Untitled - Chapter 1

It was a cold January day in Ballymena. Everything was still and calm, although the golf war was presently on. Although cold the air was thick with excitement as Charles McCaig drove his daughter Charlene and step daughter Claire Foster to Belfast hospital. Charles McCaig was particularly nervous because he was worried about his wife, Susan. She was in the hospital alone giving birth to there daughter. They had already decided a name for the little one. Stefanie, with an F. It was rather strange but none the less a beautiful name. Susan wanted to call her Laura, she thought the name was beautiful. But the kids outvoted her and it was to be Stefanie Laura Foster McCaig. Susan and Charles were not married yet. Although they lived together with there two daughters of similar ages, only 10 months apart from ages, Claire was the oldest. 1

Claire and Charlene were eager to see their baby sister. They had heard a lot about babies - at school, from there gran and of course from Susan. Susan was Claire's mother, but Charles was not her father. On the other hand Charlene was Charles's, but not Susan's. It was perhaps the similarity of their pasts that brought them together so well. However, they did have certain problems with there relationship. One was a catholic and one was a protestant. This caused plenty of rows between the two families as this was a big issue in Northern Ireland at this present time. Charles' parents Mabel and Ian were protestants and they hated the idea of having a catholic in the family. They found it dirty and degrading and would put Susan and Claire down whenever they could. May and John, or Mary as her birth certificate states, had no problem with Charles, although they were catholic. John would spend time with Charles after he played football. Charles was coming up to his 29th birthday this year but was certainly still fit enough to play the odd game. 2

Charles parked the car into the hospital car park and took Charlene and Claire into the hospital. 3

"Your name sir?" asked the receptionist.4

"Charles McCaig, my wife Susan Foster is giving birth."5

"Foster, foster, foster... Ah, here she is. Ward 10. It's right down this way, if you follow me."6

A nurse was called to  lead the three up some stairs into a small, dark ward. On the very end was a room, with the door slightly ajar. "She may be feeding at the moment, I will take a look. Please sit down."7

"Feeding?" Said Charles, "Has she had the baby?"8

"She has indeed! A little baby girl, 7 1/2 pounds." 9

A tear of joy ran down Charles's face. He was finally going to see his baby daughter. At 28, Charles McCaig was still pretty naive to the idea of looking after a new born baby. His mother Mabel, helped him with Charlene in the past and he was not used of looking after babies for others. 10

Charlene and Claire sat eagerly chatting to each other. "I bet she'll look more like mum!" said Claire excitedly. 11

"Probably more like Dad!" said Charlene. "The good looking ones."12

"OK kids, wait a minute... We'll soon find out!" said Charles. Feeling nervous and slightly touchy at the bundle he was going to look at. 13

The nurse came round the corner and smiled at Charles. "She's finished feeding now. I have told her your coming in. Just the three of you, is it?"14

Charles lead Charlene and Claire into the room with his wife laying holding the precious little baby. Wrapped in a white blanket with her little face poking out. She had short dark brown hair and small little hands that were not even the size of Claire's little finger. She was so pretty, innocently laying there in peace. Susan smiled at Charles, Claire and Charlene and told them to sit.15

"This is your new baby sister!" said Susan to Claire and Charlene.16

"Ew... Is she always going to be that wrinkly?" said Claire.17

"Yeah," said Charlene. "If she stays like that more than a year I'm taking her back."18

Charles and Susan laughed at the girls' and Charles first held his little girl. She was light as a feather. Her delicate little head was laying on his arm and her little eyes closed, gargling silently. A smile came to his face, he thought she was so special... She was his little princess. She would learn to love Liverpool, listen to music and play games with him, what he missed out with Charlene's childhood. He kissed her soft forehead and stroked her hair gently as not to wake her, she would grow to be a lovely little girl. His little girl and nobody would hurt her.19