Chapter 7:
The weeks following the fashion show were extremely busy for Andrea and Isabella both. Orders for A. DeMarzio's designs came in at an all-time high. Isabella hired some help within the workshop and Andrea couldn't be more pleased. Production was up and the workload on her dear Isabella decreased drastically when the shop was up and running and Aubrey had assisted with finding workers.
The Priestly twins were over whenever they got the chance and Lexxi as well as Rory loved it. Katora, or Kat as she preferred to be called, was working out nicely. The girls loved her and she was great with them. Having her around made things easier when things got hectic; however Andrea made sure to be home every night for dinner and worked from home on the weekends for a few hours each day. The rest of her time was devoted to the girls. Isabella made sure to have the weekends free so that she too had time to spend with the girls no matter the workload.
The conversation with Lily and Doug the day following the fashion show was short. Lily refused to listen to anything Andrea or Isabella had to say after the lawyers left informing them that the restraining order on Nate was filed at the police station. She yelled so loudly at Andrea that she woke Lexxi and Isabella threw her out of the house. The next day there was a restraining order out against her for her repeated refusal to leave the grounds. Doug was a different situation entirely. He listened intently to everything quietly and found that what he was told lined up with the dates and decided that Andy needed more friends than enemies. He made it a point to visit the studio or the house once a week at least to spend time with Andy and the girls and sometimes Isabella if she was around.
Miranda and Nigel stopped by the house the week following and managed to help Andy recover a lot of memory from her time at Runway just from conversations they had. Nigel did most of the talking but it was usually Miranda's tone of voice or comments she made that triggered most of the memories. Nigel became a regular guest at the DeMarzio house; he even reintroduced Andy to James Holt who she surprisingly remembered. All in all life was going well and everyone was adjusting smoothly. Lexxi didn't suffer any extended trauma from the 'Nate Incident' and the bruises faded in time for school.
The girls loved going to school, mainly due to the fact that the twins also attended Dalton. Caroline and Cassidy came to the house with the girls every Monday, Wednesday and Friday to hang out and enjoyed helping them learn American past times. Caroline and Lexxi would draw pictures to hang in the media room while Cassidy helped Rory with her mathematics. Every other Friday was pizza night and the twins would help the younger girls make pizza for everyone with Irene's supervision.
This is what Andrea came home to tonight. Walking into the front door she could hear laughing coming from the direction of the kitchen along with the sound of something falling. Dropping her bag by the door she made her way to the kitchen and stopped halfway through, the swinging door still moving as she doubled over in laughter. Four heads turned to look at her as she tried to gather herself together. The girls all had flour in their hair and covering their faces but the floor and countertops were worse off. Red tomato sauce and Alfredo cheese sauce was splattered on different surfaces and covered the aprons the girls were wearing.
The doorbell went off and still laughing Andrea walked off to answer it. Laughing at Kat over her shoulder she opened the door and then turned to see none other than Miranda Priestly on her front step. Andrea stood there staring at her for a moment her heartbeat picking up for reasons she couldn't explain. Shaking her head she stepped back and opened the door, "Miranda what a surprise. Come on in. The girls are in the kitchen. Pizza night." She smiled and closed the door behind her.
Irene came into the foyer and smiled at the pair, "Ms. Priestly may I take your coat? Get you something to drink perhaps?" she asked pulling Andrea's jacket off of her.
Chuckling Andrea grabbed her phone out of her bag before turning to Miranda, "Will you be staying for dinner? The girls are making their Alfredo pizza tonight. You should see the kitchen. It's… well come on." Not taking the time to think about it she grabbed Miranda's hand and pulled her into the dining room. She turned and looked back at Miranda who was staring at their joined hands. Her eyes darted down to their hands and she quickly let go of the hand in hers and looked up at Miranda who was watching her with a look in her eye that she didn't try to decipher. She held a single finger to her lips motioning for silence, when Miranda nodded she turned and pushed the door open enough for them both to look into the kitchen.
Miranda was leaning over looking into the kitchen at the girls covered in flour and pizza sauce fighting to hold in the laughter she felt bubbling up inside her. Leaning over as she was she could feel the heat from Andrea's body through their clothes as well as the young woman's body shake with silent laughter. Her breathing increased when Andrea turned to look at her, her eyes dancing with laughter until she realized just how close they were to each other. Miranda felt as if her body was glued on spot, unable to move her feet, her eyes dropping to Andrea's lips as they parted slightly. She closed her eyes and inhaled sharply before realizing too late the mistake that was when Andrea's scent hit her. The subtle smell of vanilla mixed with a light hint of lavender and something that was unique to the woman standing before her caused the heat in her stomach to pool down between her legs. She opened her eyes when she felt Andrea's breath on her skin and stared into her chocolate brown eyes feeling as if she could drown in them.
She forced her eyes away and back to the scene in the kitchen finally moving back a step and putting space between them. Miranda noticed Andrea closing her eyes and shaking her head before darting into the kitchen. She followed her lead but stayed near the door using the wall to help support her as she tried to clear her head. She couldn't explain the feelings running through her body or the way she reacted to the woman but it was starting to unsettle her and she hated anything that tested her control. Silently berating herself she conjured up the control and iciness she was known for and cleared her throat.
"Mom! We didn't know you were coming so early. Are you staying for pizza? We're making one of your favorites!" Caroline stated when she looked over and saw her standing near the door.
Miranda smiled at her daughter before looking over the pizzas laid on the counter waiting to go into the oven, "Well, I came to inform you that your father was coming to get you tonight for something or another but I guess I'll have to call him and see that he doesn't arrive early as he planned."
Cassidy mumbled and rolled her eyes before adding some spinach to one of the pizzas in front of her, "Mom, I hate going to his house. His new girlfriend is totally a bi- well a total drag. She doesn't let us do anything and he barely says two words to us when she's around. Besides don't you think we're old enough to decide if we really want to go with him? I mean I'd much rather stay home with you. And I know Carrie agrees."
Sighing Miranda pulled out her cell and dialed her first husband's phone. She really hated sending her daughters with him and had for years but it was the agreement they settled on and so she would honor it, however if they didn't want to go she was not going to force them. "Jeremy, yes. No we're not at the house. We're at a friend's house the girls are making pizza with her daughters. Listen they do not want to come out this weekend…. Of course not." Taking the phone from her ear she held it out to the twins. "Girls, one of you please talk to your father; tell him what you told me before I have to hire another lawyer."
Caroline grabbed the phone and walked out of the kitchen talking to her father rapidly in a tone Andrea recognized after hearing it from the girl's mother. She watches Cassidy roll her eyes and then turn to help Lexxi with the pepperoni she was putting on one of the pizzas. Smiling at the pair she turns her eyes to Miranda to see her watching her, "How is Jeremy these days?" she asked softly. Miranda rolled her eyes and Andrea laughed bringing a soft chuckle from the older woman.
Rory walked over to her mother who was sitting in one of the chairs along the wall and climbed in her lap, "Mommy, where is Nana? Is she going to have pizza with us?"
Andrea shook her head and wiped flour off of her daughter's nose, "No sweetie. Do you not remember Nana telling us she was having dinner with Nigel and James and a few of their friends tonight before the show?" Rory sat looking as if she were thinking about it before nodding and biting her bottom lip.
Miranda smiled at the action so much like her mother it was hard to believe anyone else was involved in her conception. She looked over to the door as Caroline came back in and dropped the phone into her hand.
"Well he's a mood killer but he's not going to come get us for the weekend until we call and tell him we're ready to, and I quote 'start acting like the young adults we want to be treated as and get over the petty I don't want daddy to date thing'. I told him we'd call him when he learned to be a father and stopped dating girls that look to be 2 years older than us. He hung up."
Andrea covered her mouth to stifle laughter as Miranda shook her head at her daughter. "Now Caroline, you know your father means well. He just doesn't realize how ridiculous he's being right now. He has to have his fun while he still can."
Caroline laughed at her mother and shook her head returning to adding toppings to the pizza. Andrea stood when Rory went to help Caroline, "Well I'll be in the library have Irene page me when the pizza is ready. Miranda would you like to join me or would you rather stay with the girls?" she asked avoiding the woman's eyes her emotions conflicted over whether or not she wanted her to join her.
When Miranda stood to follow, Andrea felt her heart skip a beat and she frowned confused and irritated at the irrational response to the woman's closeness and the thought of being alone with her.
Miranda followed Andrea back into the foyer and then down a hall to the back of the house. When Andrea opened the double doors to the library she looked around it eyes wide as she took in the amount of books and the size of the room, "Do you spend a lot of time reading?" she asked softly her eyes still tracing the bookshelves that went up two stories more. She smiled when Andrea laughed and nodded.
"Before we left Paris Momma took me to this bookstore and told me to get whatever books I wanted. The first shelf on this bookcase is full of the books I got that morning. After I finished them Sergei took me to a bookstore somewhere in the southern part of the country and I ended up buying a copy of just about everything they had in the fiction and language section. I can now speak French, Italian, Japanese, German, Spanish, Dutch, and Russian fluently and a little of a few others. I even have a few first edition books. My girls love for me to read to them. So I keep them all here and let them pick. "
Miranda picked up a copy of Oliver Twist in perfect condition, "This book doesn't look like it's ever been touch. If not for the bends and crease in spine I'd swear it was never opened." She watched Andrea laugh and cross the room to sit on the sofa with her sketch pad in her lap. Joining the young woman she positioned herself on the far end of the sofa facing Andrea. When the young woman started to draw Miranda watched her face. The way she relaxed, her eyes darting over the page, and her tongue peeking slightly out of the corner of her mouth made Miranda's heart flutter. She quickly turned her attention to something else in the room and took a few steadying breaths.
When she looked over again Andrea was watching her confusion shining in her eyes. The young woman glanced away before returning her gaze to hers a slight flush coloring her cheeks. They sat like that staring at each other for how long she wasn't sure, but before she realized it one or both of them had started moving closer to the other. Miranda's heart picked up, her tongue darting out to lick her lips subconsciously and she notice Andrea's eyes drop to it her lips parting slightly and her breath coming out in light pants. "Andrea…" she breathed out trying to stop the feeling in her stomach from growing. She watched Andrea's eyes flutter shut and closed the distance between them.
Andrea's lips were warm and soft beneath her own. She kept it light just brushing her lips over the other woman's her breath catching in her chest when she felt them move beneath her own. Miranda's head was fogged her brain shorting out and her heart pounding rapidly. She ran her tongue over Andrea's bottom lip softly and slowly. She heard her gasp and her lips parted. Her tongue darted in tangling with the other. One of her hands fell to the young woman's waist while she ran her fingers softly over her cheeks.
Andrea pulled away from Miranda and moved off of the sofa and away from her panting hard her face flushed and hot. She couldn't catch her breath and she didn't understand the feeling pooling in the bottom of her belly. She stared at Miranda for a moment before she felt the tears gathering in her eyes, "I… we… this… Miranda… I can't do this. What is happening to me?" she asked quietly not even sure if her voice carried to the other woman. She felt the trembling starting as she fought back tears. Her heart felt as if it were being ripped in two directions her emotional state was chaotic and she couldn't understand what or why any of it was happening.
She watched Miranda stand and slowly approach her, her hands up in a defenseless manner, "Andrea," the sound of her name sent a tremble throughout her body and she felt the heat from her belly move lower and heard herself whimper slightly, "Andrea, I'm not going to hurt you. Just talk to me. Tell me what is making you cry." The last part was whispered as Miranda was now standing right in front of her but she made no move to touch her and for that Andrea was grateful.
"What are you doing to me? I don't understand it. You… you kissed me… and I let you. Your mouth, your hands… they were on me… in my… in my mouth…" she broke off closing her eyes as the realization of what just happened washed over her. "Oh my god. Miranda… are you… do you… oh god."
Andy grabbed onto the bookcase feeling her knees go weak. Miranda's arm went around her waist and she felt her body react at the same time she tried to pull away. She couldn't describe the feelings the older woman provoked in her she just knew that she had to get away from her yet at the same time her body wanted to just melt into her. She was so conflicted and confused.
Miranda helped Andrea back to the sofa and sat her down before kneeling in front of her, "Am I what Andrea? Do I what? I can't tell you if you don't finish the question." She gently pushed the long chestnut locks back behind the young woman's ear her thumb slowly caressing her cheek. She felt her shiver slightly and watched her eyes fluttered shut. "I won't touch you if you don't want me to." She whispered her other hand coming to rest on the young woman's thigh as she watched her.
The muscle under her hand twitched and she inhaled deeply before lifting Andrea's chin slightly and brushing her lips over hers softly, "Andrea look at me." She waited until the young woman looked at her and continued speaking her voice soft, calming, and even finally, "Do you want me to stop touching you? Do you want me to stop kissing you?" She waited for what seemed like hours, but in reality were only a few short minutes before Andrea closed her eyes and nodded slightly. She pulled away from her and sat on the far end of the sofa. "I apologize if I offended you."
"Miranda," Andrea looked over at her before looking down at her lap, "why did you kiss me? The way you… and… then you… oh god… my brain isn't working." She looked up her bottom lip between her teeth her eyes focused on the woman sitting just on the other end of her sofa.
"I'm sorry Andrea. I let my emotions cloud my judgment. It will not happen again." Miranda stated softly looking away from the intense brown eyes staring at her with confusion, hurt, and something else that Miranda didn't want to guess at. She just hoped it wasn't disgust.
"Emotions… Miranda… you're… you're still in a relationship with that guy. You… can't… do… you… I… we…" Andrea shook her head before dropping it into her hands, "Miranda… you're not into women! How can your emotional state cause you to kiss me… and you were touching me…" she looked up the tears falling from her eyes finally giving in to gravity, "How did this happen?"
Frowning Miranda shook her head taking a deep breath, "I am still seeing him. His name is Greg. I don't have any explanation for what just happened between us, other than I truly just felt this overwhelming desire to kiss you. A strong pull… Andrea," she stopped talking and just looked at her. She watched her for another few minutes before sighing and shaking her head, "I'm going to leave now, just have the girls call Roy to pick them up when they are ready to go home. Have a great night." Miranda stood and walked towards the door.
Andrea watched her before moving quickly to block the door, "Wait. I really need one more question answered. Please." She watched as the older woman seemed to debate with herself before finally nodding. "Miranda, when… before… when I worked for you…" her voice trailed off and she looked away from her swallowing and sighing.
Miranda gently wrapped her fingers around Andrea's chin and turned her face back until she caught her eyes, "While you worked for me Andrea, nothing ever happened. In fact you walked away from me because you no longer cared for me because of something I had done. That night I told you that-"
"You said you could see a great deal of yourself in me. It freaked me out." Andrea laughed slightly. "I guess it's not as crazy as I thought, huh? I remember that night Miranda, and some of the weeks leading up to it, just not a great deal of it. I didn't leave because of what you said or what happened with Nigel. I left because of what was going on with me. Something I still don't understand. You remember the night of the fashion show when the doughy guy with the curly hair grabbed Lexxi?"
Miranda nodded so Andy continued, "His name is Nate, and I finally remember him. He told me once something that freaked me out at the time. That night when I walked away from you… his words were running through my head. When you called that night… it took everything in me not to answer that phone. What he said is what made me not answer. Do you want to know what he said to me the night he last spoke to me before we flew to Paris? The night we decided we didn't belong together because I'd changed and he didn't like me anymore."
Miranda tilted her head and watched Andrea for a moment before she spoke, "If you want to share it with me you can."
Andy sighed and nodded towards the sofa before moving around Miranda and sitting down. When the older woman was seated next to her she spoke again, "He said to me, the person whose calls you always take, that's the relationship you're in. Right after that you called me. Of course I answered the phone. He walked away from me. I never spoke to him again until that night at the show and then I didn't even know who he was." Andrea stopped talking on a sigh and stared at the ceiling. "Every time I looked at you after that I would hear what he said. Whenever the phone would ring and your name flashed on the screen I would hear what he said. It was so bad that I almost threw the phone into traffic one night." She finally looked at Miranda again, "You had become my life Miranda. It terrified me. It excited me. You consumed me. I couldn't remember who I was anymore. I had to leave. I knew it then just like I know now that what just happened between us… can't happen. You can't feel this way about me Miranda. I don't know how to deal with that. I can't… I can't feel that way again…" Andy looked away and blinked against the burning in her eyes.
Miranda was quiet and still for so long Andrea had to look over to make sure she was still there. When she finally spoke her voice was empty almost, "Andrea, it was never my intention to consume you. It was never my intention to feel all the things I feel around you. I won't apologize again. I will go, but I want to ask you something. What do you feel Andrea?"
Andrea looked at her and held her gaze for a moment before looking away, "Nothing. I feel nothing Miranda." She stood and walked to the door, "Feel free to stay for pizza, the girls worked hard and they made your favorite." She looked back at Miranda over her shoulder, "I'm sorry." She walked out of the library closing the door silently behind her.