In May Meghan found a copy of an article from a surgical journal, it was recent it was only from March! She read the authors' names twice: Theodora Altman and Nathan Riggs. They were pictured together and both looked good. A few years older than she pictured in her mind, Nathan's hair was longer and Teddy's was shorter.
She read the brief biography on both trying to get any clues about her family. Teddy's was listed first, "dr Altman lives in Seattle Washington with her husband and two daughters. She is the head of cardiothoracic surgery at Seattle grace mercy west hospital. Her research interests focus on regenerative medicine and its applications to cardiac trauma. She earned her MD at Texas south western, residency at George washington hospital in DC, and a fellowship at Mayo in Florida. She spent two years as an attending at Columbia medical center before enlisting and serving five years with medical command in Iraq and Afghanistan. In her free time she enjoys hiking, playing soccer and spending time with her husband and daughters."
Meghan smiled, Teddy was married and had two little girls. She was in Seattle hopefully she was still close to Owen and maybe just maybe she had kept her promise and reached out to Nikki.
Meghan read Nathan's next, "Dr. Nathan Riggs is the deputy head of cardiothoracic surgery at Seattle grace mercy west. His research interests include less invasive surgeries, cardiac traumas and the long term effects of cardiac surgeries. Dr Riggs received his MD from Harvard and completed his residence in Boston. He is a veteran and served 7 years with medical command in the Middle East. He continues to do humanitarian work in the Middle East for several months each year. In his free time he enjoys playing soccer, spending time with family and friends and mentoring teens and young adults."
Nathan was in Seattle. He was working with Teddy. Meghan prayed they still were friends and hopefully they had stayed connected to her mom and siblings. There was no mention of a wife or children in Nathan's bio. Nathan liked spending time with family, his parents had passed when they were in medical school. Her family was his family. They were hopefully still connected. Nathan still did humanitarian work in the middle east he was searching for her, why else would he be there.
She read the article and froze seeing two contributors names listed at the end. Dr Owen Hunt and Nicole McRae. Owen and Nikki had had something to do with it. What had Nikki been involved with? What was her sister studying that she could help? They must all be in Seattle and working together. Owen, Nathan and Teddy made sense but how did Nikki fit? Owen had ignored her, had they finally learned to get along?
She folded the pages and tucked them deep into her pocket. It was the first she had heard about anyone she loved in 7 years.
"Good article," Batool asked.
"Excellent," Meghan confirmed, it had been ground breaking but it was the short paragraphs about Teddy and Nathan that had comforted her. They looked good, Teddy looked happy. The mention of Nikki and Owen in the contributions both surprised and delighted her. It let her know that either Teddy or Nathan maybe both had kept their promise and were still connected to her siblings.
"You read the biographies a couple times," Batool noted.
This was the one person Meghan trusted.
"I knew them in the army," Meghan said.
"Well," Batool asked.
"Very," Meghan confirmed, "I was to marry him."
"What about the woman," Batool asked.
"Teddy was a good friend and my roommate," Meghan said.
"Don't tell anyone else you know them," Batool advised.
"It's been 7 years they've probably forgotten me," Meghan said with a shrug. She hoped they hadn't but knew she had been go a long time. The one she was most worried would forget her was Nikki, squirt had been so young, hardly a teenager the last time she had seen her and they hadn't actually lived in the same house since Nikki was 4 or 5.
"One more year left of school," Nikki cheered, throwing her empty backpack in her closet.
"Summer plans," Julie asked.
"Just day camp again but I'm the senior leader and responsible for all planning and get to help interview," Nikki said.
"So you're the boss," Julie asked.
"I am," Nikki said, "I'll hire you don't worry. I need to have a team I like."
"Jeff," Julie asked.
"No that doesn't work," Nikki said, "I keep meaning to dump him but I never know how."
"Jeff were done," Julie said, "I don't love you anymore I'm not happy so lets end this."
"I do love him," Nikki said, "I don't know if this is what love is supposed to feel like. He says he loves me. I love him."
"Then why are you breaking up with him," Julie asked.
"We argue a lot," Nikki said, "he doesn't always get why I want to teach, I want to make school better for kids like me that didn't fit. Give my students some one who understands them and has been there."
"Jeff only thinks about himself," Julie said, "seriously when was the last time you even chose where you went for dinner?"
"We hardly go out, student budgets," Nikki said.
"You have your settlement. I don't know why you work," Julie said.
"Because 90% of what was left after tax was locked into a trust I can't touch until I'm 30 without mom signing off on it," Nikki said, "we kept out enough for my tuition and books. I didn't want to use it to live on through school and waste it."
"Why would you do that," Julie asked.
"Because it's a house one day," Nikki said, "when I get married and am ready it's a house."
"You want to get married," Julie said.
"One day with the right guy," Nikki said, "I don't know if Jeff is the one."
"I still think he's a jerk to you," Julie said.
"I don't know," Nikki replied, "I know Owen, Teddy and Nathan don't like him but that's just them being protective and frustrating."
"They are a bit protective and opinionated sometimes," Julie said, "but they are really flexible landlords."
"They are," Nikki agreed, "I'll be in really late tonight I'm babysitting for both to work."
"Need help," Julie offered, "I have no plans."
"If you want but you know they don't pay me," Nikki said, "my babysitting time factors into our rent."
"All your babysitting reduces our rent," Julie asked, "how did I not know that?"
"It wasn't important," Nikki replied, "but I'm going to go upstairs. I have to ask Teddy something."
Nikki walked up stairs and found Teddy waiting in the kitchen.
"You wanted to talk," Teddy said.
"How do you dump a guy," Nikki asked.
"Breaking up with Jeff," Teddy asked.
"I think so," Nikki replied, "it's been a year since we had that big talk and things haven't really changed."
"Some men just can't be trained," Teddy said.
"I've tried asking, begging there's even been tears but he doesn't care," Nikki said.
"Then it's time to end it," Teddy said, "just tell him you're not happy. It's not working and it's over. Be clear and specific. Clearly tell him you're done and you do not want to see him."
"I love him though I don't know if I want to end it or if I'm doing it because Owen wants me to," Nikki said.
"You have to figure that out first," Teddy said.
"I'm frustrated with him," Nikki said, "he took a summer job on the other side of the country without talking to me. I get it a co-op position in New York is an amazing opportunity and I would have told him to go but he didn't say anything about it until after he accepted. We didn't even talk about him applying."
"You two don't communicate well," Teddy said.
"I try," Nikki said.
"I know you say it but I don't think he listens," Teddy said.
"What if no one ever loves me again," Nikki asked.
"Someone will," Teddy said, "it took me a long time to find Owen and longer for us to realize we wanted this."
"I'm pretty sure your vision didn't include his kid sister in your basement," Nikki said.
"As soon as I started to fall in love with and visualize a life with Owen I knew you and your mom would be part of it," Teddy said.
"Really," Nikki asked.
"His family always came first," Teddy said, "I knew that when I met him."
"Your part of it, he wouldn't have brought you home that first time if you weren't," Nikki said.
"I thought he felt bad because I had nowhere to go," Teddy said.
"He had to trust you to bring you home," Nikki said, "he might have been an ogre and a bully with me but I've figured out that that was just Owen being protective the only way he knew how."
"You're probably right," Teddy agreed, "Jeff what's going on there?"
"I don't know it's just not fun anymore," Nikki said.
"Relationships are work sometimes," Teddy said, "it's not easy everyday. Owen and I argue and disagree. We both do stupid things and make decisions with out talking then have to work it out."
"I've never seen or heard it," Nikki said.
"We don't fight in front of people," Teddy replied, "I get mad and I run. Owen yells. But we would never fight in front of you or our kids."
"You act like I'm one of your kids sometimes," Nikki said.
"Your our little sister but sometimes you need us to be more parental and you're 18 years younger than me," Teddy said, "I worry about you. You've never had someone show you how you should be treated. Nikki the only examples of adult relationships you've seen are me and Owen and a little of Meg and Nate."
"Like that's my fault," Nikki said.
"It's not," Teddy said, "and your mom was right to get away from your dad. But I don't think you know what it looks like when a man treats you with respect. When you hang out with us I want you to listen to the way Owen talks to me. Have you ever heard him put me down?"
"Only when you're both teasing," Nikki said, "you're both smiling and laughing when that happens."
"When we're playing," Teddy said, "trash talking soccer or surgical skills but never when we're angry or when we're fighting. When you and Jeff argue does he call you names?"
"Sometimes," Nikki said.
"Like what," Teddy asked.
"Ridiculous, silly, dramatic," Nikki said.
"You don't let him do that," Teddy said, "when does he leave?"
"Next week," Nikki said, "he wants to store his school stuff here."
"No," Teddy said, "you don't have room and he's not moving in. We said two of you down there and you and Julie just agreed to another year."
"I wasn't asking him to move in," Nikki said, "I'm not ready to live with him."
"So are you storing his stuff," Teddy asked.
"No he's taking it to his parents," Nikki replied, "I'm not ready to live with Jeff."
Owen walked in having only heard the last sentence.
"He's not moving in here," Owen said.
"I know," Nikki said, "I'm happy with my living arrangement."
"I was going to go for a run coming with me squirt," Owen asked.
"I can," Nikki said, "I'm done finals."
"Junior year finished," Owen said, giving her a high five.
"Working on my teacher training applications," Nikki said, "their due the second week of June."
"Need help," Owen asked.
"Proofreading," Nikki said.
"When you're ready just bring your computer up and I'll look," Owen said.
"I'm going to change for our run, meet you in the driveway," Nikki asked.
"Sure," Owen said.
When they knew Nikki was out of earshot Teddy said, "she asked me how to dump a guy."
"What did you tell her," Owen asked.
"To be clear and direct," Teddy said.
"Is she okay," Owen asked.
"She was pretty matter of fact about it," Teddy said.
"I'll talk to her," Owen said.
"She thinks your just being a big brother," Teddy said, "remember we're the only adult couple she's seen. I've told her to watch how you talk to me. We're not perfect but it's all she's ever seen."
Owen ran up and got changed and met Nikki in the driveway.
"Which way," Nikki asked.
"Do the big hill first," Owen suggested.
"Works for me," Nikki agreed.
They ran for a while before Nikki slowed to ask, "what would happen if I broke up with Jeff?"
"You wouldn't see him again," Owen said. "I think you would be happier."
"What if there's one out there to love me," Nikki asked.
"There is," Owen said, "you'll never meet him if you stay with Jeff."
"How did you know it was time to end it with Beth," Nikki asked.
"I met Teddy," Owen said, "the moment I became friends with Teddy I knew I couldn't stay with Beth. she was never right but she was safe and familiar. I was afraid to be alone. I didn't know if Teddy would feel the same way. Looking back Beth was manipulative and controlling. She was always angry that I was away. She said she was okay with me enlisting but then once they sent me overseas she changed her tune."
"Jeff is going away for the summer," Nikki said.
"Where is he going," Owen asked.
"New York for a co op job," Nikki said.
"Spend the summer on your own and see what happenes," Owen suggested.
"Break up with him before he goes," Nikki asked.
"Decide what you want," Owen said, "I did it wrong with Beth. I lead her on, I should have ended it months, years before I did and not in an email. If you decide to break up with him, be clear and direct and in person."
"But you can use an email," Nikki said.
"I did that wrong," Owen said, "learn from my mistake. You know what I think of him. I think you can do better. If you stay with him you'll never see who else is out there."
"Mom said your dad was her first real boyfriend," Nikki said, "Meghan and Nathan."
"Meghan dated other people first," Owen said, "we didn't bring people home from college and med school to meet you and mom unless it was serious."
"You had a couple that I remember they never liked me," Nikki said, "Nate always treated me like a person. So did Teddy."
"I noticed," Owen said.
"Beth was the worst then she was my english teacher for two years," Nikki said, "through when we lost Meghan and she made it all about her."
"She should have told the school that her and I were together," Owen said, "that was a conflict of interest and wrong ethically for her to teach you. It was one of the things that was in my complaint letter to your principal."
"How were you able to do that," Nikki asked, "only mom should have been able to."
"As soon as I was home mom put me on all of your school forms as her back up," Owen said, "they wanted you to have a second adult on the forms in case."
"Mrs. Jones next door was my emergency contact," Nikki said.
"Mom wanted me to do it," Owen said, "as much as you and I hardly tolerated each other at that point. Mom knew I would make better decisions for you if you got hurt and they couldn't get a hold of mom."
"You would have done what you did when I came in after the accident," Nikki said.
"Yep whatever it took to make sure you're okay," Owen said, "the same with Jeff, if you need help figuring it out I'm her to listen."
"Teddy and I talked," Nikki said, "boys are more her department, it's a heart issue."
"Break ups are a trauma so my job," Owen chuckled.
"Hearts are Teddy's," Nikki said, "and it's a big sister job so hers."
"You turn 21 soon any ideas," Owen said.
"Typical family dinner at moms," Nikki said.
"Maybe mom could watch the girls and Teddy and I can take you for your first drink," Oween suggested.
"I don't want to," Nikki said, "I have no interest in drinking or ever getting drunk."
"You're 21 it's legal," Owen said, "but it's your choice if you want to or not. Never let anyone force you to drink."
"I don't want to because I don't want to be like the driver who hit me," Nikki said.
"He chose to drink and drive," Owen said, "that was what he did wrong. That he drank and used drugs then drove."
"I've been to parties and seen people drunk, it just doesn't look fun," Nikki said, "they behave like Allison."
"Drunks act like preschoolers," Owen agreed.
"I never want to be like that," Nikki said, "where my friend has to take me home and tuck me in because I was too drunk to function. Do you know how many times I've had to bring Julie home get puke covered clothes off her, get vomit out of her hair and tuck her in. i never want to have to be that person."
"There's a difference between one drink in a social setting and getting totally wasted," Owen said, "when I said a birthday drink I ment one with mom, Teddy and I on your birthday. I thought we would bring a good bottle of wine to your birthday dinner and each have a glass."
"Would I be drunk," Nikki asked.
"No one glass isn't enough alcohol to get drunk," Owen said, "there are nights Teddy and I finish a bottle of wine after the girls are in bed. We're not drunk, or out of control but neither of us would drive. Your birthday if you want to have one drink with dinner we'll drive you to moms."
"But it's squishy in the backseat between the carseats," Nikki groaned.
"I know," Owen said, "we're looking at getting a van."
"You can't drive a dad mobile," Nikki teased.
"I'm not," Owen said, "keeping the truck. Teddy needs a new car anyway."
"So sticking her with the mom mobile," Nikki teased.
"We need something bigger than her car and more comfortable for a family than the truck," Owen said.
"Are you thinking of more," Nikki asked, "Amber is only like 6 months."
"7 months," Owen said, "we might we've always wanted a big family."
"Crazy," Nikki said.
"We always dreamed of three or four," Owen said, "the right guy when your done school would you?"
"One maybe two," Nikki said, "I liked my semi only child existence. I want my masters first and to have a few adventures. You got your adventures."
"We did," Owen agreed, "where would these adventures take you?"
"I want to go teach somewhere I'm really needed maybe South or Central America, Africa," Nikki said.
"Missionary work," Owen said.
"My turn to go on an adventure and change the world," Nikki said, "don't worry I'll email and call. Real emails."
"Do it squirt," Owen said, "fight illiteracy."
"I will," Nikki said, "one kid at a time."
"All you can do," Owen said, "one person at a time we can make the world better."
"I will," Nikki said, "first day camps and I'm in charge this year."
"Your chief day camp leader," Owen asked.
"Senior leader," Nikki confirmed, 'I'm excited. 80 campers and 7 staff."
"Ready to lead," Owen asked.
"I guess so," Nikki said, "I start planning days Monday, I plan for the next six weeks. So all of May and the first two weeks of June. Then a week to train the team and a week of set up as a team."
"Planning time," Owen asked.
"Plan each week of camp. I have 3 days per week of camp to prep," Nikki said, "have everything already in bins to go. It's just organization."
"You've got this," Owen said, "we should head back so Teddy can get to work."
"Thanks for this Owl," Nikki said.
Please Review
"Any time squirt," Owen said, starting to run again.