The Gift of Possibilities ~ Ninth
I confess. It belongs to me, the JRoT.
Disclaimer: The Devil Wears Prada is neither mine nor CeeLyn's. No infringement intended, no money being made. The building belongs to Lauren Weisberger and 20th Century Fox. We're just redecorating. When finished, we will tear down the new curtains and fancy artwork, but leave the festive paint…
Rating: T
Fandom: The Devil Wears Prada
Pairing: Mirandy
.............................
Ninth ~ Ruari’s
10:15pm December 23, 2016
Cellphone #1: Is it safe for me to come home?
Cellphone #2: Last I checked, you still live here.
Cellphone #1: Well…I know I’m persona non grata right now.
Cellphone #2: Where are you?
Cellphone #1: Outside on the sidewalk.
“Get in here before someone sees you.”
“Are you mad at me?”
“Well, I love you. That’s never going to change. But I don’t happen to like you very much right now.”
“Yeah, me neither.”
“Believe it or not, I understand anger and aggression. What I don’t understand is why…out of hundreds of keepsakes in this house…you tried to destroy that one. You know as well as anyone how much it means to her.”
“Is she mad?”
“At first she was devastated. But like the stages of grief, she’s moved on to anger. Now she’s just furious.”
“How furious?”
“I saw her snacking on puppies a little while ago.”
“Oh, God.”
“Indeed.”
“If it helps at all, I’m really sorry I did it.”
“It helps…but what’s to stop it from happening again?”
“The feeling I got in the pit of my stomach the very second after I did it, that’s what. I don’t ever want to feel that way again.”
“Why did you do it?”
“I’m not sure exactly. I think it was just that she focuses on it so much, especially this time of year. Every freaking Christmas, she gets manic about it. It’s always on display, front and center. And with the other one beside it? Give me a break. Every. Freaking. Day. It’s not like we don’t already know we’ll never be able to beat that gift. Why rub it in? Every. Freaking. Year.”
“Will you do me a favor? Go up, apologize and then ask her why that gift means so much to her. And you’ll need to tell her I said it was okay to tell you, since it’s a very personal thing between us. Will you do that for me? I have a feeling you’ll feel differently about that gift if you do.”
“Think she’ll speak with me?”
“She loves you, but there’s only one way to find out. She’s up in the study.”
“Big or small?”
“Big.”
*** *** ***
The redhead peered around the open door in her mother’s study and spotted her quarry, sitting deep into the sofa, staring blankly into the fire. She nervously cleared her throat. “Andy? May I speak with you?”
Andy let her head fall back against the cushion and sighed. “I’m all out of priceless, one-of-a-kind, irreplaceable, potential family heirlooms for you to destroy. You got ‘em both with one shot today.”
“I came to apologize and maybe speak with you some. Umm…if you’d let me, that is.”
Andy turned her head to finally look at the young woman. “What you did really hurt me, Cass. And I don’t understand any of it.”
Cassidy approached slowly and made her way to the other end of the sofa. “I know. And I’m really, really sorry I did it. I was as soon as I let go of it. I’m sure it doesn’t help, but I wasn’t expecting the nail polish to spray out like that. I wasn’t really trying to destroy anything.”
“Do you have any idea how much your Mom and I have missed you guys these last few months? You’ve never been away for longer than two weeks before. It was hard. We just wanted to spend this vacation with the two of you. Catch up. I mean, we barely saw you two at Thanksgiving, but you know, you know Miranda and I always take a bunch of days off for Christmas. Completely off. It hurt that you wanted to cut it short to head back to school for a boy you barely know. It hurt.” Andy paused and took a deep breath. “But not as much as when you destroyed the two biggest symbols of family we have in this house. That was devastating.”
Cassidy quickly brushed the tears from her face. “I know. I know, Andy. And I’m sorry. It was childish and stupid and I’m sorry. I don’t even have a good reason, other than jealousy.”
Andy scowled. “Jealousy? What the hell are you jealous of?”
“Sometimes, when we’re in the family room like earlier, you and Mom will get this look in your eyes. Caro and I have both noticed it for years. You’ll seek it out. You’ll both look at it…then back at each other…then over to us…then back at it. It was this…thing…you had between you. And we were never a part of it. And it only got worse after the second one you gave her two years ago. I guess, I guess I just got tired of being on the outside looking in.”
To say Cassidy was stunned at what came next would be like calling Mt. Everest a speed bump. She was absolutely flabbergasted when Andy choked, then began laughing so hard that fat tears just rolled down her face. And it went on and on.
It was the type of laughter that caused you to smile without knowing why. Just to share in it. So by the time Andy got herself under control, Cassidy was grinning at her, completely clueless.
“Oh, Cassidy. If you only knew…”
Cassidy felt it was okay to finally get closer, so she slid across the sofa. She turned sideways and propped her elbow on the back cushion. “That’s just it, Andy. I don’t know. But Mom told me to ask you and to let you know she said it was okay to tell me.”
“Tell you what, exactly?” Andy cautiously asked.
“She said I’m supposed to ask why that gift you gave her the first Christmas means so much to you.”
“Ah.” Andy pinched the bridge of her nose and squeezed her eyes tightly shut. Dammit, Miranda. Talk about personal! “Ok. Here it is. In my entire life, I have never fit in anywhere. I was the nerd in high school who wrote for the school newspaper and was in Yearbook Club. College wasn’t much different. I wasn’t asked to be in a sorority, I didn’t hang with anyone who could even remotely be considered ‘cool.’ It was an accident that I met Nate, and I’m convinced we only stayed together as long as we did because it was convenient. I was a disappointment to my parents because I didn’t go to law school.
Then I started working at Runway for your Mom. And I didn’t fit in there, either. I was the smart, fat girl who didn’t know a thing about fashion. But I did know how to work hard, and so I did. And then I started to not fit in with the few friends I had. My parents became more and more disappointed in me, prodding me to quit weekly. Here’s the thing, Cass. Of all the people in my life, the only one who recognized the misfit in me, and did anything to change it, was your Mom. She saw me. And that’s what prompted me to leave. Without actually saying a word, she made me realize that the only image I needed to fit was my own.
And I never forgot what she did for me. And I longed for her. Because I realized that while I may not have fit in at Runway, I could fit in with her. So that first Christmas, after I got that soccer ball for you, I knew what I had to do. I had to find a way to show Miranda what I wanted. I’ve never fit in anywhere, Cass. And the only place I ever wanted to fit into was here, with her and you and Caroline. That’s what that gift represented then and what it symbolizes now. Me, on the outside, always looking in, trying to belong. And Miranda recognized it immediately. And it started our relationship, which is when I felt like I’d finally started living, rather than simply existing.”
Eyes now opened, Cassidy smiled. “So the one you gave her two years ago…that’s you finally belonging, right?”
Andy grinned and nodded. “Yeah. And that’s why we get that ‘look’ in our eyes that you mentioned.”
Cassidy reached over and wrapped her arms around Andy’s neck. “I’m so sorry for what I did. I hope you can forgive me someday,” she whispered.
Andy’s arms tightened around the young woman. “I still have you, Caro and your Mom, so I guess I can forgive you.”
“Thanks.”
*** *** ***
09:30am December 25, 2016
“Who’s ready for brunch?”
“Not so fast, Caroline-darling. I have a couple of gifts still for Andrea to open.”
“What? Miranda, there aren’t any more packages under the tree.”
“Astute investigative journalist, that’s my wife, everyone.”
“She’s right, Mom. What could you possibly have left?”
“Well, it so happens that I have many connections, so I used one yesterday, along with a bit of bribery, and got a friend to look over some damaged items I had. After much pressing, threatening, and begging, I got him to repair these. On Christmas Eve, no less.”
*le gasp*
“Miranda? Baby, how did you manage this?”
“I told you…bribery, threats, and groveling.”
“Mom! You re-gifted!”
~R
The Tenth Christmas
Disclaimer: The Devil Wears Prada is neither mine nor CeeLyn's. No infringement intended, no money being made. The building belongs to Lauren Weisberger and 20th Century Fox. We're just redecorating. When finished, we will tear down the new curtains and fancy artwork, but leave the festive paint…
Rating: T
Fandom: The Devil Wears Prada
Pairing: Mirandy
.............................
Ninth ~ Ruari’s
10:15pm December 23, 2016
Cellphone #1: Is it safe for me to come home?
Cellphone #2: Last I checked, you still live here.
Cellphone #1: Well…I know I’m persona non grata right now.
Cellphone #2: Where are you?
Cellphone #1: Outside on the sidewalk.
“Get in here before someone sees you.”
“Are you mad at me?”
“Well, I love you. That’s never going to change. But I don’t happen to like you very much right now.”
“Yeah, me neither.”
“Believe it or not, I understand anger and aggression. What I don’t understand is why…out of hundreds of keepsakes in this house…you tried to destroy that one. You know as well as anyone how much it means to her.”
“Is she mad?”
“At first she was devastated. But like the stages of grief, she’s moved on to anger. Now she’s just furious.”
“How furious?”
“I saw her snacking on puppies a little while ago.”
“Oh, God.”
“Indeed.”
“If it helps at all, I’m really sorry I did it.”
“It helps…but what’s to stop it from happening again?”
“The feeling I got in the pit of my stomach the very second after I did it, that’s what. I don’t ever want to feel that way again.”
“Why did you do it?”
“I’m not sure exactly. I think it was just that she focuses on it so much, especially this time of year. Every freaking Christmas, she gets manic about it. It’s always on display, front and center. And with the other one beside it? Give me a break. Every. Freaking. Day. It’s not like we don’t already know we’ll never be able to beat that gift. Why rub it in? Every. Freaking. Year.”
“Will you do me a favor? Go up, apologize and then ask her why that gift means so much to her. And you’ll need to tell her I said it was okay to tell you, since it’s a very personal thing between us. Will you do that for me? I have a feeling you’ll feel differently about that gift if you do.”
“Think she’ll speak with me?”
“She loves you, but there’s only one way to find out. She’s up in the study.”
“Big or small?”
“Big.”
*** *** ***
The redhead peered around the open door in her mother’s study and spotted her quarry, sitting deep into the sofa, staring blankly into the fire. She nervously cleared her throat. “Andy? May I speak with you?”
Andy let her head fall back against the cushion and sighed. “I’m all out of priceless, one-of-a-kind, irreplaceable, potential family heirlooms for you to destroy. You got ‘em both with one shot today.”
“I came to apologize and maybe speak with you some. Umm…if you’d let me, that is.”
Andy turned her head to finally look at the young woman. “What you did really hurt me, Cass. And I don’t understand any of it.”
Cassidy approached slowly and made her way to the other end of the sofa. “I know. And I’m really, really sorry I did it. I was as soon as I let go of it. I’m sure it doesn’t help, but I wasn’t expecting the nail polish to spray out like that. I wasn’t really trying to destroy anything.”
“Do you have any idea how much your Mom and I have missed you guys these last few months? You’ve never been away for longer than two weeks before. It was hard. We just wanted to spend this vacation with the two of you. Catch up. I mean, we barely saw you two at Thanksgiving, but you know, you know Miranda and I always take a bunch of days off for Christmas. Completely off. It hurt that you wanted to cut it short to head back to school for a boy you barely know. It hurt.” Andy paused and took a deep breath. “But not as much as when you destroyed the two biggest symbols of family we have in this house. That was devastating.”
Cassidy quickly brushed the tears from her face. “I know. I know, Andy. And I’m sorry. It was childish and stupid and I’m sorry. I don’t even have a good reason, other than jealousy.”
Andy scowled. “Jealousy? What the hell are you jealous of?”
“Sometimes, when we’re in the family room like earlier, you and Mom will get this look in your eyes. Caro and I have both noticed it for years. You’ll seek it out. You’ll both look at it…then back at each other…then over to us…then back at it. It was this…thing…you had between you. And we were never a part of it. And it only got worse after the second one you gave her two years ago. I guess, I guess I just got tired of being on the outside looking in.”
To say Cassidy was stunned at what came next would be like calling Mt. Everest a speed bump. She was absolutely flabbergasted when Andy choked, then began laughing so hard that fat tears just rolled down her face. And it went on and on.
It was the type of laughter that caused you to smile without knowing why. Just to share in it. So by the time Andy got herself under control, Cassidy was grinning at her, completely clueless.
“Oh, Cassidy. If you only knew…”
Cassidy felt it was okay to finally get closer, so she slid across the sofa. She turned sideways and propped her elbow on the back cushion. “That’s just it, Andy. I don’t know. But Mom told me to ask you and to let you know she said it was okay to tell me.”
“Tell you what, exactly?” Andy cautiously asked.
“She said I’m supposed to ask why that gift you gave her the first Christmas means so much to you.”
“Ah.” Andy pinched the bridge of her nose and squeezed her eyes tightly shut. Dammit, Miranda. Talk about personal! “Ok. Here it is. In my entire life, I have never fit in anywhere. I was the nerd in high school who wrote for the school newspaper and was in Yearbook Club. College wasn’t much different. I wasn’t asked to be in a sorority, I didn’t hang with anyone who could even remotely be considered ‘cool.’ It was an accident that I met Nate, and I’m convinced we only stayed together as long as we did because it was convenient. I was a disappointment to my parents because I didn’t go to law school.
Then I started working at Runway for your Mom. And I didn’t fit in there, either. I was the smart, fat girl who didn’t know a thing about fashion. But I did know how to work hard, and so I did. And then I started to not fit in with the few friends I had. My parents became more and more disappointed in me, prodding me to quit weekly. Here’s the thing, Cass. Of all the people in my life, the only one who recognized the misfit in me, and did anything to change it, was your Mom. She saw me. And that’s what prompted me to leave. Without actually saying a word, she made me realize that the only image I needed to fit was my own.
And I never forgot what she did for me. And I longed for her. Because I realized that while I may not have fit in at Runway, I could fit in with her. So that first Christmas, after I got that soccer ball for you, I knew what I had to do. I had to find a way to show Miranda what I wanted. I’ve never fit in anywhere, Cass. And the only place I ever wanted to fit into was here, with her and you and Caroline. That’s what that gift represented then and what it symbolizes now. Me, on the outside, always looking in, trying to belong. And Miranda recognized it immediately. And it started our relationship, which is when I felt like I’d finally started living, rather than simply existing.”
Eyes now opened, Cassidy smiled. “So the one you gave her two years ago…that’s you finally belonging, right?”
Andy grinned and nodded. “Yeah. And that’s why we get that ‘look’ in our eyes that you mentioned.”
Cassidy reached over and wrapped her arms around Andy’s neck. “I’m so sorry for what I did. I hope you can forgive me someday,” she whispered.
Andy’s arms tightened around the young woman. “I still have you, Caro and your Mom, so I guess I can forgive you.”
“Thanks.”
*** *** ***
09:30am December 25, 2016
“Who’s ready for brunch?”
“Not so fast, Caroline-darling. I have a couple of gifts still for Andrea to open.”
“What? Miranda, there aren’t any more packages under the tree.”
“Astute investigative journalist, that’s my wife, everyone.”
“She’s right, Mom. What could you possibly have left?”
“Well, it so happens that I have many connections, so I used one yesterday, along with a bit of bribery, and got a friend to look over some damaged items I had. After much pressing, threatening, and begging, I got him to repair these. On Christmas Eve, no less.”
*le gasp*
“Miranda? Baby, how did you manage this?”
“I told you…bribery, threats, and groveling.”
“Mom! You re-gifted!”
~R
The Tenth Christmas