It was past ten. Bridget was sound asleep until a hand covered her mouth, somewhat blocking her nostrils. Her brain screamed in fear as her eyes struggled to focus.
"Bridget, it's me. It's Chuck," Katherine whispered as she lifted her hand off Bridget's mouth. She was kneeling at Bridget's bedside.
"Chuck, prison rule: don't put your hand on someone's mouth. It scares the hell out of the person especially if that person is asleep!" Bridget hissed.
"Sorry, I don't know the rules. But you know I wouldn't hurt you," Katherine mumbled sheepishly.
"I know, what is it?" Bridget asked in a soft tone.
"I'm out. That's all I know from Linda. Just agreed to pay her five hundred to see you. A shame she didn't want my black card, she could have real fun and it could buy us more time," Katherine whispered. "Or if I still had my murder blood watch," Katherine added with a laugh.
"That's great, Chuck. You overpaid her though," Bridget whispered back.
"Doesn't matter. Any amount for you. Wanted to say thank you for looking after me and it was fun in its own demented way because we got to spend time together. You look very peaceful when you sleep." Katherine whispered as she tapped on the tip of Bridget's nose.
"It's nothing, Chuck. You were beyond kind to me at the hospital when you didn't need to. Make sure you go home and rest," Bridget whispered sleepily. "Use the toilet too probably," Bridget added as a joke and Katherine snickered.
There was a soft tap on Bridget's door, signaling that it was time to go. "I'm going to get you out. I guess this is goodbye. Again," Katherine whispered. She then got up, grab a hold of Bridget's head gently before planting a quick kiss on Bridget's forehead.
Unhappily, Katherine took a step away from Bridget but the smaller blonde caught her hand and added, "Nothing illegal." Katherine nodded in agreement before disappearing into the night.
Bridget then adjusted her position and sleep took over. She was fast asleep again.
Franky was driving an old, red pickup truck on some scenic route. On her left, there was some Hispanic man and on his left, was Bridget. Franky glanced over at Bridget. The blonde looked at peace as she stared out the open window. Then, the brunette noticed, from her peripheral vision, the Hispanic man was reaching over and scratching gently at Bridget's blonde hair, near the base of her skull. He was probably in fascination of the blonde color but Franky could tell from Bridget's expression that she was growling on the inside despite saying nothing.
"Don't do that. She doesn't like it if someone other than me strokes her hair. It makes her feel like a pet," Franky heard herself explaining.
"Or if it's me who strokes her hair," an all too familiar voice added confidently.
Franky looked to her left and to her horror, the Hispanic man was now replaced by Katherine and she was repeating the action of the Hispanic man earlier. But this time, Bridget did not seem to mind it.
Franky awoke with night sweats. She had to put a hand over her mouth to stop her own screams. She was panting hard. She was sitting up now, wide awake with muffled sounds still escaping her throat. She had to. She had to go over and see the blonde. She had to go over and find some relief from Bridget, the only woman who had captured her heart and soul.
Franky crept over to Bridget's cell. Then her heart settled as she saw the blonde sleeping and Katherine was not attached to Bridget. All of her wanted to crawl in bed, snuggle with the smaller woman and pepper her face with kisses but the blonde was in the middle of the small bed. It would not be possible for Franky to get in bed unless she physically moved Bridget. Franky had observed that Bridget on occasions would uncover herself during sleep. The blonde would have pushed their duvet down to her waist and Franky would slowly cover the blonde back. This time was no exception, Franky pulled up the quilt to cover Bridget, tucking it under her chin. Bridget only hummed in appreciation as she was still sound asleep. That response made Franky's heart melt and fill with love. Franky did like holding the blonde as her little spoon for it reduced her movements.
The brunette then peered down at her sleeping love and kissed her on the right cheek. She stroked some soft blonde hair away from Bridget's face and whispered into the blonde's ear, "I still love you." She sat on the floor with knees pulled up to watch her sleeping beauty rest. Franky had spent hours at a time to watch how childlike the blonde looked when she slept. Sometimes, Franky caught the blonde smiling in her sleep. Bridget did enjoy sleeping in on the weekends and Franky just as much enjoyed watching the blonde sleep peacefully. Franky had continued watching Bridget sleep every chance she got because Bridget was not bothered by it.
I still love you. Those words uttered by Franky was not spoken to Bridget only to assure the blonde of Franky's love but it also served as a reminder to Franky. It was a reminder that she loves Bridget and would still love Bridget despite what the future holds. That she wants this woman, needs this woman in her life. That her heart chose this woman to love. That the past could not be changed but a future with this woman is what she wants more than anything. All of these went against everything that Franky built up over the years since childhood. Before the blonde, the brunette would not have said such vulnerable things. She would have in fact, trampled over and terminated such testaments of weakness before it could even grow. Her heart no longer cared that it was wounded by Bridget's uncalculated words earlier that night. All her heart wants is to love Bridget and have Bridget's love in return.
Bridget moved her head a little in her slumber and the light from the opaque window catches her features perfectly, highlighting them for Franky's pleasure. Franky enjoyed her view but she also had a nagging thought that they were far from being out of the woods. While Allie and Franky may have some physical attraction, Franky pondered about the emotional bond, which was as clear as day, between Katherine and Bridget. She wondered if that bond was a growing threat, looming over them, waiting for the right moment to swoop. She shook her head, trying to just enjoy the current moment. However, the longer she thought of it as it just will not fade, she came to a realization that she could just be planning ahead. While she made it clear to Katherine that she knew of the doctor's refusal to use the toilet from Bridget, Franky prevented herself from setting Katherine completely straight. Franky saw ahead and planned. If she and Bridget really fell apart, she loves Bridget enough to not want her to be all alone. She saw the way Katherine looks at Bridget. She knew that Bridget could lean on Katherine should it come to that. For now, Franky was going to settle seeing herself and Bridget in a relationship that had a side of Katherine.
Then Franky thought about how she would feel after Bridget's committal hearing. It could only go one of two ways. Either Bridget was found guilty or she was not. Up until now, Franky had blocked her thoughts. Innocent until proven guilty was Franky's new mantra. She refused the thought of believing that her Gidget, who was sleeping so innocently now, could have possibly ended her little sister's life. Her refusal at it was what kept her constantly wanting to be close to Bridget. She knew it could all change once Bridget gets a guilty status and it scared her to bits. She shook her head hard, badly needing to kill those thoughts. She knew the moments leading up to Bridget's hearing were fleeting and she wanted to treasure every one of those moments before the likelihood that her entire perception of Bridget would forever be changed. Slowly, she wiped at the tears that were now pooling in her green eyes.
Franky watched on as Bridget's smile grew wider in her sleep and then worry occupied her entirety. Franky wondered if the smile was cause by her or by Katherine. She got up from her spot and decided that maybe she needs to tell Katherine to back off her Gidget a little more and that Bridget was there for her as a request from Vera. She walked into Katherine's cell, ready for confrontation but to her dismay, she found it empty. Had Katherine escaped prison? Franky wondered as she walked back into Bridget's cell.
Franky knelt by Bridget's bed as Katherine had done so before but she does not cover Bridget's mouth. Instead, she called out softly, "Bridget." She caressed the blonde's cheek lightly with her thumb.
"Hmmm…" Bridget hummed in response, just enough to let Franky know that she was heard.
"Where's Katherine?"
"Got out," Bridget mumbled sleepily.
"Did she kiss you?" Franky asked, hating the desperation in her own voice.
Bridget stirred a little more and replied, "Forehead."
Whew! Franky thought. At least it was not on the lips. "Okay, go back to bed," Franky whispered while stroking Bridget's hair a few more times before she left for her own cell.
Bridget's brain did not need to be told twice by Franky for the blonde was again, asleep.
Bridget had opted to sleep naked that night. She adored how comfortable her gray silk sheets felt around her body. She closed her eyes and welcomed sleep as she laid in the center of her double bed.
Bridget was still covered by the smooth sheet but in between the sheets, much action happened. Hands. Hands. Hands. Seemingly so many of them. Touching her, delighting her in all the right places. Sending waves of endless pleasure throughout her body.
The mouth on her left breast was of high talent but so was the hand that was gently massaging her other breast. The mouth kissed all over her breast and blew warm breaths, constantly missing her nipple until her body started writhing. Then her painfully hard nipple was rewarded with a wet lick and suck. Oh, the sensation was almost too much to bear. Her nipples were getting generous amounts of pinching, nibbling and kneading.
After a significant amount of time, Bridget felt a shift. The body that was resting on her while giving her breasts immeasurable pleasure was shifting downwards but as the body glided down, the hands stayed and continued their ministrations. Bridget spread her legs wider in wild anticipation, knowing well what would be next.
Her inner thighs were touched skillfully, making her wetter and she was moaning with labored breaths by now. And without warning, a tongue lapped a long stroke over her opening. Her body was near the edge. And as if it was sensed, Bridget's opening received another long lap.
Oh, it's too much. Too good to not see. Bridget forced open her eyes and used her elbows to prop her torso up. As expected, there was an unusual bulge in between her legs. Her feelings of pleasure were so intense. With a frustrated growl, Bridget pulled at the silk sheet, wanting desperately to see the face of the person giving her so damn much pleasure. She revealed her own naked body and with it, her breath hitched as she saw both Franky and Katherine working together in pleasuring her. "Gidget," Franky whispered seductively and Katherine joined in equally seductive, "Bridget."
Shit! Bridget thought to herself. What is wrong with me?! She smacked herself on the face with the palm of her hand. She was awakened beyond measure. She took deep measured breaths, desperate to calm her rapid heartbeat. The blonde was freaking out. She did not know what to do with herself. She wanted to go over and see Franky but she also felt guilty. Then she recalled their break. She groaned and got up to clean herself, changing her underwear before crawling back to bed.
"Gidge, wake up," Franky called out as she placed the back of her hand on the blonde's forehead.
Bridget's eyes popped open and it was already morning. Guilt-ridden, she shrank away from Franky's touch.
Hurt and confusion flashed across Franky's eyes but she quickly recovered. She believed that she had a good read on Bridget but did she just read guilt? That cannot be. Could she have misread the blonde? She wondered if Bridget reacted so strongly to her touch because of their break or because the blonde knew that Franky was not completely obeying it with her new night ritual. "I only came to wake you because you're going to miss breakfast," Franky explained slowly before walking out of Bridget's cell.
During breakfast, Franky caught Bridget looking at her. She held the blonde's gaze for a while and noticed how flushed Bridget's cheeks were. Was she coming down with something? Franky found it unlikely as when she touched the blonde, Bridget's temperature felt normal. Was it because she talked to Bridget about Katherine last night? Franky thought that that was it but in fact, Bridget had no recollection of her half-sleep conversation with Franky. The brunette then made a mental note that she was only going to keep up her night ritual of creeping noiselessly into Bridget's cell, ensuring that the blonde was covered before whispering "I still love you," into Bridget's ear. Franky was going to do all these without talking to Bridget, at least for that one week.
The two abided by their agreement for a need of space from each other so they settled for stolen gazes and watching from afar. In the day time, Franky would go to work and enjoy her yard time as Bridget repeated her daily actions of reading, playing with her tennis ball and falling asleep.
It was four days after Katherine's departure that Bridget was called over to Vera's office.
Vera sat next to Bridget instead of sitting across from the blonde.
Bridget eyed suspiciously at the basket of individually sealed jello on Vera's table. It was arranged elegantly to look like a gift basket but it was still an oddity. So, she decided that she would ask Vera about it later when they had gotten to what they were supposed to talk about. "Is it Jake?"
"Well, no. I broke up with him. I wish it didn't hurt but it does. Can't believe it was all a lie," Vera said sadly, with a hint of anger.
"You've got to give it time," Bridget said as she squeezed Vera's hand. "Does he know that you know?"
"No, I just told him it wasn't working. I need hard evidence and I'm looking for it. I don't want him spooked but that's not why I called you here."
"It's not?" Bridget asked with genuine surprise.
"It's about Katherine," Vera responded.
Bridget raised her eyebrows and asked, "She's not back in, is she?"
"No, no, nothing like that," Vera said. "I think she's had enough of prison. She probably hates it so much that she wouldn't even have coffee with me."
Bridget stared at Vera, looking even more surprised.
"I asked you out for coffee, you agreed and we became friends. I thought of replicating that. She does seem quite similar to you. With Jake gone, I guess I wanted a new friend," Vera said earnestly.
"Oh, Vera, we bonded because we both wanted to take down Ferguson and help Franky. Moreover, Katherine and I may have a similarity in age, hair and eye color, but we're essentially very different. If it makes any sense, she's as tame as can be and she's still too much for you to handle. She's not an average friend. Although if one gets in trouble, I suppose her connections would help," Bridget said as she tried to explain to her socially awkward friend.
Vera pondered for a while before nodding. Then she got a little excitement in her face as well as in her voice when she said, "Guess what got cleared at the bank today?"
Bridget looked at her and narrowed her eyes. "A cheque?" Bridget guessed.
"Yes!"
"For?" Bridget asked not understanding the excitement.
"Two hundred and fifty thousand dollars! To Wentworth! Imagine what that money can do!" Vera squealed.
Bridget could not think of another time that she had seen Vera so excited. "That's fantastic. You're the right governor for such funds. Are there any strings attached?"
"Yes, just one," Vera said, with one raised finger. "And it's so doable."
"What is it?"
"You'll have to eat a jello a day for everyday that you're in here," Vera said as she clapped her hands. She knew she was acting silly and out of character but somehow, she felt that she could be just that with Bridget.
"Me? Just me? What's going on? What does that money have to do with me? I'm guessing that's why there's a basket of jello on your table."
Vera got up, took out an envelope somewhere in the basket and handed it over to Bridget. "Open it."
Bridget held the envelope in her hands and admired the soft, cream colored paper. Bridget Westfall was the only thing written at the front of the envelope with perfect penmanship. In fact, it was so impressive to Bridget that she had to run her hand over the black ink to ensure that it was not printed. The flap of the envelope had an uncolored, embossed family crest with a prominent R, followed by the full family name beneath it. Bridget ran her hand over the family crest. She was thoroughly mesmerized by the fine stationery as Vera looked on. Gently, she retrieved the note. At the top of the note, there was the same family crest and name except this time, it was engraved with gold. Below the golden emboss, the same black ink for the fountain pen was used with the exclusion that most of the text was not written from left to right. The only thing that Bridget could read as she held the piece of paper that way was Dear Bridget and the person's beautiful signature.
Vera grew impatient as she watched Bridget's thrilled blue eyes dart about the note. "Is she writing in another language? Does she not want us to know what she's writing?"
Bridget was silent for a moment before she turned the note around, looking at the blank side and brought it close to Vera's desk lamp. "She's mirror-writing," Bridget said quietly as she began to read the short note:
Dear Bridget,
This is to thank you for what you've done for me and I finally found a way to get jello for you. My only regret is that I cannot be there to open it for you.
Katherine Reigns
"Check it. Nothing she wrote is incriminating," Bridget said as she passed the note to Vera who read it.
"Why go through all the trouble then?" Vera asked, confused.
"I think she wrote in that way because she can or she was preventing smudging since she's a left-hander," Bridget said musingly. She was growingly enthralled.
Vera pursed her lips together before saying, "Bridget, you're right. She's far too complicated. She's very concerned over your dramatic weight loss. She isn't brain damaged from prison, right? I recall reading that some people mirror-write unintentionally."
Bridget chuckled. "Oh, it's intentional. Has the prison got sued? Pretty sure she wouldn't have written a cheque for the brain damage she sustained here. Besides, see how she signs her name flawlessly at the end. Can I keep it?" the blonde asked as she put the note back into the envelope.
"Don't see why not. You can bring it back to your cell after you're done eating your jello and I'll see you again tomorrow where you'll eat another," Vera said.
Bridget still stared at Franky from afar and sometimes they locked gazes which Franky will look down so that Bridget could continue looking at her if she wanted to. Franky would give that to Bridget since she had her new nightly ritual.
In the day, Bridget settled into a routine of reading whatever book she had picked, mindlessly bouncing her tennis ball on the wall and falling asleep when she got bored. All the while not knowing that every night, after Franky's whisper of I still love you into her ear made her smile widely into her sleep.
"Bridget, why are you sleeping midmorning?" Vera asked, three days later.
"Mind's getting dull. No stimulation. No job. Sleeping passes time faster than any other activity."
"Well, get up and get dressed," Vera said with a nod.
Bridget looked at herself to double check and then she said, "I'm already dressed."
"No, regular clothes. Take your personal belongings too, if there's anything you want. I'll wait outside."
If Franky's dream felt senseless, it's because I partially dreamt it. The only part I added into it was Katherine so that it became more of a nightmare. As for Bridget's dream, it's pure imagination. Also, a special shoutout to any lefties who are reading (since left handers only make about 10% of the world's population). You guys should know a thing or two about smudging.
