Part 1: Sarah
She'd arrived at the hospital with Fee and fifteen minutes later Kira was in her arms. The bustle of medical staff around her had mercifully dispersed somewhat in the last twenty minutes since Kira was born, except for one nurse who seemed intent on making herself useful.
"Fast and furious." The nurse who was cheerfully helping latch Kira onto her breast joked.
She was beautiful, Sarah tiredly thought. And mine. She'd never known a relative before. She could see herself in tiny Kira's face. And maybe Cal as well. She thinks of the young man she conned nearly ten months ago. No one needed to know that though. As far as she was concerned Kira was just hers.
"You're telling me." Felix looked exhausted, his lanky half-grown form sprawled out in the chair beside the bed. It was still late, she wasn't sure what time it was anymore.
"That's what happens when you show up pushing, plus no time for drugs," The nurse continued, "Look how alert she is though. What a cutie! Anyways, you picked out a name yet?" Sarah was fairly certain she didn't like this woman, as helpful as she was - she talked way too much.
"Yeah- yeah. Kira." She glanced down at her daughter, all red wrinkly skin and light brown hair.
The nurse stepped back for a moment, recording something in her chart, "Well looks like Kira's an excellent eater. We should be able to discharge you tomorrow morning if you want."
"Yeah that'd be good." Sarah relaxed, looking down at Kira, she felt slightly relieved. She hated hospitals, doctors and needles. The whole bit. Sooner they let her go the better.
She saw Felix slip to the door suddenly, "What is it?"
"Mrs. S." Felix glancing out the door and looking suddenly very nervous.
"You called Mrs. S! Shite Fee." Sarah groans, this is the last thing she wants to deal with right now.
"No, first, when did I have time?" Felix shifted again uncomfortably, "But I told her when I left to meet you. I had to tell her. I still live with her...what could I do?"
"Sneak out? Its what I woulda done."
Mrs. S walked into the room, "I'm Sarah's foster-mother, Siobhan. Can we have a moment?" She addressed the nurse, who seemed only to happy to duck out at this point.
"Certainly, for a moment." The nurse slipped out the door in a hurry.
"So, where are you going to go when they release you?" Mrs S sits down next to her and takes a good look at Kira. Her face softens somewhat.
This she had an answer for, "Home." She'd been couchsurfing up until last month. Fortunately a friend had taken off for Montréal and she'd taken over the place. She had enough money for a while. Conning while pregnant was easy money. Conning with Kira would probably go even better.
"That studio apartment of yours? Do you have a carseat? A crib? Bottles? Clothes?" Mrs. S cross her legs and stood firm, "You sleep on a mattress on the floor."
"Didn't you notice, she's breastfeeding." Felix added to the conversation.
"Yeah. I'm breastfeeding her." Sarah had decided this months ago, formula was way too expensive. If she got coupons or samples she'd rather sell them anyways. Pocket the money. Plus, it was something only she could give her daughter. And she had a few things, friends had given her clothes and things like that. A sling for carting her around. A box of newborn diapers. It was all sitting on her floor back home.
She threw up her hands in frustration and began to pace, "Yes, I did notice. Fine. Breastfeed her. Still, they won't release you without a carseat."
"But I don't have a car." Sarah noticed Kira had unlatched herself, she switched sides watching Kira's delicate fingers curl themselves.
"Doesn't matter, those are the rules." Mrs. S shrugs and looks over to Felix.
"She bought one, you know. Last month." Felix leans against the window.
"Well thank you Uncle Felix." Sarah says, "You'll bring it back tomorrow, and then they'll let us go, right?"
"Not quite. I'll be here tomorrow morning at ten, with a carseat. You and the baby-"
"Kira." Sarah cut her off, "I've named her Kira."
Siobhan continues, "You and Kira will come home with me for a few weeks, you'll be taking care of her, but you'll be staying with me."
"Or?" Sarah asked, there had to be a way out of this one.
"Or you'll get to see that they won't release you without a carseat." Mrs S stared down her 20-year-old former foster daughter. It seemed she'd won for now.