It Started With a Cake

Ch34. The Lake

Willow's whines can be heard all across the house as I lift her up off the floor, and for once it isn't tummy time that has got her upset.

She feels warm to the touch, not by fever I have to remind myself, but by the actual heat outside.

It's so bloody hot today, but now being well into June I guess it does make sense.

Adjusting Willow into one arm I swipe the other across my forehead, wiping away the sheen of sweat that has formed in such a short amount of time.

"I know Willow" I sympathise, "I'm hot too"

From across the room Peeta frowns. "Is she okay?" His concerned voice calls out.

I sigh in response, "just hot like the rest of us"

As if to show her annoyance her tiny hand fists at my chest, pinching it in her hands.

"Ow" I cry out in pain, instinctively reaching out my hand to ease hers off.

When she finally lets go I look back up at Peeta to find him watching us.

"Can we do anything else?" He questions.

I shrug, we've done pretty much all we can, we've stripped her down to just her diaper, kept her in the cool always keeping a fan close to her, and made sure she's had plenty to drink. i'm not sure there's anything else we can do for her, not while she's this young.

"What have we done in the past when it gets this hot?" I question, thinking out loud.

A moment of silence washes over us, Peeta going back to his baking as he appears to be thinking.

"Well last year when it was this hot we went down to the lake" Peeta finally speaks, "but she can't swim, is it worth taking her down there?"

His question makes me think, though it is true she won't be able to swim, it doesn't mean she won't enjoy it, or at the very least cool down, we'll just have to hold her.

I mean I can't even remember the first time My dad took me down to the lake, or learnt to swim for that matter, it's just always been apart of my life.

"We could take her down there" I exclaim excitedly.

At my excitement Peeta smiles.

"I could finish these and make a little picnic" he suggests to which I nod.

"Yeah, that would be great" I smile, a sudden new found energy springing me across the house to collect our belongings.

I place Willow down in her bouncer as I go, moving the fan over to face her, the cool breeze settles her but I have a feeling it won't last forever so I hurry on.

After racing upstairs I'm quick to pick out three clean towels from our cupboard, grab our usual picnic basket and along with it our usual big picnic blanket.

As I materialise back downstairs, I find that Peeta has arranged a small selection of food for us to take. There's the loaf of bread he made just the other day, some spreads and fillings to go with it, and a wide selection of fresh fruits, some we picked out in the woods and some that have been delivered from district 11.

"The muffins will be done shortly" Peeta tells me when he sees me looking over his selection.

I smile up at him, "great"

True to his words the muffins are done in only about ten minutes, and in that time I've managed to fit everything into the basket, leaving a small spot for the baked good.

It's then another ten or so minutes before we leave, the muffins cooling on the bench while we get ourselves and Willow ready to leave.

It's an easy walk, both of us knowing this track like the back of our hand by this point. It is however a tiring walk today, the heat leaving us extremely hot and sweaty by the time we've arrived at the lake.