Page 60 of Only You

She stared at me momentarily and didn’t say anything.

“I need your help,” she finally said.

“Okay. With what?”

“I’m bleeding down there.”

Shit. Shit. Shit.

“You started your period?”

“Yeah. I think so.”

“Is this the first time?” I asked.

“Yeah.”

“Okay.” I smiled. “Come with me.” I led her to the guesthouse and into the bathroom upstairs.

I pulled out a regular pad from the cabinet and handed it to her. “Put this on, and we’ll run to the store, and I’ll buy you your own.”

“I want to wear tampons. That’s what Isabelle wears.”

“Okay. I’ll get you a box of those.”

“My stomach hurts.”

“Cramps?” I asked.

“Yeah. I think so.”

“Those come with the territory. Come on, I’ll get you some Motrin. It’ll help.”

“Don’t tell my dad. Please. It’s embarrassing.”

“Lucy, he’s your father. He knows all about women’s periods.”

“I don’t care. It’s embarrassing.”

“Okay. I won’t tell him.”

I took her to the store, bought her what she needed, and then picked up a pizza on the way home for dinner.

“Thanks,” Lucy said.

“You’re welcome. Welcome to womanhood.” I smiled.

“I don’t like it.”

“Me either. But you’ll get used to it. Want to spread out a blanket on the beach and eat our dinner by the water?”

“I guess.”

“Okay. You grab the bottled water, and I’ll grab the blanket and the pizza box.”

CHAPTER 20

Hannah