She's Gone Chapter 2
Chapter 2
ANDREA!!!!!! Miranda woke feeling an ache in her heart. She looked around the dimly lit bedroom searching, she reached out to the other side of the bed, the cold empty sheets left her fingers heavy. Her heart was pounding, her hands trembling, her body soaked to the bone. She shivered as she whispered into the night. “What have I done?”
***
The clicking of heals could be heard from a distance, Emily stood and raced towards the door waiting for the Dragon to appear. Before Andrea Miranda was tough, always wanting perfection, during the Andrea time at Runway as Emily called it, Miranda determined to seek the impossible which the doe eyed girl always accomplished. Then Andrea entered Miranda’s life on a personal level which caused Miranda to once again change. She was just as demanding but had an understanding that people were trying their best. This Miranda was everyone’s favorite. Emily understands that Miranda was never a dragon like page six stated…until that night when Miranda’s life turned upside down. Miranda was now the dark dragon breathing fire on anyone that crossed her path.
Emily straightened her dress knowing she had only a few more steps before darkness would loom over the offices. Emily stood with the door open ready for the morning list of tasks that Miranda would expect to be accomplished yesterday.
“Good mor…”
“Call Nigel and tell him the photos of the Donna Karen shoot look like a five year old took them, he better fix it by noon. Tell Jocelyn to stop hiding from me and bring me the accessories I asked for yesterday or she can pack up her belongings, and get me Donatella on the phone. Tell Irv I don’t care about his schedule I have no time to meet with him. Go to Calvin Kline and pick up the skirts for the run through, and more scarves. Move the run through up to 10:30 and fire that useless being that sits in the second assistant chair.” Miranda stopped just as she entered her office her cool exterior flinched for a moment as she saw the bouquet of flower. “What are these still doing here?”
“Sorry Miranda I…”
“Spare your breath, just get rid of them. That’s all.”
Miranda watched her assistant run to grab the flowers and exited the office. As she sat her focus fell to the empty desk outside her office. Why did I ever hire the smart fat girl? Well never again. Miranda straightened her back focusing on the magazine as she always had.
***
“Hey Emily, I have the prints for Miranda to look at. How is the dragon this morning?
“Bloody hell, that’s how?” Emily leaned forward to whisper. “How’s your girl doing?”
“Well I got an email saying she is in Florida, seems she is only in town when she is with the girls.”
“Are you kidding me we are dying here and she is off on vacation.”
“Hey that’s not fair she is hurting. She was never number one in Miranda’s eyes and after what happened she just can’t take being so close to her.”
“I can’t believe I am going to say this, but I miss her…if you repeat that I will bloody well cut all your Armani suits. She could calm the dragon with one look, one word, one touch. Do you think it will ever get better?
Nigel looked up to look at his long-time friend he couldn’t see things ever getting better for her unless by some miracle Andy and her got back together. Nigel sighed and moved to head back to his office.
***
Are they that dense, don’t they not realize I can hear them. Or maybe, which is more like it they want me to know what is going on with Andrea. What have I done? So stupid I had it all and threw it away.
***
Andy knew it was time to stop running and return to New York, over the last year she had seen the girls as often as possible but now it was important for her to make the place home again. So many things had changed for her over the last year, she started freelance writing and had made a name for herself. Many magazines and newspapers were after her to work for them. Andy was content with the direction her career was going it gave her the time she needed for other priorities. She needed to return to New York next week for her award she was receiving for her article on the working poor.
When Andy left a year ago Miranda had made sure she was financially stable, Andy was surprised when she checked her bank account. She had saved over the three years while her and Miranda were together as Miranda never let her pay for anything. They argued often about this but Miranda always won. Now her bank account had more money than she would need in a life time. Miranda had made sure she would need for nothing. One of Miranda’s strengths was giving to those she cared about. Andy figured it was guilt that drove the older woman to give her such a large amount of money.
Andy had purchased a loft on the Upper East Side close to the townhouse but not so close she would run into Miranda. The girls loved the place they each had their own room. Andy tried to make it feel like home for them. They spent extended times with Andy and sometimes they were able to come after school.
The girls never spoke about their mother when they were with Andy. They talked about school, their friends and who they were crushing on at the time. The girls were growing up so fast, they were turning 15 in a few months. Andy was so proud of the girls they were finding their individuality…Cassidy seemed to be following in Andy’s footsteps she loved literature and writing, while Caroline was following her artistic nature just like her mother, Andy thought she may become an architect.
Caroline and Cassidy helped Andy pick out the 5 bedroom loft. It was located in a 6 story building, each floor was its own unit, the hefty price tag represented it. The girls were so excited when they got to decorate their own rooms. They got to decorate their rooms at the townhouse under the watchful eye of their mother, with Andy anything goes, they picked the paint the furniture and even got to help paint. Andy had picked them up sweats and t-shirts for the occasion, at first the girls looked rather put off by the clothes. Andy had to convince them no one would see and it was just for painting. When they were finished Andy had in fact taken a picture, they had so much paint of their outfits one could barely tell what the original colour of the material was.
***
Andy moved away from the window reaching for her laptop she logged on. It has been a good year, but her heart still ached and no matter what she did the pain would not go away. As she searched for flights she began to get nervous. Andy knew Miranda was aware when she was in town because of the girls but she was going to have to face her and she was not looking forward to it. Staying away was easier, the feeling, the hurt, and the longing was dulled, however facing Miranda would bring everything back.
***
After booking her flight she sent off an email to Emily and Nigel letting them know she was returning and that she would see them at the awards ceremony. Over the year Emily and Nigel never mentioned Miranda, they didn’t need to Andy could tell by their emails and when she did see them their faces told a disturbing story. Miranda was the black dragon since she had left. At first Andy had to fight to not return and make things better for everyone. That was her nature to take care of others, but she needed to take care of herself.
It was hard when she saw the girls, she always wondered how things were at home, they never let on. With a sigh Andy moved to the bedroom to start packing she was leaving tomorrow and had a number of things to get done.
***
“I’m so excited Ma is coming home…we will be able to see her whenever we want.”
Cassidy sat forward just as excited. “I know right…this is so cool. I wonder if they will see each other.”
“I think they will have no choice, mom is going to the awards ceremony that ma will be at. I wish we could be there. I know they still love each other. They just need to be in the same room and they will remember all the good times.”
Miranda stood leaning on the doorway listening to her daughters. When she first heard the girls call Andrea ma her heart had skipped. She was so grateful Andrea had kept her word and stayed in their lives, Miranda had disappointed them enough to last a lifetime.
Clearly her throat the girl’s heads snapped up and smiles appeared. “MOM, when did you get home?” Both girls yelled.
“Just a few minutes ago.” Miranda moved into the room and sat between her girls. “I just want you to know I have never forgotten the good times, and there will never be anyone I love more than Andrea.” The girls smiled with this admission. “Girls don’t think more in to this than it is, Andrea is returning but nothing will change, you will continue to see her, I may cross paths with her but that will be all. I ruined our chance long ago and must live with it.”
“But mom…”
“No I will not discuss this further.” Miranda gave her drop the subject look.
“Fine but I think ma has the right to know you have changed.” Caroline stated giving her mother the same look.
Miranda smiled. “Bobbsey I did not change to get Andrea back, she made me wake up and realize what I was missing. I love how much time we spend together now and I would not change that for anything.” Subject closed. “Now go get ready for dinner.”
The pounding of feet filled the house, Miranda smiled with the noise. She would never tell her girls but she missed them terribly when they were with Andrea. A part of her was afraid they would decide to go live with her. Miranda new she would never fight for the girls if they wanted to leave for Andrea.
Miranda laughed at how ridiculous that was, she fought Jeremy for months to secure sole custody of the girls. Miranda would give Andrea and her girls anything they asked.
***
Andy sat on the airplane finishing her article for Vanity Fair, it seems that everyone wanted a piece of her. She enjoyed writing about all kinds of things. She struggled to write for fashion magazines feeling less than confident. Sometimes she wondered what Miranda would say about the articles.
Reaching to the next seat little fingers wrapped around her pinky. Andy’s brown eyes shone as she looked down at her precious child. “Time to meet your mom little man.”
TBC