Chapter Twenty- Four
After lunch I decided I should visit my Mom. I know she wants to see Nick and she is part of the reason why I came here. Finnick wants to go back to the hotel and take a nap. He still looks terrible. I didn't mention that I say him drinking, but I will later. I want to see if he actually will. I get the feeling he won't which will cause a fight.
I sigh. I don't want to think about that.
"Here we go." I say and stop outside the entrance of the hotel I don't need to go inside.
"Aren't you going to kiss me?" I ask as he's about to open the car door to leave.
He smiles.
"Course." He says and quickly. He doesn't smell like boozes but he was worried I would find out from the way he kissed me.
I nod.
"I'll see you soon." I say and kiss him. "Bye." I say as he steps out of the car. He waves at Nick and heads inside.
"Annie!" My Mom says before I can even get to her back porch.
"Hi Mom." I say. She helps me bring Nick into the house.
"There's my sweet boy." She says with a smile. "May I?" She asks and holds out her hands ready to take him.
"Yes, but he might cry." I pause. "Although he's been fine with Ella." I say happy. I think he might be getting better although, his Father is another story.
"I understand." She says and takes him. He seems okay. "Is Finnick coming?" She asks.
"No. Finnick was tired, he didn't sleep well last night so he's at the hotel." I say and she nods. "But he might come over later." I say. My Mom loves Finnick so I know she would like to see him.
She nods.
"If not there's always next time." She says and kisses Nick's cheek. "He seems good."
"He does which surprises me." I say and smile at him and he gives me one in return.
"I think the storm has settled." She says.
"I guess." I say. "I'm just glad I have my baby back." I say.
"Thanks to Finnick." She says.
"Yup." I say in a strange tone. "But, he's been having trouble with the fact that he killed someone. He's been having nightmares." I say.
"That's understandable." She says.
I nod.
"I don't know how to talk to him about it though." I say. How can I? I've never killed someone and while my Father and I have never gotten along he would never beat me or steal my son. "And I don't know if his therapist is helping." I say. I can feel my face get hot. I haven't told anyone Finnick's in therapy. I know it's not a bad thing, but I don't think Finnick would like me going around telling everyone.
"You just need to be there for him sweetheart." She says.
"How can I if don't know what he's feeling." I say. Nick reaches his arms at me. I take his small hand and kiss it.
She kisses my cheek.
"Just be there and listen to him sweetie." She says. Which isn't very helpful, maybe if I told her I think Finnick is starting to develop a drinking problem she would have better advice, but I'm not going to tell anyone that because I'm not 100% sure.
I stay there with my Mom and we talk about my work and Nick.
"Nana." He whispers every so often. Which surprises me because he's never really said it before.
"I'm proud of you Annie for trying to fix things up with your father." She says.
I nod.
"It's only been a few days." I say and she hands me Nick as I'm about to leave.
"I'll try and see you tomorrow Mom." I say. Our flight to leave is tomorrow. It's in the late afternoon so I might be able to.
"Okay." She says with a smile and kisses my cheek. "Bye Nicky." She says and kisses him.
"Nana." He says with a smile making my Mother smile widely.
"Let's go baby." I say as we walk outside. "We need to get Daddy for dinner." I say.
"Dada." He says.
"That's right Daddy." I say and get him situated in his car seat.
I drive back to the hotel room and see the room is dark, maybe Finnick got a ride from Ella.
"Finnick?" I say.
I see a figure in the bed, he's still asleep.
I kiss his forehead.
"Finnick." I say and run my fingers through his hair. He doesn't smell like boozes so I think he just fell asleep. "Finnick." I say and kiss his cheek.
He groans and opens his eyes.
"Annie." He says.
"It's me." I say.
"What time is it?" He asks.
"Five." I say.
He nods and turns on the bedside lamp.
"You look better." I say truthfully. His eyes aren't as bloodshot and the dark circles aren't there.
He nods and puts both of his hand on my face while his thumbs graze my cheek bones.
"I love you." He says and kisses the tip of my nose.
"I know." I say.
"Not the response I was hoping for." He says.
"I love you too." I say.
"That's more like it." He says and kisses me.
"We should go if we want to make it to my Dad's house." I say.
He nods and I stand up to pick up Nick who has gotten fussy.
"I want to tell you something." He says and I nod.
He swallows hard.
"You remember last night when I promised not to drink anything." He says. He isn't looking at me. He's looking far off into the distance.
"Yes, I remember." I say.
He swallows hard.
"We might get charged for things from the mini bar." He says softly.
I move his hands off my face so they rest on my shoulders.
"Why are you telling me this?" I ask. Finnick is smart enough to know I would see it show up on the bill so I want to make sure that isn't the only reason.
"Because… I don't like lying to you and because I don't want you to worry at me. I don't want you to think less of me." He says. I lean my forehead against his.
"I know you don't like lying to me." I kiss his cheek. "And I won't think less of you as long as you're honest with me, because I'm awfully worried about you these days." I say.
"I know." He says and wraps his arms around me. "I know and I think you should be." He says so softly I almost didn't hear him even though his lips are almost touching my ear.
"Mmmh. Baba." Nick whimpers, he's hungry.
"Wait till we get to Papa's." I say and pick him up. He leans into me. I'm afraid Nick will just want to sleep. He didn't really get his nap because we were spending so much time with my Mom.
"He's fussy maybe we shouldn't go." Finnick says.
"I'm sure he'll be fine and if he gets to be too much we'll just leave." I say.
Finnick nods and kisses me.
"Let's go." I say and we get in the car for the short drive.
"Annie." My Dad says.
"Hi Dad." I say as he opens the door.
"Annie, Finnick, Nick." He says as we all walk in.
"Dinner smells great." I say.
"It's the roasted chicken you like." He says. The dinner he made last night was one of my favorites as well. I would say he's trying too hard but I don't mind.
"That's great." I say. I see Ella and Nathan in the family room. I think they're filling out a crossword together. I could've never imagined Ella doing a crossword puzzle. She's not stupid or anything but it's…not her.
I put Nick in his rocker and he slowly starts to fall back asleep.
"It's nice to see you again!" Ella almost shouts making Nick moan. "Oh I'm sorry is he sleeping?" She asks and I nod.
No one talks much because Nick is sleeping. I don't feel bad. If you would've told me I would be sitting in my Dad's house a month ago I would be laughing my ass off from how ridiculous it sounded.
Ella and I start to set the table when dinner is almost ready.
"So, how was last night?" Ella asks worried.
"It was fine." I say and she nods.
"I think Nathan is going to propose." She whispers.
I raise my eyebrows.
"What makes you think that?" I ask and look towards the family room. He's reading the paper and seems to be lost in his own little world.
"Why else would Nathan insist on coming with me? I think he wanted to do the whole ask for the blessing type thing." She says.
"Dad would like that." I mutter.
She nods.
"Won't you say yes anyways?" I ask while putting napkins on the plates.
"I don't know. I've never thought about getting married before." She says softly. "What's it like?"
"Being married?" I ask and she nods. "It's not like anything." I say.
She nods. I can tell she is disappointed by this answer.
"If you're not sure don't say yes." I say.
"How will I know?" She asks.
"You'll know." I say.
She sighs.
"I hope so." She mumbles to herself.
Finnick and I did leave early because Nick started becoming fussy and we both could tell he just needed sleep.
I dress Nick for bed and set him in his crib. I kiss his forehead.
"Goodnight cutie." I whisper.
"Hey." I say and sit next to Finnick on the bed.
He nods. I wonder if he will add anything to our previous discussion, but he doesn't.
I wake up in the middle of the night. I roll over and see Finnick is leaning against the headboard. "Finnick?" I ask concerned.
"I'm okay." He says but I can tell from his voice he isn't.
"Okay." I say. He lies down next to me and kisses me and I can taste a whisper of tequila on his lips. "Finnick." I whisper.
"I just couldn't fall asleep." He says.
"So you thought taking a drink would help?" I whisper.
"Yes and it did. It shuts my thoughts off so I can find sleep easier." He says.
"Finnick-" I say in a harsher tone than I meant.
"I'm fine Annie, honest." He says and kisses my forehead.
I don't respond I just close my eyes and listen to his breathing. So is the new nighttime routine wash face, pajamas, brush teeth, and take a couple shots? Because I'm pretty sure that's not healthy.