Chapter 3

Andy opened the door to Miranda's room carefully and peeked inside. She saw the girls at her side holding her hands as they whispered sweet nothings and encouragement to her.

Miranda was still unconscious. She closed the door quietly not to disturb the girls' moment with her mother. She walked over to the foot of the bed and looked at her love. She was so pale, looked so innocent and helpless. She was shocked by the sight of Miranda but she held it together for the girls. "Hey girls, are you okay?" Andy stood behind them holding both on their shoulders and squeezed them into her body. They allowed it and tilted their heads back.

"I am scared. I wish she would say something, she looks so sick." Caroline said as tears rolled down her face.

"What if she dies, Andy? I don't want to lose her..." Cassidy sobbed and hugged her sister.

"Girls, let me tell you something about your mother. You may see her lying here and think she is weak but she is not, she is very strong and she doesn't want to leave you and she won't, okay?" Andy hugged them both until they calmed down a bit.

The nurse came in to prepare Miranda for her surgery. "Hi girls, Miss, I am going to prepare your mom for her angioplasty to get rid of the small blockage she has in her heart and then she will be just fine. The procedure will only take about forty-five minutes so you may want to wait outside and I will come and update you as soon as it is done, okay?"

"Okay, Sarah. We have to go now, mommy but we'll see you soon. We love you." They each kissed their mom very carefully on her cheek and left the room with Andy. "I'm just going to nip back in there. I will be out in just a second, girls." Andy told them. The girls nodded and went back to the waiting area to find their father. "I will be right out, Sarah. I know she is expected and she hates it to be late." She smiled at the nurse.

Andy went to Miranda's side and held her hand. "Miranda? If you can hear me I just wanted to tell you that...you scared the crap out of me today and you better not leave those girls...or me..." She caressed her hand, brought it to her lips and kissed it. "I love you, Miranda." She let go of her hand and nodded at the nurse as she left the room with tears rolling down her cheeks. She didn't know she could cry so much.

She went back to the waiting area and to the girls. She called Nigel to inform him of the news. He said he would come by the following day. He was comforting her and she actually felt better after a joke or two from him. He was such a good friend.

Suddenly Andy had an idea and stood up. "Girls, what do you think? We could drive to the townhouse and get some things for your mom, at least then we will be occupied by something useful."

"Dad, can we go with Andy?" Caroline asked hesitantly.

Greg nodded thankfully at Andy. "Of course you can, I will wait here and call if they have any news, okay babies?"

"Okay." They agreed in unison.

Andy called Roy for him to drive them and he told them he'd be there in five minutes.

"Okay. I am glad you are coming with me. I wouldn't have a clue what your mom would want to wear or where her clothes and toiletries even are." Andy said while walking to the back entrance with the girls after Roy had advised the paparazzi was camped out the front of the hospital.

They held on Andy's hand and went with her silently. They were worried and sad. When they got into the car she held the girls in her arms.

"I am really glad you are here, Andy. Dad isn't good in these situations." Cassidy said.

Caroline continued to speak for her sister, "Yeah, and we're sorry about the prank with the book that time."

"Don't worry, it is okay. I am glad you're letting me be here for you. I really l-like your mom and I know she would appreciate it if you weren't alone right now."

"We know she wants us to be cared for," Caroline muttered.

"Do you really like my mom?" Cassidy asked. "Because other than us and maybe Uncle Nigel, not a lot of people "like" her," she added.

"Yes, I really do. I care about her more than you guys could possibly imagine. I've learned so much from her and I can see she is a very special person." Andy said blushing a little.

"We like you too and we know mom likes you too. When she is home from the hospital you should come over for dinner and a movie so you guys can be friends. We think mommy needs a friend." Caroline said and Cassidy nodded her agreement.

The twins both snuggled in until they reached the townhouse. They gathered a few things together and since they were done fairly quickly Andy suggested to fix some peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. They ate one right away and took some, and some bottled water, with them for their dad. He loved them and he hadn't eaten dinner yet.

Only an hour had passed before they were back at the hospital. Greg hadn't been given any news and he was thankful for the sandwiches. They'd all just sat down when Sarah came to them. "Your mom is out of surgery. It seems everything went perfectly well and you can all go and see her, but only for a couple of minutes. She'll need to rest for a while now."

The girls nodded and followed Sarah and looked over at Andy and their Dad.

"You go ahead," Greg advised Andy. "I will check on her tomorrow when I bring the girls." Andy went over to him and hugged him.

"Girls, I want you back here in five minutes so we can go home. You still need to go to school tomorrow and your mom needs her rest. I'll pick you up early from school tomorrow and bring you to see her again, okay?" Greg told them.

They agreed and went with Sarah. They went in and it appeared that Miranda was sleeping.

"Hey mommy, we are glad you are safe now," Caroline said.

"We just wanted to check on you and tell you good night. We love you, mommy." Cassidy said.

They knew she was still sleeping very deeply but they kept talking to her for the five minutes they'd been allocated and then hugged Andy and left.

Andy was now alone with the sleeping editor. She sat next to her bed and held her hand before laying her head down next to the hand.

"You have to be fine, okay? You just...have to, for the girls and...Well, for me." She didn't see that Miranda had opened her eyes and heard what she said.

"My...Andrea..." Was all Miranda was able to say.

Andy's head shot up. She looked at very tired blue eyes and smiled. Tears of joy and relief were burning her cheeks. Andy took her hand carefully and kissed it. "Hi, yes I'm here."

TBC