Sunday afternoon Annie and Josh unloaded the truck and put their gear away. They had enjoyed their quiet and romantic weekend at the cabin. It was nice to go just the two of them and away from the chaos of the family. Annie had talked to Teddy about the McKellars on their way home. Teddy was going to come over and sit with them while Annie talked to Leslie and Dan. Teddy worried that Annie would panic speaking to her parents after so long, she also knew Annie hadn't seen their faces since her first year of medical school. There had been so much trauma around the stabbing and leaving that Teddy was worried about Annie. But today was just a phone call, no facetime no skype just voices.
Annie took her phone into the office when it was time for the call. She wanted to do this alone.
Her phone rang. Annie took a deep breath before answering.
"Hello," Annie asked cautiously.
"Annie," Leslie said.
"Hi mom," Annie whispered.
"How are you," Leslie asked.
"I'm great," Annie said, "how are you?"
"We're good," Leslie said, "really happy to hear your voice. We've missed you."
"You never call," Annie pointed out, "or email me back. I email almost every week. I've sent you pictures but you never get back to me."
"I know," Leslie said, "we found your emails. They got diverted to spam, your email address was flagged. Anything with Altman is."
"Why did you do that," Annie asked.
"We didn't," Leslie said, "you use the family email account on the main computer in the kitchen."
"Jessica," Annie asked.
"Yes," Leslie said, "we have it fixed now and changed the password on that computer."
"Why didn't you call or email me when you stopped hearing from me," Annie asked.
"We thought it was what you wanted," Dan said.
"You started pulling away from us your first year of medical school then you changed your name," Leslie said.
"I stayed away because I'm not safe in your house. There were too many violent incidents," Annie said.
"You haven't forgiven her yet," Dan asked.
"I've forgiven but I'm not going to forget," Annie replied, "you can forgive without having things go back to the way they were. I will no longer be bullied and hurt the way she hurt me."
"I understand," Leslie said, "but you see your brother."
"Chris and I talk most days," Annie replied, "he refused to give up on me. He's one of Josh's groomsmen this summer."
"Teddy said you were engaged and we found the photos you sent. Your dress is gorgeous and Josh is a very handsome man," Leslie said.
"We thought we've seen pictures of Josh before," Dan added.
"You would have in med school," Annie said,
"This is Josh from school," Leslie said, "you always said he was just a friend."
"I'm school , then it became more once we got the same residency," Annie replied, "mom I want this. He loves me and makes me feel safe and happy. He's the right guy."
"We'd like to meet him and see you," Dan said.
"Come down and visit," Annie suggested, "I'm in the middle of renewing my Canadian passport so its a pain to cross the border."
"Why are you doing it now before you change your last name to do it twice," Leslie asked.
"Because I'm keeping Altman," Annie replied, "it's normal for us to keep our last names professionally. Mama still uses Altman, Meghan is Hunt even though she's married to Nathan Riggs."
"Riggs, so Josh's family," Leslie asked.
"Yes. Josh's dad is Nathan's brother," Annie explained, "you'll meet everyone at the wedding if you want to come."
"We'll try to make it work," Leslie promised.
"Don't just try," Annie said, "be there for me."
"Who's going to walk you down the aisle," Dan asked.
"I have two ideas," Annie said, "if you come both dad and uncle Owen. If you don't come uncle Owen is happy to."
"Your step father," Leslie asked.
"Yes," Annie replied, "I asked him because I hadn't heard from you in years."
"We talked to both of them on Friday," Leslie said.
"I know," Annie said, "she's here."
"Are you still really close to Teddy," Dan asked.
"Very," Annie said, "I see or talk to her everyday. She's the head of my department at work so she teaches me and she's still mama."
"And you have other siblings now," Leslie pointed out.
"Allison is two and Leo is three," Annie said, "Leo was adopted about six months ago. I have four siblings. Between my two families I'm the oldest of five kids but only share DNA with my youngest sister. It was great in January I had three of them over at once. Chris is surprisingly good with kids."
"How often do you see Chris," Dan asked.
"He splits his leaves half and half with you and I," Annie said, "he usually comes to me first."
"How does that work with how much he says you work," Leslie asked.
"We try to time it for days off or at least when I'm not doing 24s. But he hangs out with Josh. Chris likes to hang out mama and Uncle Owen when he's down, he still calls them Auntie Teddy and Uncle Owen," Annie replied.
"He always called her that," Leslie acknowledged.
"We always do a big family dinner when he's down," Annie said, "get all six surgeons off on the same night, all three kids, Evelyn, it's fun. But we're not allowed to play exploding kittens anymore."
"Chris brought that game last time he visited," Dan said, "it got competitive."
"Seven very competitive people," Annie laughed, "it doesn't work."
"When are you coming home," Leslie asked.
"Seattle is home," Annie replied, "I can't work in Canada now."
"What do you mean," Dan asked.
"My medical licence isn't valid I never did my Canadian exams," Annie explained, "but I'm in a top five program here so I'm set for staying in the states."
"You sound more American now," Leslie said.
"Sometimes," Annie agreed, "I hear I still sound Canadian a lot. Especially because I still say mum instead of mom. I've been here six almost seven years and the accent and vocabulary are different in Boston. Seattle sounds more like Vancouver. My roommate through med school is from Texas so I picked up a few things from Stephanie."
"Are you coming to visit," Dan asked.
"I can't until I get my new passport and you can guarantee my safety," Annie said, "I'm going to a conference in whistler in June with mama and auntie Meghan if there's time maybe we can do coffee when I come through Coverdale."
"Conference," Leslie asked.
"Women in trauma surgery," Annie replied, "mama, auntie Meghan, Dr. Shepard, Dr. Grey, Dr. Bailey, Jenna and Julia."
"Who are these people," Dan asked.
"You know mama," Annie replied, "auntie Meghan is Meghan Hunt, Owen's sister. Dr. Grey you met years ago when I graduated UBC, Dr. Bailey is our chief of surgery and you've met her before, Dr. Shepard you haven't met she's the head of Neurosurgey she took over when her brother passed a few years ago. Jenna and Julia are also third year residents. Jenna is my maid of honour and Julia is a bridesmaid."
"How can we do coffee if your with all of them," Leslie asked.
"We're all driving up," annie replied, "mama is driving Meghan and I. She'll stop if I ask."
"We'd like you to come visit," Leslie said.
"Why don't we meet somewhere for coffee," annie suggested, "i don't think I'm ready to go into the house yet."
"You'll bring Teddy ," Dan snapped.
"She's driving," Annie replied.
"Why could you forgive her but you cant forgive us," Leslie asked.
"Because her and I have taken the time to talk through things and I was never angry or hurt by her giving me to you. You've made choices that hurt me. Choosing not to see Jessica's violent behaviour, choosing not to come visit me no matter how many times I invited or asked you to come. Not calling back or emailing me. Those were choices you made. I reached out, I called until I was told not to and threatened. I still email but you never reply," Annie snapped.
"We don't need the hostility from you," dan said, "you made choices to go and to stay away."
"I chose to live," Annie shouted, "I chose my safety."
Josh slipped into the room and put his arm around her trying to help her stay calm.
"If you had stayed at UBC or chosen something she could understand things would have been different," Dan said.
Annie lost it, "most parents would be thrilled by what I did. Starting Harvard medical at 20. A top five residency placement at 24. Cardiothoracic surgery. But it's still all about what Jessica can't do."
"Annie," Leslie said, "it doesn't mean we're not proud of you. But it's all forgin to us. Jessica is mentally thirteen, you're asking her to respond as an adult when she's never gotten beyond thirteen or fourteen."
"Then force a neuro consult," Annie demanded, "is she still living at your house?"
"Yes," Leslie said, "she can't hold a job for long."
"Whose fault is that," Annie snapped, "she was never accountable for her actions. She would beat me up or cut me and I had to apologize. Eventually I had enough."
"She can't help it," Dan said, "she's not capable of controlling her temper."
"Then get a diagnosis and treatment," Annie yelled, "stop punishing me and Chris for her problems."
Josh whispered in Annie's ear , "maybe you should wrap this up. I'm right here with you."
"Annie, we know we need to work through this," Dan said, "but not when you're yelling at us."
"This makes me angry," Annie said, "I thought you stopped loving me. You gave up on me."
"Annie that couldn't be further from the truth," Leslie said.
"I need you to show me then," Annie said, "I've had a lot of promises from you
"How do we do that," Leslie asked.
"For now actually email me back, call me, ask about my life," Annie said.
"We need you to keep emailing and sending photos. Answer when we call," Leslie said.
"I will answer if I'm not with a patient," Annie said, "I can send you my work schedule. I do 80-90 hours a week. There's times I can do over 100 a week. If I'm with a patient it will go to voice mail and I'll reply after. Even if I get out of the OR at 2 am."
"Text or email if it's that late," Leslie said.
"I will," Annie replied, "but we're meeting with friends for dinner so I should get ready."
"Before you go where are you living," Leslie asked.
"Do you remember mama's house in Seattle," Annie asked, "Josh and I have rented it with a roommate since we got to Seattle."
"That's only a two bedroom place," Dan said.
"Dad I'm a 27 year old surgeon," Annie replied, "it's totally normal to live with my fiancé."
"Are you sure you know what your doing," Leslie asked.
"Mama and uncle Owen asked me that years ago," annie replied, "but I do need to get going."
"Call us soon," Leslie said.
"Answer when I do," Annie replied.
"It was good to hear your voice Annie," Dan said.
"It was good to talk to you," Annie replied.
"Good bye," Leslie said.
"Bye," Annie responded before hanging up her phone.
Seeing Annie put her phone on the desk, Josh pulled her into his arms. He held her tight. Annie began to cry into his chest, he knew she was overwhelmed.
"Hey you're okay," Josh whispered, "you talked to them."
"They don't see their part," Annie said.
"Let's go sit on the couch," Josh suggested, "Teddy has tea ready."
"Another minute," Annie said snuggling closer to Josh.
"Okay," Josh said, holding her tight and stroking her hair.
When Annie was ready they joined Teddy in the family room.
Teddy saw Annie's face and pulled her into a hug, "you okay sweetheart?"
Annie nodded, "I will be but I need a hug."
Teddy held Annie tight and whispered, "your okay. I'm
Here just match my breathing."
When Annie was calmer Teddy asked, "how did it go?"
"That was hard," Annie admitted, "it started okay but they want me to go there and I'm not ready yet. I need to talk to them more first."
"I told them to follow the process I did with you years ago," Teddy said, "emails, phone calls, facetime and to come to you first. It took a few months and a few visits from me before you came down."
"Our history was different," Annie said, " there weren't the years of neglect and the broken trust. Getting to know you was a fresh start, I had fantasies that I had come up with from the little bits I knew about you but that was it."
"You have memories of them," Teddy said, "and not always easy ones. It's your choice how you go forward, set your boundaries and stick to them."
"Dad asked who was walking me down the aisle," Annie said, "he didn't like either of my two plans."
"Two," Teddy asked, "we've only talked about one."
"If they come dad and uncle Owen together," Annie said, "I could have both fathers."
"That would work nicely," Teddy agreed, "it's a fair compromise."
"Would Owen be okay with it," Annie asked.
"If you're happy with it he will be," Teddy replied.
"Mom and dad don't seem to understand that I've built a life for myself without them," Annie said, "they wanted me to go back like nothing ever happened. They want me to visit."
"We're going to that conference in Whistler," Teddy said, "I'll go with you to meet them."
"I suggested coffee," Annie said, "meeting somewhere not the house."
"If that's what you want to do I support you," Teddy promised.
"Maybe I could have coffee with them and you and Meg could be somewhere else in the coffee shop," Annie suggested.
"So not right with you but close if you need me," Teddy asked.
"Exactly," Annie agreed, "they didn't seem to like the idea of coming to see me here."
"Maybe they could come with Chris in April," Josh suggested.
"That would work," Annie agreed, "I'll suggest it in my next email. They've read like two years worth of emails now. Jessica had Altman blocked as spam, so neither mama or my emails got through."
"Use my email to send your regular ones," Josh said.
"I will," Annie said.
"Are we really meeting people for dinner," Josh asked.
"No," Annie replied, "it was an out because I had had enough."
"You could do dinner with us," Teddy suggested, "we're meeting Meg and Nate for sushi."
"What time," Annie asked.
"In about an hour," Teddy said, "do you need more time?"
"An hour should be good but don't worry if I'm quiet," Annie replied, "I have a lot of thinking to do."
"I know," Teddy said, "do you want me to give the others the heads up that your not grouchy just thinking?"
"Yes please," Annie said, "I need to figure out how much I want to let them back in and how quickly I'm comfortable with things moving. I didn't think they'd actually call. I really thought they gave up on me."
"I know sweetheart," Teddy replied, "but now you can do this your way. Set your boundaries and stick to them."
"I will this time," Annie replied, "I need a few minutes on my own to process, is that okay?"
"It is we'll see you in a bit," Teddy replied.
"Thanks for being here mama," Annie said, giving Teddy a quick hug.
"Any time sweetheart," Teddy said, "see you in a bit."
When Teddy left Annie walked into their bathroom and closed the door behind her. She thought a quick shower would help her to calm down, plus she needed to do her hair before she saw anyone other than Josh and Teddy.