''Miranda!''
Naked and younger Miranda had the exact same voice. ''Andréa!''
Andy stared, couldn't help herself, seeing Miranda's naked curves and in a way she'd only ever imagined she would, Andy was struck staggered unable to tear her eyes away from her with so little on, yeesh Miranda was going to think she was a pervert now guy or not, as she quickly turned around after going red faced, grabbing a fluffy towel, holding it out to her blindly as her own honey brown eyes looked away, facing and fixated on the fascinating door.
Miranda took it, covering herself with it, still blushing from how Andrea looked at her naked.
''I'll just be downstairs.'' Andy sputtered and left her, feeling like an idiot and wishing her jeans weren't so tight.
Miranda had to search in her closet, since she had a different figure at seventeen. Found a pair of faded jeans to fit, she hadn't worn in years, slipping them on and over her smooth legs.
Staring at herself in her closet mirrors, Andrea had been staring at her so much, normally Miranda would find ogling her like that, a missing link disgusting but not Andrea's ogling. She liked and wanted only those brown eyes ogling her.
Examining her now not snowy white but red hair, this was what she looked like once.
The twins took it better than expected. That Mom had de-aged into a teenager.
Andy felt kids adapt to new things. Even things like their Mom being seventeen again, Cassidy and Caroline just shrugged and went back to cheerios and jam on toast, as if Miranda was always seventeen.
Emily stopped prancing and kept staring weirdly at Miranda and shot a dirty look at Andy as if what in hell did you do to Miranda.
Andy held up her hands to the prissy toy dog. ''Em it wasn't me.'' Tiny eyes narrowed squinchy on Andy growling. ''Honest.''
''Emily stop snapping at Andrea's heel.'' Miranda told Emily. Emily obeyed.
Miranda always knew what to do in any situation, except this.
She couldn't blame her kooky troublesome Aunts for this, like what had happened with Andrea turning into that in front of her as she watched Andrea pull on a t-shirt, remembering Miranda calling her a shirtless labourer.
Remembering in bed, last night she'd been saying if only she was Miriam for a month.
This was all her fault, her spell.
She'd done this somehow, cast a spell on herself. It would wear off soon, wait she'd said in a month! She'd be like this for a month.
Stuck young like this for thirty one days.
She had to be at work, in less than an hour.
Runway was busy today and this whole week was working on the next issue and with Irv trying to bed her, Miranda knew he'd be waiting for her, try and ambush her on her way to her office. No doubt, furious she was sure of that, at missing her last night at the Gala when Andrea thoughtfully helped her slip away unnoticed.
Wait Irv wouldn't know her.
Miranda realised Irv wouldn't know her at seventeen or for that matter recognize her. No one at Runway would know it was her.
What was she going to do? She'd never taken time off before except when the girls were born. HR often reminded her in sent emails that she was owed vacation days and should take them every now and then. Miranda worked so hard she just didn't take them except the usual holidays.
Miranda couldn't very well attempt to go to work like this not unless security tracked down her yearbook or her first passport photo down. She had to call Nigel and give him the responsibility of Runway, it was the only thing to do.
Step into her Louboutins.
Dialling his number. Nigel was capable. Knew fashion like her.
Nigel took the call as he was rushing to work, almost dropped his phone in his coffee. Miranda wanted him to step in as Editor. For a month. Miranda was sending him her files for this issue being worked on.
She wasn't pregnant was she, without thinking blurted this out on the line, covering his mouth up in shock at saying this outloud to Miranda.
''Nigel Kipling I am not in any way impregnated by Stephen.'' Wincing at Miranda's icy waspish tone to him.
''I am simply taking time off. For my girls.''
Nigel smiled into the receiver probably to be with that delicious nanny called Andy. Her new Andy was lovely. Miranda must have a fetish for the name.
''Miranda I'll keep your Editor seat warm enjoy your time off.''
''Good I expect to be kept abreast of everything at Runway. Try and avoid Irv. To him I am out of the city for the month. Unreachable. Emily is with me. Have HR send a temp for you and Serena can do Emily's job. I want anything sent to me by email Nigel''
''Sure thing.''
Nigel now suspected Miranda was really having time off for plastic surgery.
He was 100 percent sure Miranda was taking a month off, for a little nip and tuck and recuperate at a spa that's why Emily was off.
Miranda had just given him over the phone, the full responsibility of Runway for a month only, but she would still go over everything via email.
Hung up on. Andy watched the pretty redhead pinch her nose bridge. It was so cute. No downright adorable.
The doorbell rang. ''I'll get it.'' Andy offered.
Andy handed her an package addressed to her.
It smelt like Mediterranean lavender, when Miranda opened it.
It was from Mel and Zelda with a few tacky souvenirs from London of beefeater stuffed bear and a Big Ben, those two even sent a picture of themselves at Platform 9¾ in Gryffindor scarves.
Miranda shook her head, both her Aunts had lived in London, they were not tourists.
Miranda cut her eyes at the note.
Enjoyed London but still searching for book. Ludlow told us a Mediterranean muse bought it at a bargain. Wrote him a bounced cheque. So we're in Greece searching for this Muse. Mirybelle try not to be so like Mrs Cleo or I'll send you support hose.
Have fun even a little with Andy if you still know how? Must dash Mel's secured us donkeys but the poor things could use a bit of help floating.
Andy watched Miranda glare at the note then she pursed her pink lips that Andy tried not to stare at, moistening them with her tongue and was lost in rereading it silently, her mouth opened and closed, Roman nose flaring, she was not in any way like old Mrs Cleo who once lived next door to her and her Aunts who was a mean and unhappy spinster and made an enema sound like fun.
Zelda was so wrong in comparing her, she was not like Mrs Cleo or in need of support hose either.
''Bobbseys, Andy. Let's spend today together.'' She'd show Zelda, she knew how to have fun.
Surprised brown eyes and blue stared at her. Mom never took time off just to be with them for a whole month.
Miranda had forgotten how good it was not to be at Runway, surrounded by budgets and spreadsheets and staff expecting her to make million dollar decisions on photo shoots and advertising. It was nice to be just Miriam today.
Runway was not on her mind at all as she watched Andrea play with her daughters with a Frisbee.
They'd been glow bowling and played golf at Chelsea Piers and went to The Tisch Children's Zoo petting baby alpacas, and had lunch at The Lexington Candy Shop, Miranda even ate a cheeseburger because she was seventeen and didn't have to worry about fitting into sample sizes this month.
They went back to the townhouse to Central Park to get Patricia and Emily who refused to go near other dogs.
Andy brought her camera along for the day, snapping many photos of them together, taking one of Miranda with Cassidy and Caroline in the grass as Patricia brought back the Frisbee and slobbered her.
Walking home together, Emily was now in Miranda's purse, her little head peeking out, exhausted, her ivory fingers holding Patricia's leash.
The twins were carried easily by Andy upstairs to their beds, Miranda watched her with them, and she was so good with her children, sensitive and kind, Andrea fit with them, Miranda mused at the doorway and so kissable.
Staring at Andy. Those lips were mesmerising her all day. She couldn't give in.
Miranda frowned, she blamed her hormones in her teenage body affecting her control, and she knew better, she could not be with Andrea.
The curse was not taken lightly by her. Also Andrea was under a love spell. Didn't even like her as her. That kiss was magic, not real. Andrea without would probably recoil that she actually kissed her.
''I think you wore them out Miranda.'' Andy shut the door quietly, behind her, meeting her in the hallway, eyes sparkling on her.
''So. I guess goodnight.''
Miranda didn't really want to say goodnight to Andrea. Maybe they could have a wine together, get to know each other, talk as perhaps sort of friends that would be nice. Wanting to know more about her.
She could stifle this I'm romantically attracted to you and want to kiss you urge down.
''Miranda would you…do you want to …if you're tired from today with everything that's happened to you with this.'' Andy indicated her being younger. '' Can I ask you to see a movie with me tonight?''
Miranda bit her lip. ''It's late. I don't think Emily qualifies as a babysitter.'' Miranda had left her lying sprawled on her back drooling on an Egyptian cotton pillow. Curled up with Patricia.
Andy shook her head at Miranda, drawn to her biting her lip. ''I didn't mean out.'' Stammering her ears went red. ''I would love to take you out. I'd pay…go to dinner or dancing or just go out together. I like being with you.'' Miranda smiled still standing in the hall.
Andy swallowed she was babbling. ''If you want to stay up and watch a film you can maybe watch it with me, so would you like to join me?''
Miranda understood now. ''Here. Yes that would be lovely.''
''Ok. Pjs and popcorn.'' Andy smiled at her.
''I'll meet you in five minutes.'' Miranda promised.
''It's a date.'' Andy couldn't believe she said that. Why did she have to sound like a lovesick dweeb no dork with teen Miranda too?
Miranda smiled at her, Andrea was adorable asking her to spend time together with just her.
Andy thought about a few films to watch, these were movies to curl up to on a couch together and snuggle, not that Andy didn't want to cuddle with Miranda. Her crotch would have to behave itself.
Clicking the remote, classic or a comedy or a trusty rom com, she didn't know what genre Miranda even liked.
Hoped nothing boring or highbrow. Kissing Jessica Stein looked good. Or maybe she'd want to see a Katherine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy film or there was When Harry Met Sally and It's Complicated looked good with Andy's crush Meryl. Streep was her favourite actress.
Miranda had her beauty when Andy thought about it.
Andy took a chance, deciding on this one. Clicking her selection.
She hadn't seen it before. Maybe Miranda hadn't. Arranging cushions again.
Miranda took longer than five minutes, searching in her drawers for what, she was going to wear, she didn't wear pjs and a satin negligee might make Andrea hyperventilate, had a shower to freshen up, brushing her hair with a comb. Her hand on her lingerie drawer.
Heard her.
''Wear the thong not Grandma Moses panties Mirybelle.'' Miranda gaped at Zelda in her full length mirrors. She did not own Grandma Moses underwear. She bought La Perla and Victoria Secret.
''Zelda what are you doing here?''
Miry.'' Peering at her curiously, looked different. Pressing her face to the mirror at Miranda as if at a zoo.
''You did an If Only. I'm so proud of you.'' Appearing now beside her from the reflection. ''This is a sprig of Eros.'' Putting it in Miranda's hair fondly.
''Mel's trying to negotiate with that muse on a price for the book.''
''So your seventeen again.'' Zelda happily looked Miranda over with a twinkle in her eyes.
''Where is that lovely mortal of yours I like her.'' Miranda glared Andrea was not here in her bedroom.
Miranda's hand was stopped from form fitting briefs. ''Zelda. Andrea is not mine.''
Zelda nodded her head seriously. ''Mmmm not yours. That I have to digress.''
''Andrea is here with me only because of your love spell and I admire her and yes I do like her a great deal.'' Miranda smiled.
Andrea was incredible but this was because of the list made by Cassidy and Caroline and her adding to it and Zelda's brewing. Andrea Sachs didn't even like her really.
''Oh Mirybelle who are you kidding you like her more than a great deal.'' Zelda encouraged. ''You do I can see it.''
Wagging her finger at Miranda. ''Now I know Stevie probably turned you off sex altogether, but I got this guide to magical sex for you.'' Holding up a book.
''It might be all very new to you. Feel free to try them all out with Andrea. Your young she's young and virile.''
Miranda's blue eyes went huge at one illustration how on earth did they twist their bodies into each other like that. Had to be contortionists. Snapping the book shut not before seeing one image how a couple could float during sex, sex with Stephen certainly wasn't like that.
It was more for her get it over with fast.
''So wear the lacy thong and read up. I suggest try this position.'' Miranda gasped at Zelda's randy suggestion, floating the book back to her nose with a page demonstrating.
Miranda stared was that possible, tilting her head at the naughty book that really did show step by step, she could never do that…that did look maybe a little satisfying and pleasurable.
''Looky. Look Mirybelle.''
The page changed to show the one naked lover now had long burnished chestnut hair resembling Andrea whose lips were swollen and red trailing ivory skin, her mouth lowering...
Snapping out of her lusty thoughts, resolutely to Zelda. '' I am not sleeping with Andrea. Zelda I mean this.''
Zelda gave a very serious look. '' I hardly think you'll both be sleeping. Miry.'' Smirking at her indignant niece.
Zelda whispered as she vanished with a saucy wish to have a fun night not sleeping. Knowing Miranda didn't know what the sprig of Eros from Milos the home of Aphrodite could do.