Mondays were hard days for Allison. Both her parents and Asher worked. She had been hoping to work on Mondays but they hadn't found daycare yet. Maybe they could talk to Michelle and Mark but today Allison and Everly were home. She had learned that she was not a stay at home mom. She adored her daughter but after being home on the weekend Allison felt isolated and like she needed more. There was talk of her working Saturday or Sunday to reduce the need for daycare but Allison was reluctant; she liked her time with Asher days to be the three of them. She knew giving up one weekend day was a bitter pill she would have to swallow, they needed the money.
Allison had just tucked Everly in for a nap and sat down at her desk to study when Asher called.
"Hey," Allison answered her phone.
"Allie," Asher said, "I forgot my lunch. You were so sound asleep I gave Ev a bottle instead of waking you then I didn't have time to pack lunch."
"Wake me next time," Allison said, "I woke up pretty uncomfortable and mom was playing with Ev."
"I thought you might but you also needed sleep," Asher said, "you were the one up with her when she fussed all night."
"She's growing," Allison said.
"Can you bring me lunch," Asher asked.
"When does your crew eat," Allison asked.
"Noon," Asher said.
"It's 9:30 she's sleeping so we'll come after nap," Allison said, "she should be up around 11."
"90 minutes," Asher said.
"Ish," Allison said, "morning nap is shorter."
"Can you come," Asher asked.
"We will," Allison said, "I'll make sure she's cute and happy to come. What do you want for lunch?"
"Is there any of the soup your mom made yesterday," Asher asked, "my thermos should be in our cupboard."
"There is," Allison said, "I'll bring mine and have lunch with you."
"Lunch with my girls," Asher smiled, "that sounds good."
"Will they mind," Allison asked.
"I think they want to meet you," Asher said, "I have to go back to work, I'll see you soon."
"See you at lunch," Allison smiled.
She returned to studying, she had about an hour before she needed to make lunch, then she would wake Everly up and feed her daughter before going to see Asher. They had had a good morning before nap, Everly had time with her grandma, she hadn't cried doing physio for the first time and she had gone right to sleep for her nap.
Allison got to work on her math home work, it wasn't her favourite subject but she knew she needed to do it. She had a new idea. She knew her parents would be supportive if not a bit surprised she wanted to help babies like her own. She didn't know how yet, special education maybe or a pediatrician perhaps maybe a physical therapist? She was in awe of what others were able to do to help her daughter and wanted to give back one day.
Just before noon Asher saw Allison's car pull in and her take the stroller out.
"Slow down," Stewart called as Asher scrambled down a ladder, "that's how you get hurt!"
"Allie and Everly brought my lunch," Asher said.
"Going to see the girlfriend," Stewart smiled, "can I meet them?"
Allison zipped up her coat before she took Everly out of the car. The baby was in a cute outfit with tiny jeans, a white onesie and a pink hoodie under her coat. Allison lifted the baby into the stroller and tucked her in.
Asher met them at the gate to the site, "hey."
He put one arm around Allison, she leaned into him and looked up with a smile. Asher kissed her softly.
"Hey princess," Asher smiled looking into the stroller.
Everly smiled and waved her arms.
"Did you come see daddy at work," Asher asked the baby.
"Uhh," Everly cooed.
Asher scooped her out of the stroller.
"Hi princess," Asher smiled, holding her to his shoulder.
"Hey," Stewart walked over.
"Stewart this is my girlfriend Allison and our daughter Everly," Asher introduced
"Hi," Allison said, "I'm Allie."
"It's nice to meet you," Stewart said, "he doesn't stop talking about you."
Allison blushed.
"Good things," Stewart assured. He looked at the young family, he realized Allison looked a lot younger than Asher, if he hadn't been told she was 18 he would have assumed she was the same age as his own daughter, 15.
"We just brought Ash lunch," Allison said.
"Eating with us," Stewart asked.
"I have snacks for myself but we'll go home and I have homework to finish," Allison said.
"What did you get done this morning," Asher asked.
"My math problem set and half my French translation," Allison said, "I'll finish that when she naps and hopefully read for english. Most of our laundry is done. It needs to be folded but it's all clean."
"I'll fold when I get home," Asher promised, "you're home tonight?"
"Ava wanted to hang out but I don't know," Allison said, "the basement is a mess so we can't hang out down there and it seems weird to have her in our room."
"Go for coffee," Asher said.
"I'm at school tomorrow night. I don't want to miss bedtime two nights in a row," Allison said.
"We're not doing overtime today," Asher said, "I'm off at 4 meet Ava at 5."
"It's our dinner night," Allison said.
A bunch of guys approached and Asher introduced them to Allison and Everly. Everly snuggled into Asher.
"Ash, she looks cold," Allison said.
"She's okay you bundled her up," Asher said, "Allie she's good."
A few of the guys whispered about how young Allison looked.
"This is the famous Everly," the one woman on the crew said.
"It is," Asher said, "Caitlyn have you met my girlfriend Allison?"
"It's nice to meet you," Caitlyn smiled reaching to shake Allison's hand.
"You as well," Allison said.
"May I see Everly," Caitlyn asked.
"Sure," Asher said.
Caitlyn held out her arms and Asher passed her the baby.
"I remember when mine were this little," Caitlyn said.
"You have kids," Allison asked.
"2," Caitlyn replied, "put my apprenticeship on hold for a while."
"Caitlyn is a fifth year apprentice," Asher explained.
"Your almost done your first year," Caitlyn said, "pretty good to finish high school with a baby at home and done your first year."
"I've missed a few weeks though," Asher said, "I'm doing the April intake for school not the February now to make up the missed hours I need first."
"Ash," Allison sighed.
"I wasn't going to let you do it all alone," Asher countered, "it was the week and I bit I took when she was born, the week of her surgery the days I've taken to meet with physio and follow up on her surgery. It's on intake Allie it's okay. It's after your spring finals."
"You might have enough over time," Caitlyn said, "it's hours worked not days."
"I'll look into it," Asher said.
"You're in school," Caitlyn asked Allison.
"Yes," Allison replied, "general studies I'm looking at teaching special education."
"Special education," caitlyn asked.
"Our daughter has cerebral palsy," Asher said. She had caught him off guard; she hadn't mentioned special education before.
"I want to help kids like Ev," Allison said.
Caitlyn looked at the baby in her arms, "is she doing okay?"
"We've had the first surgery and she's doing okay," Allison said, "the ortho surgeon wants to try a brace or casting her leg first."
"Caitlyn stop being a baby hog," Stewart teased.
"No one else asked," Caitlyn replied.
"I want to," Stewart said, "Asher eat and stop hovering over your baby. Only Eric isn't a parent here."
"I know," Asher said.
"I brought that mexican soup that was in the fridge and a quesadilla," Allison said.
"You're the best," Asher smiled.
"We needed the outing," Allison said.
"Monday's you don't normally get out," Asher said.
"No," Allison said, "homework, laundry, cleaning our room and bathroom."
"The rest of your day," Asher asked.
"We still need our walk," Allison said, "she'll need her lunch and a nap. I have to sort out next semester's course schedule."
"Did you bring a bottle," Asher asked.
"No," Allison said, "I was planning to say hi and go home."
"You okay," Asher whispered, putting an arm around her.
"Exhausted," Allison admitted, "we weren't going to say. My plan was to drop of your lunch and say hi then go."
"I'll finish the laundry later," Asher said, "I know your mom likes the machine free by the time we go to bed tonight."
"Our bedding," Allison said.
"I'll help when I'm home," Asher replied, "Allie you're over doing it."
"I'm supposed to start working Mondays if we can find daycare," Allison said.
"My mom will," Asher replied, "she's dying for an Everly day."
"Is Ev okay," Allison asked.
"My mom has cared for sick kids before," Asher assured, "our Eden."
Allison nodded.
"Lets look at it after Christmas," Asher said, "it's too much for you right now. You're not ready. Keep the two shifts you have on Tuesday and Friday."
"I could add one weekend day when you're home with her," Allison whispered.
Everly had been being passed between Asher's co workers until she began to cry.
Asher took the baby back and held her close.
"Just being shy princess," Asher asked Everly.
"Overwhelmed," Allison said, "it's what she did at your moms."
"Sit with us while I eat," Asher asked.
"I can," Allison agreed taking the baby. Asher grabbed his lunch from the basket under the stroller.
They stayed through Asher's lunch break then Allison took Everly home for a nap and to get her homework done.
Asher got home to find Allison stretched out on the floor playing with Everly.
"Hey," Asher smiled crouching to kiss both of them.
"I want a proper kiss," Allison said standing up.
"Did you have a good afternoon," Asher asked pulling her close and kissing her passionately.
"We did," Allison smiled.
"She's in her crib," Asher asked.
"We've been trying," Allison said.
"I know," Asher said, "she's 5 months."
"Already," Allison agreed.
"You said something about special ed today," Asher said, "you hadn't told me."
"It's a thought," Allison replied, "one of a few."
"The others are," Asher asked.
"I'll tell you once she's in bed," Allison replied.
"Her bed," Asher asked.
"We'll start there, she didn't fight it last night she just ended up back in the bassinet when she wouldn't settle," Allison said, "that was from 11:30-4. She went down in the crib just fine."
"Tonight," Asher asked.
"Mom and dad are home," Allison said, "and I have homework. You're on dad duty."
"After bedtime," Asher asked.
"I still have homework and laundry," Allison said.
"I'll do the laundry," Asher agreed.
"It's in the dryer or needs to be folded and put away," Allison replied.
"I'll go shower and do it," Asher said.
"Good, you're all sweaty," Allison remarked.
That night after Everly went to bed with out a fight in her crib for the first time Allison came back down.
"When do you register for next semester," Owen asked.
"Thursday," Allison replied, "but I've been thinking about after college."
"What are you thinking," Teddy asked looking up from her book.
"I want to help families like ours," Allison said, "kids like Ev."
"How will you do that," Owen asked.
"I have a couple thoughts," Allison said.
"What are they," Asher asked.
"I'm really interested in what Jenna did and what Link is doing with Everly," Allison said.
"Medicine," Teddy asked.
"Maybe," Allison admitted, "but at the same time it's 8 years of school. I don't know if I have that time. Do I want to spend Everly's whole childhood in school?"
"What else," Owen asked, "you've talked about teaching."
"Maybe special education," Allison said, "or physical therapy. There has to be more and something easier for families then what were doing."
"Getting the news you got will never be easy for any family," Teddy said, "but there may be easier treatments in the future. We don't know because some one like you has to have a reason to fight for it."
"8 years of school," Allison said, "can I?"
"Yes," Teddy said.
"If you want it," Asher said, "we'll make it work."
"I'm thinking," Allison said, "I don't know if it's right for my family."
"Your education," Owen said, "will always be right for your family. Allison the more education the two of you have the more skills you have the more stable your family will be in the long run. You two are on a good path. You're working hard, moving forward."
"Am I smart enough," Allison asked.
"You are," Teddy assured, "baby girl you are brilliant."
"I'm not Annie," Allison said.
"You and your sister are very different people and are 25 years appart," Owen said, "that gap will always be there. She was educated differently through elementary, middle and high school and in college. The time was different they taught differently back then. Annie was educated in BC until she went to Harvard."
"I'll never get into something like Harvard," Allison said.
"Who cares," Teddy replied, "does it matter now that I went to Texas South Western and dad went to Harvard? Were you do your residency will be a bigger deal."
"Its a thought," Allison said, "but I am taking bio and chem next semester because I will need them."
"Transfer to pre med," Owen said, "you can take the courses and still apply to physiotherapy or teaching later. Physiotherapy is 2 years after college."
"I looked at it," Allison said, "next term could be heavy so I'm only going to take four again instead of going up to 5 then take 2 in the summer to catch up."
"What are you taking," Teddy asked.
"Bio, Chem, Calculus and french," Allison said, "I like my french classed and a language elective would look good for any program I apply to after."
"Allison if it takes you an extra year to get your degree that's okay," Owen said.
"But Annie," Allison started.
"I never supported her taking 8 classes at once, get out as soon as possible philosophy with college," Teddy said, "and I won't back you in doing it."
"I think 4 classes will be enough," Allison said, "chem and bio have labs."
"Work," Asher asked.
"My draft schedule for school is Monday - Thursday," Allison said, "so working Friday for sure and one other day. I think school, Ev and the 2 shifts are all I can manage then work more in the summer when I only have 2 classes."
"One summer class," Asher countered.
"I have to catch up," Allison said.
"You'll burn out," Owen said.
"The draft schedule," Teddy asked, 'how about daycare?"
"I still need you, dad, auntie Meg and Annie on your days then I'm hoping to ask Michelle for Mondays," Allison said.
"My mom will be happy to," Asher agreed.
"She can come here if it's easier for Everly," Teddy offered.
"Maybe when we move into the suite," Asher agreed.
"The school schedule munchkin," Owen prompted.
"Calculus Monday and Wednesday 9-11, French Tuesday night 7-10, Bio Tuesday, Thursday 8-10 with the lab on Thursdays from 11-1:30. Chem is Monday, Wednesday 12-2 with the lab Wednesdays 3-5:30," Allison said, "Wednesday is going to be a hard day."
"It's my day," Owen replied, "she's home. She should be on solids sometimes by then and you leave me bottles."
"I don't even really get breaks though," Allison said.
"Talk to your professors," Teddy said, "and you have an hour between things. When are you thinking of working?"
"Fridays," Allison said, "telling them I can do one day not both on the weekend and then either Monday or Thursday afternoons. Three shifts if we can. I need the money. We need the money."
"Two shifts," Teddy said, "and dad and I will continue to help this next semester."
"We can talk," Asher said, "I have an idea."
"School sounds like a good plan," Owen said, "why don't you two go talk upstairs."
The young couple made their way up to their room.
"What's your idea," Allison asked.
"I know we have the Everly account," Asher said, "and I know you have to be putting more than half of your money into it."
"75%," Allison said.
"Okay," Asher said, "what if we treat it as a family account? Our food and necessities as well as hers, so when you grab groceries to make our dinners you use that account."
"But it's not right you put more in than I do," Allison said.
"You're going to school and doing the primary parenting," Asher said, "Allison I'd rather you work less and we figure it out this way. We tried three shifts last week. You were too stressed. We don't pay rent like we should. Our budget will be tight."
"It is," Allison said.
"So we each put 75% of what we make in the Everly account," Asher said, "then when we need something for the three of us, food, rent, baby things,gas, necessities for either of us it comes out of the family account."
"Then the 25% we each keep is spending money," Allison asked.
"Lets try it," Asher said.
"It doesn't seem fair," Allison said.
"It is," Asher replied, "I'd rather do this then you keep putting things on your mom's visa."
"She said to use it," Allison said, "thats why I have the one linked to their account."
"Lets try it this way," Asher said, "we're a team Allie it's okay."
"I guess," Allison agreed, "Ash I should study but I'm tired."
"Bed," Asher asked.
"I think so," Allison agreed.
Allison got ready for bed and curled up. Asher joined her a few minutes later.
"One day would you want to," Allison asked.
"What," Asher asked.
"Do what made Ev," Allison whispered, glad to be facing away from him so he didn't see her blush.
"With you yes," Asher said, "when you're ready."
"I want to but I'm scared we can hardly handle the baby we have," Allison said.
"I have condoms," Asher said, "that's one type of protection. Have you gotten on the pill or anything?"
"Dr Deluca put a copper thing in," Allison said, "it's supposed to be good for 10 years."
"Does it work," Asher asked.
"She said it's the most reliable thing there is," Allison said, "not tonight but I want to."
"I want to Asher agreed," when you're ready."
"I don't even really remember that night and it was my first time," Allison said.
"Next time our first as a couple will be special," Asher promised, "our anniversary is coming."
"2 weeks," Allison said.
"Maybe ask someone to baby sit and we can go out for dinner," Asher suggested.
"I'm sure mom or Annie will," Allison said.
"You get a babysitter I'll figure out the rest of the plan," Asher replied.