Very little of Teddy or other cannon characters but this chapter will have some important information going forward.
Annie and Josh pulled up in front of the house Annie grew up in. Annie was beyond anxious she hadn't been back in the house since the stabbing almost nine years earlier.
"I haven't been here in almost nine years," Annie said.
"It's okay," Josh said, "it's just you and I going to see Leslie and Dan . Your dad was great last night and your grandparents. He's only here today because you need him."
"This weekend is going to be the prodigal surgeon returns," Annie said, "but we're here for tea now, we go for dinner tonight and stay at the hotel then we go home after breakfast tomorrow. If you have to be in the pit by 7pm Sunday night."
"Shannon and Ben were great last night," Josh smiled, "their kids were great and wonderful with Ellie."
"What if Leslie doesn't like Ellie," Annie asked.
"What's not to love about Ellie," Josh said, "how can anyone not love you or Ellie."
Leslie stood just out of sight in the upstairs front window she could see the black truck with Washington plates and knew that it was Annie and Josh. She also realized the last time Annie had set foot in the house Jessica had stabbed her. She had gone to Seattle with Teddy and Henry who after the ski trip and taking Annie to the airport drove Chris home and picked up most of Annie's stuff that she hadn't taken to Boston. Leaving Annie's room empty.
Annie finally opened her door. It took everything she had to get out of the truck and walk up the driveway. Josh carried Ellie's car seat and had one hand on Annie's back as they walked up to the front door. Annie nervously rang the doorbell.
Dan opened it right away.
"Come in," Dan greeted.
"Hi Dan," Annie replied.
"How was the trip up," asked Dan.
"We came up yesterday and stayed at the best western," Annie replied, "it was good. Ellie doesn't mind long drives. It's her second road trip."
"Where else has she been," Dan asked.
"Portland for our surgical board exams and a quick stop to see my dad, the cabin twice now," Josh answered.
Leslie hugged Annie, "welcome home Annie."
"We're just visiting," Annie reminded, "we both work this week."
"Your leave is up already," Dan said.
"It is," Annie replied, "I'd like more time at home with Ellie but my patients need me."
"Do you have patients waiting," Dan asked.
"A little boy who needs a heart transplant and a few babies with underdeveloped hearts to work on," Annie said, "a couple moms that I need to meet with this week before their baby comes."
"Why don't you show Josh around and we'll get to know Ellie," Leslie suggested.
"I haven't been here in 9 years," Annie replied, "is anything still the same?"
"We never touched your room," Leslie said, "it's how you left it. We just washed the bedding."
Annie took a deep breath, "almost how it was when I lived here. I have the photo albums, scrapbooks, yearbooks and story books. I've been reading Ellie the stories."
"I wondered where they went," Leslie said, "they disappeared after the last time you came home."
"Mama, Henry, Chris and I carried them all out when you were dealing with Jessica," Annie said.
"Go show Josh," Leslie said, "I'll hold Ellie."
"I'll take her with me," Annie said. Annie still wasn't ready to leave Ellie with Leslie or Dan if she wasn't in the room. They had left Ellie overnight with Teddy and Owen a week ago but leaving Ellie with Leslie and Dan that wasn't a choice.
They walked downstairs and Annie froze. The last time she had been here she left with 35 stitches in her back and hadn't returned since.
Josh put his hand on her back and whispered, "your okay we can do this together."
Annie took his hand and opened the door to her childhood room. The walls were the same apple green with the same old white comforter with the green and grey polka dots. It looked faded and tired and there was a chill in the room, a sense that it had been abandoned. Annie carried Ellie over to the bookshelves still stuffed with novels from her childhood and teenage years.
"One day we'll read these together baby bug," Annie promised, "I'll make sure you know who Anne of Green Gables is."
"Do you want to take some of your books with you," Leslie asked.
"Just a few special ones. Things I think Ellie should know," Annie replied, "just because we're in Seattle doesn't mean I want her to miss all the Canadian stories."
Annie stepped back into the hallway and there were too many memories in her old room. She showed Josh the dance space where she had spent thousands of hours training and pushing herself. Here the old pictures and awards made her smile. The sashes from her world and Canadian championship wins. But this time an ancient photo caught her eye. It was from her very first championship and it showed a serious 7 year old Annie standing in first with a young woman in green kneeling beside her.
"That looks like the picture you, Teddy, Meghan and Evelyn have," Josh pointed out.
"It was Annie's first championship," Leslie said, "the adult champion was so kind to her that day and showed her around, introduced her to the pipers and judges, and led her through the parade of champions."
"That's Auntie Meghan," Annie replied, "Evelyn found a similar picture a few years ago. We all have copies. Before I got pregnant Meghan and I would dance together for fun, we were taking an adult class. And we always do a duo for the annual talent show and competition against a couple other Seattle hospitals. I still have all my costumes. I might go back to my adult class just for the exercise when Ellie is a bit bigger."
"Did you compete after you left," Leslie asked.
"There wasn't time with med school or residency," Annie said, "Allison is competing now, she did her first primary in July and got third in her pas de bas, and Ellie will when she's old enough if she wants to. I've worked 80-100 hours a week for most of the last five years there's been no time to compete."
"When Chris told us you worked more than anyone he knew he wasn't exaggerating," Dan said.
"We average 90 hours a week in the hospital," Josh said, "as fellows we'll stick to 80."
"What do you mean by fellows," Leslie asked.
"It's two years of specialized training in our specialties," Annie explained, "there's a big research component. I'm looking at a specific birth defect in children's hearts in a cooperative project between our hospital and B.C. children's."
"If you're working with BC Children's hospital will you be up often," Dan asked.
"No," Annie replied, "our head of research and innovation Christina Yang is the lead researcher. The team from BC will come to us. Part of me being on the project was no travel for the first 18 months so I didn't have to leave Ellie."
"You're a good mom," Leslie said, "she's happy with you and content."
"Annie is amazing," Josh said, "she's a natural with Ellie."
"I had practice with Allison and Leo," Annie said, "we were babysitting them over night a week before I had Ellie. We went to the park, for ice cream and a backyard campfire. That was fun two high energy preschoolers and being passed my due date. They wanted to camp in the backyard but there was no way I could have handled a tent at that point."
"We've done overnights with Annie's younger siblings a lot," Josh clarified, "from the time Allison was about six months old."
"What about when you both work overnight," Dan asked.
"We have a few options," Annie replied, "there is a 24/7 daycare at the hospital which we will use. She's nursing so it's easier for me to feed her when she's at the hospital. So I would feed her, read her story and tuck her into a crib there. We can do her routines there and tuck her in Or we can ask mama and uncle Owen, nana is out back up. But I'm not overnight for the first five or six months. Most of my patients are scheduled with very few emergencies we hope."
"I didn't realize you were breastfeeding," Leslie said.
"Why do you think I disappeared with her after the christening," Annie said, "it's good for her and I like the bonding time with her. She should wake up and be hungry soon. I want to make it to her first birthday."
"Use the formal living room," Leslie said, "or stay in the family room with everyone if you're comfortable. "
"Living room probably," Annie replied, "I'll let you get to know Josh."
Josh shook his head, at home or with their family and friends she stayed with everyone to feed Ellie. But all of the adults in the family were in medicine and Annie was typically very discreet and used a baby blanket to cover up if the kids or men were in the room. He realized letting Leslie and Dan in on that would be a stretch.
When Ellie began to fuss they went back upstairs and Annie turned into the formal living room. The room hadn't changed much since she had left just the photos on the wall. One for the photos surprised her. It was of her and Chris the day she had graduated from Harvard in her cap and gown. Her three graduation photos were in a line as well, high school, UBC and Harvard. From the armchair she could see the photos in the collage frames and hers was more up to date then she thought it would be. It even included a picture of her Josh and Ellie that Annie had emailed a few days after Ellie was born and their wedding and engagement photos. Annie had tears in her eyes seeing the start of a fourth frame. It had the photos she had been sending of Ellie. From the first ones that they texted in the it's my birthday onesie to the formal posed baby photos and their family photo.
Leslie knocked on the door, "Annie can I come sit with you or do you like to be alone for this?"
Annie paused before she replied, "can you grab her blanket out of the diaper bag? It's gray with pink and white hearts, it should be on top."
"I can," Leslie answered. This was a start Annie was cautiously letting her in. Leslie could only see the top of Annie's head right now grabbing the blanket she walked in and passed it to Annie giving her a moment to cover up before sitting down.
"Are you sure you want to sit with us Leslie ," Annie asked.
"I haven't been alone with you in years," Leslie said, "I want to know you."
Annie nodded, "that was your choice. Always have an audience so I don't speak my mind"
Leslie nodded, "I'm sorry about that Annie. We didn't do this right with you and we know we can't go back and change what happened but I want to get to know you."
"I'd like that," Annie replied, "but it's still going to take years to rebuild my trust. What happened really hurt me. I can't just forget and move on like that I need proof from you. Even this spring when you promised to try you haven't. You didn't even call when Ellie was born."
"How do I get to know you again," Leslie asked.
"Answer my calls, texts and emails the same day to start," Annie replied, "if I'm in surgery the nurse that has my phone will tell you and I'll get back to you as soon as I scrub out. Come and see us. Josh does a lot of weekends as a trauma surgeon."
"How does that work for a marriage," Leslie asked.
Annie said, "we're at the same hospital and have always done this. We work together when we can and make a point of eating together. If we're both on over night we try to have dinner together and use the same on call room to nap. When we're on opposite schedules for a couple weeks it sucks but we make it work. I prefer us on the same schedule but the specialties we've chosen don't allow that to happen all the time."
Leslie thought before asking, "is Josh helpful with Ellie?"
Annie beamed, "he is. He's an amazing dad. Ellie loves him."
Leslie asked, "I missed most of the pregnancy, how did it go?"
Annie smiled, "it was tough in the first trimester but after that it went well. You were there for the weeks I felt really good. I was pretty big by the end, luckily it was all baby."
"Not too sick then," Leslie asked.
"There were a few weeks I lived on crackers and apple juice because that's all that would stay down," Annie said.
Leslie asked, "what was the worst part?"
"Other than so-called morning sickness. Probably how sore and tight my back got or not being able to reach my feet," Annie replied.
"What was the best part," asked Leslie.
Annie beamed, "feeling her move or hearing her heartbeat. Knowing she was right there with me. We would use one of our stethoscopes to listen to her heart at home. Just cuddle on the couch and listen or feel her move while we watched a movie. Her dance parties were fun because my whole belly would move. You could see it through my clothes at the end."
Leslie asked, "did you work right up until you delivered?"
Annie shook her head, " I wanted to but stopped operating a week before her due date then was home from my due date until she actually came. She was 13 days late. "
"Easy labor," Leslie asked.
"Long she took nearly 30 hours," Annie said, "we did the first half at home which was easier than the hospital. I wanted the quiet and privacy of home. It was harder at the hospital because we know most of the staff. I didn't want the pressure of all those people around."
"You've never liked attention," Leslie said.
Annie said, "I still hate attention. I'm really not looking forward to that tonight. I'm only here because it's Grandmere and Papa's 65th anniversary."
"Your sister isn't going," Leslie said, "Jessica has to work tonight serving."
"If she shows up we're going to leave," Annie replied, "we only got through the christening because she was in my house and I think she's still afraid of uncle Owen."
"She doesn't know how to take Teddy and Owen," Leslie agreed, "when we were down and Jessie was in the hospital a few months ago Owen called you his daughter."
Annie smiled, "I know. I've explained this before. We don't use the term step. He thinks it's offensive. Step is only for official paperwork or people who knew them in the army."
Leslie admitted, "that was hard for me to see you with Teddy, Meghan and Evelyn. The way they clustered around you and Ellie and you looked so calm and happy with them and with Teddy's little girl it was a perfect family moment. I always imagined having those with you. Or your wedding day."
Annie nodded, "you were always missing from those. I missed you. You were the one that gave up on me. When you could no longer control me you stopped talking to me. Then you came in February but only seemed interested in the fact that I was pregnant. Why did you give up on me?"
Leslie pauses to organize her thoughts, "it's our fault Annie. We didn't deal with your sister properly. For years we allowed Jessica to control and manipulate then by the time she got violent with me you had stopped reaching out. I wanted to go to Boston for your graduation so badly and I was crushed when we realized neither of us could go. I wanted to see my little girl become a doctor and I had to trust that Chris would be there and celebrate with you. It was your graduation or my life and I couldn't tell you that. I knew you would be celebrated by Teddy and Chris. I always followed the schedule for your years in med school and prayed that on one of the breaks you would call and say you wanted to come home. Where did you go?"
Annie answered the question first, "I've told you this, I always went to Germany or would meet mama somewhere, she always booked her leaves around my school schedule. I'm not going to hear any more of you being jealous of mama and uncle Owen. They cared and they tried when you gave up. Jessica is an excuse, you were the parent and you chose not to act. You wanted me around for bragging rights but refused to actually see me. it's taken me years to be able to come back here. It took a lot for me to get out of the truck today."
"The last time you were here Jessica hurt you," Leslie said.
"Let's be clear that was a stabbing," Annie replied, "and had I been stronger then I would have let mama call the police. But I wanted to keep the peace so I didn't. If it happened today she would be arrested."
"She's done the same to me," Leslie said, "a few days ago when she found out you were coming today."
"Report it," Annie urged, "she can be forced into treatment. Did you get it looked at?"
"We can't," Leslie said, "she'll kill us if we do. Kelsey was here. She superglued it. Kelsey just finished her first year of med school at UBC."
"I knew Kesley was in med school. We text, she might come down and scrub in when I'm back at work. Jessica said the same thing to me and it cost me 8 or 9 years with you and Dan. I wanted to come home and I wanted to call but in order to live and have a chance at being alive Annabeth McKellar had to disappear," Annie said, "and I chose to make her disappear before Jessica did that for me. By staying in Boston and changing my name I had a chance to live to finally be me. I could be myself and breathe for the first time. For the first time in my life I felt like I could take a deep breath, I was almost 22. I built a life that I am incredibly happy with. I'm happier than I thought was possible. I make choices for myself now. No one chooses for me. Big decisions Josh and I make together as a team. We both have a say and a voice."
"That was hard to get the email from Grace Altman," Leslie said, "I thought it was a relative of Teddy's and something had happened to the two of you."
"I tried to tell you and dad on the phone a few times but you didn't listen or didn't answer my calls," Annie argued, "it got your attention. I never gave up Annabeth and I still use Annie with family. I kept the names all three parents gave me. I'm Grace Annabeth Altman. We've had this conversation Leslie, twice. You need to get your memory checked. Or you have selective dementia, you only remember the things you want to make me feel guilty when I have to tell you over and over."
"Was Altman ever a career move," Leslie asked.
"It's helped with recognizing me and helped a few teachers at school who knew her make the connection but there's been no advantages in residency placements or my fellowship," Annie said, " Altman sometimes makes things harder for me, I'm compared to Mama every day. Grey Sloan is a top five teaching hospital up there with Mayo, Columbia, Massachusetts General, John Hopkins. When you hear about massive breakthroughs from Meredith Grey, Alex Karev, Christina Yang, Margret Pierce that's our hospital. I'm being trained by Karev, Yang and Pierce, as well as mama. Grey's abdominal wall transplant was done on Auntie Meghan when I was an intern, I watched it from the gallery, mama scrubbed in and helped. Mama and I are working on a total heart reconstruction using 3D printed scaffolds, bovine tissue and stem cells. It would drastically reduce the need for transplants when we get it to work, I want to use it on babies who are born with severe heart defects."
"Will you get the credit," Leslie asked, "or is it all Teddy?"
"As a fellow I'm not entitled to credit but we've talked about it and it will be published as Altman and Altman. We presented it at Columbia at the end of January," Annie explained, "we just submitted the paper. It's called the Altman method."
"Did she say anything when you changed your name," Leslie asked.
Annie replied, "again I told you this I'm sick of having the same conversations with you."
"Why did you change it," Leslie asked, "your name?"
"This is the last time I tell you. I started thinking about it when Jessica almost beat me to death," Annie replied, "mama and uncle Owen told me to stop being dramatic that summer. But then the stabbing happened and I knew I wasn't safe. That was December. We talked about it all summer and I went through with it in September."
"It took almost a year," Leslie asked.
"It did," Annie said, "that year was hell. We lost Henry, my eating disorder was almost out of control, mama moved to another continent and you started ignoring me more and more."
"Eating disorder when did that happen," Leslie asked.
"My last year at UBC and my first at Harvard," Annie replied, "I got help. I'm okay now. Mama helped me. Why didn't you tell me what you knew about her? You wrote letters every month. I've read all of yours to her. She shared them with me before my wedding. We'd take a couple years at a time and read them. It took almost a year to get through them all."
"Because I didn't know how much you were ready to know," Leslie said, "Teddy and I always agreed that the relationship you had with her had to be when you were ready and once you were old enough."
"You didn't tell me her information because you didn't want me to look for her," Annie accused, "you didn't want me to know. You thought if you kept me in the dark long enough that I'd give up."
"Annie she gave you up for adoption," Leslie said, "she only replied to my letters to make sure I kept writing to her. She didn't care until you emailed her."
"That's a lie," Annie said, "she cared. She did what she did because she loves me. She wrote a letter to me every year on my birthday. I have them all. She gave them to me when Ellie was born. All 29 she's written."
"Annie, she could have faked those," Leslie said.
"Mama wouldn't lie to me. That's one thing her and I have always agreed on 100% honesty. She saw the nutcracker in Vancouver the year I was 16," Annie said, "the year I was sugar plum. She knew it was me from the picture in the program, but was afraid to call because she didn't know what I knew about her. At that point I didn't even know her name. You could have given me a name. Do you know how hard it is to not even have a clue where you came from?"
"We should have been more open with you," Leslie admitted, "you always had more questions than dad and I could answer."
"I should have been able to write. Be part of the letters. Maybe fine wait until I was 19 to meet but I should have been able to write. I never felt like I fit with Chris and Jessica," Annie explained, "it's like we were a trio and I was always a count off. I knew I didn't look like them. But the physical was the only outward sign. I never belonged, I was your show pony until I didn't do what you wanted."
"You always felt different from your siblings," Leslie agreed, "but what we saw for years was you and Chris as our dynamic duo and Jessica trailing behind. Then you both left. You moved on campus at UBC first then to Boston and Seattle. Chris joined the army and has moved around a lot."
"We left to get away from the control," Annie said, "we left so we could be free."
"Can I ask how you paid for medical school," Leslie asked, changing the subject to avoid the topic and Annie's accusations.
Annie replied, "scholarships did a lot of my tuition. I had a my one from Grey Sloan, then a few smaller ones, more student loans then I like to think about, I tutored and taught ballet at a little recreational studio, on campus jobs. I made it work. Mama helped when things got tight and I needed groceries. She wanted to help more but I had to do it on my own, prove I could do it. But our fellowship offers paid off all our student loans so that's over. We can start saving for Ellie to go to university."
"Will Ellie go to public school," Leslie asked.
"It's a few years off but we're looking at the private school Leo is going to," Annie replied, "it's a smaller Christian school. I'd like to do what we did. The smaller school for elementary then public for middle and secondary."
"You'll know what's right for her," Leslie said.
"We will," Annie replied, "right now it's lots of food and cuddles. She's happiest being held and loves stories and music. I think she'll be a dancer. She smiles when I dance with her. I think she's close to giggling."
"Is she a happy baby," Leslie asked.
"Most days," Annie replied, "she got a cold from Allison and we couldn't put her down for 48 hours but other than that she's a happy girl."
"How did she get a cold from Allison already," Leslie asked.
"Allison had a cold and a low grade fever so couldn't stay at daycare," Annie replied, "mama uncle Owen, Josh, Meghan and Nathan were all working that night and Evelyn was at the cabin with some friends from church so I said I could take Ali. I thought keeping them separated and enough acetaminophen in Allison, it would be fine. But two little girls both needed cuddles at once so it spread. They both decided that the only way they would be calm was to lay with me. So I had Ellie on my shoulder and Allison's head in my lap sitting on the couch watching Disney plus. The girls needed love and cuddles."
"How are you so calm about it," Leslie asked.
"Different perspective. I do a lot of work with premature infants, some on the edge of viability," Annie replied, "we save more then we lose but we fight hard. Sniffles in my 6 week old I can fix with cuddles and love. She was eating and her diapers were wet and dirty. It was a virus, you ride it out with snuggles."
"What exactly do you do at work," Leslie said.
Annie replied, "I'm pretty specialized. Im a pediatric cardiothoracic surgeon. Eventually I'll add maternal fetal and neonatal surgery. I like hearts the smaller the better. Do you remember years ago when the Emery family had that little girl that was born with the left side of her heart totally underdeveloped. I can fix that surgically. I do a ton of valve replacements and pacemakers on kids under about 16. I can go up to 18 but my passion is about 12 and under. Teens usually need someone with more experience in adults depending on their development."
"The Emery girl is still really sick. She can't go to school or walk because of her heart. Do you think you could help," Leslie asked.
"If they can bring her to me I'm willing to look, maybe talk with mama and Dr Yang," Annie replied, "but at 12 or 13 she may be a better transplant candidate. It's going to be costly even if I give them my time. They have to come to Grey Sloan to see me. I can't legally do anything in BC I would lose my medical license."
"I'll mention it to them but they've given up," Leslie said.
"Let them know I'll take a look and we can consult with their doctors," Annie replied, "they want Christina Yang or Teddy Altman."
"How does that work for Teddy and Owen. Weren't Owen and Christina married at one point," Leslie asked.
Annie said, "they're all good with it. They all respect each other."
"It all works and is calm," Leslie asked.
"It does," Annie replied, "they can all work on the same patient at the same time. My last major surgery I was in the OR with all three. 14 year old ran his dirt bike into a tree and impaled himself on a branch. Took 3 cardio and 3 trauma surgeons."
"When was that," Leslie asked.
"End of April," Annie said, "l I wasn't going to scrub in until they got in and needed a third set of hands for the cardio repairs, mama and I rebuilding the heart and Christina fixing the chest cavity. Josh was in there and pretty uptight about me being there. 16 hour repair. I took a few breaks to go to the washroom or eat but when we have the heart out of the body there's a time limit."
"You and Ellie were okay," Leslie asked.
"She stayed in there for a month after that so she's fine," Annie replied, "I just underestimated how physically demanding that would be. I'm not good at slowing down."
"You never could slow down," Leslie replied, "we never understood where you got your energy from. Still don't."
"Mama," Annie laughed, "her and Allison are as high energy as I am."
In the family room Dan was getting to know Josh. He respected the young man that had captured his daughter's heart and made her feel safe, secure and loved. He was hearing about Annie through his eyes. The confident woman they had seen in Seattle. The person they had always wanted her to be. Dan could hear snippets on Annie and Leslie's conversation and knew this was probably the last time the two would see each other. Leslie as usual wasn't listening and jumping to conclusions where Annie was concerned.
Annie walked to the family room and sat on the couch beside Josh who instantly gave her hand a squeeze.
"We should take Ellie for her nap soon," Annie said.
Josh knew that was her signal she had had enough.
"You can lay her down in my room," Leslie offered.
"She's better in her bassinet, we left that back at the hotel," Annie said.
"We can build a pillow wall so she won't fall," Leslie offered.
"Leslie it's okay," Annie said, "we're going to go before she's fussy."
Josh didn't like them pressuring Annie to stay. He could see why Annie said they didn't listen to her and she didn't have a voice.
"I have a couple calls I need to make about patients," Josh said, "we're never really off on weekends."
"We should get Ellie to sleep before she gets cranky and won't nap," Annie said.
"We'll see you at Jim's," Dan said.
"Please let everyone know we're just visiting and go home tomorrow," Annie said.
"We will," Leslie promised, "it was good to have you here Annie and to get to know Josh and Ellie."
"It was nice to visit but we won't be returning until you come to see us and show some interest in our lives consistently," Annie said, "Leslie this isn't home. We only came to humor Dan. Until you see your role in everything that has happened we can not be in your life."
"I'll walk out with you," Dan said.
In the truck Annie had tears rolling down her cheeks, "we made one visit and she doesn't see her role. I don't need her crap."
"She was fake as usual," Josh said, "I was surprised when Leslie wanted to sit with you while you fed Ellie."
"So was I," Annie said, "it was a bit awkward."
"Your mama, Meg, Evelyn," Josh said.
"Our closest family," Annie said, "those aren't my parents anymore. That's mama and uncle Owen. But I don't want to cut Dan out again either. I never wanted to lose them, just get away from Jessica. I'm starting to get really sick of Leslie's jealousy of mama. Why couldn't she figure out how to get along for my sake. I feel like I have divorced parents arguing over me."
"I know and Dan will be around. He's been good the last couple months," Josh said, "keep it on your terms. You did that today."
"Yes, by telling them that Ellie wouldn't nap there when we totally could have got her to sleep," Annie said.
"We could have but you would be on edge," Josh replied, "she needs you calm."
"We'll see them tonight. At least go for dinner and hang out for a while. Leave around her normal bedtime," Annie said, "I don't like disrupting her schedule."
"I know and you're back to work Tuesday," Josh said.
"I'm not ready to be away from her," Annie said, "she's still so tiny."
"You'll just be down the hall most of the time," Josh reminds her.
"I know," Annie said.
They grabbed something quick for lunch and drove back to the hotel.
While Ellie napped Annie texted Teddy.
Annie, "that was awkward. But I did it. And I'm done with her. I faced my fear of that house but I don't have to do it again."
Teddy, "you did. Annie that was a huge step. You don't have to go back if you don't want to. What are you going to do?"
Annie, "I'm done with Leslie. She can't remember anything about us. There's something not right with her. Can I finally say enough is enough. Dan, Chris, Grandmere, Papa, Shan, Cat, Katie, that's all that I care about seeing."
Teddy, "it's your choice sweetheart I can't tell you what to do. I have my thoughts but you have to choose for yourself."
Annie, "can we talk before I come back to work?"
Teddy, "we're both off tomorrow night."
Annie, "Josh is running the pit. Can you come over?"
Teddy, "I will. 7ish?"
Annie, "perfect. See you then."
Teddy sighed, she wanted to know what had happened between Annie and Leslie that instead of the hoped for reconciliation Annie was walking away for good.