Making dinner was a good plan, but what would someone who eats award-winning cuisine every day and had just undergone two major operations want to eat? Not that Andy could offer a great variety of superb dishes…
Andy opened the fridge and gasped in surprise. How can it be that the fridge was full to the very brim when nobody should be in the house for two weeks? Now it was clear why the housekeeper/cook was still gainfully employed by the editor. That woman was as well-prepared for every impossible wish as Andy herself had been during her past few Runway months.
Finding everything she could wish for, Andy started preparing the classic meal for sick people. Chicken soup.
Of course, she'd never openly admit it, but cooking in a kitchen like this was almost fun. Not an everyday activity, but every now and then was perfectly acceptable.
The soup was just ready when Andy heard the doorbell and remembered the nurse that was due to arrive about…now. She quickly ran to open the door. When a simple voicemail could cause an Ice Age in the desert God knows what would happen when the doorbell rang more than once…
"Hello, my name is Andy. The patient is resting upstairs."
The nurse was a rather plump woman in her forties, but she seemed nice enough.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Susi."
"Welcome at the Priestly house. What do you know about Miranda?"
"Enough to be scared."
"Rightly so. Here are a few simple rules for surviving Miranda.
Do what you have to, but be quick.
Explain what you are doing, but do not chatter.
Never breath a word about anything you see to anyone or she will make your life a living hell.
All right?"
"Will you stay in the room?"
"If she allows it, I will. If she doesn't, I'll be right outside the door so that I can hear your screams and come to your rescue. Come on, I'll lead the way."
"You are kidding me. I mean, that was a joke, right?"
"Maybe. Hang on for a moment. I go in and make sure she's awake and then I'll come and get you."
"Maybe? What did you mean…" but the door was already closed again, "maybe?"
Andy entered the master bedroom as quietly as possible. Miranda was still asleep and it was a shame to wake her up when she needed the rest so badly, but it had to be done.
The young woman knelt beside the bed started stroking the editor's hand. "Miranda," she whispered. "You need to wake up for a moment. The nurse is here." Blue, tired eyes blinked up at her. "Hello there. I'm sorry to wake you up, but the nurse is here to check up on you."
Miranda slowly nodded, but Andy could tell her mind was still thick with sleep and medication. She tried to sit up but weakness and pain caused her to fall back.
"Let me help you." Without thinking Andy sat on the edge of the bed and reached around the half-sleeping woman. "Easy now. Hold on and I'll pull you up a bit." When she felt Miranda's hands on her back, she carefully pulled her up, arranged the pillows and eased her back against the fluffy down feathers.
"Do you think you can stay like that for a little while?" Andy reached for Miranda's hand again.
The older woman nodded and Andy gave her hand a light squeeze, already in the process of heading to the door. She was surprised when Miranda didn't let go. "Stay."
It was a simple request, but so unusual that Andy's heart went out to the editor. "Of course, Miranda. I'm not leaving."
With a last squeeze, Andy let go and opened the door. "You can come in now and you are lucky. She is still half asleep."
"Good evening, Ms Priestly. How are you feeling?"
Andy cringed. Not a good start at all. In an unconscious action, Andrea placed a soothing hand on the editor's shoulder. "Please call her Miranda."
"Oh I am more than fine. Brilliant in fact. I…"
"Please," the young woman cut her off. "Let's just get over with this. Susi, she feels awful. She is in pain and exhausted. Now what do you have to do?"
Susi took a deep breath, feeling very grateful that Andy took charge. "I need to change the dressing, take blood and start an IV line. Do you want me to show you how to remove the IV or shall I come back in two hours?"
"I'll do it. Shall we start with the dressing?"
A soft touch on her hand startled Andy out of her assistant mode. Miranda, who had been unusually quiet, covered Andrea's hand with her own. She felt safe. For the first time since the young woman had left her employment, she felt safe. Safe enough to close her eyes and let Andrea handle the situation, knowing that she was in good hands.
Seeing Miranda's closed eyes Andrea smiled tenderly. Resisting the urge to stroke the older woman's cheek, she let her fingers glide over the hand that was covering her own.
"I'm ready. I'm going to change the dressing now."
"If you proceed at this rate I will be long dead and forgotten before you're done." The blue eyes that were just closed a moment before now froze the poor nurse in her actions.
"Sorry, I…"
A subtle shake of Andy's head stopped any further babbling. Instead, she proceeded to remove the blanket. Clever girl.
"It will sting a bit when I remove the plaster." The woman looked as if the last thing she wanted was to hurt Miranda Priestly, but of course, the editor handled it like a champ. No wince, no sound, no complaining, just a short contraction on Andy's hand indicated the older woman actually felt the pain.
"It looks good, although a little irritated from too much movement. I'm putting a cream on it, but you'll want to avoid any unnecessary movement."
Having finished her first task, Susi moved on to the next. "I'm taking a blood sample now and then I'll set the IV line up." Heading for Miranda's right arm, she was stopped by Andy.
"Could you take the other arm please? She is right-handed." She gave the editor's hand a little squeeze and moved to the other side of the bed to make room for the nurse.
To the young woman's surprise, Miranda already lifted her right hand for Andrea to take it.
It was unusual for the editor to act like that, but Andy gladly gave whatever comfort she could. It made her even proud that Miranda had chosen her of all people to be a comfort. For a brief second it crossed her mind that there simply were not many people if any in the older woman's life who'd offer comfort.
"All right, would you like to come over so that I can show you how to remove it?"
"Yes, please." In truth, Andrea already knew how to do that, but it never hurt to hear it again.
After a short explanation, the job for the day was done.
"Would you like me to help you with your night routine?"
"No." Typical Miranda. Short and final.
"I could give you a sponge bath. That may relax you a bit."
"Is there a problem with your hearing? Andrea, do you think the acoustics in here are so bad that sound doesn't carry far enough or is it a problem with the actual understanding?"
Susi seemed routed on the spot, unable to even breathe.
"Well, I think we're done here. Sponge bath tomorrow is it then. Thank you Susi. We'll see you tomorrow at nine."
"Seven."
"Nine. You need to rest and have breakfast before you get another IV," Andy insisted.
Turning to the nurse, she continued, "Susi, can she still have the painkillers I got from the hospital or does the drip cover that?"
"No it doesn't. You can give her all the meds you got in hospital." Preferable all at once, she added in her mind, before heading to the door.
"I'll see you out," Andy said, following the angry nurse.
"I'm sorry Susi. I forget to give you the never-ever-talk-back-rule."
Reaching the front door, Susi turned to Andy. "Half asleep? That is how she is when she is half-asleep? How will it be when she is fully awake?"
Andy just smiled apologetically.
"I guess I'll find out tomorrow. Good night Andy." Without waiting for a reply, she was gone.
Andrea leaned against the door and took a few deep breaths. She had almost forgotten how Miranda could be. The odd thing about it was that Andrea couldn't really blame the editor. She was scared, in pain and forced into a situation where she had no control. For Miranda, it was only natural to act like this. Even more surprising that she seems to take comfort out of Andrea's presence. The thought made the young woman smile.
Right. What now? Oh yes, food!
Andy quickly got some of her chicken soup and a bottle of San Pellegrino before heading up the stairs. She found Miranda in the same position she had left her, obviously awaiting her return.
"There you are."
I hope you enjoyed it! If you did, please leave a review :) Thanks, my dear beta x