Asher opened the door to a scared looking young couple, "Ben, Lily come in."
"Hi," Lily whispered, her long dark hair hiding her face.
"I'm Asher and this is my wife Allie," Asher introduced.
"Come sit down," Allison smiled at the young girl, one she had been not very long ago.
"Is this okay," Ben asked.
"We invited you," Asher replied, "come sit, Allie's parents have our kids.."
"You have two," Lily whispered.
"We do," Allison said, "Everly is 10 she was born our senior year of highschool then Andy is 6 months."
"You were in high school," Lily asked.
"We were," Asher replied, "Ben's told me part of what's going on and I've shared a little with Allie. You two don't sound much different then we were."
"We were at a party and were high," Ben admitted.
"We were drunk," Allison shared.
"We're not a couple," Lily replied, "we're friends who are having a baby."
"Okay," Allison agreed, "what does that look like for you two? We started that way and I don't know if we were an official couple until I was about 18 or 20 weeks. How far along?"
"11 weeks," Lily replied, settling on the couch and looking around the room.
"We hang out, do homework together, watch movies and play board games," Ben said.
Asher shot Allison a knowing glance.
"We'd like to be a couple but my parents," Lily said.
"Go slow," Asher suggested.
"How," Ben asked.
"You work with whatever house rules Lily's parents have," Allison said, "we definitely pushed them close to the due date but we built trust first. If curfew is 11, be home at 10:45. Spend time with them and do things as a family."
"Ben this is hard suddenly being part of a family that isn't yours with new rules and traditions," Asher said, "it's okay not to be fully comfortable with it all and need time to adjust. And it's a lot of pressure on both of you."
"Being parents at 18 is hard," Allison said, "it's hard at 29. I think it's just hard."
"Why," Ben asked.
"Because you love them so much and want everything to be easy for them and it can't always be," Allison replied, "you two what do you need?"
"To tell our friends," Ben said.
"That was hard," Allison replied, "I had been telling friends I was grounded to get out of going out and it was plausible enough so. Some were really supportive, others pulled away and some their parents wouldn't let them see me. My mom helped a bit there and Olivia's mom. Only one of my friends stuck around in a true way but I made friends in the school district program."
"Theres some nice girls there," Lily agreed.
"I met two of my best friends in that program," Allison reassured, "Eden and Carmen. The three of us are coming in two weeks to sit down with you and talk about our paths."
"Did they go to college," Lily asked.
"We're the only three from our group who did," Allison replied, "Eden teaches first grade and has three kids now, she's married to a good friend of Asher's. Carmen is a public health nurse and based in a highschool she's single and has her daughter."
"It's do able," Lily asked, "I can still go to college? Life isn't over?"
"Life is just beginning," Allison assured, "you can go to college. I know a few people who have, it's hard, it's been way harder for me than the people I went to school with but I did it and I taught my daughter that she can do anything by showing her."
"My apprenticeship," Ben asked, "should I drop it and get a job that doesn't have 6 weeks of school a year."
"No," Asher replied, "you keep working and you work hard. You show up every day ready to work."
"The school weeks," Ben asked.
"I talked to management," Asher replied, "Stewart was my team lead when Allie was pregnant with Ev and Ev was little. He set it up so I was paid for 7.5 hours a day when I was in school. They paid my time for the hours in class. I have it in writing that if you take a full time position with us when you turn 18 they will do the same for you, your course fees and your time to be in class. We take care of our own."
"And if we want to be together," Ben asked.
"Go slow," Allison replied, "take your time and don't worry about what others say it should be. Go to homecoming and the winter formal together. You don't have to be all in like a married couple right away. Your boundaries need to work for you and the parents you live with."
"What about our friends," Lily asked, "what do we tell them."
"You tell them the truth," Allison replied, "when you're ready. You have time."
"But what about school when I'm showing," Lily asked.
"I went for one class a day until about a week before my due date with Ev," Allison replied, "but I could have gone fully online it's just that my french teacher was really supportive and encouraged me to stay for the one class and stay connected. I wish I had thanked her properly then. What do you want to do?"
"I like my german class," Lily replied, "but I don't know."
"You can always try and switch later if it's too much with a drs note," Allison replied, "I can write those notes even if you're not my patient I'll do it this once."
Seeing the girls chatting Asher turned to Ben, "how are you holding up?"
"Surprised you would do that for me," Ben said.
"Stewart and Bryan did it for me," Asher said, "then one day you'll do it for the next guy. We do what we can to help. It's not a hand out Ben, it's a job and somewhere to come still have to have the work ethic to do it. I can be there but I can't do the work for you. I'm here to help, use my tools when you need to, you'll be attached to my crew for as long as your an apprentice if that's what you want."
"Industrial," Ben asked, "can I?"
"Yes," Asher replied, "I started on it and the company does mainly industrial. There's more overtime than residential. And as much as you don't want to hear it and you think you wouldn't leave Lily and the baby you have the opportunity to go work on big projects like the dams and generator stations out of two which gets out of town pay plus work 14 hour days 6-7 days a week you make huge money in a few weeks. We did 6 weeks of me doing that a lot of summers and another few weeks in january / february until Allie graduated. We hated it and I felt horrible but it worked for us. Residential you can't do that as much. And when were slow I have picked up side gigs doing household that I find online. I could go in and change a light fixture for some one or rewire a switch or two and come out with a couple hundred cash."
"How do I make my parents come around," Ben asked.
"I don't have an answer because I've never gotten my dad to forgive me," Asher replied, "I got to a point where it stopped bugging me as much. My mom and I are on slightly better terms since she left my dad but not close and she's not alone with our kids. You are allowed to decide what is best for your kids and we decided that since they couldn't respect Allie and I they don't get to spend time with our kids and never ever alone with them. No matter what you are that baby's parents and you decide what is best for them and you don't need anyone else's permission to parent. Advice is helpful but you are the parent."
"Her parents," Ben asked, "it's their house."
"Respect house rules and contribute but it's your baby," Asher replied.
"But can I work and do it," Ben asked.
"You need to work," Asher replied, "it's not easy especially when you have a newborn and you want to be home bonding with them. And you're not sleeping but know she's getting even less sleep so you can't complain."
"How do I help her feel better," Ben asked, "she's still so sick and is always tired."
"Allie gets really tired in the first and third trimesters," Asher replied, "I try to take what I can off her plate. Do more of the chores if you can, make her favourite foods. The days your at school bring her treats for lunch or between classes."
"We have to make dinner once a week," Ben said, "and clean up every night. I've tried to do all the clean up but her mom sends her back to help."
"Cleaning up dinner and cooking isn't too taxing and you two need to be able to make meals for your selves. We started with one meal together then each making one a week. Eventually we did three dinners between the two of us before we started doing it all ourselves when Ev was almost 1. You don't have to do it all now. Do the little things to help her out but after two I've learned the fatigue is normal. She's going to be tired because of how hard her body is working. I always find the end hard when she's tired and uncomfortable and can't find a comfortable position to sleep in."
"How do I help her with that," Ben asked.
"You ask her," Asher replied, "Allie needs me to take over some of the house work and sometimes massaging her back helps but thats up to what the two of you want to do. It works for us because Allie likes being touched but you and Lily have to work it out."
At Teddy and Owen's Everly sat at the kitchen island with Owen playing chess.
"Check," Everly grinned.
"Not so fast," Owen chuckled, "you're getting good."
"Mom beats me every time I have to beat her," Everly replied.
"We'll keep practising," Owen agreed.
"Grandpa were you mad when mom had me in her tummy," Everly asked.
Owen paused he never expected to hear this question.
"I was surprised," Owen responded, "you know your mom was very young so was your dad. It's not what I expected but I could never be mad about a baby and never mad at you. Why are you asking?"
"Mom and dad are helping someone dad works with thats really young and having a baby," Everly said.
"They told us about that," Owen replied, "I think it's a good idea."
"But why doesn't dad's family love me," Everly asked, "why wasn't I good enough? Is it my CP?"
"It's not you," Owen promised, "Everly princess it was never you in any way. Your parents disagree with your dad's mom and dad about how your family should act and how they want all of you to be treated. They decided that the safest thing for you is to keep you and your brother away from them while they work it out."
"It's not fair," Everly replied.
"It isn't," Owen agreed, "but it's what's best for you and Andy."
"Why did one of my aunts say it's mom's fault I have CP," Everly asked.
"You remember that," Owen asked.
"Ya she said a lot of mean things and pushed me," Everly replied.
"She did that's why your parents don't let his side see you," Owen replied, "they were furious. Your dad was the most angry I've ever seen him. Everly that was not your fault and you are not going to blame yourself for it.
"But if I," Everly started.
"No," Owen said, "you were a toddler, they were adults. But your parents are busy tonight, I thought you and I could go swimming after dinner and grandma can put Andy to bed."
"He hates the pool," Everly said, "he screams the whole time he's in the water."
"He'll learn," Owen assured, "give him time."
"Mom's working next weekend can you come to my swim meet," Everly asked.
"We were planning on going with your dad," Owen assured.
"I need to do well," Everly said, "this year if I can do well I might be able to go to the state finals."
"Work hard," Owen said.
"Its my last year with all the kids," Everly complained, "then I have to do paralympic."
"No you have to choose," Owen replied.
"I don't want to," Everly said.
"You might get more time," Owen said, "there's not a big paralympic program until your in highschool and you'd have no one to compete against locally."
"Do they give scholarships for swimming," Everly asked.
"They did but you'll have to apply closer to," Owen replied, "don't depend on sports scholarships those can easily be taken away."
"Mom had some," Everly replied.
"She did but hers were academic and based on things she did," Owen said, "you will go to college if you want to."
"I just want to go to middle school with out being made fun of for how I walk," Everly said, "why is everyone so mean?"
"I don't know," Owen said, "I don't like it either. There will be more kids in middle school that should help."
"Can I home school and you and grandma teach me," Everly asked.
"That's a decision for your parents but I'm not sure you really want that," Owen replied, "you haven't found good friends yet and I think middle school might be better for that. You see different kids in your classes and aren't in the same room all day and you get electives for the first time."
"We have rotations in sixth and seventh we get to choose in eighth," Everly replied, "I really want to do cooking and baking. I like cooking with mom and baking with grandma."
"Hopefully you get that next year then," Owen replied.
"Can you teach me how to make lasagne," Everly asked, "and the sauce?"
"Next weekend," Owen promised, "it takes all day are you up for it?"
"I am," Everly replied.
"Sunday because you compete on Saturday," Owen promised.
"Even grocery shopping," Everly asked.
"From start to finish," Owen assured, "do you want to plan the whole menu for next week with me?"
"Ya," Everly lit up, "lasagne, and garlic bread, and chocolate cookies."
"A vegetable," Owen asked.
"Tomato sauce," Everly replied.
"Another vegetable," Owen said, "we could do a salad?"
"Not cesar," Everly replied, "creamy dressing is gross."
"We will find one let me get my ipad and we'll look it up together," Owen smiled standing up from the island, he would have sent Annie's kids to get the ipad but Everly was better to stay in her spot.
"When is Uncle Leo coming back," Everly asked Owen.
" a couple more months for a visit," Owen said, "about two years in the army."
"Will his girlfriend come," Everly asked.
"Theresa is coming," Owen said, "do you like her?"
"Ya," Everly smiled, "she always talks to me when I facetime with Uncle Leo. We did fun things with Theresa and Leo."
"She likes seeing you when they're around," Owen agreed.
"Why isn't uncle Leo married," Everly asked.
"Because he hasn't decided that he wants to yet," Owen replied.
"What about Theresa," Everly asked.
"She wants to move her with Leo last we heard," Owen said, "They'll be here for christmas."
"Good he builds me snow forts and pulls me up the hill for tobogganing," Everly smiled.
"You'll have fun," Owen assured, "we always do at the cabin."