Asher pulled into the hotel parking lot as Allison got out of her car. She spotted his truck and ran over leaving Taylor slightly surprised.
"Ash," Allison yelled, jumping on him as he got out of his truck. He caught her and kissed her passionately.
"I missed you," Asher said when he broke the kiss.
"I missed you too," Allison replied.
Everly banged on her window, "mommy! Mommy! Mommy?"
Allison opened the door and lifted Everly out of her booster seat wrapping her in a tight hug.
"You're squishing me," Everly said.
"I missed you," Allison beamed at her daughter.
Taylor smiled at the family across the parking lot.
"Ev come with me and daddy is going to check into our room," Allison said, "I need to go get my bag."
"Are you staying with us," Everly asked.
"I am," Allison promised. She passed Everly her crutches noticing the walker wasn't in the back seat of the truck, "where's your walker?"
"I don't need it," Everly beamed proudly.
"What," Allison asked, they had not talked to her about this.
"She's gotten so confident on her crutches we don't need to take it everywhere," Asher clarified.
"What about when you're tired," Allison asked.
"My chair," Everly replied.
"I brought both with us," Asher assured, "we need to look at her chair."
"I know," Allison sighed.
"It's too small," Everly complained.
"When I come home I'll call the wheelchair people," Allison assured.
"I got it," Asher replied, "Allie I can do it."
"I'm just so used to taking care of it," Allison replied.
"It's good for me to do this," Asher said, "she how much you've really done for the last seven years because you do way more than I do. I thought I was involved and a hands on dad but not like you."
"We'll have to rebalance it when I start residency," Allison replied, "it's always been a bit of our trade off."
Taylor walked over, "do you guys need a hand?"
"We;re good," Asher smiled.
"Taylor, this is my husband Asher and our daughter Everly," Allison introduced, "Taylore is my roommate for the month."
"What's a roommate," Everly asked.
"Taylor and I are sharing a hotel room for the month," Allison explained.
"Like you and dad," Everly asked.
"No," Allison said, "it's like a sleepover. Like when you have one with Talia and you both have your own beds."
"Can I grab something for you," Taylor offered.
"We're good," Allison smiled, "we're going to check in then I'm going to run up and grab some stuff. Enjoy the alone time this weekend."
"No hot single intelligent guys in this town though," Taylor groaned, "and you need family time."
"We do," Allison agreed.
"I'll check in babe," Asher said, "you okay for a few minutes?"
"I'm good Ash," Allison smiled, "Ev can you come with me to get my back pack?"
Everly nodded and followed Allison.
"Everly what do you like to do," Taylor asked.
"Swimming and piano and riding," Everly replied.
"What type of swimming," Taylor asked.
"Playing in the pool not lessons," Everly said, "I want to race with the big kids."
"When you're 7 you can start the racing group," Allison replied, "in second grade. You have to be in second grade."
"But I want to now," Everly pouted.
"I've called every group in Seattle," Allison said, "they all say second "
"It's not fair," Everly said, "because I don't walk normally, they think I can't do anything."
"Everly this isn't about that," Allison assured, "they say second because thats how long it takes to get enough swimming lesson levels done. You're not in the adaptive class anymore at the pool you're too strong for that. Second grade is when you're old enough to be at the pool and in the water in bigger groups. Its for your safety."
"It's not fair," Everly complained.
"Next year," Allison promised, "they want you to finish swim kids three and start four. You just started three. You have to be able to do the front crawl."
"When do you come home," Everly asked.
"Two weeks," Allison promised, "what fun things have you and dad been doing?"
"Dad came on a horse yesterday," Everly said, "we got to go on the trail."
"Did you have fun," Allison asked.
"Yes," Everly said, "and dad lets me stay at the barn longer and brush horses."
"You love that," Allison said, "we'll see what my rotation is like when I come back to Seattle I might be able to do that with you as well."
"Can daddy come to riding every week," Everly asked.
"We'll talk," Allison assured.
Allison walked into the room and grabbed her bag.
"Is this your room," Everly asked.
"It is," Allison replied, "I'm going to come stay with you and dad for the weekend."
"Can we go swimming I saw a pool," Everly said.
"We will," Allison replied, "we'll spend tonight, tomorrow and sunday together then you and Daddy will drive home on Monday because you have school on Tuesday."
Allison and Everly met Asher at their room for the weekend.
"Wow," Allison said, "a separate bedroom?"
"For us," Asher whispered in her ear.
"Oh," Allison smiled.
They got organised in the room then walked out to the truck again.
"Where are we going," Everly asked.
"I want to show you and dad a spot we found last weekend," Allison said, "lets take a picnic dinner."
"Where do we get that," Asher asked.
"I'll drive," Allison replied, taking his keys.
"Can we go in your car," Everly asked.
"We took your booster seat out of mine," Allison said, "we'll go in the truck."
"But I can do the car by myself," Everly replied.
"We could move the seat," Asher suggested, "it's easy."
"We can do that," Allison agreed, "missing your independence missy."
"Yes," Everly replied.
"But you're helping me pack your lunch and snacks," Asher said.
"Really," Allison smiled, "what are you doing?"
"I get to pick my fruit, veggie and snack," Everly replied.
"That's a good idea," Allison smiled.
They switched the car seat between cars and Allison drove to the small town grocery store and they grabbed a few items for a picnic and drove to the viewpoint over the river.
"I missed you," Allison sighed as she leaned into Asher.
"I missed you too," Asher replied, "is this what you want Allie, working somewhere out in the middle of nowhere like this?"
"Dr Mah has offered but no," Allison replied, "I don't want rural medicine. Family practice is my backup but not so far away from everything and everyone. It wouldn't be fair to Ev here. She needs a bigger community, you wouldn't be happy here."
"Would you," Asher asked.
"I like what I've been doing mentoring some teen moms," Allison said, "being able to use our story to help and my experience."
"Would you," Asher asked.
"I'd like to keep doing it when I get home," Allison said, "maybe reach out through the school program that I did. They needed mentors a few years ago I could do a little maybe one girl."
"Hi Ms Allie," a teenager called.
"Avery," Allison smiled, "how are you?"
"Good," Avery replied, "what are you doing here?"
"This is my husband and our daughter," Allison replied, "they came to visit."
"Enjoy your night," Avery said.
"Are you doing okay today," Allison asked.
"I am," Avery replied, "I see you and Dr Mah for a scheduled appointment on Tuesday."
"I will see you then and we can have a good chat," Allison promised, "have a good night Avery."
"One of your teens," Asher asked.
"Yes," Allison smiled, "she is probably the most at risk of my kids here. I'll talk to her in the office."
"Do you like it," Asher asked.
"I do," Allison said, "but I want to be their mentor, not their doctor. They won't be as open with me as their doctor than if I'm just a friend. They need a mentor whose been there."
"That would have been nice for you," Asher said.
"For us," Allison replied, "we needed it. You needed someone as well."
"It would have been nice," Asher agreed, "your dad and Josh were helpful but I needed someone."
"I wonder if we," Allison said, "why aren't the dads more involved in the program. You should have been in the family studies class with me. You should have had that information and support been part of it."
"What's family studies," Everly asked.
"It's a class I took my senior year of high school to help get ready for having a baby and learning to be a mom," Allison said, "Eden and Carmen were in the class too thats how we met them, all the kids in play groups mom's were in that class."
"Did you take the class dad," Everly asked.
"No," Asher replied, "they only let moms take that class. You had to have a baby or be having a baby."
"Did you work instead of school," Everly asked Asher.
"I had finished all of my high school classes and started my apprenticeship when mom was taking that class," Asher replied.
"Mom goes to school and dad works," Everly said.
"When we found out about you growing in my belly dad and I were both in high school," Allison said.
"Highschool," Everly asked.
"Like Matt is now, we were in our last year of high school," Asher said, "you went to the winter formal in mom's belly and almost came to prom with us. You sat in mom's lap during our highschool graduation and crossed the stage with her to get her diploma."
"Really," Everly asked.
"Yes," Allison replied, "I was 18 when you were born. So was dad."
"But you're grown ups," Everly said.
"We were just 18," Allison said.
"But you're grown ups," Everly said.
"We are," Asher replied, "just very young grownups to have a six year old."
"Is that bad," Everly asked.
"No just different," Allison replied, "but it means we have you and I love you."
"But you came here," Everly said.
"I had to for school," Allison replied, "I'm here to work, princess. I don't want to be away from you and dad. I don't like missing you."
"When do you come home," Everly asked.
"The 15th," Allison replied, "you're here this weekend then go to Auntie Annie's birthday party next weekend and then I'm home."
"To stay," Everly asked.
"I will have to go for a few days here and there for conferences," Allison replied, "this is hopefully the longest stretch I'll be away."
"Can I come next time," Everly asked.
"No," Allison replied, "I know it's hard. I used to hate when Grandma and Grandpa would go. But it also meant special things with Nana or Auntie Annie and Uncle Josh. When I'm a doctor I have to work more and it will be more special time for you and dad. I can promise you that when I have to go away I miss you every second I'm gone."
"But I miss you," Everly said.
"It's okay to miss me," Allison assured, "this weekend we're going to have fun. Tonight we're going to go swimming then tomorrow I have something special planned. We'll spend Sunday together just the three of us."
"Taylor," Asher asked.
"She's good, quiet," Allison replied, "she does want to meet you and Everly. She goes to school with Leo."
"Anything interesting," Asher asked.
"She's had some comments and stories," Allison laughed, "none for Everly though."
"Why," Everly asked.
"Because Uncle Leo would be embarrassed," Allison said, "he can be silly sometimes."
"Uncle Leo is fun," Everly said, "when does he come back?"
"Thanksgiving," Allison replied, "we'll all be together for Thanksgiving."
"It's too far away," Everly pouted.
"Two months is a long time," Allison agreed.
They finished their picnic and went back to play in the hotel pool. Allison felt fully relaxed for the first time since she had gotten to Idaho. She was happiest with Asher and Everly.
That night after they tucked Everly into bed Allison curled up with Asher on the couch, "I missed you."
"I missed you too," Asher replied he kissed her passionately shifting them so he was on top of her.
"Ash," she whispered, "here? On the couch?"
"Yes," Asher whispered kissing the spot near Allison's ear that always made her moan.
"That feels good," Allison whispered pulling him closer to her and winding her fingers through his hair.
"I want you," Asher moaned.
"I need you," Allison replied.
The next morning Allison let herself back into the other room to grab a top she wanted.
"Some one's in a good mood," Taylor teased.
"Family time," Allison said, "I missed them."
"No you got laid last night," Taylor teased.
"What my husband and I do behind closed doors," Allison replied, "and I don't talk about this."
"I know you don't," Taylor said, "but that smile says otherwise."
"I'm happiest with them," Allison replied, "being away from them is stressful."
"She's a sweetie from what I saw," Taylor said, "you did a good job with her."
"We love her," Allison replied.
"And he's hot," Taylor teased.
"He's mine," Allison laughed, "I'm just changing my top then we're going for the day."
"Have fun," Taylor replied, "I don't know how you do it with family time and school."
"It's a lot and why I don't sleep," Allison replied, "my caffeine dependence is a direct result of it."
"Go enjoy your family," Taylor said, "I was texting your brother."
"Tell Leo I say hi," Allison replied, "and do what you have to to get him away from Charlotte."
"I will," Taylor replied.
Allison went back to the parking lot to meet her family.
"What's the adventure," Everly asked.
"Horses," Allison smiled.
"Allie," Asher questioned.
"I told you what my parents did to help with this course and so I could have an adventure well I used some of the adventure money for this," Allison replied.
"And you're just you one," Asher asked.
"Taylor and I are white water rafting next weekend," Allison said, "I'm nervous but it could be fun."
They drove to the ranch where they were to ride and Allison was surprised to see one of the teens she had been working with leading the horses out.
"I know I can't ride but I miss the horses if I don't at least come out and brush them and be with them," the girl said.
"I understand," Allison replied, "be safe Courntey."
"I will," Courntey agreed, "is this your daughter?"
"This is Everly and Asher," Allison introduced, "were going for a trail ride. The man on the phone said you had one horse that has done adaptive work."
"The pony Elsa," Courntey replied, "old but she's bomb proof. I had a cousin with mobility challenges that used to ride her before they moved to California."
"Perfect," Allison replied, "and Ev takes riding lessons once a week in a program for kids with CP so she's confident."
They helped put the saddles on like Everly did at lessons before following a man in his 70s for a ride.
"Was that good," Allison asked as Everly was lifted off the pony.
"Can we go again," Everly asked.
"You have riding on Tuesday," Allison replied, "I'm glad you liked it."
"What's next," Asher asked.
"We need one of our drives," Allison declared, "just the three of us."
"We do," Asher agreed.