"How did you sleep,' Teddy asked as Theresa walked into the kitchen.
'Really well," Theresa smiled.
'I'm assuming Leo is down there somewhere," Teddy asked.
'He is,' Theresa assured.
"Relax and make yourself at home," Teddy smiled, 'Theresa I think you and I probably have more in common than you think. You don't go home with a friend on a leave just because. So I have two thoughts, you and Leo are a couple and not telling us which is fine you're adults and it's not Owen and my business or home is somewhere you don't want to be."
"Home doesn't exist," Theresa admitted.
"Your parents,' Teddy asked.
"Drunk driver I was 21," Theresa answered, 'I miss them and having a family. I was an only child."
"You are always welcome here," Teddy promised, "you can always come see us and find a home here. There's a lot of us as you saw last night but we're happy to have you. But the important morning question, how do you take your coffee?"
"Cream and sugar," Theresa replied, "I can do it."
"Let me," Teddy said, 'have a seat, we'll have coffee and get to know each other."
"Major Altman," Theresa protested.
"Teddy," Teddy corrected, "and you are home let me take care of you. Are you hungry? What would you like for breakfast? I can do just about anything."
"French toast,' Leo suggested joining them in a pair of swim shorts, 'I was going to go for a morning swim. T want to join me?"
"I'll have coffee with your mom," Theresa smiled.
"Don't let her tell you she's not hungry," Leo told Teddy.
Teddy smiled, she remembered Owen doing the same things for her the first couple times she went to Evelyn's. It made her miss Evelyn and the warm generous woman. How she had just made Teddy feel at home. Teddy placed a cup of coffee in front of Theresa. She had been this young woman, floating, alone, disconnected and scared. She could read the young woman's expression: it had been years since someone had cared for Theresa, been loving and gentle with her, the woman was a soldier, tough, strong, brave but she needed love and to be looked after. Teddy could look after her in the soft, gentle unassuming ways Evelyn had that had slowly broken down Teddy's walls and shown her she had somewhere she was loved, wanted and belonged.
"Theresa, what do you want for breakfast," Teddy asked again.
'Leo's french toast sounds good," Theresa replied.
"I'll do that," Teddy smiled, 'we have lots of fresh fruit to go with it and whipped cream. Do you like bacon, sausage or ham? eggs? "
"Eggs and ham," Leo answered for his girlfriend.
"Is that what you want," Teddy asked.
"It is," Theresa smiled.
'Leo eat with us,' Teddy encouraged, she knew her family was growing and thought that Theresa might be the one for Leo. When the time was right she would give Leo her mom's ring to propose with, she liked the symbolism of the family rings and she had been saving her mom's for years for Leo to meet the right woman.
"We'll spend the morning with you but we'll go see Allison later," Leo replied.
"Then I work tonight and dad is home," Teddy replied, "I wasn't going to but they need a cardio person. It was me or Annie and Annie doesn't do adults well."
"She's too specialised in peds," Leo commented.
"She is," Teddy agreed, "it has its advantages and disadvantages. Having that expertise in peds is huge for the hospital and best for her patients but she's not helpful when we're short cardio surgeons anymore. I'm sure if needed she can do an emergent bypass or cabg or deal with a stroke she does in peds and the nicu all the time but she's not confident and would make mistakes because of that."
"She's very specialised,' Theresa confirmed.
"She is,' Teddy replied, 'we'll see Allison go into the peds side as well.'
"Her daughter," Theresa asked.
"Ev," Leo agreed, "we need to take Ev on an adventure. Mom, why is she still mainly in her chair?"
"She can and will walk if she has motivation to but she's more comfortable and confident in her chair," Teddy replied.
"What sort of adventure," Theresa asked.
'I'd like to take her camping but I don't think Allie will go for it," Leo replied.
'You might get one night especially after little man comes," Teddy replied, "Allie will need help, two kids, Ash only gets a week. Newborns are hard."
"Pregnancy is hard,' Theresa replied, "it can't be easy on her."
"It's not," Teddy agreed, "on anyone."
"Is Allie okay," Leo asked.
"She is," Teddy assured.
"We thought we might go to a park and take a picnic,' Theresa said, "but after seeing Everly's mobility I'm not sure."
'Picnic yes," Teddy replied, "but maybe something more accessible."
"She's deteriorated," Leo said, "mom how did Allie let that happen?"
"Everly made some choices and they had to pick walking or their relationship with their daughter and her mental health," Teddy replied, "long term it's best for Ev. Everly will walk if she's motivated and wants something enough. She gets tired quickly like she always has. Everly is much happier, she has fewer outbursts and meltdowns, she's coming home from school in a good mood, she's playing with other kids and doing well at school."
"Okay," Leo replied, "she still loves swimming though."
"She would but Allie won't right now,' Teddy replied, 'I've tried to get her to float in the pool thinking it would make her feel better and help cool her off but she won't."
After spending some time catching up with Teddy and sharing more stories of the field with her they got organised to go to Allison's for the afternoon.
"Before you go,' Teddy said, "Theresa I need a list of a few of your childhood favourites. It won't be your moms but it's always nice to have."
"My mom used to make this french meat pie but you can only find it at christmas,' Theresa said.
"Tortiere," Leo asked.
"Yes," Theresa smiled.
"I don't have a recipe but Annie makes them from her Grandmere's recipe," Teddy replied, "we'll make sure you get one while you're here. Other things?"
"Banana chocolate chip muffins,' Theresa blushed.
'Done," Teddy assured.
'Mom will always bake for us," Leo assured.
'You two go have fun,' Teddy smiled, sending them on their way.
Teddy scrubbed in with Annie when she got to the hospital.
"You don't normally scrub in with me," Annie smiled, 'what did I do to get this?"
"I have a favour to ask," Teddy admitted, "I was talking to Theresa and she has no family sweetheart. I'm not sure if they're dating or just really close but she needs the love of a family while she's here. I need to do for her what Nana did for me."
'Okay and where do I come in," Annie asked, 'loving supportive big sister."
"That for sure and can you make tortiere," Teddy asked.
"I can," Annie replied, "it's like an 8 hour process so I won't get there for it until the weekend. When do you need it by?"
"Before they leave,' Teddy replied.
"I'll make a few," Annie smiled.
"What do we have," Teddy asked.
"Did you look at the board or the app," Annie asked.
'For your name," Teddy admitted.
"You're here, I don't have a resident today because it's trauma cert day," Annie replied, "and I need hands so we're doing an Altman. 19 months just referred 6 weeks ago from Idaho."
'And you went straight in," Teddy asked.
"As soon as they had her stable enough to medivac to me," Annie replied.
"This is a big one for me," Teddy replied.
"I know but we haven't done it in a while," Annie replied, 'I have two interns coming but none are the calibre I want for cardio."
'Eye on any residents,' Teddy asked.
"No but I'm pushing an RN to do her nurse practitioner,' Annie replied, 'Ava is good, too good to stay as an RN. I want her to have more knowledge and a bigger scope because she's soo good in my department. I request her for my highest risk kids."
"She's good," Teddy agreed.
"And her and Allie have stayed close for so long,' Annie said as she opened her patient.
"I'm glad," Teddy replied, 'I wasn't sure with residency but they do it so well."
"Allie isn't cardio," Annie said, 'she's strong, she's good and she can do it but her heart isn't there.'
"I know,' Teddy nodded, "I didn't expect it. You I wasn't sure. I could have seen you going peds general. Josh we saw trauma right away all four of us did. You we debated and your combining was perfect for you."
"Allie will go ortho or neuro,' Annie replied, 'Jenna is seeing great things with her and she can still technically be swayed."
"She likes ortho," Teddy said, 'it makes her happy."
Owen led a group of residents to the gallery.
"I haven't seen that in a long time," Owen muttered seeing Annie and Teddy in the OR together.
"The procedure Dr Hunt," a new intern asked.
"No,' Owen replied, 'it's an Altman but both Altmans scrubbed in together. Teddy is nearly retired."
"Are the Altmans related,' a rather clueless intern asked.
"Yes," Owen replied, 'mother daughter team. Teddy has the birds on her cap and Grace has sea otters. My wife and step daughter."
"Good to see them together like that," Megan said walking into the gallery.
"It is," Owen agreed, "I feel like we see less and less of Annie."
"I need a chief of cardio," Megan said, "she's ready. She's run peds for years. Annie should have way more then she does. I know Teddy held back on Annie's request but her kids are older now. Annie has been a driving force for years and she's a good leader."
"Does she want it," Owen asked, "remember the arguments and shut downs we used to get when we would push Annie in our direction."
"She's a 50 something attending," Megan replied.
"Don;t remind me," Owen replied.
'I won't remind Teddy,' Megan teased.
"Don't,' Owen agreed.
That afternoon Megan called Annie into her office.
"Chief can I help you," Annie asked.
"I have an offer for you Annie," Megan replied, 'i've been mulling it over for a while. I need to unite both sides of cardio the adult and peds sides and I want you to be the head of all of cardio."
"Me," Annie asked.
"You're ready," Megan said, "Annie, I want you to consider it."
"I want it," Annie replied, "I need to check with Josh but I want it. It's full time and a raise?"
"Yes,' Megan replied, 'I have an offer for you. 20% above your current salary, part time admin assistant and dedicated research funds."
Annie paused.
"I'd want a 40% raise," Annie said.
"I don;t have that in my budget,' Megan replied, 'let me check my numbers."
"I've been here my entire career, I research, run peds cardio, teach residents, was in the top 10 % of my class all the way through,' Annie replied, 'I take on some of the riskiest surgeries in this hospital on a daily basis and my success rate on them is above even the best surgeons in the country. I publish, I have been courted by major programs around the country and choose to stay in Seattle for my kids. I have an offer to teach at UW that's 35% above my current salary as full time faculty."
"Send me the UW offer,' Megan replied.
"I'll forward it to you," Annie replied.
"What would you need to take it," Megan asked.
"Match the UW offer and give me a bigger role in the residency program for cardio,' Annie replied, 'let me teach."
"I will look at the budget for what I can offer you but I can give you the other things,' Megan said.
"I'll wait for that to decide," Annie replied, "I want to but I also know what my time is worth."
"Let me check the numbers," Megan replied.
Leo and Theresa pulled into Allison's driveway.
'Uncle Leo," Everly beamed rolling down the ramp, "can we go on an adventure?"
"I have to talk to your mom," Leo replied.
"She's grumpy," Everly pouted.
"I think she's getting pretty uncomfortable," Leo suggested, "she did before you were born."
"I don't want my brother to come," Everly said.
"Why not," Leo questioned.
"Then mom and dad won't have time for me," Everly said, "she told grandma she needed help driving me around so she can be home with the baby."
"She will," Leo said, "but it's not that she doesn't love you or want to. Your mom is having a major surgery to help your brother be born. Theres six weeks after that your mom isn't allowed to drive when she's healing. She will need help driving but I bet she still comes with you. She will need a ride but she'll still come."
"The state summer race," Everly asked.
"Your mom will be there," Leo promised.
"We'll come two," Theresa added, "I want to see you swim if that's okay."
"Can we go swimming," Everly asked.
"We can if your mom says yes," Leo agreed.
'The big pool with the slides," Everly asked.
"Yes," Leo promised.
"Everly," Allison called waddling onto the porch.
"Hey," Leo smiled, "why don't we take her for a few hours and give you some time."
"Are you borrowing my daughter," Allison asked.
"We want to," Leo replied, "swimming and a treat."
"Healthy," Allison replied.
"How are you doing," Theresa asked, "can I help with anything? Dishes, laundry, floors, bathrooms?"
"I think were okay on all of those," Allison replied, "go enjoy your day. I wish I could still fit in my bathing suit.'
"You did at Grandmas like three days ago," Everly said.
'Not in public," Allison replied.
"Do you mind if we take her out for a bit," Theresa asked.
"Family change room," Allison replied, "she needs help getting her KAFOs on and off. And will need to hold both of your hands to get to the water and on the pool deck."
"I'm an ortho surgeon I've got this," Theresa assured, "KAFOs and steady as needed. Does Everly walk unaided?"
"She can," Allison replied, seeing that Ev had gone to get changed.
"The wheel chair," Theresa asked.
"Confidence," Allison replied, 'she had some bad falls at school and it really embarrassed her and she's anxious about walking around those she doesn't really trust and know well. She will do it at the pool and you can take her crutches or walker."
"Which does she prefer," Leo asked.
"Ev gets to choose," Allison replied.
"How does it work," Theresa asked.
"Ev has her voice, she will ask for help when she needs it and how she needs it let her tell you," Allison replied.
"Do you have plans," Theresa asked.
'My friend Ava is coming over," Allison admitted.
"I want to see Ava," Leo replied.
"So what do I need to know here if your taking my daughter," Allison asked.
"We're together but haven't totally told mom and dad," Leo said, "I wanted mom to meet Theresa first."
"Whatever you do it's not me and Asher so you're good," Allison assured, "it's mom and dad. They've mellowed."
"Not fans of your husband," Theresa asked.
"No they love Ash it's that we were 17 and friends who had a night at a party then found out I was pregnant with Ev," Allison replied, "it's not the meet cute high school sweet hearts. We don't have the cute first meeting moment our parents have or Annie and Josh. what's yours?"
"He sat down beside me for breakfast and introduced himself," Theresa smiled, "and smiled."
"I had seen her in the OR for a couple weeks but she was never sitting alone so it was hard to introduce myself," Leo replied.
"I was sitting with my coffee and a book taking 5 minutes for myself and he sat down and started talking," Theresa smiled, 'then we started teaming up and scrubbing in. i'd love to see your family in action that must be something."
"I scrub with Annie a lot," Allison replied, 'mom not so much or dad because they're semi retired."
"Surgeons can't seem to retire," Theresa acknowledged.
"What about your family," Allison asked.
"I'm an only child and my parents passed away 10 years ago," Theresa replied.
"I'm sorry,' Allison replied, "you must miss them."
"I do,' Theresa replied, 'I was 21."
"I couldn't imagine,' Allison shook her head, "not having my mom and dad or not being there for Ev.'
'She seems like a great kid," Theresa smiled.
'Where did you grow up," Allison asked.
'Maine," Theresa replied, "a little town right on the water."
"Must have been gorgeous," Allison smiled.
'It was I miss it," Theresa replied.
"Mom says the same thing about her hometown sometimes but doesn't really go visit," Allison replied, "Leo and I went with her and dad once when we were little and I think Annie went in med school."
"Asher at work,' Leo asked.
"He is,' Allison replied, 'same deal as last time 7 days from when baby boy arrives and I'm scheduled for a friday so he'll get 9 days with us. I'm a little worried about two kids on my own with a newborn. I needed a lot of help with Ev as an infant and figuring it out mom took 2 or 3 weeks with me, Annie and Auntie Meg and Nana came by a lot. Ash's parents will come see us when we get home so will Mitch and Sienna but they won't help. Nisha will come by with food because thats what she does."
"We can help while were here," Leo promised, 'Take Ev out to let you recover from surgery and I promise not to be an ass about you feeding the baby this time.'
"We're going to do a combination of breast milk and formula,' Allison replied, 'I can, I did with Ev but it's more flexible to combo and I'll go back to work when he's 4 months the residency commission will only let me have 16 weeks and I'm lucky, I get an extra 4 because it's a c-section."
'16 weeks doesn't sound like enough," Theresa shook her head.
'It's not,' Allison replied, 'but I started college when Ev was 3 months old. The schedule was easier though, I did online classes and set up my schedule so I took night classes when Ash was home. We had more time with her. We have to use the daycare at the hospital and I'll be able to go cuddle and feed him but I don't want to be away from him. I'm trying to figure out how much I can do with him in a carrier. If I'm not right with patients and doing research he can be with me."
"Can you research at home,' Leo asked, 'Annie used to take all that home."
"I could do some," Allison agreed.
"Lets go," Everly beamed joining them on her crutches.
"You okay princess," Allison asked.
"Ya why," Everly questioned.
"Crutches," Allison answered.
"My chair sucks at the pool," Everly answered, "and I hate when it's wet."
"Okay, your choice," Allison replied, "have fun and listen.'
'I will,' Everly answered.
'Lets go princess," Leo smiled, leading the way to the car.