“I’m sure you can find rides to all your appointments.” Sharon blazed right by the fact that normal people would rely on their parents for that, and with the way she made the statement, Bridget was pretty sure that she and Edward weren’t going to be an option. Even though it could potentially give them more control over her life.

  “Right, I probably can,” Bridget answered. “But I think I’ll stay here until after the wedding.”

  Emphasizing the last word brought a thrill of joy to her that she couldn’t resist. She’d forgotten how fun it could be to poke at her parents’ conservative and bigoted nature some days. Sharon bristled, sitting up straight as she drank her coffee and said nothing in response.

  “The wedding should be beautiful,” Bridget continued. “I’ve been helping make the favors and helping wherever else I can, being so confined to the house, that is. Eli and Sarah have been doing most of the heavy lifting.”

  Sharon set her mug down heavily on the table, clenching her jaw so tightly Bridget worried she was going to bust a tooth. Edward stared at her with wide eyes as if he had no idea where the conversation was going.

  Bridget lifted her chin as if she was staring down at them, daring them to say something in front of Karen. She probably shouldn’t try to get too much of a rise out of them, but still, it was so easy to poke at them.

  “Were you invited?” Bridget asked, waiting for an answer.

  “That’s a rude question to ask,” Sharon responded.

  “So that would be a no,” Bridget surmised. “Doesn’t surprise me too much, I guess. I was surprised to find my own invitation locked away in my mailbox and to have it reiterated when I arrived here, but I’m quite looking forward to attending my first lesbian wedding.”

  “It’s just not right,” Sharon murmured, risking a glance to Karen.

  Karen cocked her head to the side. “I’ll not have you saying that in this house. This is where my daughter lives, with her partner and soon-to-be wife. If you want to disrespect them at your house, feel free. You won’t do it here.”

  Sharon’s lips thinned so much they were barely noticeable. “I won’t stay quiet about it.”

  “Then you can kindly leave, but I have a feeling Bridget had something she wanted to tell you.” Karen sat back, crossing her arms and giving Bridget a firm look.

  “I…” Bridget trailed off, flicking her gaze from Karen to her parents. “I did. You know, I did want to say something. I tried to say it last time you were here and gave up, because you two just don’t seem to listen to me.”

  “We do not—”

  Karen interrupted. “Sharon, in order to listen, you have to shut up.”

  Bridget gaped at her. She’d never have that kind of courage. At Karen’s nod, Bridget decided she had to continue. “Right, so um…I thought I should tell you before it happens that at my first lesbian wedding I plan on bringing my girlfriend with me. You haven’t met her, which is perfectly fine by me, but she’s going to be there, and anyone in town will know that I have a girlfriend, because I’m not hiding it anymore.”

  Sharon paled. Edward looked like he was going to blow a gasket, but neither of them said anything.

  Karen leaned in, opening her body language to each of them. “I know this isn’t easy for you to understand or believe or love through, but I want to encourage you both to do just that. Bridget is an amazing young woman, and I have watched her grow and learn through these years. She’s really come into her own these last few years, and she needs support and love right now. If you start yelling or saying things that are unkind, I’ll remove you from this house. Do you understand?”

  They both looked at her like she had ten heads. Bridget clenched her jaw, her stomach swirling with fear. She’d done it. She’d said the words she’d been trying to say for ages, the ones she had hidden for even longer, and she didn’t feel any different than before. She’d known how they would react, that it wouldn’t be good, but it was probably better this way than the alternative.

  Bridget sent a worried glance to Karen, trying to figure out what the hell she was supposed to say and do next, but Karen shook her head minutely, instructing Bridget to stay quiet for now.

  “I have met Bridget’s girlfriend. She’s an amazing and lovely woman. She’s a nurse and has a huge heart for helping others. I think you’d like her if you can ever get past your biases to meet her.”

  Sharon shook her head vehemently. “I won’t. It’s against God to do this.”

  “You can leave. Now.” Karen dropped her tone and made it forceful enough that Bridget had to do a double check. “I’m serious, Sharon. You’re not welcome in this house if you cannot at the very least be respectful of the conversation.”

  “There’s no conversation to be had.” Sharon leaned forward and pointed a finger at Bridget. “It’s disgusting. It’s dirty. It’s just not right.”

  “You can leave now.” Karen stood up, leaning over the table with her full palm on it. Sharon wrinkled her nose but stood up, grabbing her purse and walking out of the house with a slam of the door. Karen turned on Edward. “And is there anything you would like to tell your daughter before you leave as well?”

  Edward flicked his gaze to Karen before settling it on Bridget. He frowned, and Bridget’s stomach did odd things as she tried to read him, but she’d never been able to do it before. She’d never understood what went on behind those eyes. He nodded gently, his chin bobbing up and down as he remained in silence, the air in the dining room so tense Bridget was sure it could cut. It was cutting. The more she thought about her mother’s words, the more defeated and broken she felt.

  Tears welled in her eyes, and as much as she wanted to look away from him, hide again, she couldn’t move her gaze. Edward finally leaned in, his hand reaching out to her though he didn’t touch. No, her father was never one for physical affection. This was the most she had ever gotten from him.

  “I do love you, Bridget.”

  She shattered. Tears dropped down her cheeks, her head pounding as she cried, as snot welled in her nose and her lips moved into a grimace as she tried to hold everything in and failed miserably.

  “I’m not sure I can love you through this, not right now. But I want to.” He gave her another hard stare. “I can’t say I didn’t know. You and Eli? I knew. I didn’t want to admit it. But now I don’t have a choice, do I? I have to decide how to love you now.”

  Without another word, he stood up and walked out of the house. He didn’t slam the door, and there was an odd sense of calm that he left in his wake. Bridget was so thrown off by it, by him. She’d never expected him to say that. As soon as the car was on the road and away from the house, Bridget stared at Karen.

  “What the fuck does that mean?”

  “I think it means he’s torn, and even though he had some warning on it, he didn’t figure it out before and he’s not sure he can figure it out now. My best advice to you, Bridget, is to be patient and set expectations very low—or better yet, have none.”

  “Right.”

  Eli stepped into the kitchen. She stopped as soon as she saw the two of them, raising an eyebrow at both. “What the hell happened in here?”

  Bridget wiped her eyes, trying to cover up that she’d been crying. She’d done way too much of that lately. She had to figure out a way to stop it. Karen took Bridget’s hand and squeezed it. “How many more chores do you have to do?”

  “I have to go fix a fence. Buddy decided he wanted to check out Bill’s milo to snack on.”

  Karen gave a small smile. “Take Bridget with you.”

  “I can’t help fix a fence,” Bridget answered, her voice still thick with mucous and tears.

  “You can spend time out of this house, in the sun, and with your best friend. And I’m not giving you an option. Eli, bring the truck up here so it’s easier for her to get in.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” Eli filled her travel mug of coffee and left out the back door again.

  Bridget looked Karen straight in the eye, worrying her lip. “I don’t know how I would have done that without you.”

  “I imagine it would not have gone well.”

  “I’ve tried, you know, to tell them before now. Years ago, and even more recently, but I could never get the words out.”

  Karen’s lips curled upward. “I had a feeling based on what you were saying that you might have been ready to tell them and get it over with.”

  “Rip the Band-Aid off?”

  “Yeah. I don’t imagine you’re going to hear from them any time soon, but know this, Bridget. You are always welcome in my house and in my family. I’ve always thought of you as a daughter of my heart.”

  Bridget’s nose stung as tears welled back up in her eyes. She shook her head, but then she gave in. Leaning forward, she wrapped her arms around Karen’s shoulders and buried her face in Karen’s neck as they embraced. She hadn’t ever felt love before she came here, not true open love without expectations and walls that couldn’t be moved or broken down.

  This was so different, and she had treasured it from the start. Dragging in a breath, Bridget cleared her throat and pulled away. “Thank you.”

  “I mean it.”

  “I know.” Bridget saw Eli pull up out front with the old truck she used only on the farm. She grabbed her crutches and stood up, stretching what muscles she could. As she maneuvered her way outside and down the porch steps, she shook her head at Eli. “Ask and I’ll kill you.”

  Eli threw her hands up. “Duly noted.”

  As soon as they were in the truck and taking the uneven path out to the lower fields, Bridget sighed heavily and pinched her nose as pain worked its way into her head again. “I told them.”

  “Told who what?”

  “My parents.”

  “I thought I saw their car.” Eli couldn’t lie for shit. Bridget knew she was aware of exactly what had happened in that dining room, and that Karen had been in there so she didn’t have to be. Bridget hadn’t realized just how much the Wilson family had always protected her and had her back. “Were they asses again?”

  “When are they not?” Bridget leaned back into the seat. “I told them I was going to your wedding.”

  “Which, I hope, naturally led to other topics of conversation.”

  “Some.” Bridget nodded. “Dad said he loved me, but he wasn’t sure how he could love me through this.”

  “That’s probably quite an honest answer. I imagine you’ve overturned a lot of their world today.”

  “Maybe,” Bridget muttered. “But he knew before today.”

  “He may have known, but he probably didn’t have to face it. Your parents are really good at avoiding life.”

  Snorting, Bridget nodded. “That’s true.”

  “They are also pretty toxic.”

  Bridget wanted to object and say something different, but she couldn’t disagree with it. She’d known it, somewhere in her head, even if she hadn’t wanted to admit it. In some ways, she was so like her father, she supposed. Sighing, Bridget agreed. “They are.”

  “Sometimes the only way to deal with toxic people is to cut them out completely, but that’s hard to do.”

  “It is.”

  “Other times, you can set some pretty firm boundaries, which I think you’ve actually been doing lately.”

  “Really?”

  “Yeah.” Eli drew her brow together as she turned to look Bridget in the eye. “You kicked them out of the hospital room, not once but multiple times. You refused to go stay with them even though they insisted, multiple times. You have withstood conversations with them, made your point and stuck to it. You’re really coming into your own, Bridge. I love it.”

  Bridget’s heart warmed. “I guess you’re right.”

  “I know I’m right. I got to witness it.”

  “How the hell do I deal with them living in such a small town, though? I can’t avoid them forever.”

  “I imagine you won’t be the only one avoiding. Not after today at least.”

  “True.” Bridget stared out at the cattle grazing in front of her. “Is Buddy going to try to eat me again?”

  “Eat you? He never tried to eat you. He just wanted to join in on your little date.”

  Bridget slid Eli an unamused look. “That was not funny.”

  “It was hilarious. It’ll be hilarious when you and Jerica are married and I get to roast you at your wedding.”

  “Jesus, we’re not getting married.”

  “Not yet.” Eli put the truck into neutral and turned the engine off. She jumped out and went to the bed of the truck.

  Bridget sighed and got out more slowly. Instead of helping to fix the fence, she grabbed a spot on the tailgate and hung her legs over the side. Karen had been right. Being out in the fields would help her soul that day. She needed the sun and the air to clear her head—and perhaps some time with her best friend.

  “Are you going to help or not?” Eli came back, her hands on her hips as she gave Bridget a mock glare.

  “I can help by being a construction supervisor.” Bridget cocked her head. “You know, all talk, no doing anything.”

  Eli bust out laughing. “I guess you can’t really drag quick set over here, can you?”

  “Uh…no. You’re lucky I can manage to walk on this rough terrain and not fall on my face.”

  “Guess you’re getting pretty proficient with those things, aren’t you?”

  “I am, thank you.”

  “Maybe you should go home.” Eli raised an eyebrow, but the look and tone didn’t tell Bridget she was pushing to get rid of her, rather giving her the option. The thought of going home and staying by herself was, for the first time since she’d been there, absolutely unappealing. She liked being surrounded by them all.

  “Maybe I should,” Bridget muttered. “Maybe I should give it until I’m cleared by the doc.”

  “Wiser choice on that one.” Eli grabbed the wire she’d need to replace. “I don’t mind you being here. You know that, right?”

  “I do.” Bridget smiled, for the first time really feeling settled as though she belonged somewhere. She’d missed that feeling growing up, and even though she lived in the same place she’d been born, she’d never felt at home until now.

  CHAPTER 17

  Bridget sat at the kitchen table, waiting on Eli. She’d already agreed to drive her to town under the guise of getting some things and she was just going to leave her at Jerica’s for a few days. Bridget fucking hated not being able to drive. That was probably the worst part of the entire experience. Well, that and the nightmares she seemed to be having almost every night lately.

  They were only getting worse, not better, but at least when she woke up in the middle of them, she’d been able to get herself under control—though she never quite fell back asleep. Rolling her shoulders, she sipped her coffee and waited. Eli had to finish her morning chores, and then they could be off.

  It took another hour, and Karen had insisted on making breakfast, and then insisted Bridget eat it. Just as Eli was finishing hers as rapidly as possible, Bridget grabbed the small bag she’d packed and started toward the front door.

  “Umm…excuse me.” Karen’s voice was firm and loud. “Where are you going with that?”

  “Uh…” Bridget paled. What the fuck was she supposed to say to that? She was thirty years old, and she’d never told a parental figure she was going to spend the night with her girlfriend so they could essentially have sex, sex, and more sex.

  “Relax, Mom. She’s going to Jerica’s. She’ll be fine. Jerica is a nurse, remember?”

  Karen narrowed her gaze and folded her hands together. Bridget swallowed hard, pretty sure she was about to get a lecture. “You know the dos and don’ts of safe sex.”

  “Mom!”

  Cold washed through Bridget as embarrassment hit her hard.

  “Trust me, Bridget understands how to have safe sex.” Eli put a hand on Bridget’s shoulders and prompted her to move forward and toward the door. “And she definitely doesn’t need that talk from you.”

  As soon as they were outside, Eli shuddered.

  “That was…unexpected.”

  “Sure, somewhat. She thinks you’re her kid now, so you get all the shit I had to deal with.”

  “She gave you a safe sex talk?”

  “No, I lied and told her Azalea did that when I came out to her, and that we’d talked about it so I could get out of that conversation with my mom, but I was also like seventeen, not thirty.” Shuddering again, Eli grabbed Bridget’s bag and headed for the truck.

  As they pulled onto the highway, Bridget stared at the fields and the muscles in her chest tightened. She had been thinking about it a lot lately, and Eli had promised at one point, but never made good on that promise as of yet. It took until they were a mile out from town before Bridget got up the courage to ask.

  “Will you take me to my cruiser?”

  Eli’s knuckles whitened on the steering wheel. “Today?”

  “Yeah. You said you would, and I’d still like to see it.”

  Sighing, Eli stared out the front windshield and said nothing for at least three minutes—well, it felt like that. “What do you want to get out of it?”

  “Closure, I guess. I want to see how bad it really was.”

  “It was bad, Bridge. I can tell you that. You were in ICU for days and they had to shock you back to life. I don’t think there’s any denying how close to death you came.”

  “But I don’t remember any of it,” Bridget whispered. “I just want to see what happened.”

  “Fine,” Eli answered tersely. “But for the record, I don’t think this is a good idea.”

  Bridget nodded her understanding but kept her face as blank as possible. She moved her gaze to match Eli’s and waited to see the cruiser. It had been her favorite cruiser, and hers for at least three years—though she’d been needing a new one anyway. She hadn’t put in the work order for it, but the office had told her they’d done that in her absence, so by the time she got back to work she’d have a new cruiser ready and waiting.