I do not own DWP I am just using the characters for inspiration.
Miranda finally learns of the skeletons in her family's closet.
The next morning after breakfast the family headed out to the house Miranda grew up in with a huge packed lunch from the kitchen. Miranda was dealing with this second trip better than the first, but she was still tense. Andy knew there was so much more going on in Miranda's head than she was telling. Andy also knew she could not push or she would lose the love of her life.
When the car pulled up to the house Bonnie and Sarah were sitting on the swing. Cassidy and Caroline jumped out of the car yelling and screaming as they ran over to the two women and gave them big hugs.
"Aunt Bonnie, Grandma we had so much fun yesterday. " They were laughing. "Mom had to climb 250 steps."
Bonnie started laughing.
Sarah had her arm around one of the twins, "Now Cassidy what makes you think that would be a difficult task for your Mother?"
Everyone stopped and stared. Miranda was shooting fire from her eyes.
"How did you know I was Cassidy?"
"Child I am your Grandmother of course I can tell you two a part."
"But you just met us yesterday." Caroline exclaimed.
"Yes, this is true but you two all though identical are not exactly alike," Sarah smiled.
Sarah went to get up off the swing but was having a difficult time with it. Andy rushed over to her side to help. Andy held out her arm. "Sarah here let me help."
Sarah looked up and smiled. "Thank you dear. I am not as spry as I use to be." Sarah patted Andy's arm. "I feel like taking a walk would anyone like to come with me?"
"We will Grandma," the girls said in unison.
Sarah smiled at the twins, "Good."
She took one of her crippled hands and caressed Caroline's cheek. "You two look so much like your Mother did when she was little."
"We are not little Grandma." Cassidy frowned.
Sarah laughed, "Excuse me."
The group started walking. "So, tell me Andy where are you from?" Andy heard Miranda growl. She looked over at her lover and mouthed. I love you. Miranda closed her eyes and when she opened them again she mouthed back to Andréa. I love you.
"Miranda come sit with me and tell me about your adventure yesterday," Bonnie encouraged.
Miranda sat down but keep an eye on her children and Andréa.
"She's not going to hurt them." Bonnie mused.
Miranda glared at Bonnie. "What makes you so sure?"
"Please Miranda." Bonnie was exacerbated.
Miranda looked down. "I'm sorry. I just can't get my head around what is happening. This has been very trying. Hell, I am even snapping at Andréa. I know she is trying to be patient with me." Miranda started crying again, she stood up. "Dam it." She wiped at her eyes. "I am tired of this. I was doing fine before we came here. I am trying hard but if I do not shape up I will lose her."
Bonnie stood up beside Miranda and put her arm around her. "Miranda you are not going to lose her. She loves you too much to not fight for you, for all of you. You must see that."
Miranda nodded. Through her tears, "I don't know what I did to deserve her. Love has never work out for me. I am just wondering when it will all end."
"Miranda! You have got to stop it. You loved her that is what you did. And unless you push her away it will not end." Bonnie was wondering what it would take to convince Miranda of this.
Miranda took a deep breath, "It all seems so simple to you does it not?"
"Not any harder than try to beat cancer." Now Bonnie's Dragon Lady was coming out.
Miranda hung her head. Bonnie walked around in front of Miranda and wrapped her arms around her. "Miranda let me help you heal like you are helping me. I trust your choices with my doctor please trust me about Mother."
Miranda saw the group on their way back. She quickly blotted her face.
Bonnie nodded to the house,"Go inside clean up."
They decided to have a picnic outside on the picnic table. The girls as always were a chatter box.
"Did Mommy like to get all dressed like she does now when she was little?" Asked Cassidy.
Sarah nodded. "Yes she did but she did not have a lot to dress up in. I could never figure out how fashion got into her head. It has always amazed me. I am so proud of what she did with her dream. You little ones remember that. Follow your heart."
Miranda glared at her Mother. What was she trying to prove? Her Mother was never proud of her. Now Andy was getting nervous. She had a feeling this was not going to lead to anything good.
"Mommy how did fashion get into your head?" Caroline inquired.
Miranda had to smile at her little ones. "I do not know either must have been born with it."
Sarah smiled, "Your Mother was always very grown up for her age."
"Was she a good student? She is always making us study. Yuck. She is always saying we need it," frowned Cassidy.
Miranda looked at her Mother. Fear in her eyes.
"Your Mother was a very good student in school. Luckily we did not have to force her to study. She loved it."
Miranda looked at her Mother with thanks in her eyes. The girls did not see the exchanges but Andy did. Maybe she was wrong about this.
"I think it is cool that Mom has a sister like Cassidy and I have each other. Too bad they could not have been twins like us." Caroline remarked.
"Bonnie and your Mother do have a brother too, Caroline." Replied Sarah.
Miranda was shaking. Andy reached over and took her hand and gave it a squeeze. Miranda looked up and smiled. Andy mouthed to Miranda. "I love you."
The twins stared at Miranda in owe, and exclaimed, "Wow."
They were so excepting.
Sarah nodded, than announced, "Your Mother is a lot like you girls. She had a twin too."
It was completely quiet. Miranda's hand was cold and limp in Andy's.
"Mom has a twin! Where is she, or he? Are they identical?" Caroline was so excited.
Miranda tried to stand up but couldn't. Andy could see it coming.
"Uhm … Bonnie why don't you and the girls go get us some more lemonade to drink," Andy suggested.
Bonnie was stunned too. Miranda a twin? "Bonnie!" Andy said a little louder. "Yes … uh … girls come with me."
"What the hell." Andy cringed it was in Miranda's quiet authoritative voice, but Miranda never swore. Miranda was on fire. "What are you saying? Are you trying to be funny? Are you trying to take my children's trust away from me by telling lies?"
Andy was confused. Did Miranda have a twin? If Miranda did why did she never tell her, or did she not know? OH MY GOD.
"It is not a lie Miri … sorry Miranda." There were tears in Sarah's eyes.
Miranda went pale if that was possible.
"She was born dead. We buried her in the family cemetery. The grave with the blank tombstone. We never told any of you children. Even though I was a twin we never expected I was having twins. It was a surprise to us." Sarah explained quietly.
Andy was blown away. Miranda's Mother was a twin too! Tears were streaming down Miranda's face. Andy got up and walked around the table and sat next to Miranda. Andy put an arm around Miranda and Miranda stiffened.
"Miranda Babe, it's me Andréa, I am here, you can count on me, come here, let me hold you." Miranda turned toward Andréa but she was looking right through her. Andy held out her arms. "Miranda." Miranda buried her face into Andréa's neck.
Bonnie and the children came back outside just in time to see Miranda lay her head on Andy's shoulder. The girls did not know what to do but hold hands. They walked over to where their Mother and Andy sat. Cassidy sat down on Miranda's other side straddling Miranda just like Andy was. She wrapped her small arms around her Mother and hugged her tight. Caroline crawled up onto the table top and sat in front of Miranda tiny legs dangling. Cassidy looked up at Caroline and nodded. Caroline put a tiny hand on Miranda's shoulder and did the only thing she thought would calm her Mother, she started to sing their lullaby. Caroline's voice was just as beautiful as Miranda's. Miranda looked up at Caroline and smiled. She held out her hands beckoning Caroline to crawl into her lap. Caroline wrapped her tiny arms around Miranda's neck and her legs around Miranda's waist. Miranda turned slightly to gather Cassidy in her arm. The four females hugged each other tightly as Caroline, finished the lullaby.
Miranda's Mother paled. "You're … singing the song."
Bonnie had no idea what was going on Miriam a twin? What was her Mother trying to prove with all this? She was standing between Miranda and her Mother. Tears dropped from her eyes as she heard Caroline sing the lullaby her Mother use to sing to her when she was scared.
Cassidy looked at her Grandmother. "Mommy always sings this to us when we are scared."
Tears once again came to Sarah's eyes. "I'm so proud of you Miranda. You are the Mother I could never be to you. You have raised your children with so much love, and all by yourself."
Miranda stiffened at the sound of Sarah's voice.
Andy let Miranda settle then announced. "We will be going now."
"Please," Sarah whispered, "I am sorry I brought it up like this but I knew I would not be able to get Miranda alone and I wanted her to know."
Andy glared at Sarah. Sarah slowly got up, she touched Miranda's shoulder. Miranda felt a hole burning in her skin.
"I know you do not believe this but I do love you. We need to talk. You need to try and understand. I need to let you know why." Sarah said quietly.
Sarah walked toward the house.
Bonnie looked at her Mother. "Why?"
Sarah shook her head. "Not now." and she walked into the house.
"Miranda, come on babe lets go back to the castle and rest. The girls can go swimming than tomorrow we can all go sightseeing all day," Andy pleaded.
Miranda took a deep breath then shook her head. "I appreciate you wanting to protect me Sweetheart but even though I do not want to admit it my Mother is right. I need to find out the whole story."
Andy bristled. "Miranda I do not think this is a good idea. You have been through enough. I will not let this woman hurt you anymore!"
Andy was furious.
Miranda turned and caressed Andréa's cheek and smiled. "You are so adorable when you are mad. Andrea I love you but I need to find out. I cannot stand not knowing." Miranda leaned in and placed a soft kiss on Andréa's lips.
Caroline coughed. "Uhm … small child here … ewe." "Cassidy rolled her eyes.
"Girls." Miranda warned.
"Sorry Mommy." Caroline lowered her eyes.
Andy smiled. Miranda placed a kiss on Caroline's forehead then turned and did the same to Cassidy.
"Andréa I promise I will be all right. It has been a shock but I am a big girl. Please take the girls go back to the castle and swim or go sightseeing whatever they want to do. I need to find out why. I am not saying I trust her or if I even believe her but …"
Andy placed a finger over Miranda's lip. "I understand. I just wish I could stay with you in case you need me."
Miranda gave Andréa the easy, beautiful smile she loves. "I know you do. I will call you when I am done here and then you can come get me. I will not let her get to me like she has, and Bonnie will be here she will help me if need be."
Andy did not think this was a good idea but she respected Miranda and her wishes. Andy stood up leaned in and gave Miranda another kiss. "I love you."
Miranda smiled. "Thank you."
"O.K. girls lets go and have some fun." Andy held out her hands to the two girls.
Caroline and Cassidy got up and gave their Mother a kiss.
Caroline held Miranda's hand. "Are you O.K. now Mommy?"
Miranda smiled at the small child. "Yes I am. Our song made me so much better. You knew exactly what to do."
Caroline grinned. "I'm glad."
"Now you two go with Andréa and keep her out of trouble. I will see you a little later." Miranda smiled at the twins.
Miranda watch the car drive away with her three very precious cargo.
She went to Bonnie held out her hand. "Shall we?"
The two women walked into the house.
Miranda called out. "Mother I am ready to listen."
"I am in the kitchen." Sarah replied.
Miranda and Bonnie found Sarah sitting at the table with a small box in front of her and they sat down.
Sarah looked at two of her children and opened the box.
"I have never looked in this box before because I could not bring myself to do it. So I will be finding out what's in it at the same time as you do. I had you Miranda when I was thirty and you Bonnie when I was forty-one, your brother at forty. Have you never wondered why there was such a gap between you? Yes Miranda you had a twin sister, identical just like your girls, and just like your Aunt Mae and I. You were born first. There was problems with your birth. You had gotten stuck in the birth cannel. You were very blue when you were finally born but you perked up quickly. Your sister unfortunately did not make it. The doctor thought it was because she did not get oxygen while you were stuck. I wanted so to see your sister but they would not let me. They said I would be too traumatized. So instead of giving me two beautiful girls to take home I had you and this box. They told me to look in the box when I was ready." Sarah was staring at the box intently.
Sarah took the lid off the box. She took a deep breath and with a shaky hand reached inside and pulled out a small white knitted sweater. She softly touched the tiny article of clothing. Tears were falling down her face.
"It's hard to believe you children were ever this tiny. I remember the Nuns saying they had dressed her in a white knitted outfit." She laid the sweater down and took out a pair of white knitted booties, and she smiled. "Miranda you had a pair of booties that looked just like these."
Next came a small pile of papers. The first was a birth certificate with Baby Girl McCoy printed on it and two small foot prints and two small hand prints on it. Next was a death certificate. Sarah gasped. It still shocked her that one of her children had died before her. The last two items were pictures. One was of the tiny little girl, it looked like she was a sleep in her white sweater and booties. The other picture was of the two babies together. In this picture you could tell the one baby was dead. Sarah put her head in her hands and sobbed holding the picture of the two babies.
Bonnie got up and went over to her Mother and hugged her. "Mom can I get you anything? Some tea?"
Sarah shook her head. Miranda was sitting in shock. She did not know what to do or say.
"Mom why did you never tell us or at least Miranda? She deserved to know about her sister." Bonnie questioned.
"I was sick after delivering the babies. Very depressed after finding out about my little girl. I never wanted to think about her again. She was never mentioned in this house by anyone. It was like she never existed."Sarah looked regrettably at Miranda. "I was not allowed to hold her. I do not want to admit this but you need to know Miranda, I blamed you for her dying. Miranda you were cared for by Aunts, Cousins anyone I could find so I would not have to." Tears began to fall from Sarah's eyes once again. "Your Father was mad at me for not taking care of you. My Mother was furious with me for not loving my very own daughter. You were such a good baby. You hardly cried. I guess even then you knew it would do no good. You were so beautiful and always smiled. It made me dislike you even more. It took me a long time to get over it all and by that time you had already distanced yourself from me. I was never able to get you a long time your Father and I did decide to try to have children again and for years nothing. We just thought it would was never meant to be, until boom, first your Brother than Bonnie. I was determined to be a better Mother that time around."
Miranda sat listening to her Mother. She felt like she was in a blurred haze. She heard her Mother speaking the words but they were far off in the distance. Does she remember the words? She does not know, but she had gained the essence. She was sad but for once the tears did not fall. All she can do is sit there. She had a twin sister. She could have had what Caroline and Cassidy have. How different would her life have been? She probably would not be Editor in Chief at Runway, there probably would be no Caroline and Cassidy, and there defiantly would be no Andrea.
Miranda got up and went to stare out the window. She closed her eyes. Did she wish her life was different? She enjoyed thriving on being Editor in Chief. She loved the girls and Andréa (her smile was so illuminating). Their life ahead of them was going to be so happily blissful. She was as most would say on cloud nine. Then she remembered a quote she once read.
"One day she finally grasped that unexpected things were always going to happen in life. And with that, she realized the only control she had was how she chose to handle them. So, she made the decision to survive, using courage, humor and grace. She was the queen of her own life and the choice was hers." Kathy Kinney
She realized at that moment her life was just that. Her life. Yes there were bad things that had happened, and there would probably be more to come. She had survived and would continue to do so. So now she was choosing to continue with this life, she would forgive the past, and she would be happy.
"Miranda. Miranda!" Called Bonnie.
Miranda turned around. She walked over to the table and sat down. This is when Miranda began to shed tears. "I am glad you told me about her. I do not know what to say to you, but I want you to know I am very happy with my life right now." Miranda pulled out her phone and dialed, "I am ready."
When the car arrived Miranda got up to leave.
"Miranda?" She turned to look at Bonnie.
"I cannot talk right now." Miranda got into the car. "If you want to come back to the castle just let me know." Miranda looked at Bonnie with a small smile.
"Miranda you will come back and see her won't you? You will let her see the twins again right?" Miranda looked up at Bonnie her face sad.
"I don't know." Miranda closed the door and the car took off.