I do not own DWP I am just using the characters for inspiration.
Sequel to The Beginning of an Exploration.
During the ride to the house Miranda grew up in Andy talked with the girls. "Caroline, Cassidy we know you are excited about seeing your Grandmother but your Mother and I need to ask a favor of you. You know the reason you never heard about your Grandmother until recently was because your Mother and Grandmother did not get along while your Mother was growing up." The twins sat quietly and nodded. They knew their Mom had been feeling bad since the night before they left New York. They had never seen their Mother like this before, but they were glad Andy was here with her. "Your Mother and I think it is best if she goes in and sees her Mother before you two do." They sat in silence hands entwined for a few minutes. Miranda could not watch this. She knew the twins were once again talking to each other in their own way. Miranda sat watching the scene going by. She was becoming increasingly nervous and scared. At some point Andréa's hand found hers and grasped it lovingly.
The girls nodded and Cassidy responded. "O.K." But the grownups knew they were disappointed. Caroline put her small hand on Miranda's knee. "Mommy why can't we go with you?" Andy looked over at Miranda she could see the tears falling from underneath her huge sunglasses. She squeezed Miranda's hand, leaned over and whisper into Miranda's ear. "I love you now, tomorrow and forever." Miranda squeezed Andréa's hand back. "Caroline, your Mother is trying to protect you and Cassidy. If your Grandmother is upset in anyway your Mother does not want you to have to see that." "But M …" Andy sternly looked at the girls. "Please, this is the way your Mother wants to do this. This is very hard for her. Show her that you are good growing young ladies and respect her request." The girls still holding hands looked at each other than nodded. "Mommy?" Miranda looked at the loves of her life. "Yes Bobbseys." "If this what you want we will do it, but we are not afraid. We are old enough to help you. We love you and want to protect you." "Oh Bobbsey's." Miranda leaned forward and took hold of the girl's hands. "I know you are old enough that is why I wanted to talk to you about this … my feelings. You may not understands my feeling right now but you will when the two of you become Mothers. Mommy will have Andréa with her. She will be able to help me if I need it. I now have someone like you two have each other."
The girls smiled. "Oh yea you do. O.K. We are only doing this because Andy will be with you." Cassidy looked at the two women. "Can you talk to each other like Caroline and I do?" Andy had to laugh. "You know what? Yes sometimes we can." Caroline smiled. "Fun isn't it?" Andy laughed again. "Yes it is." "We are here." Came from Miranda. The light atmosphere that had entered the car a few minutes ago left quickly.
Bonnie witnessed this exchange and she almost felt as if she was intruding in on a very private matter. She hoped this was going to turn out as good as she wished. She had to trust that her Mother truly did want to see Miranda and the twins and would be nice to them. The last thing Bonnie want to do was to bring any more hurt and anguish to Miriam.
When they stepped from the car Miranda closed her eyes and held onto the door. Andy got out behind her. "OH MY GOD … Freesia." Andy whispered. Miranda nodded. "In the summer Mother would always have fresh-cut Freesia in the house. She loves how they smell." Andy looked in ahh. All around the house, the trees and next to a lawn swing were Freesia of all shapes, sizes and colors. Miranda took a deep breath. "I love the scent of them." Andy looked at Miranda opened mouth. Andy would never had noticed it because she had never smelled Freesia before, but Miranda's personnel perfume made only for her by Hermes had a hint of the flowers. Andy whispered, "This is why." Miranda nodded. "They always reminded me of her house. I could never concentrate. I could not be the Dragon Lady with them around."
The twins stepped out behind Miranda and Andy. "This is where you grew up Mommy?" This coming from Caroline. Miranda kneeled down next to her girls. "Yes Bobbseys." "It is so little." Came Cassidy. Miranda looked at the house, it did look very small. "Yes I was not as lucky when I was growing up as you are." "That is why you work so hard. So we can have it better?" Miranda smiled how in the world did she manage to raise such smart little girls? "Yes Bobbseys that is why." Andy put her hand on Miranda's shoulder. "We need to go. Girls see the swing over there? Why don't you go sit and we will come get you when it is time for you to meet your Grandmother." The girls nodded and hand in hand they went and sat.
Andy took Miranda's hand, nodded to Bonnie and started to lead Miranda to the front door. When they got to the first step Andy noticed a twenty degree drop in the temperature around them. Andy sighed and took a deep breath. The Ice Queen had arrived.
Bonnie opened the door and called into the house. "Mother it's Bonnie. I'm home. I have a surprise for you." "Bonnie? I'm in the bedroom." Came a very feeble sounding voice. Bonnie turned around. "Some days she has a hard time getting out of bed." Andy nodded. Miranda was still. Very still. She was holding onto Andréa's hand for dear life. Andy leaned into Miranda and gave her a kiss on the cheek. "I love you now, tomorrow and forever." Miranda turned and smiled. As they passed through the house Andy noted pictures all over. Pictures of Miranda, Bonnie and a male child. Miranda has a Brother too?
Andy and Miranda followed Bonnie to the back of the tiny house. As Bonnie walked through the bedroom door Miranda stopped. "Mother. It is so good to see you." Bonnie raced into the room hugging her Mother and giving her a kiss on the cheek. Bonnie and Miranda's Mother genuinely returned the hug and kiss. "Oh my little one I have missed you so much. You are feeling good? You are so skinny." Bonnie giggled. "Do not worry Mother Miriam is making sure I put back on all the weight I have lost. Andy shocked, looked at Miranda. Miriam? What was this? Miranda was shaking, her arms were wrapped around her body. "Mother, I have a surprise for you." Bonnie looked back at the two women and motioned them into the room.
Andy started to move but Miranda held her back. "I-I can't" Miranda whispered. Andy leaned in, "it's O.K. I am right here and I am not going to leave you." Miranda nodded and walked into the small room. It was quiet. Bonnie looked at her Mother. "Mom its Miriam. She come to see you." There were tears in her Mother's eyes. "Miriam?" The Mother could barely speak. "And the lady with her is Andy. Well her name is Andrea but she likes to be called Andy. Andy nodded. "It is nice to meet you ma'am." Neither Miranda nor Miranda's Mother heard this exchange. "My babe." Miranda stiffened. Andy became nervous. She could tell the Dragon Lady was ready to burn fire. She had seen and felt it many times before.
"Mother. This friend of mine is my partner, my life partner. We live together." Miranda's mother looked at Andy and nodded. "She is very beautiful and young." Miranda stiffened even more. Andy smiled. "Thank you Ma'am but Miranda's the beautiful one and I have a hard time keeping up with her." "Please, call me Sarah. Why did you call Miriam Miranda?" Before Andy could respond Miranda chimed in. "That is my name Mother I changed it when I left, but I guess you would not know that." Andy cringed and closed her eyes. Andy bent to Miranda's ear. "I think we can bring the girls in now." Miranda turned and glared at Andrea. "I am not bringing them in here!" Miranda hissed.
At that moment two small girls plowed into the backs of Miranda and Andy. "Mommy we are tired of waiting. Can we come in now?" Miranda turned around and kneeled down in front of her children and place an arm on each shoulder. "Bobbseys not now. I know you are bored and we will go soon, I promise." She kissed both foreheads. "You always did love those books." This came from the older woman. Miranda cringed and closed her eyes. "Girls please go back outside." The girls could not resist and had to peek around Miranda. "Mommy is that our Grandmother?" Came from Cassidy. "Is she being nice to you and Andy?" Miranda smiled at her beautiful daughters. She was so greatly blessed with them. Miranda had tears in her eyes. She pressed her forehead to theirs. "Bobbseys everything is fine."
"My Grandchildren?" Came the older woman again. "Please Miriam let me meet them." Miranda was shaking. Andy gently placed her hand on Miranda's shoulder. Miranda stood up and turned to face her Mother. "MY name is Miranda and I would expect you address me as such." The older woman nodded. "Miranda, please." The twins were pulling on Miranda's hands. "Please Mommy?" Miranda cringed and closed her eyes. "Very well."
Bonnie motioned the girls over to where she was sitting on Sarah's bed. "Come over here girls." The twins walked slowly not letting go of Miranda's hands until they could not reach her anymore. Andy could feel Miranda trembling. It was like Miranda thought if she let the girls go she would never get them back. When the twins reached Bonnie they stopped and look back at Miranda. "It is O.K. girls meet your Grandma." Andy barely got this out. The twins smiled and turned toward their Grandmother. Bonnie took their hands and pulled them closer.
"Mom, this is Caroline," motioning to the twin that seemed more nervous than the other, "and this is Cassidy. Girls this is your Mom's Mother." The girls looked at the old woman lying in the bed. She was all wrinkled but seemed nice enough. Cassidy spoke first. "I like your flowers outside. They smell pretty. Like my Mom." The older lady smiled. "Your Mom loved those flowers when she was growing up. She always wanted them in the house. When she was very small she would sneak outside and pick them and bring them in for me to smell." Cassidy laughed. Miranda's eyes stung with tears. Caroline looked at her Mom then the older women. "You are making my Mommy cry. Why?" Miranda glared at her daughter, "Caroline!" Caroline lowered her head. "Sorry Mommy." She turned to the old lady. "I'm sorry I said that." The old lady smiled. "It's O.K. little one. Your right I did make your Mommy cry and I am sorry about that." Sarah looked at Miranda with nothing but love in her eyes and the tears fell freely.
Miranda turned, "Girls it's time to go, come." and she walked out of the room and out of the house. Andy looked at the four people still left in the room. "It's O.K. you two visit with your Grandmother for a few more minutes. I will go and help your Mom."
Andy followed Miranda out of the house. Miranda was standing by the tree that over looked the yard swing. Andy could see she was sobbing uncontrollably. She walked up behind Miranda and slid her arms around the woman and pulled her close. "Miranda?" Miranda shook her head. "I can't not now." And Andy once again knew this was one of those times she just needed to be here, be near Miranda and let her have time. Andy pulled her closer and Miranda placed her arms on Andy's. Andy could feel Miranda begin to settle.
The girls stood in the bedroom not knowing what to do. Finally Cassidy spoke up. "Why did you make Mommy not like you?" The old lady smiled. "Out of the mouths of babes." The twins looked at each other, held hands and shrugged their shoulders. "Your Mommy was not as lucky as you are. I guess I was not feeling well while your Mother was growing up. I was not able to love your Mommy like she loves you two." "You did not love her?" this from Caroline. "No I did love her I just was not able to show her I loved her. I had a hard time hugging and kissing her like she does you." The twins looked at each other and nodded. "Daddy's kind of like that. We know he loves us, but he does not hug and kiss like Mommy does." The old lady looked puzzled. "How do you know he loves you then?" The girls giggled like they thought it was a silly question. "Because, Mommy tells us all the time. She is always telling us how much Daddy loves us, no matter what. She tells us how happy he was when Mommy found out she was going to have us." "Yea," Caroline added. "Mommy says just because they do not live together any more when we were born they loved each other very much and that is all we have to remember." "Yea," Cassidy piped in. "Mommy said her and Daddy would not know what to do if anything ever happened to us, and that is why we always have to be very careful."
Their Grandmother was silently crying. Caroline put her hand on Sarah's arm. "Grandma I am sorry we made you cry. We did not mean it." Sarah shook her head and patted the girl's hand. "No girls. These are happy tears. I am so glad I got to meet you. You are fine girls. You have a very good Mother. She is doing a better job raising you than I did raising her." Both girls giggled. "Mommy cries happy tears too. You must have done O.K. because how else would Mommy know how to be a Mommy?"
Miranda settled in Andréa's arms and the tears soon ended. She molded into Andréa's embrace. "I am O.K. now." Andy smiled and kissed her cheek. Miranda turned around to face Andy. "I must look horrid. Make-up all messed." Andy laughed, "I have a make-up bag in the car. Go redo your face. Then let's gather the girls and go be tourist and have fun." Miranda glared. "You left them in there?" Andy took a deep breath. "Miranda, Bonnie is with them. She would not let anything happen to them." Miranda let out a breath she was holding. "The Dragon Lady is here isn't she? I am sorry sweetheart." Miranda leaned into Andréa and placed a soft warm kiss on her lips. Andy slid her arms around Miranda's small waist. Andy did not let the kiss go but deepened it. She could feel the Ice Queen melt, and she smiled into the kiss. Miranda was warming, her head was swimming. Now all she could think of was, she wanted to get this woman into a bed.
Bonnie sat on her Mothers bed and witness this whole scene play out in front of her. Her tears also came throughout it. She was upset at Miranda for the way she treated their Mother until she listened to the girl's conversation with their Grandmother. She wished Miriam had not walked out but then the girls could not have been so candid with their Grandmother.
Miranda and Andy walked back into the house and to the bedroom just in time to hear the last exchange between the girls and her Mother. "Girls I believe it is time to go." Both girls turned and ran to their Mother. "Mom do we have to? Please can't we stay longer?" Miranda took a deep breath. Andy kneeled down beside the girls. "Caroline, Cassidy your Grandmother might be tired. I am sure we will be back. Remember we have two whole weeks here." The girls nodded but did not smile as they looked at their Mother. Miranda sighed. She knew she was being railroaded by the twins. "Yes, we will come back so you can visit some more." The girls jumped up and down, "Yea." Miranda frowned. Sarah was smiling sweetly.
"Good day Mother. Bonnie are you coming?" "No Miranda I think I want to stay here and visit with Mother." Miranda shivered. Andy was afraid the Dragon Lady was coming back. "So be it, but she is not to do any work and she needs to eat." Sarah smiled. "Always the Mother. You're a natural." Miranda just stared at her Mother. Bonnie got up and went over to Miranda. "I promise to be a good girl. Now you four go have some fun." Miranda smiled and gave Bonnie a kiss on the cheek. "Let us know when you're ready to go back to the motel and the car will come pick you up." Bonnie paused. "Miranda I am going to stay here, in my room while we are here." Miranda was flustered.
"Please Miranda. I hope you all come back tomorrow? Maybe we can have lunch?" God, Miranda could not deny her baby sister anything. "I suppose that could be worked out. We will bring the food." The girls were jumping up and down. "Can we have a picnic?" "I don't know if your Grandmother would be able …" before Andy could finish the sentence Sarah spoke up. "Andy I would enjoy a picnic." Andy smiled one of her megawatt smiles at Sarah. "I can see why you are so smitten with her Miri … Miranda." Miranda glared at her Mother. What was that supposed to mean? "Let's go girls."
More with Miranda and her Mother in following chapters.
Has anyone had trouble following my stories because of the formatting? If so can you tell me how to change that?