Snowbound - Harlequin.com

70 SNOWBOUND
“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?”