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I danced until her taillights faded, then looked back toward my empty house and my smile dropped.
I sure hoped the kids got home soon. I didn’t think I could handle being alone in my house again.
“HEY, GUYS, I missed you,” I said to my kids as they walked inside the house. “Dinner’s in the oven.”
Lena walked past me and toward her room without a word, but Elin stopped to throw his arms around my waist, before heading to the food.
“How was everything?” I asked Eric, my ex, who was standing in the entryway.
He sighed.
My ex was a good-looking man. Lean and fit, with dark-blonde hair and a classically handsome face.
But right then, he looked exhausted.
“It was a rough one,” he admitted. “Elena got her period today. I would have called, but it happened not long before we were due to leave, so I figured I’d just tell you in person. She’s been a bit moody all weekend, but that’s not unusual lately, so Mary and I didn’t think anything of it. She went to Mary when it happened, not to me, which is understandable.”
I looked up at the empty stairwell where my daughter had been and felt a pang in my chest.
My little girl is becoming a woman.
“I wish they were five again,” I said softly.
“I know,” Eric agreed with a chuckle. “They were definitely easier then. It’s hard to know they’re growing up, and soon, won’t need us anymore.”
“Bite your tongue,” I told him, and gave him a small smile. “Thanks for letting me know, I’ll go talk to her.”
“Sure thing, have a good night,” he turned to go, then stopped, “And, Lila, if I don’t see you, have a great wedding, okay?”
“Thanks, Eric,” I said, and let him out.
I looked at the stairs again, went to my office and got out a box I had hidden away, and took it up to Elena’s room.
After two knocks, I opened it a crack and asked, “Can I come in?”
“Not like I can stop you,” Lena replied, and I took a calming breath before opening the door and stepping inside her room.
I shut the door behind me, then walked to her bed and sat next to her.
She was laying down, looking at her phone, but she must have clocked the box, because her gaze shifted to it.
“What’s that?” Elena asked.
“Open it,” I said, passing the box to her.
She opened it and took out the contents, laying them all out on the bed between us.
There were two pamphlets, one for her and one for me. A box of ultra-thin pads, a box of liners, a pack of Kleenex, two hair ties, face wash, lip balm, a bag of fruit chews, a small pi
nk travel bag, and a bracelet.
“I bought this for when you started your period. I’ve been saving it, even though I wanted to peek inside. Here,” I said, picking up her pamphlet and holding it out. “You read yours, and I’ll read mine.”
Lena nodded and took the brochure.
Mine talked about being open and sharing my experiences with her, answering any questions she may have, and making sure she knew I was there for her. Hers was a bit longer, with more information, so I waited patiently while she read it all.
When she was through, Lena closed the pamphlet and put it on her lap.
