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“Okay,” I said, exhaling. “Have you told Granny?”
“I can’t find her. I think she went shopping.”
Of course.
Sod’s law.
The moment I need my mother, she isn’t here.
What was I supposed to do? Ma wasn’t here, Mrs. Berry was still on leave helping her daughter, and Adelaide—
Adelaide!
I could get Adelaide. She would know. She was smart.
“Oly, come and sit down, sweetheart, and I’ll figure it out, all right? It’s nothing to worry about, I’m sure, but I’m not very good with this stuff.”
No shit.
I was panicking.
Panicking.
Once she’d sat down, I grabbed my phone and opened the messages.
ME: HELP ME NOW
I fired the S.O.S off to Adelaide at a record speed and prayed she was near her phone.
Please be near the phone.
I had no idea what to do.
ADELAIDE: What’s wrong?!
ME: Olympia says there’s red in her underwear
ADELAIDE: …
ADELAIDE: Is the underwear actually red?
ME: Hang on.
“Did you put on red undies today?”
Olympia shook her head. “White. With the cats that Granny bought me yesterday.”
ME: No. Apparently they’re white with cats that Ma bought this week.
ADELAIDE: Oh.
ADELAIDE: Naturally, they’re white. Of course they are. And new? New ones do it every time. Knickers, pyjamas, jeans… It’s like a bloody hormonal homing beacon.
ME: OH? OH? WHAT’S GOING ON
ADELAIDE: Oh, Alexander.
ME: ADELAIDE help me what’s wrong do I need to call a doctor???? Why is there red???? What’s happening???
ADELAIDE: I’m desperately trying not to laugh, I promise you.
ME: Why are you laughing????
ADELAIDE: There’s nothing wrong with Olympia.
ME: THEN WHY IS THERE RED IN HER UNDERWEAR
ADELAIDE: Alex, she’s started her period.
I froze. Olympia was only ten. Surely that was too young. That was for teenagers, wasn’t it? There was no way.
ME: No way. She’s only ten. She’s too young.
ADELAIDE: ‘Fraid not, your grace. I was ten when I started my period.
Oh, bollocks.
ME: What the fuck am I supposed to do now?
ADELAIDE: Have you sent her to the bathroom to change?
ME: I’m panicking.
ADELAIDE: Good God. Is your mum not here?
ME: NO IT’S JUST YOU AND ME HELP ME
ADELAIDE: Send her to her bathroom and I’ll help her. I’ll be right there.
ME: What do I do???
ADELAIDE: YOU DO AS I SAY ALEXANDER.
That made a great deal of sense.
Yes. Do as she said. She knew what she was talking about.
I evidently didn’t have a bloody clue.
“Okay, sweetie.” I put my phone in my pocket and took her hands. “Adelaide wants you to go to your bathroom and she’ll help you.”
“I’m scared, Papa.”
“I know, but she can explain this better than I can, all right? There’s nothing wrong, Oly. You don’t need to be scared. You’re completely fine. Let’s go upstairs, okay?” I clasped her little hand in mine and took her up to her room and then her bathroom.
“I don’t want to,” Olympia whispered. “Papa, what is it?”
Adelaide knocked her fist against the door and poked her head into the room. “Can I come in?”
Olympia whimpered and tucked in closer to me.
“Come in,” I said, looking towards the door.
Adelaide pushed the door open, tying her dark hair up into a bun on top of her head with a scrunchie. “Hey, Oly. Papa said there was something new. Do you want to talk to me about it?”
Olympia shied away and shook her head.
“I bet I can help.”
She shook her head again.
“Oh, okay.” Addy slowly nodded and sat on the end of Olympia’s bed. “I get it. It’s very scary right now, but would it help if I told you that I knew exactly what was happening to you right now?”
Olympia looked down, clutching my hand tighter. “Do you?”
“I do. It happens to me, too, and I was the same age as you when it happened for the first time. It’s really scary, isn’t it?”
She nodded.
“Especially when you have a silly billy for a daddy.”
That was rude.
But Oly smiled, so…
“He’s very silly,” she whispered.
“Shh, he’ll hear you!” Adelaide grinned, glancing up at me for a second. “I know you’re very scared right now, but what’s happening is very natural and normal, and you will feel better if I can help make you more comfortable. Do you think you can let me help you, honey?”
Olympia hesitated for a moment before she nodded.
“Brilliant.” Adelaide pulled two green squares from her pocket. “This will help for our conversation, but it might be better if Daddy leaves for a moment while I show you about this, okay? It’s quite private.”
Olympia looked up at me with her eyes wide.
“It’s all right,” I promised her, kneeling down. “Addy can do this so much better than I can. Are you okay for me to go? I’ll be right outside the door, and I’ll come in if you need me. All you have to do is shout.”
She stared at me for a moment before she nodded. I kissed her forehead and let go of her hands, walking back towards the door. Adelaide stood up and crossed to Oly, and I stared at her in a way I hoped would convey my gratitude for what she was doing right now.
