The Lumber Tycoon's Daughter Chapter 11
Katniss,Peeta and Prim spend all day painting the shelves. They get about half way through when Peeta decides to have a little bit of fun. He creeps up on Katniss takes his brush and and wipes it across her face. Prim watches and begins to laugh.
Katniss is silent as she runs her hand over her painted cheek, some of which comes off on her hand. She looks at her hand then up at Peeta then back at her hand. Katniss scowls over at Peeta who gives her a look of mock horror which makes Katniss smile mischievously as she whispers as she raises her brush
"Oh its on Mellark" Katniss whispers as Peeta raises his brush.
"Bring it on Everdeen" and just like that all hell breaks loose. Katniss tackles Peeta and wipes her brush on Peeta's face which makes him sputter.
"Prim,help" Peeta hollers to his sister.
"I'm coming" prim calls. Katniss thinks prim is going to attack her but as prim reaches then she attacks her brother.
"Oh boys against girls huh?" Peeta says laughing as he manages to flip Katniss so that he's on top of her. He gets the paint and wets his brush and wipes it in an x across her face. The battle goes on for another ten-minutes all three are breathing hard, which turns into full out laughter. "Oh man, that was great" Katniss says standing and helping prim up. "Thanks Katniss" Prim says. "Anytime Prim" Katniss says as she goes over to Peeta who is still on his back trying to catch his breath.
Katniss holds out her hand, Peeta has a sly look in his eye. should've seen this coming Katniss thinks as Peeta pulls her down and kisses her. "I love you so much Katniss" Peeta whispers. "I love you too Peeta" Katniss says wiping some paint off of his face. "We should have a paint war all the time Kat"Peeta says as he pulls Katniss into him so she's laying on his chest. Prim comes over and lays on Katniss's other side and curls up next to her.
Josh comes in while they are all laying on floor covered in paint. (yes even prim). "what the hell happened to you three?" Josh asks as he tries to keep his voice stern but failing. Katniss,Prim and Peeta all make excuses but josh waves them off. "It doesn't matter I want you to go get cleaned up. Katniss,Prim and Peeta go outside."Dinner is in fifteen minutes" Josh calls out after them. Fifteen minutes they come back faces pink from where the cold water touched their faces. Josh smiles as they enter the bakery."Katniss would you like to stay for dinner?" he asks as the kids walk come toward him. "I would love to stay Josh... I mean dad" she says as Josh beams clearly thrilled that she is calling him that. "Just let me call Haymitch and clear it with him" she says as she pulls out her phone. Katniss pulls up Haymitch's number and presses send. It rings three times then the gruff voice of her self-appointed uncle answers.
"Hello?"
"Hey Haymitch"
"Oh hey sweetheart, hows the bakery looking?"
"It's good, just finished doing some shelves, Peeta,Prim and I had a paint war"
"Do I even want to know?"
"I'll explain later, listen then reason I'm calling is the Mellark's invited me over for dinner, can I stay?"
"I don't see why not, have fun sweetheart, I'll see you tonight"
"Thanks Haymitch,see you tonight bye" Katniss says as she hangs up and turns around to see all three Mellarks staring at her. "Well?" Peeta asks as he puts his arm around her. "Haymitch is all for it" Katniss says as she smiles at her future dad in law. "Sounds great my sweet girl" Josh says coming over and hugging his future daughter tightly. "Alright come on let's eat" he says as he leads the way into the kitchen, his arm still around Katniss. "mm smells good in here Josh" Katniss says as she lets her eyes wander.
The island in the kitchen is laid out with a plate of tomatoes, a plate of cheese slices, sliced onions, pickles and lettuce on another plate and ketchup and mustard sit waiting. There's an assortment of chips and drinks. The door to the backyard is open, making the house cooler. "This looks great dad" Peeta says as he takes Katniss from josh who goes to flip over the meat. "Tonight we are having one of Peeta and Prim's favorites, Katniss we are having a cookout with hamburgers with corn." Josh says as he puts the meat patties on to a plate. "Oh I love hamburgers" Katniss says as Peeta comes over and puts his arms around her waist. "C0me on let's eat" Josh says and they all begin to make their burger. Katniss grabs a bun pattie, a slice of cheese, tomato and lettuce complete with mustard and ketchup. She chose a diet coke and a mixture of lays, Doritos, and Doritos cool ranch. Josh puts an ear of corn on her plate before she heads outside. Peeta makes his bun, cheese, tomatoes and lettuce, mustard and ketchup. He chooses a sprite Doritos, followed by a ear of corn from Josh.
"Come lets go eat outside Katniss" Peeta suggests.
"Cool right behind you Peeta" Katniss says following him outside. They take a seat at a glass table with chairs. Prim and Josh joins them a few minutes later.
"This looks great dad" Katniss says as she swallows the bite of her cheeseburger.
"I'm glad you like it so much" Josh says. Silence fills the backyard as everyone eats. Things are going good with everyone having a good time. That is until Peeta looks over a Katniss who has tears in her eyes. He takes her hand in his.
"Katniss what's wrong?" he asks caressing her face. Prim and josh are looking at her with pity mixed with concern. "I'm sorry everyone I need a minute" Katniss says getting up and going over to where she, Peeta and prim had the paint war earlier. Peeta looks on after her and looks at josh. "Go after her son" he whispers. Peeta doesn't need to be told twice. Prim starts to get up but is stopped by her dad who gives her a let them be alone for a little bit and though prim looks disappointed she nods and goes back to eating.
Peeta makes his way into the bakery and finds Katniss curled up on the window seat they installed when she first helped out. He walks over to her and kneels next to her and pulls her into his lap. Once Katniss realizes she's in Peeta's lap she wraps her arms around his neck while Peeta rubs her back soothingly.
"Shh don't cry Kat, there's nothing that can hurt you here" he whispers putting his finger and thumb under her chin and tilting her head up so she has to look at him, her gray eyes meet his blue eyes.
"Now what made you cry" he asks gently. Katniss doesn't say anything although she is shaking slightly. "Come on Katniss talk to me" he urges. "ok"Katniss whispers as she nuzzles into Peeta's chest. "Its just that is this is the first time I've had dinner with people who cared about me" she whispers.
"Now you know that s not true Katniss" Peeta says.
"Yes it is Peeta the last time I had a family meal was back before mom died when we were still living in rock-springs. I was ten years old, It's like I've become second in my dad's life, ok yeah I know that's not true but sometimes that's what I feel like" Katniss says wiling herself not to cry.
"Well Katniss as long as you stay here you are going to be treated like family" Peeta says as he holds her. "You are my bride-to-be, you know"he whispers which earns a small smile from Katniss.
"Oh I almost forgot" Peeta says as he lets go of Katniss and brings over something covered by a towel. "Peeta are those what I think they are?" Katniss asks as the smell enters her nose. In answer Peeta pulls back the cloth. There on a plate sits two mini cheese-buns. "Oh Peeta" Katniss says as she leans forward and hugs Peeta. "Thank you, I haven't had cheese-buns since we lived in rock springs." she says as Peeta hands her one. "Do you make them now?" she asks as she takes a bite. "Well dad taught me how to make them I've just perfected them."Peeta says smiling taking a bite of his own. "What do you do differently?" Katniss asks pressing her back against Peeta's chest. "Well do you see the small layer of cheese on top of the bun?" he asks pointing, Katniss understands as she looks up at Peeta. "Well in the past dad would always grate the cheese. I made it better by just layering each bun individually." Peeta says. "I love you Katniss Sarah Everdeen" he whispers.
"I love you Peeta-Josh Mellark" she whispers back.
They stay curled up together for a while. Prim wanders in.
"Everything ok Katniss?" she ask. Katniss doesn't trust herself to speak, she looks up at Peeta for help. "Yeah everything's good prim" Peeta says as Katniss smiles at prim.
"Ok well dad is bringing out desert, come out when your ready" prim calls over her shoulder. Once prim leaves, Peeta turns his attention back to Katniss who is wiping her eyes.
"You feeling better?" he asks as they both stand up. Katniss nods.
"OK. Now give me a smile" he urges. Katniss smiles a smile which gets another hugs from Peeta. They start to head back and just as they reach the kitchen Katniss pulls Peeta into a corner
"I just have one thing to ask you Peeta" she says keeping her voice low.
"What's that Katniss?" he asks.
"Stay with me please?" she says her gray eyes looking at his blue one, which makes Peeta pull her into him. He moves he mouth to her ear and whispers "always." Katniss just throws her arms around him as he picks her up which makes Katniss squeal.
"Peeta!" she says as she's picked up. "Come on my love let's go get some desert, before Prim goes crazy and eats them all. Now judging by the smell, dad made his one his specialties and Prim and my favorites. Chocolate-Chip cookies" Peeta says as Katniss lays her head on his shoulder as they go outside.
The rest of the evening goes very well. When they get back to the table, Peeta sits down and pulls Katniss on to his lap. Prim passes the cookies over to them and Peeta picks one up and hands it to Katniss. The warm cookie taste fantastic. When she finishes she looks over at the Mellark Family sitting in front of her.
"I'm guessing that by the look on your face, you really enjoyed that" Josh says chuckling. Katniss blushes and nods. The mood goes back to being relaxed. They play a game called apples to apples.
"Have you ever played apples to Kat?" Prim asks as she sets the game on the table. Katniss looks at the game. "No I have not, little-duck" she says "How do you play?"josh begins to explain how to play
"It really quite simple we each get seven cards"he says as he deals the cards out to everyone" then when its your turn, you pick a card that has an adjective on it" he says pointing to the green cards. Katniss nods he continues "Then the other players pick a red card from the cards they are holding and pick a card that best matches that adjective you picked out and you pick the one that is close to it. Does that make sense?" he asks. "I think I've got it"she says.
"Alright let's play now since you are a guest here you get to go first." Josh says. Katniss picks a card from the green cards and turns it over.
"Alright I got favorite thing" she reads.
"Favorite thing huh? Peeta smirks as everyone puts their cards face down in front of her.
"Alright here we go" she says as she gathers the cards setting them and reading them out loud "Alright we have: bow and arrows, archery and cheese-buns. "I think this is no contest" Katniss says. "As much as I love the bow and arrows and archery I'm going to go with cheese-buns" she says smiling. The silence in the room is deafening but it's quickly broken by Peeta whose wrapping his arms around her and whooping.
"I knew you would like that one" he whispers as josh shuffles the cards and deals them out. A feeling feel crept into her. She was wanted and she was marrying into a family that truly cared about her.