Towards the end of August, Owen and Teddy sat Leo, Allison and Asher down for a family meeting.
"Why are we having a family meeting," Leo asked, "I go back to school tomorrow."
"We need to make some changes that will affect all of us," Owen said, "Leo we know you're at school a lot of the time but it affects you so you need a voice."
"What," Leo asked.
"We're going to turn the basement into a suite," Teddy said.
"Who's moving in," Leo asked.
"We'd like to offer it to Allison and Asher first," Owen said.
"Us," Asher asked.
"You need some more independence," Teddy said, "to be with your daughter and be your family."
"Mom," Allison said.
"We'll transition slowly," Teddy replied, "the crew won't come until October so hopefully finished around Christmas."
"Why Allie and Asher," Leo asked.
"Everly is going to need more space," Owen said, "she'll need more stuff and room to move around and play."
"They've taken over downstairs now anyway," Leo said.
"I know," Allison said, "that was always our playroom and mom didn't like toys upstairs. So we're trying to keep Ev's toys in the downstairs room. It's easier for me to spend the day with her down there so I can play with her, she can nap and I can feed her without bugging anyone."
"Where will I go," Leo asked.
"Your room is still upstairs," Owen said, "the room you've had for years. I know you've been using the second guest room downstairs to get away from the crying."
"Can they not stop the crying," Leo said.
"She's getting better," Allison said, "I she was only up once last night."
"Where will I sleep if they have the basement and upstairs," Leo asked.
"That's the thing," Owen said, "if they accept the basement suite they totally move downstairs."
"When," Allison asked.
"It should be done around Christmas," Teddy said, "then when it's done we can move down slowly as you're ready. My hope is that by the time Leo comes home for the summer you'll have moved downstairs."
"What about the nursery," Allison asked.
"When the basement is ready we will move Ev's things down with you," Teddy said, "I know you didn't get to pick the nursery colour upstairs so you can pick the colour for her room downstairs and your bedroom. We have painters coming and are going to do new floors. I want to do engineered vinyl."
"So they get a new suite," Leo said.
"If they choose something else it's yours," Owen said, "we are offering it to Allison and Asher first."
"I want to try it," Allison said, "but Ash and I need to talk."
"You do," Owen agreed.
"What about rent," Asher asked.
"We will work that out with you," Teddy replied, "but your share of the utilities for sure. As you make more we can adjust."
"I know I have to go back to work," Allison said.
"We'll talk," Asher said.
"I need to be contributing to her stuff and our food," Allison said.
"We'll talk," Asher said, "my apprenticeship pays okay. And I'll keep taking overtime except the two days you have night classes."
"You two can figure it out," Teddy said, "Allie and Leo we are paying all of your school related expenses. Leo, that's tuition, books, housing, meal plan and car. Allison , tuition, books, car, housing, food in the house."
"Asher," Owen said, "we are going to keep you on the same deal you have. The utilities you've been paying. That will be your rent for downstairs, how the two of you split that amount is up to you. When you are doing your 2 months of school we will not charge you rent."
"So they get free housing," Leo said.
"No they pay a small amount towards the utilities," Teddy said, "it's more than you're paying so I would stop now Leo."
"What if I want the suite," Leo asked.
"Do you," Allison asked, "we're okay where we are."
"We can renegotiate when you move home after college," Owen said, "right now you're on campus ⅔ of the year. It doesn't make sense."
"So I can't use the basement ever," Leo asked, "if I have friends over."
"I'm sure we can work it out when needed," Allison said, "if mom and dad don't mind us being upstairs then."
"You can still hang out upstairs as much as you want," Teddy said, "we're not banishing you to the basement. It's options. Right now you're happy to do dinner with us most nights and there are the nights we work late that you make your own dinner and do your own thing. But there will be a day you want more independence to be your family of three. Leo you get a lot of your own space at school. When you're home for thanksgiving, Christmas and Reading breaks you're okay to be with us and do dinner with us."
"The three of you are legally adults," Owen said, "we are here to guide and support you but we can not do everything for you. You have to be more independent. As you show us you're ready for more we will give you more responsibility."
"We know," Allison said, "I think we're ready for a bit more."
"You are," Teddy said, "so for now the plan is that tomorrow dad and Leo drive down to California. Four of us will be home. I have to work Monday and Tuesday fairly late."
"We'll do dinner Monday and Tuesday," Allison said.
"Leo are you packed," Owen asked.
"Almost," Leo said.
"Ready to go," Teddy asked.
"I need a bit more time with Everly," Leo said.
"You can have tummy time with her when she's up from her nap," Allison said, "this is her really alert time of the day."
"Didn't you do that with her this morning," Leo asked.
"We do it a few times a day," Allison said, "she likes it. This afternoon stretch is her really awake time she's fun."
"She'll miss her uncle Leo," Asher said.
"When you come home for Thanksgiving she'll be so big," Allison said.
"Six months old," Teddy said.
"Just about," Allison said, "maybe real food by then?"
"Starting to and she'll be sitting," Teddy said.
"Hopefully," Allison said, "she should be rolling and sitting then."
"More babbles," Owen said.
"She makes more sounds now," Allison smiled.
"So the plan," Owen said getting back on track, "Asher stays upstairs while we do the basement renovation. When the basement is ready, Allison, Everly and Asher will transition downstairs and continue with our plan for more independence for you. Leo when you come home you will go back upstairs to your room and bathroom."
"Tonight what's the plan," Teddy asked.
"There's a going away party for Carly and Kristen," Allison said, "we're going."
"Who's babysitting," Teddy asked.
"Everly is coming," Allison said, 'most of our friends haven't seen her yet. It's a BBQ at the beach."
"When is it,' Teddy asked.
"Starts at 4," Allison said, "we'll stay until 7ish then be home for bedtime and have her in bed by 8."
"What time do you start getting her ready for bed," Teddy asked.
"7:15," Allison replied, "she's down between 7:45 and 8 it depends on how long she feeds for."
"Is she still falling asleep on you," Teddy asked.
"Just that one and the middle of the night one. I wake her up to finish the bedtime feed but let her dream feed in the middle of the night," Allison said, "somebody slept for 4 hours last night."
"Did you get to sleep," Teddy asked.
"We did," Allison said, "we got a 4 hour stretch from 8 to midnight then another 4 hour stretch from 12:30-4:30. She's a good girl."
"She is," Teddy said.
"And she's up," Asher said, hearing the baby fuss over the monitor.
"I'll go feed her then Leo you wanted to play with her," Allison said.
"I'll finish packing," Leo said.
"We'll come find you when she's had her lunch," Allison smiled.
After Everly had her lunch Allison walked into Leo's room and sat on his bed holding Everly in her lap, "uncle Leo has to go back to school princess."
"Princess Everly," Leo said, reaching for the baby.
Everly smiled at her uncle.
"That's a first," Leo said, "I'm glad I got a smile before I go back to school."
"She's a smiley girl," Allison said.
"Are you sure you're okay," Leo asked.
"I'm good," Allison said, "I'm still going to counseling every other week I might for a while. I'm worried about Everly's legs."
"Asher," Leo asked.
"We're good," Allison said, 'figuring things out. Still learning to be a couple."
"Learning, you have a kid," Leo said.
"But we've only been together since November as a couple," Allison said, "we didn't want to rush things. Back to school?"
"Nice to have some space," Leo said.
"Girlfriend," Allison asked.
"A few dates last year but not really," Leo said, "maybe this year."
"Anyone," Allison asked.
"Your friend Eden when she comes over she's cute," Leo admitted, "but she has a kid and I'm going away."
"I've seen you flirt with Eden," Allison said, "she's nice I like her."
"Why is Joshua so much bigger than Everly," Leo asked.
"He's two and a half months older and was bigger when he was born," Allison said.
"We've been texting," Leo admitted.
"She's not going to date," Allison said, "she says she's not going to date until Joshua is a bit older."
"Can I keep texting her, she's your friend," Leo asked.
"Is she why you're nicer to me," Allison asked.
"Maybe," Leo admitted, "she's cute and she's nice. If she didn't have a kid."
"You can just be friends," Allison said.
"We went for ice cream," Asher said, "I ran into her and Joshua and we were talking."
"Do you like her," Allison asked.
"If I wasn't going away," Leo said.
"Do you like her," Allison pressed.
"I think I do," Leo said.
"Text her and see her when you're home," Allison said, "I like having Eden over."
"She's your age," Leo checked.
"She's not 18 yet," Allison said, "her birthday is in October, she's the day before Annie."
"She's going to community college," Leo said.
"Her family can't really help her," Allison said, "she wants to be a preschool or kindergarten teacher."
"Her mom wants her to move out," Leo said.
"I know," Allison said, "she asked me to be her roommate."
"You could there's two rooms down there," Leo said.
"Ash and I then Everly," Allison said, "she'll be in her own room soon. She's napping in her own room now. "
"Can I text with her," Leo asked.
"If she wants to but she's been really hurt. Joshua's dad didn't stick around, he called her some horrible names worse then what you've called me. The dad won't return her calls and hasn't met Joshua. It's hard for her, she has to take him to court," Allison said, "he dumped her as soon as she told him."
"Asher," Leo asked for the first time," how did he respond?"
"He panicked, we both did," Allison said, "but we agreed to be friends and he tried. He was there every day. His parents kicked him out. Leo you werent here when I was throwing up every day, when I didn't want to get out of bed because I was so sick and so depressed. But Asher was, he walked with me to school and sat with me at lunch, he was my friend and we talked, we talked a lot."
"What about you Allie," Leo said, "are you stuck with him?"
"He'll always be in my life," Allison said, "we have Everly. But as a couple I don't know. We're 18. I would marry him one day."
"But Auntie Meg and Uncle Nathan," Leo said.
"Cat found out why," Allison said, "but I promised Cat I wouldn't tell."
"Is it bad," Leo asked.
"I can't say," Allison said.
"Allie can I before I go since your out tonight," Leo asked.
"You actually want to hold Everly," Allison checked.
"She's not so bad," Leo teased.
"She's pretty great," Allison argued.
"Is this what you want," Leo asked, "staying home? Not going away to school?"
"I knew when I decided to keep her that I wouldn't go away to school," Allison said, "plus one of us needs to be here with mom."
"Mom would be fine," Leo said.
"They'd be lonely," Allison said, "I'm okay staying here with my daughter and going to school. I was never sure about going away. I don't want that like you do or Annie did. UW was always on my radar. I'm not Annie who is adventurous like mom or you who's as brave as dad."
"Annie is not adventurous," Leo said.
"At 20 she moved across a continent and to a new country on her own," Allison said, "at 19 she moved in with mom after only knowing mom a few months. You joined the army."
"It'll get me into medical school," Leo said.
"You two," Allison asked.
"Don't you," Leo asked.
"I'm doing general studies," Allison said, "I think I want to be a teacher but I don't know. If Everly is as disabled as they think she could be, who knows if I'll have time for college."
"You will," Leo said, "we can't all be Annie and do our degrees in 3 years."
"I found out how she did that," Allison said.
"How," Leo asked.
"She'd take 7 or 8 classes at once and took summer classes in her 1st and 2nd years," Allison said, "she's the one that told me to do fewer classes at once but to take summer classes to keep on track for time. She suggested 3/3 and 3 ."
"What are you doing," Leo asked.
"4/4 and 2," Allison said, "or trying to. It's hard to leave Ev. and Leo. I'm lonely. My friends are moving on."
"Ava, Olivia, Eden, Carmen, Alyssa," Leo listed.
"Alyssa and I had babies 3 weeks apart," Allison said, 'that's it. Eden and Carmen maybe. Ava and Olivia will move on. I'm too different from them now. I have Asher."
"It's not much better for me," Leo said, "maybe we're too much like mom and dad they don't have a ton of friends."
"Dr Avery and dad are friends," Allison said.
"But they don't have a lot of friends and we didn't play with their friend's kids we had Cat and Annie's kids," Leo said, "it was always family time."
"It still is," Allison said, "it just changes now right princess?"
"Princess," Leo asked.
"It's what Ash calls her," Allison smiled, "I don't have a nickname for her yet."
"You called your tummy something when I got home," Leo teased.
"Pumpkin," Allison said, "it doesn't fit her. She's not a pumpkin."
"Dating advice," Leo said.
"My friend," Allison asked.
"Eden preferably," Leo agreed.
"She's not ready, just be her friend," Allison said, "and Joshua will come first. He's her son. You have to accept that. At school, actually talk. Don't do the man grunt thing."
"Man grunt," Leo asked.
"You sound like a caveman," Allison said, "talk."
"What does Asher do," Leo asked.
"He listens," Allison said, "he's just there. He's so hands on with Ev. Even before she was born he was there. If I wanted a slurpee in the middle of the night he went and got it. He sat up with me when I couldn't sleep even if he had to get up at 5 for work or if he had worked a 14 hour day."
"14 hours," Leo asked.
"He's been doing overtime to support Ev," Allison said, "I can't work yet. Mom wants me to wait until October to go back to work. I'm still exhausted and with starting school next week. Can I do college?"
"You can," Leo said, "your smart."
"But am I college smart," Allison asked.
"You're smarter then some of the kids in my classes," Leo said.
"What rocks for jocks," Allison asked.
"One geology elective," Leo said.
"Rocks for jocks," Allison giggled.
Hearing her mom giggling Everly echoed the sound.
"Are you laughing at me princess," Leo asked.
"She is," Allison smiled, "she's a smart girl."
"She is," Leo agreed.
"She likes her uncle Leo," Allison said, "she's going to miss you."
"Just her," Leo asked.
"I will too," Allison agreed.
"You'll be busy," Leo said.
"I know," Allison said, "so will you."
"Classes and some intramurals," Leo said, "the soccer and dodgeball ones aren't bad."
"That sounds fun," Allison said.
"Will you dance," Leo asked.
"Maybe," Allison said, "mom says I should but I don't know about leaving Ev more."
"You should, you like it," Leo said.
"I need a new national," Allison said, "Ellie is wearing mine. Nana put her name in it."
"Didn't you get that from Annie," Leo asked.
"Nana made it for Auntie Meg," Allison said.
"So ditch the 40 year old costume, let Ellie wear the antique and tell mom you want a new one," Leo said.
"Who wants a new what," Teddy asked coming in the room.
"If I dance again I need a new national," Allison said.
"And a kilt jacket," Teddy said, "if and when you decide to perform we'll order."
"Are you okay mom," Allison asked.
"I'm getting old, you two," Teddy said, "can I sit with you?"
"Yes," Allison said.
"And I need baby hugs," Teddy said, "I'm old you two. I'm 65. I could retire but I would be bored and driving both of you insane if I didn't work. I don't know how to be still. I love you and I love my grandkids but I'm not ready to be home and be grandma."
"Your not old," Allison said.
"The army sent me information about using my pension last week," Teddy said.
"No," Leo said.
"They wanted to start paying it," Teddy said, "I put it off. I'm not young, you two. I was old to have a baby when I had Allison."
"How old were you," Leo asked.
"46," Teddy said, "48 when we brought you home and 49 before it was official. Then I was a grandma for the first time at 50."
"I'm a mom at 18," Allison said.
"That's the first time I've felt old," Teddy sighed, "seeing you with Everly for the first time. Annie and Ellie I didn't feel old. Somehow with you I feel old."
Allison leaned against Teddy, "I'm sorry mom."
"It's not you baby girl," Teddy said, "I'm doing things my mom never got to. She never got to talk about retiring, she never got to see me get married or hold her grandkids."
"Annie," Leo asked.
"For about 30 seconds to pass her to me but my mom had gloves on," Teddy remembered, she never actually got to hold and touch Annie. I only got about an hour with Annie and I wanted that time for her and I. My mom would have loved you two."
"Will you retire," Leo asked.
"Dad and I are talking about slowing down," Teddy admitted, "why I'm stepping back as chief. I'm tired of leading and driving change. I've taken the hospital as far as I can. It's time for someone else to lead. By Christmas they'll have appointed the new chief then a 3 month transition. I'm just going to do the parts of my job that make me happy."
"You did a lot before you had us," Allison said.
"We did," Teddy agreed, "but I've been happiest here, home with my kids, dad, my grandkids. At your age I didn't want this life but this is what makes me happiest. I've published, I've researched and I served but this my kids that's the best thing I've ever done."
"Mom stop," Allison said, "you're making me cry and I can't even blame Everly now."
Teddy put an arm around Allison, "you're a mom you get to."
"Stop being sappy," Leo teased.
"We can't help it," Allison said, "I am going to miss you Leo. I'm glad we worked it out."
"Me two," Leo agreed, "maybe I'll come home more. Princess can't forget her favourite uncle."
"You have competition for that," Allison teased.
"Josh no," Leo said, "I can take him in the cool uncle contest. He's old and Everly always cries for him."
"I know she does," Allison said, "she likes Annie though."
"Mary Poppins," Teddy laughed, "there's only ever been one kid that didn't instantly love Annie."
"Who," Leo asked.
"Cat," Teddy replied, "we think it's because her and Ellie are only a few months apart. Annie was so focused on Ellie and Megan on Cat that it took a while for Ellie and Cat to like the other baby's mom."
"As much as I like all of you I have to finish packing," Leo said.
"I thought you wanted to play with Everly," Allison said.
"I'll come to her room for a few minutes," Leo agreed.
Teddy smiled, her kids had worked it out tentatively over the baby. She knew Leo wouldn't be able to resist his niece.