"Why do people do this," an intern asked.
"Do what," Allison asked standing in the door of the scrub room.
"Get married at 17," the intern said.
"I've been with my husband since we were 17," Allison replied, "16 years, three kids."
"Why," the intern asked.
"We had our first at 18," Allison said, "still in high school."
"So you're one of those very religious types," the intern asked.
"No," Allison said, "typical unplanned teen pregnancy. My oldest is 15. I have 15, 4 and ten months."
"But why," the same intern asked, "did you marry him right away?"
"No," Allison said, "just before med school we were 22 when we got married.
"Didn't have a choice," the intern asked.
"I did," Allison said then thought, had she had a choice? When had she explored other options for her life. Ellie chose life as a single mom rather than being Caleb's last choice. But was she his first choice? Was Allison Asher's first choice? She had wondered for a few months if he only stayed for the kids. He saw younger women in his classes, women who were carefree, more attractive, thinner and she assumed without an abdomen covered in stretch marks. She had met his study group. Now he was away for four months for a co-op placement with the company he had always worked for but one of the younger women was going two. She was all of 21 to their 33 although sometimes Allison felt 50 inside.
This separation was the longest they would be apart since they were 17. Allison was a single mom of 3 kids for the next 4 months. They didn't know if or when Asher could come home for a few days and it was unlikely Allison could take the kids to him. While this could be hard Allison was also using it as an opportunity to evaluate if it's what she still wanted. It was a good trial run of being a single mom with three kids. She also had to see if her salary alone would cover their bills. She didn't want to move if she could avoid it. Asher had been told if this co-op placement went well the company would put him in a project management role that meant he would mean he was away for three weeks and home for one for most of the year, only home full time during the coldest winter months when job sites couldn't run at full capacity. They could keep the house and on weeks he was home she would stay with her parents or Annie to avoid uprooting the kids. She didn't want a marriage where her husband was away most of the time and she couldn't continue how they were. She didn't even know how to phrase it but she felt unseen, like she was taken for granted by the others in the house. Asher also was feeling more like a good friend that she shared three children with than a lover. She wanted that, what her friends talked about the I need you now, I have to be with you head over heels in love. She was 33 and had never felt that. They were content but it wasn't enough for her anymore. She didn't know what she wanted but would have to explore it herself.
"Your husband," the intern asked.
"Working out of town for the next four months in a work camp on a generator project in Alaska," Allison replied.
"Part time husband," the woman joked.
"This is a first," Allison said.
That night after the little two were in bed and Ev was in her room studying, Allison sat alone in her living room. It was quiet but she didn't mind. She wasn't sure what she wanted. It was travel day and Asher had warned her he wouldn't be in touch until he reached the remote work camp. She would hear from him tomorrow but she was trying to decide if it was out of habit or she really wanted to talk to him. She knew it would destroy him if she asked him for a separation or divorce. Carly wouldn't know the difference, Andy was young enough to adapt easily but Everly was a different story. Everly would be furious and blame Allison, even though Allison felt like the relationship may have run its course. This was something for Allison to work through with her therapist first then hopefully her and Asher could do couples counselling when he got home. She knew she wouldn't sit home for four months and do nothing, she would continue to see her friends and take her cooking class. She also knew that while she was figuring out what she wanted in life she would remain faithful. Her parents had agreed to help so she wasn't surviving solely on her own. She didn't need financial support but she did need emotional support and help driving the kids around.
Everly rolled out of her room.
"Home work done," Allison asked.
"Yes," Everly said, "were you staring at a blank TV."
"Just thinking," Allison replied.
"Mom," Everly asked, "are you and dad okay."
"We're not used to being apart like this and I don't know how I feel about it," Allison answered truthfully.
"What if dad doesn't come back from Alaska," Everly asked.
"Then we figure it out," Allison replied.
"But aren't those camps really dangerous and there's no good hospitals in Alaska," Everly shared what she had been researching.
"For the labourer side it can be really dangerous," Allison agreed, "Dad is spending 80% of his time in the office and running the job. He's not doing the physical electrical work."
"But he took his tools and his hard hat and boots," Everly stated.
"He needs his boots and hat and yes he has some of his tools but the bigger, more expensive, specialised things are still in the garage," Allison assured, "he just really cleaned them up so we didn't trip over them while he's gone."
"But if he doesn't come back," Everly pushed.
"Doesn't come back in what way," Allison questioned, unsure where her daughter was taking the conversation.
"Divorce," Everly said, "highschool sweethearts don't make it. My English teacher called it a fairy tale."
"If that happened," Allison began, "Dad and I would work together to make sure you had time with both of us and everything you needed. Life would change for all of us."
"Have you thought about it," Everly asked.
"I've given it some thought with him going away like this," Allison admitted, "but it's between your dad and I. We will always do what is best for the three of you. But when I thought of it I thought more of the dangerous side of his job up there, and how isolated the camp is with all the risks up there. And it would be hard, it would be really hard but we would eventually be okay. We would still have our house, we would eat and still have your activities. I would need more help from Annie and my parents. But those are my worries and not for you to stress about. "
"Uncle Leo," Everly asked.
"Not now," Allison replied, "they're very busy with the twins."
"We still haven't met them and they've been home for two weeks," Everly complained.
"I know you're very frustrated and disappointed with that," Allison replied, "I mentioned it to them when I dropped off milk on my way to work this morning."
"Drop off milk," Everly asked.
"Just some of our extras Carly doesn't need," Allison replied.
"Isn't that Theresa's job," Everly asked.
"Yes and no," Allison replied, "not all women can easily breastfeed and each baby is different. Twins are double the work."
"Can't you say you won't give them more until I can see Jacob and Lottie," Everly asked.
"I could but it wouldn't be the right thing to do," Allison replied, "let's give it another week or so until they've had their first vaccinations and then Leo and Theresa might be more agreeable to you visiting."
"What if I wore a mask," Everly asked.
"That's a thought," Allison agreed, "or look but don't touch. Yes they're eight weeks old but developmentally they're only 2 weeks. When babies are that early we use their due date to figure out their milestones and growth. It's called their adjusted or corrected age."
"But Andy, Carly, Ben, Hannah," Everly said.
"I know but Leo and Theresa are their parents and make the decisions," Allison replied.
"Can you ask," Everly begged.
"I have," Allison replied, "but we are going to respect the decision even though we don't agree. I'm not going to argue with them. They set that boundary and it's not ours to argue with."
"But," Everly tried.
"No," Allison replied, "we don't have to agree but we do have to respect the boundaries. Just like your dad and I speak for Andy and Carly and did for you when you were little because they don't know how to use their voices yet."
"Carly can't talk and Andy makes no sense," Everly replied.
"She's a baby and he does you just don't listen," Allison replied, "but yes he needs speech therapy. I take him while you swim Tuesday afternoons."
"How can you work and take us everywhere with dad away," Everly asked.
"I'm going to have some help," Allison admitted, "my parents, Annie and Josh, Ellie and Cat, Nisha and Frouke."
"Who will they drive," Everly asked.
"You most likely because your more independent," Allison said, "you can get dropped off at the pool or basketball or choir."
"If it's too much I'll drop something," Everly offered.
"No," Allison declared, "this is a parent issue for me to solve not you."
"I don't know if I want to play basketball," Everly said, "I think I might just focus on swimming."
"That's fair," Allison agreed, "if that's what you want. But you are finishing the season and playing your best. Why don't you want to play anymore?"
"I don't like the new coach," Everly said, "she's never needed a wheelchair or mobility aids. She doesn't get it. I liked Jackie she has a spinal cord injury and understands our issues. No one wants to play with Brittney coaching. She doesn't get it."
"This has been a big issue for you lately," Allison acknowledged, "I don't know how to help. You're looking for a really specific skill set and life circumstances."
"How will I manage college," Everly asked, "will it be just as bad as high school? What about driving?"
"Driving we need to look at with your team," Allison said, "intellectually you're fine, your visual acuity is fine. Your left is worse than your right which helps or hand controls may be an option. We want you to have that independence. Some of the AI assisted options. But I don't know. We haven't researched it yet. Colleges have accessibility offices, you work with them and your profs to do what you need to. We are going to start pulling back more with dad and I talking to your teachers and advocating for your IEP. You are going to spend the next two years taking the lead and learning to self advocate at school and medically. Once your 18 we can't do it for you. So we're going to start practising now."
Asher sat on the bus trying to ignore the classmate that had been sent up to Alaska with him. Kallee was 21 and very nieve.
"I'm trying to do an assignment," Asher said not looking up from his iPad.
Kallee scooted across the aisle to sit beside him. She put her hand on his shoulder.
"Kallee I'm not interested," Asher said firmly, "I am married. I've been with my wife for 16 years and we have three kids."
"You must not be too happy in you'r marriage if your up here for four months," Kallee said.
"I've worked for coastal for a long time I did my industrial electrician apprenticeship with them and have been a foreman on the big job sites near Seattle," Asher said, "schooling and getting my mba in project management is a formality. Allison, my wife understands this. We've had to take turns doing our training because we were young and had our first young. "
"So you worked and supported her through college," Kallee sneered.
"College, medical school and residency," Asher said proudly, "she's a pediatric orthopaedic surgeon doing research on surgical correction for hip malformations in children with mobility challenges and congenital disabilities."
"So you're a house husband to a doctor," Kallee laughed, "and she wants you out of her hair. Or is she going to miss you picking up everything she doesn't do with the kids."
"Allie is the primary parent," Asher said, "always has been. I'm happily married. I will help you figure out how to navigate the trade aspect but that is it. Go back to your seat and amuse yourself. "
"How would she ever find out with you away," Kallee said putting her hand on his cheek.
Asher stood up, "stop. Do not touch me. I am married. I'm 12 years older than you and my oldest child is only 6 years younger than you. This is not how you want to start this placement. "
"I guess I don't measure up to your fancy surgeon wifey ," Kallee whined.
Asher pushed past her and found a seat near an old buddy from his apprenticeship. The other man gave him a knowing look as he sat down.
"She's going to be trouble," James said.
"Yes," Asher agreed.
"How are Allie and Everly," James asked.
"Oh man it's been a long time since we worked together, Asher said, " we have two more. Andy is nearly four and we get back just before Carly turns one. Everly is almost 15. I'll miss Evs birthday but I have something on preorder for her that is released two days before and should arrive for her birthday. "
"Three kids," James said, "Allie let you knock her up two more times."
"Very willing participant in the younger two," Asher said, "I was good with two. Carly was her idea."
"I've only met her a few times when you fell from that beam," James said, "she was hot back then. "
"She's gorgeous," Asher agreed.
"You two still good," James asked.
"Yeah," Asher shrugged, "this is the longest we'll be apart."
Asher was feeling the same thing Allison was, distant from each other. He knew they had decisions to make when he got home. He knew she wouldn't tolerate him doing a 3 week away one week home position,she wouldn't tolerate a part time husband and he couldn't ask her to. He had to decide if he wanted to pursue his career or keep his family together. The more she accomplished professionally the more he felt like he wasn't good enough for her. He wasn't sure about how their relationship would play out going forward. They were both ambitious and neither was one to give up on their dreams. But he had learned so much from Allie and her family things about himself and what he could accomplish he never thought possible. And if he took the new position he would be a part time dad, if they split up he'd be a part time dad but he didn't want to be.
"You okay man," James asked.
"Yeah," Asher nodded
"So what's Allie doing these days," James asked, "she was in school last time we worked together."
"She's a surgeon," Asher said, "she'll work her crazy 60-70 hour weeks while I'm away. I haven't worked in 6 months so I could focus on school. It's been weird to have that flipped."
"That would be," James agreed, "at least you have that choice. My wife doesn't work. Hasn't since we got married and is pissed about this. "
"Allie isn't happy," Asher agreed, "neither are the kids."
"Grace is pregnant," James said.
"Your first," Asher asked.
"Yeah," James confirmed, "and we need the money from this to cover the medical bills insurance doesn't. How did you do it with three?"
"We have good insurance," Asher said, "and both have good policies."
"I guess being a doctor she gets some sort of deal," James said.
"Her plan is amazing," Asher agreed, "and her birthday is first in the year so we use it first."
"Four months away from your kids," James said, "I couldn't do it."
"I don't know if I'll make the full four months," Asher admitted, "away from my kids and Allie."
"We worked out of town on that damm together," James said.
"A couple months and a long weekend or two I could drive home," Asher said, "If Kallee doesn't stay away from me I will ask for a transfer back even if it puts my MBA path behind schedule."
"Just tell her," James said.
"I have been for months," Asher said, "she's met Allie."
"She doesn't get it is she that dense," James asked.
"She wants me to have an affair," Asher said, "I'm not doing that. I'm not interested and I am faithful to Allie. We've been faithful to each other since we were 17."
"That's a long time," James said.
"16 years," Asher said.
He knew he had decisions to make. They both did, things had been rocky if he was totally honest since Carly was born and Allie started her fellowship. Her work felt so superior to his and like he could never be her equal even though she insisted otherwise. It was what pushed him into the business side of electrical, if he could project manage the big jobs get his MBA and work to become a CEO or other leader in the company. He wanted to lead. His physical attraction to Allie hadn't changed, he still loved her and her brilliant mind, her drive, compassion and brilliance and how she seemed to make everything work for all of them like magic. He knew he wanted to go home to Allie, he loved her but he wasn't sure if she still felt the same.