Coming Home

Chapter 5: Living a new life

After the first meeting with Gale I felt a lot more relieved about our situation. Thank God, because what followed were very hectic days which I spent mostly on the telephone or receiving visits. Either I was calling someone -a bank, an insurance company, friends - or I was being called - people from my father's workplace, parents of my sisters' classmates, old friends of the family, some of my High School classmates or my mother's church group. The highlight of my day was when I received an email from my best friend Finnick, who was in the Marines and stationed in a base in Hawaii. He was in shock with the news, since he always were like another son in my house. Everybody seemed to have learned about our parents' passing.

We went to the nursing home where my grandmother lived. Her condition had worsened exactly from the day my father died. A mother's instict I though. Even in her state, she sensed her son's passing. l felt my heart breaking for her. I remember as a kid, my grandmother Mags always spoiled me rotten with sweets and gifts that were not always approved by my mother, but many times she overlooked and let them pass. After all, for eleven years I was an only grandson. I loved spending the summer holidays at their home up in the countryside, baking cakes and pies with her, or fishing with my grandfather while telling me stories. Then, when Prim was born, she filled her with ribbons and hand-woven hats. She was the sweetest woman in the world. Having her healthy with me now would have been the most wonderful blessing. Sadly, in her current condition she wasn't going to last long, and the last thing we needed right now was another death on our already diminished family. I made a compromise to visit her everyday as my father did, I didn't want her to die in the nursing home abandoned by the only family she had left. I owed her that.

With all the things I had to do, I barely found the time to prepare my sister her meals and I don't know if I would have succeeded if it wasn't for Mrs. Seeder, our next door neighbor, coming in to help me.

Just as Gale told me, Child Protective Services called and told me that they were informed by my legal representative that everything would be arranged through him and notified that the first inspection would be held in a month. I immediately told Gale to make sure he was here on that day. Next day Ms Trinket paid us a visit and we discussed the funeral arrangements and the obituary in the local newspaper. At night, once my sister was in bed I took a quick shower and somehow managed to fall on the bed while collapsing into a deep sleep.

The day of my parents' funeral was very intense and overwhelming. The sky was gray and it was raining incessantly, as if the climate had agreed to reflect my feelings. It seemed that everybody in town came to pay their last respects to them. They had lived in Panem since my dad graduated from College and opened his legal practice along with Mr. Heavensbee. I was surprised to see some of my College friends came to gave me their condolences —Thresh, Marvel, Mitchell, and even Glimmer showed up. She gave me a hug and I let myself cry on her shoulder. She understood the responsibility I had now and wished me the best with a comforting hug and a chaste kiss on the lips. Although our relationship was practically limited to casual sex, she showed a lot of fondness and respect for me. I wish I had a different feelings for her. But she wasn't up to that either. Our "no strings attached" agreement was always mutual. Anyway, we promised to keep contact. The only weird thing was that when she kissed me, I looked over her shoulder and saw a strangely familiar silhouette, dressed in black, watching us from under the distant willow tree on the entrance of the cemetery. But a bunch of people surrounded me at that moment to give me their condolences and when I looked again, it was gone. I shook my head confounded. The person I swear I saw looked just like...her. But she vanished into thin air. My mind was obviously playing me tricks.

"It's impossible that she came. She has a life in Europe, long away from you."

It took me a while to get everything in order but after a month, I managed to get everything necessary done on a daily basis.

We passed our first CPS inspection with flying colors. Gale proved that my father made the right decision appointing him as our legal representative. He took care of all the paperwork and by the time Ms Coin came to inspect, all claims for life insurance had already been made and all documents and certifications had been submitted to claim my parents' inheritance. There were hardly any outstanding debts and Prim had a safe roof over her head.

"It seems that everything is in order Mr. Hawthorne." —said Ms. Coin, keeping the evidence documents that Gale had presented to her. We were in the living room after Coin inspected the house, which I had made sure to be impeccable, the cupboards and refrigerator full, and a well dressed and smiling Prim having all her homework done. —"I think you have done a good job so far, Mr. Mellark." — I nodded with a slight smile.— "As I checked with the school, Prim is attending regularly and has been visiting the school counselor to help her overcome the loss of her parents."

"Yes ma'am." —I responded with mettle and security.

"Any immediate plans for you Mr Mellark? I highly doubt that a young handsome man like yourself doesn't have a girlfriend around."— she commented.

I shook my head and shrugged with an innocent smile.

"I spent three and a half years at College in the Capitol, ma'am, my studies did not leave me much time to dedicate to a girlfriend, and I don't usually play the field. Yes, I went out with some girls, but nothing serious."—I answered with sincerity.

Mrs. Coin laughed as she scribbled something on her board. Standing behind her with a cup of coffee in his hand, Gale looked at me over his glasses as he signaled me to say nothing more.

"I am pleasantly surprised by your sincerity Mr Mellark, many young men would swear that they have never gone out with anyone just to try to look good. But I am a big fan of the truth, and I went to College too, I know how things are. So thank you for that Mr Mellark. I suppose you already gave up that university life to which you were accustomed."

"That's right, ma'am. My priority is my sister's welfare." —Gale gave me a thumbs up mouthing a "Perfect!" over Coin's head.

"Good! We are on the same page then." —She said extending her hand, which I shook firmly. —"We'll see each other in two months." —She got up and offered her hand to Gale. —"It was a delight to meet you personally, Mr. Hawthorne, please keep me informed of when all claims are paid and of any changes."

"You can count on that, Ma'am." —He responded with a courtesy.

We both escorted Coin to the door and said our goodbyes. When it closed behind her, I lean against it and let out a sigh of relief.

"Uff, it's finally over."

"For now." —explained Gale— "For the next visit you should at least have a part-time job and show that you are involved in Prim's activities. You have to un-focus her from your private life. That question of whether or not you're single was not out of pure casual curiosity, she did it on purpose. Financially stable or not, you're still a 22 years old single guy. And she will keep a close eye on that."

I nodded, knowing that I had to be a good example for my sister and to show that awful woman I was a mature adult with my priorities very well drawn. So I didn't lose anytime. Less than a week later, I took a job at Sae's Bakery decorating cakes for her as I did when I was in high school. It allowed me very flexible hours while earning just about enough that, combined with the social security allowance kept us afloat without having to dip further into our inherited funds. I had tried to find other, better paying employment, but they all clashed against my need for flexibility and my sense of loyalty towards Sae. She hadn't needed another employee when she hired me but she had known my parents and could use my talent for decorating. She said her sales were better when I did the cakes because of my "steady pulse and artistic knowledge", in contrast with her "shaky hands and boring designs", as she said.

We sure had an influx of cake orders as soon as word that I was decorating the cakes went out. She smiled to me telling me "I told you so. Now I'll have to keep you here forever." She was a great boss.

I also enrolled for a few courses in the local Community College, 2 nights a week. It will allow me to complete an Associated Degree in Graphic Design within a year, which would help me find a better job later on.

I did everything my attorney told me to do. I was involved in all of Prim's activities in and out of school. I met all her teachers and attended every PTA meeting. I even sign up as an assistant coach for her soccer team.

Between working, helping my sister with her homework, studying, cooking and looking after the house, I didn't have much time for myself. My dating life, therefore, was non-existent. Although I talk to Glimmer occasionally, it was more like a friendly catch up. I made a few female friends at Prim's soccer games, and at my night classes but no one catch my attention since many of them were fairly older than me, even though some of them, like the three timed divorceé Cashmere Phillips, was very aggressive and made very clear her interest in "banging me".

I had been living my new life as a surrogate father for my baby sister for nearly a year, and I was going to have a whole weekend for myself for the first time because Prim was going to a school trip to the fields of District 11. It was Thursday afternoon and Prim asked for permission to go shopping for a few necessities with her best friend Rue and her mother before they go on their school trip later this afternoon. I offered to take her myself, but I thing she was embarrassed. There are things that a pre-teen girl needs a woman in her life for, and I was very grateful for Rue's mom help, but sometimes, I felt I was abusing her generosity. Truth to be told, I was relieved to finally have a few days to rest from the daily hustle, since I only had to work a couple of hours on Friday and Saturday to finish some orders at the bakery, but I was also afraid, because having free time always brought her to her my mind. Lately, I have been giving a lot of thought to what Gale told me about his relationship with Katniss the first day we talked. "What did he mean by all the things he said?" I wanted to know so badly what were those things that are "not as it seems", as he put it. "What was not his to tell" And then my mind went to the day of the funeral, and the woman I saw staring at us from the distance. She looked a lot like Katniss, but I wasn't sure if it was real or an illusion of my traitorous heart. I thought it was the second, since I never heard anything about her coming back home, not even for Gale and Madge's wedding four months ago, and believe me, I would have known. Gossip in this town usually spreads like wild fire. Gale was right about me remembering her phone number, I tried several times, but I always chickened out. Anyway I didn't think she would answer since, in my efforts to shut her out of my life, I changed mine as soon as we graduated and she went to Europe, so she wouldn't recognize the number. Not being able to resist the temptation, I took a peek though her Facebook page, and I realized it was exactly as it was the last time I peek. All the pictures I had seen were dated three years ago and not posted by her; she was tagged by the guy I suppose she was dating. Her page wasn't blocked and, she hasn't post anything in a long time, almost since she dumped me. Taking a deep breath, I made the decision to call her.

I was about to dial her number when the front door opened and my sister appeared with a blonde curvy girl trailing after her.

"Hey sweetie!" —I greeted Prim with a kiss on the cheek— "Had fun shopping?"

"As a matter of fact we did big bro. Rue and I are all settled for the trip. And look who we found on our way home. She said she wanted to greet you."

She looked at me with a very forced smile and made a slight movement to signal me the person standing after her. I tried to repress a chuckle, I knew Prim was annoyed.

"Hey Peet!" the blonde greet me with a smile plastered on her face.

"Hey Delly?"

Delly Cartwright was the daughter of the local shoe shop owner. She lived a few blocks away and she was two years below me in school. I remember her being a cheerleader and always was surrounded by "the airheads squad", as Finnick used to call them. I never paid much attention to her at school —she was not my type, and I was completely smitten with Katniss. But for the past months since I returned I had been able to get to know her better. She is a sweet girl, and is always trying to help us. But her personality is so bubbly and over-friendly and extremely talkative, that sometimes it's overwhelming, and honestly, even annoying. Prim says Delly is good in "small doses", and that's a lot, since Prim is so very friendly herself. My boss Sae says that she is clearly interested in dating me. But I had avoided it because first, I never have been interested in her; although, my type or not, she has a rack that has to be checked out —an attribute that she advertises frequently, and at those times, she definitely gets my attention. After all, I'm neither blind, nor a monk, just a normal 23 year old guy who hasn't dated or had sex in almost a year. But then comes my second —and strongest— reason to avoid her, I didn't want to risk a bad inspection note from Ms. Coin. She had been pleased for the past months and it was only a matter of a few more before the judge granted me full custody. My sister's well-being came first.

"I'm going to finish my bag for the weekend Peet. The bus will be here in an hour. See you later Delly!" —Prim said hurrying towards the stairs. When she reached the landing of the stairs, she looked at me with her brows lifted in an annoyed grimace. Delly had her back to her, and Prim made a scissors signal with her fingers, as if telling me to cut with Delly quickly.

I shook my head smiling at her.

"How have you been Delly? Everything all right in the shoe store? "—Delly had taken a short administration course at the same school where I was attending and currently managing the small but successful family business.

"Yes, all is excellent, business is great! And what about you? I haven't seen you in the bakery for days."

"Yes, I've been very busy in the back this week. There are so many orders and I only work five hours a day, maybe tomorrow all day, since I don't have to pick up Prim in the afternoon. I'd like to finish them all before the weekend, to not have to be rushed at the last minute."

She laughed.

"The other day I heard Sae telling Mr. Goatman that since you came back to decorate for her, her business has tripled. In fact Madge's wedding cake was the most incredible and beautiful I have ever seen. But I guess it was obvious. You're the best."

"Thanks." —I said a little flushed. Then I saw her hesitate a bit— "Are you okay?" —I asked worried.

She smiled— "Yes, it's nothing, it's just that ..." —she took a deep sigh— "I thought that since you don't have to take care of your little sister tomorrow evening, maybe you would like to have dinner with me in my apartment. Not to presume, but I make a mean vegetarian lasagna, so what do you say? Will you accompany me?"

I was taken aback by her invitation. I wasn't very fond of the idea of spending a Friday night having dinner with the Cartwrights.

"Oh come on Peeta, you are always at home, taking care of your sister, working or studying, it's fair for you to have a little fun. We can have dinner and a movie sitting in the couch, since I don't even have a kitchen table in my small apartment—"

"Shit she moved into her own apartment a few weeks ago. She's not living at home with her parents any more." Every alarm bell in my head was ringing. "Bad idea, bad idea!"

"Please, Peet. You have to eat anyways."—She said giving me a lost puppy look, and I felt bad for her.

I lost that battle.

"It's okay, I'll go, is it okay at seven? His smile threatened to split his face in two.

"Perfect!" —She exclaimed with a loud squeak holding me by the neck and kissing me on the cheek— "Ill have everything ready." —She said retreating to the door quickly as if fearing I would change my mind.

I pressed the bridge of my nose after she closed the door.

"I hope you know what you're doing Peet." the resigned voice of my little sister said from the stairs.

"It's only dinner." I answered her

"For you, but for her, it's your first date. Are you really that dumb that you don't realize that Delly is drooling over you?" she said bluntly.

I looked at her in surprise. "She's barely twelve, when did she get so observing?"

"Don't get me wrong Peet, she's nice and all, but, you're not into her. You just check out her boobs every now and then, but, I know you don't even like her like that. And she is so over the top that...Ugh!" —she said shaking her hands.

"Be fair Prim. She's right, I'm always alone, and, I like her, she is a sweet girl—"

"Yeah right, sometimes she is so sweet that she cloys. Peet, don't get carried away by the sympathy you have for her or because you are alone. I don't want you to make a mistake that you will regret later."

"And what do you know about that Prim? You're just twelve. I don't need your permission to go out with someone. I'm an adult, and I'm not stupid."

She was about to reply when there was a honk in front of the house. Prim was a little mad for my retort. Taking her bag, she walked to the door— "The school bus is here. I see you on Sunday night."

I stopped her with a hug.

"Sorry little one. I didn't mean to be that harsh. But sometimes..." —I shook my head— "Never mind, don't worry about me. I'll be fine. You just enjoy the trip. And call me when you get there."

She nodded. I opened the door and greet Ms. Cecilia, one of their chaperones for the trip. After exchanging phone numbers and being assured they would be well cared for during the trip, Prim stopped before getting on the bus and turned to look at me.

"I know I'm only twelve, but I just want you to be happy. Think about what I said. I love you bro-dad."

I couldn't help but to laugh at her nickname for me. That was what I was for her —bro-dad— half brother, half father. And as such I had a responsibility to fulfill. I would go to dinner with Delly, but I would be completely honest with her.

If only it were so simple.

Hello people!

Here delivering Chapter Five.

Love to hear your thoughts. Some time has passed, almost a year, Gale and Madge got married and Peeta has become accustomed to his life as bro-dad. But he is still a young man and he is starting to feel alone.

So...Peeta is going on a date...hmmmm, do you think Delly will make it that easy for him? He needs to keep behaving, his evaluations with social services have been good so far, but he still doesn't have full custody.

Let's see what happens there.

I know you are thinking, when is Katniss coming? Good news, Next chapter, she will be here!

See you guys next Thursday.

XOXO Lizzyvb

PS: New update for Out Of Bounds Tomorrow!