Page 103 of Tell Me I'm Not Dreaming

“Every time.”

Silas hears the smile in her voice when she says, “Thank you.”

“You’re more than welcome. You’re an incredibly beautiful woman, Bridget.”

“Thank you, Silas,” she simpers.

They talk some more, the topics all over the place. They start off discussing their first cars, and by the time Silas’s alarm goes off, they’re talking about how animals use their cuteness to manipulate humans. Bridget uses Ginger as an example.

How did we talk for three hours?It feels like barely any time has passed.

“I have to get up.”

“Me too. I took a nap in the early evening, knowing I’d have to write into the wee hours. I hope you had enough good sense to sleep before you started book three.”

“I didn’t, but I’ll have some coffee. I’m sure I’ll be fine,” Silas responds.

Silas yawnsand shakes his head, attempting to snap out of his sleepiness. He’s on his computer searching for the Melody Lee book. He’s been looking for it ever since Bridget told him about it.

His youngest, Tiffany, comes out of her room.

“Good morning, Dad,” she greets him.

Silas gets up and hugs Tiffany, kissing her atop of her head. “Good morning, baby. You are just the person I’ve been looking for. The Melody Lee book by Mary Jefferson. Do you know it?”

Tiffany is a huge bookworm. If anyone would know where to find it, she would. He would have asked her sooner, but he didn’trealize he was looking for what amounts to the book version of Atlantis.

“I do, and there’s no way you’re going to find it online. Everyone and their mother have tried. One guy in Dayton found a copy at an antique store. That was the last time anyone ever found one, and that was in 2001.”

Shit.

“Did Ms. Jefferson ever write anything else?”

“Nope. Just the one Melody Lee book, why?”

“The woman I’m dating told me it was a book that meant a lot to her as a kid.”

“Really? What’s her name?”

“Bridget Nelson.”

“Wait, Dad. You’re datingtheeBR Nelson?”

Danielle comes out of her room with little Summer in her arms.

“Morning, baby girl.” Silas hugs and kisses them both.

“Morning, Daddy.” Danielle pours herself some coffee and grabs a bagel.

“Dannie, Daddy has a new girlfriend.” Tiffany takes Summer and bounces the cooing cutie on her lap.

Dannie spits her bite into a napkin. “What!”

“I was just about to get the tea,” Tiffany says.

“What did you say her name was, Daddy?” Danielle asks.

“Bridget. She goes by the pen name BR Nelson.”