"You weren't kidding about getting up 22 times," Olivia said as the girls sat in the kitchen waiting for breakfast the next morning.
"I miss real sleep," Allison admitted, "my back hurts constantly."
"What can we do," Amanda asked.
"Nothing," Allison replied.
"Have you showered yet," Amanda asked.
"No," Allison replied.
"Hot shower and let the water hit your lower back," Amanda suggested, "and I have a couple stretches I can show you that might help."
"Can you show me," Allison asked.
Amanda showed Allison a couple of gentle stretches and movements to make her back feel better.
"Your back is tight," Amanda said, guiding Allison's movement.
"I've been going to a massage therapist ever other week," Allison said, "I go after French on Monday. Then dr Deluca Tuesday."
"Me on Tuesday," Amanda asked.
"Yes," Allison said.
"How much longer and enough appointments," Ava commented.
"Four and a half weeks," Allison said, " I have weekly doctors appointments until the end."
"Weekly," Ava asked.
"Standard procedure," Amanda explained, "making sure both Allie and the baby are healthy. Things change fast with babies."
"Thursday's with dr Deluca and Tuesday classes with you," Allison said looking at Amanda.
"It's nice your mom and Asher are coming on Tuesdays," Amanda said, "they'll be your support."
"And Annie but she can't do Tuesday's," Allison said, "Josh works until midnight and she's driving her kids around all night."
"Will your baby dance," Olivia asked.
"Maybe if they want to," Allison said, "it sucks for Ellie that she has to be perfect and win everything because Annie was a world champion."
"There's no Altman's on the list," Olivia said.
"McKellar, her dad's name," Allison said, "she used that until she was in med school and Altman carried more weight in medicine."
Olivia typed something into an app on her phone.
"Annabeth McKellar," Ava asked, looking at Olivia's phone.
"Ya," Allison confirmed.
"Canadian champion 2003-2010, world champion 2008 first runner up in 2005-2007," Olivia said, "she was amazing."
"And Ellie isn't placing," Allison said.
"She doesn't try," Olivia said.
"What's the plan today girls," Amanda asked, "do you work Allison? Ava?"
"I'm off this weekend," Allison said, "my mom wants me home around noon. Theres a couple things she wants me to do with her."
"I work at 5," Ava said.
"Do you want to go to the pier for a walk," Olivia suggested.
"Just the pier," Allison checked.
"Just the pier," Olivia agreed.
"It's nine so why don't you all get ready for the day then decide," Amanda suggested knowing it would take over an hour for the teens to be ready.
"I only have a dress and my flats," Allison said.
"Get ready for the day, girls then go shopping," Amanda suggested.
"What sort of shopping," Ava asked.
"I need baby clothes," Allison said, "but Asher wants to do that and I think I want fresh air."
"We could do the pier," Olivia said, "it's only half an hour."
"That sounds good," Ava said.
They ate breakfast together and then got ready for the day.
"It's 10:30," Allison checked her watch.
"What are you up to," Ava asked.
"Not much," Allison admitted, "I could do a short walk."
"Your dress is cute," Olivia said.
"Why do we all have dresses," Allison asked.
"It's fun," Olivia tried.
"We're not dress girls," Allison said, "we made fun of those girls at school."
"You're done at school aren't you," Ava said.
"Two more weeks of French, just the oral exam prep," Allison said, "then I have some stuff to finish for history and family studies."
"Why are you taking family studies," Ava asked, "that's for the dumb girls with no hope of life beyond this year."
"The reason I moved online," Allison said, "it's part of the program, just a hoop I have to jump through to graduate this year in this program. It's easy, that's why I've left it to the end. But it's been helpful, looking at milestones and baby food, I had to do a timeline for the first year so I can add pictures to it once they're born."
"Are you ready," Ava asked.
"We need diapers and clothes," Allison said, "but we can do the first couple weeks with what we have."
"Will we get to meet them right away," Ava asked.
"The hospital is still family only on the baby floor," Allison said, "when we come home."
Allison knew that it was possible to have friends visit but she had been advised by Teddy and Annie not to have friends while they were in the hospital to focus on the baby and Asher. Teddy had suggested waiting until the baby was a few days old or even a week to have her friends over to meet them.
At noon the three girls walked into Allison's house.
"What," Allison said, "no it's too much."
"Come celebrate," Teddy said, taking Allison's hand.
"Mom I said no fuss," Allison said.
"Your words did your actions and the Pinterest board said another," Teddy replied.
Allison had wanted a shower but didn't know how those beyond their family felt about her baby, getting pregnant at 17 from a drunken one night stand was not the plan. That her and Asher had worked it out to be a couple was amazing on its own and she knew they had a long way to go. But there were family friends and extended McKellars in the room, her bonus cousins she hung out with in BC, her closest friends and their moms had come people had shown up for Allison.
"Hi darling," Evelyn called.
"Nana," Allison hugged the frail old woman, "you came."
"A shower for my great grand baby of course," Evelyn said, she put her hands on either side of Allison's stomach and felt the soft ripples of the baby wiggling.
"Nana loves you little one," Evelyn whispered.
Allison wiped tears from her eyes.
"Bean go sit," Annie said pointing to a rocking chair.
"No," Allison said.
"My dad," Annie said.
"But," Allison whispered.
"Bean your family," Annie smiled, "C and I helped sand so did my kids."
"He would do that," Allison asked.
"Of course," Annie said.
"Katie, Catherine, Shannon and Alicia are here," Allison said.
"Congratulations Allie," Katie smiled, "I'm only working in Portland I'm happy to come up."
"What are you doing now," Teddy asked.
"Still general," Katie said, "I'm happy."
Allison drifted toward some of her friends Teddy stood with the other mothers watching.
"No Belle," Brianna asked Teddy.
"I invited her and Michelle but they had plans," Teddy said.
"The way that girl runs wild Michelle can't talk," Jillian said.
"I'm staying out of it," Teddy said.
"That's always been your stance with the drama," Amanda said.
"I've seen enough that there's not a point to worry about it," Teddy said, "my kids are okay."
"How many do you have," Hannah another of Allison's friends mom asked.
"Three," Teddy said, "Allie is my youngest."
"Your older ones," Hannah asked.
"Leo is 19 he just finished his freshman year at UCLA and is doing some military training right now for a couple weeks. Annie is over there she's 43."
"43," Hannah said.
"I was in med school," Teddy said, "it was just Annie and I for a while. Her oldest Ellie is beside Allie."
"We know Ellie she hangs out with my youngest Diana," Hannah said, "I didn't know she was Allison's niece. They've both been over at the same time last time Allie was over . I thought family friends the way they were talking."
"No my daughters are 25 years appart," Teddy replied, "if I'd have known I would have picked up Ellie."
"She was sleeping over with Diana," Hannah said , "they both skipped a grade in elementary and have gravitated to each other this year."
"Ellie is shy like her mom," Teddy said, "brilliant but shy and hesitant."
"I thought ellies moms name was Grace," Hannah said.
"Grace Annabeth," Teddy said, "her dad didn't love Grace so we went with Annie when she was younger and it's her family nick name. Outside of the family she's Grace."
"I don't think we've ever really chatted," Hannah said.
"No," Teddy replied, "it's nice to before the girls graduate. What's Juliette doing next year?"
"Oregon state," Hannah said, "is Allison?"
"UW," Teddy replied, "she wants to and it's not easy but she can do it she has our support."
"Has she picked a major," Hannah asked.
"She's looking at teaching," Teddy replied, "Juliette?"
"Engineering," Hannah said.
Annie was standing in a corner with her cousins.
"She's a mom," Annie said, "she wants grandmere."
"Grandmere would have been all over her," Shannon agreed.
"She always was," Annie said.
"Her checking in everyday," Catherine said.
"Then if you didn't get back to her she assumed you were in labour," Alicia laughed.
"She was the best," Annie said.
"When can we meet your baby," Juliette asked Allison.
"June," Allison said, "I'm ready to be done."
"How much longer," Carly asked.
"I'm due may 25 so 4 more weeks," Allison said, "only two weeks left until the French oral exam and my last day at school."
"Are you doing it," Carly asked.
"Why I've been at school the whole time," Allison said, "I hate going to school right now the stares in the halls."
"You stay after class," Carly said.
"I let the halls empty out," Allison said, "madame is nice."
"Will you finish the year," Katelyn asked.
"No I only have French, and two online classes to finish," Allison said, "my baby will need me home."
"Should you sit," Megan asked walking by, "your rubbing you back."
"Try out the rocking chair," Teddy suggested.
They spent the rest of the afternoon chatting and enjoying Allison's favorite foods. Teddy smiled at her baby girl who was relaxed with her friends. She was pleased how many of the girls had come and that about half of them had brought their moms.
"This is too much," Allison said when they began to stack presents by the rocking chair.
"We wanted to," Megan smiled, "it's a baby and you're going to be a wonderful mom."
"Open them," Allison's friends encouraged.
Allison opened the pile of gifts and she reached one that had Annie, Catherine, Shannon and Alicias names on it.
"Nee," Allison asked.
"Ask Catherine," Annie smiled.
"We picked up the torch from grandmere," Catherine said, "open it allison."
Allison opened the package and found a handmade baby quilt.
"Like Annie's kids," Allison teared up.
"Every baby in our family gets one," Shannon said.
"Thank you," Allison said.
Teddy smiled, "dad and I have our gift upstairs. You can go look later."
"What is it," Allison asked.
"The crib, dresser, shelf and change table you were looking at," Teddy smiled, "your baby needs new things for them."
Soon after presents Allison's friends and family left leaving only Olivia and Amanda.
"Mom can we go look," Allison asked.
"Go girls," Teddy smiled.
Allison and Olivia went upstairs.
"How was she last night," Teddy asked Amanda as she poured more tea.
"She was complaining about Braxton Hicks and a sore back," Amanda said, "I showed her a couple stretches. When I tried to guide her movement through the stretch it's stronger then she's telling you. She'll be in pain with those. She's due in 4 she'll have that baby on or before her due date."
"I know it's more then she'll tell me," Teddy said, "I'm worried about it with her."
"Was she close to her due date," Amanda asked.
"8 days early," Teddy said, "her sister was 12 days late."
"Your son," Amanda asked.
"Leo is adopted," Teddy replied, "Annie's girls were almost 2 weeks overdue. Matt was 2 or 3 days then Henry was early."
"May I ask how old you were with your first," Amanda asked.
"21," Teddy said, "my first year of med school. I didn't raise Annie."
"Her dad," Amanda guessed.
"She was adopted," Teddy said, "Annie found me when she was 19 which was the agreement I made with Dan and Leslie."
"Annie is such a big part of Allison's life," Amanda said.
"Theres a lot of history," Teddy said, "Annie is very close to Dan. Dan is her dad. Annie calls me mama, she has since she was about 20."
"How did Annie take you remarrying and having Allison and Leo," Amanda asked.
"Annie knew Owen for years as my best friend she called him Uncle Owen, he helped her prep for her med school and residency interviews, she stayed with his mom during her sub internship , before Owen and I were a couple. I was in Germany with the army and Owen was doing a lot of teaching in Boston while Annie was in med school and every time he went to teach in Boston they hung out. Annie loved Allison as soon as she knew she was getting a little sister. Annie also has a brother 11 months younger. He's Dan's son."
"Dan is Annie's dad," Amanda said.
"He adopted her when she was an hour old," Teddy said, "it was hard."
"Allison is keeping her baby," Amanda said.
"She is," Teddy said, "her and I had long talks about my decisions 44 years ago. She came to her own decisions."
"She's strong," Amanda said.
"She is," Teddy said, "her maturity surprises me. What's Liv doing next year?"
"She had an early decision to Oregon then lost it because her grades slipped," Amanda said, "so we're looking at community college and staying home. I'm hoping the girls will stay friends with Ava staying as well."
"Allie will need Liv," Teddy said, "I'm worried Allie will hide with her baby. This year hasn't been easy for her. We've had some huge meltdowns. Its being a teenager and the hormones."
"Olivia is having a hard time," Amanda said, "she's struggling with not going away to school. She's feeling left behind. Ava going to UW with Allie, Allie having her baby and Asher. Liv feels stuck."
"Thats hard," Teddy agreed, "what does she want to do?"
"She's talked about teaching kindergarten," Amanda said, "she needs to get her grades up. She's floundering. I hate watching her flounder."
"How can I help," Teddy asked.
"Encourage the girls friendship," Amanda said, "they've been so close since second."
"When you moved here," Teddy said, "we will."
Allison opened the door from her bathroom to the office.
"Wow," Allison gasped, "it's exactly what I had pinned,"
"It's beautiful," Olivia agreed looking at the white furniture against the mint green walls.
"How did," Allison asked.
"Your mom, aunt and sister," Olivia said.
"It's perfect," Allison said.
The girls moved back to Allison's room and sat on the bed chatting.
That night Teddy and Allison stood in the nursery.
"Thank you," Allison smiled hugging her mom.
"Do you like it," Teddy asked.
"It's perfect," Allison said, "thank you for doing the shower and getting my friends here."
"The guest list was Olivia and Ava," Teddy smiled, "did you have fun."
"I did," Allison said, "I can't wait to show Ash."
"He's working both jobs today," Teddy said, "he'll be home soon."
Allison replied, " I want him to put the bassinet stand together in my room. Mom since the baby and I are going to be up here can we talk about Asher being upstairs?"
"Why do you want him up here," Teddy asked.
"When I stayed with him at Easter at the cabin I felt really safe and relaxed. It's the last time I really slept," Allison said, "I feel more relaxed. I'm not as stressed with him."
"Your bed," Teddy asked.
"It doesn't mean we'll do anything," Allison said, "and babies need their parents at night. How can he help me if he's downstairs."
"I hear you," Teddy said, "there's a few things we need to talk through as a family. Most of the nights at first will be feeding."
"Which is me," Allison said, "but the diapers he said he would do night ones."
"We will work it out," Teddy assured, "it's just you dad and I for dinner."
"Can I wait for Ash," Allison asked, "I'm not hungry now."
"I was going to suggest a few snacks because you and I aren't hungry and dad will eat the left over pizza," Teddy said.
"Amanda showed me some stretches for my back and when she was guiding me like a dance teacher she told me my back was too tight," Allison said, "it's been really hurting."
"We could try to book you for another massage this week instead of waiting until next," Teddy offered.
"I don't think I have the money for two weeks in a row," Allison said.
"Dad and I will pay," Teddy said, "use the credit card linked to our account. You hardly use it."
"Just gas," Allison said.
"Use it for the massage," Teddy said.
"You took Leo's away," Allison pointed out.
"I'm telling you to do it and this is a good reason to use it," Teddy said, "school, gas, diapers, groceries."
"Did you ever give Annie one," Allison asked.
"In med school because she hadn't had american bank accounts hers was linked," Teddy said, "she rarely used the one I paid. She had hers then mine. She would always let me know if she was going to use mine, usually at the end of a semester when she hadn't worked for a while or been working much and needed food. I'm telling you the same thing I told your siblings. Be responsible, it's not for shopping or partying, necessities only."
"Okay," Allison agreed.
"You're responsible," Teddy said, "I trust you, so does dad. We wouldn't have given you the card if we didn't."
"I know," Allison said, "mom the nursery is perfect."
"I'm glad you like it," Teddy smiled.
"Now we need to put everything from today away," Allison said.
"Wait for Asher and let him see it all," Teddy said, "you two are both home until 3 or 4 tomorrow take the morning and do it together."
"We have everything now," Allison said.
"Almost," Teddy smiled.
"What's missing ," Allison asked.
"The baby," Teddy teased.
"Another month," Allison said, "I want to know who they'll be,"
"Soon," Teddy smiled thinking of the things she had put away in her closet when she had seen the gender. She knew Allison would want the gender specific things as soon as possible so had them ready for when the baby came home.