Julie was lying on the examining table, fully dressed. She had an arm over her eyes.

Paige removed the arm. "How do you feel?"

Julie shot an uneasy glance at Noah, who stood by the door. "I'm okay.

I just passed out."

"People don't just' pass out. There's always a reason for it." She felt Julie's forehead, but it was comfortably cool. She found the pulse at her wrist. ill understand this isn't the first time it's happened." "I was just dizzy the other times."

"There's always a reason for dizziness, too.

And for morning sickness." ill said I was sick a few mornings ago,"

Julie grumbled. "I didn't say I had morning sickness."

Her pulse was fine. "When was your last period?"

Julie darted another glance at Noah. "Does he have to be in here?"

"The answer," Noah said, "concerns me and this school " Julie gave a high laugh. "Like you were the one who did it?"

Paige caught Noah's eye and motioned toward the waiting room. "We won't be a minute." Noah looked disgusted, but he left. Paige turned back to Julie. "Last period?"

Julie rolled her eyes. "How am I supposed to know? I don't keep track on a calendar."

Paige remained patient. "Was it within the last week?"

"No." . _..

"Within the last two weeks?"

"No."

"Within the last month?"

Julie was slower in answering and then begrudging "No "Within the last two months?"

The look Julie gave her was answer enough.

"Ok-ay," Paige said, helping her sit up. "I think we'll take a ride to my office. I can examine you there."

"I'm all right. Really."

Paige looked her in the eye. "Are you on the pill?"

"Where would I get birth control? My dad would kill me if he ever got a bill for it."

Which pretty much ruled out a diaphragm, too.

"Are you sexually active?"

Julie squirmed. "That's an embarrassing question."

"Not for an attractive and often provocative young woman. Let me rephrase it. Are you a virgin?"

"Have you been with a man within the last three months?"

"I don't keep score."

"Julie."

She looked away. "Yes, not that it concerns you any."

"It concerns me a lot," Paige said, helping her off the table. "It concerns me because, while I don't approve of sexual activity among girls your age, even more I don't approve of unsafe sex. You can get birth control without sending a bill to your father. You can get it at my office, or at any clinic. And you can refuse to have sex with a guy unless he's willing to use something."

"Well, if he doesn't happen to have it with him what do I say?"

"You say no." It was as simple as that, but so difficult for teenagers to do. Paige sighed. "I care about you, Julie. I don't want you to be pregnant, but if you are, the sooner you know, the greater your options will be."

Paige drove Julie in her car. Noah followed in his. It wasn't long before the three of them were sitting in Paige's office, with Paige fighting an odd sense of deja vu. Such a short time ago, it seemed, she was sitting with Jill. Now here was Julie, from a privileged home and in a privileged school, so different from Jill, yet so similar.

"First off, we have to call your father," Noah said. "Any decision you reach has to involve him."

"No, it doesn't. I'm eighteen."

"But you're a student at my school, for which your father pays the tuition. You were in our care when this happened. It's my obligation to tell him."

"He's right," Paige told Julie. "How you and your father decide to handle it from there is your choice but as Head of Mount Court, Mr.

Perrine has to call."

"He'll want to know who the father is," Noah said.

So did Paige. Someone hadn't used a condom.

That person had been as shortsighted as Julie.

Whoever it was ought to be with her when she faced her father.

Julie sat back on the sofa, crossed one knee over the other, and smoothed tight jeans over long, slender thighs.

"Julie?" Paige prompted.

Julie eyed her mutinously. "I thought you were on my side."

"I am. That's why I want to know. You didn't do this alone. You shouldn't have to be alone in handling it."

Julie said nothing.

Noah leaned forward. he said, "Look.