"Last night," Asher whispered.
"I know," Allison sighed, "I don't want to go."
"You have to," Asher assured, "Ev and I are fine. How many times have you done it for me to work out of town. Allie we've done longer apart before."
"I'm abandoning my family to play doctor," Allison replied.
"No," Asher soothed, "Allie no. You're going to train, to learn, to study. It's a work trip just like when I've gone away."
"I don't want to go," Allison whispered.
"You have to babe," Asher said, "I'll call and text every day. We can face time a couple times a day."
"Ev," Allison asked.
"We'll be fine her and I," Asher assured, "Allie she's six she's good, we're good."
"But OT with her fine motor," Allison asked.
"I've got it," Asher assured.
"I'm scared," Allison whined, "I've never gone away by myself before."
"You went to Whitbey a couple years ago," Asher said.
"For my bachelorette," Allison said, "with friends. I'm alone. I don't know my roommate, I don't even have her name yet. I don't know how to have a roommate."
"We share a room," Asher tried.
"We're married," Allison argued, "we've shared a room since we were 18. I'm not sure how to be on my own."
"Its a month babe," Asher assured, "and I'm always going to be here."
"I'm not sure I can do it," Allison replied.
"Okay babe," Asher said, "I love you. I want you to go do this. Allie it's a step closer to being a doctor. You have this one and maybe one other?"
"A subinternship," Allison replied, "I want GSM though. I want to stay here. I can't go anywhere else. I can't do that to you and Ev."
"I will follow you wherever you have to go for your residency," Asher said, "we are a team and we'll do it. And it's a few years we'll always be able to come back to Seattle. Everly is resilient and will adapt."
"Its selfish," Allison said, "even me going to med school is on the selfish side."
"No," Asher assured, "we are a team and that means both of us following our dreams."
"Does it make me a bad mom," Allison questioned.
"No," Asher said, "you are an amazing mom. Everly will miss you but that's okay. She knows you're coming back."
"What if I can't do it," Allison asked.
"You can," Asher assured, "Allie you've got this. You're all packed. You have a full tank of gas, I did the oil change and your breaks. You are ready."
"Everly isn't," Allison replied.
"She'll be fine," Asher assured, "it's okay for her to miss you for a bit and we're going to come visit at the halfway point. You can do two weeks. We can handle two weeks."
"Two weeks feels more doable," Allison agreed.
"Ev has been your focus since we were 17," Asher said, "Allie babe go, have fun, be you. I want you to do this. I want you to go learn."
"Are you sure," Allison asked.
"I am," Asher promised, pulling her close to him, "Allie, we can do this. You should do this. I want you to go. You have to go for this, we don't have a choice. So tonight we're just us then tomorrow morning we'll all have breakfast together and you'll go."
"I don't know how to fall asleep on my own anymore," Allison whispered.
"You close your eyes and sleep," Asher said, "but tonight we get to cuddle and I can hold you all night."
"More than holding," Allison asked.
"If you want to," Asher smiled.
"I do," Allison smiled kissing him.
"You do, do you," Asher smirked.
"Last night with my very hot husband for a while yes," Allison replied kissing him passionately.
Asher deepened the kiss taking Allison off guard. Moments later she got up and led him to their room.
The next morning Allison snuggled closer to Asher, he softly kissed her hair as her head rested on his chest listening to his heart.
"I love you," Allison whispered.
"I love you too," Asher smiled into her hair. She tipped her chin up and kissed him softly.
"Mommy," Everly yelled.
Allison kissed Asher again before getting out of bed.
"Good morning," Allison smiled helping Everly out of bed, "braces?"
"Can you carry me," Everly asked.
"This morning," Allison agreed, "lets get you up and to the washroom. "
"Can I come with you," Everly asked, "I'll be really really really good."
"I'm sorry princess," Allison replied, "I have to go on my own. You and dad are going to stay here."
"I want to come," Everly pouted.
"I know you do," Allison replied, "I wish you could come."
"But I'll miss you," Everly complained.
"I'm going to miss you so much," Allison replied.
"I can come," Everly said, "we can have fun."
"No princess," Allison replied, "you're going to stay here with dad. I'm going to be working a lot."
"Please," Everly begged.
"No," Allison repeated, "we've been through this Everly."
"Mom please," Everly tried again, "I'll be really good and I won't complain."
"Everly Alexandra Grace," Allison scolded, "you have to stay here and go to school. You'd miss your friends."
"But I don't want you to go," Everly complained.
"I don't want to go either," Allison agreed, "sometimes we have to do things we don't want to do. We're going to be okay. You're home, dad is home so are grandma and grandpa. You get to go to Avery's birthday party next weekend and it's a swimming party."
"Can you come," Everly asked.
"No," Allison replied, "I'll be working. Dad is going to take you. Let's get ready for the day. Come on grandma is making us waffles."
"With chocolate chips," Everly asked.
"I asked for raspberries but I'm sure she has your chocolate chips," Allison assured.
With everyone ready for the day they walked upstairs.
"Ready munchkin," Owen asked.
"No," Allison admitted.
"Packed," Owen asked.
Allison nodded.
"Full tank of gas, brakes, oil change," Owen asked.
"That's all done," Allison replied, "it's leaving my family."
"I know," Owen replied, "it's hard. You can do it munchkin. You will be fine and so will Everly and Asher. They will okay and so will you. You can do this."
"I don't want to," Allison admitted.
"Think positive," Owen encouraged, "you're going to go meet new people, try things you've never seen and take every opportunity. Mom gave you the card?"
"Yes," Allison replied, 'but I don't want to use it if I don't have to."
"Be comfortable," Owen insisted, "Allie go have fun. It's a good opportunity."
"I know," Allison sighed.
"Go and have fun," Owen replied, "get right in there with your mentor."
"I will," Allison assured.
"Come eat baby girl," Teddy smiled, wrapping her arm around Allison.
"I'm nervous," Allison replied.
"That's okay,' Teddy replied, "you're going to go learn and have fun. What do you tell Ev?"
"Just be friendly and do your best," Allison answered.
"And that's what you're going to do," Teddy assured, "you've got this."
"I'm scared," Allison admitted.
"Then you call me and dad," Teddy replied.
"We are always only a phone call away," Owen replied.
They ate breakfast together before Asher carried Allison's suitcases to the car. She grabbed her purse and backpack. And put them on the front seat, her backseat looked empty without a carseat. Allison felt strange seeing her empty back seat, she had had a car seat there as long as she had had the car. They had needed to upgrade Asher's truck just after they got married when he could no longer repair it. But Allison's car was newer, Teddy had only had it for 3 years before they gave it to Allison. Allison had gone from a newborn car seat to the rear facing toddler seat, the forward facing preschooler one and now Everly's new booster seat. There were permanent marks on the rear passenger seat from the car seat. The car looked empty and naked without the car seat and a pair of little crutches on the floor or Everly's car activities on the organiser over the back of the driver's seat.
"It looks empty," Allison said.
"No car seat," Teddy asked, "the day you outgrew your booster seat was weird. I had carseats in my car for 8 years."
"Crutches her activity organiser," Allison replied, "there's nothing in my back seat."
"I know," Teddy replied, "but you're good. Dad has your booster seat so we each have one instead of trading it around this month."
"It's a long drive," Owen said.
"I know," Allison replied.
"You should go," Owen encouraged, 'Allison it's time."
"I know," Allison nodded.
Allison knelt on the driveway in front of Everly, "I have to go princess. I'll call you tonight."
"No mommy don't go," Everly whined.
"I have to," Allison said, "you and dad are going to have fun and I will see you in two weeks."
"Promise," Everly asked.
"I promise," Allison replied, "you and dad will come see me then."
"Are you coming home," Everly asked.
"In a month I promise," Allison replied.
"Promise," Everly asked.
"I promise," Allison assured, "I have to go princess. Can I have a hug?"
Everly gave Allison a big hug and Allison kissed her daughters cheek, "I love you princess."
"I love you too mommy," Everly replied.
Allison stood and hugged Teddy and Owen quickly.
"Have fun," Teddy smiled.
"I will," Allison replied.
"Be safe munchkin," Owen smiled.
"Always," Allison answered.
Allison hugged Asher who kissed her passionately, "I love you."
"I love you too," Allison replied.
"Text along the way," Asher said.
"I will," Allison promised. With a final hug for everyone including the dog Allison got into the car with tears in her eyes.
Teddy sniffled as Allison's car turned around the corner and out of sight.
"Mommy," Everly sobbed, "mommy come back."
"It's okay princess," Asher soothed holding Everly close.
"Why did mommy have to go," Everly asked.
"For school," Teddy said, "she has to go practice being a doctor in a place that is far away from other things. She's coming back.
"She never went before," Everly snapped.
"I know," Asher replied, "but as mommy gets closer to being a doctor she might have to go more often. She will always come back to us always, always, always."
"Moms always come back," Teddy promised.
"Princess do you want to come to the store with me," Owen tried to distract Everly.
"No I want mommy," Everly yelled.
"Ev we will go see her in two weeks," Asher promised.
"Now," Everly asked.
"No," Asher said, "we'll put a count down on the fridge. Let's go do that."
"I don't want to," Everly whined.
"You can come make chocolate cookies with me," Teddy tried offering Everly her favourite cookie.
Everly shook her head.
"Come on," Asher said, "let's go get ready and we can go swimming."
Everly let go of her crutches so she could topple over on the grass crying. Asher took his daughter in his arms and held her close. He carried her inside and sat in the rocking chair with her rocking and whispering like Allison did when Everly was upset. He was very quickly realizing that Allison was the Everly whisperer. He knew his daughter well and loved her but the way they had set up schedules and working Allison had had more time with Everly and was the primary caregiver. They rocked as Ev calmed down.
Allison tried to shake the sinking feeling as she drove. She knew she had to and she wanted to go learn but she was torn. She needed to be with her family. She wanted to be with her husband and daughter.
"She's all grown up," Teddy complained flopping on the couch.
"It's good Teds," Owen smiled, "she's good. We both did it. Annie. Leo does his after Christmas. It's a right of passage. She's missed so many of those she should have this one."
"It's just different for her," Teddy said, "added stress."
"It's time for Asher to rise to the occasion," Owen said, "he's a good dad but they don't split domestic stuff 50/50."
"I think it's part of her not working," Teddy replied.
"Med students don't work," Owen replied.
"True," Teddy answered, "most don't. Annie did and tutored a bit. I had to. Leo is a few hours a week."
"Teddy she'll be okay," Owen assured, "we knew she would leave home eventually. And she's coming back. We've had her home six years longer than I expected and have two more to go. Teddy this is good."
"I know it is but she's my baby Owen," Teddy replied, "she's never been alone never had to be. She's just now learning to stand on her own two feet. She has to learn."
"She does," Owen said, "and she'll call you crying when she's overwhelmed."
"She'll get half way there before she calls," Teddy replied, "half way and she'll panic. She didn't forget anything but she's going to worry. And as expected as Evs tantrum was I'm glad Allison didn't see it. She wouldn't have gone if she had seen the tantrum."
"She wouldn't have gone," Owen agreed, "a year maybe two of her home. She'll go when she's a resident. They don't want to be in our house forever."
"They can't," Teddy replied, "and with the money your mom left her they have a down payment."
"They do," Owen agreed, "Teddy she'll be okay. Allison will be fine."
"Everly," Teddy asked.
"Will struggle but that's okay," Owen assured, "we're here. Asher. I know she's getting extra time with Annie and Josh. Megan is going to spend time with her."
"Allison will call her every day and talk," Teddy replied.
"And you," Owen promised, "you hate being separated from Allison as much as she dislikes going with out you and Ev. You two have such a close bond."
"I've had her home the most," Teddy said, "it's different. Annie I've guided and mentored and supported but I'm not her mother in some ways. Leo and I talk a lot and I love going to teach in Texas to see him but he's closer to you. He wants to be like you."
"She's most like you," Owen said, "I see you in her."
"She's our mix," Teddy said, "it's just weird knowing she's not home and won't be for a month."
"But she will be back," Owen promised.
"She will be," Teddy agreed.