A week later Teddy and Owen walked into the office at Danika's school they were to meet with her principal first then all of her teachers.
"Dr Altman, dr Hunt, you had some concerns," the principal began.
"We do," Owen said.
"How can I help," Mrs LaChance asked.
"Our major concern is Danika's English class," Teddy began, "we have concerns about fairness with miss Whitman."
"There does appear to be some conflict between them," Mrs LaChance agreed.
"I have history with Beth," Owen said, "we dated for several years while I was doing my surgical residency and then were engaged until about 2 and a half years ago. I am aware Beth knows Teddy and I share guardianship of Danika and I believe she's trying to get back at me."
"Why would you think this is happening," Mrs LaChance asked.
"She didn't take the break up well," Owen said.
"It doesn't matter why it's happening," Teddy said, "what matters is that Danika is not getting the education she deserves."
"What would you like to see," Mrs LaChance asked.
"We need to see Danika challenged in English," Teddy replied.
"She has to be able to form and argue for her own opinion," Owen replied, "not restating Beth's. Danika should be allowed to write freely and share her opinions in class with out punishment. As much as Danika likes to dance and is a good dancer we're starting to question if this is the best possible education for her."
"For eleventh and twelfth grade English Danika will taught by Mr Strauss," Mrs. Lachance said.
"What are his qualifications," Teddy asked.
Mrs. LaChance replied, "he has an english degree from Harvard and a masters in literature from Columbia as well as his education degree from Harvard. He will be joining us in the fall and has glowing recommendations. He will be teaching AP, 11th and 12th as well as honours 10th."
"If we were to treat a patient the way Beth treats Danika it would be malpractice," Teddy said, "it's bullying. Beth knows Danika's history I've personally made it clear to her. She's not doing her job, we would like to report her for misconduct."
"We can go down that route," the principal said, looking shocked.
"We've had multiple conversations with you and with Beth and nothing has improved," Owen replied, "over the past two school years. We will do it in writing in the next couple of days. We will be writing to the school board as well as the state governing body."
"Dr Hunt that is extreme," Mrs LaChance replied.
"Pro active meetings have not made a change," Teddy replied, "we will be specifically reporting Beth Whitman for now. Failure to provide appropriate instruction, verbal and emotional abuse and professional misconduct. We've been meeting for a year and a half with no improvement. We have paid for and completed an independent assessment of Danika's abilities."
Teddy took a thick folder out of her purse.
"Why did you do an independent assessment,"
Mrs LaChance asked, "we assured you Danika was on track."
"Because what your team says is inconsistent and inconsistent with what we observe at home," Owen replied.
"May I look," Mrs LaChance asked.
"That is your copy," Teddy replied handing over the folder, "we did learn that Danika has nearly masters degree level reading comprehension and what she isn't understanding is due to age and life experience. Her math is on track for her age with stronger spatial reasoning. "
"While she's not a genius she is bright," Owen said, "she is two standard deviations above expectations in language concepts, acquisition, vocabulary, reading, grammar and writing. This is after taking into account her traumatic past and the level of language we use with her at home. It's not connecting to her grade here. We brought the psychologist who did the testing samples of Danika's essays and she did two cold writes: a story and an essay. Our only conclusion is that it's miss Whitman."
"I would like some time to read through this," Mrs LaChance replied.
"Of course," Teddy answered, "this doesn't change how we will be approaching the issue with Beth."
"Are there other adults in Danika's life that will have seen this," Mrs LaChance asked.
"My sister dr Megan Hunt," Owen replied, "and brother in law dr Nathan Riggs."
"I would like to speak to them," Mrs LaChance replied.
"I'm not adding stress to Megan right now," Teddy replied.
"The board will want to for their investigation," Mrs LaChance added.
"We will cross that bridge then," Owen said, "we are not discussing this with you further today was a warning that we will be proceeding with the formal complaint."
"I understand," Mrs LaChance said, "has Danika picked a summer program?"
"SAB in New York," Teddy answered, "she's 16 and ready. She has applied to the year round program and her success in the summer program will determine that."
"We need a commitment by the end of next week," Mrs LaChance said.
"We still haven't decided," Owen said, "there's also the apprenticeship program with PNB that she's applied to."
"There is no academic component to that one," Mrs LaChance replied.
"We are aware of that and would do an online self paced program through the Seattle school district," Teddy replied, "we would home school her with support from the teachers in the athlete development program. Our only motivation to keep Danika here is socially. Her friends are here."
"I understand," Mrs LaChance said.
"We've taken enough of your morning," Teddy said standing up.
"Thank you for coming to see me in person," Mrs LaChance forced a smile.
"They said their goodbyes and walked to the truck.
"Did we really just do that," Teddy asked.
"We have to," Owen said, "homeschooling is our last resort though."
"I don't want to, I'd rather her here or SAB first," Teddy answered.
"Here if English gets resolved," Owen replied, "it's one class."
"It feels personal," Teddy replied.
"It's about me," Owen said.
Mrs LaChance called Beth to her office.
"You wanted to see me," Beth bounced into the office.
"Tell me about your connection to Dr Hunt," Mrs LaChance said.
"We were engaged then he cheated on me with Teddy Altman," Beth said, "he cheated on me while they were in Iraq."
"So you're targeting her teenage sister," Mrs. LaChance said, "we've spoken numerous times about Danika Altman."
"Danika is not the gifted student Owen and Teddy think she is," Beth snapped, "she's an average student at best who has been given the idea that she's special."
"Its time you start looking for a new job," Mrs LaChance said.
"Are you firing me," Beth asked.
"I am strongly suggesting you look for a new position," Mrs LaChance said.
"What do you mean," Beth asked.
"Dr Altman and Dr Hunt are going to the school board about this and the state licensing agency," Mrs LaChance said, "Dr Altman brought me copies of all of the email exchanges between you and her as well as Dr Hunt. With the evidence I have I can't do anything to protect your job. Dr Altman and Dr Hunt aren't the first to come forward and this is not the first discussion we have had. I will begin a formal evaluation process on your teaching, if it is not successful your contract will not be renewed. I have hired a senior english teacher part time he would be happy to teach full time."
"So final wedding prep," Teddy said as they pulled into the caters.
"Finalizing the menu today," Owen said.
"Fish, roast beef, chicken," Teddy replied, "its a buffet."
"We need to do final tastings," Owen said.
"We did that two weeks ago today is giving them the seating arrangement and decor," Teddy replied.
Does it need to be this big," Owen asked.
"We can so why not," Teddy replied.
"Teddy it's all a bit much," Owen said.
"We have the money," Teddy replied.
"How are we doing that after the wedding," Owen asked.
"I thought we were doing a joint account," Teddy replied, "we're married. We should have done it a while ago."
"What about the money from your dad," Owen asked.
"Danika's trust is in her name with me having access and oversight," Teddy replied, "that's not touchable. I can only touch the interest."
"Yours," Owen asked.
"I took a portion and paid 75% of the house outright," Teddy replied, "I've also taken a quarter of it to set up a trust for Allison."
"Numbers," Owen asked.
"Currently 10," Teddy replied.
"Million," Owen asked.
"Yes," Teddy replied, "Dani's is about 12. She doesn't know."
"What do you want to do," Owen asked.
"I've always lived off my salary. I only touched it for Danika's education and the house," Teddy replied, "we still get money from dad's shares in the publishing company but it all goes into the trust accounts, I'm putting mine in Allison's."
"Why didn't you tell me," Owen asked.
"It hasn't mattered," Teddy replied.
"Why didn't you tell me it seems weird when you tell me everything," Owen said.
"Past relationships," Teddy admitted, "guys found out then I was their meal ticket. So I don't say anything. I won't touch it."
"Why didn't you tell me you set something up for Allison," Owen asked, "we talked about it but you never said you went through with it."
"It was a phone call and 20 minutes at the bank," Teddy said.
"When," Owen asked.
"I was on maternity leave," Teddy answered.
"A year ago," Owen said.
"About," Teddy replied.
"Teddy we're a team," Owen said, "these are the things you have to tell me. You can't keep secrets from me."
"I wasn't thinking clearly when I did it," Teddy replied, "I was trying to protect the girls."
"It's not the amounts," Owen said, "it doesn't matter to me. It explains a few things and knowing how you grew up. Danika's tuition bill that you don't bat an eye at. I just wish you would have told me that you set up one for Allison."
"I know I should have," Teddy said, "I just wanted to make sure she was taken care of."
"I know," Owen said, "the numbers surprise me. What do you want to do with it?"
"I don't think we should be using it," Teddy said, "it's not to live off of. The girl's are for their education, houses when they get old enough. I was 21 before I knew the numbers. I knew it existed and that I had it but not how much was there. It was smaller before dad passed."
"Danika," Owen asked.
"We can tell when she turns 21 and has access to it with my approval until she's 25," Teddy replied.
"Don't hide it from me," Owen asked, "please."
"I will show you the numbers at home," Teddy replied, "we're comfortable."
"Why didn't you tell me," Owen said, "the money I've been giving you for the mortgage?"
"Has been paying down the mortgage," Teddy replied, "we both have been doing that."
"We make the same amount is it my half," Owen asked.
"Yes," Teddy replied, "I would like to put your name on the house after the wedding. We can do one meeting with the lawyer and bank to put your name on the house and Allison's trust."
"If we have more kids," Owen asked.
"We will create one for them from mine," Teddy replied, "the only thing you won't have access to is Danika's."
"What if we go back to the army," Owen asked.
"I won't," Teddy replied, "you?"
"I was discharged after what happened," Owen replied, "I won't."
"Not with the kids," Teddy said, "we did that once."
"We did," Owen agreed.
"I'm glad we did," Teddy smiled, "I wouldn't have met you otherwise. We're already late, we should go in."
They got out of the truck and walked into the building to meet with the caterer's team to finalize what they could for their wedding day.
"24 more days," Teddy beamed as they drove home.
"And I can actually call you my wife," Owen said.
"And you'll be my husband," Teddy replied taking his hand.
"Hey Altman," Owen smiled, "we're getting married."
"We are," Teddy agreed, "one more decision to make."
"Which is," Owen said.
"My last name," Teddy replied.
"I assumed you were keeping Altman," Owen said, "professionally."
"We hyphenated Allisons," Teddy replied, "because it was before we were engaged. I want to hyphenate mine to match hers."
"Altman-Hunt," Owen said, "I like it. At work?"
"Keep Altman for ease at work," Teddy replied, "use it professionally and Altman-Hunt at home and socially?"
"I like it," Owen agreed.
"Our family," Teddy beamed.
"I like our family," Owen smiled.
"Even our teenager," Teddy checked.
"The four of us," Owen replied, "I told Perkins I have two kids yesterday."
"What did he say when you said one is 16," Teddy asked.
"I explained," Owen replied, "but he looked a bit confused at first."
"When we say we have two kids to make it quick but then have to explain that we have custody of my sister," Teddy shook her head.
"Legally," Owen said.
"Legally yes," Teddy agreed, "will the girls be okay with Megan?"
"We're going to be gone a week," Owen said, "it's just Mexico."
"Allison has never been away from us," Teddy replied.
"We work over night," Owen said.
"And we use the nursery or a resident," Teddy replied, "a week?"
"She's not as dependant on you," Owen said.
"She's not our baby anymore," Teddy sighed.
"She's not," Owen agreed.
"I want another one," Teddy whispered, "after the wedding."
"We can try," Owen agreed.
"After we get back," Teddy suggested.
"Why not while were there," Owen smirked.
"We could," Teddy replied, " but I'm 39."
"We'll see," Owen said, "I'm happy with our family now."
"So am I," Teddy smiled, "but I've always pictured a little boy with your hair."
"We don't decide that," Owen reminded her.
"I know," Teddy shrugged.
"Three," Owen said.
"Can we," Teddy asked.
"We can," Owen replied, "I don't like you going to New York for a week in July for a week."
"I'll get Danika settled at SAB and I have to do some meetings with Dad's business associates I've put off for far too long," Teddy said, "they need to meet Dani."
"Family vacation," Owen said, "I took that week off."
"We can try to get you on the same flight," Teddy agreed, "you and Allison. Show you where I grew up."
"Your apartment," Owen asked.
"No," Teddy said, "it was sold when my parents split. I wish they had kept it."
"The building," Owen asked.
"We can do that," Teddy agreed, "go see a few favourite places."
