It was the last ski weekend of the winter the slopes would be closing soon so the whole family took advantage of it and went up together. Seven adults and three children made the cabin a crowded place but they all made it work, they could spread out a bit more now with Annie and Josh in a room, moving Faroke up to the loft, Allison and Leo stayed with Teddy and Owen for now but would be moved to the loft when they were a bit bigger.
Pulling into the drive way at the cabin Annie's phone rang, "hi mom."
"Annie, Dad and I are driving down to Tacoma for boat parts this weekend do you want to come meet us," Leslie invited.
"I can't this weekend," Annie said, "we're just pulling into the cabin."
"You're at Baker," Leslie asked.
"We are," Annie said, "last ski weekend for us. The whole family is here. And we're doing a couple things for the wedding while we're up here."
"You're actually getting married there," Leslie asked.
"Not at the cabin but there's a beautiful field by the rec center," Annie said, "the wedding is there by the river we're thinking under the cedar trees but we need to measure it all out. In August its full of wild flowers and there's big blue and purple hydrangeas along one side."
"Is it what you want," Leslie asked.
"It is," Annie replied, "it's a perfect setting and we'll have white tents with fairy lights."
"Good food," Leslie asked.
"Yes and good wine and beer," Annie said, "food, drinks, dancing. We found a good DJ."
"Do you have it under control," Leslie asked, "how can we help?"
"Mama and Evelyn are helping with a lot of it," Annie said, "it's the third wedding in three years. Mama and Uncle Owen first, Meghan and Nathan last summer and ours this summer."
"Anything the same between all the weddings," LEslie asked.
"Same pastor as Meg and Nate because he's the pastor at our church," Annie said, "and the same flower girl."
"Flower girl," Leslie asked.
"Allison is the flower girl and Leo is the ring bearer," Annie said, "three of my siblings are in the wedding."
"Jessica will be jealous," Leslie said.
"Not my problem," Annie replied, "she made a choice not to be in my life."
"We can't come down without her," Leslie said, "we can't leave her."
"Jessica is not invited to our wedding," Annie said, "not until I'm at a place where I can trust her. I want you and dad to come I really do but without Jessica. Talking to you is still a big step for me. I want you and dad her in August if you bring anyone bring Grandma and Grandmere."
"Have you talked to them," Leslie asked.
"I've been emailing grandma and have called grandmere a couple times. My french is really rusty. I hardly use it anymore but she still won't speak english to me," Annie said.
"At least I know who she's talking to," Josh said, "but her French is weird."
"Québécois French with a bit of Manitoba," Annie said
"Marie hardly uses English anymore," Leslie said, "humor her."
"I am," Annie said, "it's good at work to have my French."
"The wedding can dad and I help with anything," Leslie asked.
"Just decided if the two of you are coming and if any grandparents are," Annie said.
"Colours so we coordinate," Leslie asked.
"Royal and lavender," Annie said.
"Your kilt," Leslie pointed out.
"And the lavender in the National," Annie said, "that's cranberry Hunt."
"It was connected to Owens family wasn't it," Leslie asked.
"It was Meghan's. Dad bought it from Evelyn after Meghan went missing. It was her initials and last name in the back of the vest. Both sets of mine have been added," Annie said, "it's at mama's waiting for Allison to need it."
"Do you ever dance anymore," Leslie asked.
"A couple times a year with Meghan," Annie said, "we do a big Burns day dinner for the hospital as a fundraiser the fire department pipe band plays and meghans old studio dances so we join them and always do a fun choreography in kilts. Then there's the summer talent competition against Seattle pres and we do something then. We're thinking a ST this year. We haven't done that yet but our two person sword is incredible. It has to be a kilt piece, we both have kilts but we share a national. Meghan was the adult dancer that led me through the parade of champions and champions fling at my first championship."
"You were incredible. I didn't know that was Meghan, she was really nice to you that day. I'm glad you still do sometimes," Leslie said.
"Dance scholarships paid most of college," Annie said.
"Stop sounding so American," Leslie said.
"I switch back and forth," Annie said, "still more Canadian."
"Anything you really miss," Leslie asked.
"All dressed chips, coffee crisp, BC wines, taxpayer funded Healthcare, people not randomly carrying guns, ice caps," Annie said.
"How does your medical work," Leslie asked.
"I was on mamas insurance the whole time I was in school. Then we have excellent coverage at work," Annie said, "I have 90% covered on basic care and if we need surgery it's covered by the hospital. We're just pulling into the cabin and it looks like Chris beat us here. And he has my list of Canadian foods I can't get here."
"Your brother, " Leslie asked.
"Yes," Annie said, "it's his truck. Alberta plates Canadian Air Force stickers."
"We'll talk to you soon," Leslie said.
"Some time next week." Annie said, "I'm on nights for the next 6 when we get back. I can email or text."
"Enjoy your weekend," Leslie said.
"We will," Annie replied, "bye mom."
"That went well," Josh said.
"It was better," Annie said.
"It gets easier for you every time," Josh said.
"They still want to bring Jessica to the wedding," Annie said.
"I heard you," Josh said, "you set your boundaries."
"I did," Annie agreed, "but Chris is here and I haven't talked it all through with him yet. I want mom and dad to come but wont let them bring Jessica. I need him to help me enforce that."
"We'll get a chance to talk to him this weekend," Josh said, "but you're going to relax now."
"One thing," Annie said leaning towards Josh.
He smiled and gave her a quick kiss.
"Really," Chris said as they all got out of their vehicles.
"C," Annie yelled running towards her brother.
"Ann," Chris responded, hugging his sister.
"Chris," Josh greeted, "it's good to see you man."
"Josh," Chris replied, "it's been a while."
"It looks like we're first up but I have keys," Annie said, "Josh and I are in our room, C you get the loft with Faroke."
"Still the twin beds," Chris asked.
"Unfortunately," Josh replied, "we just moved to the old storage room this winter."
"Hows Becky," Annie asked.
"I think I might break up with her," Chris said.
"It's about time Shamoo," Annie said, "finally taking control of your life."
"Still with the shamoo," Chris asked.
"You need to get rid of her," Annie said, "I've been waiting a while. She doesn't like me. She can't hold a conversation."
"You scare Becky," Chris said.
"How do I scare her," Annie said, "she could totally beat me up."
"You're too smart for her," Chris said.
"She has no drive Chris," Annie said, "she's told me that if you ever get married she quitting teaching preschool to have kids."
"Not everyone is as career driven as you," Chris said.
"Josh, Mama, Uncle Owen, Meg, Nate," Annie said.
"Yes your Seattle family," Chris said.
"And you're going to be a normal person when they get here, no military crap," Annie said.
"Fine," Chris agreed, "but you're going to tell me when you started talking to mom again."
"When uncle Owen finally got through to them," Annie replied, "I've emailed almost weekly for years but Jessica blocked my email and mama's as spam. Anything with Altman is marked as spam."
"Ouch," Chris said, "you okay?"
"I had just come to terms with that I would never hear from them again. Now they might come to the wedding," Annie said.
"Are they coming," Chris said.
"Only if Jessica can come and she's not welcome," Annie said, "Jessica can not come to the wedding. And dad isn't happy that Uncle Owen is going to walk me down the aisle."
"Did you give dad a choice," Chris asked.
"It's my choice," Annie said, "I've offered dad two options. He can share walking me down the aisle and I'll have both my dad and step dad or dad can watch. The last few years I've had mama and uncle Owen."
"I know Ann," Chris said, "I wouldn't even give dad the option to walk with me in your shoes. What they did not trying to reach out is unforgivable."
"I'm willing to forgive but I won't forget," Annie said, "and it's going to take years to rebuild my trust. They don't just get to come back like nothing ever happened. I will not go back to their house. I'm doing all the prewedding stuff you need your mom for with mama."
"Do you know how many times I've yelled at them over how they treat you," Chris said, "I almost hit dad when they didn't go to Boston to see you graduate."
"Don't ruin your relationship with them for me," Annie said, "I made choices that put distance between me and them. It's half my choice."
"You never chose for jessica to try to kill you not once but twice," Chris said, "you didn't ask mom and dad to stop calling. You didn't ask them to stop calling. You asked them to come visit, you always sent your break schedules to plan visits."
"I know but I could have flown back," Annie said, "tried to stay with grandma or grandmere."
"Jessica would have stopped that," Chris said.
"Would they have even helped me with flights if I had asked," Annie said.
"How did you get to Germany so many times," Chris asked.
"Mama always booked my tickets and told me not to worry about it," Annie said, "that she wanted to see me so she would fly me to see her."
"She helped you a lot," Chris said.
"Not as much as people assume," Annie said, "I used my scholarships and I have huge student loans. My loans covered what my scholarships didn't. I worked when I could. Tutoring was great, I liked the coffee shop job, I taught ballet on weekends."
"You made it work," Chris said.
"Part of the process," Annie replied, "but it's over. We're on to the next step. I'll figure out how much I want them to be back in my life. This time it's on my terms."
"It's your call," Josh said, "We're all on your side."
"I know," Annie said, "but we're on dinner tonight. I should get it started."
"What are you making," Chris asked.
"Grandmere's toritiere, the pies are already made, sheet pan roasted veggies with herbs and lemon, baked potatoes and salad," Annie said, "apple crisp for dessert. I just need to cut the veggies and put it all in the oven. "
"What can I do," Chris asked.
"Fire," Annie said.
"I'm going to make our bed," Josh said, "and organize our stuff."
"We can all relax with drinks once the fire is started and dinner is in the oven," Annie said.
"Sounds good," Josh said.
As they were getting organized Teddy and Owen arrived with their kids.
"Nee," Allison squealed.
"Hi Ali bean," Annie said, putting her knife on the counter and crouching to hug the little girl.
"Annie snow," Leo yelled.
"I know," Annie smiled, "it's snowing. Maybe after dinner we can all go sledding."
"We can," Teddy agreed.
Meghan's group arrived with Evelyn and the cabin was packed with people and full of laughter. The family enjoyed all being together and they had accepted Chris into their fold.
After dinner they all bundled up and grabbed the sleds from the shed.
"I'll be here with cocoa when you get back," Evelyn promised.
"No, no, no," Allison yelled.
"Yes baby girl snow," Teddy beamed, "we love the snow."
"Snow is the best," Annie agreed.
Owen lifted Allion into the baby sled with the back and began to pull her towards the sledding hill and meadow. Nathan pulled Faroke and Leo on a toboggan. Chris and Josh were caught up in a conversation about craft beer, Annie walked with Meghan and Teddy. At the sledding hill Teddy carried Allison up in one arm, pulling a toboggan with the other, she sat on the sled and went down the hill with Allison in her lap.
"Fast," Allison giggled.
"The sled goes fast," Teddy smiled at the little girl.
"Fast mama fast," Allison yelled.
"We'll go again," Teddy promised getting off the sled.
"Noman," Leo yelled.
"Are you building a snowman for mama," Owen asked.
"Noman mama noman," Leo yelled.
Teddy who had gone down the hill with Allison a few times went over to see Leo , "are you building a snowman Leo?"
"Noman," Leo yelled.
Teddy pulled a bag out of her pocket, it had some cherry tomatoes, snap peas and a baby carrot, " I have eyes, a nose and a mouth for your snowman."
"Eyes," Leo asked.
"Eyes," Teddy said placing a cherry tomato in his hand and helping him put it on the snowman.
"Eye mama," Leo said.
"Eye," Teddy laughed handing Leo the other cherry tomato and helping him put it in.
"You need a nose," Owen said.
"Nose," Leo echoed.
"Nose," Teddy beamed, handing leo the baby carrot and helping him put it in.
"Are you his scrub nurse," Owen laughed.
"I am," Teddy giggled.
"Dr. Altman-Hunt do you want the mouth," Owen asked.
"Mouth mama," Leo said, holding out his little mittened hand.
"Mouth dr," Teddy laughed, she watched as he put the mouth a little lopsided on the snow man.
"We need arms," Owen smiled.
"Arms daddy," Leo yelled.
"There's some small branches here," Annie called.
"Dr Altman, bring us the arms," Owen said, "they've been amputated and need to be reattached quickly. You can assist Dr. Altman-Hunt."
"Yes Dr Hunt," Annie laughed, "I have the arms."
Annie carried the two branches over.
"Dr. Leo I have your arms," Annie said.
"Arms daddy," Leo called.
Owen picked up an arm and pushed it into the snowman, "arm."
"Arm mama," Leo laughed.
"Arm Dr," Teddy smiled as she pushed the second arm in to match how Owen put the first one in.
Annie took her mitten off and took her phone out of her pocket, "I need a picture."
"Josh can take it," Teddy said, "it's our family snowman you need to come in here."
"I only found arms, you guys built it with Leo. i'm the photographer," Annie smiled.
"Leo come stand with mama," Teddy said, kneeling beside the snowman.
Owen knelt behind them and Annie snapped the picture.
"You coming , Annie," Josh yelled.
"The big hill," Annie asked.
"The big one," Josh shouted.
"Do you have the tube," Annie asked.
"Your brother does," Josh replied.
Annie ran forward floundering in the snow to meet Josh and Chris to go down the big hill.
Teddy and Owen stood with the little two watching the adventurous trio be joined by Farkoe to go down the big hill.
"Mama up," Allison whined.
"Up you come baby girl," Teddy said scooping up the toddler. She settled Allison on her hip and Allison's head fell against Teddy's shoulder. Owen put his hand around Teddy's waist and kissed her cheek.