Annie's phone rang in the middle of the night. Grabbing it she saw Owen's name on the screen.
"Uncle Owen it's 2am," Annie said.
"Annie I know but you need to come home," Owen said.
"What happened? Is mama okay," Annie asked.
"Teddy is fine but Henry is gone," Owen said, "I'm sorry. Your step father has died."
"I'll come home as soon as I can get a flight," Annie said, "tell mama I'm coming."
"I'll book a flight," Owen said, "I need your email."
Annie recited her email address.
"Don't worry about the money Annie just come home," Owen said.
"I'll email my professors then pack," Annie said.
"Thanks Annie I'll meet you at the airport or Christina will," Owen said.
"Uncle Owen, what happened," Annie asked, "yesterday they were both really happy when we facetimed. He was going to go back to school."
"There was another tumor Annie," Owen said, "we found it too late and it destroyed his lungs. There wasn't anything anyone could do. Christina and Richard did what they could. Right now your mama needs you home."
"I'm on my way," Annie said, "can you take care of mama until I get there. Try the hug thing and make her match your breathing."
"Arizona is with her now. I'll take care of her. Your mama is my person. I won't leave her now. Just sent your flight info you need to be at the airport in 2 hours," Owen said.
Annie ran out of her room and pounded on Stephanie's door, "Steph wake up."
"Annie it's 2am, go away," Stephanie called.
"I know it's 2 am my step dad just died. I need to go home," Annie sobbed.
"Did your mom call," Stephanie asked.
Annie replied , "my uncle Owen. I have to be at the airport in two hours. Can you drive me?"
Stephanie opened her door, "I'm sorry Annie. I know you liked your step dad. He was cool when he came to visit with your mama. What happened?"
Annie replied, "he had VHL and there was a tumor that they caught too late. Destroyed his lungs. Mama is a cardiothoracic surgeon and it was a lung tumor that killed her husband."
"I'll help you pack and drive you," Stephanie said, giving Annie a big hug.
She followed Annie into her room. Annie's phone ran again and she sat down on her bed.
"Mama I'm so sorry," Annie said.
Teddy sobbed, "he's gone. Henry is gone."
"Uncle Owen called," Annie replied, "I'm coming home mama. I'll be there in a few hours. Uncle Owen will bring me home from the airport."
"Just talk to me," Teddy said, "I need to hear that you're okay that my whole world isn't crumbling."
"Mama I'm okay," Annie said, "I'll be home in 7 hours. We can do this, it's you and me. I'll be home soon. I love you mama."
"I love you two sweetheart," Teddy said , "Arizona is going to drive me home."
"Can I talk to her," Annie asked.
"Hi Annie," Arizona greeted.
"Arizona can you stay with mama until I come home," Annie asked, "I'm just packing and will be home soon."
"Annie, your classes," Arizona said.
"I'm out for reading break on Friday," Annie said, "it's only two days. I'll email my professors from the airport. They'll have to understand. Instead of reading here I'll be with mama."
"Annie you get to the airport," Arizona said, "send me your flight info so I can get Callie to pick you up and bring you home."
"Uncle Owen was bringing me home," Annie said.
"With what's happened I'm going to send Callie, Mark, Lexie or April they will text you," Arizona said, taking control of the situation, "Teddy is blaming Owen and Christina right now so just let me take care of getting you from the airport and to your mama."
"Okay," Annie replied , "I'll see you at home. Please give mama a big hug for me."
"I will," Arizona said, "see you at home your mama needs you."
"I'm on my way," Annie replied.
Stephanie asked, "is your mom okay?"
"It's mama not mom. She's a mess," Annie replied, "mama never cries. Even when my sister tried to kill me."
"Mama and mom aren't the same person," Stephanie asked.
"Mama is my birth mother," Annie said , "mom and dad adopted me as a baby."
"You were adopted," Stephanie asked , "was it an open adoption?"
"I always knew mom and dad chose to adopt me and a bit about mama, like that she was a doctor and lived in the states. I was born in Texas her first year of med school," Annie said, "the adoption agreement was that on my 19th birthday mom and dad would give me mama's contact information and from there it was up to me. They sent her a letter every month or so while I was growing up."
"You've only known her three years," Stephanie asked.
"Yes," Annie said, "I'm actually closer to mama. I went through a lot last year because of my sister. My siblings are my adopted parents biological children."
"You talk to your brother," Stephanie said.
"I do Chris and I are close," Annie said, "I'll let him know he likes Teddy and Henry. But my sister Jessie has tried to kill me and actually had me in the hospital for 2 weeks a couple summers ago. Lost part of my liver and needed 10 units of blood. Mama was with me at the hospital the whole time and I lived at her house for a few weeks after I was released."
"Do you have a flight," asked Stephanie.
"Uncle Owen sent me a ticket," Annie said, "he's with mama."
"Her brother," Stephanie asked as they walked to the car.
"Close," Annie said, "they served together in Iraq, he's her best friend. Her parents are gone and she was an only child. Owen and his mom call mama and I family."
"She was in Iraq," asked Stephanie.
"Cardio surgeon," Annie said, "with Josh's uncle Nathan my uncle Owen and uncle Owen's sister."
"They're all home and okay," asked Stephanie.
"Meghan uncle Owen's sister was captured," Annie said, "but mama and uncle Owen are in Seattle. Josh's uncle is in Syria right now."
"What's happening with you and Josh," asked Stephanie.
"He's a good friend," Annie said, "I only broke up with Kevin in November. The long distance thing just didn't work."
"Tell josh your going home and why," Stephanie said, "he likes you."
"I'll text him," Annie said, "now I just need to get home."
Seven hours later Annie wearily walked through the arrivals area, the last two times she had come through she had been greeted by Henry's cheerful call of over here kiddo. She would never hear that again.
"Annie," Jackson called.
"Jackson," Annie said
"Annie I'm so sorry," April said, "Arizona sent us to get you."
"Thank you," Annie replied, "how's mama?"
April shook her head, "devastated. She just wants you all anyone has heard her say is Annie. We're going to take you straight home."
"Is she alone," Annie asked.
"Arizona and Callie are there," April replied, "but she's in shock."
"What happened," Annie asked.
"Henry has a new tumor in his lung, it invaded his heart. We were too late; it destroyed his aorta even Teddy couldn't have fixed it," Jackson said.
April hugged Annie, "I'm sorry I know you liked Henry."
Annie sobbed, "I was just getting to know him. They were so happy on FaceTime yesterday. I was texting with him this morning about something he was going to surprise her with."
April replied, "I hear you, I'm so sorry. Jackson and I will help however we can."
Jackson put Annie's bag in the back of his car, "let's go home Annie."
Annie nodded and got in the backseat.
Annie sat silently in the backseat until they got home before she asked, "April I don't know what to say to mama what do I say?"
"Go in hug her and tell her you love her," April said, "do you want to pray first?"
"Yes please but I don't know what to say," Annie asked, "can you pray with me?"
"Of course," April replied.
While the two girls prayed Jackson sat in silence he didn't know what to do or say.
Jackson helped Annie get her bag from the back of the car. She hugged and thanked Jackson and April before letting herself into the house.
Annie saw Teddy sitting on the couch staring at the empty fireplace. She quietly put her shoes under the bench and came in.
"Mama," Annie whispered hugging Teddy, "I'm home."
Teddy sobbed, "you're actually here sweetheart?"
"I am," Annie replied, "I love you mama. I'm home."
"He's gone Annie," Teddy sobbed.
"I'm sorry," Annie cried.
"He's gone. Christina killed him," Teddy cried.
"Your okay," Annie whispered, "we'll be okay we'll figure it out."
Teddy cried, "you'll go back to school then I'm alone."
"You'll be okay," Annie said, "I'm only a short flight away."
"He's gone," Teddy cried, "I loved him. Finally someone loved me for me. He loved me, he loved you, we were a family."
"You and I are still a family," Annie replied, "I loved him two."
Over Teddy's shoulder Arizona mimed sleeping.
"Mama, lets go find your pajamas and you can take your scrubs off," Annie directed.
Teddy nodded and stood up.
"I put a pair on your bed Teddy," Arizona said, "Annie I put your bag in your room. You have clean clothes laid out."
"Thanks Arizona," Annie said.
They heard the shower turn on in Teddy's bathroom.
"We need to get her to sleep," Arizona said, "she was waiting for you to come home."
Annie replied, "I'll go sit on her bed and see if we can make her sleep."
"I have a sleeping pill if we need to give it to her," Arizona said, "she needs to sleep."
"Try without it first," Annie said, "she hates medication like that. She got really upset when I was in the hospital and nurses offered it to me."
"I didn't know that," Arizona replied.
Annie said, "let me wash my face and put sweats on."
"Your black leggings are on your bed with a T-shirt. I found them in your dresser," Arizona said.
"Thank you," Annie said hugging Arizona, "for taking care of her."
"I'm staying here," Arizona said, "do you know where she keeps the extra blankets?"
"I'm going to sit on her bed with her," Annie said, "use my bed."
Annie sat on Teddy's bed.
"Mama come sit with me," Annie said when Teddy came out of the bathroom.
Teddy silently sat down. After a few minutes she asked, "how did you get home so fast?"
"Owen sent a ticket he said not to worry about the money just to come home," Annie replied.
Teddy nodded, "that was nice of him."
Annie asked, "when was the last time you slept?"
Teddy mumbles, "I don't know."
Annie coaxed, "lay down. I'm not going anywhere. Arizona is in my room if you need her. "
Teddy silently laid down and grabbed Henry's pillow. She hugged it to herself and cried. Annie sat beside her and brushed Teddy's hair back from her face the same way Teddy did when Annie was upset or sick. Eventually Teddy fell asleep after whispering, "don't leave me."
"I'm not going anywhere mama," Annie replied.
It was a hard week for Annie and Teddy. Annie didn't know how to help her mama and her mom was no help. Luckily for them Evelyn helped them to plan a small family memorial and April was able to get her pastor to do the service. Most days had been spent in tears. Hardly getting out of their pajamas and only eating when people brought them food.
When the week was up an exhausted teddy drove a worn out Annie to the airport.
"I'll see you soon sweetheart," Teddy said.
"Eight weeks until the next break," Annie replied, "I can come home or you can come to Boston."
"Go be amazing and tell me all about it," Teddy said.
"I will," Annie replied. She gave Teddy a hug, "I love you mama."
"I love you too," Teddy whispered, "call me every day."
"I will," Annie replied, "I'll let you know when I land."
Annie walked through the airport retracing her steps from ten days before and sat brooding by her gate. She knew she should eat or study but didn't want to. Right now she wanted to be home with mama. She knew Teddy needed her. Teddy was blaming and ignoring Owen and yelling at Christina. The only person who could soften Teddy's grief was Annie. But Annie had to go back to school. Annie felt alone
I know a lot of people will be upset about Henry passing in this chapter because they were so happy. But the Henry story line including his passing was important to the development of Teddy's character. He taught her that she was worthy of love and that she could love someone, she learned to be loved for who she is.