The family ties of Lily Juniper Abernathy (book 3)

Chapter 16

He knew. He knew for a fact something wasn't right.

"Lil, are you okay?" - that was the eleventh time he'd asked me today

"Yeah," I lied putting on a false smile "How many times you gonna ask?"

He shrugged "You nervous about going to the Capitol?"

I nodded, it'd stop him asking "Yeah."

he put his arm around me "Me you and Charlie can just hide out in our room and only venture for food?"

"Sounds like a plan?" I sighed

Charlie came in swinging on the door handle "Grandma told me to come get you coz the chef people told her dinner's gonna be ready?"

"Alright sweetheart, we're coming." I mumbled. He came into the room and held my hand as I got up.

Finn frowned as we came to the dinning car. He looked at me so I told Charlie to go ahead. He nodded at Charlie "What if Kair and the others start saying stuff to him?"

I clenched my fists "They will not do anything of the sort, I'll make sure of that? They start on him and I'll slap her."

He chuckled "I love you."

As he carried on into the other room I stood there dumbstruck for a few seconds "I know, that's the problem."

I sat down at the table in between Finn and Charlie. Everyone was talking and laughing so I decided to focus on my son.

"You okay baby?"

He nodded intensely, attempting to cut up his food

"Want some help?"

He nodded "You hold and I'll chop it?"

Slowly he worked his way through it.

"Mommy,"

"What?"

"Wanna know a secret?" He whispered

"OK?"

he knelt up on the chair "What I asked Santa for for Christmas?"

"Go on then?"

"I've asked for, a bike."

I ticked that off the list in my head

"And some reading books and colouring books."

I ticked them off too

"And that's it."

So, he had some stuff he hadn't expected- that was good then.

"I was gonna ask for something else,"

"Oh right, and what was that?"

He paused and whispered "A baby brother or sister."

I went white "So, why didn't you?"

"Grandma said they take a long time and I didn't want to wait so long?"

"Ah."

When dinner finished I exhaled. I'd got through that with any one noticing.

Then I noticed Annie was still sat in her seat staring into space. Finn took Charlie off his shoulders and went over to her.

"Come on Charlie, we'll go to bed?" I murmured giving his shoulder a squeeze.

He frowned "What's wrong with grandma?"

"She's okay ba-" I couldn't even say that word without shuddering inside.