Almost a week after arriving in Seattle Teddy had her first OB appointment with Carina Deluca. Teddy instantly liked the Italian woman. She was clear and direct.
"Do you want to see your bambino ," Carina asked.
"Please," Teddy said.
Carina turned the screen to Teddy, "there is your baby."
Teddy teared up, "they've grown."
"You've had an ultrasound already, " Carina asked.
"To confirm the pregnancy," Teddy said, "the machine we had in Iraq wasn't great."
"Iraq," Carina said, "you said you were military."
"I was on active duty in Iraq until a week ago," Teddy said.
"This bambino's father," Carina asked.
"We met over there. Owen is still there," Teddy answered, "can I get copies of today's images to send him."
"Have you been together long," Carina asked.
"As a couple about three months," Teddy replied, "but friends for the last 5 years. He's my best friend first."
"And do you have family close," Carina asked.
"My sister is in Seattle," Teddy said, "I'm staying with his mom, step father and step sister while I apply for jobs and find something."
Teddy took the cloth Carina offered her and wiped off her stomach before pulling down her her shirt and sitting up.
"What do you do," Carina asked.
"I'm a cardio thoracic surgeon," Teddy said.
"We need a head of cardiothoracic surgery," Carina said.
"I'll apply," Teddy said.
"This bambino was it planned," Carina asked.
"No," Teddy replied, "we were really surprised."
"Do you want to talk about options," Carnia asked.
"No," Teddy said, "we're keeping the baby. Owen gets home in February and we'll be a family."
"They look healthy," Carina confirmed, "your blood pressure is a little low. How are you doing?"
"I'm just getting over jet lag and have been having pretty bad morning sickness this week," Teddy said, "I think it's just stress."
"Are you staying hydrated," Carina asked.
"I'm trying," Teddy said, "it's food that's harder."
"Have you tried anything," Carina asked.
"Apples, Bananas, Rice, Crackers, Toast, Yogurt, Chicken," Teddy replied, "Owen's mom suggested ginger candies and ginger tea. They help a little."
"I can give you something for the nausea," Carina offered.
"I'd like that," Teddy said.
Carina wrote the prescription and handed it to Teddy.
"I'll see you in a month and we can do another ultrasound then, then at 20 weeks," Carina said.
"Thank you Dr. Deluca," Teddy smiled standing up.
Teddy walked out of the hospital and to her car. She checked the directions she had for going to get Amanda from school, she figured if she wasn't working she would at least help out around the house.
"How was school," Teddy asked trying to make conversation.
"Okay," Amanda shrugged.
"Lots of weekend homework," Teddy asked.
"Geography and math," Amanda replied, "I had tests in all my other classes today, even gym."
"How do you have a gym test," Teddy asked.
"It's health right now and awkward Mr B is old it's weird ," Amanda said, " the test was multiple choice. How was your day?"
"I walked Sammy this morning and I went to the doctor," Teddy replied, "I got to see your niece or nephew."
"Are they cute," Amanda asked.
"They don't really look like a person yet but they will soon," Teddy smiled, "they looked good."
"Did you bring pictures," Amanda asked.
"When we get home," Teddy replied, "I'm going to send them to your brother."
"Not really my brother," Amanda said.
"Would be if you let him," Teddy replied, "he likes you. We care."
"How can you care if you don't know me," Amanda said.
"I pay attention," Teddy smiled, "you're not as invisible as you're trying to be."
"It just doesn't matter," Amanda shrugged.
"It does to me," Teddy tried, "Manda I know it's hard and you feel alone."
"Did your mom choose to leave you," Amanda asked.
"No," Teddy said, "she had an aneurysm, a blood vessel that burst in her brain."
"She didn't choose to leave," Amanda said, "you can choose, Evelyn, Owen."
"And I see them choosing you," Teddy said, "your lyrical solo, your song, why did you pick it?"
"Because it's me," Amanda said, "Miss Alyssa didn't want me to do it but I fought her on it."
"Where did you find it," Teddy pressed.
"A poetry assignment in English class last year Ms Stea played it for us," Amanda said, "it said what I can't."
"It's hard," Teddy agreed, "but you are not invisible. You have a family that loves you, your dad, Evelyn, Owen, me, your grandparents, nana and papa love you, I saw that when they came by the other day, all your aunts and uncles, cousins. Manda you have people who see you."
"She doesn't," Amanda said, "she wont even answer my calls or emails."
"When was the last time you wrote," Teddy asked.
"Two weeks ago," Amanda said, "dad doesn't know. I found her on facebook. She has other kids. I have little sisters, real sisters."
"Does she know it's you," Teddy asked.
"I think so, my facebook is my name," Amanda said.
"Sweetheart you can have two moms," Teddy said, "you could have Evelyn two. It was hard when Shelly moved in to accept her as a mom but I'm really glad I did. She didn't try to replace my mom but she was there for me. It was Shelly that encouraged me to apply to med school and she was the one that helped me get ready for my first date and pick out my prom dress. Shelly was there for all of those things. She chose to go watch all my soccer games and gymnastics competitions."
"You did gymnastics," Amanda asked.
"Years ago," Teddy said, "I could still do a cartwheel."
"We have to do handsprings in jazz and it's hard," Amanda said.
"I can help," Teddy said, "but I can't physically spot you. I know Evelyn drives you to class or picks you up. Does she watch your competitions?"
"And does all the fancy hairdos that I can't do behind my own head," Amanda said, "she puts the rag curls in for the party scene in nutcracker."
"That's her showing she cares," Teddy said, "and I went grocery shopping with her on Monday and she was doing the mom things for you. She picked up your favorite snacks and I saw her packing your lunch the other day."
"But if my mom can't choose me, how can Evelyn," Amanda asked.
"Because Evelyn reminds me a lot of Shelly," Teddy said, "she's loving and warm and wants to see you happy. I heard her on the phone talking about you and Owen, her tone and the way she talks about the two of you is no different."
"Dad calls Owen son," Amanda said.
"You are one family," TEddy said, "I'm the new comer."
"But you've come a lot," Amanda said, "with Megan and Owen."
"I know," Teddy said, "I don't think Don and Evelyn were married yet."
"You spent Christmas with us," Amanda remembered.
"Are we building a gingerbread house with your cousins again," Teddy asked.
"You don't have to I can build alone of join in with Hanna and Hailey," Amanda said.
"It's usually siblings," Teddy asked.
"That why I build alone," Amanda said.
"Last time I was he for christmas you built with Megan and you won," Teddy reminded.
"What about your sister,"Amanda asked.
"Carly is going to her husband's family," Teddy said, "I'm seeing them tomorrow. I'm excited to see her. Show her the pictures of my baby. Hopefully she has some of hers."
"Your baby gets a cousin," Amanda asked.
"They do," Teddy said, "Carly will have her baby in the beginning of May and I'll have this one around July 20."
"Thats a long time," Amanda said.
"40 weeks in total," Teddy replied, "this one is already just over 8. It still has a lot of growing to do. If you have questions you can always ask."
"About what," Amanda said, "Evelyn already talked to me about the boy stuff and why Chris can't go upstairs."
"The baby, boys, any of it," Teddy said, "I will answer honestly and with scientific facts."
"I'll let you know," Amanda said, sounding skeptical.
"Just an offer," Teddy replied.
"I know Evelyn works and dad is at a conference this weekend," Amanda said, "do you mind if a couple friends come over to do the holidays around the world project for geography tomorrow?"
"I'm seeing Carly during the day so it's fine with me," Teddy replied, "check with Evelyn."
"Can we use the basement," Amanda asked.
"What's the usual rule," Teddy asked.
"Go downstairs if you're going to have a group over," Amanda said, "but I don't know. I'm an only child."
"Were you told to ask me," Teddy questioned.
"Dad said not to bug you," Amanda answered.
"You usually hang out there with your friends," Teddy said, "how does this sound. Hang out with your friends there, practice, use the main room and bathroom like you normally do. The only thing that would bug me is being in my bedroom. Is that okay?"
"What about when Owen comes home," Amanda asked.
"We'll move to his apartment," Teddy said, "we need Beth to move out."
"I thought she disappeared in August she stopped texting me back," Amanda said.
"They broke up," Teddy said, "a few weeks before I started dating him. "
"Then why is she in his apartment," Amanda asked.
"That's between them," Teddy said, "what matters to me is that he comes home and we have our family."
"When does he come home," Amanda asked.
"Scheduled for Feb 7," Teddy said, "but another week of school until Christmas."
That night Teddy sat down to email Owen, thinking back on her day.
Dear Owen,
I miss you so much my love! Today was good. I saw Dr Deluca today and theres some ultrasound pictures attached. 8 weeks and 4 days, they look perfect, they've grown since Caitlyn showed us. I went alone and I wished you were there holding my hand and seeing our baby. Owen they are perfect, their little heart was beating and they can wiggle, they wiggled. July 21 she said we can hold our baby in our arms. I'm getting excited to hold them. I see Carly tomorrow and hopefully my sister is more excited in person than she was on the phone. Your mom is beyond supportive and has been helping me figure it all out. My blood pressure was a bit low when I saw Dr Deluca today and we talked about the morning sickness that won't go away. She's given me a medication that I will start taking when I go to bed tonight. I'm hopeful that it will help and I can regain the couple pounds I've lost in the last few weeks. She said it's okay and our baby is very healthy. Owen you have to look at the pictures, print them out and keep them in your pocket, the baby, our baby is perfect. Seeing them today I'm more in love with them than I was before. Owen we're parents, we have a little human coming, someone that is part of each of us, half you and half me. I wish you could have been there today to see them and to hold my hand. I needed you there with me.
With your mom working and Don at a conference tonight I hung out with Manda. I got her talking when I picked her up from school. She found her mom on facebook and messaged the woman weeks ago and she has two other sisters she saw on facebook. She's wondering why her mom doesn't want her and why she wasn't good enough, her solo is about her mom. We talked a little about it today and I told her more about Shelley. I've offered for her to come talk to me whenever she wants and to do the gingerbread houses with her next week. Her cousins are still doing that and she didn't want to do it without a partner so I said I could be her partner.
I have an interview on Monday at Mercy West Hospital, the rankings aren't great but it's head of cardio and a 6 month trial, and will start in January so I can work and then decide if it works for me. 6 months will be good timing with the baby if I want to take time off the few weeks before they come and then a few months when they're born. Mercy West is a teaching hospital and a transplant center; it doesn't have the prestige of Seattle Grace or Seattle Presbatrian but it's a start. I have applied at Pacific NorthWest, Seattle General and County as well as Tacoma. I'll go to every interview offered and I'm not telling them until after I'm hired and maybe have worked a few weeks why my tour ended when it did.
I worry about you moving forward closer to danger. Our baby and I need you. They need their dad and I need the love of my life. 60 more days now, we can do this. Please call me soon. You'll be okay going forward, hopefully a last adventure out there before you come home. Thank you for your update on everyone and say hi to them for me.
I love you with every beat of my heart,
Teddy
PS.
Baby says hi daddy and they love you.
Owen smiled reading her email then opened the attachments. He pressed print and walked to the printer.
"Is that from Teddy," Caitlyn asked, "can I see."
"It is," Owen said, "8 weeks 4 days. I'm trying to get home to them."
"It's a beautiful baby," Caitlyn said, "how's Teddy doing?"
"She's finding it hard," Owen said, "I don't know if it's being on her own or morning sickness."
"She's with your family," Caitlyn clarified.
"She is," Owen said, "she's spent time with them before. She's trying to mentor my 15 year old step sister. She wanted to be with her sister but Carly said no. Teddy is hoping to see Carly and see her only relative tomorrow. She's lonely."
"You have another sister," Caitlyn said.
"Step," Owen said, "My mom remarried about 4 years ago. Don has a daughter, Amanda is 15 we were there for her birthday. I'd call Amanda my sister but she keeps the step term. She's a good kid, a bit lost Teddy could be good for her."
"She's strong, she'll be okay," Caitlyn said.
"She shouldn't be doing this without me and the threat of extending us. I can't do an extension, it's not fair to Teddy," Owen said.
"Tell her," Caitlyn said, "and congrats Hunt. It's a cute baby."
"Thanks McKellar," Owen replied.
Owen sat back down at the computer and emailed Teddy back.
Teddy,
I wish I could have been there with you today to see our baby. The pictures they're perfect. I can't wait to hold them and I will be there with you to meet them. That medication should work and you'll feel better, rest and take care of yourself first. I'm happy you saw them wiggle today. Will you let me know as soon as they kick? I want to be there for all of the milestones. Teddy, I miss you. The hard days are impossible without you and the wins are less exciting.
Thank you for taking time with Manda and offering to do the gingerbread houses with her. I've done it and so has Meg. She likes that stuff but doesn't know how to ask, she wants to be part of but won't ask or push herself in, you have to ask her or encourage the other kids to invite her. If she brings up Linda again, encourage her to tell Don. I listened to that song. I don't think it's too dark. Don would have intervened if he was concerned.
I have bad news my love. There's talk of extending my tour into March or April. I've been clear with Smith that I need to get home to you and to be with you and our baby. They're having trouble getting surgeons; they can't seem to find any that will do what we do. Most doctors don't want to risk it and good trauma surgeons are hard to come by they aren't training us. I've suggested I train them or they set us something in Seattle for you to give them a crash course but they want to do it the old fashioned way of course. I am doing everything in my power to get home to you. I've put in the papers to be discharged but they take their time with it.
Mercy West is a good hospital, both Meg and I were born there. It's smaller than you're used to but it could be good. A six month trial would work for a baby and let you decide what you want to do. Chief of Cardio that's perfect for you, you're a great leader and an amazing surgeon. I'm sure you'll get it.
I love you more today than I did yesterday but less than tomorrow,
Owen