Effie didn't push Haymitch to hold Rosie. It wouldn't do any good anyway if he was nervous every time he held her. They'd ease into it. Or at least Effie would ease Haymitch into it.
"Do you think the trial -"
"Oh, don't talk about it, Haymitch. Please," Effie said as she folded the newly laundered clothes that Haymitch brought up. He tried to help, but his attempt at folding a sock made him frustrated. Effie showed him how without another word. "What we do need to talk about -"
"How I made you leave."
Effie nodded. "You know we can't just … forget it. It's there. It happened. And it happened because -"
"It happened 'cause I didn't know what a kid would think and now -"
"I thought you said it wasn't an overnight fix."
"Princess, it isn't. I'm just sayin' … I'm scared as hell to tell her about the past but … if I could tell kids I only met a few months ago then … why can't I tell my own daughter?"
"They didn't run away."
"No."
"And the drinking?"
"You know I'm working on that. Anyway, we're stuck in Four, aren't we?"
"Not a terrible thing."
"The perfect detox."
Effie agreed. "How are the tremors?"
"Less and less. But I think the meds are fucking with my sleep. I was up and down all night. Not that you'd know - they still have you on a morphling dose."
"Only in the evenings. And maybe you ought to see a physician here. You had trouble with these meds last time as well, if I remember correctly. And look where -"
"When we go in to see Rosie, I'll see what I can round up for myself in terms of an appointment."
Effie smiled and kissed him. "Thank you."
"So does that mean you really will come back? Not just sayin' it because -"
"I'm coming back," Effie said, handing him a pile of folded shirts. "I need to come back."