Prom Day.
Just after 2:00 there was a knock on the door.
Allison went to open it, " Carmen come in."
"Allie this is my mom Maria," Carmen introduced, "Mom this is Allie we've had classes together since middle school."
"It's nice to meet you Mrs Santos," Allison greeted.
Teddy joined them, "come in. I'm Teddy, Allie's mom."
"Maria," Carmen's mom replied.
"This is Taylor. Mrs…" Carmen said.
"It's just Teddy, Carmen, you can call me by my first name," Teddy smiled, "how old is Taylor?"
"8 weeks," Carmen said.
"Where's your daughter," Maria asked Allison.
"Sleeping," Allison replied, "I fed Everly about 15 minutes ago."
"Who's watching her tonight," Maria asked.
"My husband and I," Teddy said, "the kids need to do this."
"I was the girl's age," Maria said, "I didn't go."
"21 with my first, on my own," Teddy said.
"Your oldest," Maria asked.
"Annie is great," Teddy replied, "she's 43, married with 4 kids of her own."
"Carmen mentioned you're a dr," Maria said.
"Cardiothoracic surgeon," Teddy said.
"So you did that with a baby," Maria said.
"Annie was with her dad, I wasn't ready," Teddy admitted.
"Are you close," Maria asked.
"We are," Teddy said, "it was never about me not wanting to be in her life. It was better for her to be with Dan, she grew up with her half brother, Annie and Chris are only a year apart. We did what a parent does, what was best for her. I admire Allison's courage, she has courage I didn't have."
"Carmen has had a hard year," Maria said, "the family studies class has been good for her."
"It's been a huge support for Allie as well," Teddy agreed, "she's liked talking to and seeing the other girls."
"I wish they had that when I was their age," Maria said, "I was kicked out of school and got my GED."
"That's not right," Teddy said, "you finished it?"
"I did," Maria said, "and took night classes to be an accountant."
"Where do you work," Teddy asked.
"I work for the school district," Maria said, "in the busing department. You?"
"Grey Sloan," Teddy replied.
"Carmen had Taylor there," Maria said, "where did the girls go?"
"Probably up to Allie's room," Teddy replied, "Ava and Olivia will be here soon with Amanda and Michelle."
"The other girls," Maria asked.
"Allison's really close friends," Teddy said, "they'll be understanding."
"I worry about Carmen feeding Taylor with the other two girls," Maria said.
"We're pretty open," Teddy assured, "Allie gets shy about it and has favorite spots to sit."
Upstairs Taylor began to fuss.
"She's hungry," Carmen said.
"Do you need to heat a bottle," Allison offered.
"No," Carmen said, "that project about formula."
"I know," Allison said, "if you go through the bathroom there's the nursery and a cozy chair there if you like privacy or stay here."
"Do you care," Carmen asked.
"No," Allison said, "Everly will need to eat before we go."
The other girls arrived and Teddy let them in. Ava and Olivia charged upstairs.
"Allie," Ava called.
"In my room," Allison said.
The other two girls came in.
"Ava, Olivia you know Carmen from school," Allison said.
"Hi," Ava smiled, "what's your baby's name?"
"Taylor," Carmen said.
"Where's Everly," Olivia asked.
"In her crib," Allison said, "she's sleeping and I didn't want our noise to wake her up."
"You put her in her crib," Carmen asked, "isn't she only a month?"
"She is," Allison said, "we put her bassinet in there so it's familiar and secure."
"Let's see your dresses," Olivia said.
"I found this one," Allison smiled, taking the purple and silver dress off the closet door.
"Wow," Ava said, "last minute?"
"I know," Allison said.
"It's gorgeous," Olivia said.
"Plunge neckline and the high waist," Ava said, "how did you find that and where?"
"Some boutique mom knew about," Allison said, "showing off what I like and hiding what I don't."
"That's the type of dress I wanted," Olivia said, "we couldn't find it."
"Hair and makeup first," Ava suggested.
"What are you doing," Olivia asked.
"Up," Allison answered, "Carmen?"
"I curled it before I got here. I was going to leave the curls down. I can't do an updo," Carmen replied.
"I can," Olivia offered.
"It's okay," Carmen replied.
"If you want to, I can," Olivia offered.
"I'm good," Carmen said, "I didn't even expect to go tonight."
"I didn't either," Allison agreed.
Everly began to cry.
"I think she got jealous of Taylor," Allison smiled seeing Ava holding the other baby.
"I can," Olivia offered.
"She sounds hungry," Allison said.
"Bottle," Olivia asked.
"Not today," Allison said, "I'll be 20 minutes in her room."
"Allie," Carmen said, "are you hiding?"
"Yep," Allison replied.
"We don't care for the 100th time," Ava sighed.
"I do," Allison replied.
"Why," Carmen asked.
"My brother isn't super supportive of it," Allison said, "Leo yells at me every time I don't take her to a private space even if it was just Everly and I home when I started feeding her."
"Bring her here and we can do your hair while you feed her," Olivia suggested.
"You won't find it disgusting," Allison checked.
"Your baby has to eat," Ava said.
"I guess," Allison said.
"It's okay Allie," Carmen said, "you did at the picnic that was fine."
"Picnic," Olivia asked as Allison left the room.
"Our family studies class had a picnic last week," Carmen said, "the group was fun."
Down stairs the mothers sat chatting.
"Their graduating," Michelle said.
"From kindergarten to now," Teddy nodded, "I don't know if Allie will know what to do if Ava isn't around."
"She's going to UW," Michelle said.
"Carmen found a way to take 2 classes," Maria said, "just community college."
"Liv is doing community college," Amanda said, "she doesn't know what she wants yet."
"Allie isn't fully sure, shes talking about teaching," Teddy replied.
"Carmen wants to be a nurse but needs to upgrade some of her sciences and math," Maria said.
"If she wants to shadow nurses let me know and I can make it happen," Teddy offered.
"She wants to do labour and delivery," Maria said.
"I'm a nurse midwife," Amanda said, "she can come talk to me and see what I do as well."
"You'd do that," Maria asked, "you hardly know us."
"The girls need all the champions they can get," Teddy said, "I know Carmen has had a tough year."
"They all have," Amanda said.
"Don't get me started on the boys," Michelle groaned.
"Aweful," Amanda agreed.
"I think in someways we lucked out with Asher," Teddy said, "what I've seen of the other boys."
"Who raises boys like that," Amanda shook her head, "Blake."
"That boy is trouble," Michelle said, "Asher?"
"He's a good kid," Teddy said, "we like him. He's so supportive of Allie and great with Everly."
"Are they doing okay," Amanda asked.
"They seem to be," Teddy said, "how's Carmen adapting?"
"It's a lot," Maria said, "she needs guidance. My mother isn't supportive and it's hard."
"Our son isn't supportive," Teddy said, "we don't know what's going on with him."
"Is he in college," Michelle asked.
"UCLA premed," Teddy said.
"Your oldest," Maria said, "you said she's a lot older."
"Annie is 43. We work together now," Teddy replied.
"You sent another through college," Maria asked, "where?"
"UBC then Harvard Medical," Teddy said, "Annie's dad is Canadian and she grew up near Vancouver BC, the University of British Columbia was a great fit for her."
"So how's Allison feeling with her siblings," Maria asked.
"Her and Annie are as close as they can be," Teddy said, "Allie really likes Annie's oldest Elizabeth."
"I thought Annie's daughter was Ellie," Amanda said.
"She doesn't want to be Ellie right now," Teddy said, "we're trying. It won't last."
"Then Annie," Maria asked.
"Grace Annabeth we use Grace at work and Annie with family," Teddy said, "do you have others?"
"We have 6," Maria said, "5 boys and Carmen. Her brother's are having a hard time adapting to her being a mom and not playing with them the same way."
"That would be hard," Amanda agreed.
"I'm going to miss this now that the girls have graduated," Michelle said.
"Were still friends," Teddy said.
"I'll miss Teddy playing the wise one," Amanda said, "and Teddy you've never told us how you and Owen met."
"2002 in Iraq," Teddy said, "we were both with army medical command. He was head of trauma surgery and I was running cardio surgery."
"You were in the army," Michelle gasped.
"You didn't know that," Teddy said, "almost 10 years."
"Annie," Maria asked.
"My contact with her was limited," Teddy said, "letters mainly. Dan and I did what we thought was best for her then."
Asher was hanging out at the park down the road with Jonah and Tyson.
"So you and Allie," Jonah asked, "is it hot?"
"We share a bed but no," Asher said.
"What," Tyson asked.
"I moved upstairs," Asher said, "we're in the same room with our daughter. And the doctor has to clear Allie to do more than go for a walk still. I'll be surprised if she dances much tonight."
"Is she okay," Jonah asked.
"Exhausted," Asher said, "we both are. Everly slept the longest she has last night. Three and a half hours."
"Your only sleeping like three hours," Tyson asked.
"Everly wakes up every couple hours. I change her and bring her to Allie to feed then that takes half an hour before we can put Everly back to bed," Asher said.
"Just make your kid go to sleep," Jonah said.
"She's little," Asher said, "she gets scared and hungry and needs us."
"Allie will you stay together," Tyson said.
"I bought a promise ring," Asher said, "I was going to give it to her when we brought Everly home but she was so tired and overwhelmed. Is tonight too cliche?"
"Yes," Jonah said.
"You bought a ring," Tyson said.
"Just a little one with her birthstone," Asher said, "it's not much."
"Don't do it at prom," Tyson said, "with everyone watching."
"I should go take over with Everly so Allie can get ready," Asher said.
"Okay dad," Jonah joked.
"My daughter is the best so," Asher said.
"You have to say that," Tyson said as Asher walked away.
"Everly is the best," Asher countered, "Allie and Everly."
The girls had almost finished getting ready when Allison disappeared from her room.
Teddy came up to check on the girls, "almost ready."
"Allie disappeared a couple minutes ago," Ava said.
"She's in my room, she just needed a minute," Teddy said, "it's the first time she's leaving Everly."
"Is she okay," Ava asked.
"Just give her a minute," Teddy said covering for Allison, "I'll go see."
Teddy slipped into her room.
"Mom," Allison groaned.
"Nice hiding spot," Teddy said, "you okay?"
"Just wanted to do this before I put my dress on," Allison said.
"You have bottles for me," Teddy said.
"A few in the fridge and more in the basement freezer but give her this first," Allison said.
"Are you okay baby girl," Teddy asked.
"I want to go because it's prom but leaving Everly," Allison said.
"She's home with me and dad," Teddy assured, "you're not going to any of the big parties after prom, you and Asher are coming home. You'll come home around midnight and will get to snuggle her back to sleep then."
"Okay," Allison said, "if she's fussy or not okay call me."
"We will," Teddy said, "but she's going to love her first grandma night."
"She had a bath earlier," Allison said, "she doesn't like the swaddle use the sleep sack in her bassinet. The village maid soothes her and so does lilt."
"Village maid and lilt," Teddy asked.
"I've been walking them with her," Allison admitted, "I was humming lullabies and it was the same tempo."
"Will you dance," Teddy asked.
"I want to is it safe," Allison asked.
"Listen to your body," Teddy replied, "relax and have fun. Enjoy tonight and be with Asher. Don't rush home. Go have fun. Allie you deserve this, go celebrate tonight with your friends."
"Can you help with my dress," Allison asked.
"I'll grab it," Teddy replied, she quickly got Allison's dress and helped her into it zipping up the back.
"One more thing," Teddy said reaching for a box on her dresser, "this is from dad and I."
Allison opened the box and found a simple necklace with a star hanging from it.
"Mom," Allison said looking a the star outlined with blue and white stones," its too much."
"It's a shooting star," Teddy said, "you were a miracle for dad and I, something we had both wished for. Now it's time to reach for your own dreams."
"Thanks mom," Allison beamed.
"I love you and am so proud of you Allison," Teddy said, "you have so much strength, compassion, love and determination. You are an amazing young woman and I am so proud of you. I love you."
"I love you two," Allison hugged Teddy.
"Let's go down your friends are waiting," Teddy said.
They went down stairs and they took photos in the back yard, the whole group of teens, Allison with her girlfriends, Allison and Carmen with the babies, family photos. They took more photos when the limo arrived.
Arriving at the venue people whispered seeing Allison.
"Is that Allison," one girl whispered.
"She's coming so yes," Belle said.
"How can she," another girl asked, "her kid."
"Teddy would babysit," Kristen replied, "Allison wanted to come."
During dinner Madame Garneau came by the table.
"Allison," Madame Garneau beamed, "you came."
"I wanted to Madame," Allison smiled.
"How's your daughter," Madame Garneau asked.
"Everly is wonderful," Allison said, "she's with my parents."
"Do you have pictures," Madame Garneau asked.
"I do," Allison said, showing her favorite teacher a few on her phone.
"She's gorgeous," Madame Garneau praised, "how are you doing?"
"I'm good," Allison said, "a bit tired but that's supposed to be normal."
"It is," Madame Garneau said, "the fall?"
"UW," Allison said, "I have English, French, Math and Psychology my first semester."
"French," Madame Garneau beamed.
"My best subject," Allison said, "I want to teach french."
"If you want to volunteer in my classroom with the 9th and 10th grade classes you're always welcome just email me Allie," Madame Garneau offered.
"Maybe when we're more settled," Allison said, "I'd like to."
They spent the night dancing with their friends.
During a slow song Asher whispered, "I love you so much. Allie I don't tell you enough how much I love you and you amaze me. You're so strong."
"I love you," Allison replied before kissing him ,"I could not have done the last year with you you. I'm strong because you're here."
"We've got this," Asher said resting his forehead against hers.
"We do," Allison smiled.
At home Teddy was struggling to get Everly to go to sleep.
"You've had your bottle," Teddy soothed, "I know you wanted mommy but it's the same stuff. Mommy and Daddy are out celebrating their graduation. You had a bath earlier, I just changed you. I think you're just missing mommy."
"What if we sat in Allie's room with her," Owen suggested.
"Maybe," Teddy agreed.
Teddy carried Everly into Allison's room and laid her on the bed sitting down beside the baby.
"You know this is mommy's room smart girl," Teddy praised, "you are so smart and you looked very pretty today in your purple dress."
"She did it," Owen smiled sitting beside Teddy, "we got them through high school."
"She did it and college in a couple months," Teddy said.
"She's got this," Owen said, "she got your strength. She always moves forward."
"She does," Teddy agreed.
"She's the best parts of you Teddy," Owen said, "brilliant, strong, loving, gentle, compassionate. She is all the best parts of you."
"She's got your determination and ability to stand up and fight for others," Teddy said, "she's going to do amazing things."
"She will," Owen said, "I think she's more motivated now then ever."
"She is," Teddy said, "I'm glad she went tonight."
"A bit of normal," Owen said.
"She really needs it," Teddy said, "she's been so good. She needs to celebrate."
"She does," Owen agreed, "I'm proud of her."
"So am I," Teddy agreed, "did you think our hearts could grow like that again."
"I love Annie's kids and they are my grand kids but Everly she feels different," Owen said.
"Biologically related," Teddy guessed.
"And we've had every day with Allie," Owen said, "we raised her. Plus Everly lives here. Annie's kids visit. We see Everly everyday and the tiny changes watching her grow."
"She's already growing," Teddy smiled at the baby.
"She is," Owen agreed, "her foot?"
"Still watching but it may need casting or bracing," Teddy said, "Linc will decide."
"He will," Owen said, "he's good."
"Theres something," Teddy said, "she's meeting her social milestones and cognitive ones it's her physical ones I'm not seeing yet."
"She's just 4 weeks," Owen said.
"I know," Teddy said, "but I worry."
"So do I," Owen said, "Allie will be crushed."
"She will so will Asher," Teddy said, "we'll be here."
"We will," Owen said, "always."
Owen bent over the baby, "grandpa will always be here princess. You are going to be as smart, compassionate and beautiful as your mom and grandma. And we will all be here to be your strength when you need us to be. We are always here princess day or night, anywhere on the planet. I love you."