Disclaimer: I don't own a thing
Epilogue
"Bee!" The three girls cried in unison, rushing towards their sister. Bridget smiled, walking over to her best friends, a playful smile dancing across her face. Julie pulled away from Bridget's loose grasp and headed towards the backyard where the other kids were playing together. Eric followed Bridget closely, the twins sleeping heavily on his shoulders. He did the mandatory greetings with the girls but wasted no time heading back to the barbeque where he could talk with the other husbands.
"Bridget, we missed you!" Carmen cried, practically tackling her friend. Bridget laughed, returning the hug. She held Carmen at arm's length, inspecting her friend.
"You look fabulous! And Tibby, look at you, you're glowing!" Bridget crowed. Tibby blushed, putting a hand on her round stomach.
"Just a few more months," Tibby said with a smile, resting her lemonade on her stomach.
"She's just got one in there though," Lena said, patting her friend's large belly and turning towards Bridget with a raised eyebrow. "We can't all be overachievers like you, Bee!" The girls laughed heartily, basking in each other's company. They had been apart for so long—too long—that any and all conversation was treasured. They hadn't meant for the separation. What happened? Bridget wondered to herself, what happened to keep us all apart? Life, that's what happened, Bridget thought, answering her own question. What with Tibby's filming, Lena's art, Carmen's medical work, not to mention all of us have families now. Between kids and husbands and work it was nearly impossible for the girls to get together anymore. When they did manage to find a moment to get together though it was as if they had never been separated. They would pick up the conversation where it had left off the last time and head off running. Despite everything that life had handed them they knew they would always have eachother, they would always have the memories, they would always be sisters.
"Look at her go!" Tibby exclaimed later that night as the girls sat on the patio, watching the kids play in the backyard. Of the several girls out on the field Bridget knew immediately who they were talking about. Julie. Julie stood out like a shining star on the field, her speed and athleticism apparent even in her five year old body. She could easily maneuver the ball any way she wanted and it was clear that all the other kids on the field were aware of this. They seemed to have given up and were just standing around, kicking at the grass and dispersing into other games.
"God Bee, she's like a rocket," Lena commented softly, amazed at the child. Bridget beamed excitedly. That's my girl! Bridget cheered inwardly watching as Julie flew up and down the field. She didn't even seem to notice that the other kids had wandered off in search of different activities.
"Well you know what they say," Carmen began as the others turned her way.
"Like mother, like daughter!" The three others crowed in unison. Bridget smiled at her friends, slowly sipping her lemonade. Suddenly, Bridget realized, the phrase wasn't so scary.