The family ties of Lily Juniper Abernathy (book 3)

Chapter 10

Haymitch

"Grandpa?"

"Yeah?"

"I don't get it?"

"Get what?"

"Well, for as long as I know like, ever and ever, you and Nana weren't boyfriend and girlfriend and now you are?" He said slowly

"Yeah, it's kinda complicated kiddo."

"So," He said fumbling with some string in his hands "How did you get my mom then?"

"Umm..." Well done Haymitch you've dropped yourself right in it "What do you think?"

"I dunno, I asked my dad about it, like, why him and mommy have me since they aren't old and stuff but he told me to ask my mommy and she said its coz they love each other-"

"Yeah well-" I began but he wasn't finished

"So if what my mom said was right then you and Nana must've loved each other before?"

I shrugged

He grinned and mumbled "Can you not remember coz you're old?"

I smiled "Cheeky!"

"I know." He giggled sticking his tongue out at me. He kicked his legs as we sat on the bench in the Hob and he said "How long is mommy gonna be at the doctor's?"

I glanced at the clock pinned on to one of the wood beams in the centre "She shouldn't be long now?"

"How long though?!"

"Dunno?"

He rooted in his pocket and pulled out a single marble "Reckon I could trade this for something more fun?"

I chuckled "I doubt it sweetheart?"

"Not even if I do a really sad voice?"

"You could try I suppose? Depends what you were trying to trade the marble for?"

"A ball?"

"Maybe? Do you wanna go see?"

He paused and mumbled "OK. You're coming with me yeah?"

I nodded "Of course I am."

As we walked he reached a stall where a red leather scoccerball was in an old box in the centre. He gulped and grabbed my hand as he tugged the stall holder's sleeve.

"What?" He growled

"Umm...I like the red ball there...Will this be enough?"

He dropped the marble into the man's hand. He examined it and grinned "When I was a kid I used to collect marbels...Yeah, you got yourself a deal little guy?"

He cheered and grabbed it.

As he walked off with it in his hands I called him back.

"Oh." He said understanding immediatley "Thank you?"

The stall holder smiled "When you do bussiness you shake hands?"

Charlie handed the ball to me and shook hands with him.

"I hope you aren't teaching my son to gamble?"

Charlie grinned and ran over to Lily throwing his arms around her "I'm trading momma?"

"Oh right?" She paused slowly "What'd you trade?"

He gestured for her to bend down and he whispered in her ear

"Oh." She nodded leaning hard on her stick "That?" She put the stick on the ground dertermined and picked him up. She dragged her fingers through his hair a little "What's in your hair baby?"

He giggled "Ice cream?"

"Ooh, so while I've been at the doctors you conned grandad into getting you an ice cream, huh?"

He shrugged "Yeah?"

"What'd you do? dunk your head in it?!"

"No!" He sqeauled

"Why? Did grandad dunk your head in it?"

He laughed even harder "Noooo! It dripped down my fingers!"

"Ohhh I get it." She mumbled kissing his cheek and putting him on the floor.

"Mommy, don't forget this?" He handed her the stick off the floor

"Thanks sweetheart..." She sighed.

He took the ball off me and ran ahead of us. I frowned when I saw her face screw up in pain as she staggered to follow.

Lily

"Come here." My dad mumbled linking his arm with mine. I shifted my weight to lean on him a little and sighed with the relief. I laid my head on his shoulder as we slowly- that was actually an understatement for how slow I was walking today- followed Charlie outside into the rain.

My heart stopped when, out of nowhere, a coal truck skidded and dragged my little boy to the ground.