December 26
Teddy wasn't quite sure what made her accept Leslie and Dan's offer to spend some time with them between Christmas and New Years, but she had a few days off. As usual Teddy was single. She pulled up to the McKellar's home and grabbed the bag of gifts she had brought for the family off the back seat. She would come back for her suitcase. She noticed that there was only one car in the driveway with a green N on the back. She assumed only Annie was home. She rang the doorbell taking in the festive scene on the family's porch.
A young man who appeared to be the same age as Annie opened the door, "Hello, are you Teddy?"
"I am, you must be Chris," Teddy responded.
"Annie, Teddy's here," Chris bellowed up the stairs. He turned to Teddy, "come in she'll be down in a second. Can I take that for you?"
"It's just Christmas gifts my bag is still in my car," Teddy said.
"Do you want them under the tree," asked Chris.
"Yes please," replied Teddy handing the large bag to the young man.
"AUNTIE TEDDY," Annie shouted as she leapt off the stairs and slid down the hallway in her socks.
"Annie," Teddy called back with as much enthusiasm.
Reaching Teddy Annie jumped on her wrapping her arms around Teddy's neck.
"Hello to you two little bear," Teddy said, hugging Annie back.
Over the last couple of weeks Annie had opened up to Teddy. She had also seemed to relax more when her brother came home from his base for Christmas vacation. Today Annie was in one of her relaxed bouncy moods. It reminded Teddy of a cross between Meghan Hunt and Arizona Robbins. When she wanted to be Annie was a little fireball.
"Where's all your stuff," Annie asked.
"Still in the car," Teddy replied.
"I'll help you," Annie said.
"Bear do you need my help," asked Chris.
"Three sets of hands are better than two," replied Teddy, "but I only have my suitcase, computer bag and bag of snow gear."
"Did you bring skis and boots," asked Chris.
"No I gave mine away when I joined the army after 9/11," replied Teddy, " I'll rent some or your dad thinks that your aunt may lend me hers."
"What did you do in the army mam," asked Chris.
"I was a surgeon in field hospitals in Iraq. I did cardio and trauma," Teddy replied.
"Are you still in the army mam," inquired Chris.
"I'm currently inactive. I'm working and teaching at a hospital in Seattle," replied Teddy, "and there's no need to call me mam. Annie's term of Auntie Teddy works. Neither of us are on a base."
"I don't want to be disrespectful. I'm sure you out rank me mam," Chris replied, looking Teddy in the eye.
"I'm sure I do. I was a major before I stepped back, I did nearly 6 years over there," Teddy replied, "but at home it's Teddy or Auntie Teddy. Should you ever end up on my table in the middle of a war zone then it's Major Altman, Doctor Altman or mam. At home and with family no rank and no mam. Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes Teddy," replied Chris with a half joking saulute. He was shocked at the forcefulness of her voice. The strong way controlled the situation and told him exactly what he would be doing. The officers working above him were not that direct. He was impressed by the woman who looked like his sister all grown up.
Annie and Chris grabbed Teddy's bags from the back of her SUV and carried them into the house.
"You're in the guest room in the basement with me," said Annie.
"Why are you in the basement," asked Teddy.
"I moved down a few years ago to get away from Jess. I was 13 when I moved down to the basement," Annie said, "plus it means not sharing a bathroom with my brother."
"I see you just wanted your own bathroom," Teddy laughed.
"It's a major perk of being down here alone. Plus it's quiet. They forget I'm down here and I can do what I want," Annie explained, "it's a full basement suite so I even have a little kitchen. I usually just make tea and nachos down here when I study."
Annie led Teddy into the basement. The same soft beige walls and rich hardwood floor carried down the stairs and into the basement. The large room was set up as a teen's paradise. Large couches faced a projection movie screen, foosball and air hockey tables sat off to one side. The kitchen had a popcorn machine sitting on the counter beside an electric kettle and toaster oven. One room was set up as a small dance studio with ballet barres and mirrors on the walls. In the dance space the upper shelves were lined with trophies and medals hung from hooks with each of the girl's names on them. It appeared to Teddy that most of the awards belonged to Annie.
"Here's your room," Annie said.
"It's beautiful," replied Teddy. It was more nicely decorated and homier then her room in her little cottage, "can I see your room?"
"Do you want to unpack first," asked Annie.
Teddy smiled, Leslie and Dan had obviously taught their older two excellent manners and hosting skills," I will later. Lets see your room."
Across the hall Annie opened the door to her room. The walls were painted a soft apple green. Her double bed was neatly made with a white duvet covered in pale grey and apple green polka dots, the throw pillows and pillow shams were in apple green and pale grey. Annie's dark wood furniture was arranged around the sides of the room leaving open space in the middle of the floor, where a fluffy apple green rug lay on the hardwood. The family's grey and white tabby cat was curled up on the pillows and the black lab dozed on the rug. Teddy noticed the bookshelves crammed with an assortment of textbooks, binders and novels. Annie was clearly a reader. The desktop was tidy with only a notebook, some sort of study guide, Annie's pencil case and an empty coffee mug. The room said Annie when Teddy looked around. From the dozing family pets to the polkadots and muted colours. Covering the floating shelves was an antique looking Christmas village, a collection of miniature china houses and people. Teddy looked at the village and smiled, she noticed that one building was missing, a hospital, knowing she had one upstairs in the bag of Christmas gifts.