I have 4 or 5 more chapters left in this story.
After six weeks Leo and Theresa finally got to bring the twins home. They carried the carseats down the stairs to the basement suite.
"No one's descended yet," Leo joked, slightly disappointed.
"It's okay," Theresa said, thankful for some space, "it's only Allies kids that haven't met Lottie and Jacob. And I really don't want her preschooler touching everything."
"Andy is a monkey," Leo agreed, "Everly would be okay."
"She's a teenager," Theresa said, "if she was a bit stronger I'd let her babysit. When our two are bigger."
"She babysits Andy and Carly," Leo said, "not long because they don't want to parentify her but she does. Things like one is working and the other needs to run for groceries or they want to go for dinner the two of them."
"But she can use her wheelchair and a baby carrier at home to safely move Carly," Theresa said, "she can't here."
"We bring her chair down," Leo said, "she's capable and has matured a lot. She could be difficult and demanding when she was little. She was spoiled."
"They seem like minimalists," Theresa said.
"Attention and time," Leo replied, "she was an only child until she was 10 and then it got better but she still gets away with more than I did."
"Really," Theresa asked, "I thought Allie would be pretty strict."
"In some ways but not others," Leo replied.
Allison texted both, "Ev would like to meet the twins. Can we pop in for 10 minutes on our way to swimming? Ten minutes max, look but don't touch?"
Leo, knowing Theresa was exhausted and just wanted to be the four of them texted back, "we just walked through the door and they need to feed soon. Today isn't a good day. Let's try on the weekend."
Everly read the text out loud as Allison drove, "do they realise I'm used to seeing you feed Carly?"
"Everly," Allison scolded, "no. They want space. Not that he's respected it when I have a newborn but no we're not going today. I know you want to meet Lottie and Jacob but it's not a good day."
"But they're six weeks old," Everly complained, "everyone but me has met them."
"Andy and Carly haven't," Allison declared, "Matt and Henry. I know it feels like a long time but their due date is tomorrow. Biologically they're still newborns and Lottie had open heart surgery. They don't get to be a family in the NICU; the nurses do everything for them and direct everything. They have to live by the hospital schedule. It's the first time they get to be just their family. Let them enjoy it."
"Why," Everly asked.
"Because they want their space and we're not going to intrude," Allison declared.
"Please," Everly begged.
"No," Allison replied, "we're going to go to practice. You have to make some decisions about college."
"It's not like anywhere has paralympic scholarships," Everly replied.
"There might be," Allison replied, "we have to keep applying for scholarships and start looking at schools."
"I want to leave Seattle," Everly said.
"Okay," Allison agreed, "we'll have to look into scholarships for that then. You can live at home for free."
"No," Everly said, "staying here was okay for you and dad but I need to go."
"Your medical teams," Allison said.
"I'll be 18 anyway," Everly said, "I have to move to the adult side of the hospital soon anyway. I'll get referrals for the best in whatever city I go to. Only my shunt would need surgery in an emergency and any neuro surgeon can do that."
"True," Allison agreed. She didn't want Everly to go, part of her was a bit jealous that it was an option for her daughter.
"Did you ever want to go away for college," Everly asked.
"I had thought about it," Allison admitted, "but it wasn't a choice for me."
"Could Dad and I have gone with you somewhere," Everly asked.
"I'm sure we could have," Allison replied, "but it was better for you to stay here and dad having to move his apprenticeship would have been really hard if not impossible to find a company willing to sponsor him."
"Your residency," Everly asked.
"I applied but you go where you match," Allison replied, "and when your the mom you have to look at the big picture of what is best for the entire family. You three come first."
"But dad's going for three or four months for his school," Everly said, "and we can't go."
"We can't," Allison replied, "and it's going to be tough for us. I'm going to need your help a lot at home and will pay you when you babysit and for extra chores. Your usual basics and watching your siblings while I shower or make dinner are still your normal allowance."
"Why can dad go but you can't," Everly asked.
"Because dads is a few months," Allison replied, "mine would have been years. Plus through my schooling we would have had to pay rent which we couldn't afford. Dad's accommodations and food are paid for up in the camp."
"Will you and dad divorce," Everly asked, "Kallee's dad went away for a while before her parents broke up."
"Dad and I are okay," Allison said, not 100% sure she believed it, "we will talk everyday. You and dad can facetime as much as you want. And we're going to miss him. But Dad put a lot of his dreams to the side for me and my goals. You and dad both gave up a lot for me to be a surgeon. I was away from you more than I wanted to be. I've missed more than I should because I was working. What ever you want to do after highschool I will support you 100% emotionally and be your biggest cheerleader. We will support you financially as best we can."
"Meaning," Everly asked.
"We have college funds for all three of you," Allison said, "and I know my parents have something put aside for you three as well. I don't know what."
"Will Grandma and Grandpa see me finish college," Everly asked.
"They're active and healthy," Allison assured, "they will be here for a long time yet. They retired because they stopped loving medicine and wanted a slower pace."
"Nana didn't," Everly said.
"She was very very old," Allison replied, "and was sick for a long time."
They reached the pool.
"I'm going grocery shopping," Allison said, "I'll see you in an hour and a half. Have fun."
"I will," Everly replied, "bye mom."
"Bye princess," Allison smiled as the door slammed behind Everly.