Finally, they had a bridge that stretched from a candy-covered roof to one made of almond flour, the hardened crystal glistening like an ice sculpture that joined their two worlds.
“Perfect,” he said in a soft, low voice.
She looked up and her breath caught. He wasn’t looking at the bridge. He was looking right at her, right into her soul. For a moment, she froze and felt her knees grow a little weak.
“Thank you,” she managed.
He stepped back, blinking. “And I better look for some lights,” he said quickly.
“I have them,” Benny said, surprising Gracie, who had totally forgotten he was there.
“You do?” Marshall seemed just as surprised—like the two of them had been in their own little world.
“My great-grandpa found some LED lights with a special flash,” Benny said. “They match the human heart rate, so people…will…love…” He glanced around. “Where’d Olivia go?”
“I’m right here.”
Gracie turned at the tight note in Olivia’s voice as she came back into the kitchen, clutching her backpack to her chest.
“You okay, Bug?” Marshall asked, frowning, as he must have heard the same thing.
“Yeah, yeah, I, um…” She swallowed, looking deeply uncomfortable. “I need to talk to Miss Gracie alone.”
“Of course,” Gracie said, already setting down her whisk to lead her into the office. “Come on, sweetheart. We’ll be right back,” she called to Marshall and Benny.
“We’ll be making the windows glow,” Marshall said, trying to sound light but Gracie saw his gaze track his daughter as shecrossed the kitchen. Once again, she felt a wash of respect for how much he cared about this little girl.
Who definitely didn’t seem like herself.
Gracie ushered her into the office, half bracing for a conspirator’s grin, or some new scheme for her not-so-subtle matchmaking. Maybe Gracie should tell her to relax—her little setup was a success. At least on Gracie’s end it was.
But the minute her office door clicked softly behind them, Olivia’s face crumpled and all the confident sparkle slid off like frosting on still-warm cake.
“I think I—” The rest dissolved into a rush of tears. “I think I got my period.”
“Oh, honey,” Gracie said, every maternal instinct snapping into place. She took a step and pulled the girl into her arms. Every inch of Olivia’s long, lean body trembled, like a little scared deer. “You’re okay. You’re completely okay.”
“I know what’s happening,” Olivia groaned into her shoulder. “I read the book, and there were videos, and I even made a kit, and I understand the shedding of the uterine lining.”
Of course she did, Gracie thought, adding a squeeze so she didn’t laugh at something only eleven-year-old Olivia Hampton would say.
“That doesn’t make the first one any easier,” Gracie said.
“And I left everything I need at home because who knew when this would happen?”
“The worst possible time,” Gracie said wryly. “You can count on that.”
She gave a weak smile. “I didn’t want to tell Dad, and I thought about asking him to take me home but then I’d have to tell him and he’s…”
“Not a woman,” Gracie finished for her.
“I just…don’t have anything.”
“You have me,” Gracie said simply. “And my private bathroom. And my entire stash of emergency everything, because life happens.” She smoothed a braid over Olivia’s shoulder and walked her to the small powder room in the back. “Bottom shelf of the cabinet. Use whatever you need. Take your time.”
Olivia nodded, grateful eyes big. “Thank you.”
When the door clicked shut, Gracie stood with her hand flat on the bathroom door, feeling the weight of this moment.
