Saturday morning Teddy was struggling to remember how to pin the plaid on Allison's National.
"Mama do you want me to do it," Annie offered.
"That would be great," Teddy replied.
"Why are they doing nationals first," Annie asked, "it's always highlands first."
"Annie you came," Allison said.
"I told you I wouldn't miss it," Annie replied.
"When did you get home," Teddy asked.
"Around 11:30," Annie replied.
"Are you okay," Teddy asked.
"I am," Annie replied, "do you want me to pin this?"
"Please," Teddy replied.
Annie pinned the plaid on the back of Allison's national.
"Hold on to her kilty mama," Annie said, "we'll need it for Ellie in a year."
"It's Hunt," Teddy replied.
"I know," Annie replied, "I don't want her in McKellar. And Alison is about to out grow the kilty."
"Meghan wants it for Catrina," Teddy said, "it was Megan's first one."
"I'll start look in the fall when we start lessons then," Annie replied, "Ellie can already pas de bas and high cut. She can do the first step of sword and is beginning to shed."
"Of course your daughter can dance already," Teddy smiled.
"I practice and she copied so I taught her," Annie replied.
"Ellie will will all the aggregates," Teddy laughed.
"Good thing they'll be teens before they compete against each other," Annie smiled.
"You want to do this," Teddy asked.
"I do," Annie smiled, "she's three in a couple months she's ready."
"Three already," Teddy said shaking her head.
"I know," Annie replied, "she's a little girl now. I miss my baby."
"You loved the baby phase," Teddy replied.
"I love my daughter," Annie said.
"You liked baby cuddles and the little milestones," Teddy said, "more than I did."
"You were also juggling a newer relationship and planning a wedding," Annie said, "we had been married a year before we started talking about a baby and almost two years by the time she was born."
"Your happy conventional little bubble," Teddy said.
"It's what I wanted what Josh wanted," Annie replied, "calm and loving. We want Ellie to have the calm loving support our moms couldn't give us. That's one reason we came home. It's okay for Ellie to visit grandmeres but her behavior gets worse the longer we're there. My daughter will not be rude and disrespectful."
"Strict," Teddy teased.
"I learned from major bossy pants," Annie teased.
"That's Chief bossy pants to you," Teddy laughed.
Across the gym Jillian asked, "whoes the blonde woman about our age with Teddy?"
"That could be Annie," Michelle replied, "she's the right height and did Allison's National."
"I looked up Teddy's hospital," Jillian said, "I think she runs the whole thing. She was listed as chief of surgery. It gave her resume. She finished college in 1990 and med school in 1994. She was in the army from like 2001-2015."
"She's got to be in her 50s," Michelle said, "Annie and I were the same age class at competition. But she was a champion and premier A I was pre champ or premier B."
"Let's go say hi," Jillian suggested.
The two women walked over.
"Mama people are coming over just use Grace in a dance context," Annie said.
"Allison were in hospital mode with your sister," Teddy replied.
"Grace." Allison echoed.
"Yes," Annie replied.
"Teddy it's good to see you again," Jillian greeted.
"What did you think of the field trip," Teddy asked.
"It was good until Scotty fell," Michelle said.
"Minor scrapes," Teddy said.
"There was so much blood," Michelle said.
"Two minutes to clean and put gauze on he was fine," Teddy smiled, "I've seen worse on my own kids."
"Are you Annie McKellar," Michelle asked looking at Annie.
"I was," Annie replied, "I use Grace Altman now for professional reasons."
"We competed against eachother," Michelle said, "I'm Michelle. You would have known me as Michelle Langton."
"I remember you. We were in the same cabin for a few summers of dance camp with Cassie and Alice," Annie said.
"Do you still see them," Michelle asked, "the three of you were unbeatable."
"We talk but I'm in Seattle now and their still in Vancouver," Annie replied.
"What are you doing these days. You competed until we were about 20 then totally disappeared," Michelle said.
"I'm a surgeon at Grey Sloan I quit dancing for medical school," Annie replied, "my daughter can start competing in a year so we'll be around. What about you?"
"Stay at home mom," Michelle said, "I have three kids. Do you just have the one?"
"Josh and I are happy with Ellie," Annie replied. She hated that question they had been trying for months for a second but it wasn't working.
"Is ellie dancing," Michelle asked.
"Just with me at home. She turns three in May so will start lessons in September," Annie replied.
"Weren't you world champion when we were 18," Michelle asked.
"Another life time " Annie replied.
"Your siblings danced," Michelle said, "how are they?"
"None of us are dancing. Chris is in Seattle as well flying medevac helicopters and working as a paramedic," Annie said. She wasn't ready to talk about Jessica yet.
"Your sister and my sister competed against each other," Michelle said.
"Jessica passed recently," Teddy said softly.
"I'm sorry to hear that you must miss her the three of you were so close," Michelle said.
"Thank you," Annie replied, "it was sudden. Tell me about your kids."
Michelle talked about her kids until it was time to get Allison warmed up.
"Bean let's see your sautés in first please," Annie directed.
Allison started the warm up routine.
"Lilt is first," Teddy said.
"In first," Annie said, she began to sing the tune, "step and a knee, knee, step and a knee knee, step and a knee knee point and a two three."
"Annie did you do the lilt," Allison asked.
"I did," Annie replied, "I did different steps then you do though."
"The big kid steps," Allison asked.
"Yes," Annie smiled, "the ones I do with Kira."
"Is kira coming," Allison asked.
"I saw her," Annie replied, "there going to call you we should go sit down."
Annie and Teddy walked to where Josh was sitting with Owen, Ellie and Leo.
"Me dance two," Ellie asked.
"In September when you're three," Annie promised.
"I want to dance," Ellie said.
"At home Ellie bug," Annie said.
They watched the nationals and Teddy went to change Allison to her kilt while the primaries danced. Following the primaries they called for a tots pas de bas for all the little siblings not old enough to dance. Annie walked Ellie to the stage and knelt on the edge with the teachers. Hearing the music and seeing Annie point Ellie did her 16 pas de bas in perfect time with the music. Each of the two year olds on stage was rewarded with a cupcake. Annie carried Ellie back to her seat where the little one was quickly covered in icing.
After the competition they all gathered in the highschool entryway.
"Stamps in your first beginner," Annie said, "congrats bean."
"Are you coming for ice cream," Allison asked.
"We're not," Josh said, "we need to go do somethings at home and I have to work tonight."
"Annie," Allison asked, "can you and Ellie come?"
"No we're going to go home," Annie said, "we were at grandmere's for a few days I have some stuff to do at home."
"Can I go to grandmeres," Leo asked.
"We're all going to BC in a few days," Owen replied, "but we're staying at a hotel."
"We're in the hotel for that it's too emotional," Josh said.
"I have to meet with Leslie the day before and get my rules for attending," Annie replied.
"Do you want me," Teddy asked.
"Mama I'm 32," Annie said, "I can meet Leslie for half an hour. I gave her a time limit."
"Good," Teddy said.
"Public place and Josh is going to come get me when it's time to go," Annie said, "but you're not worrying about this today. Go celebrate with Allison. Seconds and thirds in everything her first beginner thats huge. Go celebrate."
"Go relax," Teddy said.
"We're going to go home and hang out it might be a movie and ice cream night," Annie said.
"Mommy," Ellie whined, "I'm hungry."
"We'll go home for lunch," Annie said, "where's dad?"
Ellie pointed to the door.
"We will see all of you in a couple days," Annie said, "Ellie can you say goodbye."
They said their goodbyes and headed home.