A/N: A short-ish chapter I'm afraid. Hope you enjoy anyway.
Chapter 10
Monday 9th November 1998
When her actual birthday arrives, Catherine is so excited that she is awake long before her usual hour. She slips out of bed and heads for her father's bedroom. Harry is also awake, but when he hears the creak of his bedroom door, he closes his eyes and pretends to be asleep. Catherine creeps in and carefully lifts the duvet and crawls in next to him. "Are you awake?" she whispers softly. Harry frowns and shifts about under the covers, still maintaining his charade of being asleep. Catherine shakes him gently, "Daddy, are you awake?"
"Hmm?" Harry half opens an eye and regards his daughter. "Catey? What are you doing up so early?"
"It's my birthday today," she announces with a smile.
Harry decides to have a little fun with her. "Is it? Are you sure?"
"Yes Daddy. I'm seven today!" she insists.
Harry shakes his head. "That's not possible. My little girl can't be seven already."
"I am Daddy! We had my party remember…and you cheated at musical chairs!"
"Oh yes, so I did. Well in that case, I'd better give you….a birthday hug!" His face breaks into a huge smile as he sits up suddenly, grabs his daughter and pulls her too him. He squeezes her tightly causing her to giggle; how he wishes she could stay this age forever.
"Come on, let's go and get your brother and then we can go downstairs and open your presents."
"Yay!" Catherine shouts and she runs from the room, shouting for her younger sibling. If Graham was still asleep, there's no way he still will be now.
Once Graham is up, the three of them congregate in the living room and Harry hands Catherine two envelopes. "Open these first," he tells her. Catherine tears open the envelopes and pulls out her cards. One to 'my darling daughter' and the other 'to a special sister'. "Look," Harry points out. "Graham tried to write his own name for you."
Graham beams and points. "I did tha!" Catherine just smiles and gives her little brother a hug.
She stands her cards on the coffee table and Harry hands her a beautifully wrapped package. "This is from Graham."
"What is it?"
"Why don't you open it and find out," suggests Harry.
She quickly tears of the paper. Inside is a packet of glow in the dark stars. Catherine has wanted some for ages and her eyes shine with delight. "Wow! Thank you Graham! Can we put them on my bedroom ceiling Daddy? Can we do it now?"
"I'll put them up for you, but it'll have to be after work," Harry tells her, biting back a chuckle at her enthusiasm. "Don't you want your other presents?"
"Yes please!" Catherine waits expectantly as her father selects another beautifully wrapped gift and hands it to her. She has the paper off in seconds to reveal a red jumper, and a pair of dark blue jeans.
"Can I wear these tonight?" They are going out for tea tonight to celebrate and, much to Harry and children's delight, Ruth has agreed to join them.
"I don't see why not. Right, Last present from me," Harry announces, handing her a box wrapped in heavily embossed paper and tied with sparkling gold ribbon.
Catherine's eyes brighten with excitement, and Harry suspects she knows what is in the box. She'd dropped enough less than subtle hints about what she wanted and she knows it's extremely unlikely that he'll let her down. She places the present on the sofa next to her and sets about opening it; this time taking care not to rip the nice paper.
"Oh thank you Daddy!" she cries as she finally sees what's inside. It's a Tiny Tears doll which actually cries and sheds tears. She's been mithering for one for a few months; all her friends at school have one. She jumps up onto her Dad's knee and gives him a big hug.
"You'll have to think of a name for her," Harry advises. "But first, let's open the rest of your presents."
Claire, the nanny, arrives just as Catherine is finishing opening her presents from her extended family, which allows Harry to get ready for work as she makes the children's breakfast. Once he is ready, he enters the kitchen and steals a piece of toast from Catherine's plate.
"Hey," she protests, but she doesn't really mean it; it's a long standing joke between them. Claire quickly replaces the slice for her as the doorbell rings. "Who's that Daddy?" Catherine asks.
"I don't know. I'll go and find out." He disappears into the hallway and returns moments later with Ruth in tow.
"Ruth!" squeals Catherine, getting down off her chair and throwing her arms around her visitor.
"Hello!" laughs Ruth as she returns the young girl's embrace, before reaching out and ruffling Graham's hair.
Harry introduces Ruth to Claire and the two shake hands. "We weren't expecting to see you this morning," says Harry.
Ruth blushes. "No. Well…I just thought that…well that…"
"Relax Ruth. It was just an observation. You're welcome here anytime."
Ruth calms and smiles bashfully. "I just thought Catherine might like her birthday present before she goes to school."
Catherine nods enthusiastically and clasps her hands together at the thought of another gift. This time it's a box of paints complete with brushes. "Wow Daddy, look," she exclaims, holding up the paintbox for him to see.
"That's great. Think of all the wonderful pictures you'll be able to paint. What do you say to Ruth?"
"Thank you Ruth," says Catherine giving her another hug.
"I also have a little something for Graham," Ruth announces and the little boy turns his head in interest. At Harry's questioning glance, she explains. "I didn't want him feeling too left out." She hands Graham a story book about dinosaurs; his latest obsession.
"What do you say?" prompts Harry.
"Fank you!" Graham replies.
"You're welcome, sweetheart."
"Read it?" Graham asks, holding the book out to her.
"Not right now," Claire tells him. "Daddy and Ruth have to get to work. Maybe we can read it when we've dropped Catherine off at school." Mollified, Graham returns to his toast.
"Claire's right, we really should get a move on. You'll let me give you a lift?" Harry asks.
Ruth looks uneasy; thinking about the rumours that could start, but Harry's smile wins her over. "Okay. But if anyone asks, you drove past me at the bus stop and felt sorry for me because of the rain."
Harry rolls his eyes good naturedly. "Whatever you say."