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.”