Cupcake Explosion (Cupcakes 4)

“I had to talk to Mary,” she said quietly.

“I know.”

“It was so embarrassing.”

“You have nothing to be embarrassed about. Mary has gone through what you’re going through, just like me and every other girl in the world. It’s perfectly normal, and I’m sure you were surprised and maybe a little worried when it happened.”

Lena shrugged.

“I know about it from school and my friends and stuff. I just didn’t want Mary to tell Dad.”

“Lena, your dad has been married and lives with Mary, he knows what to expect. Don’t worry about your father. He’s here for you, too.”

She nodded, but didn’t say anything else, so I asked, “Do you have any questions for me?”

She shook her head.

“Okay,” I said, remembering that I didn’t want to talk to my mom about my period either, or anyone else for that matter. “Well, do you want to go have dinner? Maybe watch a movie and eat popcorn and M&M’s?”

Lena cracked a small smile and said, “Okay. Just let me change into my pajamas.”

“Sounds like a good idea. I’ll go change, too. Is it okay if I invite Elin?” I asked.

“Sure,” she replied, then looked up at me and said, “And, Mom, thanks for this.”

“You’re welcome, sweetie,” I said with a grin.

I left her alone to handle her business and went to go get changed.

When I got downstairs, Elin was putting some work in on the lasagna I’d popped in the oven.

“Hey,” I said as I walked in, “Leave some for me and your sister.”

He snorted out a laugh, but kept shoveling the food in.

“We’re going to watch a movie, you want to join us? I’ll make popcorn.”

“Sure,” Elin said, then asked, “What time do Tutu, Pops, and Alani get here? Is Cade going to be here to pick them up?”

My throat threatened to close, but I pulled it together and replied, “No, honey, Cade will still be away for work, but you can come with me to pick them up.”

“Awesome,” my son said, and I was thankful for his easy acceptance of my reply.

“ALOHA, KEIKI!” I heard Cade’s mom call, and turned from looking right, to where Cade’s family was heading toward us from the left.

Elin and Elena were already running to them, Elin heading for Cade’s mom, and Lena going for Pops. By the time I made it to them, they were hugging each other and passing the twins to each other.

I walked to Alani and embraced her.

“How was your trip?” I asked, pulling back to look down at her.

She was as beautiful as ever. Maybe even more so.

“Not too bad,” Alani replied, then rolled her eyes toward her parents and said, “Although Pops was snoring, loudly, and Mama kept asking for more pretzels.”

“They only give you those tiny little bags,” Cade’s mom complained. “No real food anymore. What good will four pretzels do?’

Alani grimaced and said, “See!”