There’s no reply. I enter the room and close the door behind me. She’s opening and closing drawers.
I find pads under the sink, take out a couple and show her where they are kept.
"I think I started my period."
"Looks like it."
I run a warm bath.
"I was on the school bus! Everyone saw the blood on my jeans.”
She starts crying.
I sit on the edge of the tub and pull her into a hug. "Oh sweetheart, I know it feels horrible right now. Want to hear about my first period?"
She nods against my shoulder.
"I was at my cousin's quinceañera. Wearing a white dress." I feel her tense up. "Yep. White. I started bleeding in the middle of the party and didn't realize it until my aunt pulled me aside. I was so mortified I hid in the bathroom for an hour."
Mel pulls back, eyes red but curious. "Really?"
"Really. It was awful. But you know what? Everyone survives their first period disaster story. It's like a rite of passage."
That gets a watery laugh out of her. "Mine is pretty bad."
“There’s only one stop after our ranch. Only your friend Sarah and Mr. Tom would have been on the bus.”
“But Mr. Tom is a man. He probably saw my jeans. And the seat had red patches when I stood up. Sarah saw and told me. That’s how I knew. Mr. Tom will see the patches when he takes the bus back.”
“He has a wife and granddaughters. He won’t tell anyone. Besides, he’s been driving the school bus for decades, so there’s probably nothing that would shock him.”
Mel nods and gets in the bath.
"You're going to be okay." I squeeze her hands. "You're becoming a woman. That's something to celebrate, even if the timing sucks. Do you know what to expect?"
“We learned it at school. Also, Dad tried to talk to me about it, but it was embarrassing, so I told him I already knew. He bought pads and told me where they were, but I guess I was too worked up to remember. We can get them at school too.”
I make her laugh with embarrassing period stories, and by the time the bath water is cooling, she's calmer.
"Thank you," she whispers. "It’s getting harder to talk to Dad about stuff like this. I don't know what I would have done if you weren't here."
My throat tightens. "I'm glad I was."
I hear the front door open downstairs. Chance is back.
"Why don't you get into comfortable clothes and rest?" I suggest. "I'll handle dinner and talk to your dad."
Mel nods.
I head downstairs and find Chance in the kitchen, washing his hands at the sink. He looks exhausted, his shoulders tight with stress.
"Where's Mel?" he asks.
"Upstairs." I move closer, lower my voice. "She started her period on the way back from school. She came home upset."
Chance rushes towards the stairs then freezes. "Is she okay?"
"She's fine. She panicked at the thought of everyone at school laughing at her, but only Mr. Tom and Sarah saw it. "I touch his arm gently, feel the muscle jump under my palm. "I explained they’re not the type to spread this and told her my embarrassing story with my first period. She had a bath and went to lie down."
