"Liv when you girls go to bed please make sure Allison is on a proper bed," Amanda said.
"I will mom," Olivia rolled her eyes.
"Everything is safe for her to eat and there are teas she can have," Amanda said, "Teddy will make sure she knows what she can have."
"I can't believe you got her parents to let her sleep over," Olivia said.
"She's going to try," Amanda said, "if she's had enough or wants her own bed let her go without a guilt trip."
"I know," Olivia said, "mom, how do I support her?"
"Be her friend," Amanda said, "listen. If she's talking about the baby, share her excitement. Don't touch her bump unless she says you can."
"In the spring can we have a baby shower for her with our friends," Olivia asked.
"We can for the other girls and maybe their moms," Amanda agreed, "do you know her plans for next year?"
"She's still applying at UW," Olivia said, "she'll live with her parents."
"Teddy told me her story one time," Amanda said, "Allison is lucky her mom understands so much."
"She's been more herself the last few weeks," Olivia said.
"Morning sickness is over and she's just starting to get a little bump," Amanda said, "she should be feeling pretty good."
"I wish the whole school would stop gossiping," Olivia said.
"So do I," Amanda agreed, "but I think that's why Teddy is having her do second semester online. If she dresses right she should be okay to finish the semester."
"She's been wearing really baggy clothes," Olivia said.
"Baggy tops," Amanda asked.
"Yes," Olivia said, "we were going to go in the hot tub?"
"She can sit on the edge with her feet in," Amanda replied, "she can ask me if she's unsure."
Allison wandered into the living room snacking on an apple.
"Another one," Teddy asked.
"I feel like apples today," Allison said.
"Cravings," Teddy smiled, "it's a good one at least it's healthy. You made me want bacon. Do you want to go tonight?"
"I do," Allison said, "but the other girls want to go in the hot tub."
"You can't overheat and your so sensitive to the heat," Teddy said, "just your feet in."
"I don't want to wear a bathing suit," Allison said, "it's too obvious."
"Have you talked to Annie," Teddy asked, "your sister is a major pack rat and after Heather they were debating a 5th before deciding that mentally she had what she could manage."
"There was a bathing suit in the bins she let me go through," Allison said, "but it's momish."
"You're a mom," Teddy said, "did you try yours on?"
"Not yet," Allison said.
"Try your two piece," Teddy suggested.
"Mom," Allison said.
"Go try," Teddy said, "or call your sister."
"Why does Annie hold onto stuff like that," Allison asked.
"I don't know," Teddy said, "but that cranberry wrap around dress she bought when she was having Ellie and wore it with all four."
"It's comfy," Allison said, "and so soft."
"She hates clothes shopping," Teddy said, "so she buys online or not very often."
"And save things," Allison said.
"What are you wearing tonight," Teddy asked.
"Jeans and a shirt," Allison said.
"Is this dressier," Teddy asked, "you could wear the cranberry dress, it's cute on you."
"It hides my stomach," Allison said.
"It does," Teddy agrees.
"I'll ask Liv," Allison agreed.
"Do that then go try your bathing suit on," Teddy said.
Allison walked up stairs and tried on her bathing suit, "Mom can you come look?"
"It's okay," Teddy said, "your top and bottoms cover everything. You can see your little bump. Allison it's really there."
"I know," Allison said.
"It's cute," Teddy said, "has anyone other than you and I noticed."
"Asher," Allison said, "Annie and Nana."
"Asher," Teddy said, "whats going on there?"
"He's my boyfriend," Allison said as she pulled a pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt on
"You two have been hanging out more downstairs after dinner," Teddy said.
"We still get home work done," Allison said, "but sometimes we like to cuddle and I know dad doesn't love that."
"I think if your dad can see your hands he'll be okay," Teddy said, "cuddling and letting him hold you is a good step. Do you feel safe?"
"Yes," Allison said, "I think I love him mom."
"Take it slow," Teddy said.
"You and dad didn't," Allison said.
"But I had known him 20 years," Teddy replied, "I knew how he would react to things and his thought patterns. I knew I could depend on him because I had for years."
"How did you know he could be my dad," Allison asked.
"Knowing him as well as I did at the time he was my second favorite human," Teddy said.
"Second," Allison asked, "who was first?"
"Before I found out about you Annie," Teddy said, "then the moment I got the positive test it was a tie between my two kids."
"Where does Leo fit," Allison asked.
"Three way tie," Teddy answered.
"Mom should I want Asher to hold and kiss me," Allison asked.
"Yes," Teddy said, "he's the father of your child, your going to be attracted to him. I don't want you to make decisions you can't take back because your hormones are in control."
"Like what," Allison asked.
"I don't want you to sleep with him again," Teddy said.
"I've fallen asleep on him," Allison said.
"You know what I mean," Teddy said, "unless you are 1000% sure don't cross that line."
"Mom I love him," Allison said.
"Slow baby girl," Teddy said, "I know you're feeling some very strong feelings."
"I love him," Allison repeated.
"I know he's being an amazing friend, he's really supportive of you and he is the father of your child," Teddy said, "I don't want you to make a decision based on having a child together. Even if Steven had been a better person I wouldn't have stayed with him."
"Even for Annie," Allison asked.
"No," Teddy said, "I would have done what I had to to get along with him for her sake but no. It would have been better for her and I to be away from him. You're a lot braver than I was. Allison your doing what I wish I had the strength to do."
"If you had kept Annie you would never have met dad," Allison said.
"I wouldn't have," Teddy said, "and I wouldn't have you."
"Are you still disappointed in me," Allison asked.
"No," Teddy said, "yes I was surprised at first. Allison, you are showing a lot of strength. You're a lot braver than I was. Lets get organized for this sleep over."
"It's probably my last,' Allison said.
"Maybe," Teddy said, "take it one event at a time."
"We were all to bring a treat," Allison said, "I forgot to tell you can we stop for something?"
"That's not like you to forget," Teddy said.
"I'm forgetting a lot right now," Allison said.
"Other things on your mind," Teddy said.
"I had made brownies for tomorrow's family dinner," Teddy said, "I'll do a new batch later and go cut those up now."
"Thanks mom," Allison smiled.
"Go get ready," Teddy said, "do you have everything?"
"Bedding, pillows, clothes, pajamas, medications, vitamins," Allison said, "nail polish."
"Olivia asked you to bring your nail stuff," Teddy asked.
"She did," Allison said.
"Cute outfit and pack your bathing suit," Teddy said, "we'll go in 15?"
Teddy drove Allison to her friend's house.
"Teddy," Jillian one of the other moms said walking towards Teddy's car.
"Hi," Teddy said, "I'm just going to help Allison carry this up to the door."
"I'm surprised Allison is going tonight with what Belle told me," Jillian said.
"She's doing good so there's no reason for her not to," Teddy said.
"Is she pregnant," Jillian asked.
"She is," Teddy said.
"And what message does that send to the other girls," Jillian asked.
"She's made her decisions and a tough decision," Teddy said.
"You're okay with it," Jillian said.
"I was 20 when I got pregnant with Annie," Teddy said, "I understand what she's going though."
"College," Jillian asked.
"She's applied locally," Teddy said, "she'll go she wants to."
A third mother Michelle joined them, "Teddy I'm surprised to see you."
"Allison wanted to go," Teddy said, "I'm comfortable with Amanda being home."
"What about the rest of us not being comfortable with Allison around our daughters," Michelle said.
"I know she's young," Teddy said, "but she's doing her very best. She's really strong. She needs her friends, she needs people around her."
"The boy," Michelle said.
"They're working things out with our guidance," Teddy said.
"How are you calm with this," Jillian asked.
"We've had time to work through it," Teddy said.
"Wait how pregnant is Allison," Michelle asked.
"16 weeks," Teddy said, "she's happy, she's feeling good and wants to see her friends. I'd really appreciate if you let your girls make their own choices here."
Amanda came out, "everything okay?"
"I wish I would have known Allison would be here," Jillian said.
"She's okay," Amanda said, "she actually looks good. The four of them are already dancing around and singing."
"She needs to be a teenager tonight " Teddy said.
"The other girls," Michelle said, "what are they learning?"
"To be compassionate, empathy," Amanda said, "I'm sorry Teddy but it's a bit of what not to do. They're seeing the consequences of choosing not to be safe. They're also seeing Allison take responsibility for her choices, Asher stepping up and supporting her. I've seen them walking home from school and he's sweet with her."
"He is," Teddy said.
"Are they living together," Jillian asked.
"He's in our basement," Teddy said, "they both have to be in the house by 9:30 on school nights and their own rooms by 10:30. They get 10:30 curfew and mid night in own rooms on weekends. Theres rules and expectations. She has to keep her A average and his B. they have to graduate and get training after high school."
"Will they do it," Michelle asked.
"He graduates in January and then starts his apprenticeship as an electrician February first," Teddy said, "she's applied to every local school. She's thinking about psychology. They both have been told that unless their going to school and working they're on their own," Teddy said.
"Will she take any time to get to know her baby," Amanda said.
"We've told her to take the summer," Teddy said, "then just 2 or 3 courses in the fall."
"I'm not sure," Jillian said, "I may take Belle home."
"Please," Teddy said, "Allison has lost so many friends. She's not dancing, she's not welcome at youth group since this got out. Please, she needs her friends. She's feeling really isolated right now. Tonight she's been looking forward to it all week. I know she can't go to everything and we're not saying yes to everything. A lot is because she's working weekends at Safeway and then we are trying to make sure she's doing the other things she needs to. I know you have your reservations. I lost a lot of my friends when I had my oldest and I gave her up for adoption. It made the whole thing so much worse and harder."
"I was the first of my friends to have a baby," Michelle said, "it was lonely."
"Please have some empathy for Allison," Teddy asked.
"Okay," Jillian said.
"Amanda I'm going to go," Teddy said, "Owen wants to go out tonight it's just us."
"I'll keep an eye on her," Amanda assured.
"She'll be okay," Teddy said, "I told her she could call us at any time if she wanted."
Later that night the 4 girls went to sit in the hot tub.
"Allie, aren't you coming in," Belle asked.
"I can't overheat," Allison said, "I'm just putting my feet in."
"I don't get what the big deal is," Ava commented.
"This," Allison said pointing to her stomach.
"You have a tummy," Belle said.
"I know," Allison groaned.
"Your clothes," Ava asked.
"Still my tops but the fat pants," Allison said, "soon it'll all be fat clothes."
"So you and Asher," Ava asked.
"I don't know," Allison said, "it's all confusing."
"What's confusing," Belle asked, "you're having his baby."
"We're trying to figure out what we want for the baby and if we can be together," Allison said.
"Have you," Olivia asked.
"Obviously," Allison said.
"Since," Olivia asked.
"No," Allison said, "I want to. But I don't know if he feels the same and I look like this."
"It's not very big," Ava said, "you could still wear my clothes."
"I don't know if I like it," Allison said, pulling her towel tighter around her, "he kisses me good night now."
"You don't share a room," Ava asked.
"My dad god no," Allison said, "they check we're both in our rooms. I wouldn't be surprised if they randomly checked mine in the middle of the night. I've been up and uncomfortable and mom heard me moving around and came to sit with me."
"The kisses," Belle asked.
"Good," Allison smiled, "he's really good. I think it could be something but I don't know if he feels the same."
"Who spends his lunch with us instead of his buddies," Ava asked.
"The big question would you sleep with him again," Belle asked.
"Yes," Allison said, "maybe not now but when I'm ready. I wasn't ready that night. I was too drunk to know what I was doing. But when we kiss and cuddle and he has his hands under my shirt it feels good."
"Where has he touched," Ava asked, "come on you have to tell those of us that have never had boyfriends or been kissed."
"My stomach, under my bra," Allison said, "I like it. You've been kissed."
"Ya your brother playing truth or dare," Ava countered, "no one kisses the fat girl."
"Not fat Ava," Allison said.
"Bigger than all of you and you're pregnant," Ava said.
"Ava," Allison said, "you are gorgeous."
"Come on your the only one of us with boobs," Olivia said.
"Allie now," Belle said.
"Not liking them," Allison said, "Ava did you see the way Tyson was looking at you at school this week?"
"It's Tyson," Ava said.
"He's okay," Allison said.
"He's hot but he's a dumb jock," Ava said.
"Smarter than Jonah," Belle said.
"Jonah makes a rock look smart," Allison laughed.
"A rock," Ava asked.
"He asked if I had to hold the baby in when I went to the bathroom," Allison rolled her eyes
"That's stupid," Belle replied.
"Dumb as a rock," Allison said.
"I can't believe you only have three weeks left of school," Olivia said.
"I'm going to try to come just for french first block then go home," Allison said, "I can't get ready for the oral component on my own."
"How will you get home," Ava asked.
"Mom's letting me use her old car," Allison said, "she's getting a new one in January."
"We're all in that french class," Olivia cheered.
"We are," Allison said, "another reason it's my one class. I have Bio but mom and dad can tutor me. Next weeks winter semi formal?"
"Are we all getting ready at your house," Olivia asked.
"We are," Allison said, "what are you wearing?"
"Red, tight and strapless," belle said.
"Did you find something," Ava asked.
"Thank god for the pack rat older sister," Allison said, "it's Annie's but I like it. She wore it to some awards ceremony."
"What does it look like," Olivia asked, "your sister always looks good."
"Black, v neck and back, off the shoulder more of a fit and flare," Allison said, "red heels. Ava?"
"Royal blue, tight bodice then a full skirt, halter neck line, gold shoes," Ava smiled, "Liv?"
"Black and tight," Olivia smiled, "hot pink shoes."
"Hair," Allison asked.
"I don't know yet," Ava said.
"Updo." Allison suggested, "it's always down."
"Maybe what are you doing," Olivia asked.
"Half up," Allison said, "curled. I want to show off the earrings."
"You always have good jewelry for stuff like this," Belle said.
"I borrow," Allison admitted, "but this pair is vintage."
"What," Ava asked.
"My grandpa gave them to my grandma, my mom's parents," Allison explained, "when mom was born."
"She's letting you wear them," Belle asked.
"She is," Allison said.
They spent the rest of the night gossiping about the dance and the people they went to school with.