8
Andy Sach's final number was an extravaganza. Party in the USA was the song that was bringing her career back to life. Her first concert performance of it reflected that. Dancers in scantily clad outfits glided around the stage. Pyrotechnics exploded synchronized to the music and lights. In the middle of it all, Andy floated around putting her all into giving her fans what they came to see.
The song ended and the stage went dark. The crowd's noise was so loud it left the Priestly's ears ringing. Andy exited stage left, met by her security team and was quickly led away. Richard appeared and led her girls back to the tour bus. When they arrived Andy was exiting the bathroom and was almost knocked to the floor by Cassidy and Caroline's exuberant hugs.
"Andy that was so awesome!" Cassidy squealed
"We did it! We did it!" Caroline squeezed her.
"You were both fantastic!" Andy hugged them back. Miranda stood back watching the display and waiting.
"I was so incredibly proud of you both!" the singer kissed each girl on the head. "You were perfect, better than we practiced." She laughed, "Maybe I should make you part of my tour."
Miranda jumped in, "I don't think I would like you to perform that particular song for anyone else." She smiled seriously
Andy stood, extracting herself from the girls and met the older woman's gaze. "I don't believe I will ever wish to perform it for anyone else."
Cassidy and Caroline moved to the back of the bus silently. Miranda noticed the movement and she herself moved a step toward Andy.
"I only hope I can touch your heart as eloquently as you have touched mine." Miranda lifted her hand to Andrea's cheek and cupped it in her soft skin.
Andrea tilted her head into the touch and closed her eyes. "You have touched not only my heart but my soul in a way I never knew was possible" the older woman said softly.
When she opened her eyes Miranda was mere inches from her face. "I think" she took a breath as steeled herself to speak, "I think I've fallen in love with you Andrea."
Andrea smiled, "I know I've fallen in love with you Miranda." She waited for the other woman to move.
Miranda closed the inches between them, then sliding her hand from Andrea's cheek to the back of her neck, she leaned into the younger woman and laid her lips onto the singers. Both caught their breath as the kiss deepened. Andrea slid her arms around Miranda's small waist and pulled her body into her own, both moaning into the kiss as their bodies came together for the first time. Fire ignited in them and the kiss became an urgent need to posess each other. Their tongues danced and Miranda raised her other hand to encircle the younger woman's shoulders, tightening the embrace. Finally, only because the need to breath was great, they separated their mouths but not their embrace and rested their foreheads together.
"WOW!" Andrea whispered
"Indeed" Miranda smiled. They stood quietly holding each other, both minds racing, wondering where they went from here.
"Hm" Andrea hummed, "As much as I would love to stand here kissing you for eternity" she blinked slowly at the thought, "I really need to take a shower and get out of these clothes"
Miranda's brow rose
Andrea chuckled, "and get some food in my belly."
Miranda's voice was soft, "I don't want to let you go." She confessed
Andrea stroked the older woman's face, "I hope you feel that way forever" she leaned in and kissed her again. "But right now, Hm," she kissed her again, "we have things we need to take care of and the girls are giggling in the back room."
"Hm" Miranda kissed her again, "you know, they'll never let us forget they knew before we did."
"Would have been nice if they had let us in on it." Andrea chuckled
"I told you they could be little demons" she smiled
As if on cue, Cassidy and Caroline came out of the bedroom and wrapped their arms around the older women. The four stood there holding each other, taking in the happiness of being a family. Truthfully though, they had become a family almost from the day they all had met. Andrea looked into Miranda's peaceful face as she stared lovingly down at her girls. "Dreams do come true" she whispered.
Miranda's face lifted and she looked into loving brown pools, "So it would seem" the older woman moved her hand from around Caroline and ran the back of her fingers gingerly against Andrea's cheek. "Why don't we go home. You can get cleaned up there. The girls need to get to bed, it's been an exciting day," Miranda said, "and we have a lot to discuss."
Andrea sighed, "Okay, let me gather up some clothes to change into after my shower"
"And something to wear tomorrow?" Miranda asked as Andrea was moving to her bedroom. She stopped for a second and the older woman held her breath. Andrea nodded yes without turning around. Miranda let the breath out between her smiling lips.
"I'll just be a minute." The singer replied. Entering her bedroom she mover her hand to her stomach in an attempt to calm the fluttering there.
True to her word Andrea returned quickly and taking in the sight of the family she had fallen in love with said, "Alright. Let's go home." As if it was the most natural statement ever spoken.
During the ride back to the townhouse Cassidy and Caroline regaled their mother with the story of Andrea's idea for them to play in her concert. The older woman found herself staring, more often then not, at the beauty sitting across from her in the limonene. Andrea smiled proudly at her girls while they talked about practicing when Miranda wasn't around and how determined they were to get the song perfect for their mother and Andrea.
"Well your performances were the best I have ever had the pleasure to hear" Miranda stated. "You looked like two professionals with years of experience when you were up there. I have never been prouder of you then I was today." The girls faces glowed and beamed smiles at their mother's words. They both respected and worked for her approval in everything they did. And getting the two women together was just the cherry on top!
Once they entered the townhouse the older woman's nerves went on high alert. She had no idea what to expect. Would she and Andrea become lovers tonight? She'd never been with another woman. What did two women do together? Would she, could she do it? Had Andrea been with a woman before? Would she be able to satisfy the younger woman?
Miranda took a deep breath and sighed, which did not go unnoticed by the singer. Andrea place her hand in the small of Miranda's back and the fashionista relaxed immediately at the contact. "Everything will be okay" the younger woman whispered in her ear as she slid her arm around Miranda's thin waist and pulled her in for a reassuring hug.
"Off to bed bobsies. I'll get Andrea settled and be in to tuck you in."
"Can Andy tuck us in too?" Caroline asked hopefully.
"I'd love to" Andrea replied.
"Go on now. We will be in shortly." The girls bounded up the stairs.
The two older women moved at a slower pace. Holding hands they made their way to Miranda's bedroom. "I thought tonight you might enjoy the opportunity to use a large shower, seeing as how you'll be stuck using the small one on your bus for the next few months."
Andrea noted the light bitterness in Miranda's tone when she voiced the length of their separation to come. "Thank you. That's very sweet of you." Andrea let go of her hand, ready to move toward the bathroom. "I'll just be a few minutes. Why don't you change into something more comfortable, get yourself a glass of wine and meet me back here. She smiled at her love and gave her a quick kiss before she entered the bathroom and closed the door.
Miranda stood for a moment stunned. She had all but expected Andrea to ask her to join her. Maybe the younger woman didn't want her physically. She felt a sudden pain of loss. But it dawned on her, love didn't always mean sex. She loved Andrea with all her heart and they have never shared that particular intimacy. She sighed and moved to the closet to change into a Chanel lounging suit. Dark charcoal grey that made her hair almost glow with the contrast. Then she made her way to the kitchen to pour a glass of wine for herself and a glass of tea for Andrea. Since making the sun tea for their meal last week, the girls had insisted on it being a staple in their refrigerator. Miranda smiled as she poured it, admitting she herself had indulged in the amber drink on occasions she was thinking of the singer and separated from her.
Miranda returned to the bedroom to find the bathroom door open. Andrea was standing in front of the mirror, bent over towel drying her long hair. The older woman sat on the edge of the bed, drinks in hand, admiring the sweat pant clad rear end directly in her line of sight. "Mm" escaped as a shudder ran through her. At that moment her sleeping libido awoke. Images of the young singer began to race through her mind. "Oh my" she spoke with out realizing it.
Andrea turned at the sound behind her to find a completely flushed Miranda, shaking? She watched as the woman lifted the glass of wine to her lips. Her hand was trembling. Andrea looked into her eyes and even from the distance separating them, she saw the desire in her dilated pupils. The older woman gazed at her like she was lost in another world.
Andrea walked over to her slowly and took the glass of tea from her. The older woman visibly jumped at the contact. "Sweetheart" she looked at Miranda, "take a breath."
Miranda did as she was told and relaxed as the air left her lungs. She smiled shyly at the younger woman and Andrea smiled back, then went back into the bathroom to comb out her hair, watching the other woman in the mirror as she went. The singer finished combing out her hair and pulled it up in a ponytail to dry. She turned and left the bathroom, tea in hand, she held the other out to Miranda. "Shall we go say goodnight to the girls?"
Miranda nodded and rose taking the offered hand in hers, she still was unable to find her voice. Andrea squeezed the small hand and looked at the other woman. "It'll be okay. I promise."
"Okay" Miranda finally got out, knowing Andrea was reading her feelings correctly.
They headed off to the girls room, setting their drinks on a hall table before they entered. The girls were tucked into their beds, both wearing sleepy smiles on their faces. Miranda approached Cassidy and Andrea Caroline.
"Goodnight bobsie. I love you." Miranda said kissing her on the forehead.
"Goodnight mom, I love you too"
Andrea brushed Caroline's hair behind her ear, "Goodnight Mozart" she smiled.
"Goodnight Andy. I'm glad we met you."
"I'm glad too." Andrea smiled, "sweet dreams."
The two women traded places.
"Goodnight bobsie. I love you." Miranda kissed Caroline's forehead as she did Cassidy's.
"Goodnight mom. I love you too" she replied with a yawn that made Miranda smile.
At Cassidy's bed, "Goodnight Bach" Andrea grinned. Cassidy giggled, "Night Andy. Thanks for today."
"You are very welcome," she gently tickled the girl's belly through the covers. "Sweet dreams."
Andrea and Miranda moved to leave the room, "Andy"
"Yes Caroline"
"Will you be here when we get up in the morning?"
Andrea took Miranda's hand in hers and looked at her when she answered, "Yes Caroline, I will. Now go to sleep, both of you." She blew both girls a kiss.
She and Miranda left the room, closing the door behind them. They picked up their drinks and headed back the in the direction they had come. As Miranda approached her bedroom door Andrea pulled them to a stop.
"Why don't we go to the den for a while" Andrea saw the look of rejection on the other woman's face. "Oh no sweetheart." She pulled Miranda to her. "Don't ever think that. Of course I want to be with you."
"Do you?" Miranda's fears resurfacing
"Oh God yes!" she kissed her. "I can hardly think of anything else."
"Really?"
"Of course. But if I go back into that bedroom with you right now we will not talk." She smiled broadly, "and there are so many things we need to talk about." She kissed the older woman again, this time deeply, slowly, allowing her lips to linger on Miranda's.
Miranda sighed deeply. "Okay" she turned to lead them down to the den.
Instead of their normal seats in the plush leather chairs they sat close together on the couch. Andrea pulled the older woman to her, allowing Miranda to rest her head on the singer's shoulder. Andrea began to run her fingers through the soft silky white hair. She felt Miranda relax against her.
"I feel as if I'm the child and you're the adult when you hold me." The older woman admitted and Andrea squeezed her tighter.
"Is that a bad thing?"
"I, I don't know. No. I never felt such a sense of peace and wholeness as when I'm with you." She looked up at Andrea. "It's a very new and somewhat scary concept for me."
"It is for me too. I've never felt this strongly for anyone before."
They sat lost in their own thoughts for a while.
"Have you," Andrea tried to gather her words. She had things to tell Miranda and it truly frightened her how she would react. "Have you ever had a…a relationship with another woman?"
Miranda tensed under her just a little. "No." she looked up into Andrea's eyes, "have you?"
Andrea steeled herself. "It's the only kind of relationship I've ever had." She waited.
"You're, you're gay?" Miranda asked with bewilderment.
"Surprise" Andrea smiled
Miranda pulled away. Confusion, fear uncertainty all moving across her expression as Andrea watched. "Why…why didn't you tell me?"
"So many reasons" the singer turned in her seat to face the other woman, tucking her legs under her and taking the woman's hands into her own. She took a deep breath. "I've known since I was fifteen. You are only the second person I have ever told." She chuckled, "actually, you're the first. The other person told me."
"Your grandmother." It was a statement.
"Grams knew me better than I knew myself." She smiled remembering fondly. "She was aware, especially in my business, that it could ruin me, my career, and it was just taking off. In public I never dated, male or female, and because I was so young and focused on my career, no one ever questioned it."
"But you've had relationships?"
Andrea sighed, "more like one night stands." She waited for Miranda to be disgusted but she only saw sorrow in her eyes. "When I was on the road I could disguise myself and go out to the bars. I would choose a pretty, drunk woman and" she lowered her eyes, "I don't need to tell you the rest. The next morning I would be gone before she woke and back on the road to the next town, no one the wiser."
Miranda ran her hand across the singers cheek and lifted her chin. "You're afraid, you think I won't want this because of your past. I'm not so pure Andrea. I married twice to advance my career. We know how that turned out. My precious girls are the best thing to come from those mistakes. I wouldn't take anything back or change what I've done because of them." She leaned in and kissed the younger woman's lips softly. When they separated both caught a slight intake of breath.
"This is not going to be an easy relationship Miranda." She looked at their hands again then back up into those blue pools.
"Any relationship with me is difficult." The older woman smiled. "I'm controlling, opinionated, selfish, single minded in my work, demanding." She sighed, "and I'm not that young anymore Andrea."
"Do you know when I fell in love with you?" she brushed the single white lock out of her eye. "Don't laugh." She grinned, "the first day I met you. The girls ran into your arms and the love you poured on them without being a slobbering mom melted my heart, then you stood up and looked at me and set my whole body on fire. You were the most beautiful, confident, loving and sexiest woman I have ever seen."
"Oh my" Miranda gasped, "I guess I know how you got all those women into your bed." She chuckled
"That's NOT what this is Miranda." Finding the comment hurt when she knew it wasn't meant that way.
"Darling I know that" the older woman soothed not realizing the bite her words held. "I'm sorry. I know that."
"Miranda I want to spend the rest of my life with you and Caroline and Cassidy. I have never felt so strongly about anything in my life, including my music. But it is going to be very, very difficult. I, as do you, live in the public eye, which means, for a while, we will have to love in the shadows. I don't know if that's something I can or want to ask that of you." Andrea had tears rolling down her face.
"Why would it be your decision alone? Why wouldn't be me asking it of you?" Miranda grinned with a raised brow.
Andrea laughed softly wiping her tears. "you're right. Does that mean we're in this together?"
"So it would seem." At that the two women leaned into each other and kissed. It was a kiss filled with love and hope and future. When they separated, for air, Andrea pulled the older woman down to rest her head in her lap. Miranda closed her eyes as Andrea again began stoking her hair.
Eyes closed, "I never thought I'd meet anyone my equal in so many ways, let alone fall in love with them." Her hand squeezed Andrea's leg lovingly. "And a woman no less."
"Hm. Me either. I spend so much time keeping people at arms length waiting to see what they want from me." She chuckled, "the woman part however, was pretty much a given."
"Lonely isn't it." The older woman sighed.
"I'm not lonely anymore." Andrea smiled
Miranda turned to look at her, "nor am I."
"The next few months are going to be very hard." Andrea gazed into her eyes.
"Indeed. What am I going to do without you for six months?" her smile fading to sorrow.
"Or I without you?" Andrea smiled pulling Miranda's smile back onto her beautiful face. "You are so beautiful."
"If I didn't know better I'd think you were drunk." She laughed
"But I am. I'm drunk on you."
Miranda blushed "there is no doubt you have a way with words."
"I only speak the truth, to you anyway." She chuckled
The fashionista chuckled with her, then her voice was serious again. "What are we going to do?"
Andrea was stoking her hair. "I have a few ideas." Miranda turned to face her. "The first eight weeks will be the hardest I think. I'm heading to the west coast Sunday. I'll then have seven shows in the following seven weeks."
"Goodness" It hit Miranda how intense touring must be. How it could pull someone as lonely as Andrea must have been into it's dark side.
"Hmm. But then I have a two week, roughly two week, break, so I was thinking that maybe if you could get time off we could spend it together skiing in Colorado."
Miranda's eyes grew wide. "Really."
"Well I have a small place there, so it would be private and it should coincide with the start of the girls summer break."
"I see. It seems you have thought about this quite a bit."
"There's more." Andrea was starting to let the excitement of her planning escape since the older woman didn't appear to be objecting. "From there I will have a six show, six week run, then back to Tennessee for two weeks and a benefit concert I was asked to do. The girls would still be out of school. We'd be at my home again. I'd love to show them the ranch and where I grew up." Her dazzling smile was melting Miranda's heart all over again.
"Is that all?" Her brow raised as a smile moved across her lips.
"Almost" Andrea almost bounced on the couch, causing Miranda to sit up and face her again. "The last eight weeks I have seven shows then I will be back here before the CMA's."
"I assume you'll want to inform the girls of this plan of yours tomorrow."
"Yes please." She leaned in to kiss the older woman.
"Why do I have the feeling. " kiss, "I can spend," kiss, "the rest," kiss, "of my life," kiss, "trying," kiss, "and never learn," kiss, "to say," kiss, "no to you" Miranda grinned.
"I," kiss, "sure hope," kiss, "you try."
"Very well." Miranda pulled back, "have Amelia send Emily the dates…."
"Nope. I'll take care of everything and make sure Amelia gets all the information to Emily." Andrea interrupted
Miranda glared at her, "I have no intention of letting…."
Again Andrea interrupted her this time by placing her finger on the older woman's lips to silence her. "I want to do this."
"But"
"But nothing. I did a lot of stupid things in my youth, however, squandering my fortune was not one of them." She smiled at her. "I do not mean to assume, but I'm fairly certain you will be the kept woman in this relationship."
"Excuse me!"
"I'm sorry," she kissed her, "that came out wrong."
"Enlighten me."
"Darling, I am worth millions already, and that's from my earlier career. I could never spend it all in my life time if I tried. My dream has always been to have a family, this family, to benefit from everything I've been blessed with. The money truly means nothing to me without someone to share it with."
Miranda felt tears rolling down her face.
"It has not spoiled me and I have no intention of letting it spoil the ones I love, that said, if I want to spend it on my family," she smiled at that statement, "please don't begrudge me that pleasure."
"You are full of surprises, aren't you."
Andrea leaned in to kiss her soundly on the lips. "I'm just getting started" she smiled
"Oh my" the woman felt a tingle from her ears to her toes. "Are you hungry?"
"Starved!"
Miranda laughed as she rose taking Andrea's hand and pulling her a long with her. "Then let's get you fed." They walked hand in hand into the kitchen both reveling in the bond from the simple action.
Miranda went to release the younger woman's hand as she walked to the refrigerator but Andrea did not let go. Instead she spooned behind her resting her head on the fashionista's shoulder as they pursued the possible choices.
The older woman clasped her hands atop the arms now wrapped around her waist. "What sounds good?"
"Hmm. How 'bout an omelet. Andrea said into her soft hair, closing her eyes and taking in her fresh scent. God she smelled so good. "You smell so good."
"Thank you." Miranda chuckled pulling out the eggs. "What would you like in your omelet?"
"Surprise me" she kissed the older woman's neck then released her hold so she could move about the kitchen. Andrea moved to the stool at the breakfast bar and watched as Miranda moved effortlessly between the stove and counter, preparing the ingredients for her omelet.
"Please tell me I'm not going to wake up and this has just been a wonderful dream."
Miranda smiled at her. "After a while with me, you may be wishing someone would wake you up out of your nightmare."
Andrea frowned, "Why do you do that, belittle yourself like that? Do you truly not know how amazing you are?"
Miranda's back was to her and she watched as her shoulders slumped. "I guess when you hear something long enough…" she let the sentence trail off.
"Miranda" Andrea spoke sternly, waiting for the older woman to turn and face her. "This is a new opportunity for both of us." She met Andrea's gaze. Andrea continued. "I'm in love with you. You make me happy. The good, the bad, every part of you. That's what I fell for." Miranda had tears in her eyes and the blue became blinding to look at. "I want all of you, do you understand. I don't want an image you think I want to see. I want the real you."
The tears were now silently falling down her face.
Andrea smiled at her. "I don't want you to ever think or feel anything less than who you are. And I don't want to be anything less than who I am for you." Her smile softened. She went to the woman and wiped the tears with her fingers. "The only thing we have never had in a relationship is trust. If we can't trust each other enough to be who we truly are, together, we don't stand a chance." She kissed Miranda softly. "And I'll be damned if I don't give this love we have for each other every chance it takes." Andrea smiled lovingly at Miranda, "Okay"
Miranda just nodded and lifted her hand to cup the singers face. "How did I get so lucky?"
"I don't believe in luck sweetheart, but I do believe in destiny. In my heart I know I have found my destiny. You will not get rid of me easily." Andrea pulled Miranda in for a kiss that stopped her heart and stole her breath.
When Andrea pulled away, Miranda stood frozen with her eyes still closed.
"Now, feed me."
