Page 19 of No Greater Love
Nothing serious. She's OK. I've got this. We’ll talk when you get here.
Crawford
Thank you. ETA 7pm at earliest. Emergency contact list on fridge if you need to leave.
Roger that, Captain. Go save lives.
I found Paige in the kitchen, rummaging through a drawer. "Dad keeps the ibuprofen in here somewhere..."
"Let me help you get settled first. Go change into something comfortable. And take these," I added, handing her the Walgreens bag. "Bathroom first, then comfy clothes."
While she was changing, I explored the kitchen, looking for supplies... The pantry was organized with military precision—canned goods in perfect rows, cereal boxes aligned by height. I found chamomile tea, which my mom always made for cramps, and put the kettle on.
In a drawer near the stove, I discovered a folder labeled "PAIGE - MEDICAL." Curiosity got the better of me. Inside, behind the standard medical forms and immunization records, was a section labeled "Puberty."
What I found inside nearly made me choke.
Nathan Crawford had created what could only be described as the world's most comprehensive period preparation guide. Color-coded diagrams of different menstrual products. Flow charts about hormonal changes. A literal timeline prediction based on the average age of menarche for girls of Paige's demographics. Notes on potential emotional changes. A shopping list with specific brands recommended by "online parenting forums for single fathers." And two articles he’d taken a highlighter to, one from WIRED titled "Aunt Flo Doesn't Have to Suck (That Much)" and another fromThe New York Timestitled "The Best Period Kit is the One You Make Yourself."
"Oh my God, Nate," I whispered, torn between laughter and an unexpected wave of tenderness. "Jesus."
The most touching part was a handwritten note on hospital stationery:
Questions Paige might be too embarrassed to ask (per r/AskReddit)
- Will everyone know? (No, but it might feel that way)
- Does it mean something's wrong if it starts earlier/later than friends? (No)
- Is it normal to feel emotional? (Yes)
- Will it hurt? (Sometimes - heating pad, ibuprofen)
The man had thought of everything, consulted everyone from Reddit toThe New York Times, but forgot the most basic reality: that a preteen girl might take the emergency kit out of her backpack.
Crawford, I thought, shaking my head,you brilliant, overthinking dork. You are trying so hard to be both mom and dad, and doing an amazing job, but some things just need a woman's touch.
"That's Dad's period bible."
I jumped, quickly closing the folder. Paige stood in the doorway in sweatpants and an oversized t-shirt with a NASA logo.
"Sorry, I was looking for ibuprofen."
"It's okay." She sat at the kitchen table. "Dad made that when I was ten. He stayed up three nights in a row working on it."
The kettle whistled, giving me a moment to compose myself. "Your dad is very... thorough."
"He says proper preparation prevents poor performance. It's his favorite saying."
I poured her tea and found the ibuprofen in a different drawer, neatly labeled "Pain Relief - NSAID." Of course.
"How are you feeling now?"
She shrugged. "Okay, I guess. Dad told me all about periods. The hormones and stuff. He even told me about cervical mucus changes."
I nearly spat out my tea. "’Cervical mucus’!? Oh,honey."
"Is that... not normal?"
