The whole family followed Teddy down the sidewalk to where she and Owen were to meet some friends Teddy had stayed in touch with over the years.
"Why are we doing this," Matt asked, "following Grandma and Grandpa."
"Mama wants to show us off," Annie said, "just go with it."
"Really," Ellie whined.
"Yes," Annie said, "smiles, be friendly, it's 10 minutes then we're going to keep exploring."
"Teddy Altman," a short woman with gray hair called.
"Bridget," Teddy asked.
"It is Teddy," the third woman said.
"Dunja," Teddy beamed.
"It's been too long," Dunja smiled.
"It has," Teddy agreed.
"Your kids," Bridget said.
"You remember Annie," Teddy smiled, "then this is her husband Josh and their four kids Elizabeth, Matthew, Henry and Heather. "
"Annie," Dunja said, "do you remember us?"
"I do," Annie said, "we spent a couple Christmas Eve's with you. How's Marie?"
"She's good," Dunja said, "still teaching, she has two sons. Are you a doctor?"
"Yes," Annie smiled, "a kids heart surgeon. It's been 20 years."
"Your mom always talked about you and Owen," Bridget said.
"Bridget, Dunja I think you met Owen once before when we packed up my flat," Teddy said, "this is my husband Owen."
"Its good to see you," Dunja greeted, "20 years Teddy. You don't change."
"I do," Teddy smiled, "you haven't met our son Leo."
"It's nice to meet you," Leo smiled.
"What do you do," Bridgett asked.
"I'm pre med at Stanford in California," Leo said, "hopefully med school then the army like mom and dad."
"Here," Dunja asked.
"Where ever they assign me," Leo said.
"Then this is our daughter Allison," Teddy introduced.
"It's nice to meet you," Dunja said, "your mom's last email said you were to be married."
"This is my fiance Asher," Allison introduced.
"And my youngest granddaughter Everly," Teddy smiled.
"I still can't believe you have 5 grandkids," Dunja said, "what's the age range?"
"14 years," Teddy replied, "Everly is two and Ellie is 16. I have 24 between Annie and Leo then 11 months between Leo and Allison."
"Mama we're going to go explore a bit and leave you two to your dinner," Annie said, "Leo, Allie, Asher and Ev are with us."
As they walked through the city Allison walked with Everly the two girls giggling together about something even Everly joined in with the giggles.
"Ellie," Allison gasped, "little ears."
"She doesn't understand," Ellie argued.
"She repeats," Allison said, "and she does understand."
"Tell me please," Ellie begged, "I'm 16."
"No," Allison said, "that is between me and Ash only. I don't even talk to Ava about it."
"How do I know if I should kiss a guy," Ellie asked.
"You'll know," Allison said, "our first real kiss just happened. We had been watching a movie and it just happened. He asked if he could kiss me and I said yes and it felt good. It made Ev wiggle."
"So your staying," Leo said to Asher.
"I am," Asher said, "you're okay with the wedding?"
"I saw it coming," Leo said, "I was an ass a couple years ago. I'm sorry dude."
"It's all good," Asher said, "just don't hit me again."
"You hurt my sister I will," Leo warned.
"Hurt my fiance or my daughter I will hurt you," Asher teased.
"Everly looks good," Leo smiled.
"She's doing well," Asher said, "but we don't know how she had two popsicles this afternoon. One in each hand."
"Have to be the cool uncle," Leo said.
"You got the cool title automatically," Asher said.
"But she likes Annie better," Leo said.
"She's around more," Asher replied.
"And Annie is Mary Poppins," Leo said.
"So girlfriend," Asher asked.
"Not really," Leo replied, "I leave monogamy to my sisters."
"What do you mean," Asher asked.
"Causal relationships, flings, I made friends with benefits with a girl at school," Leo said.
"How," Asher asked.
"Not all at once," Leo said, "I'm not a monster."
"Fiance is perfect," Asher said, "one, knowing her, knowing each other."
"Seriously," Leo said, "that's my sister."
"I'm saying I prefer relationships and long term," Asher said, "being together, a partnership."
"More kids," Leo asked.
"After Allie finishes school fully," Asher replied, " We're young."
"Too young," Leo said.
"It was when it was meant to happen for us," Asher said, "unexpected."
"That's not going to end well," Allison whispered seeing Leo and Asher talking.
"It's fine," Annie assured, "Josh and Chris talk all the time."
"But," Allison said.
"He hasn't swung at Asher in a couple years," Annie said, "I'll take Ev you go relax with Ellie for a bit."
"Did people take your kids to give you breaks," Allison asked.
"Yes," Annie replied, "go hang out with Ellie I have Ev. El misses you."
"It's hard," Allison said, "letting you or mom help."
"Bean you need to," Annie said, "we're all traveling together. You and Ash took Heather to the kids museum in London with you. That helped us out. We divide and conquer and let people have choices. Right now I want the stroller and to see Ev."
Reluctantly Allison let Annie take the stroller.
"Now can you answer," Ellie asked.
"Nope," Allison replied.
"Allie it's my senior year," Ellie said, "your senior year."
"I know," Allison said, "but you don't even have a boyfriend."
"Neither did you," Ellie countered.
"Don't be me El," Allison said, "it's a lot."
"I'm sort of seeing Matthias," Ellie said, "mom and dad don't know. I don't think they'll like him."
"Why," Allison asked.
"He's a senior like me," Allison said, "but he got held back in kindergarten so he's almost 2 years older. He's 18 already."
"Two years isn't a lot," Allison said.
"You and Asher are the same age," Ellie pointed out.
"And mom is three years older than dad, Josh is older than Annie," Allison said, "Jenna is older than Chris."
"What do I tell my parents," Ellie asked, "how do I?"
"I guess you invite him over," Allison suggested, "tell your mom."
"She's so consrevative sometimes," Ellie complained.
"How," Allison asked.
"No boys upstairs, no boys in my room, doors open," Ellie said.
"I think she doesn't want you to be me," Allison said, "not having a baby in highschool."
"But it's not like you had Asher over," Ellie said.
"No," Allison said, "I was at Ava's, it was her birthday party. But your mom is letting you have drinks here."
"Because you are," Ellie said.
"Your mom wouldn't just give in like that," Allison said, "she will tell my mom no."
"She said one," Ellie said, "you had more."
"No I didn't," Allison said, "Asher and Leo did. I hadn't drank in like 3 years and I wasn't feeling good after one. I was feeling off."
"Drunk," Ellie asked, "you were really giggling."
"No," Allison said, "but maybe it affected me a bit. You were giggling two."
"Like mom, grandma and auntie Meg when they each down a bottle of wine," Ellie asked.
"I don't think it's ever a whole bottle each," Allison said, "I can't think of my mom being drunk or Annie."
"Dad and Grandpa," Ellie said.
"No," Allison said, "they will all have a few but they're never drunk. I've seen drunk. I've seen Ash's dad out of control drunk at lunch on a Saturday."
"What," Ellie asked.
"Full on falling down drunk the last time we went to Saturday lunch," Allison said, "he was drunk at our engagement BBQ."
"When you wouldn't give me a turn with Khitam," Ellie said.
"Tell Nisha you want to hang out," Allison said, "she's great. I love her one on one. She will over feed you though. She always over feeds me and Ev. But when she baby sits Ev will eat anything for Nisha even if she won't for me, mom, Annie, Auntie Meg."
"I like her I just don't know her," Ellie said.
"Maybe we need a girls day with her," Allison suggested, "you, me, Cat, Nisha."
"Heather," Ellie said.
"We pick an activity and let your mom decide," Allison said, "I get not leaving her out but at the same time she's 13 years younger than me."
"She's my sister and 9 years is a lot," Ellie said.
"25," Allison countered, "we've been raised as cousins because of that age gap. Annie doesn't really fit with Me, Leo, Faroke and Cat even though we're all the same generation. And she's not quite there with Mom and Auntie Meg."
"If we have Heather we have to have Ev," Ellie said, "and Khitam then you're not relaxed or Nisha."
"I am relaxed," Allison said, "but Ev will stay with Ash and I'm sure Faroke is good with Khitam. Heather is almost 7."
"I know," Ellie said, "I can't believe Ev is 2."
"I have a night class on Tuesday in the fall and Ash works till 6," Allison said, "he's working over time most days. The port project doesn't care about over time just get it done. He's doing 11 hour days. His over time is good for us but hard for me with school."
"You need a babysitter," Ellie asked.
"My class is from 4:30-7:30," Allison said.
"It's not a dance or a dance team day," Ellie agreed, "I could bus over after school gets out at 3:15. But how will I get home? It's mom's late night. Heather still goes to bed at 8."
"One of us will drive you," Allison promised, "do you want to?"
"Yes," Allison smiled, "it's a couple hours. I play with her, feed her dinner and do her bath?"
"Basically then Ash puts her to bed," Allison smiled.
"I want to Allie," Ellie smiled.
"I want to ask you and Cat to babysit more but I feel bad, she's my daughter," Allison said.
"Does grandma say anything," Allison asked.
"She points out that at 3 months I was in daycare every day and sometimes pretty late at night," Allison said.
"How do you get a second date," Leo asked Asher.
"I don't know," Asher admitted, "we were living in the same house and friends then decided to date but I never actually thought of it."
"Be her friend first," Josh advised joining the younger guys.
"Seriously," Leo asked, "both of you."
"It worked for Annie and I," Josh said.
"How long were you friends first," Leo asked.
"Three years," Josh said, "we slowly got closer. Hid it from Teddy for a bit. Her and Nathan."
"Dad," Leo asked.
"I had seen him with Annie when he would visit or him and Teddy would but they weren't together yet," Josh explained.
"But how did dad take it," Leo asked.
"He was cool," Josh said, "told me to put Annie down in his ER."
"What," Asher asked.
"We had just gotten residency offers from Dr Bailey who was Chief then and I hugged Annie and spun her around," Josh said, "Owen laughed and told me to put Annie back on the floor."
"When you got married," Asher asked, "how was he?"
"They were really positive," Josh said, "I asked ahead of time."
"Both," Asher asked, "he's her step dad."
"I wasn't sure so I went to the house and talked to both," Josh said, "they were super supportive. Did you talk to them?"
"We had coffee and I asked about a month before," Asher said.
"I talked to them 3-4 weeks before," Josh said, "I know when Owen proposed to Teddy he talked to Annie on the chair lift that day. It was our first New Years here, we were at the cabin. Teddy couldn't ski that year."
"He talked to Annie," Leo asked.
"She was 25," Josh answered, "our first family cabin trip."
"How old are you guys," Asher asked.
"I'm 46 and Annie is 45," Josh replied.
"Would you have more kids," Asher questioned his brother in law.
"Our four is plenty," Josh said, "We love our kids but 4 is a lot."
"Expensive," Leo asked.
"That and time," Josh said, "plus it was physically hard on Annie. She'll never admit it but she found it hard. And we're older."
"Allison did," Asher agreed.
"I know," Josh replied, "she would come over after school or work and Annie would talk her down and hug her. Feed her chocolate."
"Mom and dad were in their 40s with Allie and I," Leo said.
"They were,"Josh agreed, "We had our kids in our 30s. Now we get to enjoy Everly and any other nieces and nephews when the time comes."
"When did you first meet them," Asher asked.
"Annie I was 21 it was our first year of Med School in orientation," Josh said, "Teddy the beginning of our third year of med school. Teddy came to teach and surprised Annie in our cardio class. She was intimidating, the prof gave this impress Major Altman speech first. Then everyone was trying to get Teddy's attention and show her around and Teddy stood there at the podium and said she would be having her daughter show her around and help her out. Then after class Annie ran to her. I'm surprised that Annie didn't jump on Teddy."
"Annie would jump on Teddy," Asher chuckled.
"Yes," Josh said, "before Allison."
"What was mom like then," Leo asked.
"Intimidating in a sense," Josh admitted, "she was so was Owen until I got to know them. Owen used to yell at us as interns. The only intern he liked when we started was Annie."
"I can see them being pretty commanding," Asher said, "they've done it with us. When Ev had her first surgery and was diagnosed. Teddy told Allison what to do. She was right. But it was Allison eat this, drink, go get your water. Give me Ev and go shower."
"That's how Teddy shows she cares," Josh said, "she bosses and orders and helps. She won't let things go."
"Mom doesn't let go," Leo said, "use pot for a few months and she asks you daily about it."
"I know," Josh said, "Annie told her to drop it and that it was actually triggering her. Tell Teddy you're good and that you will ask her when you need her help."
"Annie doesn't eat," Leo said.
"Watch her at dinner she does," Josh said, "she's just plant based 80% of the time."
"Allie is for breakfast and lunch," Asher agreed, "she says she feels better with all her veggies and beans. Some of it tastes pretty good. Nisha had some good chick pea and lentil recipes we've liked."
"How do you eat like that," Leo asked, "I'm an obligate carnivore."
"Nor you're not," Josh said, "Leo you will get scurvy. You live on meat bread and beer."
"When in germany," Leo said, "how did you ask Annie out?"
"20 years ago," Josh said, "we were dancing and I kissed her and then I walked her home and asked her to be my girlfriend. But we were already planning on going to Seattle together anyway."
"Dating is hard," Leo said, "you two don't get it."
"I spent nearly 4 years trying to get up the balls to ask Annie out," Josh said, "I was single in college and med school."
"Really," Leo asked.
"Ya," Josh said, "I was happier to hang out with Annie as friends then to date someone I didn't like. You don't date a girl you don't like just to have someone."
"What about," Leo started.
"Not if you don't love her," Josh said, "someone you love."
"You," Leo asked.
"Love," Josh said.
"Josh is right," Asher said, "wise."
"Don't say old man," Josh warned.
"Old man," Leo teased, "come on you're in your 40s."
"Not that old," Josh said.
"Those are my sisters," Leo said.
"And I changed your diapers," Josh countered, "I helped operate on your heart."
"You win," Leo said.
Teddy and Owen were sitting in a restaurant with her friends catching up. Owen was getting frustrated with only knowing half of the conversation. They were switching between English and German. Teddy had been in touch with these women for the last 20 years and had always tried to use her german with them to keep it up and not forget it.
"Your youngest granddaughter," Dunja said, "is she alright?"
"Everly had Cerebral Palsy," Teddy said, "she's doing a lot better. It's hard on Allison and Asher."
"I was shocked when Allison kept the baby," Bridgett said.
"She nearly didn't," Teddy said, "but we talked, she talked to her sister. You know that I had Annie at 21 then she was adopted and we reconnected 19 years later. Annie would have adopted Everly if Allison had decided not to keep her. Keep her with family."
"Five kids," Dunja said.
"That's Annie," Owen said, "she won't leave a kid behind or alone. Josh would have been more reserved but he had a tough childhood so would have gone with it. My sister and her Ex tried to get custody of Josh when we were all in med school."
"Your sister," Bridgett asked.
"My sister's ex husband is Josh's uncle on his dad's side," Owen said, "we never expected Annie and Josh to meet. But they met in Medical School."
"Everly," Dunja said, "how bad is it?"
"She can walk at home, inside on smooth surfaces with minimal support," Teddy said, "she uses a walker most of the time."
"She still only does short distances," Owen replied, "they use the carrier I think they're on their second or third as she grows. The stroller gets a lot of use."
"They will probably need to get her a wheel chair one day," Teddy replied, "not that Everly can't or won't walk it's her safety."
"Does she like to walk," Bridgett asked.
"She loves to move on her own," Owen said, "her walker can be a battering ram. She likes to attack my shins with it begging for popsicles."
"Spoiled," Bridgett asked.
"Only child and young parents," Teddy said, "they try and they do say no. the whole family dotes on Everly."
"Is Allison working," Dunja asked.
"She is at the grocery store and going to school full time," Owen said, "5 classes. She's pre med and he's an Electrical Apprentice."
"How old now," Bridgett asked.
"They're both 20, Leo is 21 and Annie is 45," Teddy replied.
"I knew Annie was a lot older," Dunja said, "is she happy?"
"She is," Teddy smiled.
"How about the other two," Bridgett asked.
"Allison got engaged 2 weeks ago she's thrilled," Teddy agreed, "Leo is content."
"And how is she with her daughter," Dunja asked, "or are you rasinge Everly."
"We are grandparents," Teddy replied, "we raised our kids. They live in our basement but in a separate suite. We babysit a couple times a week so they can work and go to school. But they do their own dinner 5 nights a week. We have a family Sunday dinner and we usually do dinner all of us on one of the days we babysit."
"You're retired now," Bridgett said.
"Two kids in college," Owen said, "we're not ready yet. A few more years."
"I stepped back as chief almost 2 years ago now," Teddy replied, " I'm just doing surgery 2-3 days a week and then 2 days of clinic. I'm down to 4 days a week now."
"I've cut back to 4 days as well," Owen replied.
"I'm Tuesday to Friday," Teddy replied.
"I'm Wednesday to Sunday right now," Owen said, "but it may change. Trauma rotates schedules. I'm doing more teaching and general now. They bring me in for major traumas and big things but I don't do as many MVCs or GSWs."
"Why don't you retire," Dunja said.
"I would be bored and drive my kids nuts," Teddy replied, "what would I do?"
"Hike, the things you've always put off for when you have more time," Bridgett said, "I retire in a month."
"We'll scale back over the next few years," Teddy replied, "there's a shortage of surgeons. They need us. We're down to 4 days and 48 hours a week. We got a dog 6 months ago. A labradoodle named Charlie. He's great."
"Will you retire," Dunja asked.
"We will," Teddy replied, "I'd like to get Allie and Leo through med school first. But as they get more independent we'll keep scaling back."
"You support them," Dunja said.
"Leo more than Allie," Owen said, "her and Asher are pretty good about their day to day expenses and Ev's. He works full time and over time most days. We do her school costs and her car insurance. Leo we do school, car, living expenses."
"I don't understand your system," Dunja said, "education and health care it makes no sense."
"It never has to me fully," Teddy replied, "I agree it should be covered but it's not."
"Three through medical school," Bridgett said.
"Family business," Teddy smiled.
"Would you ever come back," Dunja asked.
"No," Teddy admitted, "I was starting to look at going back. I loved you and miss you still but I needed to be closer to Annie. Then I found out about Allison and she had to be near her dad. Owen was in Seattle, Annie was there it was a no brainer."
"You hardly said good bye," Bridgett said.
"I did that for years," Teddy answered, "something would happen I would pack up, ship my stuff and start over in a new city. I was good at it. But Seattle is home now. My family is there, kids, grandkids. We won't leave. You should come visit."
"I might," Dunja agreed, "bring Kurt."
"Always," Teddy smiled, "tell him I said hi."
"I will," Dunja agreed.
"Maybe next winter we can add Seattle to our Whistler ski trip," Bridgett said.
"We can meet you in Whistler and ski," Owen suggested, "try to book the McKellar cabin. I'm sure it would be good with Dan."
"Give us dates and we'll book a cabin," Teddy agreed.
"We will," Bridgett said.
They finished their meal and Teddy enjoyed catching up with her old friends. While she enjoyed catching up she also knew after their few days here that she was supposed to be in Seattle with her family. Germany had been a temporary stop, it was never meant to be home. She had to come here to heal and to grow and to learn to love herself but it was a stop on a journey. Seattle had been her destination.