The family ties of Lily Juniper Abernathy (book 3)

Chapter 2

Haymitch's POV

My door banged. I rolled off the sofa and pinned myself to the wall, knife ready, waiting. I crept to the hallway. It must be the Capitol- who else would come to my house at this time of night? The knocking died away: they were gone, that was good. I waited a few minutes then dragged myself back on to the sofa. I woke again- Lily had crawled into my arms.

"Wha- Lily, what's wrong with you? Why are you-"

"I came through the back door- Finn's left me: and he's taken Charlie with him."

No one hurt my daughter and no one seperated my family.

"Why's he done that?"

"Because Charlie keeps seeing me scream and cry and it's really disturbing him so, about half an hour ago, Finn- packed his bag and took him away."

"If you have one of those funny do's Lil, you're meant to talk to someone about it."

"That's what he said- and- I don't know why- but I just couldn't." She started sobbing into my shoulder "I'm making my own son cry, how awful is that?"

"You can't help it sweetheart- not yet- so, you need to start talking to us." I paused "Because if you don't tell us what's going on then we can't help you..." she carried on crying and I figured this was a girl thing "Do you want me to call your mom sweetheart?"

She wiped her tears on her sleeve and sat up sighing hard "Don't- we both know what she's like- it'll make her cry harder than I am."

"Okay." I mumbled picking up a blanket and handing it to her.

"Thanks dad." She sniffed

I wrapped my arms around her like I'd done so many times and we both led on the sofa. As I stroked her hair I remembered something that alarmed me "You remember what the woman told you sweetheart?"

She nodded and mumbled "If I don't make an improvment I'll be in mental rehabilitation...." She sighed "I don't think knowing that helps things."

"We have all night if you want to talk?"

"It's hard." She whispered

"Just start from the beginning, what happened? We've got time."

"Dad, I'm sorry- I can't tell you because it's like I'm proving Finn right when he says I don't trust him." She paused "I'm gonna ask him to come to my therapy with me tomorrow: see if I can stamp this out."

I nodded and kissed her gently "Sounds like a plan kid?"

She nodded and muttered "It's the only one I've got?"

"Well, just try and get some sleep, and talk to Finn in the morning yeah?"

She nodded "Can I stay here?"

"You can stay right here with me, I'm not going anywhere." I whispered. Her hair was damp with tears and I pulled it behind her ear gently stroking the top of her head

"Night dad."

"Night Lil."

I had my daughter back under the worst possible circumstances.