146 The Meadow cheek. “Of course you do, she’s your sister.” Bridget halfheartedly flashes a smile back. “Well...you wouldn’t be letting her down if you didn’t go,” Bridget moves to interrupt, but Fran pushes on before she can say anything, “but one night of pretending to be friends is fine. I know you’re worried about your family and coming out. I’m not gonna force you to do anything you’re uncomfortable with.” Bridget chuckles solely to fill the silence. “You- you’re a saint. You really are.” Fran smiles softly, her dark eyes reflecting all kinds of traces of light like a mirror. “Nah,” she says, “you’d do the same for me.” Bridget squeezes her hands in response, and Fran squeezes back. After another moment or two of delaying, the two turn back to their route. The rest of the walk is spent in silence, but Bridget doesn’t feel as overwhelmed as before. She’s been thoroughly reminded that she will not be going in alone, after all. Fran hums much like she had this morning, and Bridget, all over again, feels the dilemma of if she would be damned if she kept holding her girlfriend’s hand once they got to Reyna’s house. As they get closer and closer to 1324 Dandelion Street, Bridget can feel the choice weighing heavier and heavier at the back of her mind. She glances to Fran; she’s humming still (Bridget thinks it’s one of the church songs from earlier), eyeing the rainbow of blooming flowers many people in the neighborhood have growing in their lawns, subconsciously tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. She glances over at Bridget herself, and gives her another reassuring smile and a quick squeeze of her fingers, gently swaying their hands back and forth. Finally, they come across Reyna’s house. It is a peach color with a well-cared for lawn featuring closely cut grass, rose bushes lining the walkway to the porch, and a tree with a porch
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