Good Friday
Annie was pacing in front of her closet, she couldn't decide what to wear. She called across the hall, "Teddy what do I wear tonight?"
"I'm coming," Teddy replied. She walked across the hall half ready for that night's party. It would be a full fledged McKellar family affair with aunts, uncles and cousins.
"I want to wear a dress but mom has all these egg themed events planned," Annie said, " I told David and he thought it sounded like fun."
Teddy asked, "what are these egg themed events?"
Annie began to list them off, "egg toss, egg drop, egg hunt, egg relay, jelly bean scramble, pin the egg on the chicken, human hungry hungry hippos, minute to win it games, and a few others. We do it every year."
"Do I have to play," Teddy asked.
"Only if you want to," Annie said, " mom started doing games for parties when we were all kids so we didn't have time to destroy the whole house."
"What do your aunts and uncles do," Teddy asked.
"Most play one or two of the games. The egg drop and egg toss gets really competitive," Annie said, "hippos gets competitive."
"Do I want to know what hungry hippos looks like," Teddy asked.
"Lets just say we probably should have helmets or Owen on standby," Annie laughed.
"That rough. I'll be ready to provide first aid," Teddy said, "good night to have a doctor in the house."
"Uncle Greg is a paramedic, he usually takes care of all first aid," Annie said.
"I'll take over if it needs more than ice or a band aid," Teddy said.
"But if we had Owen on standby you could watch and flirt with him" Annie teased, "you broke up with Mark but never said why."
Teddy sighed, "Mark is the type of man I never want you to date. He doesn't understand the concept of monogamy."
"He cheated," Annie asked.
"Yes with a resident," Teddy said.
"Is it okay for attendings to date residents," Annie asked.
Teddy paused, "it's a grey area, because attendings are in a position of power its frowned upon. But sometimes it happens like Owen and Christina or Derek and Merideth."
"Why is Owen still with Christina? He should be with you," Annie stated, "you're a good match. Mark was a waste of your time."
"Owen proposed to Christina," Teddy said, "they're getting married. It's done."
"He's not married yet," Annie said.
"No sweetie I won't be a homewrecker," Teddy said, "I need to move on."
"Uncle Brad is single," Annie said.
"He lives here," Teddy said.
"It would me you'd come up more and you can see me more," Annie said.
"I want someone in Seattle," Teddy said, "but our goal now is able to play all of tonight's games but look cute."
"Skinny jeans and a cute top," Annie asked.
"That would be good, dark jeans," Teddy said. She started flipping through the tops hanging in Annie's closet.
"What about the blue one," Annie held up a top from the top of her clean laundry basket. It was a soft blue sleeveless top with ruffles down the front.
"I like that one," Teddy said, "hair down tonight."
"Straight or my waves," Annie asked.
"Straight," Teddy replied.
Annie plugged in the straightener sitting on her desk, "what do I do for makeup?"
"Date makeup," Teddy replied.
"What does that mean," asked Annie.
"More than you wear to school but less than a dance performance, " Teddy replied, "do you want me to do it?"
"Yes please," replied Annie.
"Go grab you make up," Teddy commanded.
Annie followed Teddy's direction and placed it on her desk.
Teddy quietly did Annie's make up, savouring the moment. She had always dreamed of moments like this with Annie.
Annie looked in the bathroom mirror and suddenly realized how much she looked like Teddy. She was starting to figure out that maybe the hospital, the little cottage in the woods would be where she needed to go. Maybe the suggestion of going to the university of washington would be her best bet, but at the same time the idea of Harvard or Columbia an Ivy League school intrigued her.
They headed upstairs and helped the rest of the family get ready for the party.
Leslie whispered to Teddy, "how did you get her to calm down and relax?"
Teddy replied, "I'm outside of the situation here. She knows that. Annie is scared. But she reminds me a lot of my best friend's little sister who was captured by Iraqi forces. There's a lot of Meghan Hunt in Annie. Owen sees it two. Meghan was an amazing person, she was one of my best friends and like a little sister to me. Her and Owen were the last two people I had talked to about Annie before Annie's email in the fall."
Leslie responded, "I'm pleased this worked out. Annie needs you."
Teddy hugged Leslie, "she needs you two."
Leslie laughed, "she needs both of us. We're getting to be a good team."
Teddy gave Leslie a high five.
Annie rolled her eyes and whispered to Chris, "why do I get the feeling I'm about to be double teamed by mom and Teddy?"
Chris laughed , " you chose to have both around. And moms always stick together. It's like some sort of secret mom code."
Dan laughed , "they can hear you. And it's called parent code."
Annie and Chris laughed, "sure dad. "
They heard heavy footsteps on the stairs and Dan walked to the bottom of the steps , "Jessica if you are not prepared to behave appropriately you can return to your room."
"I don't want Annie or Teddy here," Jessica shouted.
"Your room is waiting for you then," Dan replied.
Teddy and Leslie both put a hand on Annie's shoulder.
"She pushed you out last night. Don't let her do it again. I want you here, dad wants you her, so do Chris and Teddy. You are staying put," Leslie reassured Annie.
They heard the footsteps stomping back up the stairs and down the hall. Annie was still shaking, Teddy could tell her breathing was getting faster which meant her heart rate would be up. Teddy asked , "do you need a hug?"
Annie nodded and Teddy wrapped her arms tightly around Annie. Teddy whispered to Annie ,"match my breathing. You know this works ,match my breathing and your heart will slow to match mine. Relax I have you."
Dan observed what was happening. Annie's entire body had been rigid and shaking he could see how close she was to hyperventilating but somehow with a hug Teddy was calming her. He decided to ask , "how do you do that?"
Leslie added, "we've tried for years to figure something like that out."
Teddy smiled , "it's called deep pressure. It's something I learned about helping a friend with PTSD. I used it with Annie at the December dance event and when Jessica got angry with her in Whistler. It works to reset the nervous system through physical connection. So I hold her as tight as I can until her breathing slows down and her heart rate matches mine. I tell her to match my breathing."
"And it works," Leslie asked.
Teddy nodded, "I was skeptical the first time I saw it but the number of people I've seen it help amazes me. It won't work unless the person is already alright with you touching them. I always ask first."
Chris chimed in , "you asked if she needed a hug."
"Code word we came up with," Annie replied , "in case I got really upset at the hospital. But I like the hospital and I feel like I belong there."
Dan laughed , "5 or 6 more years of school first little bear. "
Teddy added , "last week of April you're coming back and if we pick the right med school you'll get lots of hands on time from the beginning."
"I want a hands on program, I learn when I do it," Annie said.
"I'll research and send everyone my top picks," Teddy said.
"American schools," Annie asked.
"Probably. It works best with our plan for your residency and fellowship," Teddy said.
Leslie asked, "do I want to know?"
"Mom the plan is American medical school hopefully Ivy League, residency at Seattle Grace in cardio and trauma, double certification exam, then fellowship at Mayo or Hopkins in Cardio Trauma," Annie explained
Chris asked , "I don't hear a social life or boyfriend there."
"You don't plan for when those happen, they just do," Dan said.
"It's ambitious," Leslie said.
"I want to do it and I can do it," Annie said, "I'm going to be the best resident in my class like Christina then be as good as Teddy."
Teddy added, "she can do it. And most surgeons, especially residents become close with the people they work with. Our residents are a pretty tight knit group and so are our attendings. My closest friends are people I've worked with. Residents who aren't married when they arrive also tend to date each other. It's a lifestyle choice as much as a career choice."
"Annie have you seen enough of this to know you want it," asked Leslie.
"I think so. I've talked to Teddy, Owen, April and Christina," Annie said , "I can always change specialties if it's too much."
Teddy explained, "regular cardio is pretty scheduled. I know when I have pace makers, valve replacements and bypasses. But I also am transplant certified and those happen when they happen. I'm typically on call at the hospital two or three nights a week and will be there over night. Sometimes it's busy but there are times I wish I knew how to knit. Then there are the rare all hands on deck emergencies or someone comes into the emergency room needing my expertise when I'm off and I'm called in. Annie can choose how much extra training she takes on."
"I want to do as much as possible," Annie said , "the more training and certification I have the better my job prospects are and the better chance I'll be at a good hospital."
Dan grinned , "medical school first."
The doorbell rang and Annie ran to the door.
"David come on in," Annie greeted.
"Thanks," he replied handing her a bouquet of flowers, "these are for you."
"Their beautiful thank you so much! Let's go get a vase for them in the kitchen," Annie said.
"Are your parents home," David asked nervously.
"Mom, dad and Teddy are here," Annie replied, "so are Chris and Jessica."
"That's it so far," David asked, "you said your cousins would be coming. "
"They are, they're not here yet," Annie replied , "let's go meet my parents."
David gluped, he had been hoping to blend in with her cousins. He had done some googling about her family and had found out most about her birth mother. It was Teddy that made him most nervous. David followed Annie into the kitchen.
Annie made introductions, "David these are my parents Leslie and Dan McKellar and my brother Chris. This is my birth mom Teddy Altman."
"It's nice to meet you Mr and Mrs McKellar and Dr Altman," he replied politely shaking each of the adults hands.
Chris shook Davids hand, "nice to meet you man. How long have you known my sister?"
David replied , "we met in our chem lab in January."
"What are you taking," Leslie inquired.
"I'm doing materials engineering," David said, "looking towards medical engineering and using 3D printing in medicine."
"That is a very new field for us," Teddy said , "but I'm reading about how it could be helpful for blocked arteries and reducing heart disease."
"Annie tells me your a cardio thoracic surgeon Dr. Altman," David said.
"Not at the hospital so please call me teddy," Teddy replied , "I am."
Chris jumped in, "she got mad at me over Christmas because I called her mam. Just go with Teddy dude."
Leslie added , "we're Dan and Leslie. Mr and Mrs McKellar makes us feel like we're at work."
David replied, "Annie mentioned your both in education."
Dan replied, "I'm the principal of hilltop secondary and Leslie teaches grades 3 and 4 at bayside Christian. "
David said, "I went to Christian school from preschool to grade 7 then switched to the local high school for grade 8."
"We all did the same," Annie said.
Leslie smiled, Christian school was good. It meant this David had been raised with similar values to Annie.
Dan asked , "which school did you go to?"
David replied , "John A McDonald in Toronto."
"Why did you choose UBC if your from Ontario," asked Chris.
"My mom is from BC and I always loved visiting the west coast so I took the opportunity to come study here," David replied.
"Are you enjoying UBC," asked Leslie.
"I am," David replied.
Teddy asked , "do you live on campus?"
"I'm in the Salish complex as well," David replied , "in building 4 the one with the coffee shop and corner store."
"I liked the cinnamon buns at the coffee shop there when I came for a conference a few months ago," Teddy said.
"Grind has the best cinnamon buns," Annie agreed.
"Better than mine," asked Leslie.
"Very close second," Annie replied, "best I can do at school.
The doorbell rang again and the family started to arrive for the party. Although she had been helping Annie, Leslie, Dan and Chris with food and party preparation all day Teddy was surprised at the variety of dishes being brought in by all of the family members. She could see now why Annie's family was only working on the main items that day, turkey, stuffing ( homemade), mashed potatoes and grilled yams. Aunts came in with large dishes of veggies, salads, appetizers and deserts. Uncles carried bags of treats and sports equipment.
Annie joined David and a group of her cousins in the family room. They laughed and played a couple rounds of Apples to Apples while waiting for Leslie to call them for the big games. Annie seemed relaxed with the cousins and from what Teddy observed was on the older end age wise. While 4 or 5 of them appeared to be older most were younger. Teddy was also impressed that all of Dan's 8 siblings were there and everyone seemed happy to see each other, she knew Leslie had a sister who lived in another province. Teddy counted and saw that there were about 30 cousins who appeared to be between 3 and 24. It seemed to be a happy close knit family. She was pleased with her choice to give Annie to Leslie and Dan, watching the family she saw how much her little bear was loved.
The night went smoothly, everyone enjoyed the games and with an audience Jessica was on her best behaviour. While she still had some unkind comments she was spreading them equally amongst the female cousins.
Teddy had enjoyed talking to all of the aunts, uncles and grandparents and hearing their stories about Annie. She had a better picture of the young woman her daughter had become. Teddy thought she was closer to filling in the full picture of Annie.
After the party and helping clean up Annie knocked on the door to the guest room, "Teddy are you still up?"
Teddy replied, "I am. Come talk to me."
Annie opened the door and was followed by Molly, "what did you think of David?"
Teddy patted the bed for Annie to come sit with her, " I liked him. You looked happy."
"I really like him but I don't know what dad or Chris thought," Annie said.
"Your dad is always going to be skeptical of any guy you bring home, Teddy said, "I remember Owen never liked any guy who got near Meghan, I think it's a brother thing."
"Are you sure," Annie asked.
"I am, my dad never liked any one I brought home," Teddy said, " but you were really flirting tonight."
"I was not," Annie said.
"Yes you were," Teddy teased, " what did you call it? Hmm… sparkly, shiny, googly eyed flirting."
"I was not," Annie said.
"You were," Teddy said, " but it's good. You're 19 you should flirt with your boyfriend. Did he kiss you good night?"
Annie blushed, "he did."
"Was that the first time he kissed you," asked Teddy.
"No," Annie said, "but it was the first time with tongue."
"Where did that happen," Teddy asked.
"The porch when he left," Annie said, "Chris and Jess had gone upstairs and you were helping mom and dad clean up."
"Was it a good kiss," Teddy asked.
Annie giggled, "yes."
Teddy teased, "on a scale of 1-10."
Annie kept giggling, "8"
"Not a perfect 10," asked Teddy, "what would make it a perfect 10?"
"Setting, somewhere on the beach at sunset," Annie said.
"Thats a nice romantic dream," Teddy said , "but those are rare."
"I still want it," Annie said.
"One day," Teddy replied.
"Now that you and Mark broke up will you try to meet someone," Annie asked.
"It'll happen when it does," Teddy said, "but I'm looking at online dating."
"Online," Annie asked, "really?"
"My age and my schedule I hope works for me," Teddy said.
"I still vote for you and Owen," Annie teased, "you're meant to be the two of you are so stubborn you don't see it yet."
"Meghan used to tell us the same thing," Teddy said.
"Owen's sister," asked Annie.
"Yes. Owen and I were talking about you this week and he says you remind him a lot of Meghan. Dancing, medical goals, your energy, drive. I won't tell him about you agreeing with Meghan about his romantic life, " Teddy said.
"You should tell him. Might make you both see the truth," Annie said.
"I can not and will not get between him and Christina, that would be wrong," Teddy said, "I love him, he's my second favourite person on the planet after you. But he chose someone else."
"He doesn't look at her the same way he looks at you," Annie said, "just tell him you love him. Let him decide from there."
Teddy shook her head, "he knows. I have told him, we had a big yelling match about it. He will act on it if he wants to."
"Then make him want to," Annie said.
"He will when he is ready," Teddy said, "but I'm going to go on dates and see who I meet."
"They have to be cute," Annie said, "and nice."
"I'm picky," Teddy said, "but it's bedtime. We're going to work on your MCAT prep in the morning. You have 6 weeks to the test."
"I'm ready," Annie said, "just one tricky section."
"We'll look at it in the morning," Teddy said.