Carn Mo'r

by J W Murison

  ‘Mr. Sinclair?’

  ‘Yes that’s me,’ I managed.

  ‘I’m afraid I have some bad news and some good news. Your wife and child are both fine and doing well. However there were complications. I’m afraid your wife haemorrhaged rather badly. We managed to stop the bleeding but she will never be able to have any more children.’

  I was reeling but the words that kept going through my mind were ‘they were doing well’. I managed a small smile. ‘As long as they are both fine, I don’t care about anything else, Doctor.’

  He returned my smile, ‘by the way, you have a very beautiful baby daughter.’

  His words slammed into me, a daughter the firstborn, then it struck me. It was over. There would be no more Sinclair’s. 2000 years of history would die forever. My eyes sought John’s. I could see the distress in his face, his thoughts paralleled mine. The surgeon left but the midwife had something to add.

  ‘You can come in and see them in five minutes.’ She followed the surgeon out with a flourish of starched skirts.

  ‘John …’ I whispered.

  ‘Come sit down, man.’

  ‘Don’t look so worried,’ the Doctor enthused, clapping me on the shoulder, ‘they’re both fine.’ He took off after the Doctor, no doubt to find out more about the procedures they had used on his daughter.

  ‘Its over.’

  John shook his head. ‘Maybe not, they can be wrong. Look at you; you’re supposed to be in a wheelchair.’

  I shook my head. ‘This is different, John. I can feel it.’ I took a deep breath then I heard a whispering in my head.

  ‘Things are as they should be.’

  It was my father’s voice; but had I really heard him? Then I realised it didn’t really matter. I remembered him smiling when he said those words the first time and my fears dissipated.

  I stood. ‘Let’s go welcome my daughter, John.’ He was rightly confused, but I would explain later.

  Robyn looked pale and washed out. I felt my concerns return. ‘Are you ok?’

  However her thoughts were far away from her own health. ‘Oh Alasdair, it’s a girl, I’m so sorry.’

  I grinned. ‘Don’t you dare worry about it my darling.’

  ‘But I can’t have anymore.’

  I surprised her by laughing. ‘Stop worrying, things are as they should be.’

  ‘But …’

  ‘No buts, just trust me ok?’ She relaxed a little and settled back down.

  ‘Would you like to see your daughter Mr. Sinclair?’ The midwife asked.

  ‘Yes please.’

  She took the mite and put her into my arms. I uncovered her face and was immediately captivated. A pair of the most beautiful green eyes captured by a shock of black hair stared up at me. I know my mouth fell open. ‘John look, Robyn is there any women in your family with green eyes?’

  ‘Not that I’m aware of.’

  ‘John, have you ever heard any stories of women in my family with green eyes?’

  ‘Not that I know of Alasdair.’

  And for the second and last time in my life I fell in love.

  THE END