I think, growing up as the daughter of the president and meeting the most important people in the country, I have never been so nervous before.
Gloss' father is the first one to arrive in the evening and I am sure if looks could kill, I would be dead by now. He literally stares me down as his eyes roam over my body before stopping on my middle. It takes me all my self-control to not wrap my arms around my small baby bump.
„I am Rickon", he eventually offers his hand to me. „You look pretty normal for a capitol girl."
„Thank you, sir", I shake his hand, nervous. I am not really sure if this was meant to be a compliment though. „Welcome to our home. Would you like me to give you a tour?"
„No", Gloss grabs my arm harshly and pulls me into his side. „You are not going anywhere with him."
Wincing I try to get out of Gloss' grip. What the hell was his problem? I was jupst being polite. Does he think I am going to chat up his father? I mean without any doubt his father is still a very attractive man but I only love Gloss. I would never flirt with his father or anyone else for that matter.
Before I can stop myself tears well up in my eyes. I fucking hate these stupid hormones.
Why can't Gloss trust me? And I thought this was our chance tonight to finally start and get along. Maybe I should just give up already and go back home to the capitol.
„Goddamn girl, why are you crying now?", Gloss wipes away my tears annoyed.
Angrily I slap his hand away. „I am not crying."
Groaning my husband pulls me into his arms, pressing me against his firm body.
„Cash", he whispers. „What's wrong? Remember we are faking to be happy."
„But I am not happy", more tears run down my face. „You don't even trust me enough to let me show your father around."
Gloss sighs and pulls me even closer, stroking my back gently. „I trust you, Cashmere. I just don't trust my dad."
I shake my head, sadly when the doorbell rings again. „Just ignore me, you don't have to lie."
Gloss lets out an annoyed huff as he drops his arms. „Whatever, girl."
I wipe my tears away and watch him open the front door.
The first thing I see is an overly excited dog that storms straight to the kitchen. I can't help but laugh at that. My hormones are going so crazy, right now.
Back in the capitol I had a dog and three cats too. Maybe I should try and persuade Gloss to get lots of pets too when our baby is born.
„Brutus!", follows a slightly older man him inside. „Come back here!"
The last person to walk in is without any doubt Marble. He looks exactly like an older version than Gloss but only by a year or two and with a beard.
„Forgive my husband and his dog", he hugs me with a sigh. I am totally taken aback for a second but than return his hug. „It's a pleasure to meet you. I am so glad, the nursery is finally coming to use now. We really put lots of effort in it for our niece or nephew."
„I totally love it", I smile at him. „Thank you a lot. I am so happy to finally be able to thank you and Titus for it."
„So which room will come into use first?", Marble rubs my baby bump. „Blue or pink?"
„I don't know yet", I look up at him, smiling.
It's weird how Gloss' family makes me feel more welcome than he ever did over the past two years. Maybe I should call my baby Hope if it's a girl because right now, the baby is giving me hope for a better marriage.
One after one, Gloss' whole family arrives. His grandma, his aunt and his uncle with their families and lastly the twins.
I don't know how I expected them to be but certainly not like that.
The boys cheeks were all flushed as he stumbles inside, having obvious been leaning against the front door. His sister is falling against him with her hands wrapped around his neck as she giggles hysterically.
„Really? Can't you be normal for once?", Gloss laughs as he grabs his sisters hips and pulls her on her feet.
„I am normal", Shine calls as she hugs him tightly. „But Emerald said he wouldn't share your wife with me!"
„Well neither of you is getting my wife", Gloss kisses her head, chuckling. „I am not sharing her especially not as long as she is carrying my child."
„But afterwards, we have a chance?", Emerald hugs his brother, smashing Shine between them.
„No", Gloss laughs as he smacks the back of his head. „Cashmere is not taking part in your sick sex fantasies."
„You are no fun anymore", Emerald rolls his eyes. „Are you not getting laid?"
Laughing loudly, Shine wriggles out of between her brothers and pulls me into a hug. „Stop scaring the girl", she presses a kiss to my lips, catching me totally off guard. „You know how prude these people are."
My eyes widen in shock as I stumble back. „What the hell?"
Laughing loudly, Emerald wraps his arm around my shoulders. „Forgive my sister, she's a little slut."
„Hey", Shine protests, grinning. „I am a big slut."
"Leave her alone", Gloss watchs his siblings amused. „Mum is waiting with dinner. The whole family is here."
„Father too?", Emerald drops his arm, his whole body stiffening.
„Yes", my husband nods.
Too my irritation I watch as Emerald pulls Shine close to him. All the colors have drained from her face, making her look paler than the walls.
„Are you okay?", I ask her, worried. „Do you need a glass of water?"
„Don't worry", Shine manages a weak smile. „I am fine."
Not really believing her, I just let my husband take me into the dining room. It feels nice to be surrounded by Gloss' family. All of them, are so nice and funny. They actually make me feel welcome opposite my husband himself.
„Well if this isn't my beautiful daughter", Gloss father speaks up when we enter the room. „Come to daddy, darling I saved my favorite girl a seat."
Irritated, I watch as Shine flinches but makes her way over to sit next to her father anyway.
„You know, Mr Shine", I hear my own voice before I even realize what I am doing. „Actually this is my seat. I always sit there."
It's not really a lie but honestly I couldn't care less about where I sit. Obviously my father in law is not very pleased about my words but smiles at me anyway.
„Of course, my dear", he gets up and pulls out the chair. „Your house, your rules."
„I am sorry", I fake a smile. „I just.. Old habits die hard. Back in the capitol I always had to sit to my fathers' right."
„Don't worry about it", Mr Shine shakes his head. „Just sit down."
Before he can change his mind, I take my seat, letting Shine sit down across from me.
„So Cashmere", Mrs Shine adresses me when Camilla serves the food. „How do you plan on raising my first great-grandchild?"
The question hits me totally unprepared. I mean what is she expecting to hear? I really doubt that she knew how to raise her child before it was even born.
„We will raise it in district one fashion, of course", Gloss scoffs before I even get the chance to say anything.
„Certainly not", I shake my head, aprubtly. „My child will be raised in a capitol way just like I was. I am not raising my child with any kind of weapon in its hands. Education is the key to success."
„Education?", Mr Shine laughs loudly. „Watching children murder each other for your entertainment is what you would describe as education?"
„Of course not", I roll my eyes in annoyance. „All I am saying is that I certainly will not raise my child to believe that fighting in the hunger games, is the most heroic thing it could possibly do. Barbaric people like you are the only reason, the hunger games are considered as entertaining. And I do not want my child to take part in this idiotismn."
„This are very rebellious words for the daughter of the president", Marble raises an eyebrow at me, surprised.
„There is nothing rebellious about having an opinion", I shrug at him. „My father raised me to make up my own mind and stick to my beliefs and that is what I will teach my child. I want it to think outside the box."
For a moment it's pretty quiet but than Camilla nods, smiling. „That sounds like a very reasonable plan."
Content with myself, I try meet Gloss eyes maybe he'll be actually impressed by me for once. But all I see in his look is concern.
Frustrated I look down at my plate.
Slowly but surely, I am growing so sick of all of this. Can't Gloss just show me any sign of affection? Or at least a little bit of acception or respect? How is this supposed to work if he refuses to give me a real chance?
„Cash", Shine leans over the table towards me slightly. „Now that we are sisters, you know how we talk about all our secrets?"
„Do we?", I run a hand through my hair nervous.
„We will from now on", she nods eagerly. „So why don't you tell us the biggest secret in all of Panem. Who is your real mother?"
Laughing I lean back in my seat. „Really? From all the things you could ask me that's what you want to know?"
„Well yes", Shine nods with a slight shrug.
„I neither know nor care who my real mum is", I simply tell her. „To me, Marlene is my mum and I couldn't have asked for a better one."
„I wish you would say something that nice too sometimes too", Camilla glares at her kids, playfully.
„Oh come on mum, we say nice things about you a lot", Emerald laughs as he wraps his arms around Shines shoulder.
„Exactly", his twin agrees but she still seems tense in her fathers presence. „Like how you are beautiful and the best doctor in all of Panem. We are all very proud of you."
Camilla blushs happily and serves them another slice of the cake, I made with her help. It doesn't look nearly as pretty as it did on the photo but nobody complained about it.
The later the evening, the more drinks Gloss has. Around nine pm the adults left until it was only the twins, Marble and Titus and us.
They were all pretty drunk and for me as the only sober one, it was very interesting to watch.
Marble and Titus are like the cutest couple on the whole planet, I can almost see the hearts in their eyes when they look at each other.
I am not sure if I could say the same about Shine and Emerald though. On one hand, they are obviously in love unable to keep their hands off each other but on the other hand, I am actually pretty grossed out by it as they are twins.
Nobody seems very surprised about their behavior though so it must not really be a secret.
Slowly I am starting to think, his hatred towards me was not the only reason he kept me as far away from his family as he could.
