Two weeks later Caterina arrived to spend Christmas together for the first time in 20 years.
"Teddy relax," Owen soothed, wrapping his arms around her.
"What if it's not enough," Teddy asked.
"You've decorated so much the north pole would be jealous," Owen laughed, "you decorated the bathrooms."
"Meg and Froke are staying with your mom and Caterina is with us," Teddy said, "I'd rather have Meg staying. She jumps right in with the kids and plays and cuddles."
"Give your sister a chance," Owen replied.
"I didn't think she'd accept when we invited her," Teddy said.
"Neither did I but I think you almost dying and then having three kids she wants to try again," Owen replied, "start over. We started over with Megan when she came home."
"We did," Teddy agreed, "but she's always been so angry with me."
"I think she's angry with the world," Owen said, "Jana, your parents, you two didn't get a fair deal. You became more loving and caring and loyal. You held your people closer even when it was breaking you. I think Caterina did the opposite; she walled herself off."
"She did," Teddy agreed, "even when mom and dad died she didn't come."
"You did it alone," Owen asked.
"Allison, Claire," Teddy replied, "I had friends but not my sister."
"I'm Sorry," Owen whispered holding her close.
The black rental car pulled into the drive way.
Caterina put the car in park and took a deep breath, Teddy seemed to have built a life for herself here on the west coast. The house was gorgeous and there were two newer vehicles in the driveway. The porch was decorated for Christmas and lights glittered along the eves and porch railings. The effect was warm and welcoming. Caterina paused to breathe and steady herself before she got out of the car. Her flight had been late and it was now nearly 10pm the kids had gone to bed hours before and she was sure Teddy would be tired.
She grabbed her bags from the trunk and walked up to the door. From the couch Teddy could see her sister on the porch and let her in.
"Theodora," Caterina gasped.
"Come in," Teddy smiled, greeting her sister with a hug.
"I'll take those up," Owen smiled seeing the bags.
"It's true," Caterina said looking at Teddy's bump.
"18 weeks baby is growing," Teddy beamed.
"How are you feeling," Caterina asked.
"Good," Teddy smiled, "are you hungry? Tea, Coffee? A Snack?"
"Do you have decaf," Caterina asked.
"We do," Teddy replied, "tea or coffee? I'm off caffeine totally until baby is a few months old."
"Wine when they come," Caterina asked.
"I'll wait a few weeks," Teddy replied, "I think Allison was 2 months before I did."
"Why wait," Caterina asked.
"I'll breastfeed the baby while I'm on maternity leave then when I go back I'll pump some and we'll supplement with formula," Teddy replied.
"You," Caterina asked.
"I wasn't planning on it with Allison," Teddy replied, "I tried in the hospital and supplemented a bit with formula from day one. But I don't mind it and the down time with my baby. I'm glad your here."
"We haven't spent Christmas together since mom and dad," caterina smiled.
"It's good and the kids are excited they were sad they had to go to bed," Teddy replied.
"I'll see them in the morning," carerina replied, "what does the next couple days look like?"
"Tomorrow is a quiet day. I'm on call but don't know if I'll have to go in," Teddy replied, "Owen is totally off. We wanted to take the kids to Glow. It's an indoor light display if you want to go."
"That sounds fun and then I could take all of you to dinner," Caterina suggested, "probably something familiar with the kids."
"As long as they're chicken strips or mac and cheese Leo is fine and Allison eats anything," Teddy replied.
"Little foodie," Caterina asked.
"Allison is my foodie," Teddy agreed, "which is odd Owen and I like really basic things but we spent a few months with his sister in LA and Megan cooks a lot of middle eastern food and mediterranean and Allie loves it."
"We can order pizza," Owen suggested to Caterina.
"I'm not that hungry," Caterina replied, "it's too late to eat something that heavy."
"What do you feel like," Teddy asked, "I'm always hungry. Pregnancy makes me hungry."
"You've always had a big appetite," Owen teased.
"I'm good with yogurt and berries," Teddy suggested, "Cat?"
"Works for me," Caterina agreed.
Teddy pulled the containers of washed berries and yogurt out of the fridge along with bowls and spoons for them.
"Is there a gym near by," Caterina asked, "I still like to work out most days."
"The rec center," Owen said, "we just go to the community center to use the gym we have a family pass."
"A community centre," Caterina asked.
"It works well," Teddy replied, "they have the gym with weights and machines, an indoor track to walk or run, drop in sports and fitness classes. We take the kids to drop in gym time on rainy weekends to get the energy out. Theres drop in prenatal fitness classes for me. The kids go to swimming and skating lessons and soccer shots there. Leo's art class is at the community centre."
"I'll check it out," Caterina agreed.
"I was going to go use the gym and track in the morning while the kids are in soccer," Teddy replied, "you can come with me and we both do our own work outs. Mine's scaled back right now but I have to move."
"Teddy," Owen asked.
"A brisk walk on the track and some balance work," Teddy replied, "a little but with free weights on my arms. Nothing over 20 pounds."
"Be careful," Owen replied.
"I am," Teddy replied, "Hunt you can't hover. I know my limits. I've been pregnant before."
"I know but I'm more worried about you this time," Owen smiled wrapping his arm around her waist, "I see how tired you are. How much more this baby seems to take out of you than Allison did."
"I'm okay," Teddy replied, "it's just a combination of two preschoolers being chief and pregnancy. I'll be okay."
"I can help while I'm here," Caterina replied.
"That's would be good," Teddy agreed, "get to know my kids."
"I'm totally spoiling them," Caterina replied.
"Fight my sister for it," Owen chuckled, "Megan spoils them."
"Auntie's rights," Caterina replied, "I never thought I would be able to do this. Everything that happened growing up and with our parents I didn't think either of us would ever have kids."
"I always wanted them," Teddy replied, "I wanted to be a mom. But residency, fellowship, serving then I didn't meet the right guy or Owen and I couldn't get our timing right. Until almost 5 years ago he showed up at my door and now we have a beautiful, bold , fearless little girl and an amazing, creative, smart boy."
"But," Caterina started.
"I'm happy," Teddy assured, "this is what I want."
"Did the Amazon packages I sent here arrive," Caterina asked.
"In the guest room," Owen said.
"I'll wrap them tomorrow," Caterina replied, "I'll just need to borrow scissors the paper and tape was in one of my boxes."
"Not too crazy," Teddy asked.
"You are the queen of Christmas crazy is relative," Caterina teased, "but I saw something on pinterest theres something to play with, a book, an outfit, a craft activity and a board game to share."
"That's what we do from Santa then a few things from us," Teddy replied, "their big things are from us."
"What did you get them," Caterina asked.
"New bikes as their big gift," Owen replied, "and helmets. They out grew theirs in the summer."
"Do you ride," Caterina asked.
"We do as a family," Teddy replied, "Leo is getting his first two wheeler."
"How can you do this with your career," Caterina asked.
"I don't do it well," Teddy admitted, "I drop the ball, I neglect myself. When I have to choose the kids come first. I build my schedule so i'm there for them. I moved a board meeting for Leo's school Christmas concert. The idea that as surgeons thats our only life has to die. We have to be whole people with families and hobbies and things that make us happy."
"How do you do that," Caterina asked.
"We make it a priority," Owen replied, "when Teddy got sick it taught us a lot."
"It scared me," Caterina said.
"It scared all of us," Teddy agreed, "but two days till Christmas. It'll be good."
"It will be," Owen promised.