The Curious Case of Miranda Priestly 9/10
Title: The Curious Case of Miranda Priestly
Pairing: well....I think it becomes obvious...
Rating: Pretty much G
Disclaimer: I don't own Cassidy, Caroline, Miranda, or Andy. But I claim Max and Graham
Summary: Cassidy uncovers the truth about why her mother's been so unhappy.
Exhibit 9
Friday night completely cemented the theory:
My mother was slated to be at an auction event, and my sister and I were supposed to be at an Upper East Side Soiree, but I hadn’t felt well and at the last minute let my sister go while I stayed home. I just hadn’t felt like getting dressed up and I had a ton of homework. Dalton was keeping me far too busy, and I no longer allowed my mother to call one of her assistants in to help. I’d found out, at around the age of 12, that I was already smarter than half of them, and since then I liked to take the workload on myself.
So I decided to hole up in my room, blast some music, and work so I could perhaps have Sunday afternoon free to attend a luncheon at my friend Lexi’s house.
As I finished a chapter in my history text, I decided I was hungry and needed a little snack.
But, as I stepped down the front stairs, I gradually began to hear voices. They seemed to be coming from the ground level. One sounded as if it belonged to a young child and the other sounded like….
…my mother?
My heart gradually went from thumping loudly in my ears, to an even pounding. I had thought for a moment that perhaps a burglary was occurring at this moment, but upon hearing my mother’s voice in the kitchen I slowly began to relax.
But who was this young child with her?
I snaked my way down the rest of the stairs, trying not to make any noise.
When I made it to the wooden floors in the front hallway, I peered into the kitchen and noticed the back of my mother’s head and beside her sat a curly haired little boy…
…Max?
I found myself moving forward, straining to hear whatever they were saying. They had fallen silent for the moment and I could tell from my position that my mother was writing notes in “The Book” and Max was coloring.
Why was he here? Why was Andy’s son here?
This just made the claim that my mother was with Andy an even bigger probability.
“Me-anda?” It was Max…he couldn’t quite formulate my mother’s name and if this situation hadn’t been so weird, it might have been quite cute.
“Yes, Maxwell.” My mother responded, licking her finger to gently turn the page of “The Book”. She did not acknowledge Max as she did so, and just appeared to continue reading.
“When is mommy come?” Max looked over at her, his feet kicking noisily against the barstool.
“She’ll be here in a little while.” My mother assured him.
I was completely shocked, floored. Max was here with my mother and Andy was on her way over?
Why was she coming….why was he here? I was so confused.
And just at that moment I stepped on a squeaky floorboard and my mother shot around, her eyes meeting mine instantly.
“Cassidy, why aren’t you at the…” Her voice trailed off, and I could sense Max staring apprehensively from my mother to me.
“Why is he here?” I asked, completely baffled.
“That is not really your concern.” My mother accented each of her words, making it sound like she was saying each in its own sentence.
I raised my eyebrows, floored by my mother’s response.
“You’re sleeping with her, aren’t you?” I found myself saying before I could censor myself.
“Cassidy Sage Van Ziegler.” My mother’s tone was strained, she was shocked and angry.
“No, mom. I want answers!” I screamed.
“Not right now, Cassidy.” Miranda narrowed her eyes.
And it was then that the front door unlocked and in walked the one person I was not ready to see. Her hair was messy, tears stained her cheeks, fresh ones were welling in her eyes. She was clothed in a loosely buttoned trench coat, skinny black pants, heels and a horrendous scarf. She looked terrible.
“Cassidy, take Max upstairs.” My mother’s voice had a hint of warning in it and I knew she was in no mood to be crossed.
I reluctantly complied, knowing that even I didn’t want Max seeing his mom like this.
“Mommy!” He called as I helped him out of his seat. He tried to run to her, but I snatched him up, gave my mother a glare and then carried the screaming, kicking child up the backstairs.
So it was true. My mother was sleeping with Andy. And it looked like it was quite serious…
~*~
After I successfully distracted Max with the Wii in our game room, I told him I was going to the bathroom. He didn’t quite respond, and so I slipped out and moved towards the stairwell, wanting to know what was happening.
I could hear voices coming from the third floor balcony. Knowing how to spy without being caught, I peered over the edge where I could make them out but they could not see me. There they were, sitting dangerously close to one another on the couch.
My mother was holding Andy’s hand and staring blankly at the coffee table before them.
“I can’t believe I did it,” Andy whispered.
“It was good for you. You cannot tell me you were happy with him.” My mother responded.
Andy let out a pathetic laugh. “After you, no I wasn’t happy with him. How could I have been?” Andy turned to my mother and pressed her lips against my mother’s neck. I watched as my mother’s eyes closed in ecstasy.
I grimaced and closed my own eyes. This I could do without seeing.
“I just don’t know how I can do this with Max, I mean…”
“Andrea, you have been dragging him to Boston every other weekend to see his dad. It won’t be any different.” My mother was well adept at split-parenting.
“But I have no financial ties to Nate, he could refuse to give child support; he threatened he wouldn’t pay.” Andy’s voice was cracking with new tears.
“I’ll see to it that that DOES NOT happen.” My mother assured her.
I watched as Andy nodded, completely docile, and passive in my mother’s embrace. She looked weary and tired of crying. “I want to see Max.” Andy sat up, wiping at her eyes.
“Are you sure?” My mom inquired, looking at Andy, who nodded. My mother sorted Andy’s hair out, pressed a quick kiss to her lips, and then told her where she could most likely find Max.
I realized Andy was coming my way and before I could move to race back to the game room, she saw me. As did my mother.
“Come here Cassidy.” My mother blankly called to me.
Andy and I brushed silently past each other on the stairs.
It was so surreal.
It had not become real until just now and I realized that my mother was absolutely in love with this woman.
This was so weird.
My mother patted the spot beside her. I obediently sat.
“I didn’t,” my mother stopped, seeming to formulate a worthy explanation. “I didn’t think you, or your sister would accept the fact that I have been seeing my ex-employee. I was uncertain where it was going and I didn’t want to drag you in until it was more concrete.” She offered as her excuse and I just nodded.
I was at a loss for words.
My mother sat quietly beside me.
“I just need…” My own words surprised me. “Time.”
My mother was agreeing, her head nodding, her eyes closing. Did she think I was disappointed in her?
When she offered no other words I took in a deep breath and sighed. “I think she should…and Max…should stay. I don’t think…I don’t feel they should go to their…home.” I offered, figuring it wouldn’t be all that awful. Not any more awful than having one of my mother’s normal, boring men around.
At least Andy was…all right.
My mother’s nodding turned into a surprised look in my direction. But the surprise was quickly erased and replaced with a slight smile. “Can you help Maxwell find a room?”
I nodded, leaving my mother, needing to get away.
But I only realized that by getting away from her, I was moving to Andy. Andy and Max were cuddled on the couch in the game room, Andy tiredly attempting to play Wii. Max looked sleepy.
When she saw me in the doorway she startled and sat up. “I’m really sorry, Cassidy. I had no idea you were…”
“It’s all right. Whatever.” I shrugged. “Mom wants me to help find a room for Max.”
“Oh, we can go home, it’s not…I don’t want to intrude, I mean…”
“No, it’s okay.” I shrugged. “There’s a room on the fifth floor, if you want to bring Max up.” I offered, waiting for her to follow after me.
We walked silently up the two flights of stairs, Andy carrying her nearly sleeping son. He easily snuggled into the cream colored sheets of the guestroom and fell into a deep sleep. Andy kissed his forehead and then moved from her spot on the bed. She brushed past me as she left the room and whispered, “Thank you.”
I numbly nodded, still not entirely sure what was happening.
~*~
When Caroline came stumbling into my room at one that morning, I was glad I hadn’t gone to the soiree.
“Hey, you missed out.” She slurred.
“Sure I did. Sit down.” I helped her onto my bed. “Hey,” I snapped in her face, getting her to look at me.
“What?” She mumbled.
I moved to my bathroom, getting her a glass of water. “Guess who’s here?”
“What? Who?” She distractedly answered.
“Max. And Andy.” I said, handing her the glass.
She frowned at me as if she couldn’t understand what I was saying.
“Here?”
“Yes, here.”
“Why?”
“I have no idea. But my theory is very, very true. Mom is sleeping with Andy.”
“Fuck!” Caroline nearly spat the water out of her mouth.
“I know.” I nodded.