Page 106 of Tell Me I'm Not Dreaming

“Girls, this is my lady friend, Bridget. Bridget, these are my daughters, Danielle and Tiffany.”

Tiffany gushes, “I cannot believe I’m meeting BR Nelson! You’re amazing.”

“Thank you, sweetie, and please, call me Bridget.”

“Okay.”

“Hello,” Danielle says. She’s much more demure and calmer than her sister. Both girls must look more like their mothers. Only their eyes resemble their dad’s.

“Hello.” Bridget opens her arms for a hug, and before Danielle can hug her, Tiffany does.

“And for the record, I think your revenge plan with Dad is brilliant,” Tiffany says.

Bridget rolls her shoulders back in pride and smiles. “Why, thank you.”

“I have to admit, I wasn’t totally on board, but after hearing what your ex did, I hope you and my father ruin his day. Just don’t get arrested.”

Bridget shakes her head and holds up her hands. “We won’t.”

Danielle looks relieved.

Bridget turns toward the bedrooms. “Let me go and get the kids. Please, have a seat.”

She heads to Tanya’s room and knocks on her door.

“Come in,” Tanya calls out.

“Hey, babe, it’s time to meet Silas and his girls,” Bridget tells her.

“Okay.”

Tanya rises and heads to the living room, as Bridget heads to LJ’s room.

She knocks on his door. “LJ, it’s time to meet Silas and his daughters.”

“Okay, be right out,” LJ calls back.

He comes out of his room, and Bridget loops her arm in his. “You’re okay with this, right?”

“I mean, I’m not exactly thrilled that you’re driving cross-country with a dude you just met, Ma.”

“I know, but everyone knows what he looks like, and now you will, too. Besides, he gave me permission to give your aunties and your new uncles all his contact info—and he agreed tobackground checks by Ranson and Big Head. If he’s planning to murder me, so far, he’s doing a piss-poor job,” Bridget jokes.

LJ chuckles. “Just be careful, okay?”

“I will. I promise. Now bend down so I can kiss you.”

LJ laughs and does as he’s told. Bridget kisses him on the cheek.

“It’s so disrespectful that you’re so much taller than me when I used to be able to hold you in one hand.”

“I know, Ma. So, you’ve said.” LJ shakes his head.

They head to the living room to find Tanya on the couch, sitting crisscross applesauce, laughing with Silas, Tiffany and Danielle.

“What are you all laughing at?” Bridget smiles as she and LJ take a seat in their respective chairs.

“King Rodrick’s death,” Tanya answers.