“Mind if I join you?”
Bridget’s eyes snapped open and she stared into the deep hazel of Jerica’s gaze. “What are you doing here?”
“Didn’t you hear me pull up?”
“No. There’s so much going on right now.”
Jerica smiled. “Mind if I sit?”
“Sure!” Bridget scooted over so Jerica would have room, but Jerica insisted on sitting so their bodies touched. Reaching out, Bridget covered Jerica’s knee with her hand. “What are you doing here?”
“I needed a day off, so I switched shifts.”
Bridget couldn’t help but smile. “How’s your sister?”
“Surviving. Day by day, I think. She’ll work through it again until this time next year. It seems to be that way.”
Nodding, Bridget squeezed her hand. “That’s usually how it goes with things like this.”
“Yeah.” Jerica stared down at the deck. “But I wanted to see you.”
“I’m glad you came.” Bridget reached forward and touched Jerica’s chin to raise her gaze so their eyes met. “I’ve been thinking about you.”
“Have you?”
“Yeah.” Bridget smiled as she leaned in, their lips brushing tenderly. She pulled away, but at Jerica’s contented sigh, she moved right back in for another kiss. With their lips locked, everything going on around them disappeared and became about Jerica.
Bridget loved when it happened like this. She shuddered as she drew Jerica in for a deeper embrace, their tongues sweeping together as they drew in unsteady breaths. The throat clearing caught her attention, and she pulled away to look up and find none other than Karen eyeing the two of them.
“I see you’ve got a friend who has joined us.”
“Uh…” Bridget’s cheeks tinged with heat. “This is Jerica. Jerica, this is Eli’s mom, Karen.”
“Good to meet you.” Jerica held out her hand, and Karen took it.
“You too. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen Bridget with someone. But if you’re free—” Karen gave Bridget a pointed look to mean she wanted her to have time “—I have another project you can do.”
“Of course.” Bridget would agree to anything. This family had been so hospitable to her and her needs, especially Karen and Eli. “What is it?”
“We need to do the wedding favors, the ones that are being sent with people.”
Furrowing her brow, Bridget stared at the floor before looking up into Karen’s eyes. “Isn’t that what Sarah, Kara, and I did the other day?”
“Hmm? No. That was for the couple as they’re done with the ceremony and walking back down the aisle.”
“Oh.” Bridget raised an eyebrow. “So what are we doing now?”
“The favors for the guests as they leave. I’ve set it all up at the dining room table for you, and Jerica can help if you want.”
“Sure.” Bridget grabbed her crutches and moved to stand. They all waited for her until they shuffled into the house, Karen the last one through the door.
Bridget went to the table. If she thought there were bowls aplenty for the last project, this one was massive. “You’re going to have to give some pretty specific instructions.”
“I will.” Karen smiled and pulled out a chair for Bridget to sit in. Jerica moved in right next to her. The explanation lasted at least twenty minutes this time, but she felt slightly more confident in how to do this project compared to the last.
Karen sat down with them to show them, thankfully. Crafts were not in Bridget’s wheelhouse, and yet, that had been what she was stuck doing since she couldn’t be out helping to move the big heavy items. They still had a week and a half to the wedding, and she knew it was going to be packed with shit to do, if only because Karen had planned most of it.
As soon as Karen had put together two of the small sunflower globe things, she left Jerica and Bridget on their own. Sighing, Bridget grabbed a lid and a small sunflower that Karen—or someone—had gotten from the craft store. It wasn’t a real one, but they weren’t exactly in season and couldn’t last the next week and a half if they were real.