On Saturday morning, Miranda woke up very early. Antonella was already up, making coffee and the pancakes that she knew Miranda liked.
"Good morning, Antonella."
"Oh, good morning. You woke up early."
"My flight is this morning, at ten." She eyed the pancakes that were being served to her. "I'm not hungry."
"None of that, you need to eat." Antonella pointed to the plate. "Eat."
Miranda rolled her eyes. "Yes, ma'am."
"Good girl." They both chuckled. Antonella went to the countertop and turned off the coffee machine. She picked up a mug and filled it. "Here."
"Thanks."
The housekeeper observed her companion. "It's just six a.m. You don't need to be awake."
Miranda sipped her coffee and nodded. "No. There is something I want to do first." Taking the other woman's silence as a sign to continue, she spoke. "I want to see Sophie before I leave."
That morning, Andy woke up with her cellphone beeping. Two messages. One from Nate, that she discarded and one from Miranda, that she immediately read.
Good morning, my darling. I cannot wait to be in your arms again. See you soon.
The smile that the message brought to Andy's face could power the entire building.
She quickly sat down on the bed and typed a reply.
Good morning, beautiful. I'll be waiting for you at the airport. See you there.
Feeling very giddy, she got up from bed and went to take a shower. Singing in the shower, she remembered Jonathan's words. Maybe this is love. But, so soon? She had realized they were dancing around each other for a long time. Miranda was indeed a very beautiful, desirable woman. Their first night together proved it. She couldn't stop her hormones that night, kissing and touching every bit of flesh she could reach. The most important thing was that she wanted to be with Miranda and the chef wanted to be with her.
For now, she had to prepare Jacob. Tell him she was divorcing his father. She looked at the clock and the red lights were flashing 7:29 a.m. He was still asleep and would be for the next hour, at least. She left the bedroom and went to the kitchen, seeking a hot cup of coffee. Fortunately, there was a coffee machine.
She sat there and sipped her coffee for a while before she heard the children running towards the kitchen.
"Thank God you're up. We are starving!"
Andy laughed. "How about you help me out, Caroline?"
Caroline smiled, but then frowned. "Oh sure, but I don't know how to make pancakes."
Jacob raised his arm and was jumping for attention. "Mommy can I help?"
"No sir, you just sit down."
Jacob pouted but sat down anyway. Caroline and Cassidy grabbed all the ingredients from the fridge and helped Andy to make the pancakes. By the time they were done, the kitchen looked like it was hit by a tornado.
They served breakfast and began to eat when Jacob raised his arm again.
"What, Jake?"
"Mommy, can I ask you a question?"
Andy put the pancake she was eating on her plate and cleaned her mouth with a napkin. "Sure, baby. Go on."
"When you sleep with Ms. Miranda, is it like when you sleep with daddy?"
Andy was very grateful she had stopped eating, because she probably would have choked on her pancake. "Why would you ask me that?" Caroline and Cassidy were giggling, but Andy glared at them and they stopped right away.
"Sorry, Andy."
"Because I saw you two holding hands. You used to hold hands with daddy, but not anymore. And you looked happy. Holding hands with daddy doesn't make you happy, but with Ms. Miranda it does, right?"
Andy watched her son carefully. She looked for sings that Jacob was sad or angry with her, but found none. "Does this make you sad or angry with me, Jake?"
"No mommy, I want to see you happy. I know this will make daddy sad, but he doesn't come home anymore and that makes you sad." He got up from his chair and went to Andy, giving her a hug. "I want you to be happy, mommy."
Andy closed her eyes and held her Jacob tight. Jacob was truly a blessing in her life and this was more than she expected. "Mommy is happy Jake. And mommy would never do anything to hurt you, you know that, don't you?" Jacob nodded. She looked at Caroline and Cassidy and they both nodded. She turned to Jacob again and smiled. "And yes, I like to hold hands with Miranda."
Caroline and Cassidy looked at each other, the famous twin communication, and nodded. Caroline spoke up. "And we are happy too, Andy. We are kids, but we are not blind, ok?"
Everyone laughed.
The wait at the airport was excruciating and Miranda just wanted to get onboard and sleep. The visit was painful and she wasn't sure how to feel about it. The memories that it stirred hurt her, but she needed to finally say goodbye.
They were in Miranda's room again. Jonathan downstairs with Marianne, as usual, bothering the poor woman with his ideas for lunch. Miranda noticed that Sophie was very tired, but didn't ask anything; she looked like any question would be answered with a resounding 'no'. So, Miranda just lay down with her girlfriend and held her tight.
"I know you want to know what happened."
Miranda sighed. "If you want to tell me something, you can. I won't ask."
Sophie turned to her, looking right in the blue eyes she loved so much. "My mother," Miranda cringed at 'mother'. Uh huh, things didn't go well, "said she was sure those marks were your fault. She asked me if you are beating me!"
Miranda sat down immediately. "That… that's absurd! I would never, ever, hurt you!"
Sophie put both hands on Miranda's cheeks and kissed her softly on the lips. "I know, love, I told her that. It's ridiculous. You'll never do anything to hurt me, I know that. But she called my doctor and made an appointment."
"And you'll go."
Sophie started to talk, but Miranda silenced her with a finger on her lips. "Don't even try it! You'll go and then you'll come here afterwards and tell me everything. Okay?"
Sophie nodded. "Okay." She looked at Miranda and smiled. "I love you so much."
"And I love you so much more."
They kissed. And kissed again. When they parted, Miranda knew it was time. This was the moment, so she nodded and Sophie gave her the most beautiful smile she had ever seen on her girlfriend's face.
"I love you, Miranda. And always will."
Miranda loosened her hair and opened her blouse, letting it fall from her shoulders. Sophie kissed her neck, her shoulders, whispering how much she loved Miranda, how much she wanted her and couldn't wait anymore to have her.
Sophie took off her shirt and Miranda's mouth hung open. She was braless and immediately the blonde woman took a breast in her mouth. Sophie hissed in pleasure and quickly wiggled out of her jeans and panties. Miranda quickly worked hers off too, but kept the bra and panties.
"I don't know how to do it…" Miranda whispered between kisses.
Sophie moaned. "Just touch me, anywhere."
But before anything else happened, Sophie took a deep breath and collapsed, leaving a helpless Miranda not knowing what to do.
"Sophie, wake up! Sophie, Sophie, don't leave me!"
Miranda was startled out of her memories by a voice, calling her flight. She shook her head, trying to put those thoughts out of her mind and boarded her flight, heading for her home.
Andy went to the living room, where there was a table, and was frantically trying to finish her weekly article for her editor, when she received a call from Lily.
"Hey, what's up?" She asked, putting her laptop aside.
"Good and bad news. What do you want first?"
Andy rubbed her temples, "The good news, please."
"We served the divorce papers. I already called Nate's lawyer and gave him the head's up and he called Nate."
Andy sighed. "The bad news?"
"We can't just say it was abandoning home. I also included 'irreconcilable differences' in the papers."
"So that was that?"
"Yes, but they want to fight for custody. It won't be pretty, but the judge will consider that it was you who asked for the divorce. You have a stable job, the house will be yours, Nate agreed to this much. And he said he tried to contact you."
She got up from the couch and began to pace. "I turned off my cellphone. I don't want to talk with him."
"Andy, Andy. Be careful. If he knows about you and how you are living, he can turn the tables and accuse you of being unfaithful."
"I know that. And I don't want the house. If he wants to sell the house and divide the money, I'm okay with that. We built it together and I don't want to stay there after all this. Even thought people insist on treating me as 'Nate Finnegan's wife', I'm very well known in my own right. I have my career. Money isn't a problem."
"Okay. This won't be easy, about Jacob, I mean. I'm pretty sure we won't have problems with the divorce, but he will fight for Jake, Andy."
"And I'll fight back with everything I am. He won't take my baby from me. You can count on that."
"And I'm with you, Andy. I'll fight with you."
"Thanks, Lils. That means a lot to me."
"Okay, okay." Lily laughed. "You can call me anytime, if you have any doubts or need information. Bye, Andy."
"Bye, Lily."
With a sigh, Andy fell on the couch and closed her eyes. She was already tired and this was nothing compared to the battle she would face once Nate set foot in the states. Her eyes watered, but she didn't let her tears fall. She had to be strong, for herself and above all, for her son. Jacob didn't have a problem with her filing for divorce, or that she was starting a relationship with a woman. The journalist was afraid that her son would blame her relationship with Miranda for their problems; the divorce and the fact that he wouldn't be able to live with his both parents but luckily he was a very intuitive child and realized that Nate's absenteeism was the cause of their unhappiness. Thinking about it, Andy was sure, with or without Miranda in their lives, she would end up leaving Nate. She was just happy to be with someone who respects her and loves being with her.
Andy got up from the couch and went to the kitchen, in search of a bottle of wine. When she finally found one, she poured a glass and sipped it while she was thinking about the mess her life had become.
But thinking of the last few days, the phone calls to and from Miranda, spending time with the twins and Jacob, brought a smile at the brunette's face. She did have something real to live on, to have faith in. And she was sure as hell she wouldn't let it slip through her fingers.
The flight to New York was far worse than the flight to London. Miranda was restless, mostly because of her memories of Sophie. Her visit did little to heal the ache in her heart, but she was grateful she at least managed to do it. Maybe wouldn't be a good idea to move to London. Maybe the best thing to do was to stay in New York, with the girls, Andrea and Jacob. This painful part of her past didn't need to be brought to their lives. She knew this subject would be brought up soon in her relationship with Andrea, because she was sure the journalist in her would want to know if Miranda had been with another woman. And she had.
The flight attendant announced they were half way to New York and Miranda decided to sleep for the next few hours or, at least, try to sleep.
Sleep claimed her instantly, but the last thing she wanted to remember came to her mind.
Miranda, even in her panic, put her and Sophie's clothes back on as quickly as she could and yelled from the bedroom.
"Mom! Jonathan! Please, help me!"
Turning to the body lying in her arms, Miranda prayed, a thing she hadn't done in a while. Prayed for her lover, begged for any god that was listening to her to let Sophie wake up and bring that lazy and wicked smile back to her face.
When Marianne and Jonathan reached the bedroom, Miranda was rocking back and forth on the floor with Sophie in her arms "Please, wake up. This isn't funny, please wake up…"
"Jonathan, call the ambulance. Now!" Turning to her daughter, Marianne asked, "What happened?"
In spite of everything that was happening, Miranda turned bright red. "Um. We were… you know… kissing…" then she muttered "god, this is so embarrassing!"
"Go on, Miranda, we don't have time for this, you can be embarrassed later."
"Ok." She took a deep breath. "We were in bed." At the look she got from her mother, she hurried, "but we didn't do it, we were really just kissing, then she just collapsed, I don't know what to do, mom, I can't lose her. Don't let her die!"
"Calm down, baby. We will sort this out."
"I love her so much." With that, Miranda began to cry.
Jonathan entered the bedroom nearly out of breath. "They said… they are… coming… right now."
"Thanks, boy. Now let's put her downstairs. And…" Marianne watched her daughter and Jonathan carefully. "We have to call her parents."
"Shit." They both said.
"They will blame me. I can tell. And maybe this is my fault, oh god, if something happens to her, oh my god!" Miranda cried hard.
"Miranda, you have to calm down."
"M'rnda…"
"Oh my god, baby, you woke up." Miranda hugged Sophie tighter and peppered kisses all over her face. "Don't do this to me ever again, do you understand?"
"Yes, underst'd."
The doorbell rang and Jonathan ran downstairs again. Seconds later, paramedics were in the bedroom, putting Sophie on a stretcher. A tall, brunette nurse turned to Marianne. "Are you her mother?"
"No, she is my daughter's friend."
Still a little groggy, Sophie smiled. "I'm not her fr'end. I'm her," she pointed to Miranda, "g'rlfr'end."
"Yes, you are." Marianne smiled. "Sorry."
The nurses exchanged glances, but didn't say anything at all. They put Sophie on the stretcher and went downstairs, to the ambulance.
The brunette, Marianne guessed, was the one in charge. She ordered everyone around and, when Sophie was appropriately placed in the ambulance, she asked for her parents' number. "They need to know and they will be the only ones authorized to be in the hospital with her."
Miranda's eyes widened. "I can't go with her?"
"Yes, you can, but you won't be allowed to be with her in her room, unless her parents allow it."
Miranda sighed. "Okay, but I'm going anyway, I'm not leaving her alone."
"It's okay with me."
When Miranda was climbing in the car, Marianne grabbed her by the elbow. "Are you sure about this?"
With a fire in her eyes, she looked her mother dead in the eye. "They will have to kill me before I leave the hospital."
Marianne nodded. "Okay." She kissed her daughter. "Be careful, please."
"Will do, mom."
Andy looked at her image in the mirror and sighed. She had changed her clothes three times already. She wanted to look beautiful for Miranda and was still not satisfied with her choices.
Her musings were interrupted by a jumpy Jacob. "Mom, it's time!"
Looking at her clock, she sighed. "This will have to do."
"You are beautiful, mommy. Ms. Miranda will like it. Don't worry."
Gaping, Andy picked up her son in her arms. "What is that, hm?"
"Oh, sorry mommy. You were talking about it, looking at the mirror."
"Oh, I didn't realize it."
"Come on, we will be late. I don't want to be late. You always say that people shouldn't be late."
Andy laughed. "Okay, little man. Come on."
They left the bedroom, Jacob still in her arms; his little arms around her neck. God, how she loved this feeling, of her son so close, his sweet smell, the way he hugged her tight, like she was the most precious thing in the world. She couldn't lose this.
She picked up the car keys and left the apartment. She opened the car door and put Jacob in the backseat.
"I want to be in the front!"
"No. You know it's dangerous. And put on your seatbelt."
"Hunf."
Andy turned on the radio and soon they both were singing along to the music. In no time, they were at the airport. Andy was very nervous, she didn't know how to act around Miranda now. What if the chef had changed her mind about Andy and their relationship? Miranda was accepted at Le Cordon Bleu, she has no real reason to stay in New York anymore.
She was so happy for Miranda and so anxious about the divorce that she really didn't think about this part. Miranda worked hard and passed the test; she got the job she dreamed about and Andy has her own dream job in New York, at The Times. Miranda wasn't as well known as Andy, but she will be, in London. Andy has no one in London. She went to the city just once, on vacation with Nate and Jacob, when he was a little baby. Her family live in another city, but still in the states.
Would she leave all this behind, her family, her career, to follow Miranda and her dreams? Would she leave the city where she built her life and go to a place she didn't know, where she'd have to rebuild her life?
She hopped she didn't have to answer this any time soon.
Jacob tugged at her skirt. "Mommy, where is Ms. Miranda?"
"She is coming, just be patient, ok?"
"Okay."
Her mind was racing with these thoughts and just when she was starting to lose it, she saw a flash of white hair.
Jacob tugged at her skirt again. "Mommy, I see her!"
"Yeah, baby, I think I see her too."
Then there she was, Miranda, in all her glory. She was tired, Andy could tell this much, but the flight was long, so she wasn't surprised. When their eyes met, everything else faded.
"Oh my God."
Miranda smiled at her and she couldn't help but give her a shy smile back, her cheeks turning red; she felt them burning. Her heart began to pound in her chest and she wondered if anyone next to her could hear it.
When Miranda was right in front of her, she couldn't move.
"Hello, Ms. Miranda."
"Hello, Jacob. I guess the cat's got your mother's tongue."
Jacob giggled and this seemed to bring Andy back to reality. "Oh my God, I missed you so much."
She threw herself in Miranda's arms and inhaled her scent. "God, I love your smell." She kissed Miranda's neck and nuzzled her shoulder. "I missed you."
Miranda laughed, but didn't move away. "I believe it, you've told me twice now."
"Sorry." Andy looked at her and smiled lazily. "Welcome back."
"I'm glad I'm back. And if you are here, that means you didn't change your mind."
It wasn't a question, but Andy picked the hint of doubt that Miranda left in her words. "I couldn't think of any other place I wanted to be."
They seemed to get lost in each other eyes and, with Miranda holding her this way, her hands on Andy's waist, Andy lost herself in the moment. She forgot where they were and bent down to kiss Miranda on the mouth, but before their lips met, Jacob squealed.
"Dad!"
TBC…
Sorry for the delay. I hope it won't take months to update again. Reviews feed my muse and makes me go faster! :P
AN: steph_moreau, from dvlwears-prada is beta editing now. Obsidiana402 still as my beta reader too.
AN2: So, just one person (as a Guest) had said that this story needed a beta editor (and all my stories were beta'd) so I guess this isn't really a issue here. If just "guests" would be posting critics, I'll turn off the guest review and you'll have to say your name. Critics are welcome too, they make me work to be better, but let me reply you, ok? Don't need to login, just put a name instead of "Guest".
