A week later Allison pushed her stroller through the park by Grey Sloan, she stopped for a coffee at the cart her mom had taken her to over the years then went to the picnic area. She was meeting her family studies class for the end of semester meet up. They had gotten together once a month since the semester had started and all 14 girls had been pregnant. Allison had the last due date and the youngest baby in her class. Over the last few months they had been an online support group as much as a class. Part of Allison was hoping they would stay in touch. The last time she had seen these girls in person she had just been showing while other girls had been further along. They had a channel in their class team where they had shared bump photos and discussed symptoms and coping. Allison's favourite channel was the baby photo one where they were sharing photos and videos with friends who understood.
"Allison," a short blonde greeted.
"Eden," Allison greeted.
"How are you," Eden responded.
"I'm good," Allison replied , "you?"
"Great," Eden smiled then gestured to the baby in a stroller, "you've met Joshua."
"Everly," Allison replied, pointing to her daughter.
"Are you okay," Eden asked, "you posted quite the birth story."
"Yours wasn't easy to read either," Allison said, "I probably shouldn't have been reading them until after I had Everly."
"Probably not," Eden agreed, "how is she doing?"
"She's good," Allison said, "how old is Joshua now?"
"Almost 4 months," Eden said, "he rolls, smiles and laughs, and makes noises at me."
"She looks at us and tries to follow me with her head when I have her in the swing and move around the room, lots of waving arms," Allison said, "not so much with her legs yet. Our doctor is watching it."
"Allison, Eden," the teacher greeted.
"Ms Vleeming," Allison smiled.
"How is Everly," Ms Vleeming asked.
"She's good," Allison said, "sleeping."
"Three weeks she should be," Ms Vleeming agreed, "how are you?"
"Good," Allison said.
"Recovering," Ms Vleeming said.
"Yes," Allison agreed, "it's her first party."
"Summer plans," Ms Vleeming asked.
"I'm working at the safeway on Pine and 5th," Eden said.
"I work there," Allison said, "I'm off until the end of August though my parents want me to take the time off."
"I'll miss these," Eden said.
"We don't have to stop seeing each other because the semester is over," Allison said, "I'm sure my mom won't care if we meet up at my house next month."
"I've been to your place, maybe I should host the first time," Eden suggested.
"I was thinking we were close to here so it's easy for everyone to get to," Allison said, "or the park again."
"Park is good," Eden agreed, "are you still living with your parents?"
"We are," Allison said, "you?"
"My mom wants me out," Eden said, "I'm the oldest and my house is crowded. Want to move out as roommates?"
"Everly, Asher and I are good where we are," Allison said, "I'm not working enough to cover rent even in the fall."
"You won't work full time when you go back to work," Eden asked.
"No," Allison said, "2 shifts a week. Part of the deal with us staying at my parents is that I have to be in school and working towards a degree or something professional and Asher has to keep working on his apprenticeship."
"Doesn't that seem controlling," another girl in the class asked.
"My mom had my oldest sister when she was in med school," Allison said, "if mom can do med school with Annie I can do college."
"What's your plan Alyssa," Eden asked.
"Hairdressing school," Alyssa said, "Allison is going to college you?"
"I want my ECE to teach preschool," Eden said, "Allison what are you majoring in?"
"I'm just doing general studies," Allison said, "I think I want to teach."
Allison enjoyed the afternoon having a picnic and hanging out with the other girls and their babies. If she was being honest sometimes she felt like she belonged with this group more than she did with her other friends. These girls got what she was doing and going through.
"Allison you went to Bay Side right," Carmen asked.
"I did," Allison said.
"Are you going to prom next Friday," Carmen asked.
"We have tickets and I bought a dress tester," Allison said, "you?"
"I am," Carmen said, "want to get ready together?"
"Ava and Olivia are coming to my house you should come," Allison suggested.
"I don't really know them," Carmen said.
"Come," Allison insisted, "my house two thirty ish. Bring Taylor."
"I don't have a date," Carmen said, "Taylor's dad is older and didn't stick around."
"Jonah Marshall needs a date; he's good friends with Asher," Allison said, "Jonah is coming over tonight."
"It's okay," Carmen said, "he hung out with Blake."
"He's not talking to Blake now," Allison said, "neither is Tyson Green. Jonah and Tyson are coming for pizza tonight and to meet Everly. "
"Your friends want to see your daughter," Carmen asked.
"So far everyone has been good," Allison said, "I went for a walk on the pier with Ava and Liv last night and Everly came with us."
"My family hasn't been so supportive," Carmen said, "what about Asher's family?"
"His mom has come by a couple times," Allison said, "his dad won't talk to him or acknowledge Everly. What's going on with yours?"
"My abuela is still angry Marco won't marry me," Carmen said, "my mom was my age when I was born but my dad and her got married a week before I was born."
"Asher's dad wants us to get married," Allison said, "we're so not there."
"I'm not my mom, Carmen said, "I won't settle like she did. Her and my dad should never have been together. They got married because of me then had my siblings but they don't love each other."
"I was at my parents wedding," Allison said.
"So they took it better," Carmen said.
"Yes and no," Allison admitted, "my mom was 21 with my big sister and on her own."
"You have an older sister," Carmen said, "I've only met Leo."
"Annie is in her 40s," Allison said, "she's married with four kids. Mom says we were both the best surprises she's ever gotten."
"Your brother then," Carmen asked.
"Adopted when I was about 2," Allison said.
"Then your dad suddenly had a step kid in her teens," Carmen said.
"Annie was 25 but my dad had already known her for like 10 years," Allsion said, "my parents were friends for a long time before they were together. My dad knew Annie at that point, she had stayed with his mom during one of her med school rotations so she could work under him and see emergency surgery."
"What," Carmen asked.
"My parents and big sister are surgeons," Allison said.
"Will your parents be okay with me," Carmen asked.
"Yes," Allison assured.
"Ava and Olivia," Carmen questioned.
"I'll tell them," Allison said, "we have a spot in the limo as well. I booked the limo, the spot's yours."
"Thank you," Carmen smiled. A year ago she had hardly known Allison who was one of the "popular" girls and who everyone was a little jealous of. Carmen had been surprised when news of Allison's pregnancy had spread like wildfire through the school but after getting to know Allison in class this semester Carmen really liked Allison. Something about Allison seemed real.
Getting home that night Allison texted Olivia and Ava, "hey I invited Carmen Santos to join us to get ready and in the limo of Friday."
Ava," she was in our english class wasn't she?"
Allison, "we've had her in classes since middle school."
Olivia, "when did you do that?"
Allison, "the family studies picnic today. She seemed really down about going alone."
Ava, "she's in your family studies class?"
Allison, "her daughter Taylor is a month older than Everly. I like Carmen."
Olivia, "does she have a boyfriend coming?"
Allison, "single, the dad walked away. I'm the outlier in my class that the dad stayed."
Ava, "is the plan still the same?"
Allison, "yes, 2:30 at my place she's going to bring Taylor and invite her mom to come. You'll like her."
Olivia, " she was okay at school. Super quiet."
Allison, "she talks in smaller groups."
"How was your picnic," Teddy asked walking into the basement living room. Allison and Asher had slowly been taking over the basement space and had most of Everly's toys, her baby gym and the big swing down there.
"It was good," Allison smiled, "I invited Carmen Santos to come next friday and get ready with us. Her mom will take her baby home after we leave."
"I remember Carmen you had some group projects with her over the years," Teddy said.
"She's in my family studies class," Allison said, "her daughter is a few weeks older than Everly."
"You want to go," Teddy asked.
"Yes," Allison said, "I still can't believe we got a limo last minute."
"I use that company for work things, they also have a car and driver service they knew my name," Teddy replied.
"Are you sure about babysitting," Allison asked.
"We're looking forward to it," Teddy assured, "I want to talk to you about the basement."
"I'll clean it up," Allison said as Teddy sat down.
"It does need to be tidied," Teddy said, "and the bathroom down here cleaned."
"That's Leo he moved to the open bedroom down here," Allison said, "why did we have two guest rooms?"
"When you were little dad and I each had home offices and his was down here then a guest room," Teddy said, "I had Leo's room as my office. And when dad and I bought the house the basement wasn't finished."
"Why did Leo move," Allison asked.
"Two reasons," Teddy said, "he finds the crying hard. It's hard for me sometimes when she fusses and won't settle for you, I want to take over but know that I can't. And Leo is mad that dad and I put some limits on him because of his drug use."
"I'll do the bathroom before our friends come," Allison said, "Asher invited Jonah and Tyson over."
"I know," Teddy said, "he always texts me first and asks. The basement dad and I have been talking about next steps for all of us. We had discussed once you and Leo finished college and were on your own selling the house and moving to something smaller just the two of us but we have a new idea."
"What is it," Allison asked.
"We want to put a kitchen in down here," Teddy said, "and make it into a basement suite for you and Everly."
"Asher," Allison asked.
"If you want him to live with you," Teddy agreed, "but dad and I are going to get a few quotes and get someone to come do the kitchen down here this summer. We've talked about our transition to independence plan with you. You can sleep in your room you've had your whole life until your ready to move down. You can cook down here for the three of you some nights and we can all do dinner together others. We'll make it work in your time."
"Rent," Allison asked.
"You two will still be responsible for the amount Asher currently pays," Teddy said, "that will cover utilities for the 3 of you. Dad and I don't have a mortgage on the house, we paid it off. We don't need the money but are going to charge you your share of ultitiltes, electricity, water, natural gas, internet, TV and groceries because you need to learn that responsibility. We wouldn't be good parents if we didn't do that."
"Dad paid my tuition," Allison said.
"We will pay your school expenses," Teddy said, "that has never changed. We will do your entire college degree and if you want graduate programs we will discuss it then how dad and I can help. Do you have your book list?"
"I do," Allison said.
"Order online and use the credit card," Teddy said, "dad and I will continue to pay your car insurance until you're ready to work more then you take that on. You are still responsible for gas. You can stay on our insurance until you graduate college. You two have to have Everly on some sort of insurance."
"She's on Asher's," Allison said, "he has a decent plan through work. We did it the day she was born."
"You didn't tell me," Teddy said.
"Ash did the paper work," Allison said, "they should have covered all her new born checks."
"No," Teddy said, "the hospital did. I did that not knowing you had her on Asher's and you do qualify for state assistance to cover her."
"That was our back up," Allison said, "but we don't want government assistance if we can avoid it. She has good coverage so does Asher. We want to do this on our own as much as we can."
"You're doing good," Teddy assured.
"Mom do you want her," Allison asked looking at the baby in her arms, "she's awake."
"She's awake," Teddy asked.
"She's alert today," Allison said, "she had tummy time with some friends at the park. I think she liked other babies."
"Can I give her more tummy time and you tidy around us," Teddy asked.
"I guess," Allison said.
Teddy scooped Everly out of Allison's arms and carried her to the blanket on the floor.
"She really likes the black and white animal book," Allison said.
"She has grandma to entertain her," Teddy smiled, "don't you Everly you like looking at grandma."
Allison waked away to clean the downstairs bathroom.
Teddy laid on the floor with Everly, "you are precious. You have no idea how precious you are. You are so loved and have so many people who love you. I am so happy you're here. You are as pretty as your mommy and you are going to be so smart. You come from a long line of smart powerful women and you're going to be one of us. You are going to be so smart, kind and loved. You will always have me in your corner no matter what happens. I am always on your side, princess. I love you."
Everly stared at Teddy.
"I see you looking at me, pretty girl," Teddy smiled, "you are so smart looking at grandma."
Allison took a basket of towels and baby blankets upstairs.
"Where's your mom," Owen asked, "and your daughter?"
"Downstairs," Allison replied, "I'm trying to clean up and mom's babbling to Everly."
"Your mom loves that," Owen said.
"She does," Allison said.
"What are you thinking," Teddy asked Everly, "you look like you're thinking hard. You make the same thinking face your mom and auntie do. It looks like you'll have your mom's eyes. The same as my mom's your great grandma. She would have loved to meet you and to hold you, to hold your mom. You already have her eyes bright green and noticing everything. You are going to be one special person princess. You are surrounded by love, you have so many people that love you and want you."
Teddy picked the little girl up from the floor and leaning against the wall held the baby close, kissing the top of her tiny head whispering, "you are so loved little one. No matter what grandma is always here. I love you."