Finding the Missing Piece: Book 6

Chapter Twenty-One

Peeta POV-

"Please, Mom?" Katniss begs her mother over the phone.

"You promised me that you would help us with anything we needed. You met her once before and didn't want to be apart of her life until she turned six the least you can do is come take care of her while Peeta and I can't." She says angrily.

"He lost his leg in a wreck, Mom. I already told you about this several times. He's still been trying to do everything he's always done but he can't, it's exhausting him." Katniss says, almost in tears.

I sigh.

"He fell down the stairs this morning, that's part of why he's on bed rest and because he's not rested since he got out of the hospital and it's taking a toll on him."

Katniss groans, "Willow is six years old, she shouldn't need to take care of herself. Just because I had to after dad died doesn't mean anything. We are not doing that to her." She says.

"You promised me that you would help with anything we needed, you're seriously going to break that promise?"

"I know you have a job but that job shouldn't be more important than your family, especially right now."

"We haven't asked you for anything before. At all. We've had no help whatsoever since way before Peeta and I got married or had kids, we've done everything on our own."

"Yeah, you gave us a house and we are still to this day so grateful for it but besides giving us a house we haven't had any help from you or his parents or anyone."

"We called them and his great-grandma is still too sick for his grandma to come help out. We tried calling everyone but none of them are wanting to help us that long." Katniss says frustratedly.

"If you don't want to help us, we will figure it out. Trust me, we can do it." She mumbles.

"Then what is it?"

"What are you afraid of? You weren't afraid to come back in February and make all those promises to us. Willow misses you and so do Peeta and I. You wouldn't just be here to help us out, it would be nice having you here.."

"Mom, I know being in Twelve hurts but that's where we live and doesn't Willow at least make you happy?"

"Peeta and I wouldn't ask but we really really need help or else it's just going to keep being bad for her. If I end up having Rye too early he's going to be in the hospital and we can't afford that or handle it mentally or emotionally. And Peeta needs to be able to heal up so that when Rye does get here he can help me out with him and Willow and you can go home."

"We only need you until we get released. Or at least until Peeta does." She says truthfully.

"Do you honestly think Peeta wanted any of this to happen? He's been going insane being away from us and then not being able to do everything like normal, he hates it just as badly as anyone else."

I swallow hard and look at the pattern of our sheets.

"We don't have anyone left to call but if you want to cut us off again, go ahead because it won't hurt us anymore than it has in the past. We will figure something else out." She says.

"Then let me know what you decide." Katniss says and hangs up.

I look up at her and see she has tears in her eyes.

"She doesn't want to come. At least not yet. She said she wasn't going to break her promise but she wasn't coming until I actually go into labor." She says and starts to cry.

I sigh and put my hand on her leg, rubbing it gently, "I'm sorry, Sweetheart. We will figure something out."

"She said she would think about it but I doubt she will come at all now." Katniss tells me.