Page 27 of True Blue

I—begrudgingly—agreed because it’s always best to have some leverage in the future for emergencies.

I barely had time to wash my face before rushing to work where I was dryly informed by Phoebe that we had a system crash, forcing us all to do physical charting. Then, when the systems came back up, my senior resident told me to upload everything manually, which took a while.

I didn’t have time to go home, shower, or even change before rushing to Teddy’s family house.

When I texted him, he told me it would be casual, that my scrubs would be fine, and that Nana Ellie was excited I was coming. That made me feel better. At least I had my black Northwestern hoodie on to make it look a little better.

My hair is a disaster, still in the French braid I slept in that’s now coming undone, stray hairs falling around my face.

I feel completely out of place as I stand on the front porch, especially compared to this house.

As I was driving into the neighborhood, it seemed that each house was more perfect than the last, and Teddy’s house must be the creme de la creme with its perfectly green lawn and perfectly bloomed flowers lining the walkway to the huge front porch.

Not a crack in the concrete, not a chip in the paint, not a stone out of place.

It’s eerily perfect.

Even the welcome mat beneath my feet is perfect, reading The Williams in elegant script.

I used to drive by neighborhoods full of houses like this on the way to school. The ones that motivated me every second to keep showing up, even when it felt impossible, because one day I would live in one of those houses.

It makes me feel good to know Teddy grew up in a house like this, never wondering if he could scrape together forty cents to buy a pack of ramen. I don’t want anyone else to experience what I did.

Dawn, Teddy’s mother, opened the door after I rang the doorbell. She looks me up and down, her gaze lingering on the loose pieces of hair around my face that I try to push behind my ears.

“It’s Indie,” I correct, not missing that this is the second time she’s called me the wrong name, just the first time to my face.

It’s a different name, just takes some time to get used to. It’s fine. She’ll get it.

I paint on a bright smile.

“It’s so nice to meet you, Mrs. Williams.”

Her lips twist even more before she plasters on a wide smile.

“So nice to finally meet you. My mother just won’t shut up about you.”

There’s an edge to her voice that makes my stomach twist, and my smile drops. Her eyes look back down at my scrubs and I feel the need to explain and excuse my appearance.

Especially in comparison to the crisp, no doubt expensive dress she’s wearing, and the high heels on her feet. Dawn’s blonde hair is perfectly curled and styled, and her makeup is flawless.

Teddy said everyone dresses casually, but she looks like she’s in her literal Sunday best.

“I’m sorry, I had to cover a shift today. I didn’t have time to go home and change,” I explain, pushing another stubborn hair back from my face.

Her smile widens almost painfully.

“Well, we ladies should always try to look our best,” she says, her chin lifting. “Of course, there are… exceptions.”

“Is she here?” I hear from inside the house, and then there’s Ellie, wearing one of the caps I gave to her—blue waves that reminded me of the story of her and her husband meeting.

She screeches happily when she sees me, pulling me into a hug that very briefly calms my nerves.

“Oh, my girl,” she squeezes me tight. “I’ve missed seeing you every week! You have no idea how excited I was when Teddy told me you were coming—and that you’re dating now!”

“Mother,” Dawn sighs, exasperated.

Ellie rolls her eyes before whispering to me. “Maybe you could remove the stick from this one’s ass one day.”