Leo was ready to be discharged from the hospital after a three month stay. It was going to be a big change for the Altman Hunt family as Teddy and Owen were starting the foster to adopt process with Leo. They had been fostering him for the previous two weeks and would become his legal parents automatically in a year if no living relatives were found. Until then they were his legal guardians. Allison had no idea what was coming, they had told her but at 19 months she just didn't understand yet and Annie had actually been the first in the family to connect with the sweet little boy.
Owen parked his truck in the driveway and Teddy unbuckled Leo from his carseat in the back.
"Welcome home baby boy," Teddy said carrying the little boy inside.
"Welcome home Leo," the family called as they came through the front door.
"What is this," Teddy asked.
"It's home coming day," Annie smiled, "it's a very important day."
"What is it," Owen asked.
"It's the day your mom and dad brought you home and made you theirs," Annie explained, "we always celebrated it on the 15th of November because that's when I actually came home."
"We had our own celebration in mid August for when Nathan brought Faroke to me," Meghan said, "I like making it a yearly thing."
"How do we celebrate," Teddy asked, "Annie is the expert you had how many of them?"
"Probably 19 or 20," Annie said, "I always got to pick dinner. It's not a big deal like your birthday but I got to pick dinner and something fun for us to go do."
"It's not a present holiday," asked Faroke looking disappointed.
"It wasn't in my house," Annie explained, "some of the other adopted kids I knew had presents. But I was the oldest of three kids in that house."
"How many brothers and sisters do you have," asked Faroke.
"Four now," Annie smiled, "two brothers and two sisters. You've met both my brothers and one of my sisters."
"Where's your other sister," asked Faroke.
"She's in BC with her parents," Annie said, "I saw her about a year ago with my mama and your mama. Jessica and I aren't close."
"Do you not like her," asked Faroke.
"It's a long complicated story for another day," Annie replied.
"You always say that," Faroke complained.
"She doesn't talk about it," Josh said, "hardly even with me. I've never met Annie's other sister or parents."
"Faroke drop it," Meghan commanded.
Teddy set Leo down on the floor in the living room and he ran to the train set in the corner.
"Where did that come from," Owen asked.
"Little boys need cars and trains," Evelyn said.
Owen sat on the floor with Leo and helped him put the train tracks together.
"Weo," Allison called running to hug him.
"Ali," Leo screamed.
The adults in the room smiled at the toddlers who were at least friends. They were a cute pair with their red curls playing with the trains on the floor.
"We just ordered pizza," Meghan said.
"We've all had busy weeks," Teddy said, "pizza sounds excellent."
"Pizza, salad, wine," Annie said, "cake for after."
"Did you bake," Teddy asked.
"No," Annie said, "I did 120 again this week. We ordered it."
"120 why," Teddy asked.
"African kids." Annie explained, "Karev is bringing another group over and I was helping with some paperwork and organizing."
"Why that project," Teddy asked.
"I think it matters," Annie replied, "there's three cardio cases. Will you help?"
"Always," Teddy said, "will you scrub in with me?"
"Anytime," Annie agreed, "I like when we work together."
"We're a good team," Teddy said, "I don't have to tell you how I like things done. You know how I think."
"I'm loving peds," Annie said, "Karev is intense and a perfectionist but I'm learning a lot. He pushes me hard but it makes me better."
"He cares about his paitents," Teddy said, "you'll learn lots."
The evening went well Leo seemed to enjoy the attention he knew most of the adults from the hospital. At bedtime Teddy looked at Owen wide eyed.
"How are we going to get two to bed," Teddy asked.
"Team work," Owen replied.
"Stories, baths, pajamas, brush teeth and bed," Teddy listed.
"I'll bath Leo you read to Allison," Owen said.
"Then you take Allison for a bath and I read to Leo," Teddy said.
"Sounds like a plan," Owen agreed.
"Or we bath them together and do story time on our bed with both," Teddy suggested, "I've always wanted two to curl up for story time."
"You curled up reading to both in our bed," Owen, "that's something I've imagined before."
"Really," Teddy asked.
"The kids tucked in on either side of you," Owen said.
"Two of them," Teddy laughed, "number one won't cuddle with stories for us. I may convince her to do the night before Christmas with us on Christmas Eve."
"Read with the little two," Owen said, "but it's already 8 they need baths and bed."
Teddy scooped Leo up off the floor, "okay little man let's have a bath and a story before bed."
"Let's go munchkin," Owen said, picking up Allison.
"Bubbles tonight," Teddy asked, "Annie brought some for them."
"It's a treat," Owen agreed.
Teddy filled the tub with warm water and swirled her hand through the water to make the bubbles extra bubbly. Owen put both kids clothes in the hamper and they lifted them into the tub. Teddy giggles as the kids splashed in the water.
"Who wants a boat," Owen asked as he pulled out two little boats. He drove the boat through the bubbles as the kids splashed.
After bath time they carried both kids in their pajamas for story time.
"Look what I found," Teddy said, "on Leo's dresser."
"A book," Owen said.
"Read the note in the front cover," Teddy said.
"It's Annie's writing," Owen said, "there's another one on Allison's dresser I saw the sticky note with bed time story but haven't opened it."
"Read it," Teddy said, "it made me tear up. Well read the other tomorrow."
Inside Annie had written in her tidy cursive
Dear Leo
As you get older you'll learn I'm really not good at telling people how I feel but this story says exactly what I want to say. No matter how big you get or where you go I love you. Once your family your one of us and I will never let go. I know I'm. It your typical big sister but I promise we will find fun things to do together.
Welcome home little man.
Love Annie
Teddy passed the book to Owen.
"Where ever you are my love will find you," Owen read.
"I read a few pages it's perfect " Teddy smiled. Leo was already in his pyjamas tucked against Teddy's side. Teddy held out her other arm for Allison.
Owen sat down on the bed with them and Allison snuggled with Teddy. Teddy opened the story and began to read to the two toddlers. Owen snapped a picture with his phone wanting to remember this moment. This was what he had always imagined, it was perfect.
Allison was used to a bed time story in mama and daddy's bed and began to doze with her thumb in her mouth. Finishing the story Teddy ran her hand lovingly over the little girls curls. Owen picked up Leo.
"I'll tuck her in then switch," Teddy offered.
"I'll get Leo into bed," Owen said, "then we'll switch to kiss them good night."
Teddy carried Allison to bed and laid her in her crib.
"Night baby girl sleep well, Teddy said, giving Allison a kiss.
Teddy grabbed the picture book from Allison's dresser; she saw the sticky note with Annie's writing on it. The book had the words "I wish you more" on the cover. Teddy opened the book and found another note.
Dear Ali Bean
Today was a special day for us. Our brother came home. Your going to love having a brother they're a lot of fun to play with outside and to ski with when you get bigger. My precious baby sister I love you so much. This story is my wish for you. All the things I want to say but never have to words for. No matter how old you get or where you go I love you and want the very best for you.
Love Annie (Nee)
Teddy teared up again reading the note from Annie to Allison. She passed the book to Owen as she walked into Leo's room.
"Annie did it again," Teddy said, "we have to hold onto these books."
"Why would she do this," Owen asked.
"Leslie had a story for every special occasion and life event," Teddy said, "Annie has a box of picture books from the big events. It was something really special they did for them."
"Should we do one for her from the littles,"Owen asked.
"It would be nice," Teddy said, "and I'm looking for one for her wedding."ok ihicc G's
"We can look online after we put these two to bed," Owen said.
Teddy nodded, "let's finish bed time."
Teddy walked into Leo's room and sat on the side of the little bed.
"Good night little man," Teddy said pulling the blanket tight around him and smoothing his red curls back.
"Mama," Leo said.
"Yes little man," Teddy beamed, "I'm mama. Sleep tight don't let the bed bugs bite."
"Night night mama," Leo said.
"Good night baby boy," Teddy said, kissing his tiny forehead before leaving the room and turning off the light.
Teddy sat down beside Owen on their bed, "how did we get so lucky?"
"I don't know," Owen said, "are you happy Teddy?"
"I am," Teddy said, "are you?"
"I am," Owen agreed. are you sure Annie is okay with this?"
"The books say it all," Teddy said, "I like how she's bringing the special pieces of her childhood out for our little kids. And to organize a coming home day party for Leo she wouldn't do that if she wasn't okay. She loves them. Annie's actions tell more than her words with family stuff. She really worried about Leo those two weeks she was off with Mono. The only patient she asked about."
"She loves our two," Owen said, "its hard to see her so grown up sometimes."
"That she's ready to get married," Teddy smiled, "she's only 26 and will be 27 on their wedding day. I was 40 almost 41 before I married Henry."
"I was 32 when I proposed to Beth," Owen said, "and 36 when I married Chrsitina."
"She's not super young in the general population sense," Teddy said, "it's just for surgeons they are."
"Us being 44 and 47 at our wedding isn't typical either," Owen said.
"We've had other relationships," Teddy said, "Annie has only really had Josh."
"Those two that's all they'll have," Owen said.
"Probably," Teddy agreed, "I think the next baby in the family will be theirs after the wedding and residency for sure and probably after fellowships."
"Has she said anything," Owen asked.
"Just in passing," Teddy said, "they want kids someday."
"He asked me to teach him," Owen said, "he wants Trauma with some peds thrown in."
"They both like peds," Teddy said, "she's good it's not a strength for him. She's better at peds than cardio she'll have to work for cardio more than peds."
"And she may one day decide she only wants one of the two," Owen said.
"There's still part of me that wonders if she says cardio to please me," Teddy said, "that's Annie. She won't do anything she thinks will let me down."
"She's a natural with the kids," Owen agreed, "they love her."
In the cottage Annie and Josh were getting ready for bed, they had 4:30 pre rounds the next day.
"Leo was pretty cute today," Annie said.
"He was," Josh agreed, "I think you like him more then Allison."
"I love them the same," Annie siad, "he just needs more love shown to him right now. We have to really show him hes loved and part of."
"You snuck off upstairs with something hidden behind your back what was it," Josh asked.
"A story book for each of them," Annie explained, "my little love letter to each one. I wrote them both notes in the front cover of their book. I'm sure mama will have found it by now and will read them to the kids."
"How are you so good at this," Josh asked.
"It's something Leslie used to do," Annie explained, "there was a special picture book for every occasion. Graduations, big wins, important birthdays, acceptance into medical school. This was big today they each got a new sibling. They needed a special book. I'm going to start this tradition with them."
"What did you get them," Josh asked.
"Allison has 'I Wish You More' and Leo has 'Where ever you are my love will find you' I hope mama found them. I didn't want to make a big deal of it," Annie said.
"What happened to your books," Josh asked.
"Mama got them when she moved my stuff out of the McKellars. I have them in a bin in the crawl space," Annie said, "I wish I could tell them. Mom always said she had a special story for my wedding day. That she had found it when I was a baby and put it away for that day."
"You still want them at our wedding don't you," Josh said.
"I wish they would respond," Annie said, "mama tried to reach out to them yet but she hasn't told me they replied. Mama would share their reply with me."
"I'm sorry," Josh said, "we could try just showing up at their house."
Annie shook her head, "I don't think I could. Not after all the water under the bridge."
"What about when you renew your Canadian passport," Josh asked.
"I just have to go to the Service Canada location and drop the package off," Annie said, "I might just mail it to save myself the stress of going through cloverdale."
"We can go. I'll go with you," Josh said, "what did you do last time you needed to renew?"
"Chris was just outside of Toronto," Annie said, "I went for a long weekend to see him and dropped of my Canadian passport and then went back to Boston on my American. I always went south on the American and north on the Canadian."
"Let's go up and do it," Josh said, "you can show me Cloverdale. I want to at least drive by where you grew up and see your high school and the dance studio. The park you and Chris built forts in. Please Annie think about it."
"I will," Annie said, "we'd just be tourists there's nothing there for me now. They don't want me."
"What if we tried," Josh asked, "you reach out every month you email and try to call maybe if you're on their porch they won't say no."
"Maybe a letter," Annie said, "or an email from an account they don't know."
"Try mine if you want to," Josh offered.
"Maybe next month I sent one yesterday," Annie said, "I finally told them about us. I sent one of the engagement photos."
"You did," Josh said.
"I'm trying," Annie replied, "I don't think this is mom and dad. I think this is Jessica."
"I've never met them," Josh said, "I've always known your family to be you and Teddy. Most people in school thought you were an only child with a single mother until Teddy did that lecture series."
"I made a choice when I went to Boston. Jessica told me if I went I couldn't go home," Annie said, "I thought it was an empty threat. Dad told me it was an empty threat but it's come true. I don't know if I can go back there."
"It's your choice," Josh said, "if you want to go I'll go with you."
"One day but not yet," Annie said, "we need to focus on the family we do have. Meghan, Nathan, Faroke, Evelyn, mama, uncle Owen, Allison and Leo. Maybe when the time's right a couple kids of our own."
"Do you want kids," Josh said.
"Where were married and done residency," Annie said, "maybe when we're done with our fellowships. But I want our kids."
"When we're married," Josh agreed, "how many?"
"Two," Annie said, "one of each."
"A little girl with your eyes," Josh said.
"A boy with your smile," Annie giggled.
"Two kids," Josh said, "we could have it all Annie."
"We could in time," Annie agreed, "wedding first. Finish residency then a baby. I've wanted a baby since Allison was born."
"I know you love your siblings," Josh said, "you really want our own."
"When we finish residency," Annie said, "we work 100 hour weeks when do we have time to spend with a baby."
"We'll know when the time is right," Josh said.
"We will," Annie agreed, "one day but not yet. We're not ready yet."
"One day," Josh agreed, "one day we'll have it all."
"We can have it all," Annie agreed, kissing Josh.
"If you start that," Josh teased.
Annie giggled, "it's not that late. We can have fun now."
Josh kissed her passionately and rolled on top of her. Annie wrapped her arms around Josh's shoulders and pulled him closer to her. Josh began kissing Annie's neck and moving down her body. They would be exhausted for pre rounds but it was worth it.