Part 37
Dinner with Naomi and her family is a pleasant experience and to Miranda's surprise, it is easy to smile and participate in the slightly irreverent conversation. She sits next to Andrea and on her other side sits Max, a handsome young man with a mop of blond hair, which he keeps flicking away from his eyes. He mercilessly teases his parents and seems genuinely intrigued by her and Andrea.
"You were chased down the highway?" Max's eyes glitter with excitement. "Like in a James Bond movie. Or Die Hard!"
"How understanding of you, my son." Naomi groans as she passes around yet another bowl, this time containing a mix of steamed vegetables. "Moira and Andrea have been through such an ordeal and it was certainly not to entertain you, you movie freak."
"I get that," Max says with a self-deprecating smile. "I just think it has to be the most interesting thing that's happened in our town for ages. And to think that my parents were involved in the rescue. You had zero coolness factor before, Dad, but things are looking up."
"Dear God." Ulrich sits opposite of Andrea and looks at his son mournfully. "We failed at bringing you up. I apologize for this boy having no manners. I think military school…or perhaps my old stomping grounds, might be in his near future."
Max merely beams and actually pats Miranda's hand. "Don't listen to them. They use that line a lot and I'm not going anywhere. Except to college next year, in the US."
"Really?" Andrea leans forward to look at Max past Miranda who can't help be charmed by the boy. "Where?"
"I have applied for scholarships and my hope is to be accepted to Yale," Max says.
Miranda listens to him talk about his hopes and plans for the future while his parents exchanged smiles. The ambiance is that of acceptance and warmth, and underneath the table, Waldo has his head on her feet. She has no idea what the deal is with this dog, but he's clearly decided to adopt her and Andrea into his family unit, which makes Miranda's heart clench harder with each beat.
"So, Moira, what do you do?" Naomi asks as Max's topic about education dies down. "I've tried to guess all day, and now I'm really curious."
Miranda doesn't hesitate. If these kind people are in jeopardy for coming to her and Andrea's rescue, knowing some random details about her life won't change that. "I restore old paintings. Andrea too." She sends Andrea a look that she hopes is reassuring.
"Oh, I love watching such things on YouTube." Naomi sticks her fork into an innocent piece of carrot and waves it in the air. "The results are amazing."
"It's very rewarding." Miranda nods. A pang of remorse about the possibility of her having to give up her company and the friends that work for her, makes her hands clench the utensils.
"Sounds like it. You work for museums and such?" Naomi chews on the carrot.
"That and private art collectors, yes." Miranda wills herself to relax again.
The conversation moves away from her occupation and onto other topics as they finish the meal. Once they leave the dinner table and settle down in the living room, where Miranda sits down on the smaller of the two couches with Andrea, she can feel the fatigue was over her again. If she wasn't so sure she wouldn't be able to sleep during the night if she went back to bed now, Miranda would have excused herself in an instant.
"You okay?" Andrea murmurs and runs her hand along Miranda's leg.
"Yes. Just tired." It is all she can confess at this point. The fact is, she's exhausted enough to hear a buzz in her ears and her vision is blurry.
"Hm. You're awfully pale still." Andrea slides closer. "Lean on me. I think we're in for a movie night. You can just chill."
Ulrich began browsing one of their streaming services and soon their hosts had decided on a movie. Miranda was grateful it wasn't an action movie, or something with loud music or flickering lights. The romantic period drama wasn't catching her interest, but at least it wasn't assaulting her senses. She leaned against Andrea's shoulder, letting her head rest there.
Once the movie is over, Ulrich and Max take Waldo out for his evening stroll.
Miranda is about to close the door to the guestroom when she hears the men return. She can't make out their words, but something in their tone makes her return to the center of the house. "Something wrong?"
Ulrich is unfastening Waldo's harness and shakes his head. "There's a car driving slowly along the streets."
"When they passed us, they slowed down and lowered the right front window." Max takes over as he hangs his jacket away. "Dad doesn't agree, but I can swear I saw a gun, or perhaps a taser. Something black and shiny. The guy wore a black knitted hat that seemed very thick around his forehead. I can picture him pulling down like a balaclava." Max seems half excited, half spooked.
"Did you recognize them?" Miranda turns to Ulrich just as Andrea joins them.
"Is it them?" Andrea's lips are tense.
Miranda ignores her headache and keeps her gaze locked on Ulrich. "Did you?"
"No. Too dark. Besides, it was Naomi who got a good look at them earlier today. I was driving and cursing you and didn't pay as much attention." Ulrich sighs. "Either way, they didn't follow us home, just drove slowly in the opposite direction. No need to panic."
Miranda has to admire the man's aplomb. "It's admirable of you, but the truth is, we're endangering you by remaining here." She clenches her hands. '
"If you go outside, you'll be exposed. As long as you stay indoors, you'll be fine and so will we," Naomi says calmly. "We'll set the alarm like we always do. If something happens, against all odds, the private security company we use will be here in less than five minutes."
Miranda looks over her shoulder toward Andrea. "What do you think?"
"Going out in the middle of the night will absolutely attract more attention than slipping away in rush hour traffic," Andrea says. "Let's get some more rest and leave early tomorrow morning. It's our best chance."
"All right." Miranda had to put a hand to the wall. "I do need a few more hours of sleep." This fact bothers her more than she's let on. Normally, if injured, Miranda's body's healing qualities make her bounce back a lot faster than this. The fact that the whiplash injury is affecting her still, and like this, is disconcerting. She certainly doesn't like it.
"Can we rent a car around her fairly early in the morning?" Andrea asks their hosts, who shake their heads, all three.
"What about Kleine Berta?" Max asks
"Who's Berta?" Miranda frowned.
"It's Mom's old Volkswagen. From the late sixties but completely restored. She sits in the garage mostly, but Mom takes her out once every two weeks to get her juices going." Max places a hand on Naomi's shoulder. "Why don't we lend it to them and they can just call us and let us know where they leave it once they have another ride arranged?"
The expression in Naomi's eyes grows soft. She leans in and kisses Max's cheek. "We must have done something right while bringing up you and your sister. A brilliant idea."
"We can't take your car!" Miranda has to stop this family before they start pulling money out of their accounts to donate to her and Andrea, or something equally insane.
"Of course not. We fully expect to get it back in mint condition," Naomi says as if it is the most obvious thing in the world. "Whether you drive it to a car rental, and for God's sake don't pick one close by if you do, as they might have it under surveillance, or an airport, just park enough for parking for twenty-four hours. I think it's logical."
"How is it logical?" Andrea asked, sounding taken aback.
"You say you don't want to risk our safety, something I appreciate, and us driving you somewhere can connect the dots so to speak. Also, if you need our help again at one point, you'll have burned that chance if they do make the connection." Naomi nods with emphasis.
"Mom's fond of all kinds of crime and agent movies as if you can't tell." Max smiles, but his eyes are serious. "And she's right. And so am I."
"Ulrich?" Miranda looks over at the soft-spoken man who had just finished wiping off Waldo's paws.
"Naomi is right." Ulrich grunted as he stood. "And Max. You'll take Kleine Berta tomorrow morning and some extra clothes of my wife to wear. You can leave them in the car when you reach where you're going."
Andrea's tears overflowed without warning. Miranda heard a sob behind her and turned in time to see Andrea hide her face in her hands.
"Darling." Miranda wraps her arms around Andrea. "This can work. It will work."
"I know," Andrea manages to say. "It's just…they are so kind…and I'm so tired."
"Poor thing." Naomi takes charge, which Miranda knows is her in her nature. "Take the girl to bed and by all means the dog too. I'll set the alarm and make sure we're all up in time."'
"I'll go and double-check Berta before I'm off to bed so it starts. It has a full tank of gas." Max pats Andrea awkwardly on the back. "It'll be okay."
"It definitely will. We'll make the most of the sleep in your wonderful guest bed. Thank you." Mustering the last of her energy, Miranda nods gratefully to their hosts and walks back to the guestroom with Andrea who is now wiping her cheek and collecting herself.
"I'm sorry. It's just…it got to me." Sitting down on the edge of the bed, Andrea sighs. "I'm supposed to help you, to be of use to you, and yet—"
"And you are. You're more than that. From day one with this, you've stood by me and taken all the risks when you don't have to." Miranda takes Andrea in her arms. "You done in the bathroom?"
"Mm." Andrea nods against Miranda's neck, and even if Miranda is aching all over and so tired she can barely see, the sensation of Andrea's lips against her skin makes her shiver.
"Then go to bed and I'll be right there—now what?" A scratching sound at the door makes them both flinch.
"Waldo," Andrea says and now she chuckles, which makes Miranda like the sweet boy even more. "Go get ready and I'll let him in."
Miranda kisses the top of Andrea's head and walks into the bathroom. As she brushes her teeth, she studies her reflection. She recognizes the look. Eyes a cold, pale blue, lips a thin line, and her jaw set so firmly, her teeth grind hard together. This is the look she has met in mirrors every time she's expected trouble and gone in guns blazing, metaphorically speaking for the most part. This time, she wishes she still was in possession of her weapon, but she isn't.
Going through plan A, B, and C in her mind, she tries to not think to much of the option that means leaving Andrea behind, but it may well come to that. As she returns to the guestroom, she finds Andrea fast asleep facing the wall with Waldo nestled behind her bent knees. So much for properly spooning. Miranda climbs into bed, turns off the light, and manages to find a position where she can wrap her arm around Andrea and still not crowd the dog. As soon as she's settled, a long, lanky, and decidedly furry leg, ends up curled around Miranda's ankles. This makes her smile just as she drifts off to sleep.
xxxxx
Miranda isn't sure what wakes her, just that her heart's pounding—and Waldo is growling.
xxxxx
Continued in part 38