Monday Teddy had breakfast in the school cafeteria with Danika and her friends. She was surprised by the sensitivity of the 14 year olds. They all lived in the same house under the watchful eye of Titania who Teddy was starting to appreciate. The house mother made sure each of her eight charges ate breakfast and was prepared for their day. Around the cafeteria students were in their school uniforms. Plaid skirts, white blouses and cardigans over ballet tights on the girls and black pants and white shirts in the boys. Teddy was starting to see the routine and discipline of the school. She liked the order and routine. Teddy knew from her time in the army that the routines and regulations gave structure when everything else felt out of control, something that you could depend on.
After her interview Teddy walked out of Richards office, "thank you very much doctor Webber."
"When can you start Doctor Altman," Richard asked.
"I need a week," Teddy said, "I have to get a couple things organized with my sister, find somewhere to live and get some things shipped here."
"You sister," Richard said.
"I have guardianship of Danika she's 14," Teddy said, "she's at the Parkridge Ballet Conservatory."
"I will have HR set up for her to be put on your medical as a dependent," Richard said, "my nephew is the same age and goes to Parkridge. He boards Monday to Friday and spends weekends with my wife and I."
"Thank you sir," Teddy replied, "I'm still getting to really know Danika. I would like to look into doing the same thing for her when I get settled. Do you know anything about their doctor?"
"He's good," Richard said, "minor things I'm comfortable with him treating, strains, sprains, strep. Anything larger I have one of our doctors do. It's a good school Dr. Altman. They take care of those kids."
"The principal seemed good," Teddy said, "this is new to me. Running the cardio department I can do. I've overseen more patients and larger teams before."
"We look forward to seeing how you make the department your own," Richard smiled.
"Thank you sir," Teddy replied.
She walked across the cat walk following the directions Owen gave her to his office and knocked on his door.
"Teddy," Owen said, throwing open the door and sweeping her into a hug.
"Owen," Teddy smiled, "I've missed you. You look good."
"So do you," Owen smiled, "coffee?"
"Always," Teddy agreed.
"How did the weekend go," Owen asked as they sat down with their coffee.
Teddy let out a sigh, "long, hard, I don't know how to be a parent."
"Do you have to be her parent," Owen asked, "or can you just be you and someone steady for her."
"Legally I have to parent," Teddy replied, "I saw the social worker before my interview. It was in dad's will that I look her if something happened to June. If they find other directions from June then it changes but I'm next of kin. She's a nice kid, I'd like to get to know her."
"What about her school," Owen asked.
"Nothing really changes that way," Teddy said, "she's going to stay at Parkridge. I'm going to change a couple things slowly. Pick up a few things she needs before I see her after class."
"Is she alright," Owen asked.
"Physically yes," Teddy rreplied, "mentally she's not doing so great. She's an orphan. We're orphans. I was crushed when our dad died and I was 30, then my mom died and I had no idea how to function. Danika is 14, she's a baby. She hardly remembers dad. We talked a bit about dad this weekend. She remembers the day trips and the outings when I was around. When dad brought her to New York to see me. Him reading to her. She remembers his last few weeks and the funeral in snippets. Me being there and my mom. My mom came at the end because that's just who she was. He had hurt her so completely but she still came because I needed her. She put aside her hurt for me and for dad. My mom cared for Danika. When dad died I had to tell Danika he was gone. June couldnt. We were in dad's hospital room and the monitors flatlined, he had lung cancer from smoking and was DNR. June was sitting in her chair sobbing, she was so upset she couldn't speak, or move or even look at Danika. So I sat on the other side of the bed with my 7 year old sister in my lap, her arms around my neck sobbing together. I had to tell her daddy was in heaven now, that he was gone."
"Teddy I didn't know," Owen said taking her hand across the table.
"It's a long time ago," Teddy shrugged, "dad would want me to be here with her. To love and take care of Dani as he called her."
"What are you going to do," Owen asked, "what do you want to do?"
"Build a life here," Teddy replied, "I got the job. Head of cardio. I'll find a two bedroom place. Give Danika a choice if she wants to live with me or stay at school or a mix of the two."
"Building your life where do I fit," Owen asked.
"Right now I need my best friend," Teddy said, "spend time with me, just be here and just be you. I've really missed you."
"I missed you two," Owen said, "I want to spend time with you Teddy."
"I'd like that," Teddy smiled.
"I want to meet Danika," Owen said.
"Not yet," Teddy said, "I think she needs more time to know and to trust me."
"When you're both ready," Owen agreed.
"For sure," Teddy agreed.
"Do you want to do dinner with me tomorrow," Owen asked.
"Are you asking me on a date," Teddy asked.
"It can be if you want it to be," Owen said, "it's just dinner we've had lots of meals together before."
"I'd like that," Teddy smiled.
"I can pick you up," Owen said.
"I'll meet you considering I'm still living at the ballet school until I find a place," Teddy said.
"Your sister," Owen said.
"Tuesday is late rehearsal night," Teddy said, "classes until 5:45 dinner at 6:15 and then back in rehearsals from 7 to 10 with the company."
"What about homework," Owen asked.
"They have study hall in the afternoon," Teddy said, "her marks are decent. I saw the report card. The curriculum is rigorous in their academic classes as well as dance."
"What does your afternoon look like," Owen asked.
"Looking at a couple places, calling the social worker back, proving I am a sane and functional adult to a 20 something fresh out of college," Teddy listed, "picking up a few things for Danika."
Teddy pulled back into the ballet school around 5:00, she had time to put stuff away before Danika would be back to change for dinner. She let herself into her sisters room and put the bags on the desk. She had just picked up some essentials that her tidying yesterday had shown her sister needed.
"What's on my desk," Danika asked as she walked into her room.
"A few things I figured out you needed or Tatiana told me you did," Teddy said.
"Teddy I'm fine isn't that what the allowance account is for," Danika said.
"Your allowance is for movies and chocolate bars, ice cream, Starbucks not essentials," Teddy said, "your allowance is for fun treats. Essentials I will cover always. You just have to tell me what you need."
"Really," Danika asked, "mom said the allowance account was for that stuff."
"How much was your mom putting in," Teddy asked.
"Ten a week," Danika said.
"I've been doing $100 a month plus your shoes," Teddy said, "why do you need so many shoes."
"My pointe shoes," Danika said, "I have to sew the ribbons on a new pair tonight."
"Can I see them," Teddy asked.
"New or old," Danika questioned.
"Both," Teddy said, "I'll sew I'm pretty good at it and you put stuff away."
"What do you sew," Danika asked.
"People," Teddy replied, "grafts onto hearts, I'm a cardiothoracic surgeon I operate on anything inside your ribs. I sew a lot of delicate human tissue. I can put satin ribbons onto satin shoes."
"The ribbons have to be in the right spot," Danika said.
"I'll use the old pair as a guide," Teddy replied.
"If your old enough for point shoes you have to be the one to sew them," Danika replied, "but my soft blocks are worn out so the shank needs to come out of my dead point shoes."
"You lost me," Teddy said.
"I have to dissect the shoes and take the wooden piece out of the sole," Danika explained, "and make sure I get all three little nails out."
Turning the shoes over I'm her hands Teddy asked, "what are these made of?"
"Inner lining is canvas but the block the hard part at the toe is basically paper mache," Danika said, "and a popsicle stick to support the arch and sole of the foot. These are double shanks so I get two popsicle sticks."
"You speak a different language sometimes," Teddy teased, "I'll sew the ribbons you put that stuff away."
Danika opens the bags finding essentials that she often did without. Everyday makeup, something she had asked to wear the day before, socks, nail polish.
"Can we do pedicures tonight," Danika asked.
"I thought we could," Teddy smiled, "do you like the colours?"
"I like drop the beet," Danika said holding up a brilliant fushia.
"I like that blue one," Teddy said.
"How did your interview go," Danika asked.
"I took the job," Teddy beamed, "I start next Monday as the chief of cardio. I'm in charge of the whole department."
Danika held up both hands for a high five, "congratulations!"
"And it's only 20 minutes away," Teddy smiled.
"I'm staying here right," Danika said.
"I'm looking at two bedroom places," Teddy said, "I would like you to come stay when your comfortable I don't want to rush you."
"What happens to my stuff at moms," Danika asked.
"We have to go get it next weekend," Teddy said, "I spoke to the landlord today. My friend Owen is going to come with us because we need his truck."
"He would do that he doesn't know me," Danika said.
"But he knows me," Teddy said, "he's my best friend and one of my favorite people on this planet. We've been friends since I enlisted."
"Your boyfriend," Danika asked.
"I wouldn't stop it if that happened," Teddy admitted, "we're going for dinner tomorrow. An actual restaurant just him and I."
"Really," Danika asked.
"I'm looking forward to it," Teddy said, "put that stuff away before dinner please."
"Why did you buy all this," Danika asked.
"I looked through your stuff when I was tidying yesterday and made a list of what you needed," Teddy said, "it's just how I am, I take care of people."
"Thank you," Danika said with a shy smile.
"What do you have planned after dinner," Teddy asked.
"I have a lot of homework," Danika said, "I didn't do any on the weekend. I still don't feel like doing it but I have to."
"You do," Teddy replied, "you can do it in the study hall or library with your friends or I can help you here."
"Can we do it here," Danika asked, "I'm tired of people."
"You've had enough of your friends today," Teddy asked.
Danika nodded.
"Then dinner and we can come back here," Teddy said, "what do you have for homework?"
"Math and anatomy have to be done tonight," Danika said.
"We'll start with those," Teddy agreed, "luckily those are my good subjects."
"You don't have to help. I can do it," Danika said.
"I want to," Teddy said.
"Mom never helped," Danika said, "the last time someone did homework with me was daddy."
"You've been independent a long time," Teddy agreed, "nine was young to come here."
"I was in a smaller house with only 4 of us the first two years," Danika said, "this is my last year in a group of 8. Next year it's 12 of us."
"Or you could be off campus," Teddy said, "and only stay here when I'm on call overnight. I need that option for you because I work overnight once a week and one weekend a month. I'll work it out with Mrs. Lachance because I need to know you're safe and supervised when I work overnight. This is our best choice."
"Can I just stay here," Danika asked.
"You can," Teddy agreed, "I would like you to come for summer break the three weeks you get off. Christmas you'll come stay and we'll make it special."
"Maybe," Danika replied.
Danika wanted to trust Teddy and that her sister really wanted her around but her sister's actions didn't match what her mom had told her. This didn't make sense. Teddy hadn't come see her in a couple years, Danika thought she didn't care. Her mom had said Teddy was too busy for her and to come see her, that she didn't like her. That Teddy only replied to Danika or called because she felt guilty and their dad had made her promise to call before he died. But when she had called her sister, Teddy came, she got on a plane and flew to Seattle for Danika, she was here, she was the only person who had sat with her and let her cry about her mom. Teddy was the only person who had given Danika a hug in that time, that didn't expect her to be normal.
