The Meadow 139 Fran hesitates before nodding. “Yeah, I guess you’re right. But still, maple is less messy, so maple.” Bridget chuckles and nods her understanding. “Bridget?” Bridget reflexively turns as a voice calls her name. It sounds familiar, the mix of Irish and southern United States accents, but… What would she be doing here…? “I knew it was you! Oh my gosh, it’s been so long!” Bridget finally catches sight of the person calling her, and she instinctively pulls her hand from Fran’s. She can see Fran shoot her a concerned frown from the corner of her eye, but most of her gaze is now being flooded by a flash of curly red, freckles, and green eyes, a mirror of Bridget’s own reflection. A woman now stands before her, beaming at her, a man Bridget doesn’t know standing beside her. “Ah, hey! Reyna.” Bridget greets awkwardly. She winces at her own tone. Reyna isn’t deterred, however. “Oh my gosh, I never thought I’d see you here! I knew you went to NYU, but I had no idea you’d come to church on the other side of town!” Bridget laughs nervously. “Ah, well, you know, I like the building a lot and the parish is, y’know, nice…” Reyna nods enthusiastically. “I know right! The work done on this place is wonderful. And the people are really nice!” Bridget simply nods, the anxiety from earlier returning as a tidal wave. Finally, though, Reyna notes that Bridget is not alone. “Oh! I’m so sorry, I didn’t realize you had a friend!” Bridget winces. Reyna holds out a hand. Fran inches forward to meet the stranger’s hand. Bridget swallows thickly. “Um, Reyna, this is my, uh,” she flashes a panicked look at Fran for a moment before barreling forward with, “my roommate. Um, Fran, this is my sister,
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