That evening, Miranda oscillated between pensiveness and being affectionate and present. She listened to the girls, who seemed to take it upon themselves to create a normal, happy dinner conversation, and kept reaching for my hand where I sat next to her in the breakfast nook. We had heated the dinner the girls put away in containers, and even if I weren't hungry, I knew I'd suffer later if I didn't eat.
"Mom? Are you going to come up with a plan with Andrea to make sure Dad doesn't cause trouble?" Cassidey asked casually as she speared a mushroom. Chewing energetically, she directed her laser focus on Miranda.
"Of course I am, Bobbsey. I have no idea what your father thinks he knows, or what he intends to do, but I will find out." She held up a hand when it looked like Cassidy meant to say something. "And no, I don't want you to spy on him." Her laser focus met her daughter's, and I half expected there to be some sort of eruption in the center of the table.
Caroline followed the exchange calmly, but then said, "We could be double agents, sort of. It could be useful, Mom."
If I was shocked at the more timid Caroline's statement, it was nothing compared to Miranda's reaction. She covered her mouth, if it was to hide a smile, or her astonishment, I don't know, but her eyes shone with unspoken emotions. "I rather you didn't, Caroline. You are being amazingly mature, but this is a matter for adults. If I need assistance, I will let you know, all right?"
The girls exchanged glances and then nodded slowly. I couldn't be sure if that meant, 'We'll figure out a way' or if they complied with their mother's orders.
The girls had a backlog of homework and disappeared to Cassidy's room, as she had a desk they could share.
"Can we have music on, Mom?" Cassidy asked as they hoisted the backpacks.
"You know the rule. If you are going to have music on while studying, it can only be—"
"—classical music. Yes, yes." Caroline did a perfect Miranda eye roll. "That's what we meant."
"Then by all means. Rachmaninov?" Miranda kissed their heads.
"All right." Cassidy walked over to me and just stood before me as if she was waiting for something. It took me a few moments to catch on. I bent and kissed the top of her head and then pulled Caroline close and repeated the caress.
"Good luck." I winked at them as they ascended the stairs.
"It's remarkable, but also hardly surprising," Miranda said as she filled the dishwasher with our plates, glasses, and utensils.
"What is?" I was wiping down the table and now turned to look at her.
"The girls. They have just accepted you like you've always been here." Miranda closed the dishwasher and leaned against the counter while I washed my hands in the sink.
"I kind of have." I wiped my hands and then took her in my arms. "I've been coming to this house for years, with the Book, to help them with homework, to handle things with Patricia."
"God. Patricia. I miss her." Miranda pressed her forehead against my shoulder.
"I know. It's only been a few months." I wondered if Miranda would get another dog since Patricia had been such a big part of the family. A constant. Miranda had gotten the slobbery, lovable dog just before the twins were born. An impulse buy when she visited an old friend who happened to raise Saint Bernards.
"To return to the topic," Miranda said and wrapped her arms around my waist. "You're right. You have been here much longer than you and I realize. Little by little, you made yourself indispensable in more ways than one."
"I'm indispensable? I should get a raise." I chuckled and rocked Miranda in a slow dance without music.
"What are you doing?" Miranda said and looked up at me, eyebrows raised, but with a gentle smile on her lips.
"Wait. Your system is on voice command." I held on to her and ordered the hidden Bose system to play an instrumental soft jazz tune. "May I have this dance?" I kissed Miranda lightly.
"We're already dancing." Miranda followed me easily when I danced her around the kitchen island. "Are you romancing me, Andrea?"
"Is it working?" I crinkled my nose at her and she threw her head back and smiled broadly. That smile.
"Oh, yes, I'd say so."
I dipped her gently, bending over her and the brilliance in her smile made my heart tremble. We swayed around the kitchen island, and I led her out into the foyer and then into the den. There we stayed in one spot, just rocking back and forth. Miranda held on around my waist with one arm and pushed her free hand into the hair at the back of my head. She pulled carefully, making me bend my head just so, creating space for her to kiss my neck.
"I never been seduced like this in my life," Miranda murmured against my skin. "I only thought people danced in kitchens in the movies."
"Nah, those writers had to be inspired by something. I would dance with you anywhere, but this is perfect." The music shifted into a slightly faster tempo, and I tugged her closer. Pushing a knee in between hers, I spun us several times and laughed as that made Miranda gasp out loud and cling to me.
Then she surprised me by changing the grip of me, and showing me other steps, and she was so easy to follow. I threw my head back and laughed, and she smiled at me, her eyes sparkling. When we passed the stairs and ended up in the wider part of the foyer, I took back the initiative and managed to lead her into a slow, sexier style of dancing where our body's rubbed together. She trusted me to hold her tight as she framed my face with her hands, smoothing back my hair and tracing my cheekbones and eyebrows. I got lost in her eyes, and she didn't blink for what seemed like forever.
I pressed my lips to her temple, and whispered, "I love you, Miranda Priestly." Her response was to find my lips, and kiss me so softly, so gently, it sent shivers all over my back and down my legs.
"And I adore you, Andrea. I love you…"
I kissed her again and then pulled her left leg up over my hip and swayed her to the sultry melody that was now playing. She hooked it around me and the expression in her eyes, on her face, was soft and she almost looked hypnotized.
I let go of her leg, slowly, and she more hugged me than danced. She was with her back to the stairs, and when I saw movements, I peered through the railing and saw two little redheads sitting there very quietly, watching me dance with their mother. I blew a kiss to them and waved them to join us.
Cassidy stood and pulled Caroline along. For once they moved stealthily and with care, and still, they managed to startle Miranda. I wrapped an arm around Caroline and pulled her half in between us. Catching on, Miranda did the same with Cassidy, and we swayed with the girls to the song playing.
Looking down at their little freckled faces, I saw tears in their eyelashes, but I didn't think it was a bad sign at all.
Miranda had also studied her daughters and now she shifted her gaze to me. Her eyes glossy, she bent over her girls and kissed me lightly. For her to be open with the nature of her love for me in front of them made me so happy, that laughter bubbled up through my throat.
"What's so funny?" Caroline's eyes grew wide.
"I'm just so very happy, sweetheart," I said. "I'm with my favorite people in the whole world—and we're dancing!"
"And kissing," Cassidy said and rolled her eyes, but she was grinning broadly. "Like a lot."
Miranda kept swaying to the music, but it was her turn to look a little taken aback. "How long were you girls on the stairs, exactly?" She raised an eyebrow at them.
"Uhm…I had forgotten my cell phone and when I came halfway down, I knew I had to get Cassidy." Caroline looked at us through her pale red eyelashes. "You look so happy, Mom. I haven't seen you this happy in…like forever. I knew Cass needed to see it too."
"I have all I want and need right here. How could I look otherwise?" Miranda said calmly. "And just this once, I won't lecture you about spying." She winked at them. "But another time, just announce yourselves. And if you need either of us and we're in the bedroom with the door closed, you knock and wait for either Andrea or me to answer."
"That's a given," Cassidy said quickly as if she feared her mother would go into detail why that rule applied. "I think it should work the other way around too. If Caro's door, or mine, is closed, you two should knock."
Miranda blinked. "Really?" She looked up at me and I nodded emphatically. The girls were twelve. They needed some privacy. "All right. We have an agreement, then."
"Deal," I said, solemnly.
The music stopped at the perfect moment. We stood motionless for a few moments, and then Miranda said, "Did you get some work done tonight girls?"
"One of the essays. I finished it," Caroline said. "Then I needed my cell and…" She shrugged.
"Cassidy?" I asked when she didn't volunteer any information.
"I have to finish my essay, but I've already written two different endings. I'm stuck." She threw her hands up in a dramatic gesture.
"I can look at it, if you want." I studied Cassidy's expression which turned from pouty to hopeful in seconds. "And no, I'm not going to write it for you. You're not little kids anymore. You're at Daltons and soon you'll be in junior high. You are already at levels with some of your subjects that I know very little about. But to look at your essay and give you some tips—that I can do."
"Thanks, Andy." Cassidy hugged my arm in an odd little gesture and then bounded up the stairs with Caroline a few steps behind.
"And the elephants are marching again," Miranda said. "You were very sweet and firm with Cassidy."
"I'm happy to help." I pushed her bangs to the side.
"And you just asked my girls to dance with us," Miranda said slowly. "Just when I thought I couldn't possibly love you more." She looked serious. "Is this going to be a habit, Andrea? Seducing me and turning me all soft and pliant? Endearing yourself to my girls?"
I gaped until I realized she was both literal and not. Her eyes sparkled when she walked me backward, making me end up against the same door where she had taken me so thoroughly before the weekend. The memories of her pressing so hotly against me, claiming me, made me gasp for oxygen. "You should talk. Is this what you're going to do to distract me, to get the upper hand?" I chuckled. "If so, it's kind of working."
"Kind of?" She growled deep in her chest. "I must be losing my touch."
"No. Nope. Never going to happen." I ran my fingertips along her cheeks and down her neck, only pausing briefly at the neckline of her blouse.
"And yet you manage so much more by doing that." She took my right hand and bit into the tip of my index finger. "All you have to do is this, create a promise of what more this mere touch could become."
"Just wait." I pressed my lips to her earlobe and breathed the words into her ear. "I think we have a lot of feelings that need an outlet still, and I'll gladly continue this later."
Miranda nodded. "I'm going to do some much-needed research and contact a few people while you help Cassidy. Once I've looked over the Book digitally after that, I will hold you to your promise."
As I hurried up the stairs, I had to pinch myself to change my mindset before I knocked on Cassidy's door. After a loud, "Come in, Andy," I stepped inside and joined the girls who both sat at Cassidy's desk.
"Don't think I'm stupid just because I can't figure it out," Cassidy murmured darkly, folding her arms over her chest.
"I would never, because it's simply not true." I ruffled her hair. "Sometimes we can feel stupid, but that's just a passing feeling."
Cassidy's expression softened and she gave me her laptop, which I brought to her bed where I sat down to read. Once I was done, I knew exactly what I would have done, but she wouldn't learn a thing if I simply told her that. Instead, I pointed out what I felt were her strongest paragraphs, and then where I felt she needed to tighten her language. When she understood that it wasn't the content, but more the style, that was the issue, Cassidy's eyes lit up. I had read both of her endings, and I favored one, but wanted her to choose. When we went through them together, she immediately could tell and chose the stronger one without hesitation.
"Now you just need to do some housecleaning and spell-checking. After that, you can let your sister read through it, and you read hers. If you are both happy, you should be good to go."
"Should Mom read it, you think?" Caroline asked, sounding non-committal.
"Does she usually?" I studied both girls.
"No. Not really." Cassidy shrugged.
"Do you ask her to?" I asked softly.
"Not really." Caroline echoed. "We don't want her to think we suck. Compared to her writers at work, I mean."
"I think she might be thrilled to read your essays. I think you've done a good job. Your mother understands there's a big difference between being in middle school and being a professional writer. She might have a good idea or two that would help you in the future."
"I want to show her my essay, at least," Caroline said after considering it. "Cass?"
"We'll see once you've read it. If you think should…" Cassidy sounded nervous.
"Whether you ask her or not, is up to you. I won't mention that we talked about it, okay?" I bent and hugged them both. "Now I better hurry and go over my texts before I truly have to show them to your mother."
I walked down the stairs and saw the light was on in Miranda's study. Normally, she would work on the Book in her den, but as she would be working digitally, she was at her computer. I heard her speak quietly on the phone and merely stopped in the doorway and pointed toward our bedroom. I was going to bring my laptop there and work in bed.
After half an hour, I heard two sets of feet move down the stairs and approach the study.
"Mom, can we show you something?" one of the girls asked.
"Of course, Bobbsey. What is it?" Miranda sounded a bit preoccupied and I crossed my fingers on both hands, hoping things would go well.
"It's our essays. They're both on this thumb drive." There were more nerves in this voice, and I knew it had to be Cassidy. She had hesitated the most.
A prolonged silence, perhaps just a few moments, but then Miranda cleared her voice. Twice. Uh-oh. "I would love to read them. Why don't you go get ready for bed and then I'll be up to tuck you in?"
"All right. Thanks, Mom." The happier, brighter voice was most likely Caroline's. "See you then. Andy should come say good night too."
"I'll let her know." Miranda sounded husky.
I kept working on my captions, finetuning them before I showed them to Miranda tomorrow. During the heartbreaking part of today, I hadn't been able to do that.
After a while, Miranda came into the bedroom, holding the thumb drive. "Was this your suggestion?" she asked quietly.
"No. I asked them if they usually show you their texts, that was pretty much it." It was mostly true.
"Hm. Is it now?" Miranda shook her head. "I'm not entirely sure I believe you, but that doesn't matter. What does matter is that they asked me to read something for the first time in two years. I was so…so sure, they were absolutely against my getting involved at all."
I didn't say anything but placed my laptop on the nightstand and then joined Miranda. "I overheard them saying I should join you for the tucking-in procedure."
"I think they want an ally to soften the blow they fear from me." Miranda snorted. "I was always fully aware why they didn't want me to read. They are nervous about my special brand of critique."
"And I know you'll be great. I'm not nervous and I'll happily be there when they realize they don't have to be either." I ran the back of my hand along her cheek. "Want to go up?"
"Why not?" Miranda turned and walked up the stairs, and it was probably because I knew her so well that I could tell she was dawdling the last few steps.
Caroline had clearly heard us approach and she held up the door to Cassidy's room. "Mom and Andy's here," she said superfluously. "Geez, Cass, you don't have to look like you're about to faint."
I cast a glance at Cassidy, who didn't actually look like she was going to pass out but had to concede that she was pale.
"I liked your essays. Very different from each other, but that's a good thing. That means you are thinking like individuals when you weigh the pros and cons, and when you choose from what angle you want to approach your topic. Caroline, I have added two notes, but it is very minor. Cassidy, your ending is strong, and the only thing you need to think about in the future is to be mindful of a few repetitive words. If you agree with my assessment, you can easily fix it in ten minutes, which is about all you have before lights out." Miranda gave the thumb drive back to Caroline.
"Really, Mom?" Cassidy said. "That's it?"
"Yes, Bobbsey." Miranda sat on the bed. "I think you both have distinct voices. I look forward to when you'll give me a new chance to read something."
"Anytime, Mom," Caroline said and hugged her mother tight. "Even if you have tons of notes for me to look at, I really like for you to keep reading my texts."
"Me too," Cassidy said, her smile more solid now. "I'm sure your notes will be just as helpful as Andy's." She sat down next to her mother but took my hand as she passed me. "I like how this day ended better than how it began," she said and sighed.
"Ain't that the truth?" I shrugged. "I don't know about you guys, but I'm exhausted."
"I'm going to just look at Mom's notes—" Cassidy began.
"Me too," Caroline said, and then they both hugged Miranda and me hard and disappeared up the stairs. "Night!"
"I swear they think I'm so old I must be losing my hearing." Miranda shook her head.
"Better that, than your mind," I offered helpfully.
Miranda narrowed her eyes. "I'm not done with the Book yet, but when I am, you better not be asleep, Andrea. I have plans for that smart mouth of yours."
I made a production of yelping and exited her study. Returning to our bed, I was grinning. If she had plans for my mouth, then I had literal visions for every square inch of her body.
Continued in part 25.
