Finding the Missing Piece: Book 3

Chapter Forty-One

Peeta POV-

"Hey, I didn't think you would care but Carter will be staying with us in a couple of weeks for a few days." Katniss tells me during dinner.

I smile, "Seriously?"

Katniss laughs, "Yes. For about five days or something while Bristol goes to a wedding in District 7. You don't care, do you?" She smiles knowingly.

"No, of course not. That will be so much fun." I say happily.

Katniss smiles and takes a bite of her food, "Great. I'm sure you will enjoy it."

I nod my head vigorously, "I will. It will be a lot of fun."

Bristol smiles, "I figured so. If it'll be a problem then I can just take her with me. I just don't want her to get sick and traveling with a baby isn't much fun as we discovered."

I nod and Katniss agrees, "It's not a problem, we will love to have her." Katniss says, patting my hand softly under the table.

My heart races, "So, how has everything been at home with her?" I ask, kind of in an awkward place as Katniss makes contact with me.

She knows what she's doing too, that's why she's still doing it.

I kick her nudge under the table and give her a look, she just smirks back at me and Bristol answers.

"It's good. I'm afraid that I'll have to get a job soon though." Bristol shrugs.

"Oh, why?"

She let's out a sigh, "Brandon's income isn't enough for Carter and I alone. If it was just me or just Carter it would be different. Plus, I get really bored staying home. I thought about going to the school to be a substitute. I have all I need to do that and I'll just need to take my certification to become a full time teacher."

"If you did that then Peeta and I could watch the baby on days that you are subbing." Katniss says, with a mouthful of food.

I hand her a napkin and she wipes the remains off her lips.

"Yeah, because substituting isn't an everyday thing, then you wouldn't have to send her to a daycare or anything if you didn't want to." I tell her.

She nods, "Yeah, I don't know. I need to talk to Brandon about it. I'll look into it though." She smiles.

I nod, "Awesome. Yeah, anytime you need us to watch her we would be happy to." I say speaking for both Katniss and myself, knowing that she does not mind.

"Are you not working anymore, Peeta? Last I heard you were going back to work." Bristol asks.

I shrug, "Yeah. Well, Katniss came on Sunday to be with me and I ended up having to take her home because she wasn't feeling well. I went back up and it was just my mom there and it didn't end well." I mediocrely explain.

Bristol shrugs, "I see, I'm sorry to hear it didn't work out but I bet you and Katniss are happy to be back together all day."

I smile and so does Katniss, "Yes. It was just a week but it was a boring week only seeing him from three to about ten when we went to bed." Katniss explains.

We continue chatting for awhile until receive a phone call.

(On the phone with Dad)

"Hello?" I ask softly.

I already know what it's about.

"You had a run in with your mother, I hear?" He asks, he sounds mad.