Henry parked the truck in front of the hunts cabin at the foot of mount baker. Teddy threw her door open and jumped into the snow. Henry laughed knowing how much his wife and her daughter loved the snow.
Annie ran after Teddy up the path.
"Snow and more on the way tonight," Annie shouted.
Teddy beamed, "snow the next few days."
Teddy knocked and Owen opened the door. He hugged Teddy and Annie tightly. Annie winced.
"Owen don't squish thing one," Christina teased.
Teddy replied, "we had another Jessica incident. She's sore."
Chris came in.
"Thing two is here," Christina said.
"Good to see you," replied Chris.
Owen stepped into his boots, "I'll help Henry and Chris bring your stuff in."
"Kids have skis and boots Henry and I are renting," Teddy said.
"Got it," Owen said heading outside.
Annie followed Owen to help with their stuff while Teddy went inside.
Christina asked, "what happened with the sister this time?"
Teddy sighed, "dirty steak knife to Annie's shoulder and ribs."
"She stabbed her in the back," Evelyn asked.
"Literally," Teddy said, "30 sutures. I did them myself on Annie's bed."
"You didn't take her in," asked Christina.
"December 26. No way. 20 minute drive and 5-6 hour wait" Teddy said, "or 20 minutes to clean, numb and sew. I have her on oral antibiotics for a few more days just in case."
"So no alcohol for your kids," Christina asked.
"Chris isn't mine and he's still 20," Teddy said.
"They look like twins," Evelyn said.
"They could be fraternal twins at a glance," Teddy agreed, "see them side by side across a table not at all. Yes Christina no alcohol for them. Maybe a toast on New Years."
Evelyn smiles, "Teddy you are a mom now."
Teddy smiled, "I am. Annie is my girl."
"She trusted you enough to do her stitches," Evelyn asked.
"She was in shock," Teddy said, "she would only trust me in that moment."
Evelyn asked, "is she okay?"
"Scared, sore," Teddy said, "moving in with me for good."
Evelyn asked, "how does that work for school and her tuition?"
Teddy replied, " her tuition is all on scholarships right now. And she's on my medical."
"Student loans," Christina asked.
"Not yet," Teddy said.
Evelyn asked, "how?"
"Her parents paid for most of UBC, she worked teaching dance and for Anne Milner for two years, her grandparents helped with rent at UBC," Teddy said, "they've been paying some of her rent this year. I'll talk to her about it before she goes back to school. I can help and want to, she just hasn't asked me and I don't know where the line is."
"Have an open talk with her," Evelyn advised , "my two shared an apartment for a couple years which helped and I sent food money."
"Annie has two roommates but they're going to ask one to leave at the end of this year," Teddy said, "there's another girl to take her place."
"Can she work," asked Evelyn.
"Annie has dual citizenship she has both passports and a Texas birth certificate," Teddy said, "I'm glad they left the decision up to her when she was old enough."
"Texas," Christina asked, "you were serious about having her in medical school. "
"I was," Teddy replied.
Annie came in, "check both passports, they say the same thing."
Teddy asked, "how's your back sweetheart?"
"Itchy," Annie replied.
"Good, it's healing," Teddy said, "I still wouldn't mind having someone else look make sure I haven't missed anything. Are you okay if I ask Owen to?"
"Can Christina," Annie asked.
Christina responded, "I'll take a look at your back. Come on."
Annie followed Christina.
"Annie, which side of your back," Christina asked.
"Left shoulder and down across my shoulder blade towards my spine," Annie replied.
"Can you pull your shirt up or take it off," Christina asked.
Annie pulled up the back of her shirt.
"Teddy did a good job," Christina said, "it's clean with no signs of infection and healing well. Your mother is good at this," Christina said.
"How bad will the scar be," Annie asked.
"It will scar but Teddy did a good job, it'll be minimal," Christina said, "these should come out in a couple days. I can do that so Teddy can hold your hand."
"Don't ask her to," Annie said, "she cries when stuff like this happens. She doesn't think I know. But I heard her sniffle when she was fixing it."
"I can pull the stitches or Owen will and she can be a mom and hold your hand," Christina said, "Henry will hold her hand."
"Okay," Annie replied.
"Christina, Annie, Teddy," Owen called, "it's snowing."
Annie ran back to the other room.
"Ladies get your snow gear on," Owen said.
"Annie they have a real metal toboggan," Chris called.
Annie yelled back, "just need my snow gear I'm coming."
Teddy laughed, "sledding really Hunt?"
"Come on Teddy," Henry said, "you love the snow. Let's go."
"I'm getting my gear on," Teddy said.
"Altman hurry up," Owen yelled.
When the ladies got outside they saw a collection of four different sleds piled at the bottom of the porch steps. Chris grabbed the rope on the metal one and started pulling it across the snow. Annie ran to catch up and plopped down on the toboggan.
"Faster," Annie squeezes as Chris ran forward.
Owen asked, "is she doing okay?"
Teddy replied, "to play like that is what she needs. No school work, family time with us, go outside."
"Her sutures looked good," Christina said, "I'd take them out the day after tomorrow."
"They've been in 4 days," Teddy said.
"How many," asked Owen.
"30," replied Teddy, "then a couple spots were glued. Hardest set of sutures I've ever had to do. Never do them on your own child when she's crying and scared."
"She was still enough," Owen asked.
"Henry and Chris helped hold and calm," Teddy replied.
"She's close to Chris," Owen said.
"Very," Teddy replied, "they did everything together for years. Even friends overlap."
"That must be hard for them to be separated," Henry remarked.
"Their in the same time zone and I know they talk most days if not daily. But there's a chance of him being deployed soon. He's too young to do a tour ," Teddy said.
Owen replied, "we're we really ready for ours?"
"We were surgeons," Teddy said, "I was already an attending and you had nearly finished your fellowship."
"Chris is a 20 year old kid," Henry said, "what does he really have for close family? A sister in med school. It's not like he's close to Jessica or their parents."
They reached the hill where Owen had grown up sledding. He turned and carried his sled up.
"I'm not going up there," Christina said.
"Suit your self Yang," Teddy said before running up the slope.
Annie got off the toboggan and grabbed the sled Christina had dropped. She two turned and headed up the steep incline. They spent a couple hours sledding down then running back up again. Teddy couldn't remember that last time she had actually played in the snow she had a blast. While they were sledding Annie had also relaxed, she was joking around and teasing her brother. Suddenly a snowball flew and hit Owen in the back. He turned to look for the culprit, Christina had a mischievous smirk on her face, Owen tossed a snowball back but missed hitting Henry who had crossed in front of it. In seconds the whole group was throwing snowballs. Annie was using a sled as a shield, firing snowballs then ducking back behind it.
They walked back snowy and wet, stopping to stomp off the snow from their boots on the porch.
"Did everyone have fun," asked Evelyn.
"Yes," Annie replied.
"Great," Owen said, "a little cold and wet now though."
"I have fresh cinnamon buns and can put on coffee," Evelyn said.
"That sounds amazing Mrs. Hunt," Chris said.
"Chris call me Evelyn please," Evelyn said.
"I would love coffee," Teddy said.
"Everyone go get dry clothes and I'll make coffee," Evelyn said, "Teddy you and Henry are in the room you've stayed in before. Annie and Chris you're sharing the loft there's two twin beds up there, I know sharing with your sibling isn't ideal. I put everyone's things in their rooms."
"Thank you Evelyn," Teddy said.
"How do we get to the loft," Annie asked.
"The stairs are at the end of the hall, their narrow and twisting," Evelyn said.
"We're good," Annie replied.
Teddy led Henry down the hall.
"The last time I was here I shared this room with Meghan," Teddy said, "Nathan Riggs and her were just dating and Meg was so mad Evelyn put Nathan in the loft."
"That was a while ago," Henry said.
"It was," Teddy agreed, "it feels good to be back."
"Will the kids be okay in the loft," asked Henry.
"They should be," Teddy said, "I just worry she's had nightmares every night since she got hurt."
"Chris knows," Henry said, "he pulled his air mattress into her room."
"He was with her before I got there the last two nights," Teddy said, "should I give Owen and Evelyn a heads up?"
"That might be good," Henry agreed.
"I'll talk to them privately," Teddy said.
Everyone gathered in the living room for coffee and cinnamon buns. They laughed and joked while enjoying their treats. There weren't enough spots on the couches for Annie and Chris. Chris was leaning on the wall and Annie was leaning against Teddy's legs. Evelyn smiled noticing how at ease Annie appeared with Teddy. From the outside you would have thought that Teddy had raised her. It made the older woman smile to see the girl happily reading while Teddy chatted with Henry and Owen.
In the middle of the night the house was woken to the sound of sobbing.
"Shit," Teddy said as she jumped out of bed.
"Annie," Henry said.
"Keep everyone down here," Teddy said, "no audience."
Evelyn and Owen were standing in their doorways and watched Teddy run for the stairs to the loft.
Henry stepped out and whispered, "Annie had a nightmare. Let Teddy deal with it."
Owen asked, "does this happen often."
"The last few nights," Henry replied.
"I'll talk to Annie tomorrow," Owen said.
"Let her come to you," Henry said, "she'll be embarrassed."
Chris came down, "I'm just going to grab her a glass of water."
"Is she okay," Henry asked.
"Frightened," Chris said, "but Teddy has her."
"Go back to bed," Henry said, "Teddy will sit with her for a while."
Chris came back, "Henry can I have your keys? We left Annie's pillow in the truck and her stuffed Otter is in the pillow case."
Henry disappeared into the room and handed Chris his keys.
"Stuffed otter," Chrsitina asked.
Chris replied, "she's had it since we were kids. Annie still hauls it around for when she gets anxious or has nightmares it's always been shoved under her pillows."
"Go get it," Owen said, "I know which stuffed animal you're talking about."
Chris came back with the stuffed otter.
"I'll take it up," Owen said.
Owen took the otter up the stairs.
"Teddy I have her otter do you need anything else," Owen whispered.
"Thanks Owen," Teddy whispered, "we just need space."
"Okay," Owen whispered, "we're downstairs if you need us."
"Thanks," Teddy whispered.
"Mama," Annie whispered, "will the nightmares ever stop."
"They will," Teddy said, "in time. We've been here before. You're okay, I'm right here and I won't go anywhere until you fall asleep."
"Don't leave me," Annie whispered, " I'm scared."
"I'll stay until you fall asleep," Teddy said.
Annie nodded. Teddy sat beside her on the bed and brushed Annie's hair back from her face, "close your eyes sweetheart. I'm right here. You're okay. I have you."
Annie curled closer to Teddy on the bed.
An hour later Teddy slipped back into bed.
"Is she okay," Henry asked.
"Just a nightmare and in an unfamiliar place she panicked," Teddy said, "she's fine."
"Back to sleep," asked Henry.
"She's asleep," Teddy said, "we should sleep too."
"Good night Teddy Bear," Henry whispered as Teddy curled up against him.
"Good night my love," Teddy whispered back.
In the morning no mention was made of the nightmare, everyone knew it was better for Annie to pretend it didn't happen. After breakfast they all loaded into the trucks and headed up to the ski area.
Henry was amazed by how good both Annie and Chris were on the mountain, they had taken lessons through elementary and highschool, and Dan had raced as a young man. The two kids moved smoothly on the mountain and were fearless. Only Owen could keep up with them.
"Annie you are not dropping that," Owen called, "it's at least three times your height on the first drop."
"Uncle Owen, I can do this," Annie called.
"Don't get hurt," Owen called.
"Stop being overly cautious," Annie replied, "just drop it."
Annie made three quick turns gathering speed and getting herself lined up to drop in with a right hand turn. She made the landing and turned sharply out of the line so the others could drop in.
Teddy and Henry had been cruising on the cat track alongside the steep run Annie and Chris were on with Owen.
"Is that Annie," Henry asked.
"It's her coat and helmet," Teddy said.
"She's good," Henry said.
"She loves to ski," Teddy agreed, "she's confident on the mountain."
"Do you want to ski with them," Henry asked.
"I don't have the skill to do that," Teddy replied, "Annie will get tired after lunch and will slow down to ski with us."
They all met in the lodge for lunch. Henry ran into a guy he worked with.
"Henry good to see you," Rob greeted.
"Hey Rob," Henry greeted, "what are you doing up here?"
"Ski day with my family," Rob said, "you?"
"Same," Henry replied.
"Is your wife up here," asked Rob.
"Teddy is," Henry said, he pointed to where Teddy was standing with Annie and Chris.
"You have children," Rob asked.
"Teddy does," Henry said, "Annabeth and Christopher."
"What do they do," asked Rob.
"Annie is at Harvard Medical School, Chris is training to be an Airforce Pilot," Henry replied.
"Impressive," Rob replied, "Teddy is a doctor isn't she?"
"She's a cardiothoracic surgeon," Henry said, "Annie is aiming for surgery as well."
"Impressive family," Rob said.
"Are your kids here," Henry asked.
"Mine are too cool for lunch with mom and dad," Rob replied, "how do you and Teddy do it."
"Both are on the east coast most of the time," Henry said, "they like days as a family."
"Appreciate it," Rob said, "at 15 and 17 mine don't want to be seen with me."
"Annie is 21 and Chris is 20," Henry said.
A woman was waving at Rob, "my wife is looking for me."
"It was good to see you Rob," Henry said, " I should go find my family."
Henry walked to where Teddy, Annie and Chris were waiting at a table.
"Who was that," Teddy asked.
"Rob from work," Henry replied, "he thought both Annie and Chris were ours."
"Did you set him straight," Teddy asked.
"I talked about the kids, he assumed they were both yours," Henry said, "easier than explaining Annie's whole story. But he was very impressed with medical school and the air force."
"We'll let it go this time," Teddy laughed.
"Should we go ski more," Annie asked.
"Let's go kiddo," Henry replied.
Annie led the way out of the lodge and to where they had left their skis.
"There's a run we found this morning we want you two to try," Teddy said.
"Lead the way mama," Annie said as she stomped into her bindings.
"Let's go," Teddy said.