Authors Note:
As promised here is the next instalment of Toastbabies & Geese. I hope everyone enjoys. This is un beta'ed so all mistakes are sadly mine.
PS...I don't own the HG or any of its characters..
Effie sat in her home stewing.
The clock on the wall ticked away in the quiet room reminding Effie of the vacancy in her home and life. She had a successful career and survived one of the greatest events their history. Yet she had never felt as wonderful as when she was amongst her little family in District Twelve.
Effie sighed heavily.
Everything in her life was idyllic until Katniss made that phone call.
Agitated by what she was starring at Effie narrowed her eyes and wiggled her nose. As her eyes took in the photograph, she could not reconcile what she was staring at. She swiped the screen with her finger. Picture after picture passed through her computer. Then she paused on an image. The figure that first opened up this can of worms, stared back at her mockingly.
When Katniss told her she was looking for a woman for Haymitch, Effie was in shock and agreed to help. Yet weeks after the initial phone call, she laughed at the idea to help procure a female for him.
Haymitch Abernathy was a loner just like her.
They had suffered too much at the hands of the Capitol, to really allow themselves to become intimate with someone. Only Peeta and Katniss had that privilege. They had gone through everything together. They were stronger because of it.
Effie believed she and Haymitch were meant to live alone; drifters slowly etching through the rest of their lives. To find Haymitch a girl was mystifying. It was preposterous to find someone who was willing to put up with Haymitch.
Effie never thought he would be agreeable to even entertain the idea of dating much less actually going along with Katniss's idea. That was until she opened up her electronic correspondence.
There on her screen was a picture of Haymitch Abernathy with some dark haired strumpet. Three hours later Effie had not been able to move from her desk.
During the three hours Effie tried every resource possible to learn a little about this woman. However because of the war, many records were lost. May people, started their lives over again with nothing but their memories.
The woman's name according to Peeta was Ginny Parks.
Her name was the only information Effie had.
"Ginny Parks," Effie huffed as she closely examined the picture. She zoomed in to carefully to scrutinize the woman's face.
Her yellow jewel encrusted pearl shaped nails tapped on her mahogany desk. Effie frowned heavily at the image of the dark haired woman who was giving Haymitch a flirtatious smile. It stung her to see this woman gracing the presence of that old drunk. It was almost as if she was being replaced.
With an unladylike composure she flopped back in her high winged chair. "Who does this woman think she is?"
The pictures Peeta sent her were alarming as she saw the way Haymitch handed that woman Katniss precious boy. Effie huffed looking at the computer screen once more "Uggh she has split ends?"
The email was expected. Peeta was forever taking pictures of his babies. Effie loved to see how their little family had grown. Her home was filled with pictures of Katniss and Peeta's children. Some of her favorites were the ones were Haymitch was holding the children. His look was priceless.
"Katniss what kind of woman are you allowing Haymitch date? Those are my little ones, you are my family, and we are a team, aren't we?" Effie spoke to the screen.
Her nails tapped on the armrest of the chair. She loved those babies.
Effie herself could not have children.
Under Snow, Escorts were treated with little respect. They had the same value of a mutt in the Games, every thing they did was to appease Snow. At the time she did not comprehend they were expendable. They were spayed like animals so that no children could be had. Effie truly believed it was an honor to be chosen as an Escort for the Tributes.
The job was important to the nation it demanded excellence and included proudly giving up the right to have children. Effie naively deemed the propaganda true. She did not realize at the time, it was just another way for Snow to control the lives of those who were invested in the Games. Snow did not want to have one of the escorts bogged down with children or pregnancies during the reaping, nor during tour should the Tributes become Victors. She had no idea how later on it would cost her to see a baby and know she could never bear one of her own.
So it hurt to see another woman holding the child she held only moments after it was born. "Those babies belong to Haymitch and I, not to some woman named Ginny. What kind of a name is Ginny?"
Effie fumed then wondered once more what kind of woman was Haymitch involved with? Effie questioned if anyone bothered checking the woman's background, as she had tried to do, before introducing her to Haymitch.
"Who is this woman?" Effie questioned out loud once more. Then she stood, a determined glint in her eyes.
She pressed her intercom.
"Yes." Her assistant Emery sleepily replied.
"Ginny Parks…."
"Effie, are you alright?"
"I am going to District Twelve."
Emery sat up in her bed and pushed her long dark hair away from her face. "Twelve what do you mean?"
Effie was determined to leave tonight. "I need you to make the arrangements Emery."
"Effie, what about the Asters home, the final set up is tomorrow."
"Emery you have exquisite tastes my dear. I know you can arrange the move in tomorrow. You are more than capable to handle that green tinted woman."
Emery laughed. There was a side to Effie not everyone saw. "Okay then, tell me what's going on?"
Effie stood and put her hand on her back. "I just need to get to District Twelve in a hurry."
"I get that but why?" Emery was moving from her bed. She picked up her screen and began to make the arrangements. Something was going on for Effie to want to leave her biggest account to date. The Aster's were the wealthiest family in the Capital. They expected a white glove service
Effie snapped "Ginny Parks."
"Wait who is that?" Emery was confused.
"Emery will you please listen," Effie huffed as she paced in the room.
"I would if you would stop being snippy with me and tell me what in the world has you upset." Emery was moving out of her room, with the tablet in her hands.
Effie remained quiet.
"Effie, what's going on in District Twelve that you just have to leave tonight?" Emery brushed her black hair away from her face.
"Exactly what I am questioning," Effie murmured under her breath. She did not realize how jealous she sounded.
"Has it something to do with the Mellark's or their children?"
"No."
Emery was silent for a moment. Effie was acting strangely, melancholy but with an attitude. "Holy crap, Haymitch is dating someone. That is what has you acting like this."
"Emery really…" Emery was frighteningly smart. Effie had let it slip about Katniss wanting to set up Haymitch.
"Hold on…." Emery was well aware of Effie's hidden feelings for Haymitch. When Emery first started working for Effie, she thought Haymitch was Effie's significant other by the amount of pictures the woman had of him in her home.
Naturally when Emery questioned how long they were together as a couple Effie waived her off, telling her that Haymitch and she were a team. She claimed they were only friends who helped each other survive the reaping and the games.
One night Emery caught Effie shedding a tear as she drank wine and stared at a picture of Haymitch. Effie drunkenly confessed her true sentiments toward Haymitch Abernathy. That was the night she and Effie became true friends. Emery was never one to mince words, Effie found her indispensable.
There was a silence a pause in the conversation.
"Emery…."
"I get it. I am setting you up on the next train that leaves in just under two hours." Emery said coming into the room. She was dressed in flannel pajamas.
"I still do not understand how you can wear those things."
Emery smiled sadly. These were her dead husband's pajamas. He died during the war. They were the only thing she kept. He had a fondness for plaid pajamas. "They are comfortable."
"Comfortable can also be fashionable." Effie cautioned.
Emery immediately redirected the conversation. Effie was about launch herself into telling Emery the virtues of woman's wear. "Have you even been to bed tonight?"
"No I have been twiddling my thumbs."
Emery approached the computer and there she got her first look at Ginny Parks. She whistled as she took a look at the screen.
It seemed by the look in Haymitch's eyes he really liked Ginny Parks. The woman was everything Effie was not. No make up, she wore abstentious clothing, she was plain in comparison to Effie's vibrant ways. There was a sparkle in her eyes, a glint, which hinted to a woman that knew a good thing when she saw it.
"No wonder you are in a hurry to get to District Twelve."
"So will you help me?"
"Absolutely" Emery smiled.
Effie clapped her hands excitedly.
"Seriously Effie, we got to get moving if we are going to plan your outfits for an undetermined time. We have less then two hours to do it in. I will send you ahead with the supreme necessary outfits and then if need be I can send you the rest."
Effie smiled this was part of the reason she loved Emery. She was always keeping her from going out on wild tangents. Two hours later Effie stood inside her compartment. Her phone buzzed. "Emery, what is it?"
"I just wanted to tell you to relax. Remember to let Haymitch know how you feel. And for Pete's sake woman do not do anything stupid." Emery warned.
Effie looked to the phone for a moment. "I will do everything with the up most decorum."
"Yeah that is what I am afraid of." Emery was glad Effie was finally going to tell Haymitch how she felt. The way that woman mooned over that man's picture made Emery want to protect her boss and yet kick her in the pants toward the right direction.
Effie dryly chuckled. "Just call Katniss in the morning and let her know I am on my way. You know how sketchy communication devices become on these trains nowadays."
"Will do boss…be safe."
"Thank you Emery." Effie had total trust in Emery. She knew Emery would handle the business with no problem. She could even handle Tigress.
"No problem Boss and go get your man." Emery said into the silent night as the train moved forward to District Twelve.