Chapter 13
Andy arrived at the all too familiar town house, feeling a hint of nausea at the thought of her previous arrivals at the same place. She realized then that she did not miss working for the woman, no, quite the contrary. She much preferred being on the other side of things; with the woman instead of against her.
Smoothing the front of her vintage black jacket, all the way down her cream colored skirt, she readied herself to see Miranda for the first time in what seemed like days. It had been a week since they'd last had dinner together, and the week had been long and tedious. Andy wanted nothing more than to wrap her arms tightly around the older editor and kiss her into submission, but she knew, as soon as the door opened and Caroline peaked her head out, that there would be no such thing that evening. As long as the girls were around, kisses were not plausible.
"Come in, Andrea." Caroline instructed, much like her mother might have a year ago.
"Thank you." Andy smiled and stepped inside, hit by a wonderful aroma that seemed to be coming from the kitchen.
"Mom's in the living room."
"Thanks." Andy ruffled her hair and stepped forward, surprised when Miranda's form appeared at the sitting area's door. It nearly took Andy's breath away to see the woman, looking eloquent as ever in a muted brown shirt and equally chic looking trousers. Her glasses were on, and she whisked them off, her eyes never leaving Andy's as she did so.
"Good evening, Andrea. I'm glad you could come." Andy was glad Miranda had spoken first, she could hardly formulate words. The impulse was to fly to her arms, and kiss her, but Caroline, and soon her sister Cassidy's, presence in the room held her back.
"Thank you for having me." Was all Andy could think of to say.
And without looking at either of her daughters, Miranda simply said, "girls, go wash up for dinner. I think it's almost ready."
And the girls, after glancing at one another, raced up the stairs and out of sight. Miranda adjusted her trousers over her hips and glanced away from Andy, up the stairs, checking to make sure her daughters were, indeed, out of sight. Running her tongue across her lips, she turned her attention back to Andy and smiled.
Andy could hardly find her feet, so she was glad when Miranda came towards her, locking their lips together for the briefest of greeting kisses. "I've been waiting all week for that." Miranda smugly grinned, and then turned, disappearing into the living room.
Andy realized she had intended for her to follow, and so she quickly caught up to the older woman, finding her mixing a drink at her mini-bar.
"Want anything?"
"Um, whatever you're having, I suppose." Andy shrugged, watching as vodka was poured and precisely mixed, then divided into glasses.
Miranda handed her the drink, sipping her own. Their hands brushed during the exchange and Miranda's eye-brow raised. "The girls think you're here to discuss articles."
Andy nodded, having wondered what Miranda's excuse would be.
"They, for some reason, remember you."
"We had several brief encounters." Andy nervously ran her hand through her hair, wishing the girls were gone so that she didn't have to censor herself from grabbing Miranda and kissing her, touching her…
"Mom, we're all ready." Caroline announced, suspiciously eyeing her mother's close proximity to her guest.
"And dinner's on the table." Cassidy added, also watching.
Andy felt completely awkward, like she was on display. But Miranda's warm hand, guiding her into the dining room made her feel like it was all right, like she wasn't out of place.
Dinner, at first, was quite awkward. Miranda couldn't seem to take her eyes off of Andy, and Andy profusely blushed, but then tried to hide it, because she didn't want the girls thinking anything about her relationship with their mother.
Caroline continually eyed them suspiciously, not really sure about what was happening.
They ate mostly in silence. Every now and then Miranda would cut through the quiet and inquire about her daughter's days. Cassidy proudly boosted that she'd gotten an A on her History exam and Caroline had kicked her under the table, resulting in discipline from Miranda, which was quite a chilling experience. Even Andy became afraid to cross her. But when neither of her daughters were looking, Miranda winked at Andy and she relaxed, almost laughing out loud at her momentary childlike fear of the woman.
After the main course of food, Caroline asked if she could be excused. She seemed quite displeased that there was a guest. She feigned homework, though Andy suspected she'd probably call her friends and chat, what with her mother occupied with Andy.
Shortly after, though not quite as rushed to leave, Cassidy excused herself from the table.
Miranda allowed her to go, and then began picking up the used dishes. Andy hadn't expected her to perform such a task, but there was Miranda, picking up plates and carrying them off to the kitchen. She decided she would do the same, make it go faster. But much to her relief, the woman merely placed the plates by the sink, not bothering to wash them and place them in the dishwasher. Instead, she grabbed Andy around the waist and kissed her, their lips gliding together, gently at first, then more frantically before Miranda pulled away.
There were the girls to consider, the girls who might barge in at any moment.
And Andy wasn't quite sure they liked that she was there.
"Oh, they're just annoyed because I haven't done anything alone with them for awhile." Miranda waved it off, moving to the living room area once more, filling up her drink.
"Well maybe I shouldn't have…"
"No, I wanted you here." Miranda quickly kissed her again before motioning for her to follow her.
Andy frowned, but then followed after, like a lost puppy dog. She suppressed the question that was on the tip of her tongue, and allowed herself to be led up two flights of stairs and in to what looked like an office. Miranda closed the door behind them.
Andy fell into a huge, plush, black-leather chair and watched as Miranda, once again adjusted her shirt, and then came towards her. "I noticed your writing has improved. Did that weekend in Chicago help you?"
"I'm not sure. I think I might have been too distracted to learn much." Andy laughed, suddenly feeling nervous as Miranda leaned slightly against her desk, sipping her drink. She raised an eyebrow at Andy's comment and laughed.
"That was not my intention."
"I know." Andy rubbed her hands together.
"You're nervous." Miranda noted, setting her drink down on the uncluttered, meticulously arranged desk.
"No I'm not." Andy quickly answered, though her hand shook when she released it from her other hand.
Miranda just smiled. "Why?" She came closer and reached out a hand for Andy. "There's no need to be nervous." She pulled Andy up and ran her hand gently over Andy's cheek, fingers trailing through her dark brown hair. Their lips collided and Miranda soothed all of Andy's worked up nerves. Her hands steadied and she allowed them to roam over Miranda's slender back.
Lips fought hungrily against each other; Miranda's hands roamed freely. She broke away from the kiss, her fingers finding their way to Andy's buttoned black jacket. Andy looked deep into Miranda's wondering eyes and smiled, leaning up to kiss her again, allowing the older woman to have access. Miranda's finger successfully unbuttoned Andy's jacket, and slightly slipped it off her shoulders before returning to her white button up. Before continuing, their lips connected and Andy watched, bemused, as Miranda coolly and confidentially slipped her warm hand into Andy's now opened shirt. Her fingers moved smoothly and swiftly across Andy's smooth skin, slipping between her bra and bare skin, fingers grazing against Andy's warm breasts. Andy moaned and allowed her lips to collide tenderly against Miranda's.
Through their movements, Andy found herself backed against a bookcase, oddly aroused by the uneven surface behind her. Miranda was pushing her against the bumpy books, the older woman's hands freely touching, trying to get as close to Andy as possible without going too far. Their lips fought, parting, reaching. They were breathing heavily; sucking, biting at one another.
Neither noticed when the door clicked open and a young red-head peeked inside.
"Mom!"
Miranda jumped and instantly separated herself from Andrea, hands going to her lips, rooming to smooth herself out. She stared at her daughter, eyes wide, challenging her daughter with an unspoken question: 'What?' Her back was turned to Andy who had turned away from Miranda' intruding daughter. Her cheeks flushed and her fingers fumbled as they tried to rebutton her shirt and adjust her jacket.
"What are you doing mom?"
"Why didn't you knock or something?" Miranda groaned, her voice not raising, just remaining as flat as always.
"Why are you making out with your ex-employee?" Her daughter's voice was accusing, mad.
"Um, I think I'd better…I mean…" Andrea didn't know what to do. She ran her hand through her ruffled hair and moved to leave, but Miranda stopped her.
"No, don't go. Stay." Miranda lifted her abandoned drink from its spot on her desk and sipped it, her eyes not leaving her completely enraged daughter.
"No mom, I want her to leave!" Caroline's voice was bigger, more severe than Miranda's.
"She is not going anywhere." Though Miranda's voice sent a chill down Andrea's spine.
"No, I'd really better go." Andy stepped away from Miranda, not really wanting to walk past Caroline, but she would have to in order to exit.
Miranda ran her hand through her hair, clearly frustrated. This time she allowed Andrea to leave.
As Andy walked down the stairs she heard Miranda snap. "Caroline, we need to talk."
Andy flew down the stairs, past a confused looking Cassidy, and out the door.
She had no idea what had just happened, but she suddenly felt not welcome in the Priestly household. And it was just then that she realized how complicated this whole relationship was going to be. She hadn't even considered Miranda's girls. The thought hadn't even crossed her mind.
"Fuck." Andy sighed, slamming her head against the cab's window. She was completely aroused and she had just been ousted by her new lover's daughter.
~*~
"What Caroline. What is the issue here?" Miranda was completely enraged. How could her daughter have done such a thing, and behaved in such a manner.
"Mom," Caroline groaned, "you were kissing that woman! That's disgusting."
"No it's not, Caroline. There's nothing wrong with kissing another woman."
"Yes there is mom! It's gross."
Miranda shifted her eyes, running out of justifications for her actions. She took another long sip of her drink and slammed the glass down on her desk. "It is not, Caroline. We are two adults and I do not have to justify my actions to you."
"Exactly mom, you never have to justify anything. I hate you!" Caroline screamed, attempting to flee the room, but Miranda would have none of it. Her heart broke when she heard those words being uttered by her own daughter. She could handle anyone else saying it, but not her. Not her baby.
Miranda stormed after her daughter, grabbing her arm, and crushing her with a hug.
"Get off of me!!" Caroline screamed. "Get away!"
Cassidy appeared around the corner and stared at her mother and her sister. She was quite perturbed.
"Caroline, I love you. I don't want to do anything to hurt you. I'm sorry that you're angry with me, but my life does not reflect on your life. If you think what I did was wrong then I sincerely apologize, but I won't change my actions to suit you."
"Let go." Caroline wiggled her way out of her mother's arms. And with that she turned and raced up the stairs, up to her bedroom.
Miranda turned, her eyes filling with tears. She hadn't expected this; she hadn't intended this to happen. She covered her face with her hand, and then she turned and found Cassidy staring worriedly in her direction.
"Mom?" Cassidy had never seen her mother like this before. It frightened her. "What's wrong?" Cassidy inquired, moving closer to her mother. She wanted to hug her, to tell her it was okay. Caroline was just going through a weird phase or something. But her mother looked so unapproachable.
But suddenly, through Miranda's strange tears, she let a small smile show through. Cassidy immediately wrapped her arms around her mother, allowing her to be hugged like her mother had hugged her years ago.
~*~
"What happened?" Cassidy inquired, sneaking her way into her sister's room, crawling onto her bed with her.
Caroline flipped the channel on the TV and sighed. "I caught mom kissing that woman that was here tonight."
"Andrea?"
Caroline nodded.
"Really?"
"Yeah, it was gross. She was like touching her and stuff. Disgusting." Caroline groaned.
"Well, you know she's dated a woman before." Cassidy shrugged, not as put off by this as her twin.
"What? How did you…"
"I found some old pictures of mom and this woman, when mom was younger." Cassidy finished her sister's sentence.
"Oh." Caroline simply stated, before turning back to the television. "It's still wrong."
"No it's not." Cassidy scoffed.
"Well it is when it's our mom."
Cassidy shrugged. "Yeah, I guess so."
"Well, whatever. I don't want to talk to her. She's horrible. Tonight was supposed to be our night."
"I know, but clearly she wanted to see her."
"Eww…let's not talk about…"
"Okay." Cassidy nodded, turning to watch whatever it was that her sister was watching.
~*~
Miranda felt completely horrible. She wiped away her tears along with her make-up, removing her clothes, dropping them on the floor of her walk-in closet. She would pick them up later. She grabbed her robe and then walked down the stairs, down to claim "the book" that she had heard Emily deliver earlier that night.
She brought it back upstairs, but before she could head back to her bedroom, she heard the TV on upstairs. All the way up in Caroline's room. She moved to take "the book" to her room, but then decided against it. Instead she began the descent up to Caroline's room. Perhaps she could talk to Caroline, convince her that she didn't, after all, hate her.
It was silly, really. She knew her daughter didn't really hate her, couldn't hate her. But it hurt her. It had shaken her to her core that her daughter could possibly hate her.
But when she arrived at her daughter's door and peered in, she found her beautiful twin daughters asleep together on Caroline's bed. The TV was on, blaring loudly at the both of them. Miranda moved to turn it off, and then moved to tuck her babies in. She kissed each of them lightly on the forehead and then moved to the doorway, regarding them from afar.
They looked so innocent, so young, beautiful. Miranda loved them very much, and she realized that these past few weeks she hadn't been showing them that. Hell, the past few years. She'd been so absent.
They were human, like her. They needed someone. And running them through husband after husband was not good for them. She knew it. They couldn't take another relationship, another separation. She didn't want to hurt them again.
And suddenly fear seized her. Andrea was another person. Another intrusion into her girls lives.
But Miranda wanted her so badly…it made her tingle all over just to think about the younger woman.
What was she supposed to do?
TBC...grazie pour le reviews! More porfavor!!!!!