12 Days of Christmas
Deanlu
Devil Wears Prada is the property of 20th Century Fox, Lauren Weisberger, and Aline Brosh McKenna. I appreciate your reviews. It helps to continue writing.
Day 11:
Miranda yawned as she shifted in the chair. It had been a long Christmas day. Good food, games, movies, family, and friends has filled every waking moment. Family members were now snuggled in bed, friends had all departed to their homes, and even Beethoven lay quietly at her feet. Andrea was taking care of something in another room while Miranda stretched out in the sunroom gazing into the inky midnight sky where she could just see the strongest of stars pushing through the New City's' light pollution.
"Unbelievable" Miranda whispered into the darkness. If you had told her five years ago her life would be this fulfilled she would have blacklisted you and banished you to the furthest reaches of North Dakota. Now, though she just looked over her life and was amazed. Since beginning her relationship with Andrea so many things had changed. She had mended or was mending her relationship with her family in England. Her brother Jacob had been the surprise accepting them completely. Jacob was a devote Jew, but his past had left him with enough memories of injustice and pain that he had chosen a path most were surprised. Miranda had brought Andrea to meet the family right after the London fashion show. She had set aside several days so the girls and Andrea could get to know the family she had run away from in her teens; even going to the extreme to change her name to protect them if she should shame them. Miranda sipped the glass of wine shaking her head remembering the night under the stars at the country house of her brother Jacob. A place he had built to retreat to when the world overwhelmed him; it's where the family had gathered to be together away from the prying eyes of the press.
"So you love Miriam." Jacob had asked Andrea one afternoon as the older man had walked the grounds with Miranda's love.
"Yes, deeply." Andrea said as she looked to her side measuring the man beside her. The face that looked back at her had been marked by time. While Miranda carried an inherent youthfulness that hid her age, Jacob wore time on his face and body that was softened some with his gentle smiles and forgiving looks. A slight scar above his right eye, the easy-going wrinkles of age, and a strong chin spoke of stories that the young reporter both longed to hear by the fire at night and feared to hear how the pain of time had shaped the man.
"Good, because I believe you are the one." Jacob had replied with a merry twinkle in his eyes. "Miranda never brought her other husbands home to meet the family. It says much she has brought you here with her girls. I have watched you two the last few days. Your love for each other is very evident." Jacob's deep voice had affirmed even as he gave the young woman a gentle squeeze as they walked among the gardens.
"It is my greatest joy to love her." Andrea replied as they took a turn near a bed of orange roses. Jacob stopped briefly taking a moment to pick one of the long stem roses and handing it to Andrea before taking up her arm again to continue their stroll. Andrea ran the rose below her nose inhaling deeply is sweet, spicy scent. Andrea thought about the color of the rose knowing it meant enthusiasm, passion, and gratitude. Jacob was obviously telling her something.
"Miriam is not an easy person to love. She has mistaken convenience and duty for a replacement for passion and love. I believe you have found the woman below the icon Andrea." Jacob voiced quietly as Andrea listened. "If you should harm her, spurn her love my dear we shall lose her forever." Jacob stopped at this moment and turned to Andrea taking her by the shoulders. "I would be quite angry with you should that happen, do you understand?" Jacob stated firmly. Andrea took a deep breath and nodded.
"You have nothing to fear Jacob. Only death will ever cause my love to die and then I will still love her into the next life. I promise to guard our love diligently." Andrea passionately replied never breaking eye contact with the older man. Jacob gazed deeply within her eyes for a long time until he smiled again and nodded as they began their walk again. What Andrea and Jacob did not know was that Miriam and Esther had followed them only a short space behind hearing all the words. Esther had held Miriam for a long time after Andrea's declaration comforting her family member. Miranda had been elated and yet fearful that death would rob her now of her Andrea. Esther had reassured her. Miranda came back to herself and took another sip of wine. So many small, but precious gifts Andrea gave without even knowing it Miranda thought as she gazed across the room to several photo's hanging on the wall. Her thoughts shifted to Andrea's family.
The majority of Andrea's family had come around to the two women's relationship and accepted Miranda. Though Miranda still believed Cassidy and Caroline had a great deal to do with that in the end. They had literally charmed almost every member of Andrea's family on their own. Only Andrea's Uncle Lucas held any animosity toward them. Everything had finally bubbled over at a family bbq to welcome the girls and Miranda into the family. It had hurt Andrea deeply as Uncle Lucas had always run interference with Andrea's father when Andrea wanted to try something new. He "could not and would not" as he had said unequivocally accept them as a couple. Ellen and Miranda had held back knowing that Andrea had needed to fight this battle, but were near as back up just in case. Andrea and Lucas had argued vehemently in the backyard until Lucas had struck Andrea in a fit of rage across the face.
"How Dare YOU!" Miranda had yelled even as Richard's angry outburst toward Luca echoed.
"Lucas! You have no right to strike a woman!" Richard had shouted. Miranda and Richard had flown to the young woman's rescue only to be shoved off to the side by Andrea as she stepped right back into her Uncle's face. Miranda would never forget that afternoon or the final words.
"So since you can't win an argument of reason you resort to violence like so many others in life. I am disappointed in you Uncle. For all your words of encouragement, tolerance, and love you are no better than those rags that label Miranda and I as whores or a mid-life crisis." Andrea pronounced clearly and succinctly. "My love is no different than yours and Jenny's. Your wife knows it. You were once my knight in shining armor Uncle, but I don't need saving. I found that the dragon has a heart greater than the knight. So I'll choose the dragon every time!" Andrea declared as tears ran down her cheeks. The family members in the back yard aligned quickly behind Andrea and her family.
"YOU'RE A FOOL! A FOOL!" Lucas had shouted, but the pain reflected within his face and eyes told another story. "You're all fools!" He had yelled storming out of the backyard and into his truck. He had driven off in a squeal of tires on asphalt. The rest of the visit had gone well, but with the absence of Uncle Lucas. Aunt Jenny had told Andrea they would work on Lucas, but Andrea had shaken her head.
"No, it's his choice Aunt Jenny. Let it lie." Andrea's had continued to enjoy the rest of the time with family chatting, laughing, even taking many a picture that now graced the wall across the sun room. Miranda could tell however to this day that Andrea carried the pain of the altercation within her still troubled on how he could not accept their relationship. Miranda shook her head sipping her wine and refilling her glass. Lucas was the fool now left out in the cold from Andrea's love and friendship. Thank God their friends had been a great deal more accepting. Nigel, Emily, Serena, Adam, Douglas, and even Lily, though Miranda had her doubts about Lily until a private encounter with the young woman. Miranda had never told Andrea of that encounter, but it had changed everything after that. Miranda had seen several etchings the last time they had visited the Gallery where Lily worked that would make a beautiful gift for Andrea and look especially nice within her study. Miranda had learned early in their relationship to purchase the gifts she gave the young woman herself.
"Good Afternoon, Welcome to the Vargas Gallery. My names David, how can I help you?" The young man inquired of the fashionable editor. Before Miranda had a chance to make her inquiry another voice resounded through the gallery.
"I'll take care of Miranda, David. Please go get the Marintimes artwork ready for shipping." Lily stated coolly as she approached. David nodded giving the two women one last curious look before he headed into the storage room. "How can I help you Miranda?" Lily responded as she approached the woman.
I am enquiring as to the Architecture etchings by Jerry Gerard Di Falco." Miranda stated as she watched Lily take measure of her. The interactions with the family had been limited and painful at times for her wife. Perhaps it was time to find out why.
"So you remember which ones? We had two sets I believe." Lily stated as she motioned to the woman and walked toward another room of the gallery. Miranda noticed a beautiful watercolor along the way that Caroline would like and decided perhaps today would cover more than one of the Priestly ladies gifts.
"Yes, I believe it was 'Faces on The Roof Of Amiens Cathedral.' Not the negative image, but the original." Miranda said as Lily brought her to the work she wanted. "Yes, this is the one. I wish to purchase it along with the watercolor in the other room. I believe Caroline would enjoy it." Lily nodded making note of the two pieces.
"Caroline will love Soul Freedom by Michelle Wiarda. She definitely takes after you in the area artistic brilliance. I will get these packaged and delivered. When do you want them delivered to the townhouse?" Lily asked aloofly. The impersonal attitude was grating on Miranda so she made a momentary decision.
"What is your issue Lily?" Lily turned walking toward the desk in the back as Miranda followed. "You have been angry with Andrea for a long time now. Your interactions while respectful tend to be aloof and frigid. Since you are a dear friend to Andrea I would like to know how long before you abandon her in body as you have in emotion?" Lily gripped the paper crumpling it before her as she scowled.
"That's rich! Me, abandon Andrea. Ha!" Lily sneered as she looked up at the editor. "Andrea is the one that abandoned her friends. Doug, Nate, me, even you Miranda I believe in Paris. We never abandoned her. Andrea did all the abandoning." Lily's barely contained anger lashed out at the editor. "She gave up everything for you! Then she abandoned even you, not being able to take the heat of the dragon! How does it feel to be one of the abandoned Miranda?" Lily's upbraided and castigated the fashion icon hitting sensitive spots on Miranda's heart. "Don't think she won't do it again! It's just a matter of time. You've changed her from sweet innocent Andrea into someone I barely recognize at times!" Lily turned to look out the window trying to control her anger. "She loved Nate! But no, you had to interfere with that too breaking them apart. Now look at her." It took Miranda a few seconds before she could center herself, remind herself that this was one of Andrea's friends and not to totally emulate the woman.
"Yes! Now look at her Lily." She is just like you and Doug!" Lily turned around attempting to deny it, but Miranda held up her hand. "No, no. Now it'ss my turn. First of all, I did not break up Nate and Andrea that occurred as Andrea changed over time maturing becoming an adult in this world. Nate also matured, allowed to be gone as much as he wanted, but when Andrea had to work late or needed to be gone that was inexcusable. Why the double standard? I'll tell you why, because she is a woman and should fit into the idea of barefoot, pregnant, and in the kitchen. Obey the man and be ready at his beck and call. Andrea is not that type of woman. Most women are not!" Miranda raged coldly toward her wife's friend. Secondly, Andrea did not abandon you. She had work like you, Doug, and Nate did? How many times could you not meet your friends because of gallery showings, needing to meet with artists, and needing to set up a show? How many times did Doug have to travel for his job, attend team meetings for days, and just was too tired?" Miranda now rounded the desk getting into Lily's face making sure she heard it all. "Nate, Oh Yes, precious Nate! Nate who spent till two in the morning as a sous chef cleaning and prepping for the next day, following along with the Master chef before the sun rose to see how to pick the best fish, vegetables, spices from the markets of New York, and parties he cooked for spent time to meet the right people. Do not begin to lay all the blame at Andrea's feet. You were all growing up finding out that a career is much different from a fast food job. It requires passionate devotion! Something you were all learning at the time. Unfortunately for Andrea she was a few steps behind and had friends who couldn't understand. So instead they decided to cast blame on the one person who saw it all happening and tried to explain it to them; so called friends. Only to find they were less understanding and more judgmental!" Miranda spat viciously as she walked to the window Lily had been staring out. "Finally, yes she left me. I wanted to transform her into a premier editor a replacement for me one day. She could have had it all. Yet, she wanted the one thing I wasn't offering her, my heart. So she guarded her heart when she thought her love would never be requited by leaving me. How thankful I am that she found her heart more important than her job! She returned to me after over two years of slow reknitting of disillusion by friends, family, and me! She took us all back Lily, all except Nate for which I will ever be thankful!" Miranda's rage finally spent on the young woman she turned back giving her a measured look. "She took us back when she could have kept walking away." Miranda whispered as Lily looked up. Lily wiped her eyes as she handed a tissue to Miranda. Miranda gently dabbed at her eyes even though not a single tear had fallen.
"Yes, she did take us back." Lily said looking embarrassed and forlorn remembering that first time seeing Andrea after months without a single visit. "God, how could she take us back after how terrible we were to her?"
"Because that's Andrea's true nature and we should be forever grateful for it." Miranda stated softly taking a deep breath centering her. "You grew up Lily; I think it's time you acknowledged Andrea grew up too." Lily nodded finally finding the anger gone and just deeper warmth that her friend still cared.
"Thank you Miranda. I think I've been hiding the truth from myself for a long time. I'm also sorry. I can see Andrea loves you deeply, you didn't deserve my harsh words." Lily said moving around the desk and in front of the woman. "If you can see your way clear I'd like to start again." Lily said holding out her hand and smiling. "Hi, I'm Lily, Andrea's best friend." Miranda debated for only a few seconds then smirked.
"A pleasure to meet you Lily, I'm Miranda, Andrea's love." Both women shook hands and burst out laughing.
"Alright, let's see when you want this delivered." Lily had said and everything had gone smoothly since then. Miranda had learned the gifts Andrea gave came not in the form of monetary value, but in the form of love, friendship, and family. They were invaluable. Miranda could work all her life and give all she had to Andrea still it would never equal what the young woman had given her. Miranda felt the gentle fingers of someone sliding softly through her hair as they hummed softly as she came back to present. Andrea was sitting on the arm of the chair just watching her giving soft caresses and a gentle lullaby.
"Hello my love, time for bed. House is all locked up, family is snug as a bug in the rug, and you seem to be drifting off on me." Andrea said as she helped Miranda to her feet. Miranda wrapped her arms around Andrea softly kissing her.
"Not drifting, just remembering how my life changed after you came into it." Miranda spoke tenderly.
"Hmmm, so sort of a bull in a China shop." Andrea giggled as they headed toward their room. Miranda kissed her love on the top of the head as they walked.
"Exactly!" Miranda said chuckled as Andrea nipped her ear sending a shiver down her spine and warming her heart.
Merry Christmas