PROLOGUE

July 4, 1955 Crab Apple Cove, Maine Crab Apple General Hospital

Hawkeye Pierce anxiously paced the white halls of the hospital, wincing each time he heard one of his wife's agonizing screams from inside the delivery room.
He was debating on whether or not to listen at the door, but decided to sit down, after being hit in the nose a few times by people leaving the room.
Linda Pierce had so far been through eight hours of labor. "Stubborn," she moaned, pushing at another contraction, "just like her father."
Linda knew she was going to have a daughter. At least, she was hoping she would have a daughter. After Hawkeye and Daniel, she wasn't sure if Crab Apple Cove could handle any more Pierce boys.

For months, she and Ben (or Benjamin if he annoyed her) had been thinking of names. If it were a boy, he would be Daniel Richard, after their fathers. If there were a girl, it would be Caitlyn Amanda Pierce.

THREE HOURS LATER

The sounds from the delivery room had silenced about half an hour ago. Fifteen minutes ago, Daniel Pierce had be summoned by the obstetrician.

And now, Daniel walked to his son, a somber look on his face.

"Benjamin," he began, struggling to keep the tears from his eyes, "you have a daughter."

A wide grin spread across the younger man's face, but it quickly fell at his father's next announcement.

"Linda didn't make it. I'm sorry Ben."