Allison and Asher walked into Ava's back yard. Asher was trying to balance Everly's walker and the cooler with their drinks while Allison had Everly and the salad she had promised to bring.
"Oh my god," Ava screamed, grabbing Allison's hand as soon as Allison set the bowl on the table, "okay tell me everything! This is huge! Oh My God Allie!"
"Oww," Everly whined, "loud."
"Sorry princess," Ava said, kissing the top of Everly's head.
"If we put her in her walker can she wander around," Allison asked.
"There's nothing for her to really crash into," Ava said.
"Just people," Allison said.
"Our friends, they all know," Ava said.
Allison put Everly into the walker and kept an eye on her as she started to wander.
"She loves that," Ava smiled.
"She does," Allison agreed, "there's hope she'll be able to move without it. Crutches maybe or best case slowly on her own."
"Tell me," Ava said, "you've been so vague all week. When did he? How did he?"
"Last weekend," Allison smiled, "on our backpacking trip."
"Ring," Ava demanded.
Allison showed her friend her left hand.
"Holy shit," Ava shouted, "that's a real ring!"
"Yes," Allison smiled, "I love it. Ava I'm engaged!"
Ava wrapped Allison in a huge hug, "I'm so happy for you and Asher. How did he?"
"We were star gazing then there was this shooting star and I told him to make a wish and then he was kneeling and asked me," Allison said.
"What did he say," Ava asked.
"That he loves me and wants to be together for ever," Allison said.
"More than that," Ava pressed.
Allison shook her head choosing to her part of the story private.
"How was your trip," Eden asked walking over.
"Great," Allison smiled.
"He proposed," Ava said for Allison.
"What," Eden yelled, "Carmen get over here!"
Carmen ran over.
"What," Carmen asked.
"Asher asked me to marry him and I said yes," Allison squealed.
"Oh my god," Eden said.
In seconds the other three girls were hugging Allison.
"Ring," Carmen demanded.
Allison showed her friends her left hand.
"Does it match your other one," Ava asked.
"It does," Allison said, "it's perfect."
"Two rings," Eden teased.
"Promise ring I've had for 2 years then my engagement ring," Allison smiled.
"When's the wedding? Can I be a bridesmaid? What about your dress," Ava asked all at once.
"Not for a couple years," Allison said, "I want to be done college and we want to finish his apprenticeship first. I haven't made any other decisions yet," Allison said.
"Bridesmaids," Eden asked.
"I've had 5 days," Allison shook her head. She knew who she was considering but listened to Teddy and Annie when they suggested waiting until closer to to ask the other girls in case she changed her mind. Ellie and Cat were givens but the others were more complicated.
"How do you get it all," Carmen asked.
"What do you mean," Allison asked.
"Asher stayed," Carmen said, "now you're going to marry him."
"We have our own challenges," Allison said.
"I'm not competing," Carmen said, "I'm just jealous. Eden has Jonah you and Asher are going to get married. I'm single. My daughter's father doesn't respond to me at all."
"Anyone at school," Eden tried.
"Not many guys in our program," Carmen said, "and really I have a 2 year old. What guy our age or even a couple years older will be okay with that?"
"Jonah," Eden replied.
"I thought I heard Joshua call him daddy," Allison said.
"I'm not sure how I feel about it but we're living together and Jonah is the only dad figure Joshua has ever known," Eden said, "but what if?"
"Look at them though," Allison pointed to where Jonah was holding Joshua's hands as he bounced on the trampoline.
"I wanted my parents to get rid of it but my brothers still use it," Ava said.
"Joshua is enjoying it," Eden smiled, "what about Everly?"
"She's not there yet," Allison said, "we're walking though. She's in her walker here because the ground is uneven but at home on a flat level floor with nothing to bump into she's taken a few steps holding on to our hands."
"Will she walk on her own," Eden asked.
"Maybe," Allison said, "probably always the braces and the special shoes."
"Expensive," Carmen said, "Taylor's shoes are expensive."
"Her sneakers," Allison said, "we have 2 pairs. Inside and outside because she needs shoes with her braces. We're hoping as she gets older things like flats might be doable. It's a wait and see, she's just over 2."
"I can't believe they're all two," Ava said.
"Kids are two," Eden said, "Allie is getting married. We're all half way through college."
"I'm getting married sounds weirder than half way through college," Allison said, "I love it though."
"And you go away soon," Carmen said, "where?"
"London, BRighton, Paris, Landshtul and Munich," Allison said, "it's a dream trip but with my two year old it's nuts."
"Can she travel," Eden asked.
"Her drs aren't worried," Allison said, "I'm looking forward to it. There's 12 of us going."
"12," Eden asked.
"My parents, Asher, Ev and I, Leo," Allison listed, " Annie, Josh, Ellie, Matt, Henry and Heather."
"The last four," Carmen asked.
"My older sister's kids," Allison replied, "Ellie is going to 12th and Heather is going to 2nd."
"Your big sister has four," Eden said, "is she insane?"
"I question Annie's sanity a lot," Allison laughed, "she loves kids though."
"Stay at home mom," Carmen guessed.
"Annie stay home," Allison laughed, "my sister makes me look low energy and she's almost 46. She runs the kids heart center at Grey Sloan and is a cardio surgeon."
"So the whole being a doctor thing," Eden said.
"Family business," Allison said, "we'll see who gets in first Leo and I should apply at the same time. It'll be competitive who can get into the better school. Who follows mom or dad."
"What do you mean," Kristen asked, Ava still saw Kristen often but Allison hadn't seen her much since high school.
"Dad went to Harvard for med school so did Auntie Megan, Uncle Nathan, Annie and Josh," Allison said, "mom went to Texas South Western. And all of them had big name residencies."
"Where do you want to go," Kristen asked.
"Ideally UW," Allison said, "I'll apply elsewhere but Ev needs to be home and close to family. Leo is talking about following mom to Texas."
"Why not Harvard," Kristen asked.
"Annie went," Allison said, "but what's next for you?
"Finish my degree then get a job," Kristen said, "business accounting should be easy enough to find work."
"It will be," Allison said, "what are you doing? Anyone special?"
"Single," Kristen said, "guys suck. We can't all be you and Asher. Engaged at 20?"
"Together 3 years now," Allison said.
"Where is your daughter," Kristen asked.
"Over there in her walker," Allison said, "Asher has her."
"Walker," Kristen asked, "isn't she almost 2?"
"She's almost 2 and a half," Allison said, "she has cerebral palsy. She started walking in February and she's pretty confident with her walker now. We're trying with out at home. Summer plans?"
"Working and living with my parents," Kristen said, "I don't know how you stay home."
"It's cheaper," Ava said, "I spend a lot of time at school or work. I go to Allie's a lot. She has the perfect set up with the suite in her parents house."
Everly crashed and toppled over.
Allison ran to her daughter, "shh, shh it's okay princess. You're okay."
"Oww," Everly wailed.
"Where does it hurt," Allison asked, sitting on the grass and settling Everly in her lap.
"Dere," Everly said, pointing to her elbow.
"Can mommy kiss it better," Allison asked.
Everly nodded.
"I see what happened," Asher said, "your wheel got caught in a mole hole."
"Is the walker okay," Allison asked.
"Nothing I can't fix at home," Asher said, "the wheel came off. It'll take me 10 minutes."
Everly turned and buried her face in Allison's neck. Allison held the toddler close and rubbed her back soothing her.
"What happened," Ava asked walking over.
"She found a mole hole and her wheel got stuck," Asher said, "she's okay. I'm going to go put the walker in the truck."
"Would a popsicle help," Ava asked Everly.
"Yes," Everly said.
"Yes what," Allison prompted.
"Yes please," Everly said.
"I'll go get popsicles for the three kids," Ava smiled, "I bought little kid sized ones."
"Thank you," Allison smiled standing up with Everly in her arms.