The family was gathered in Teddy and Owen's back yard to celebrate Allison and Asher's engagement. Annie and Chris's kids splashed in the pool while Everly scooted around the yard in her walker bumping into people's legs for attention.
Annie ran towards Allison, "Bean! You're engaged!"
"Yes," Allison smiled.
"Can I see," Annie asked, reaching for her baby sister's hand.
"Yes," Allison giggled while holding out her hand.
"Allie," Ellie yelled joining them, "can I be in your wedding?"
"Elizabeth," Annie scolded, "you don't ask that! Stop being rude!"
"Me two," Heather asked.
"Heather," Annie scolded, "you just heard me tell Ellie it was rude."
"Yes Ellie," Allison said, "I want you and Cat to be bridesmaids."
"You have time," Annie said, "don't rush."
"I know I want my niece and my cousin," Allison said, "when did you know I would be your flower girl?"
"When Josh proposed," Annie smiled, "I knew I wanted my baby sister. Ev is your flower girl?"
"Yes," Allison said, "we're thinking of a long engagement. Mom wants that."
"What do you want," Annie asked.
"I'm just enjoying this and I want to be 21 so I can have champagne," Allison said.
"It's a year," Annie said, "we planned for about 14 months. You can have wine with mama and I next week in England. Ellie can even try a glass in Germany with us."
"I can," Ellie asked.
"With us and within reason, it's 16 there," Annie replied, "dad and I looked you can have one in england at a restaurant with us. One won't hurt you where you're legal. I grew up with 19 being the drinking age not 21."
"You can be cool," Ellie asked.
"Some times," Annie agreed, "mama and I always said we would go with the laws where we were when I was younger. She would have a cider with me in BC and on special occasions at 20 would turn a blind eye to Grey or Yang giving me alcohol."
"Grey and Yang," Allison asked.
"Tequila," Annie said, "the back yard of the cottage when I finished my undergrad. Then Christina would pour me little glasses of wine for Sunday dinner or Thanksgiving once I was 20. But wedding ideas?"
"I'm thinking the summer after college," Allison said, "hopefully Ev will be more mobile by then."
In the entryway Everly rammed her walker into Nisha's leg, "baby!"
"Everly, we don't run into people for attention," Owen warned.
"Uncle Owen," Faroke said, "how many times did all of Annie's kids or Cat run to people and hug their legs? Is Ev bumping with her walker any different?"
"It hurts," Owen replied.
Nisha knelt down, "do you want to say hi to Khitam?"
"Baby," Everly smiled, "hi Kit."
"Kit and Cat," Faroke chuckled.
Nisha gave Everly a high five, "you're getting so smart."
"Where did Khitam's name come from," Owen asked.
"It was my grandmother's name," Nisha said, "we wanted to keep a connection to where we were both born. But her last name is Hunt."
"Khitam Megan Hunt," Faroke said.
"There's my princess," Megan said, coming in and taking the now 3 month old.
"Hi mom," Faroke said.
"Hi my sweet boy," Megan smiled, still looking at the baby.
"Is Allison really engaged," Catrina asked.
"She is," Owen said, "she's in the backyard. I brought the popsicle princess in for another popsicle."
"Popsicle princess," Nisha asked.
"Everly's favorite food," Owen replied.
"Spoling," Megan asked.
"Yes," Owen said, "we get to have fun spoiling Ev."
"I only get to buy toys and little pink dresses and cuddle her," Megan said, "I still haven't been allowed to babysit."
"Didn't you watch Ev this week," Owen asked.
"My own granddaughter though," Megan replied.
"Soon," Nisha promised, "my parents haven't met Khitam yet. I'm not ready to be away from her. I've been following Annie's advice. Keeping her close, baby wearing, lots of cuddles. This week she's giggling."
"Annie's good and she has the most experience," Megan agreed, "Teddy and I have only had one newborn each."
"Allison brings Everly by," Nisha said.
Everly now focused on getting her popsicle began bumping Owens leg with her walker, "pop see koo! Pop see koo!"
"Everly," Owen said, "stop running into me."
"Granpa pop see koo," Everly begged.
"When you stop running into me," Owen replied.
"Peas pop see koo," Everly tried.
"A little one," Owen agreed.
He took the toddler sized mini popsicle from the freezer.
"Those are sad looking popsicles," Faroke said.
"It's all she'll eat before she's sticky and Allison gets annoyed with me," Owen replied.
"What happened to major diamond," Megan teased.
Nisha walked out to the back yard and hugged Allison, "congratulations!"
"Thanks," Allison smiled, "I was really surprised."
"Can I see," Nisha asked.
Allison showed her hand again.
"It's gorgeous," Nisha praised.
"Where's Khitam," Allison asked, "I need tiny baby snuggles."
"Get in line," Annie teased.
"I miss tiny snuggles," Allison said.
"Yes you have the I'm two I'm grown up and independent phase," Annie said, "they come back around after about 6 months."
"She's gotten so good in her walker," Allison said, "but I miss the snuggles and falling asleep on me. Just chilling looking up at me."
"It's special and it's such a short time," Annie agreed, "would you?"
"Maybe after med school," Allison said, "we want a second one day but we're still really young there's no rush."
"I was 29 when I had Ellie," Annie agreed.
"In 9 years I'll be done med school and most of the way through residency," Allison said, "it's just age gap. Our age gap sucks."
"It's getting better," Annie tried.
"Yes my millennial big sister," Allison said.
"Gen Z really," Annie replied.
"Alpha," Allison replied, "because we're the best."
"My kids are Alpha my sister can't be," Annie argued, "and your on the cusp."
Nisha laughed seeing the common argument between the sisters.
"At least I'm taller," Allison said.
"Wiser," Annie smirked.
"Another word for old," Allison teased.
"Old," Annie asked, "really?"
"Older than me," Allison said, "not as old as mom."
"I'll allow that," Annie said, "but you're getting married."
"I am," Allison giggled.
"I'm so happy for you baby bean," Annie smiled.
"Not a baby," Allison groaned.
"Always my baby bean," Annie smiled.
Asher's family knocked on the front door.
Owen lifted Everly out of the walker and carried her over to answer it.
"Come in," Owen said, "we're all in the back yard."
"Are we late," Michelle asked.
"No," Owen said looking puzzled.
"Everly has desert," Michelle said.
"She's not drinking much water, she's going through a no water phase so popsicles are helping keep her hydrated," Owen explained.
"Hows she doing," Mark asked, "we don't see her enough."
"The kids get busy," Owen replied.
"He's finally doing the right thing," Mark commented.
"He's done the right thing all along," Owen defended, "they've stuck together and been there for Everly."
"The wedding at the church obviously," Michelle said, "Mark you'll do it?"
"They haven't made any decisions yet," Teddy smiled joining them, "it's their day. I went through it with my oldest it's their day and they will do it how they want."
"The church," Michelle insisted.
"They'll do what they want," Teddy reiterated, "we had our weddings."
"Are you serious," Michelle asked.
"I am," Teddy replied, "they will do it their way."
"But who pays for it," Michelle asked, "they can have the church for free. The sanctuary and the function room."
"We have said we will pay for her dress, the venue, food, table wine and beer," Teddy said, "we did the same for our oldest."
"No alcohol," Michelle said, "not at the church."
"They will pick the venue," Owen repeated, "something accessible for Ev."
"She can't walk," Renee sneered.
"It's coming," Owen said.
"Dad, mom," Asher said, joining them.
"Where's Allison," Michelle asked.
"In the yard with her aunt and cousins," Asher said, "they're all really excited."
"Can I be in the wedding," Catrina asked.
"Cat," Megan scolded.
"Yes," Allison said, "I want both you and Ellie as bridesmaids."
"Do we get to have one of those parties," Cat asked.
"No," Megan said, "you are not throwing a wild bachelorette. You won't be old enough. And do you want to tell your cousin why you're grounded for the rest of the month?"
"What did you do," Ellie asked.
"I had a boy in my room," Catrina said.
"In your room," Megan replied eyebrows raised.
"The door was closed," Catrina said.
"Catrina not out of my sight," Megan warned as the teenager tried to walk away.
"So Allison," Catrina started.
"You know the house rules," Megan cut her off, "they were the same for your brother."
Megan walked to where Annie was motioning for her.
"You had some drama last night," Annie commented.
"The worst part of being a single mom," Megan groaned, "Cat had Matthias in her room the door closed."
"Grounded," Annie asked.
"If it was Ellie," Megan asked.
"What's the full story," Annie asked.
"I didn't know he was there, she didn't tell me he was coming over and thought she was alone so opened her door," Megan said.
"Megan you have to knock," Annie said.
"I learned that," Megan replied, "but she was."
"I don't want to know," Annie said, "did you talk to her about being safe?"
"We have and I thought she learned," Megan said, "I thought Everly was a huge lesson for Cat and Ellie."
"Ellie dates," Annie said, "I know she's afraid of having a baby young."
"Alone in her room," Megan said.
"I don't think we can stop them," Annie said, "I was 20 but I was also taught I would go to Hell if I did before I was married."
"20 so," Megan said.
"Under grad boyfriend," Annie said, "decent guy but med school happened. Then nothing happened that way with Josh until we were living in the cottage. But we can't stop them. They will when they're ready. I've had multiple conversations with Ellie about all her birth control options. I've offered to take her, I've suggested the clinic, told her to call our family doctor."
"Do I take Cat," Megan asked.
"She's almost 16," Annie replied, "Ellie's learning to drive. Just offer and talk to her. I hope Ellie waits to make that choice but it's her choice. We've talked about making sure you really love the boy and feel safe. That you could see being together a long time."
"Where did you learn that," Megan asked.
"Mama," Annie replied, "her and I talked a lot about it when I was Allison's age. She knows you will listen. But you can't get mad. You have to control your temper with that."
"My baby," Megan said.
"Give her the info and butt out," Annie said.
"Do I have to let them in my house or her sleep over there," Megan asked.
"Your house rules and expectations stand," Annie said, "we have our house rules. Notice that this has been both your kids. I remembered Ellie and Cat were babies and you ranting about Faroke doing the same thing."
"What are you saying," Megan asked.
"I'm not sure they feel like they can just talk to you," Annie said, "I used to hide things from Leslie because she would get angry really quickly. Send him home, enforce your house rules but don't ground her for a month she's only going to learn to hide things from you."
"If it was Ellie," Megan asked.
"We'd be having a very long discussion and I might be sending her to stay with Nisha and Faroke for a couple nights to help with Khitam," Annie replied.
"You wouldn't be mad," Megan asked.
"I would be pissed," Annie admitted, "but I remember how Leslie's yelling at me made me feel so I try not to yell at my kids. I scold, I discipline but I really try not to yell."
"Sending her to help with Khitam is genius," Megan said, "get up every time Nisha does."
"And encourage Allison to be really honest," Annie said, "I know she is with Ellie and Ellie has sleepovers when Asher has to work out of town and sees that Ev still gets up at night. Ellie babysits Everly."
"Allison has never asked Catrina," Megan said, "why Ellie?"
"I think they're a bit closer," Annie replied.
"Cat's been having a hard time since Nathan and I," Megan said, "she keeps pushing boundaries."
"Maybe the two of you need some time," Annie suggested, "when was the last time the two of you did something fun the two of you?"
"Spring break," Megan guessed.
"Go do something fun then," Annie said, "a couple days just the two of you. No Faroke, Nisha and Khitam. Time just you and Cat. If you want to go to BC I can get you keys for the Whistler cabin."
"You think that will help," Megan asked.
"My kids act out and push boundaries when they're looking for connection," Annie said, "I pushed boundaries with Leslie because it made her acknowledge me. When I've gotten mad at mama especially as a resident. I still have a once a month dedicated dinner date with mama."
"Once a month you see her more," Megan said.
"I do," Annie agreed, "but we keep that and anything else we get grabbing coffee at work, fitting in a walk or a run is a bonus. I have a weekly date with each of mine one on one."
"How do you have time," Megan asked.
"I made it a priority," Annie said, "why I'm not accepting your offer to run cardio. My family, my mental health it's not going to work."
"Annie," Megan asked, "stop holding your career back. You were so competitive and driven as a resident."
"Priorities change," Annie shrugged, "I learned I didn't have to prove I'm mama's equal or yours or Owens. I do what I do well and have a great reputation but leading, running more than peds cardio I don't want it. My kids need me more."
Asher's dad pulled him aside, "can we talk?"
"With Allison," Asher replied, "you can say it to me you can say it to her."
"Why did it take so long," Mark asked, "had you proposed two years ago instead of the promise ring you would have saved all of us a lot of pain and anger."
"No I would have saved your ass," Asher replied.
"The church leadership has doubted me," mark hissed.
"Not my problem," Asher said, "you threw me out. You're here when something big happens but not day to day. "
"Your wedding needs to be in the church for your mother and my sake," Mark said.
"We will have a pastor," Asher said, "the church is not accessible for my daughter. Until you make the church accessible and safe for Everly and her walker we can't."
"But," Mark said.
"No," Asher replied, "and we're thinking two years from now. Let Allie finish college and me finish my apprenticeship."
"So long," Mark said, "you live like it now just do it."
"She wants to wait," Asher replied.
"You need to do this for your mother and I," Mark said.
"Are you helping us pay for it," Asher asked.
"No," Mark said, "you can have the church and I'll do the ceremony."
"That's not what Allie wants," Asher replied, "we're only doing this once. Dad we're supporting ourselves and Everly
"Allison," Michelle called while walking into the back yard.
"Michelle," Allison greeted.
"Congratulations," Michelle smiled.
"We're really excited," Allison beamed.
"Can I see," Michelle asked, "we had no clue he was going to propose."
"You can," Allison smiled holding out her left hand.
"It's gorgeous," Michelle praised, "have you thought of anything?"
"After college and his apprenticeship," Allison said, we need time to do it well."
"Bridesmaids," Michelle asked.
"I have a couple thoughts," Allison said, "small and people I'm really close to."
"My girls would like to be involved," Michelle said.
"The only decision so far is that Ev is our flower girl," Allison said, "I'll probably choose a couple people I'm really close to."
"Can Everly," Michelle asked.
"She will do it how she can," Allison said, "she's our daughter. She's getting so much stronger."
Nisha saw Allison getting nervous and walked over.
"Can I," Allison asked reaching for Khitam.
"Go ahead," Nisha smiled.
"I miss Ev being this tiny," Allison smiled at the baby.
"Ev was a sweet baby," Nisha agreed.
"Khitam is gorgeous," Allison praised, "those eyes. She's watching everything. She's going to be a smart one."
"How old," Michelle asked.
"Three months," Nisha smiled.
"How do you know Allison," Michelle asked.
"My husband and Allie are cousins," Nisha said, "we spend a bit of time with Allie and Ash get the girls together."
"Everly," Michelle asked.
"Loves Kit," Nisha said.
"Kit," Michelle asked.
"Everly can't quite say Khitam yet," Nisha smiled.
"Where are you from," Michelle asked.
"I was born in Iraq but grew up and went to school in Boston," Nisha explained, "Faroke and I went to med school together. I'm an Obstetrician. And he's almost done his plastic surgery residency."
"Did you deliver Everly," Michelle asked.
"No my mentor did," Nisha said, "Teddy wanted Allison to have the head of our department and I'm too close anyway. Allison and I talked a lot and she would call or text me with questions but I was emotional support. Generally we don't treat each other or each other's kids."
"Why not," Michelle asked.
"Ethics," Nisha replied, "your judgment is clouded with family. You're too close."
"Nisha, she wants her mommy," Allison said.
"You're good," Nisha replied, looking at Khitam's face.
"Ev made a very similar one," Allison smiled, "I miss that time with her. She's miss independent right now."
"I like how she greets people," Nisha laughed, taking Khitam back.
"Tell her to stop if she's bumping you," Allison said, "we're working on her not ramming people for attention. It's just like no hitting."
"I'll tell her next time," Nisha agreed.
"No rude kids," Allison said, "I wasn't allowed to be, Leo. Cat wasn't, Annie's kids."
"Khitam," Nisha replied.
"Manners are important," Michelle agreed.
"We've been working on it since she turned one," Allison said, "we couldn't do much before."
"She seems happy," Michelle said, "she was with your dad having a popsicle when we came in."
"She loves popsicles," Allison smiled.
"What kid doesn't," Michelle asked, "Asher would eat a whole box in a day if I had let him."
"Would," Allison laughed, "has. Between the two of them. I didn't get one!"
"So that's Ev's bribe," Michelle asked.
"Right now but we're trying not to use food as rewards," Allison said, "it's not a good relationship with food when she's older. I don't even like when physio or OT use m&ms as a reward. High fives, stickers not food."
"You've started potty training," Michelle asked.
"Phyiso is saying another six months," Allison replied, "she doesn't have the control or recognize it yet. We'll start by her third birthday though. I'm ready to be done with diapers."
"They add up," Michelle agreed.
"Not just that," Allison said, "the smell."
"Totally," Michelle agreed, "after the wedding another one?"
"After med school," Allison said, "it's not never but we were so young. My sister and I are 25 years apart. I'm not worried about an age gap."
"Leo," Michelle asked.
"Adopted when he was 2 and I was 1," Allison said, "we're not ready. Ev isn't ready yet."
"You're good parents," Michelle said, "I wish we saw all of you more."
"We're busy," Allison said, "we go away next week and are gone for 2."
"And you have something tomorrow," Michelle asked.
"They convinced me to do a highland games. I haven't done a competition in three years but," Allison said.
"Go have fun," Michelle smiled.
"I will," Allison agreed.