She had just been kidding no need to get so touchy and grab her like that.
Barely listening to Doña's words about her. Maybe she could give her a break instead, what was Andy's Sachs problem. If it was because Mom fired her so what, Caroline had nothing to do with it. Mom fired employees left and right all the time.
Sweeping the paint angrily, ''you're doing it wrong.'' Caroline stopped and held the brush.
Her again.
Caroline had had it. Every day for the last week nothing she did was right for her, this dump didn't need her repairing it.
It needed a wrecking ball.
''You do it then.'' Throwing the paint brush.
Broke it.
She flew off the handle at her like she damaged a Ming vase. It was just a stupid shell wind chime with a J carved in it.
''Look what you've done. You stupid! Why do you Priestly's ruin everything.''
Packing she wasn't putting up with this, rather take Mom's disappoint in her. She'd just ask to make a phone call and call Mom at Runway to come and get her, because she wasn't spending another 84 days with her.
Doña's words filled Andy. ''It's just a wind chime, has it been so long you've forgotten to be kinder. The Andy I know isn't this.''
''Yeah well the Andy you knew isn't exactly around lately.'' Clenching her teeth, a warm tanned hand on her cheekbone.
Doña knew Caroline goaded earlier but she wasn't an adult. Andy however was.
''Give a little Andy please. Caroline may surprise you. Try.''
Andy snorted. A Priestly.
Doña seriously met her eyes. ''Now go and apologise with contrition.'' Andy grumbled out. ''Fine.''
Going upstairs. Doña voice drifted. ''With contrition.''
''I want to apologise for grabbing your arm and just now, yelling at you.''
''Save it.'' Caroline pushed by her. ''Mom wouldn't want anyone ugly like you anyway.''
Andy was brushed past by Caroline with her bag.
''I want to use a phone now. I'm calling my mother.''
Caroline made a call alone.
Her Dad would fix this, dialling his law firm. Baker Hyde & Assoc. James picked up his private line.
Beginning with a desperate ''Daddy you have to come get me.''
Ending with ''Pumpkin I can't have you stay at my place I'll be in Bermuda tomorrow and in Caymans for the next week, call your Mom and don't sign anything. Caroline I'm really busy.''
''Please Dad just come for me.''
''I can't do that.''
This hour long conversation did something for Caroline, made her experience her Dad letting her down. What really hurt he didn't even realise he was doing it.
Mom was right.
Dad didn't care. Swallowing hard at not mattering enough to him. All the missed school events and recitals that Mom attended saying Dad tried. Had he really?
It was bullshit. He never tried. She thought Mom made him stay away.
Car just never believed it, thought Mom was trying to make Dad look bad all the time. It was her fault he left.
''Car just give your details to my PA. I have to go.'' Transferred to leave the address she was at.
Hanging up. Caroline debated she should call Mom.
Punching in Mom's number on the buttons.
Julia was the new second assistant for Miranda Priestly on her first day in her first two hours. Knew one thing she should have gone with Auto Universe.
Emily had just left her for a moment as the phone rang. Julia had her instructions, Julia grabbed the phone on the second ring but pressed the wrong button to transfer to someone's desk.
Oops. Julia wasn't about to tell the snitty redhead her little goof, would rather walk over hot coals or swallow them. Knowing Emily's attitude at training her, would probably make her do so.
Saw white hair coming up to her.
Julia swallowed fearfully deciding not to say anything. Addressing her boss which was it Ms Priestly or Miranda that annoyed her in greeting the Runway Editor.
''Miranda.'' Julia nervously stood. ''I found this. I got that drawer open that was stuck. Should I just throw it out?'' Holding it out to her new boss.
Miranda took it from her. Blue eyes traced it.
This was Andréa's. It had been in here for four years.
''Hold my calls.''
Miranda was fine. Why wouldn't she be? She was perfect. Shutting her bathroom door, resting her head against the door still holding it.
Four years and ten days since that desk was filled with Andréa or since that night she made the stupidest mistake of her life, not letting herself kiss Andréa back.
Blind with Stephen which lasted a wonderful two months of arguments of putting her career first and his latent unfaithfulness.
Blinded by Ravitz laughing.
Everyone thought Miranda Priestly The Ice Queen could do anything but she couldn't go back and she couldn't rewind that night and undo how she was so bitterly blind with hurt dignity at Andréa for walking away.
Placing some cold water on her nape, seeing the small leather album on the sink.
It was private and it belonged to a dead person. Andrea was her person she should have realised how she felt about. Opening it.
Recalling why it was in the drawer.
She'd seen it and Andréa had just assumed it wasn't allowed on her desk. Andréa had been showing Emily silly pictures at a beach.
''Emily this is my grandmother and here's my sister Jill.'' Sneering at Andrea. ''Am I employing assistants to socialise.''
It wasn't at all like the beach house she took the twins to in The Hamptons.
Flicking through it. Knew Andréa immediately. Brown eyes she should have been kinder too.
Cassidy was hounding Nigel. ''Just tell me, I'm old enough which assistant was it that loved Mom. Do they still work here?''
Nigel shook his head at Cass. Emily shouldn't have said anything that Cassidy heard. Cassidy inherited Miranda's amazing hearing.
Cassidy hoped it wasn't the odd one who liked bees and frogs or the nasally one or the one from Vegas.
''Was it the one who once chewed gum?''
Nigel wasn't saying a word. ''Cassidy don't.''
He didn't like to talk about Andy.
''Just tell me, Emily said it happened at a Gala years ago. Stephen was there.'' Cassidy pressed on intrigued. ''Serena told me that this person you refuse to name kissed Mom.''
''Changing the subject how's Caroline at camp?''
Cassidy lied loyally. ''Great. She is having the best time of her life.''
Nigel didn't quite believe one of his godchildren.
Stuck here because stupid selfish Dad wouldn't come and pick her up and Mom didn't have competent enough staff to answer her phones so punishment inflicting Mom would know to have to come here and bring her home.
Caroline sulked and wouldn't do anything for Andy, fine Andy found her something to do for Doña.
To go with her, to Seniors Community Centre for choir practice of tone deaf seniors would be a great fun outing for Caroline and give her a chance to practise piano.
Andy almost laughed at Caroline's horrified face.
Drove both to begin Caroline's exciting day.
''Drive and be safe Andy.'' Andy bid goodbye to both. Not one word from Caroline in farewell.
''I hate her.'' Caroline said watching Andy's pickup disappear.
Doña indulged. ''Yes Caroline and the world is unfair. Come.''
This was the pits and she had to play for them.
''Doña how's Andy?'' Raul asked.
'' Well.'' Caroline stood behind her rolling her eyes, Andy Sachs was a spiteful person who was living to make her summer miserable.
''Doña, who is this?''
''This is Caroline.''
''Caroline this is Raul my Maestro.'' Doña introduced them.
Raul greeted her warmly taking her hand. Caroline was entirely unaware of who's hands she was shaking. His were big like a basketball player's.
''Caroline would like to play for us.''
Raul raised a brow at disgruntled Caroline's face, shown to the community hall piano.
''Impress me.''
''I'm sorry Andy there isn't anymore. I could see if I could cash your teacher's pension but it would take a loss.
Now if you sell it to us or accept that offer that was made, which was a good one for the current market. We could have the paperwork done in a week.''
Andy creased her brows, that quickly wow just like that and then she and Doña could move into what a condo in Florida.
''Kevin. I'm not selling it to them, because he'll just tear it down for a Hilton.''
''Andy as a friend, just ask Ephraim for a loan.'' Andy shook her head, if she did that might as well not have survived her rape.
'' Thanks Kevin.''
Kevin wished he could do more. ''Marybeth would love to have you over to a bbq, this time try to show up for Josh.''
Andy smiled at Kevin using emotional manipulation. ''What does Josh want for his birthday?''
''A stuffed alligator with a clock and a Jedi lightsaber.''
Josh was great with his imagination, last Christmas it was a fishing rod to catch the moon. ''I'll see what I can do.''
Kevin opened his wallet. ''Here Andy.''
''Kevin. No. I don't need it.'' Refusing Kevin's cash. Jill's husband.
Driving out of the county. Nate gave it to her a lifetime ago, he wouldn't have minded that she needed it. Pulling into a pawn shop.
Nate gave it to her over breakfast in bed. Stared at by him. ''What?''
''I need to tell you something Andy Sachs?'' Andy teased him. ''Tell me something.'' Fingertips ran playfully on his dimples. ''Nathaniel Cooper.''
''Marry me?'' Slipped it on Andy.
I'm sorry Nate.
''It's not right.'' Raul said.
Caroline stopped playing. If she had to play The Sound of the Music again, couldn't he hear or did he need a hearing aid or cochlear implant, this geriatric choir sucked.
Caroline noticed Doña didn't sing.
''Enough. Stop. Caroline you play nicely.'' Raul chided. ''It is meek though. No feeling. Zip.'' Caroline glared she'd been taught by the finest money could buy.
''You've been taught to play how it should be played passably but not how to make me feel it. It lacks''
He was saying she was awful how about the whole room of tone deaf.
Doña hummed one key. ''Caroline it is here. Music.'' Holding her own heart. ''What we feel. Music allows it to unburden. To unfold. To release.'' Her eyes shining at her.
''Yes music is sounds, echoes what you feel, evokes joy, pain, heartbreak, laughter.''
Raul took over to show her. Caroline got up.
''What do you know any way you just run a crappy guest house with no guests. You don't even sing.'' Doña quieted Raul who was about to correct her at speaking to his oldest friend like that.
''Insolent niña.''
''Raul let her go.''
Her piano playing was good. She could play Chopin and Rachmaninoff. Mom paid for lessons with the best.
Snuck a call on a payphone Caroline tried another number. Nigel picked it up.
''Caroline. Slow down honey. What do you mean you're not at camp…Car you didn't and you're staying with…so she's having you work off damages. Car spell that again.'' Writing a name down and an address.
''Doña Cateya y Domingo's Stowe.
Nigel tried to reason with Miranda's youngest daughter. ''Car can you hang in there for just a few days. No listen, you're Mom does love you.''
Car hung up on him.
How in the world was he going to tell Miranda what Car did, which was vandalism on a private property and to come to the Outer Banks and fix it.
Caroline wanted her Mom to somehow get her out of this punishment.
If Miranda's hair wasn't already white it would be from Caroline.
Miranda had a lot on her plate. They all had a deadline to meet in two days. It was very important but so was Caroline.
Francisco read the name from Nigel's writing.
''Doña Cateya y Domingo's Stowe. Wow. The Dove. She rivalled Callas and then left opera just like that.''
Nigel sighed great Car destroyed an old woman's property. Equivalent to mugging a senior.
Francisco almond eyes widened at hearing what Caroline Priestly had done, Miranda would be so embarrassed by this.
Nigel shook his head thankfully he only had pet dogs, Caroline was a good kid but she just fell into trouble easily it was good it wasn't drugs or robbery but this was just as serious destroying someone's property.
''Miranda must know, you have to tell her.'' Urging Nigel to do so as soon as possible.
Nigel decided with an exhale, Miranda had to be told about Caroline today. Deadline or not.
He'd go tell her right now.
For seniors singing and Raul calling her musical ability poor, Caroline was icily furious with Andy staring her down as Andy did the same with Doña who sat between them both at the country kitchen table.
''I can see you both will get along splendid well I am out.''
Caroline wanted to go with Doña but she was visiting Jonas. ''Be good for Andy.'' Caroline was told. Narrowing her blue eyes on her.
Andy tapped shark oil. ''its bad weather coming Doña.''
''I will be back when I wish to return.'' Stubbornness woman ever.
Holding the screen door on Doña, Andy was pointedly indicated to talk to Caroline.
Caroline read a few titles on the book shelves, shrugging this was so lame, deciding to poke around her study.
It wasn't like Mom's.
Blue eyes took in her. She swam and did track, on the wall, certificates, of graduation and achievements. At a wedding with the bride who had her eyes.
Trailing her fingers on a St Jude medallion, flipping open a few folders, saw a Ph.D. thesis on art, boring Mom owned one, flicked through another with old New York Mirror clippings and a student newspaper.
Caroline touched a thicker folder, about to open one labelled. A. Sachs. Labelled SVU.
Called for.
Stuck together as it rained, Andy lit candles as the electricity had went out, Andy didn't like rainstorms heard the thunder begin, once she did but not after that night.
Caroline squinted did Mom's Andrea just flinch. ''Scared?''
Andy scoffed at the teenager. ''Hardly. Just rain.''
''Caroline did you put the ladder and tools away?'' Andy asked as Caroline shrugged. ''Yeah, I think so.''
Andy told her dog to stay with Caroline. ''Stay inside. I will be right back.''
Grabbing her rain jacket, pulling it on as she went outside in the showers.
Saw that it wasn't put away, Andy shook her head at Caroline's think so, picking it up to put the ladder back down in the cellar.
Should have brought a flashlight with her, she could do this, nothing in the dark, he wasn't in it, stepping down into pitch black.
Couldn't find the light switch. Slipped down one step fell smacking her head against the wall.
Clutching her head dazed. Disoriented.
Heard him in the darkness with her. When wasn't he not with her? Had night terrors at night as if living it again, told once it was a symptom she'd suffer. RTS. That and midnight panic attacks.
Reliving it.
Andy cut through the park as a shortcut on the phone with John's call on hold taking Doña's upset one telling her there's been an accident.
''You are one stupid bitch.''
Hearing Doña's voice from her phone. ''Andy. Who is that?''
''You move, I'll slit your throat.''
''Raw meat.'' Ran a knife along Andy's face. ''Nothing I like better than fresh... raw meat."
Caroline wasn't worried. Nope because she didn't even like Andy Sachs, so why worry about her but she had been gone a long time by the clock.
Joe DiMaggio was acting anxious and it was pouring outside.
Seeing someone at the screen door of the wrapped around porch. Good she was back, there was nothing to worry about.
It wasn't Andy but Doña. Now Caroline was worried.
''Where's Andy.''
Felt like this once before searching for Andy the week she brought her home. Frantic. No Andy wouldn't swim out in a storm again.
Would she?
This time. It wasn't like that time when she found her walking in rain drenched.
Caroline was looking for her.
''Here.''
Caroline found her. ''Andy.''
It was probably from being hit on the head but Andy was shaking when Car shone her flashlight on her. Helping her up as Doña ran up.
''I said I'm fine.'' Hissing at the sting of peroxide on her cut on temple. Doña shook her head at Andy's gruffness like Jonas, feeling how damp and soaked she was.
Caroline handed a few band aids from a first aid kit. ''Andrea you are going to get sick in wet clothes.''
Pulling off her fleece. Caroline saw them, her blue eyes wide.
What did that?
''Miranda something's happened with Caroline.''
Nigel's words sunk in. Vandalism and graffiti. Caroline was grounded till twenty-two.
Gripping her glass desk.
Nigel knew Miranda would take this badly about Caroline. Cassidy lowered her eyes, Mom now knew but she hadn't blabbed.
Under the icy gaze of miss nothing blue eyes. ''Cassidy did you know.''
Nodding at her Mom.
''For how long?''
''A few weeks.'' Miranda would call Kit to explain a family emergency has come up. Leave out her daughter's a juvenile delinquent. Page Six hopefully wouldn't get wind of this.
Nigel gave Miranda the lady's name.
''Emily. Get me tickets to the Carolinas and order a car to take us to Stowe Guest Beach House.''
Dialling for herself a number to speak to someone she owed an apology to, on behalf of her daughter and from herself for being a terrible mother to a child that does that.
The rain had let up and it was clearer now. Andy missed the phone as she just got out of the shower. ''Doña get it.''
Drying off, naked avoiding her scars, seeing them. Pulling on jeans and over her head a faded top. Dressed Andy found Caroline in flopped on her bed.
''Caroline we're going out. Pack a backpack with blanket and flashlight also a sweatshirt it'll be cooler tonight and wear these.'' Handing her hiking boots. Caroline took them with two fingers disgusted.
Caroline asked. ''Why?''
''Because it's time we get to know one another.''
Doña picked up. ''Hello.''
Miranda prayed no lived on hope this Doña Cateya y Domingo's Stowe was an understanding person.
''Hello I'm Caroline's mother.''
This was Miranda talking to her.
Doña listened to Miranda on the line apologising, watching out the window, Andy honked, driving off with Caroline.
Emily interrupted Miranda to inform first flight was tomorrow morning. Doña heard a clipped English voice telling Miranda this.
''Mrs Stowe.'' Doña interjected to call her only Doña. ''I will be there tomorrow morning at the soonest to meet you.''
''Yes that would be perfect to come here tomorrow and meet.''
Miranda almost sighed in relief into the receiver.
Doña promised Miranda, she wouldn't say a word to Caroline in warning and also to herself not a word to her own granddaughter.
Surprises were good for Andy.
Driving in the pickup with Caroline, they stopped in town to get supplies for what Andy had planned. Things you didn't go camping without.
Taking Caroline, canoe camping and would be back tomorrow late afternoon.
Doña was right Andy had to admit to herself, she was being very hard on Caroline they needed to clear the air between them.
She wasn't Miranda, Andy knew that. Could tell Caroline was one part woman and the other part hurt little girl who was angry at so much.
Parking and dragging the canoe, pushing it into water of the reservoir. ''Where are we going?'' Caroline asked for the hundredth time.
''You'll see. Trust me Priestly.'' Paddling after being shown by Andy, wading through the waters to the Spanish missionary.
Caroline felt mosquitos bite and saw Andy unrolling sleeping bags. ''Never been camping before?''
''No.'' Closest thing to this was the Nature Channel on cable, hitting another bug, thrown repellent.
''I promise I will share S'mores and stories of Cropsey to terrify you.'' Andy grinned. Making camp as she set up a fire.
''Caroline why did you break that window?'' Andy was leaning under a mossy cypress oak tree, not judging just curious to hear what she'd say.
''I was just so mad.''
''At?''
''Everything. Mom. My Dad.''
Caroline shook her head. ''You wouldn't understand.''
''Try me.''
''Mom never listens and she only cares about her magazine. Do you know what Stephen did, do you remember him, he once said to my Mom she should have married Runway.''
Did Andy remember Stephen? Andy couldn't forget him, remained silent about him. He was a prick.
Andy remembered the last time she'd spoken to that arrogant bastard three years ago when she visited New York for a follow-up on her case with Benson.
Went alone.
Alexandra Cabot and Olivia had been explaining kindly to Andy how it could take years to match a suspect if at all. When Andy met Tomlinson again.
He'd been called in to provide evidence from another case some banker that assaulted a prostitute who Stephen was a business associate of. Stabler was handling him.
''I don't want a cup of coffee. What I want is the bastard that violated me.''
Recognised Andy at a glance, his words to her, still made her sick. Started with.'' I remember you. You kissed my wife.''
Andy also realised he heard her and Olivia's words.
''Miranda prefers real not silicone.''
Like Andy could do anything sexually she couldn't for a year bear to be touched.
''Is Stephen still married to your Mom?'' Andy asked carefully.
Caroline disliked Stephen. ''No. They're not together anymore. Stephen once yelled at Mom that her staff were better parents to us like Emily.''
Andy just listened to her. Caroline really needed to get this out.
Blue eyes stormy on Andy. ''Dad doesn't care about me or Cassidy. Mom doesn't care, she's never there. I don't think she wants us around her half the time. I hate her.''
Gently Andy tentatively touched Caroline's shoulder. Understood.
Ephraim word's ''Tomorrow I'm withdrawing you from this creative writing course and journalism and enrolling you back in pre-med or pre-law. Andy.''
''Stowe-Selton's become doctors or lawyers.''
''Do you know what my Dad gave me this birthday?'' Blue eyes hard on Andy.
Shaking her head Andy had no idea.
''A Harvard Law Book. He gave me the same one last year. I just wanted…never mind, it's not important.''
'' About the law book, I wouldn't worry you'll just get another one next year.'' Making Caroline's laugh. ''What did you want Caroline?''
''Driving lessons.'' Said this to Andy quietly. ''Stupid huh. You don't even need to learn when you live in New York City and are chauffeured everywhere.''
Caroline watched the fire. '' It is time to begin throwing words at the moon and have S'mores. It's a Sachs tradition."
''What's throwing words at the moon?''
Andy explained to Caroline. ''You may tell the moon the most insulting or wonderful things about anyone or anything that's happened to you and then you stuff your face with S'mores.''
''It makes you feel better. Try it.'' Caroline's arched a Miranda like brow at Andy.
''Cheaper than NY therapy.''
Caroline did try it.
Sipping her soda from being hoarse.
''How did it happen?'' Andy looked at her for a long time. ''Sorry I shouldn't ask you that?'' Andy looked away from her into the firelight.
Caroline wondered was it an accident.
''I don't hate her you know.''
Andy asked in the firelight. ''Who?''
''My Mom.'' Andy muttered. ''I know Caroline.''
Watching fireflies together gliding through the mist like tiny blue halos of illumination known as the blue ghosts locally on this Spanish missionary ruins islet.
''I use to come here with my parents and sister.'' Andy confessed.
''Does she come here still?''
''In a way.'' Andy thickly spoke looking out into the darkness
Thinking Andy was asleep in her sleeping bag. Cassidy asked out loud.''Andy are you asleep?'' No response. '' Oh you are. I don't know what happened to you, but I hope it didn't hurt you.''
''Goodnight. Andy.''
Driving back around two in the afternoon, no traffic, Andy turned to Caroline. ''I know this is a heap to drive but why don't you give it a try?''
''I can't.''
''I think it's time you started to learn.'' Made Caroline grab one side of the wheel. ''Good. I'm helping you…stay within the line. There you go. You're driving.''
An hour later driving up to the beach house seeing a limousine parked.
