The family ties of Lily Juniper Abernathy (book 3)

Chapter 9

I lay awake with Finn's arms wrapped around me. You could tell he was used to living by the sea if he could sleep through this wind! My door opened a crack "Mommy?"

"I'm here baby?" I mumbled

He bundled himself under the covers and snuggled hard into my side "The wind keeps whistling loud Mommy."

"I know, that's why I'm awake too."

"How's daddy managing to sleep?!"

I shrugged

"I think," He proclaimed "It's coz he was a little boy like me at the seaside."

I smiled and muttered "Most likely?"

The wind was starting to die off and he yawned "Night momma?"

"Night Charlie sweetheart?"

I stroked the hair back off his face as he dropped off next to his daddy. I felt a lump rise in my throat. I'd missed having the midnight wake ups for him to get into bed beside me for a cuddle when the weather was bad. I swallowed the lump hard when I saw my mom hovering in the doorway.

Effie

"Can I talk to you for a minute?" I whispered

She sighed hard "Yeah? Okay?"

I watched her tuck Charlie in tightly and come out onto the landing.

"What?" She yawned

"Come on."

I led her down stairs and made her sit down.

"Mom, what is this about? Where's dad?" She sighed

"I don't know...I have something to tell you sweetie..."

"OH. MY-" Her eyes widened and her jaw dropped "That's umm...OH MY GOD MOM- YOU- OH."

Here we go. My makeup was going to be smudged and she was going to tear some of my own hair from my head. Then it dawned on me what she was getting at. I probably blushed for real under the blush I'd so pain-stakingly applied.

"LILY STOP- I'm not...Ugh, no definatley not!"

I saw the reilief flood into her face "Oh...Well, then, what's up?"

"I'm seeing somebody."

I saw her look at me for a few seconds and glare at the ceiling.

Lily

That was it? My mom had been in realtionships before. It wasn't illegal? She went through a phase of having a different model of Capitol man every changing fashion season when I was about 13/14. I ended up calling every one of them 'Capitol dude' because I couldn't keep up with the names. I was used to her having flings with people. She'd meet them, date them, they'd meet me and leave. Simple.

"That's what you got me up for in the middle of the night to tell me? How long have you been seeing him?" I said slowly

"A few weeks..." She trailled off

"So? Why didn't you tell me before?"

"I didn't want to take away from your treatment babe, we both-" I stopped her when I realised

Effie

"I could see in that same second she knew

WAIT-" She said quickly "You and my dad?"

I gulped hard and prepared myself for the attack. I knew this would be better coming from Haymitch than it would coming from me.

"MOM?!" She snapped demanding a reply

I nodded slowly

"You?" She said again "And MY DAD?"

I nodded again not liking repeating myself.

She paused confused and said slowly "Really? seriously?"

I sighed hard "Yes Lily, how many more times do I need to nod my head?"

Her face went straight "So, where's dad then?"

I actually didn't know where he was "I don't know babe?"

She nodded "OK."

Was that it?!

"You wanna talk about it?"

She grimaced "Nah. I'm your daughter- it's meant to be gross. Night."

I watched her go upstairs and stood dumbfounded: that was a lot easier than I thought.

Lily

This could be the best of worst thing to ever happen to me in terms of my parents. Only I had a feeling of dread. If it didn't work out and my mom broke my dad's heart or vise versa I knew and my mom probably knew who I'd blame and who I'd support. Turns out, not matter how hard I tried to love them both fairly and equally I couldn't help being a daddy's girl.