MIRANDA'S SECRET GARDEN

In this AU story Miranda runs a classy vintage dress shop in a sleepy New England town, and Andy is a por girl who just wants to escape to the big city. Or does she? Please comment nicely!

"I just wanted to say I'm sorry," Andy Sachs stammered. The tall, long-legged girl kept shifting her weight from one foot to the other, balancing the heavy backpack on her back. Instead of entering the parlor, she stood foolishly gawking in the hall, her long black hair still wet from the rain. "I know it's rotten of me to be leaving all of a sudden like this. I love the store and . . . well, I'm just sorry to be quitting on such short notice. Like I'm running out on you."

"You're not making any sense, Andrea. Come in out of the rain." Miranda Priestley had a fire going in the cozy colonial fireplace, and she had just opened a bottle of wine.

"I can't stay long." Andy nearly tripped over her own big feet as she approached the glowing blaze. Her damp clothes and dripping mane of long black hair made her welcome the warmth of the fire. Yet a part of her longed to break away. Andy's chocolate brown eyes flickered guiltily back and forth between the crackling heat of the fire and the coolly inquisitive gray eyes of her boss. "The late bus is leaving for the big city at midnight."

"Is this really about your big city dreams? Or are you simply running away from Nate and all the baggage of his first marriage?"

"I'm not running away from anyone!" Andy's overstuffed backpack gave a satisfying thump as it fell to the floor by the sofa. The gangling, awkward girl plopped down on the sofa and held out her icy white hands to the fire. "It's not Nate, it's me," she whispered.

"Mm." Miranda didn't say more. There was a heavy silence, broken only by the howling of the wind and the crackling of the fire. "I'll never be like her," the girl finally murmured. Miranda noticed there were big black circles under her lovely brown eyes.

"Emily was the perfect wife," said the older woman, in a soft voice. "Everyone adored her, not just Nate. She was loved and respected by everyone in this small town. But not everyone is made for small town life. Face facts, Andrea. You're far too intelligent to spend the rest of your life as a small-town shop girl." Miranda offered her visitor the newly opened bottle of wine.

"But I love working at Miranda's Secret Garden!" Andy flushed, suddenly realizing that she had never really spoken to Miranda about her work. The elegant older woman with the cool gray eyes and silver hair was a tough boss, brusque and very demanding.

But she'd taught Andy so much.

"I run a fine vintage clothing store," Miranda said quietly. "You have been a great help to me, Andrea. You have a sweet smile, a warm personality, and a winning way with customers. But we mustn't hold you back. With your face and figure, you should be modeling the clothes, not just selling them. Take that elegant outfit you wore to church on Sunday!"

"Don't remind me!" Andy closed her eyes as she sipped her wine, wincing at the painful memory. She'd wanted to make a good impression on Sunday. After all, Emily had been very active in the church. But when Andy appeared on Nate's arm, wearing Emily's pearls and a vintage dress from Miranda's that subtly advertised her new status as well as highlighting her fresh face and stunning figure, the reaction among the good people of the town had been one of shocked whispers and disapproving looks.

"The town gossips didn't approve." Miranda easily read the girl's deflated, dejected mood. "I'm sure Nate was on your side."

"That's what you think!" Andy's full red lips formed a pout that suggested both grown-up sexual allure and a child's innocence. "At church Nate was right by my side every minute. Everybody acts nice to him because he's got all the money in town. So nobody said anything then. They just looked at me, you know? Like they could see right through my clothes to the trailer park trash underneath!" Andy gulped down the rest of her wine.

"What did Nate say?"

"When we got home, he told me he loved my new look but maybe I needed to tone it down for church. Tone it down! I've been trying so hard, Miranda. I really have. But no matter what I do or say or wear, I'll never be her. Nate wants perfection, and that's not me!"

Miranda sighed deeply. "You didn't know him before Emily died," she said, resting a sympathetic hand on the young girl's knee. "When we were young, this stuffy old town was even smaller and sleepier than it is now, and Nate, Emily, and I were a real handful. Those were wild times, Andrea. We drove our teachers crazy!"

"Really? I can't believe that!" Andy giggled, picturing stuffy restaurant owner Nate getting in trouble, and elegant and aristocratic Miranda making mischief. "Was Emily the same way?"

"Emily was wild, but at the same time she was fragile, almost vulnerable. Nate and I both wanted . . . we both felt the need to protect her. Emily got into trouble and we looked after her. But Nate never saw how vulnerable I was, or the feelings I had for . . . well, never mind all that. Come on, let's get you to the station. You're tired of this town, and you want the late bus to the big city."

"Right, the late bus!" Andy woke up from a dreamy sort of daze. She'd been listening to Miranda's story and drinking in every word, her brown eyes wide and her full red lips slightly parted. Picturing Miranda's romantic past had held her spellbound. She'd seen herself in Emily's shoes, making love to Nate and making cool Miranda all hot and steamy with jealousy. Now she fumbled clumsily with her backpack, her heart pounding frantically.

"Wait!" Miranda's voice was quietly commanding. Her cool hands rested gently for a moment on the girl's flushed cheeks. "Before you go we need to set things straight, Andrea. There's more that needs to be said between us. And there's more at stake here than a silly job."

"Huh?" Andy felt dizzy all of a sudden. What was happening? Gazing into Miranda's gray eyes, the girl had the strangest feeling that the poised and attractive older woman was about to kiss her.

"Nate isn't the only one who has deep feelings for you." Miranda was whispering, her firm hands still framing Andy's face. "Do you want this, Andrea? It's up to you."

"I want this." Andy thought of Nate, but she couldn't seem to see him. She closed her eyes, hearing nothing but her own heartbeat.