to her."
"It'll be fine," Matt said, "I'm sure your mom is great."
"Overbearing, opinionated, always has to be right," Alyssa said, "usually is but I'm not ready. She was gone for 15 years."
"I know we've talked a lot about your mom," Matt said.
"It a process," Alyssa said, "and her being in LA is hard. It's hard to go back and forth."
"If you ever want to," Matt said, "we can go down on a weekend."
"She works a lot of weekends," Alyssa replied, "that's trauma surgeons."
"It is," Owen said, "I did it when you were in high school."
"But I was with Auntie Teddy," Alyssa said, "you always worked Saturdays."
"I did," Owen said.
"Matt theres a lot of veterans in this family and Alyssa was affected by our trauma and her own," Teddy explained, "that's something to be aware of. We have a lot of trauma."
"Alyssa has told me bits and pieces," Matt said, "we've known each other for 3 years. And have been friends for a while."
"Lyss told me," Teddy assured.
Matt looked surprised.
"You know how your sisters just tell your mom everything about the guys they date," Alyssa said.
Matt nodded.
"I do the same with Auntie Teddy," Alyssa said.
Upstairs Leo cried.
"Leo," Teddy looked shocked.
"Bad dream," Alyssa suggested.
"Probably wants a hug," Teddy agreed, "I'm going to go put him back down and settle Allison for the night."
"Good night," Alyssa said, hugging Teddy.
"Good night," Teddy replied.