Sunday
Sunday afternoon Annie sat back in her chair at the desk in her childhood room. She had just finished skyping with her brother and had a few minutes before she was to see her birth mother for the first time. She wondered what Teddy would look like and if she looked anything like Teddy. Annie left her laptop open on the desk and walked to the bathroom she shares with her siblings. She wanted to touch up her make up and run a brush through her hair one last time. She was glad she had straightened her hair before church that morning, she didn't like anyone seeing the loose waves her hair fell into on it's own, she wasn't even sure about her hair colour, it was supposed to be blonde but it some lights it had a reddish tinge that did not match either of their siblings. Both Chris and Jessica were her parents biological children, being adopted and not knowing where she had come from had always made her feel different from her siblings, while both had platinum blonde hair and blue eyes Annie had strawberry blonde hair and green eyes, her siblings tanned while she just burnt in the sun. Another big difference between Annie and her siblings was that Annie was a bookworm who loved school and excelled academically while Chris did okay even though he skipped kindergarten. The two had been in the same class when Chris was to be in kindergarten and Annie in grade 1, but he insisted on doing everything his sister did and fought to stay at school when the kindergartners left before lunch, being a small school and with only 10 grade 1s in the class that year they decided to let Chris stay and do the grade 1 activities after lunch. After that the two were in every class together until the start of high school when they began picking different electives. Elementary school was also the last time Chris put any effort into his school work. Annie couldn't be more different from her sister either where Jessica was loud, popular and the life of the party with a mean streak, Annie was shy, stuck with a few close friends and couldn't be unkind to anyone.
Her dad appeared at the door of her room, "Annie do you want mom and I in here when you talk to Teddy?"
Annie turned back to the door, " I think i'll be okay dad. It's just saying hi, if it's really awkward I can blame homework and log off."
Mom joined him, " are you sure little bear? We could wait here."
Annie faced her parents, "I can do this. It's only skype, it's not like I'm driving three hours to see her."
Mom smiled, " If you're sure."
Her parents left and she logged into skype again.
In Seattle, Teddy sat at her kitchen table with her laptop in front of her. She had curled her wavy blonde hair and done full make up, almost date level make up. While she looked calm and put together on the outside, she was shaking. She was a surgeon and a soldier for god's sake, she shouldnt be nervous meeting a 19 year old girl who she gave birth to, over Skype she wasn't even meeting Annie in person. Yet this was really important; she knew the next few minutes would make or break whether Annie was in her life or not and how much of a relationship Annie would want to have with her. Today Teddy wished she wasn't alone, she should have taken Hunt up on his offer to come sit on her couch while she talked to her daughter, and to talk her down from her anxiety and panic. She could operate in a war zone in a make shit OR but to skype with a teenage girl was getting the better of her.
Teddy heard the skype ringtone and fluffed her curls one last time before clicking to accept the call. On the screen a girl with straight hair the same colour as Teddy's appeared, her green eyes surrounded by dark lashes. Teddy was the first to speak, " Annie is that you?"
Annie replied, " hi Teddy, how are you?"
Teddy smiled," I'm good. How did your dance competition go yesterday?"
"It went well except for the spooky sword, I came first in every dance excpt my spooky sword," Annie said.
"I don't know what a sword dance is let alone a spooky sword, do you actually dance with a sword," Teddy asked.
"I don't dance with a sword, the swords are on the floor and we have to dance over them. Its all about perfect foot work. If we touch the sword we lose points and you pretty much wont place, but if you move the sword your out," Annie explained.
"So what made it spooky yesterday," Teddy inquired.
"We only get to know what steps were doing 2 minutes before we step on stage, I got the worst possible combination yesterday for the last three steps, reverse points, toe heel and baby quick, all steps I hate dancing," Annie said.
"Is it just luck of the draw for that one then," asked Teddy.
"It is," Annie confirmed, " how was your weekend? Did you do anything exciting?"
"I was on call this weekend and was at the hospital most of it. I did a double lung transplant. I always like doing transplants it gives the patient a second chance at life. This girl was the same age as you," Teddy said, " tell me about your classes. What are you taking this term?"
"I'm taking calculus, stats, geomorphology, my last english class, organic chemistry, biology and anatomy and physiology," Annie said.
"That's a big load, little bear why so many classes," Teddy asked.
"I want to try to get my degree done as fast as possible so that I can start applying to med school," Annie said.
"Take your time, your better to do this slow and steady and do it well Annie you need to be rounded to apply to med school. What else are you doing to prepare," Teddy coached.
"I'm teaching dance at the rec center and volunteer tutoring high school math, as well as dancing competitively and helping with sunday school," Annie said.
"In the next few months you need to add something related to a hospital or helping a professor with research to help you build your resume. I know a cardio professor at the medical school at UBC who is doing research into cardiovascular fitness and dancers, you may be able to participate in her study or help compile research do you want me to call? I could introduce you when I come in November," Teddy offered.
"That sounds exciting Teddy, I'd like to meet the doctor when you come. But what will you say I am," Annie asked.
"Dr Milner is quick and I knew her in medical school, she'll see you and know your my daughter. She was my roommate when I was pregnant with you," Teddy said.
"Does anyone else know I exist," Annie asked.
"A few people do sweetheart," Teddy said, "my best friend Owen, his fiance and my resident Christina and Owen's mom."
Annie asked, " what about your parents?"
"My parents passed away in 2000 and 2001," Teddy said, " I was an only child. My mom was with me when you were born so was Dr. Milner. But depending on time and how you feel about it Owen and Christina would like to meet you when we all go to the conference. It's your choice."
"When you come in November do you have any free time or is the conference really busy," Annie asked.
"I was thinking I would come up the night before it starts and spend some time with you. I've book into the on campus hotel in the Salish Complex it's off Marine Drive," Teddy said.
"I'm in Salish 5," Annie replied, " the hotel is in Salish 1 the other tower. Your across the grassy courtyard."
"Annie my pager is going I have to go back to the hospital for an emergency. Why don't you email me your class schedule and we'll talk again later this week and I will see you when I come to UBC. I'm in my office on Tuesday and Wednesday so have quiet days then and am off Thursday and Friday this week. I'll explain my rotations later."
"Okay. It was nice to talk to you Teddy, see you soon," Annie replied.
"You two Annie, I'll talk to you soon sweetheart," Teddy replied before closing her computer and ending the call.