32. Bethany
Chapter 32
Bethany
DECEMBER
“ W hat do you mean, you’re not coming?” Jodi’s tone suggests she’s about to go all out.
“Just that. I’m not coming.”
“Why?”
“Jodi, does it really matter why? I don’t feel like going to a party.” I don’t. The last thing I want to do is go to a damn party. “Plus, Davis is stopping by, and I don’t feel comfortable leaving the boys here with him.”
“I can’t believe he’s out already. I thought they said a year.”
Davis phoned a few days ago to say he’s out on parole and wants to visit the boys. I could’ve easily said no, but he’s their dad, no matter what he’s done. Not the best influence on them, but that’s not their fault. That’s his.
“He served the minimum, and now he’s on parole. He mentioned wanting to speak with me as well. Not exactly sure what about, but I feel like I owe it to the boys to find out.” Kicking off my shoes, I stretch out on the couch. “He’s supposed to be here in an hour.”
“Fine.” She huffs and then does what Jodi does best. “Now tell me the real reason you don’t want to come to our annual New Year’s Eve party. It’s because of that hot firefighter, isn’t it? You still haven’t figured out how to apologize to him, have you?”
“Maybe.” I rub my forehead, hoping to ease the headache building. “He told me he wasn’t taking down my lights, then today he shows up with his damn ladder and takes them down. Of course, I had to punish myself by going out there and helping. Listening to his grumpy ass bark orders while looking sexy as all hell.”
“You should’ve called me. I’d have brought over my lounge chair and a bowl of popcorn, camped out on your lawn to watch the show.” Jodi laughs. “Maybe we could’ve caused a disturbance. Forced Officer Wade to come down and assess the situation. How has that man lived down the street from you for three years and gone unnoticed? It makes me want to go door-to-door in your half of the neighborhood and see what other hot, single men you’re hiding.”
“He’s looking to sell his home now that his divorce is final. You could see if he’s found a realtor yet?” I tease, knowing there is no way in hell Jodi would do that. Due to a past incident that cost her a sale and commission, she maintains a strict “no dating clients” policy.
“Not gonna happen. His price range is probably lower than my bottom-line. But I could refer him to one of our male realtors.”
“Or Sandy.”
“Hell no. That cunt face is not coming near him. I’d take him on before I’d let her sink her claws into him.” The line makes a clicking noise and Jodi whistles. “Sorry, babe. Gotta take this. Looks like the offer I just submitted got a counter, and I need to check in with my clients to see if they want to take it or move on. I’ll miss you tonight. Won’t be the same. If you change your mind, you know you’re always welcome.”
“I know. Tell everyone I said hi and that I promise to be at the next one.”
Jodi hangs up, and I close my eyes, hoping to catch a nice nap after a grueling morning of dealing with a grumpy man. If he’d given me a few more days, I’d have had it all taken down. I’d taken down what I could. Dillon was planning to take down the rest as soon as he and Alicia returned from their trip to visit his family. But I guess that wasn’t soon enough for Nolan, and that’s not my problem.
Just as I’m about to doze off, the doorbell rings. The stampede down the stairs tells me the boys have it. Meaning it’s probably Davis. I should get up, but I don’t want to.
A few moments later, I feel a tap on my arm and startle awake. Kellie’s standing there looking a little freaked out and embarrassed at the same time.
I sit up. “Everything okay?”
She nods, looks over her shoulder at the boys watching us closely, and then shrugs. “Can I talk to you about something in private?”
Finn and Felix look at each other and then bolt and say in unison, “Good luck.”
“You can talk to me about anything.” I pat the couch for her to sit but she just stares at it.
“I need to go to the store.” Kellie won’t look at me, her hands fidget in front of her, and then she grabs her stomach.
“Oh.” I stand and motion for her to follow. “I was wondering when that was going to happen.”
“So, you know what I need?” Surprise is written all over her face. “Because when I said that to Dad, he just said he’d take me later.”
I lead her to my bedroom and shut the door behind us. “Has Cora talked to you about this yet?”
She shakes her head. “Just school, mostly, and a few of my friends who have started.”
I’m not really surprised. Cora’s been preoccupied with her own problems. Kellie’s at that age where girls start, but not all girls. Twelve or thirteen is the average age for most preteens. Her body was developing. She could no longer hide that behind a baggy shirt, which told me that her time was quickly approaching. Which is when I decided it would be a good idea to be prepared.
“Let me grab the bag.” Walking into my bathroom, I open the closet where I stored various choices for a young girl transitioning into womanhood.
Kellie is standing where I left her, her hands covering her face when I re-enter the room. Her shoulders shake as she cries. Hormone’s suck.
Dropping the bag on the bed, I approach her cautiously, my hand gently resting on her shoulder. The moment she leans into me, I pull her in for a hug. “First, welcome to womanhood.”
She tilts her head up at me and glares. “It sucks.”
That makes me laugh. “Not always but it can. Do you have cramps?”
“I thought it was something else. And Dad says I’m moody. Not sure how he noticed since he’s way moodier than me. Do men have periods, too? I mean, I know they don’t, but do they have a cycle or something like that?”
“Honey, if you ever figure that one out, then you’ll make millions.” I squeeze her tighter. “But no. They’re just moody.”
Kellie points at the bag. “So, what’s in there?”
I release her and walk over to the bed. “So much has changed since I was your age. Did you know they now have period underwear?”
The expression on Kellie’s face is so absurd that I can barely contain my laughter.
“Like you wear it and then wash it? Nothing else? That’s disgusting.”
“I don’t know, exactly. But I don’t think that’s how I’d use it. It would be my backup plan. What I’d use along with the others to keep my clothes from becoming soiled.” I pull out a pair and show her. “Or something I might wear on light days when the damn thing can’t decide what it wants to do.”
Holding them in her hand, Kellie examines them closely. “They feel heavier and like they might have a plastic layer in them. But not so bad. What else?”
“Pads of all sizes. Tampons, but you might not want to use those yet. They are for heavier days. Most start with pads and then, after they understand what to expect, they move on to tampons.”
Kellie stands next to me with her hands behind her back. “What do you use?”
I reach for a box and open it, pulling out a green cup. “I like this. It’s a cup.”
“You shove that inside you?” Her eyes grow large and she crosses her legs. “No. That has to hurt.”
“It doesn’t. But, again, it’s something you use once you’re more comfortable with your body. I’m not sure I’d have used one of these when I was eleven, either.”
“You stared your period at my age?”
I rest my hand on her shoulder. “I started mine at ten. Alicia was twelve. I hated her for getting two more years than me.”
“I’m gonna get boobs now, aren’t I?” A frown creases her face as her eyes fall to the two tiny rosebuds on her chest. “Why did I have to be born a girl?”
“Because being a girl is cool. Boys wouldn’t even exist without us.”
“That works both ways.” Kellie points out.
“True. But can you imagine your dad or the twins having to carry a baby inside of them for nine months?” She shakes her head, and I wink. “And let me tell you how amazing that is. Best time of my life was growing those two knuckleheads. I bet your mom felt the same about you and Mollie. Your Aunt Cora will feel the same about the little one she’s carrying. If you were born a boy, you wouldn’t be able to do that. And you wouldn’t get to have an excuse to eat chocolate once a month or blame your emotions on your hormones. You’d just have to suck it up and be grumpy.”
While I don’t think women should blame everything on their periods, the truth of the matter is they do factor in on how we feel. Mess with our hormones, making us feel drained, and force us to push through when all we want to do is curl up in a ball and disappear. It’s our super power, and I plan on helping this kid learn that even if her dad and I aren’t together.
She leaves my home with a full supply of what she needs. I told her to let me or her aunt know when she needs more. Going to her dad isn’t what she’s ready for yet, but I’m sure he’ll figure it out soon. Nolan is a smart man. He pays attention, and while he missed her cue today, once he figures it out, he won’t let it happen again.
Back on the couch, I try to relax but then my phone buzzes, and I discreetly look and try to stay calm.
NOLAN:
Thank you.
ME:
No problem.
NOLAN:
…
I fall asleep watching those three dots bounce around and wake up an hour later with them gone and no new message from him.
I’m not sure why it hurts. Okay, I know, but that doesn’t mean I’m ready to admit why. Call me stubborn.