Page 54 of Cognac Secrets

“There’s a few options in there, tell her not to judge but honestly for overnight and not having to worry about it, the period panties arethe best.”

“Period what?” I asked, and felt my eyes go wide.

“Panties,” Hex said grinning.

“It’s a diaper,” Cor said rolling her eyes. “Just rebranded as ‘period panties’ to make it more palatable. Seriously, though – they’re awesome.”

“I’ll take your word for it,” I said grinning. “Any other sage advice?”

“There’s Midol for the cramps and an electric heating pad in there, too,” she said. “Keep her warm and good cuddles?” she shrugged. “I’d have thrown chocolate in there if I had any but I don’t.”

“K, thanks you guys. Sorry to bother you.”

“It’s no bother!” Hex cried. “Get on back over there and I’ll holler at you later.”

“Bet,” I said with a nod and I turned and opened the door, darting back out into the wind and rain.

I hot footed it back over to my place and found Sandrine right where I’d left her, crying and miserable on the porcelain throne.

“Hey, baby. I’m back.” I said. “Cor sent me with a whole pile of shit to help you out.”

“Thank you,” she said miserably, voice unsteady with her tears.

“It’s okay, I’ve got you,” I said genially.

I rooted through the bag and got her a pair of pills out of the over-the-counter pink-and-yellow labeled white bottle.

“Cramps bad?” I asked and she nodded.

I filled the glass by the sink half way with water and handed that over too.

She took the pills and swallowed them down with a big gulp of water and handed me the glass back.

I grabbed the pull-up diaper out of the bag and said, “Cor said this was best for overnight. You ready for them or you need to clean up a bit more?”

She was red with absolute embarrassment and wouldn’t look at me, keeping her head down. I went around and to my knees in front of her and put my hands on hers. She had her hands balled into fists and pressed to the tops of her thighs and I ducked a bit to get a look at her face. It was contorted with worry and sorrow, her eyes squeezed shut and tears trembling on her lashes.

“Hey,” I said softly. “Hey, hey, hey.” I reached up and pulled her against me and just held her and felt bad that I was so clammy from my stint out in the rain.

“What’s wrong, baby?” she broke down but wouldn’t speak and I couldn’t even begin to guess what was up – this whole thing was so confusing, but I’d get her through it and when she was ready, we could talk about it.

“Okay, come on,” I said after a bit. “Let’s get you back to bed and warm.”

She nodded, but wouldn’t say anything. I held open the padded disposable underwear and she kept her knees stubbornly together as I swept them up her shapely legs. She gripped them and I said, “Okay, you’ve got it. I’m going to go turn down the bed and get this heating pad plugged in for you. You just come on out when you’re ready. Okay?”

“Why are you being so nice to me?” she blurted as I reached the door to the bedroom. I stopped and turned and frowned at the question.

“It’s just your period, babe. It happens every month – why wouldn’t I be?”

“It’s just—” She stopped, sighed, and finally rushed out, “No one has ever been this kind when it comes to the march of the red menace.”

I snorted and tried to bite off a laugh.

“March of the red menace, I’ve never heard that one. That was a good one.”

She smiled a bit faintly then and I said, “Listen, just get yourself situated and come to bed.” I gripped the grocery sack a little harder and the plastic rustled. “All this can be talked about or sorted in the light of day, baby.”

“I’m sorry I’m so pathetic,” she whimpered and I shook my head.

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