Fiona glanced in the first bedroom on the girls’
side—beds still unmade, she saw—then knocked on
the door to Erin and Willow’s room. “Willow, you in
there?”
“Yes.” The voice sounded small.
“I’d better feed the fire.” John passed her, his
shoulder brushing hers.
Even that minor, incidental physical contact made
her heart jump. Darn it, he was the sexiest man she’d
ever met, even with a scar and limp. And she must be
feeling a little more vulnerable than usual.
The kids. Think about the kids.
She took a deep breath. “Can I come in?”
“If you want,” Willow agreed.
Fiona pushed open the door. Willow lay on the bed,
curled on her side around a pillow she clutched to her
middle. Fiona sat on the edge of the bed.
“You okay, kiddo?”
Face wan, she nodded. “I have cramps.”
“Period starting?” Thank heavens for the tampons
John had produced yesterday.
“Not yet. But it must be.”
“Have you taken anything?”
She shook her head. “Do you have Midol?”
“No, but I bet I can find you some ibuprofen or
something.”
Her expression became anxious. “You won’t tell
anybody, though. Right?”
“That your period’s starting?” Fiona rose to her feet.
“Wouldn’t think of it. I’ll be right back.”
Going downstairs again, she reflected on how little
she knew this particular student, the youngest of her
Knowledge Champs kids. Fiona had never had her in
a class, and Willow had just joined the Knowledge
Champs team this fall. Fiona had been surprised, because of her shyness. Most of the students who chose Hi-Q, Knowledge Champs or Debate were extroverts,
noisy, funny and smart.
Willow had come faithfully to practices, but she rarely
joined in the clowning or in taunting the teacher. So far,
she was slow hitting the buzzer to answer, as much, Fiona
guessed, out of shyness as because she lacked knowledge.
Fiona thought she had been gaining a little confidence
lately. Willow had confided once that her braces would
be coming off in March, which should help.
Bypassing the rest of the kids, Fiona went straight
to the kitchen, where she found John sitting at the table
with a cup of coffee.
“Do you have some Tylenol or ibuprofen?”
He gave her a lightning quick assessment. “You okay?”
“It’s Willow. She isn’t feeling great.”
He nodded. “Cupboard to the right of the sink.”
There was an impressive array of medications and first-
aid products there, she discovered. Which made sense,
given how far the lodge was from doctors and hospitals.
“Thanks.” She took a couple of white pills and a
glass of water back upstairs.
Willow swallowed them gratefully. “I wish I didn’t get
cramps,” she mumbled, handing back the glass of water.
“It stinks, doesn’t it?” Fiona sat back down on the
bed. “Do you get heavy periods, too?”
The girl nodded unhappily.
“Seems to be hereditary. Your mom probably does,
too.”
“My mom’s dead.”
“Oh, no! I’m sorry. I didn’t realize.” The father had
signed the release, Fiona vaguely recalled. She didn’t
think she’d ever met him.
“It was a couple of years ago. She was in a car
accident.”
“Were you in the car with her?”
Head shake. “No, but my little brother was. He’s okay,
though. He just had a broken arm. And his collarbone, too.
Mom had on her seat belt and everything. But, um, this
car ran a red light. They said Mom didn’t have a chance.”
“Oh, honey. I’m so sorry.” Fiona gently squeezed
her shoulder.
Willow shrugged, mainly, it appeared, to hunch into
a tighter ball. “I really miss her.”
“I can only imagine. And it’s tough when you’re at
an age to need advice.”
“Daddy…I mean, my dad tries.”
“I bet he doesn’t know much about buying bras or
what you wear to prom, though, does he?”
A tiny smile flickered on her mouth. “Uh-uh. But
nobody’s asked me to prom anyway.”