Annie and Ellie hung the final decorations in the living room.
"I can't believe Allie gets married in a week," Annie sighed.
"Mom," Ellie asked.
"Feeling old," Annie replied, "I was the first person they asked to come meet her. To come see my baby sister."
"Are you okay with this," Ellie asked.
"Ya," Annie agreed, "they've been together a long time."
"If it was me," Ellie asked.
"If it was what you wanted and you loved him I would," Annie replied, "I'd have to know you were loved and the two of you supported each other."
"How old were you," Ellie asked.
"27," Annie replied.
"27 for what," Josh asked, coming in.
"When we got married," Annie smiled, "we were just residents."
"That was a good day," Josh smiled, pulling Annie in for a quick kiss.
"20 years," Annie smiled.
"I thought you were going to do something special," Ellie said.
"We'll do 25," Annie replied, "it's the week after Allie's wedding we don't want to steal her excitement."
"You and dad," Ellie asked.
"Mom and I are going to go out that night," Josh said, "you're in charge overnight bug. I've booked something for the night close by, somewhere special for mom and I."
"Ohh," Annie asked.
"You'll see," Josh said, "we'll have fun. Just us, somewhere special."
"Special," Annie asked, "have we been there?"
"Years ago," Josh agreed.
"So today," Annie said, "you and the boys?"
"Trauma surgeon's worst nightmare," Josh said, "indoor trampoline place."
"Have fun and relax babe," Annie smiled, "it's a couple hours go enjoy it. Did they pick?"
"Matt," Josh replied, "he did all the research and planned out the day."
"So trampoline, chinese and," Annie said.
"Batting cage," Josh replied, "that was Henry's choice."
"He's getting good," Annie smiled.
"The pro ball idea," Josh said.
"For now we let him play," Annie smiled, "high school, college and see. I danced through college but never had the idea of going professional. Let him play, he loves it."
"Heather is staying," Josh confirmed.
"She is," Annie confirmed.
"Mom," Ellie whined, "she's annoying."
"Ellie be nice," Annie warned.
"She got mad at me about going to Deception Pass," Ellie complained, "she trashed my room."
"And she had to clean it all up," Josh replied, "she was jealous."
"You could have stopped her," Ellie sulked.
"If I had known she was in your room I would have," Annie replied.
"She shouldn't be in my room," Ellie pouted, "she's annoying."
"I know having younger siblings is a lot of pressure," Annie agreed, "being the oldest."
"You never lived with your youngest ones," Ellie pointed out.
"Pandemic," Annie reminded, "but when they were under 18 if anything happened to Mama and Uncle Owen I was to be their guardian."
"No pressure there," Ellie said, "but what would have happened to us?"
"Grandma and Grandpa," Josh replied, "then if they couldn't Chris and Jenna."
"Everly," Ellie asked.
"Dad and I," Annie replied, "then Grandma and Grandpa."
"Why you first," Ellie asked.
"Age," Annie replied, "we're younger."
"Not a lot," Ellie pointed out.
"She was only 21 when I was born," Annie agreed, "but it's enough of a difference and you guys are a factor she'd have other kids around."
"Would you," Ellie asked.
"Yes," Annie replied.
"Between the three of us," Josh said, "we almost adopted Everly. When Allison was considering adoption mom and I talked about it. So they would be in each other's lives."
"But Grandma and you," Ellie said.
"I know and I wish I would have been able to have contact sooner," Annie replied, "I was 19 when I met her."
"What happens at a bridal shower," Heather asked coming in.
"We have treats and snacks and Allison get's to open presents," Annie replied, "it's all girls."
"But I didn't get to go to the fun one," Heather pouted.
"What do you mean the fun one," Annie asked.
"Camping," Heather pouted.
"You were not old enough," Annie replied.
"We almost said no to Ellie going," Josh added, "it took a lot of convincing for us to let her go."
"I'm 18," Ellie argued.
"We know," Josh replied, "that's why we caved."
"I wanted to go," Heather pouted.
"You will have your opportunity to when you're older," Annie assured, "I know being younger is hard sometimes and you want to go with the older girls."
"I'm always stuck with the little girls and I'm not a little girl," Heather pouted.
"But you're not one of the big girls either," Annie said, "Allie is in med school and Ellie and Cat are in college. You are 9, you're going into grade 4. I know you don't have a buddy and Everly is 4 and Khitam is 2 and a half. It's hard I know."
'How," Heather asked.
"Because dad and I don't have people our age in the family," Annie replied, "neither does Faroke."
"But grandma and auntie Megan," Heather said.
"My mom and my aunt," Annie replied, "then Allie is my sister. I have dad. Faroke is 15 years younger than me."
Teddy let herself in to finish helping with the set up.
"Hi sweetheart," Teddy smiled, hugging Annie.
"Hey," Annie smiled, returning the hug.
"What can I do," Teddy asked, "I have the cupcakes but need more hands. I have a lot in my car to bring in."
"We'll come help," Annie agreed, "then once you put your stuff on the tables I really need to get ready."
"I can do it you go get ready," Teddy shook her head.
"Ellie used all the hot water so I need to wait 15 more minutes for the tank to refill," Annie replied, "we should have gone instant on."
"Why didn't you," Teddy asked.
"Because the house came with a functional hot water tank," Annie replied, "it'll go soon and we'll upgrade then. We had it at the cottage and it was great."
"Go," Teddy replied.
"Grandma, what can I do," Ellie asked.
"Come help me unload Ellie," Teddy replied, "Heather, your job is to keep all pets inside."
"Have you seen my kitten," Heather asked.
"Go get the kitten," Teddy smiled.
Heather raced off to find her kitten and bring it to Teddy, "this is boots because he has black paws."
"Boots is very cute," Teddy smiled, taking the kitten that was being offered, "and very fuzzy. But he needs to go back in the laundry room."
They finished setting up as Allison's friends started arriving. She would arrive with Ava because they were trying to surprise Allison. Again she didn't feel like she should be having a shower because they had lived together for so long but Teddy had convinced Allison to do a registry for the things she wanted or they needed but didn't have. The list had been practical for the most part a couple fancier or more expensive items but for the most part they had been reasonable. Teddy had gotten one of the bigger things on the list, tired of Allison always coming up to use her stand mixer, Allison had inherited her mom's love of baking, it was time she had the tools.
"Where do we put the gifts," Xyuan asked Teddy.
"There's a table by the fireplace," Teddy said, "you graduated what's your plan now?"
"I'm going to UW for med school," Xyuan said.
"Allie is going to be happy to have you again," Teddy smiled, "Congratulations Xyuan! Have you thought of a specialty?"
"I'm thinking about family practice or internal medicine," Xyuan said, "I'm not a surgeon Dr Altman."
"Teddy please," Teddy said, "and not everyone is. We need all the other specialties. In our family we get focused on surgery as the end all be all because that's what we do. Family medicine is a nice lifestyle. 95% of the time its a 9-5 especially if you're not in a hospital. You can get privileges and admitting privileges at a few hospitals. There's more residency spots, it's a shorter residency. It's much more family friendly. You'll always find work, we're so short family medicine doctors."
"Has Allie said," Xyuan asked.
"Pediatrics or surgery," Teddy said, "for now. I'm going to give you the same advice I gave Annie when she started medical school."
"What is it," Xyuan asked.
"Go into every specialty rotation, every experience with an open mind and give it your best effort," Teddy said, "until you try it and spend a few weeks doing it you don't know what you like and where you fit. The next four years you are going to work and study harder than you ever have but you'll also learn a lot about yourself. Do everything with an open mind and open heart."
"Do you think I can do it," Xyuan asked.
"I do," Teddy assured, "do you have a support system? People who understand?"
"My parents are trying to understand, so is my boyfriend," Xyuan said.
"If you need a doctor, someone who's been through it call me," Teddy said, "I like mentoring."
"But," Xyuan said.
"I've cut back on my OR time and my clinic time," Teddy said, "this is what I'm enjoying right now. Mentoring young doctors being with my grandkids."
"Everly," Xyuan said.
"Yes," Teddy smiled.
Allison walked in with Ava.
"Wow," Allison gasped looking around.
"Congratulations baby girl," Teddy said.
"You're getting married," Annie smiled.
"Hi darling," Evelyn smiled.
"Nana you came," Allison gasped.
"I wouldn't miss it," Evelyn said, "I'm so excited for you."
"Nana," Allison said, hugging the frail old woman in the wheelchair.
"Nana we match," Everly said scooting in her chair.
"We do today," Evelyn said.
"Wheelchair race," Everly asked.
"Not inside," Evelyn scolded softly, "your auntie Annie would not appreciate it in her house."
"Chair today princess," Teddy asked crouching to hug Everly.
"I'm tired," Everly said, "my leg hurts."
"Do you want to lay down," Annie offered.
"No, I stay here," Everly said.
"She's been trying to walk at home without crutches," Allison said, "and we went to a birthday party this morning and she tried a bouncy house for the first time after having a sleepover with Taylor last night."
"So just worn out," Teddy smiled at the little girl, "do you want water princess?"
"Juice please," Everly tried.
"You can have one glass today," Allison said, "you have it now that's it."
"Allie I have her you go enjoy your day," Teddy said.
"Are you sure," Allison asked.
"I am," Teddy said, "we've got this right Ev?"
"Yep," Everly smiled, "can I play with Boots?"
"Ask Annie," Teddy said.
"Auntie Nee can I hold Boots," Everly asked.
"Heather will help you," Annie replied, she smiled seeing Allison drifting towards her friends. They had a good mix of friends there, girls Allison had met at UW, friends from her mom's group, Asher's mom and grandma were making a well supervised appearance with Sienna.
"This is a big group," Michelle whispered to her mom.
"It's good," Nancy smiled, "Allison has a lot of people who love her."
"I didn't realise," Michelle said, "and it's the sister's house."
"It is," Nancy said, "she seems great."
"Annie is a lot older," Michelle said, "Ellie who Sienna is talking to dated Mitch and Annie is Ellie's mom."
"She looks about your age," Nancy said.
"Annie is older than me," Michelle said.
Allison stood giggling with a few friends, "my mom's here."
"She won't care," Ava said, "it's Teddy."
"And we gave her the fun things camping," Xyuan said.
"I have no idea when I'll wear some of it but," Allison shrugged, "I've never worn stuff like that. I don't know what Asher would do."
"The best part was seeing Ellie's face," Carmen said.
"My sister is more conservative than my parents," Allison said.
"You're married in two weeks," Ava said.
"I know," Allison smiled, "I'm excited."
"It was fun shopping for this," Ava said, 'not as fun as your baby shower but."
"That was good," Allison remembered, "I feel bad it was too late to invite Liv to the wedding. She's been good."
"She needs you," Ava said, "she always used your popularity."
"I wasn't that popular," Allison argued.
"Ya," Carmen said, 'until Everly. It was Allie Altman and everyone thought you ruled the school."
"No," Allison said, "I was the most insecure person there."
"Not how I remember it," Kristen said.
"How it felt to me," Allison said.
"And you ended up with Asher," Carmen said, "he was the hottest boy at school and actually nice."
"He's always been nice," Allison said, "and he's mine."
"We all know he's yours," Eden laughed.
"You and Jonah next," Allison said.
"A year," Eden said, "wedding then work a bit to maybe buy a house."
"I have to graduate before that," Allison said, "we're still in our place."
"I'm still at home," Carmen said, "Taylor is still in my room."
"November," Ava said, "as soon as we're working."
"I know," Carmen said, "it's just time."
They spent the rest of the afternoon chatting and playing games.
"Thank you," Allison smiled as she helped Annie and Teddy tidy up.
"Did you enjoy it," Teddy asked.
"I did," Allison smiled, "it was a good day."
"It was," Annie agreed.
"I should get miss sleepy head home," Allison smiled at Everly who had curled up on the couch with Heather's kitten and was almost asleep.
"You should," Teddy agreed, "I'll bring what didn't fit in your car home?"
"Yes please," Allison replied, "thanks mom. Mom, Annie thank you for hosting and doing all."
"We were happy to," Teddy assured.