INDIE TWO YEARS AGO #2
He’s tall—giant all over, really—in a navy blue t-shirt with Williams Electric on the front, stretched across his very broad chest. He’s wearing a black baseball cap on backwards, pushing back the dark, wavy hair that matches his thick, trimmed beard.
His eyes are the prettiest shade of green that I’ve ever seen and he’s staring right back at me. He finishes his cut-off sentence with a low, rumbling voice.
“...lost.”
I realize then I’m sitting in the only available chair.
“Oh, I’m sorry!”
“Don’t get up!” he shouts. His deep voice is a little too loud in this room, and it makes me jump. He blushes, “I’m sorry—I mean, you don’t need to get up. Please, sit.”
“No, it’s okay, I have some other patients to check on.”
Ellie is grinning widely, eyes jumping back and forth between us.
“Teddy, this is my Indie—oh, I’m sorry,” she says, before clearing her throat and adopting a professional voice. “Dr. Indie Miller. My wonderful doctor.”
Teddy looks at me once more, a grin on his face and a look of recognition in his eyes.
"Indie," Teddy breathes. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”
“All good things, I hope,” I knot my fingers together behind my back, nervous now.
God, why am I acting like a teenager with her first crush?
“Great things,” his smile only widens, and I feel my face heat.
I nod. “That’s good.”
Ellie chimes in then. “Ain’t she beautiful—I told you she was beautiful—I told him you were a looker, Indie sweetheart.”
“Yes, Nana, you were right,” Teddy’s eyes soften and his tone is honey thick when he speaks. “She’s beautiful.”
The way he says it so easily does something very strange to my chest.
“Thank you. You too—I mean, not beautiful—well, actually you are quite beautiful—I mean... you too,” I finish lamely.
Teddy blinks at me, looking slightly dazed, and I want to climb into the ground. He probably thinks I’m an idiot. Or worse, that I’m not competent enough to treat his grandmother.
“Indie girl," Ellie says, a twinkle in her eyes. "I’m positively parched, could you go grab me a ginger ale from the cart—oh, and a few snacks, Teddy, go with her and carry it for her!”
“Oh, he doesn’t—”
“I’d love to! I mean—I-I’d love to help you, not that I think you need help or anything. I mean, you’re a doctor, for God’s sake—but I’m good in the manual labor department,” he points to the business name on his chest, finishing awkwardly. “Obviously.”
My mouth curves before I can stop it, a small laugh escaping me.
Ellie’s smile is downright smug as her gaze flicks between us like she’s just set a plan into action. Teddy and I walk over to the snack cart, sharing glances with each other, my cheeks flaming when he catches me looking at him, or when I catch him looking at me.
“You’re kind of young to be a doctor,” Teddy observes as I load up his big arms with buttery crackers and oreos and pop.
“Oh, well, I’m just a resident,” I explain. “Not an attending. Yet. I did start med school early, though.”
“Wow,” Teddy smiles, impressed. “Your parents must be proud—”
“I don’t have parents,” I say quickly. A little too quickly, but it’s instinctual at this point. I don’t even know where they are now. They were drifters, bouncing from one place to the next, one hobby to the next, one addiction to the next.
For some reason, they thought it was a good idea to have a kid, but when I arrived, they quickly lost interest. I wasn’t even named until they were about to leave the hospital and the nurses chased my mother down about my birth certificate.
Apparently, my mom saw the hospital signage—Indiana Trauma Medical Center—and figured Indiana was a good enough name.
When I turned eight, I told everyone I wanted to be called Indie, as a way to claim something of my own.
“Oh,” Teddy says, going a little pale and scratching the back of his neck with his free hand. “I’m so sorry—”
For some reason, the chagrined look on his face makes me feel awful, so I open my mouth, and the words tumble out again.
“I mean, I have parents—obviously, but I don’t have a relationship with them. I emancipated myself when I was sixteen.”
“Wow,” Teddy whispers, looking genuinely impressed once more. “So... you’ve supported yourself since then?”
“Yes.”
“Like... med school and all that?”
I nod.
“Wow,” he breathes, before saying baldly, “You’re incredible.”
"Oh," I scoff, “I don’t know about that.”
“I do,” he says, sounding so sure.
My throat feels tight, and I have to clear it before I ask, “You, er—you work as an electrician?”
Teddy’s smile drops immediately, his brow furrowing slightly.
“Yeah,” he shrugs. “It’s my dad’s business, so...”
“You don’t like it.”
It’s not a question, it’s a statement.
And it makes his eyes go wide.
“How did you—”
I shrug. “I spend my day telling people awful news, and some of them don’t look half as bad as that look on your face.”
A slow, almost shy smile stretches across Teddy’s face.
“I wanted to be an artist.”
“An artist,” I smile. “Painting?”
His eyes brighten, the green vivid like a granny smith apple. There’s an excited energy rolling off him. It’s infectious, and I find my own smile mirroring his.
“And charcoal.”
“What do you like to draw?”
“I like landscapes,” he says. “There’s this lake near my condo. I’ve probably drawn it like a million times by now. I’ve actually been trying to do portraits...”
He trails off like he's waiting for me to interrupt.
I gently prompt, “How did you start?”
Teddy looks at me, startled, seeming to be genuinely surprised that I’ve asked. Then he shrugs, the skin above his beard going pink.
“I always liked art class when I was a kid. Doodling on my school notes... I don’t know, it’s just something I’ve always done.”
“I think that’s really cool.”
Teddy blinks. “Really?”
“Yeah,” I nod eagerly. “I can barely draw a stick figure.”
Teddy barks out a laugh so strong I feel it hit my chest.
“You may not be able to draw a stick figure, but you’re a doctor,” Teddy grins, looking at me in a way that makes my heart flutter. “Like you’re definitely in line for sainthood.”
“I don’t know about that.”
“You know, when I said my Nana said great things, I meant it.”
My mouth curves into a grin. “I really like her.”
“She really likes you,” Teddy smiles, before it melts into something more intense. “I’m really glad to meet you, Indie.”
He holds out his hand.
This moment feels important.
Like I’m at the top of a cliff, waiting to dive into the water below. It’s high, it’s something I’ve never done before, it’s scary, and exciting.
I look at his hand for a moment before I slide my hand into his. He’s so warm. Like his name—a big, warm bear. When I look at his bright green eyes, I find my smile matching his.
And I jump.
“I’m really glad to meet you, too, Teddy.”