"Only took five years for you guys to come down and see me here," Leo teased.
"We've been busy," Allison said, "and you come home on breaks."
"I know," Leo said, "now princess, do you want to see where I go to school?"
"Like mommy," Everly asked.
"Yes," Leo smiled.
"We want the tour," Asher said, "this is a gorgeous campus."
"Princess, do you need your royal carriage," Leo asked, seeing Everly trying to keep up on crutches but seeing Asher pushing the wheelchair.
"I try," Everly said.
"Lets go with your carriage," Leo said,
"No," Everly pouted, "I want to walk."
"Everly its too much right now," Allison insisted.
"No," Everly whined, "I can do it. I do it."
"I guess we let her try," Asher shrugged.
"We have to," Allison agreed, not wanting to deal with a tantrum.
"What if I carried you," Leo offered knowing Everly's limitations, "do you want a piggyback?"
"I walk," Everly said firmly, her face looking very determined.
"If you get tired we have your chair," Asher said.
"No chair," Everly pouted.
"Ash," Allison said, "we can always come back to the car."
"We can," Asher agreed.
"Ready," Leo asked.
"Yep," Everly smiled, "can we have ice cream?"
"Maybe later," Leo said, "if it's okay with your parents."
Leo leads them through the campus showing off his favourite spots. When Everly got tired he picked her up and carried her. He loved his niece and seeing her wide eyes taking in the campus, her brown hair pulled into neat braids.
"Leo dude," a guy called, "who is that?"
"This is my niece Everly," Leo smiled, "Ev can you say hi to Liam?"
"Hi," Everly whispered.
"Then this is my sister Allison and her fiance Asher," Leo introduced, "Ev's parents."
"The famous princess Everly," Liam chuckled.
"And her parents," Leo said.
"This guy won't miss his virtual story time," Liam teased.
"Story time please," Everly asked.
"Later princess," Leo assured, "I have a special new one for you."
"What do you guys do," Liam asked Allison and Asher.
"I'm starting med school at UW in the fall," Allison said.
"I'm an industrial electrician," Asher replied.
"What does that look like," Liam asked.
"I do things like grain elevators, hydroelectric dams, running wire as thick as my arm, installing and setting up generators and peplum wheels," Asher said, "you?"
"I'm going to UW for med school," Liam said.
"We'll be together then," Allison said.
"I was waitlisted and found out this morning so it's a scramble to find housing," Liam said.
"I'm always surrounded by doctors," Asher chuckled.
"You want to," Liam asked.
"No," Asher replied, "not at all. I've seen how Allie studies. That's not something that interests me. I'd rather be outside and work with my hands."
"You should see the play house he built for Everly," Leo said, "way cooler than our treehouse."
"Annies boys still use the treehouse," Allison said, "so does Heather. It was really cute last weekend Ev and Khitam in the play house with their dolls."
"Must be a lot of math in electrical," Liam said.
"It is," Asher replied, "and physics. Then doing it while 200 feet up."
"Don't tell me that," Allison said, "you're not that high."
"Babe I have a harness," Asher assured.
"But," Allison started.
"No, my accident was a one off," Asher assured, "the beam broke. It would have cracked and fallen had I been on it or not. Babe it's okay. We're all here."
"It would be nice to work and get my work out," Liam said.
"I still go to the gym," Asher said, "I play basketball and baseball when I can."
"Allison," Liam asked, "how do you do it?"
"Asher," Allison replied, "we're a team. We've been together almost 5 years. Ev is almost 4."
"My birthday," Everly said.
"Three weeks," Allison assured.
"Now," Everly pleaded.
"Uncle Leo's graduation, mommy's graduation, daddy's red seal ceremony then your birthday," Allison said.
"You're a red seal,' Liam said.
"I'm done my courses and hours," Asher said, "I just need the ceremony."
"That's hard," Liam said, "my twin just did his in welding."
"That's a tough one," Asher said, "I considered it. You're moving to Seattle."
"Liam you should hang out with Asher," Leo suggested knowing his closest buddy like him didn't make friends easily and his brother in law was the type that included anyone.
"You like basketball," Asher asked.
"Love it," Liam replied.
"My team always needs players," Asher said, "it's a 21-25 league beer after the game."
"Sounds good," Liam said.
They chatted for a few minutes longer before Everly began to get squirmy and tried to walk away completely unassisted.
"No," Allison said, "you can walk with us."
"I want to walk," Everly insisted.
"You can walk with us," Allison repeated, "you're not going off on your own it's not safe on your own."
"We should go," Leo said.
"Crutches please," Everly said.
"Here you go," Asher passed them to her one at a time.
"When did she start taking steps on her own," Leo asked.
"A few weeks ago," Allison said, "she can at home where she feels safe or if she's really determined. She figured out how to get up stairs now. She goes looking for dad."
"I missed it," Leo asked.
"You miss a lot," Allison replied, "I don't like texas. Why texas?"
"Like mom," Leo said, "her stories of her time there. Neither of us got into harvard."
"They got one to go to harvard," Allison said, "pressure was off us for that. They also have their cardio and trauma surgeons. We get to pick for ourselves."
"I want emergency medicine or trauma surgery," Leo said, "I like fast paced."
"Peds," Allison said, "maybe a pediatrician I don't know if a full surgical residency is best for my family."
"We match where we match," Leo said.
"Med school first," Allison quipped.
"Annie said to try all our rotations before deciding," Leo said.
"She told me the same," Allison replied.
They continued the tour of campus with Everly getting tired about a quarter of the way through and opting to sit in her wheelchair but wheeling herself. She got angry when anyone tried to push her, they could stop her from rolling back down a hill or ramp but couldn't actually push her. Until they stopped for coffee and she had a lemonade and she was happy to be pushed around.
"She's tired," Allison observed.
"Do you want to go back and she can nap," Leo asked.
"We'll watch," Allison said, "it's early for a nap she can chill in her chair. We'll take her back after lunch for a nap and to get ready. The hotel has a pool so we'll take her swimming after her nap. You want to come back with us and swim?"
"I have to finish packing," Leo said, "and our landlord comes in the morning to inspect the place. We have to clean it all tonight."
"We can come help," Asher said.
"Ev," Leo asked.
"She helps a bit," Allison said, "she dusts and puts away her toys. Brings her dishes to the dishwasher, helps me fold laundry, puts her clothes in the hamper."
"We'll come for a bit then when she's in the way we'll go," Allison said, "I can always give her my ipad in a corner. There's always cocomelon and paw patrol."
Teddy and Owen sat in their hotel room happy for some time alone and to let the young people be.
"Three graduations this spring," Teddy said.
"What are we doing for Asher's," Owen asked.
"His red seal ceremony is the day after Allison's graduation and there's a dinner dance that night," Teddy replied, "they're going. She's looking forward to it. But we still need his graduation gift. We got Allison and Leo stethoscopes for med school and will get them engraved with their names."
"Did she decide," Owen asked.
"Not yet," Teddy replied, "Leo's is done so he can have it tomorrow. Allison we have two weeks."
"Will she change it," Owen asked.
"She was going to but with everything with his family this year she's not sure," Teddy replied.
"Their plan was to so that she could match Everly," Owen said.
"They couldn't triple hyphenate," Teddy said, "she thought changing it would help her stand on her own two feet and not on her name."
"Then we leave it in her maiden name," Owen said, "the name she's using on the day she graduates college. They have their first scrub caps."
"They do," Teddy said, "but how are we going to celebrate Asher? The stethoscopes are more symbolic but I don't know what to do for Asher. Something that says we see him as a professional man now. That we recognize his choice and his work as much as the others because he has worked that hard. He has worked just as hard as any of our others."
"Watch," Owen asked.
"Something for camping," Teddy asked, "he loves that and having good gear. One of those fancy coolers he keeps talking about?"
"Will they use it," Owen asked, "and is it for him or the three of them."
"His overnight pack is almost in pieces," Teddy said.
"Lets do that," Owen said, "it's for him and something he likes to do."
"They've spent more since he finished his apprenticeship," Teddy said, "they both bought brand new clothes."
"Good," Owen said, "that was a significant raise. But if she's in med school."
"They know they have to keep on the tight budget until she's a resident," Teddy replied, "can we help with her tuition?"
"She never touched what we saved for housing and meal plans," Owen said, "we can until that runs out and then we rescue as needed for both her and Leo."
"We rescued Annie," Teddy agreed, "in our own ways. We'll help Allie and Leo."
"Did they apply for scholarships," Owen asked.
"She has and they'll split the GSM one," Teddy said, "my kids have gotten that three times. Richard gave it to Annie. It hadn't been used in years and paid her first two years tuition."
"Wow," Owen said, "ideas now?"
"It's been used a lot for this generation," Teddy said, "Zola, Tuck, Joey, Sophia, Faroke, Harriett. Harriett's was a small token award because she's an Avery. Maybe a semester each?"
"A year for one," Owen said.
"I can't see them not splitting it," Teddy replied, "not with our kids. How could they?"
"Are there others eligible this year," Owen asked.
"Not that I know of," Teddy replied, "are we wrong not paying their tuition?"
"No," Owen said, "they need to earn it. It's like everything they won't value it if they don't earn it. Teddy it's good parenting."
"I just feel really old," she sighed.
"We're older," Owen agreed, "but Teddy our kids are great! They're on the right path and successful."
"Will we get to see them have careers," Teddy asked, "see Everly grow up?"
"We will," Owen assured, "teddy we're not 70 yet."
"Says you," she argued, "three years younger than me. Owen, I'm 68!"
"Still gorgeous, sexy and brilliant," he smiled before kissing her.
"My hair is totally grey, I have wrinkles," she argued.
"You've lived," he said, "you've lived Teddy. You've done more in the 30 some odd years I've known you than most people in two lifetimes."
"I'm 10 years older than my parents got to be," Teddy sighed.
"And can have another 30," Owen said, "Teddy we're active and healthy. We're great."
The next day they all gathered for Leo's graduation ceremony.
"No hiding people are late this time," Teddy smiled.
"Not at all," Owen agreed.
"I made it just in time," Annie replied.
"I'm surprised you would fly down and back in a day," Teddy said.
"I'm not missing my baby brother's college graduation," Annie said, "not at all. It would have been impossible with Josh and the kids but I'm not missing it. And I fly out in the morning so it's 24 hours."
"It means a lot to him," Owen said, "that you come to his big things."
"I always will," Annie replied, "I will always come for my baby brother. I'll do dinner tonight with you all and then have a 9 am flight."
"We're on the 9," Owen said, "west jet?"
"Yes," Annie replied, "catching up with some journal articles in the air."
When Leo's name was called they all clapped and cheered for him.
"Mine," Everly laughed, snatching the grad cap off Leo's head after the ceremony.
"Ev give it back," Allison directed, "it's not yours."
"No but I grabbed a spare so she can keep it," Leo said.
"Photo time," Annie said.
"You made it Nee," Leo smiled.
"Of course," Annie said, "Lion I wasn't missing this for anything. I'm so proud of you."
"You're all college graduates," Teddy sighed.
"Mom don't get all sappy," Allison groaned.
"I'm proud of you," Teddy smiled, "so we're all going to have dinner tonight to celebrate and the big BBQ when we get home. For all three, Leo and Allison's degrees and your red seal Asher."
"What," Asher asked.
"It's an accomplishment," Teddy said, "and we're going to celebrate. If you want to let your parents know that's up to you. Our family is celebrating."
"Biology degree and off to Texas like your mom," Owen said giving Leo a high five.
"I'm excited," Leo said, 'med school and then an army trauma surgeon."
"You go to training most of the summer," Owen said.
"Char isn't thrilled," Leo said.
"It's part of your dream she needs to support it," Owen said, "you do what is going to make you happy."
"I want to go to med school and serve," Leo said.
"Then that's what you do," Owen agreed, "as long as you're doing it for you."
"I am," Leo assured.
"I'm proud of you," Owen said, "I know I don't say it enough."
"Lets go get dinner and celebrate," Teddy suggested, "Leo you pick it's your night."
"I made reservations at one of Char and my favourite places," Leo said, "it's not fancy but I like it."
"It's your night," Annie said.
"Is Charlotte coming," Teddy asked.
"Not tonight," Leo said, "she's with her mom and step dad."
"I missed seeing Duncan," Annie said, "I was looking forward to teasing him."
"I don't like you and Char's step dad hanging out it's weird," Leo said.
"He was my roommate through residency," Annie replied, "he was half wild before Josh and I tamed him."
"Half wild really," Teddy asked.
"Mama we had to teach him to load the dishwasher," Annie replied, "to use a lawn mower and how to iron."
"You don't mow lawns," Leo said, "you've paid me to do it when Josh was away and your boys were too young."
"Not my job but he never does laundry," Annie said.
"Who does," Teddy asked.
"I do ours and Heather's," Annie said, "they boys and Ellie do their own. I start making them do it in middle school."
"I don't iron," Leo said.
"You need to learn," Owen said.
"Char bought a steamer, it's easier," Leo said.
"We have both," Annie said, "I prefer steaming but some things look better ironed. Your work shirts or dress shirts are taken to a dry cleaner, we take work stuff to get cleaned."
"Acting like my mom again," Leo teased.
"It's hard Leo," Annie sighed, "it's 21 years since I found you in the PICU."
"I know," Leo said.
"You were a mess," Annie said, "we didn't know what colour your hair was, it was so filthy. I was shocked by the red curls when I washed it."
"I don't know where the red comes from," Leo said.
"It makes you look more like dad," Allison said.
"Annie looks most like mom," Leo said.
"Allie is the combination of the two," Annie said, "
"She is," Teddy agreed.
"We don't know who Ev looks like," Allison said.
"Your eyes," Teddy said, "Asher's hair. She's a good combination."
"Lets go eat," Owen said.
They spent the night celebrating together and talking about Leo's plans for medical school. Annie drove him back to his apartment.
"Nee is Texas okay with you," Leo asked.
"I'm used to my brothers going on their adventures," Annie said, "just call me, text and let me know you're doing well. Lion it's time, your ready and I will always be there when you come back and will always want to hear all about it."
"But serving," Leo asked.
"I don't love you being in harms way," Annie admitted, "but your medical it's safer than what Chris did, I hope. I know you've kinda felt forgotten the last few years being here and with everything going on with Everly."
"It's okay," Leo said, "I understand now that Everly needed the time. I was jealous when she was born."
"I know," Annie said, "I should have reached out more. I don't like you so far away but I can handle it."
"If I get deployed one day," Leo asked.
"I send care packages and I pray that you come home," Annie said, "I did it with Chris and I'll do it for you. You'll always be able to come home."
"Mom and dad are getting older," Leo said.
"They are," Annie agreed, "but they're not old."
"If something happened to them," Leo asked.
"You will always be able to come home to me," Annie promised, "Leo I will never turn you away. You will always be able to come to your big sister whenever you want to or need to."
"Really," Leo asked.
"Yes," Annie replied.
"When you were adopted mama and Uncle Owen needed to designate specific people for you if anything happened to them," Annie explained, "while you were under 18 if anything happened to them Josh and I would have had custody of you and Allison. We offered, it was our choice. Once you were part of the family we couldn't let you go."
"But Dan and Leslie let you go," Leo said.
"Leslie was ill," Annie said, "Dan was controlled by her for years but he saw it and he came around when Ellie was a baby."
"Brittney's parents want to come to the BBQ," Leo said, 'do you think I should?"
"It's your choice how much theyre in your life," Annie said.
"What about you," Leo asked.
"I always wanted to know mama to find out where I came from," Annie said, "contacting her was one of the best decisions I made. Leo if you want the Dickinson's it's your choice."
"I don't want to hurt Mom and Dad," Leo said.
"I think they understand," Annie said, "she's been on both sides of adoption. They want to celebrate this milestone with you. I would let them."
"Did mom," Leo asked.
"She came to my UBC graduation," Annie said, "and dinner with the McKellars then she had a BBQ at the cottage with the hospital family and nana."
They pulled up in front of Leo's building.
"Good night Lion man," Annie smiled.
"Night Nee," Leo replied with a hug.