She looked back to the back of the room, her mom crying, Leo beaming and Owen looking like the proud father he was "You and your brother make it easy kiddo." Owen said as Allison walked up to them
She walked back to Owen who embraced her and never wanted to let go.
"Okay okay , My Turn" Teddy said half-heartedly attempting to pull Allison away from Owen "You and your brother are the light of my life "
Just then the baby kicked "Oh man someone is jealous "! Allison rubbed her moms' stomach where she felt the baby kick.
"Ahhhh Ya very much so! Whew"! Teddy winced taking a sharp breath
Concerned Leo and Allison stared at Teddy "Mom you okay"?!
"ya fine" She hissed.
"Dadddd"! Allison yelled.
"What"? Owen said being pulled away from a conversation.
"Mom is in pain" Leo said.
"Guys stop it, I appreciate the concern, but I said I'm fine! I have done this before, remember"? Teddy laughed.
"Guys leave your mom alone, are we ready to go"? Owen asked.
"Yup"! They all said in unison.
Leo thought the car ride was too quiet "So Allison what do you want from mom and dad? You said all the right things, you made mom cry…. WHAT DO YOU WANT …? Your inheritance early? A car "?
"LEO"! Owen scolded while suppressing laughter.
"Yaaaaa thought I'd start buttering them up now….so when you're a jerk to me they'd remember I'm the nice one" Allison laughed.
"By the way, what inheritance do you speak of? Your mother and I are poor"! Owen asked.
"Right dad…. "Leo responded.
"Ummmm Seriously…. We are what you call 'Public Servants' you think we get paid for what we do, Teddy are you withholding money from me that I don't know about"?
She shrugged her shoulders "You'll never know."
He looked at her in disbelief "I don't know my own wife"!
Owen and Teddy busted up laughing "noooo Stoooopppp you're going to make me pee"! Teddy complained.
"HEY what are you guys doing for Valentine's Day"?! Leo asked changing the subject
Teddy looked over at Owen who went ghost white and chuckled "Don't worry honey *she ran her fingers through his curls* I'm working you don't need to do anything plus I've my Valentines presents already "she turned around looking at her kids.
The pinging of Allison's phone broke the silence "Leo did you get this email from school ….? 'school will remain closed for the foreseeable future' because of COVID "she asked.
"mmmm let me see…. Yup there it is! WOW! * Leo exclaimed * we're supposed to wait for further instructions but seems like we'll be contacted by our teachers to pick up any belongings, books, supplies we will need to get through the rest of the school year"!
"AHHHH seriously?! Can they do that?! I will not get to see my friends"! Allison whined.
"Mom, Dad"? Leo asked.
"They sure can, guys …you know mom and I have been working A LOT lately because of this health crisis, we can't keep up, the hospital is at Max capacity this is the only way we can attempt to get a hold on this". Owen reminded them.
Little did Allison and Leo know; their mom and dad were at the head of this decision for Seattle.
"Guys this isn't going to be easy nor is it fair for anyone …. But we will get through it, okay? This is a good time to remember as a nation we are extremely fortunate to have modern medicine and the MEANS to do this. You both are very smart and will be able to manage this, and of course you know we have your back, we would never let you fall behind". Teddy reminded them.
"Yes ma'am… Yes sir " Both moped
"Thank you… PLUS the bright side is this means you get to help me with baby stuff – decorating the nursery, shopping for clothes and toys…. what do you guys say"!?
"COOL"! Allison cheered.
"Good deflection mom" Owen chuckled.
"Whatever works "she smiled.
They arrived home the kids ran up to their rooms leaving Owen and Teddy alone "Hey… *Owen grabbed Teddy's elbow as she flipped through the mail* I'm sorry for forgetting about Valentine's Day, You know you're my One and only" He kissed her softly
"Owen, I said it is fine! HAHA, I meant it when I said I had all I wanted". She ran her hand over his cheek grabbing him by the collar pulling him in for another kiss.
"I know but…"
"No buts *she cut him off * we've got a lot on our plate right now – pandemic, two pre-teens, and a baby coming in …. *she looked at the calendar* less than 2 months…." She said becoming distracted.
"Speaking of…. I don't think it's a good Idea for you to continue working this late in the pregnancy… we have NO IDEA how this will affect you… or the baby".
"Owen" she interjected.
"No! seriously, THEODORA! I get a say in this, THAT is MY baby you are carrying"! Owen got louder.
"Owen, STOP yelling at me, I'm right here"! she was now fully paying attention.
Leo and Allison opened their doors their eyes both wide open upon hearing their parents yelling "Oh …MY…GOD" Allison mouthed to Leo who nodded back he put his finger up to his lips to signal to her to be quiet. Allison motioned for him to come over to her room.
"Dude WHAT Happened?! We JUST got home"! Allison whispered.
"I don't know, one min they're talking about Valentines the next they're at each other's throat"! Leo whispered trying to listen.
"Are you…? Because you are not paying attention to me! He responded louder.
"I'm not having this conversation with you when you are like this, you get all irrational and there's no point in discussing anything with you… you went from 0-100 for no reason at all". She went into the kitchen to get a glass of water to get away from him.
Her alarm when off reminding her she had an hour to get read before heading out the door for her shift at the hospital…. She knew she could not leave angry. Sighing she went back in and sat on the table in front of Owen who was watching the TV.
"Not now Teddy, I'm watching the news" he said shortly.
"Yes now, I leave for work in 45 mins…. *she turned off the TV and took his hand* I of ALL PEOPLE know this is your baby, I mean ….. * she smirked* And YES, you do kind of get a say …. But honey you have got to trust me when I say I know my body and I kind of know what I am doing. Why don't you want me to work"? She asked.
"Teddy, we don't know how this will affect the baby after you've been exposed, how it will affect YOU. On top of that, you work non-stop which cannot be good. *He sighed * But you are right, you know your body better than anyone and I trust you to take care of yourself and that sweet baby". He smiled squeezing her hand.
Standing up realizing how easily he just gave up , she patted his knee, "Listen I have to go but, how about we set up a meeting with Karina and ask her these very questions…hmmmm"?
"Sure, let me know when and where"? he slightly ignored her irritated by the fact she thought she could talk her way out of this and just leave.
"Hey….* She smirked * where's my Valentines kiss that you forgot "? she pouted
He couldn't resist …
"Sounds like they've made up. Should I go down there pretending to get a snack or something"? Leo asked.
"Ya , go ask Dad what time dinner is at"!
"Okay"
"Daaaaddddddd"! Leo yelled coming down the stairs running into his parents "EWWWWW GET A ROOM! GOD Other people live here you know! What time is Dinner?! I'm starving"! He whined.
"I don't knooowwwwwwwww! * Owen whined back teasing him * Give your mother a hug she's leaving for work."
"Bye mom! Love you! Bye baby"! He gave Teddy a hug and rubbed her stomach.
"Bye Monster, now that you guys are home from school, I'll see you more often! *She said excitedly* Bye Alli! *She yelled up the stairs*
12 hours later Teddy finally arrived home, yet again a long night of attempting to maintain some form of normalcy among chaos. She realized Owen's car was gone, she must've just missed him, she was ready to be home with her kids, she was furious they had to shut down schools but deep down she loved the idea of being with her kids all day.
"HI Mom, are you hungry"? Allison was the first to greet her.
"Hi Honey Bunny * she kissed her temple * Not right now, thanks for asking, I was going to head off to bed soon. What's happening with school"? She sat down as her daughter ate breakfast. Where is your brother?
"Nothing yet, he's up in his room doing some schoolwork" Alli said.
"Well….. do you want to go baby shopping, just you and me? We can make it a mommy daughter day"?
"SURE, but don't you have everything you need"?
"Some stuff, but when Leo came into our life, he was bigger than newborn, so we need some infant stuff and course diapers …." She trailed off desperately in need of sleep.
Allison caught a glimpse of her mom – could tell either work or the pregnancy was taking a toll on her. She thought maybe her dad was right to be worried about her mom working so much.
Allison rubbed her mom's hand to get her attention "Mom, you okay are you taking care of yourself? Eating? You look tired"? she said softly. She knew her mom tended to take care of everyone and often forgot herself.
"Huh?! Ya , sorry I am ummm… just tired that is all, work is tough these days". She smiled.
"Hey you know what …. why don't you go change, I'll make you some (dad approved) tea and we can hang out on the couch like old times, it's not like I have anywhere to be" Allison said getting up to get a coffee mug
"I'd like that" Teddy smiled.
She made it to the couch before Allison did, she sat down almost forgetting how nice it felt to sit down and relax, she could feel the baby move and stretch to her sitting down. "Sorry little one, I know, not much room left, eh? she rubbed her belly.
"Here you go, the baby moving"? she sat down next to her mom handing her a warm mug of tea.
"Thanks baby girl, he is…. Well trying to, there isn't much room in there these days….I don't know how much bigger I can possibly get* she laughed* Mmm vanilla chamomile my fav" savoring the warm tea.
"you look great, mom" Allison complimented her
"Thanks sweetie". She smiled softly
Allison watched the baby move in response to her mom drinking the hot tea "It's so weird"! Allison laughed.
"You moved WAAAAYYY more than this guy, I was pretty sure you were doing laps inside me… he sleeps a lot more and gets the hiccups. There were a few times you were so active I'd have to stop in the middle of surgery because you'd go into these… I don't know….. kicking fits and I couldn't concentrate "
"Really?!" Allison was surprised.
"Yup …ask your dad"
Putting her hand on her mom's stomach she leaned her head into her mom's shoulder causing Teddy to spill a bit of her tea "ah hot "!
"Sorry Sorry" ! Allison moved away.
"NO No , don't be silly ! come here I want to hold my little girl, I just don't have much room left …but we'll make it work". She pulled Allison to her kissing her on her head as Allison turned to face her. Teddy closed her eyes and fell into a light sleep feeling her daughter rubbing the baby, these moments were rare with her older kids, especially Allison, but when they happened, she never wanted them to end.
"Mom are you awake"? Allison asked.
"Ya "She said yawning
Snuggling in closer "is this pandemic serious"?
" Honey… um for some people yes, for others not really. We know some pre-existing conditions make it difficult for some people but then maybe not for others, It's all so up in the air its hard to tell baby. And there are some people who get REALLY Sick, some people have died, that's why mommy and daddy have been so busy'.
"are you and daddy going to get sick? What about the baby"?
"Hopefully not love, Daddy and I wear special outfits, called PPE , that help protect us from it, they keep us sterile. And as far as your brother…. Goes, I am doing my very ABSOLUTE best to keep him safe".
"Can I be there"? She asked.
"Be where, my love"? Teddy laughed.
"When you have our brother….."
Teddy woke up from her half wake state "Wait, you want to be in the hospital room when I have the baby"?! She looked at her daughter in surprise.
"I mean…. "Allison didn't know what to say.
"Honey I would love for you to be there! But it will probably be kind of scary to see me in that kind of pain, BUT *she kissed her head* IF you want to be there, I am not going to stop you".
"Okay…. I can leave if want right? Leo was there when I was born".
"Yup, at any point in time it upsets you, you can go, no questions asked. HA! Ya well… Poor Leo did not have a choice in the matter, but yes, he was there when I had you, he was so young, he probably does not remember anything…. We'll have to ask".