Once Andréa had finished the slab, she went to leave. "The study next to my bedroom is fully stocked with books and blankets. I'll be up when the Book comes." Andréa nodded absently and left to go upstairs. Miranda listened to her soft footfalls on the steps and sighed. What had possessed her to offer that olive branch to her? Yes, she wanted her here, but not as a friend. Or would that be the best way to begin things?
Getting up, she stuck the plates in the dishwasher for the cook to take care of in the morning. She went up to the second floor and turned into Cassidy's room. Her daughter was typing away on some paper for school and she smiled at the sight. "How's it coming, bobbsie?"
Cassidy turned to look at her mother. "Okay, I guess. Do you think that Andy could take a look at it before Monday? I really want to make sure that it's perfect and she is a writer after all."
"You'll have to ask her yourself, but I'm sure she would. How would you feel if she were to stay here on a more permanent basis, if I could get her to agree to that?"
"That would be nice, I guess. I miss not seeing her all the time."
"When did you see her?" Miranda asked, truly wondering.
"When she'd drop the Book off. It was our fault that she came up that one night, and so I'd check to make sure she was still your assistant. She was so nice to us, and then we did that to her."
"Yeah, I kind of felt bad for that, too." Miranda turned and saw Caroline standing there in the doorway. "She's crying again, Mom. I thought you might want to go in and check on her."
"Thank you, darling. I'm going to give you a kiss now, since we could be awhile." They nodded and came over to her, enveloping her in a tight hug. She kissed each of their cheeks and then went out the door and down to her study. Opening the door, she saw Andréa curled up in her chair, sobbing quietly.
Going over to where she was, Miranda knelt in front of Andréa, clasping her hands tightly. The girl looked at her, trying to smile. "Sorry, Miranda, my eyes don't quite want to stop watering. Is the Book here already?"
"No, Caroline told me you were crying. She was really concerned about you." Andréa blushed slightly and looked away from her, biting her lip. "What can we do to make you feel better?"
Andréa looked back at her and frowned. "You don't have to do anything, Miranda. I, I…" She focused on Miranda's chin, seeming at a loss for words. "Where am I going to sleep tonight? Is there a guest bedroom that I'm going to use?"
Miranda was strangely hurt by the suggestion, though she understood why. Andréa, despite her declaration of love earlier, didn't want to impose or ask for the comfort she so clearly craved. "Maybe tomorrow evening, Andréa. Tonight, you'll stay in my room." She couldn't hide the smile that crossed her lips and Miranda smiled back.
"I didn't mean to sleep with Christian." The revelation startled Miranda and she could only nod in return. "I was drunk and overwhelmed and then everything went to hell. I'm sorry for betraying you."
"You do crazy things when you're in love and smarting from the knowledge it will never be returned." Andréa gasped a little, her face turning pale as she bit her finger absently.
"Then I didn't just dream I said that. I'm such a fool."
"No, you're not, Andréa." Slowly, Miranda tipped Andréa's head so that she would look at her. The girl's eyes fluttered closed as she leaned forward in anticipation. Their lips brushed softly and Miranda bit back a groan as Andréa took the lead, deepening the kiss. She slipped off the chair and into her lap, wrapping her arms around her neck as the kiss lingered on.
When they at last broke the kiss to breathe, Miranda felt close to crying herself. "That, that was really great, but really foolish. I'm sorry."
"For once in your life would you just shut up, Andréa?" Miranda asked before kissing her once more. It felt so right, so good, to be in this moment and she tried to swallow the lump of doubt that rose up in her throat as she pulled back from their latest kiss. "I can't do this," she whimpered, hating how weak she sounded.
"Do what?" Andréa sounded genuinely perplexed at her statement and she ran her finger along her lips as she tried to think of how to answer without hurting the girl.
"I cannot lead you into doing something you might regret at some point in the future. You're hurting right now from everyone leaving you, with having to only rely on me, someone who you were terribly disappointed by. And if I were to take advantage of you and further destroy the loveliness of you, I would hate myself."
"You can't take advantage of one who wants to be here, now can you? Just call me your silly girl and I'll follow you to the ends of the earth."
"You shouldn't give me such power, Andréa."
"Perhaps not, but then, I'm not thinking all too clearly at the moment. There seems to be a certain someone who is muddying my brain and my body is telling me to just hold onto this sweet feeling of contentment."
Miranda sighed and helped Andréa to her feet. "We're not doing anything tonight, mind you. Sleep will be more than what you need."
"Why Miranda, I'm hurt! I don't want to make love tonight, there will be time for that in the future." She kissed her once more and then let go to walk over to the door. "Do you think there are any pajamas in your drawers that would fit a size four?"
"Seeing as how I'm a size four, I rather think that there are. Check the top left drawer of my bureau and wear whichever set you like the best."
Andréa nodded and sashayed from the room. Miranda couldn't help but stare at her swaying hips and felt desire tug at her bones. This would never do, perhaps she could sleep in the study that evening, she thought as she picked up the book that Andréa had set on the table next to her chair. It figured she would pick out her favorite book and she settled in the chair and opened up to the first page of Rebecca.
Miranda barely heard the downstairs door open and close and knew the Book had arrived. Slipping downstairs, she picked it up off the table and smiled a little to see the sticky note Emily had affixed to the cover. I hope that Andrea is feeling better this evening. Nigel and I have been putting together a wardrobe for her and it will be ready by Monday. If you should need anything do not hesitate to call.
She brought the Book up to the study and went over it, making notes on what to change and where to keep things. It took her over an hour to make all her notes and revisions and then she shut the Book, standing and stretching. Miranda checked in on Cassidy and Caroline and found them sleeping together in Caroline's bed. For all their protestation that they were separate people, they still ended up together at least four nights a week. She knew that would change by the time they were teenagers, but for now they were still close. Miranda went over and kissed their foreheads, pulling the blanket up around their shoulders before going to her own room.
Andréa was curled up on her side of the bed, a pillow held tightly to her chest. Miranda saw that she was wearing the blue silk pajamas that were her favorite and wondered if the girl had planned it that way. Shaking her head, she took out a long silky nightgown and went into the bathroom. Her quick shower did little to alleviate her desires and as she slipped the nightgown on, she felt the material rub against her nipples, stiffening them to hard peaks.
Fluffing out her hair, she went into the bedroom and saw Andréa sitting up and looking at her. "I thought you were sleeping."
"I woke up hearing water running. Are you coming to bed now?" Andréa looked at her, a smile on her lips. Miranda knew she couldn't deny her when she looked like that and she felt herself nod. Andréa pulled back the covers and waved her over.
"Cassidy would like you to look over her report before Monday. You don't have to, mind you, she'd just like some direction."
"Of course, Miranda." There were dark circles under Andréa's eyes still, as if the little sleep she'd gotten had done nothing to ease her weariness. "Do you mind if I took the girls to the park tomorrow? That way you could get some work done while we're out of your hair."
"That would be nice, though I don't have much to do. How about I go with you for a while and we can bring something back for lunch." The smile she was rewarded with took her breath away and she smiled in return.
"I do think that would be a wonderful idea, Miranda." Andréa leaned over and kissed her sweetly. "But I want to sleep now, okay?"
"Anything you want, Andréa." Miranda found it odd to stretch out on the wrong side of the bed, and tried to focus on that rather than the feeling of Andréa's body cozying up to hers. She stiffened slightly as Andréa wrapped an arm around her waist, tugging her close. "Oh, that feels nice," she whispered as Andréa cupped one of her breasts, kneading gently.
"Good." She felt a soft kiss against her neck and she arched into the touches, wanting to feel. "Sleep well, Miranda."
"Oh you are a tease, my silly girl." Miranda turned in her arms and looked at her, feeling her eyes close heavily. Before she drifted off to sleep, she felt her Andréa's lips on hers once more, kissing her gently.
