Page 85 of Before You Can Blink
Now,thatsounded like an excellent idea. “Yep! I’m on it. Sit tight.”
Rushing down the stairs and into the kitchen, I grabbed the phone and began to dial the number that would connect me with Rose.
Tripp craned his neck. “What’s going on?”
“Don’t worry about it,” I snapped.
“Hello?” The feminine voice sounded like salvation.
I tugged on the back of my neck. “Hey, Rose. We’ve kinda got a situation over here and was hoping you might be able to help us out.”
“Sure. What can I do for you this evening, Jett?”
“Uh, you see . . . Aspen kinda started . . .” Damn, this was almost more awkward than talking about it with the thirteen-year-old upstairs. “To tell you the truth, Rose, it’s that time of the month and I’m at a loss.”
Rose hummed knowingly. “I’m assumin’ it’s her first time?”
“That’s the impression I’m getting. She’s locked herself in the bathroom, and asked if I could call you since Daisy’s not due home for hours.”
“Of course. Bex and I will be right over.”
“Appreciate it.”
“Don’t mention it. See you soon.”
We hung up, and I breathed a sigh of relief. I’d never been more grateful for good friends who treated your kids like their own.
The light was flipped on inside the kitchen, and I squinted against the sudden brightness.
“Jett?” My wife’s confused voice reached my ears. “What are you doing sitting here in the dark when you should already be in bed?”
My hair was no doubt a tousled mess from the countless times I’d run my fingers through the short strands, but still the digits twitched, eager to do it again.
Inhaling through my nose, I released the breath through my mouth. “Aspen. She’s a woman now.” I’d known my baby girl was growing up for a while, but today really drove that point home.
Footsteps sounded as Daisy moved further into the room. “Wasn’t she always?”
Wishing with all my might I could turn back the clock and go back to the simpler days when her tiny body was small enough to fit in both my hands, I shook my head. “Not the kind that can make babies of her own.”
“Oh.” The word was said softly as understanding dawned.
After a beat of silence, giggles sounded, and my head snapped up.
“Not sure what’s so funny,” I snapped, my irritation leaking through.
“Sorry.” Daisy brought a hand to her mouth. “I shouldn’t laugh. It’s just, I can’t imagine it was easy for you to be the one here to handle it.”
“That’s putting it mildly.” A shudder ran through me at the memory of my daughter asking exactly what she was supposed to do with those tampons.
“Oh, honey. I’m sure you did the best you could.” Wrapping her arms around me from behind, Daisy pressed a kiss to my cheek. “But I should probably go up and check on her to make sure you didn’t do any permanent psychological damage.”
When she began to pull away, I said, “She’s over at Rose’s, having a sleepover with Bex.”
“Ah. Called in reinforcements. Smart.” My wife dropped onto the chair opposite mine.
I shrugged. “Can’t take all the credit. It was Aspen’s idea once she realized I was in over my fucking head.”
“Either way, I’m glad she had someone there for her when I couldn’t be.” She let out a heavy sigh, betraying that the time spent away from the kids was weighing on her.
