134 The Meadow “sprawling, well-cared-for lawn” were included. Morning dew wets the two girls’ shoes as they walk along. Bridget fidgets as her sneakers squeak on the sidewalk as a result. She hopes wiping her feet at the entry mat will be enough so that she won’t trail any loose grass blades or water droplets inside. “You okay?” Fran asks, still gently swinging their hands. Bridget ducks her head for a moment before shooting Fran a smile that’s small but still causes the corners of her eyes to crinkle. “Yeah, just thinking.” Fran hums sympathetically. “We don’t have to go, you know.” Bridget heaves a heavy exhale through her nose, her pace slowing the tiniest bit. “I think I would feel worse if I didn’t.” Fran clicks her tongue but nods. “You know, if I was God, I’d be pretty impressed with your diligence about going every single week.” Bridget huffs, chuckling. “I- but it’s expected! God created us and all he really asks is we go pray to him for an hour a week.” Fran shrugs. “Sure, but most people don’t believe in him or at least don’t actually go to the hour-long book club meeting, so you’re special.” Bridget laughs again, the last drenches of anxiety leaving her mind for now. “It’s not a book club!” “It is!” Fran says enthusiastically. “You all meet up, read some, and then the dude talks about his interpretation of said reading! And then you get donuts! It’s a book club.” Bridget keeps giggling, light-but-rough exhales with the frequency of a bell, and the laughter hasn’t snuffed out by the time they reach the glass doors of the church. Their reflections stare back at them as Fran goes to open the door, her smaller, darker figure framed with similarly dark hair reaching across Bridget’s taller, paler figure framed with red frizzy hair to reach the handle. The laughter does fade, though, when Bridget tentatively
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