Chapter Thirty-Three
Effie had been receiving a steady stream of deliveries from the Capitol for the past one month. Haymitch had begun to expect a parcel on their door steps every few days. He was beginning to think that Felix was terrible at math and couldn't understand the amount of shipping fee he would save if he had sent everything into one parcel every end of the week instead of every few days.
"This is cute, isn't it?" she gave him a lopsided smile.
Haymitch peered from the rim of his coffee mug to the onesie Effie was holding up. Emblazoned across it were the words that made Haymitch arched an incredulous eyebrow – "Perfect in every way."
Effie dived into the box again and extracted two similar looking shirts except for the colours. They were in blue and white individually. She took one look at it and started giggling.
"Look at what it says, Haymitch!"
He stared down at the blue shirt. Printed in white was the word 'boop' and when he looked across at the matching shirt, it said the same except this time it was printed in blue.
"He's got to be joking," Haymitch muttered.
"Should I ask Felix to stop with the gifts?
"Let him," Haymitch yawned, stretching his arms over his back. "If he wants to do the shopping, I'm more than happy to let him. Since you're being financially strict lately, it would save us the money and the time. But, the moment he starts sending us clothes that says 'I love Uncle Felix', you better step in, sweetheart."
"He just might. I would be surprised if he didn't, to be truthful."
With careful and precise movements, Effie folded the clothes, placing them on the arm of the sofa when she felt his hand on her thigh. Haymitch had waited all day to inform her and it seemed a good a time as any right now.
"Plutarch and I have finalized the appeal. Everything's set to go."
"Oh?" her brows crinkled. "When will you be going then?"
Haymitch shrugged in reply. "In a week, maybe, two. Plutarch's trying to get us an audience with the President and the Council."
"The Council? You're submitting it to the Council this time instead of just the President?"
"We thought it would be better for them to hear it from us directly instead of through the report Paylor's secretary would draft."
"That's probably wise," Effie nodded. Pushing herself off the sofa, she walked over to retrieve her planner and noted down the dates Haymitch had told her.
"Don't schedule any of your appointments with Dr. Bell in the next two weeks," he said. "If there's any, schedule them within the next few days while I'm around in case you need me to go with you for some reason."
He watched as her hand hovered in mid-air, fingers still gripping on to her pen. When she looked up, Effie beamed at him. He was just offering to accompany her to her appointments, she didn't have to act as though he had promise to give her the moon and stars.
XxX
Effie was fussing over him and he let her because for some unexplainable reason he had recognised it as something that she needed to do. For the second time that day, she was going through the list she had drawn up for him, listing everything he should have packed the night before.
"Alright, you've got everything you need," she announced, folding the paper in satisfaction.
"I could have told you the same, if you let me," he muttered as he zipped his duffel bag together. He glanced up when he felt her gaze on him. "Listen, don't walk too much. Elevate your legs since you've been complaining about it being so swollen the past few days. While I'm not around, get the kids to help you out if you need anything."
Effie gave him a smile. "Okay."
"Don't strain yourself," Haymitch continued. "It'll only make your feet ache."
"I know, Haymitch," she sighed. "Do you have the list of things I need you to get from the Capitol?"
Haymitch straightened up and patted his breast pocket where the list was.
"Don't stay away too long!"
"Why?" he smirked. "Thought you didn't like me breathing down your neck? Shouldn't you throw a party now that you have the house all to yourself?"
"As if you'd approve of such things anyway," she mumbled. "I thought it was 'don't stand too long on your feet, Effie'"
Haymitch laughed as he adjusted the strap of the bag on his shoulder.
"Glad to know you were paying attention," he said, cupping her cheek and bending down slightly so they were on eye level. "Don't do anything stupid while I'm gone."
He hesitated before he kissed her forehead and walked towards the door. Haymitch received another smile from her and he couldn't help as he returned the smile.
"Wait," she cried out. He turned and waited as she waddled up to where he was. "You're not going to say goodbye to them? They'll miss you."
"They've never even met me," he rolled his eyes.
Effie shot him a disgruntled look, glaring at him. "They can hear you and that is such a rude thing to say to your children! Don't mind your father, my sweets, he didn't mean anything by it."
Haymitch stared at Effie and for the umpteenth time, he wondered if she had not completely lost her mind. Still, she was nothing if not determined. Effie had a hold of his hand and was pressing it to her stomach, waiting for him to address the twins. There was no winning with this woman.
"Bye, peanuts," he mumbled, stroking her swollen belly absentmindedly. "See you when I get back, I supposed."
Satisfied, Effie released the hold on his wrist, grinning at him happily. She walked him out of the door and waved until he disappeared round the bend, in the direction of the train station, neither of them having any idea just how prophetic Haymitch's words to his children would be.
XxX
Effie disliked being alone. She had grown so accustomed to Haymitch's presence and having him around for her to talk to. Being alone reminded her of so many memories she would rather forget; memories of staying in her apartment by herself wishing that her sister was alive and living with her, memories of her prison cell before she was housed with Johanna and Annie and memories of returning to the Capitol and living months in solitude before she married Haymitch.
There was no point denying it any longer, she thought. She was bored. And she was in pain. Her back had been aching although she had managed to keep that piece of information away from Haymitch. She didn't need another set of 'dos' and 'don'ts' from him.
She was feeling nauseated and at first, she thought she was down with flu and fever but a quick check with the thermometer confirmed that she was not. She walked up slowly to the twin's nursery. Effie had lost count how many times she had refolded and reorganized their wardrobe since Haymitch left for the Capitol. She was currently worrying if there were enough hats and mittens for both of the babies and if Haymitch had bought the correct diapers size for them.
On the second day, Haymitch called the house just as she was wondering if he had settled in or if the meeting had started.
"How did it go?"
"Not bad," he answered. "They've taken a recess so we'll continue tomorrow."
"But how does it look like to you? Do you think they are convinced by – "
"They're listening and that's a good start. You and the twins? Everything alright back home?"
"Yes," she smiled, twirling the cord around her fingers. "Your geese are fine, too. Peeta feeds them. Haymitch, can you get more hats? And mittens, too. I'm not sure if we have enough. While you're at it, buy more clothes. I read in my book that babies go through a lot of them and we should just be prepared. I'll feel better if we are. Put that in the list, will you?"
"We have an entire cupboard filled with baby clothes, Effie. I'm sure it's – "
"Yes, of course, but what if that is not enough?"
"Effie…"
"Haymitch, please."
"Fine. Why not I buy the entire BabyTown? The whole damn shop itself?" he grumbled.
XxX
There really was nothing else she could do with the nursery. She realized that irritating fact on the third day. With nothing else to occupy her time, Effie wandered to the back yard, tearing pieces of bread before tossing them to the geese.
At least it wasn't so quiet out here, not with the racket those birds were making. Effie stood by the pen, watching the goslings waddling after the mother goose. The sight brought her a strange sort of comfort. That would be her one day, with her two children trailing after her, looking up at her for guidance and comfort and love. Effie promised to herself that she would do all that she could for them. She would teach them everything she knew, she would be there for them unlike her own mother while she was growing up and she would love them with everything she had because they are her world now. Haymitch and her may not have planned to have them but it didn't change anything, not for her. Her only wish was for Haymitch to be by her side as she watched her children grow but she didn't dare to hope for too much.
Effie was lost in thought when the pain brought her back. Her grip on the metal pen tightened and Effie inhaled sharply. There it was again, the uncomfortable feeling in her abdomen, the tightening and squeezing sensation she had been feeling since yesterday afternoon. Effie pressed a gentle hand on her stomach. It was hard to the touch and she wasn't sure at the moment if that was normal. She forced herself to regulate her breathing. In and out, in and out.
The backache she had been experiencing began to bother her once more; a dull, pulsating ache that grew in intensity the longer she stood by the pen. Slowly, she began to make the tedious walk back to the house.
XxX
As the day progressed, the cramps became worst. It moved upwards towards her stomach and she began to seriously consider calling Haymitch only to discard the thoughts aside. It seemed silly to bother him with such a trivial matter. It was only a little bit of pain, nothing she couldn't handle.
Katniss and Peeta were not at home at the moment. She saw them leaving with little Prim in between them, her feet kicking the air as she dangled on her parent's hand, her laughter could be heard within the compound of the village.
Oh, Annie! Of course. Who better to ask?
Settling herself comfortably on the sofa, Effie began to dial Annie's number.
"Wrong number," the voice on the other end said even before Effie had the chance to say hello.
She recognised that voice and she was surprised to hear it.
"Johanna! What are you doing in Four? You've been staying with Annie since we left?"
"Ah," Johanna chuckled. "Effie Trinket. Who else could be calling this house," said Johanna.
"Abernathy," Effie corrected. It had become almost a knee-jerk reaction whenever someone called her by her maiden name.
"Right. I keep forgetting," said Johanna. "Actually, I'm not surprise that you're surprised about me being in Four. Again. You would think after what they did to me in the Capitol, I would avoid Four and all these waters surrounding them but strangely, it's a peaceful place, this district. And, it gets me away from Gale so that works, too."
"You could visit me and Haymitch here in Twelve, too, you know? You're always welcome here."
"I will, one day but Finn's here and I… kinda like this kid, I guess," she admitted.
Effie smiled to herself. If Johanna were to say that she didn't like Finnick's son, then Effie would be worried. The boy's her godson and with Johanna around, Effie noticed how Annie didn't seem to go off on a stupor as often. They were good for each other, as dysfunctional a family as she and Haymitch was with Katniss and Peeta.
Another wave of cramps reminded Effie the reason for her call in the first place. Gritting her teeth, Effie asked for Annie and the moment Annie got on the line, Effie wasted no time explaining the pain she had been suffering from.
"Seriously, Annie, I need to know just how long would this Braxton Hicks last? I have so much to do around this house and it's just slowing me down. It's bothersome, if I may say so myself."
"Effie," she called out her name uncertainly. "I don't think… You need to time your contractions. Yes, yes, time."
"Excuse me?"
Has Annie gone back to one of her stupor? Time my contractions?
"You need to time it. I can stay… I will stay on the phone with you. Please do it."
Effie grew even more alarmed by the second. "How do I do that?"
In the background she could hear Johanna's voice, "is she in labour already?"
That question seemed to snap Effie's attention. She stood up straighter, eyes opened wide.
No, no, I can't be in labour!
"Annie," she called out urgently. "Annie, I'm not in labour. I can't be. It's too early. I'm only 34 weeks pregnant! This isn't happening, Annie. Tell me it's just false contractions. Those things happen, don't they?"
"I need you to calm down. Please. Just listen to my voice, concentrate on it and do as I say," Annie told her quietly. Her voice had always been soft and soothing and listening to it put Effie at ease, if only slightly.
Leaning back against the sofa, Effie tried to make herself as comfortable as possible as she listened attentively to Annie who guided her on how to time her contractions. Effie had read about it in her book and had even clarified it with Dr. Bell but in her state she had forgotten everything.
"5 minutes, Annie. I think it's 5 minutes apart," Effie confirmed breathlessly.
"Oh dear," the other woman said over the phone. "You should get Haymitch."
"Get Haymitch? I can't! He is not at home, he is at the City. Why Annie? What's wrong?"
"Effie," Annie started nervously. "Those are labour contractions. They're not just Braxton Hicks. It would be… You should call your doctor. You need to get to the hospital."
"No, no, no, Annie! No," she laughed nervously. Effie repeated what she had told Annie previously. "I'm not in labour! I'm only 34 weeks pregnant. It's not time, yet. I can't be in labour. Annie, I can't do this. Haymitch isn't here."
"Effie…"
"And isn't my water supposed to break? That's the sign of labour, isn't it?"
"Sometimes it doesn't if you're less than 37 weeks pregnant. I'm not sure, Effie, but those contractions are too frequent for it not to be labour contractions. Please, can you get to a hospital?"
"I'll wait till Haymitch is back. He should be back by tomorrow. Or the day after. I could…" she breathed deeply. "I could call him and ask him to come back tomorrow."
"No, no," Annie insisted. "Listen to me, you cannot stay at home. Please call the hospital. Get Peeta or Katniss to send you to the hospital."
Effie stiffened as another contraction hit her and when it passed, she wiped the perspiration on her forehead with the back of her hand.
"Peeta and Katniss are not at home," Effie exclaimed. She was on the verge of tears and Annie must have sensed it.
"Just calm down. Deep breaths like how you've been doing all this time. I'm going to hang up the phone soon and you will call your doctor," Annie told her. "That's the first thing you will do. I will get Johanna to call Haymitch immediately. Someone should inform him. Don't bother about the bag you've packed. Peeta or Katniss can bring that over later. But call your doctor now and I will call you back in five minutes to check on you."
Effie had never heard Annie talked this firmly to anyone and that was when she realized how dire her situation was and there was no way she could wait for Haymitch.
"Okay," she exhaled shakily. "Okay, I'll call my doctor."
Effie's nearly there and Haymitch is nowhere near District Twelve. Cue dramatic music.
Anyway, i hope you like it and please leave a review.