DWP fic - Like Love pt 27
Yet another slice of daily life.
Hope you enjoy.
Like Love part 27
“So what's on the agenda for today?” Dorothy looked around the room as Andy set the suitcases on the bed.
“Nothing today,” Turning to face her mom, Andy shrugged, “You can all settle in, rest today, or we can figure out something to do later. Tomorrow we are scheduled for tastings with the caterer's and bakers to decide which of them will be doing the reception and cake. I figured Sunday we could rest, and Monday make a tour of the showrooms for a dress... after...” Andy groaned as a wave of terror hit her.
“After what?” Dorothy moved to her daughter and took her shaking hand, “Andy?” She pulled the brunette to sit on the edge of the bed. “What's going on? After what?”
“After I make my appearances on television.”
“What!?” Dorothy was amazed at that statement. “But you're...”
“Deathly afraid of being onstage? I know... believe me, I know.” Andy sighed. Getting up in front of family and friends to do karaoke was one thing, being on stage in front of an audience of strangers was totally different, and terrifying, even doing that little bit with waving at the camera had been hard until she just concentrated on Miranda. “But this is the best way to... counteract the crap Stephen and Christian too have been spewing.”
“Stephen is...”
“Miranda's most current ex,” Andy steeled herself for her mother's next inevitable question.
“And Christian?”
With a resigned sigh, Andy nodded, “Christian is the guy I slept with in Paris, a week after Nate left me.” The look on her mother's face was indescribable and Andy shrugged, “I know you don't want to hear about me in any kind of sexual situation, Ma...” The woman's scoffing tone stopped Andy's speech.
“Please, don't confuse me with your father. I'm sure he still believes that you and Nate had separate rooms when you were living together.” Dorothy rolled her eyes, “I'm just surprised... um... what about Miranda?”
“Ma, Nate and I broke up because I was changing, and he wasn't. Miranda, the job at Runway, only helped facilitate that change. Miranda was married at the time and I was her assistant. She never would have done anything inappropriate with me or anyone else as long as her marriage was still legal, as long as I was her employee.” Andy ran her fingers through her dark hair, “That is one of the things Stephen is saying that is just not true, Miranda and I were not together then... at all.”
“But you wanted to be.” Dorothy knew her daughter well enough to know that much.
“Honestly, Ma, back then I had no clue what I wanted.” Andy tipped her head back and closed her eyes remembering those times. “But, there were moments, when I would look at her and feel... as if I would die if I didn't take her in my arms right then and just hold on...” Exhaling softly, Andy blinked her eyes open, “Sometimes I still feel that way.”
“What did you do? When that feeling happened then... what do you do when it happens now?” Dorothy felt most of the air leave her lungs as her daughter's smile lit up the room.
“Then... I did my best to ignore it and died a little inside, now... I take her in my arms, and hold on tight.” Laughing, Andy patted her mom's knee, “C'mon, let's go see if Peggy has any munchies for us.”
###
Miranda entered the house at exactly the same time she would have if she had spent a regular day at the office. Unlike a normal day however the house was not quiet, there was raucous laughter coming from the kitchen. Moving to investigate, Miranda stopped short in the doorway. “What on Earth?”
“Mom!” Caroline grinned through a powdery mask. “We're baking cookies with Grandma!”
Turning her gaze to Dorothy, Miranda's eyebrow raised. “Is that so?”
Nodding, Dorothy sighed and wiped a bit of white stuff off her cheek. “Yes, but there was an...incident, with the flour.”
“Hmmm... flour mishaps run in the family I think.” Opening her arms she welcomed hugs from her girls, despite their current powder covered state. “Where is Andrea?”
“I'm afraid Andy bore the brunt of the fallout.” Dorothy's eyes glanced up, “She went to get cleaned up.”
“I see.” Patting the girls on the back, Miranda coaxed them back to their activity. She resisted the urge to go check on Andrea and instead brushed off a stool at the preparation island. She sat as she continued to converse with their guest. “How was your flight?”
“Smooth.”
“Good,” Miranda looked around the kitchen, “It seems you've been occupied since you arrived.”
Dorothy laughed, “Actually, we only just started this fiasco...”
“We spent most of the afternoon at the museum.” Cassidy and Caroline both grinned. “It was fun.”
“Mmmm...” Miranda brushed a bit of flour off her sleeve.
Dorothy continued her work but spoke quietly, “There was a woman there that spoke to Andy...”
“Oh?” Miranda became intensely interested in the outing, “What did they discuss?”
“It was the new Director, Mom.” Caroline grabbed a rag and began to clean up the layer of flour dusting every surface. “When she recognized Andy she asked her about getting in touch with you.”
“Me?” Miranda blinked in surprise, “Why ever for?” She didn't miss Dorothy's lips pressed tightly together.
Cassidy chimed in helpfully as she too grabbed a rag and began wiping off the flour dusted surfaces, “Something about the Picasso's.”
“Ah,” Nodding, Miranda sighed, “They're probably planning another exhibit and want the sketches loaned for the duration.”
Andy took the final two steps down and entered the kitchen. She'd overheard the last comment, “Yes, but no worries, the exhibition isn't going to be until next year so Ms. Porter has plenty of time to contact you before then.” Leaning down, Andy kissed Miranda's upturned cheek, “How was your day?”
“Productive.” Smiling, Miranda kept hold of Andrea's hand, pulling it up to kiss the back of it lightly. “And yours?”
“Lazy.” Andy laughed, “We've done nothing but eat and wander around the museum.”
“Mmm...” Blue eyes twinkled, “I doubt that.” She grinned, “Did you not run your customary five miles this morning?”
“Well, yes.. I did that...” Andy admitted, “And I got some work done on the articles I have due...”
“So,” Miranda winked, “You have also had a productive day.”
“Andy gave us the invitations to our birthday party too!” Cassidy grinned, “They're cool!”
“You should send them as soon as possible,” Miranda warned, “The date is only three weeks away.”
Both girls nodded, “Yeah, we have most of them addressed already. Andy said she would mail them tomorrow.”
“Most of them?”
“Yeah,” Caroline explained, “We get ten each, but so many of our friends overlap, we each have a few extra. We're not exactly sure who else to invite.”
“You do not have to limit yourself to your peers.” Miranda suggested, “You may invite anyone you wish. Perhaps Detective Jo and her wife would attend? Or perhaps your student adviser, Ms. Bax?” She ignored the light squeeze Andrea gave her hand.
Caroline giggled at that suggestion and Cassidy glared at her sister before she asked their mom. “Can we invite Dad?”
Miranda saw Dorothy's hawk eyes train on her, waiting for the answer as interestedly as the girls were. She could also feel Andrea's tension through their connected hands. “James is always welcome at functions regarding you two, you know that. He is your father after all.” Miranda continued, “I'm not sure you need waste an invitation on him though, you can simply email him with the address and remind him of the date.”
Cassidy turned to Andy's Mom, “What about you, Grandma, do you want to come to our birthday party?”
“Yeah!” Caroline agreed, “That would be great!”
Miranda turned her intense gaze on the woman, curious to see what the response would be.
“I think I would like that.” She smiled at the girls and Andy, “I'm not sure what I have going on that day, but I'll try.”
“Where are Pava and Mary?” Miranda wondered why the older women weren't here sharing in the baking experience, preventing 'flour incidents'.
“We left them at the museum.” Andy winked at the twins as Miranda's eyebrows raised.
“Excuse me?”
Andy laughed, “They wanted to look around some more. They know the address here and promised to get a taxi when they were ready to come home.”
Dorothy nodded, “They're big girls, they can handle themselves.” She held up a cookie sheet full of unbaked goodies. “Ready to finish these?”
Caroline, Cassidy and Andy chorused. “Yeah!”
Dorothy and Miranda chuckled. Andy bumped Miranda's shoulder, “You aren't going to eat any cookies anyway.”
“No, most likely not.” Miranda eyed the bowl Dorothy had been dipping dough out of and deliberately waited until all eyes were on her before she reached over with one finger to scrape some of the extra dough off the inside of the bowl. She quickly brought the finger to her mouth to savor the rare treat. “I prefer the dough.”
Andy smiled, charmed by the oh so common preference Miranda freely admitted to. She watched as the older woman went back for another swipe but this time Andy intercepted the finger, bringing it to her own mouth instead, slowly licking the sweet dough off Miranda's index finger.
“Oh gross.” Caroline hid her eyes. Cassidy sighed and covered hers as well. Dorothy chuckled and looked away, but more to give the couple a bit of privacy than out of revulsion.
“It's not gross,” Andy insisted, “Cookie dough is delicious.”
Caroline continued hiding her eyes behind her hand and Cassidy groaned. “We're going to be traumatized.”
Dorothy chuckled again, “Andy walked in on her father and I doing worse than that...” Glancing at her daughter, Dorothy grinned, “You seemed to have turned out okay.”
Laughing at that, Andy released Miranda's hand, “I guess so... it's not exactly a memory I cherish though,” she grinned and gestured for the girls to go upstairs. “C'mon, it's time for you two to get cleaned up.”
“But what about all this mess?” Cassidy indicated the lightly dusted countertop with the rag she'd been using to wipe down the other surfaces.
“We'll clean it up when we are.” Andy gestured again, “Nothing is going to get done if it all keeps falling down off you back onto the counter.”
Cassidy couldn't argue with that logic and put her rag down, “Okay.”
Andy grinned as she followed the girls upstairs, speaking to them fairly loudly, “Besides, maybe an elf will come and magically clean the place while we're gone.” Both girls laughed as Miranda's voice followed them up the stairs.
“Don't count on that!”
Dorothy watched the easy interaction between her daughter and this other woman then narrowed her eyes as Miranda again reached her finger into the bowl and brought it to her lips. The reprimand was automatic, “You'll ruin your supper.”
Blue eyes looked up at the mothering woman and blinked once then Miranda unrepentantly reached for another taste. Grinning, she took the final bite and pushed the bowl away, “Probably so.” She looked around curiously, “What does Peggy have planned for our evening meal?”
“Oh, well... I, um...” Dorothy's shoulders sagged slightly, “I asked Andy to let her go early today.”
Miranda merely watched her guest and waited for the explanation for that action.
“Having someone, a servant, around is just very strange for me.” The woman sighed and ran her fingers through her salt and pepper hair, “I figured that between myself, Pava, and Mary we could come up with some sort of meal.” Dorothy ventured a smile at Miranda, “I'm also under the impression that you are quite handy in the kitchen yourself.”
“Mmmm...” Miranda thought about it, “Normally I don't wish to deal with the preparation of our meals. Long days at the office often require some of what Andrea calls 'down time' in the evening.” She saw Dorothy's nod and continued, “Nevertheless, today was mostly meetings, however tedious, aside from one notable encounter this morning, not terribly draining.” Again she looked to Dorothy curiously, “What would you suggest we prepare?”
“I'm fairly flexible,” Dorothy shrugged, “What do you want to make?”
Miranda surveyed the wreck of a kitchen, the flour covered surfaces, the dirty mixing bowls, the haphazardly tossed measuring cups and spoons and murmured, “Reservations.”
###
In their search for ingredients, the pantry turned up several varieties of pasta, three variations of rice, and other staples such as beans, cereal and oatmeal, but the inspection of the refrigerator didn't yield nearly as much bounty. There were very few vegetables, hardly any fruit and no proteins.
“I'm surprised at how little there is in the refrigerator.” Dorothy had been shocked at the lack of groceries available.
Andy snapped her fingers, “Peggy must have skipped the market this morning.” She explained to their guests, and Miranda, that when warmer weather set in, Peggy had started daily morning trips to the farmer's market for their supplies. “She knows we're doing the tastings tomorrow,” Andy gestured to the schedule on the fridge, “And we often eat out on weekends, especially when we have guests.” Not that we ever have guests...
“There's a chicken casserole in here,” Cassidy piped in, hanging on the appliance door, her head half inside the freezer, “And a lasagne.”
Miranda nodded, “Either are acceptable, unless you would rather go out, or call for delivery.”
“Pizza?” Dorothy was surprised. Based on Andy's many rants about the woman during her tenure as assistant at Runway, she didn't think Miranda ate pizza.
“You can get anything you want delivered in New York, Ma.” Andy laughed, “Anything except a decent Chicago-style pizza.” She sighed, “Ever since Josie mentioned Giordano's I've been craving a slice.”
Miranda's blue eyes trained on Andrea, “Is that what you want?” The white-haired woman's lips twitched, “I believe Donatella's plane is at LaGuardia at the moment.”
Andy's eyes widened, “No...” She saw Miranda's eyebrows raise, “Miranda! No..” She pointed her finger directly at Miranda's chest, “You put that thought out of your head right now! We are not going to get on a plane and fly to Chicago just so I can have some pizza!”
“Why not?” Miranda almost, almost, pouted, “If that is what you want...”
“Miranda...” With a sigh, Andy moved closer and rested her forehead on Miranda's, “Thank you for the thought, but why don't we just stick to Lombardi's for tonight?”
“Mmm...” Miranda accepted a gentle kiss on her cheek and shook her head, “Very well, Call them, and Andrea...”
Andy held up her hand to stop Miranda's next order, “I know, don't worry...” She winked at her fiancee, “I'll get your favorite.”
Dorothy grinned as the twins exchanged long suffering looks.
###
“This is great.” Mary took another bite of her pizza.
“I agree,” Pava reached for another piece, “Why would you want a different pizza than this?”
“It is good,” Andy agreed, “it's just not the deep dish Chicago-style I lived on in college.”
“That explains a lot.” Miranda smirked as she bit into her portion of the pizza.
Andy rolled her eyes, “I do eat a lot healthier these days.”
“But junk food is okay every once in a while...right?” Cassidy took another piece out of the small pizza she and Caroline were sharing.
“Everything is fine, in moderation,” Miranda nodded and pushed her plate, still holding half her second piece, away. “Did you enjoy your extended outing at the museum?”
Pava grinned as Mary's hand shook slightly at the wording. “It was lovely, they have some brilliant works there.” Mary silently agreed.
Miranda nodded, “Andrea and I did not have time to visit any of the museums in London, but one day we will return and make a point of going, perhaps we'll jump across the Channel and visit the Louvre as well.”
“Wow,” Mary laughed, “That sounds...”
“Extravagant.” Dorothy filled in the word and then pushed her cynical thoughts away. “And fun.”
Andy grinned at her Mom's effort and at Miranda's outrageous suggestion. “It does sound fun.” Turning to the girls, her dark eyes twinkled, “Doesn't it?” The bobbing heads made her smile.
Miranda also smiled at her family and guests before looking around the room and changed the subject, “One day we will have a formal dinner in this room, as was intended.”
“Yeah, it's kinda weird eating in here.” Caroline looked around, as if just noticing where they were.
“It is unusual,” Miranda looked around the dining room, “With the way our lives have been in the recent past, dinner parties have been out of the question.” She looked at Andrea and smiled, “Perhaps that will change soon?”
“I hope so. Maybe the press won't be so interested in a boring married couple.” Andy nodded, “It would be fun to have friends over every once in a while.”
Miranda nodded but remained thoughtful, I will have to stop keeping her all to myself... cultivate friends for her, she smiled at her young fiancee, she will need that, one day.
###
“Ugh, I'm stuffed!”
All the adults chuckled as Cassidy patted her belly, Andy nodded and agreed, “Me too! I can't even think about tomorrow and all those people bringing us samples of their wedding offerings...”
“It will only be small bites though right?” Dorothy didn't think the caterers would actually bring large amounts of the items on their menus.
“Yes, small samples, but,” Andy rolled her eyes as she recalled the schedule stuck to the fridge, “A lot of them!”
“That reminds me.” Miranda picked up her cell phone and dialed one of the many pre-programmed numbers. The call was answered just after the first ring, “Emily, we require your presence tomorrow for the tastings.” Not waiting for the woman's response, Miranda simply said, “That's all.” and disconnected the call.
Andy saw the appalled look on her family's faces and sighed, picking up her own phone she also dialed Emily's number. It was answered on the third ring. “Yeah, Em... Hi.” She raised her eyebrows at Miranda who merely took a sip of her drink, “Miranda tells me that she wants you here tomorrow for the tastings... so I guess we can skip our park meeting in the morning.”
“Oh, are you sure?”
Trying not to grin at the slightly disappointed tone in the woman's voice, Andy answered with only a bit of regret of her own, “Yeah, no reason for you to get up that early on a Saturday when I'll just be seeing you later anyway.”
“Right...”
Andy waited for it and wasn't disappointed when Emily asked.
“Will Serena still be running with you then?”
“You know, I'm not exactly sure.” Andy grinned, “I haven't spoken to her about running on the weekends.”
“Ah...perhaps I can ask her later.”
“Oh?” Andy grinned, wondering if Emily was going to admit she was having dinner with Serena tonight. The tall Brazilian had told Andy about the arrangements during their run back to the house this morning.
“Yes, she and I are having dinner this evening...” The tone in Emily's voice left no room for ridicule, the snobbery masked her nervousness, “...friends do that, you know?”
“Yes, of course they do.” Andy smiled and winked at Miranda, “I've had dinners with Jo and Blair.”
Emily sighed, “I'll be there tomorrow before the first caterer arrives.”
“Okay then,” Andy again caught Miranda's eyes and said, “Thank you, Em.”
“You're welcome, Andy.”
Disconnecting the call, Andy immediately dialed Serena's number. “Hey, Serena. Listen... can we push our run tomorrow back a little?”
“Sure...” the statuesque woman was surprised and asked, “Why?”
“Well, My mom and Gram are visiting from Ohio and I wanted to take them to the Farmer's Market in the morning... We need some supplies around here anyway, and if you've ever been there you know the best time to go is in the morning.”
“Of course,” Serena hesitated, “Have you informed Emily of the schedule change?”
“As a matter of fact I just spoke with her. We are having the caterer's and baker's come here tomorrow for tastings and Emily is going to be present for that, so I told her that she didn't have to meet us in the park.” She heard a disappointed sound and grinned, “I figured, if we timed our run correctly, we could be just getting back when Emily arrives.”
“Oh!” Serena's tone brightened, “That would be lovely...”
“Bring a change of clothes...” Andy grinned at the new enthusiasm, “You can stick around and help us encourage Emily to at least taste the food.”
“I will.” Serena laughed, “Thank you, Andy.”
“Anytime... and Serena... have fun tonight.” Andy winked at Miranda and the girls as she disconnected the call.
“How long is it going to take for them to get together?!” Caroline was exasperated by the situation.
Andy laughed, “I dunno, Munchkin, sometimes these things take time... their dinner tonight might help.”
Cassidy scoffed, “Mom, just order Emily to go out with Serena.”
Laughing louder at that, Andy reached over and jostled the girl's shoulder gently, “I've already brought up that possibility with Serena.”
“Really,” Miranda pressed her lips together for a moment, “I would have thought I would be the one with which to discuss that strategy.”
“It would expedite matters considerably, I would think.” Andy chuckled, “But I don't think either Serena or I were serious when we brought it up.”
“Mmmm...” Miranda tapped her lips with her fingertips thoughtfully, “I suppose we shall see how it plays out tomorrow.”
Mary broke in to the conversation quietly, “I'm not sure I understand...”
Grinning at their guest, Andy explained about Serena and Emily, their friendship, how Serena wanted to be more than friends but was afraid that Emily didn't return those feelings and how both she and Miranda were helping the couple try to figure it out.
“I have nothing to do with this...matchmaking.” Miranda lowered the timbre of her voice, “This is all on you Andrea...”
“Fine,” Andy waved off the warning tone, “When they finally get together and decide they are the loves of each others lives, they can blame me.” Changing the subject completely, Andy looked around the table. “Who's up for a movie?”
Hope you enjoy.
Like Love part 27
“So what's on the agenda for today?” Dorothy looked around the room as Andy set the suitcases on the bed.
“Nothing today,” Turning to face her mom, Andy shrugged, “You can all settle in, rest today, or we can figure out something to do later. Tomorrow we are scheduled for tastings with the caterer's and bakers to decide which of them will be doing the reception and cake. I figured Sunday we could rest, and Monday make a tour of the showrooms for a dress... after...” Andy groaned as a wave of terror hit her.
“After what?” Dorothy moved to her daughter and took her shaking hand, “Andy?” She pulled the brunette to sit on the edge of the bed. “What's going on? After what?”
“After I make my appearances on television.”
“What!?” Dorothy was amazed at that statement. “But you're...”
“Deathly afraid of being onstage? I know... believe me, I know.” Andy sighed. Getting up in front of family and friends to do karaoke was one thing, being on stage in front of an audience of strangers was totally different, and terrifying, even doing that little bit with waving at the camera had been hard until she just concentrated on Miranda. “But this is the best way to... counteract the crap Stephen and Christian too have been spewing.”
“Stephen is...”
“Miranda's most current ex,” Andy steeled herself for her mother's next inevitable question.
“And Christian?”
With a resigned sigh, Andy nodded, “Christian is the guy I slept with in Paris, a week after Nate left me.” The look on her mother's face was indescribable and Andy shrugged, “I know you don't want to hear about me in any kind of sexual situation, Ma...” The woman's scoffing tone stopped Andy's speech.
“Please, don't confuse me with your father. I'm sure he still believes that you and Nate had separate rooms when you were living together.” Dorothy rolled her eyes, “I'm just surprised... um... what about Miranda?”
“Ma, Nate and I broke up because I was changing, and he wasn't. Miranda, the job at Runway, only helped facilitate that change. Miranda was married at the time and I was her assistant. She never would have done anything inappropriate with me or anyone else as long as her marriage was still legal, as long as I was her employee.” Andy ran her fingers through her dark hair, “That is one of the things Stephen is saying that is just not true, Miranda and I were not together then... at all.”
“But you wanted to be.” Dorothy knew her daughter well enough to know that much.
“Honestly, Ma, back then I had no clue what I wanted.” Andy tipped her head back and closed her eyes remembering those times. “But, there were moments, when I would look at her and feel... as if I would die if I didn't take her in my arms right then and just hold on...” Exhaling softly, Andy blinked her eyes open, “Sometimes I still feel that way.”
“What did you do? When that feeling happened then... what do you do when it happens now?” Dorothy felt most of the air leave her lungs as her daughter's smile lit up the room.
“Then... I did my best to ignore it and died a little inside, now... I take her in my arms, and hold on tight.” Laughing, Andy patted her mom's knee, “C'mon, let's go see if Peggy has any munchies for us.”
###
Miranda entered the house at exactly the same time she would have if she had spent a regular day at the office. Unlike a normal day however the house was not quiet, there was raucous laughter coming from the kitchen. Moving to investigate, Miranda stopped short in the doorway. “What on Earth?”
“Mom!” Caroline grinned through a powdery mask. “We're baking cookies with Grandma!”
Turning her gaze to Dorothy, Miranda's eyebrow raised. “Is that so?”
Nodding, Dorothy sighed and wiped a bit of white stuff off her cheek. “Yes, but there was an...incident, with the flour.”
“Hmmm... flour mishaps run in the family I think.” Opening her arms she welcomed hugs from her girls, despite their current powder covered state. “Where is Andrea?”
“I'm afraid Andy bore the brunt of the fallout.” Dorothy's eyes glanced up, “She went to get cleaned up.”
“I see.” Patting the girls on the back, Miranda coaxed them back to their activity. She resisted the urge to go check on Andrea and instead brushed off a stool at the preparation island. She sat as she continued to converse with their guest. “How was your flight?”
“Smooth.”
“Good,” Miranda looked around the kitchen, “It seems you've been occupied since you arrived.”
Dorothy laughed, “Actually, we only just started this fiasco...”
“We spent most of the afternoon at the museum.” Cassidy and Caroline both grinned. “It was fun.”
“Mmmm...” Miranda brushed a bit of flour off her sleeve.
Dorothy continued her work but spoke quietly, “There was a woman there that spoke to Andy...”
“Oh?” Miranda became intensely interested in the outing, “What did they discuss?”
“It was the new Director, Mom.” Caroline grabbed a rag and began to clean up the layer of flour dusting every surface. “When she recognized Andy she asked her about getting in touch with you.”
“Me?” Miranda blinked in surprise, “Why ever for?” She didn't miss Dorothy's lips pressed tightly together.
Cassidy chimed in helpfully as she too grabbed a rag and began wiping off the flour dusted surfaces, “Something about the Picasso's.”
“Ah,” Nodding, Miranda sighed, “They're probably planning another exhibit and want the sketches loaned for the duration.”
Andy took the final two steps down and entered the kitchen. She'd overheard the last comment, “Yes, but no worries, the exhibition isn't going to be until next year so Ms. Porter has plenty of time to contact you before then.” Leaning down, Andy kissed Miranda's upturned cheek, “How was your day?”
“Productive.” Smiling, Miranda kept hold of Andrea's hand, pulling it up to kiss the back of it lightly. “And yours?”
“Lazy.” Andy laughed, “We've done nothing but eat and wander around the museum.”
“Mmm...” Blue eyes twinkled, “I doubt that.” She grinned, “Did you not run your customary five miles this morning?”
“Well, yes.. I did that...” Andy admitted, “And I got some work done on the articles I have due...”
“So,” Miranda winked, “You have also had a productive day.”
“Andy gave us the invitations to our birthday party too!” Cassidy grinned, “They're cool!”
“You should send them as soon as possible,” Miranda warned, “The date is only three weeks away.”
Both girls nodded, “Yeah, we have most of them addressed already. Andy said she would mail them tomorrow.”
“Most of them?”
“Yeah,” Caroline explained, “We get ten each, but so many of our friends overlap, we each have a few extra. We're not exactly sure who else to invite.”
“You do not have to limit yourself to your peers.” Miranda suggested, “You may invite anyone you wish. Perhaps Detective Jo and her wife would attend? Or perhaps your student adviser, Ms. Bax?” She ignored the light squeeze Andrea gave her hand.
Caroline giggled at that suggestion and Cassidy glared at her sister before she asked their mom. “Can we invite Dad?”
Miranda saw Dorothy's hawk eyes train on her, waiting for the answer as interestedly as the girls were. She could also feel Andrea's tension through their connected hands. “James is always welcome at functions regarding you two, you know that. He is your father after all.” Miranda continued, “I'm not sure you need waste an invitation on him though, you can simply email him with the address and remind him of the date.”
Cassidy turned to Andy's Mom, “What about you, Grandma, do you want to come to our birthday party?”
“Yeah!” Caroline agreed, “That would be great!”
Miranda turned her intense gaze on the woman, curious to see what the response would be.
“I think I would like that.” She smiled at the girls and Andy, “I'm not sure what I have going on that day, but I'll try.”
“Where are Pava and Mary?” Miranda wondered why the older women weren't here sharing in the baking experience, preventing 'flour incidents'.
“We left them at the museum.” Andy winked at the twins as Miranda's eyebrows raised.
“Excuse me?”
Andy laughed, “They wanted to look around some more. They know the address here and promised to get a taxi when they were ready to come home.”
Dorothy nodded, “They're big girls, they can handle themselves.” She held up a cookie sheet full of unbaked goodies. “Ready to finish these?”
Caroline, Cassidy and Andy chorused. “Yeah!”
Dorothy and Miranda chuckled. Andy bumped Miranda's shoulder, “You aren't going to eat any cookies anyway.”
“No, most likely not.” Miranda eyed the bowl Dorothy had been dipping dough out of and deliberately waited until all eyes were on her before she reached over with one finger to scrape some of the extra dough off the inside of the bowl. She quickly brought the finger to her mouth to savor the rare treat. “I prefer the dough.”
Andy smiled, charmed by the oh so common preference Miranda freely admitted to. She watched as the older woman went back for another swipe but this time Andy intercepted the finger, bringing it to her own mouth instead, slowly licking the sweet dough off Miranda's index finger.
“Oh gross.” Caroline hid her eyes. Cassidy sighed and covered hers as well. Dorothy chuckled and looked away, but more to give the couple a bit of privacy than out of revulsion.
“It's not gross,” Andy insisted, “Cookie dough is delicious.”
Caroline continued hiding her eyes behind her hand and Cassidy groaned. “We're going to be traumatized.”
Dorothy chuckled again, “Andy walked in on her father and I doing worse than that...” Glancing at her daughter, Dorothy grinned, “You seemed to have turned out okay.”
Laughing at that, Andy released Miranda's hand, “I guess so... it's not exactly a memory I cherish though,” she grinned and gestured for the girls to go upstairs. “C'mon, it's time for you two to get cleaned up.”
“But what about all this mess?” Cassidy indicated the lightly dusted countertop with the rag she'd been using to wipe down the other surfaces.
“We'll clean it up when we are.” Andy gestured again, “Nothing is going to get done if it all keeps falling down off you back onto the counter.”
Cassidy couldn't argue with that logic and put her rag down, “Okay.”
Andy grinned as she followed the girls upstairs, speaking to them fairly loudly, “Besides, maybe an elf will come and magically clean the place while we're gone.” Both girls laughed as Miranda's voice followed them up the stairs.
“Don't count on that!”
Dorothy watched the easy interaction between her daughter and this other woman then narrowed her eyes as Miranda again reached her finger into the bowl and brought it to her lips. The reprimand was automatic, “You'll ruin your supper.”
Blue eyes looked up at the mothering woman and blinked once then Miranda unrepentantly reached for another taste. Grinning, she took the final bite and pushed the bowl away, “Probably so.” She looked around curiously, “What does Peggy have planned for our evening meal?”
“Oh, well... I, um...” Dorothy's shoulders sagged slightly, “I asked Andy to let her go early today.”
Miranda merely watched her guest and waited for the explanation for that action.
“Having someone, a servant, around is just very strange for me.” The woman sighed and ran her fingers through her salt and pepper hair, “I figured that between myself, Pava, and Mary we could come up with some sort of meal.” Dorothy ventured a smile at Miranda, “I'm also under the impression that you are quite handy in the kitchen yourself.”
“Mmmm...” Miranda thought about it, “Normally I don't wish to deal with the preparation of our meals. Long days at the office often require some of what Andrea calls 'down time' in the evening.” She saw Dorothy's nod and continued, “Nevertheless, today was mostly meetings, however tedious, aside from one notable encounter this morning, not terribly draining.” Again she looked to Dorothy curiously, “What would you suggest we prepare?”
“I'm fairly flexible,” Dorothy shrugged, “What do you want to make?”
Miranda surveyed the wreck of a kitchen, the flour covered surfaces, the dirty mixing bowls, the haphazardly tossed measuring cups and spoons and murmured, “Reservations.”
###
In their search for ingredients, the pantry turned up several varieties of pasta, three variations of rice, and other staples such as beans, cereal and oatmeal, but the inspection of the refrigerator didn't yield nearly as much bounty. There were very few vegetables, hardly any fruit and no proteins.
“I'm surprised at how little there is in the refrigerator.” Dorothy had been shocked at the lack of groceries available.
Andy snapped her fingers, “Peggy must have skipped the market this morning.” She explained to their guests, and Miranda, that when warmer weather set in, Peggy had started daily morning trips to the farmer's market for their supplies. “She knows we're doing the tastings tomorrow,” Andy gestured to the schedule on the fridge, “And we often eat out on weekends, especially when we have guests.” Not that we ever have guests...
“There's a chicken casserole in here,” Cassidy piped in, hanging on the appliance door, her head half inside the freezer, “And a lasagne.”
Miranda nodded, “Either are acceptable, unless you would rather go out, or call for delivery.”
“Pizza?” Dorothy was surprised. Based on Andy's many rants about the woman during her tenure as assistant at Runway, she didn't think Miranda ate pizza.
“You can get anything you want delivered in New York, Ma.” Andy laughed, “Anything except a decent Chicago-style pizza.” She sighed, “Ever since Josie mentioned Giordano's I've been craving a slice.”
Miranda's blue eyes trained on Andrea, “Is that what you want?” The white-haired woman's lips twitched, “I believe Donatella's plane is at LaGuardia at the moment.”
Andy's eyes widened, “No...” She saw Miranda's eyebrows raise, “Miranda! No..” She pointed her finger directly at Miranda's chest, “You put that thought out of your head right now! We are not going to get on a plane and fly to Chicago just so I can have some pizza!”
“Why not?” Miranda almost, almost, pouted, “If that is what you want...”
“Miranda...” With a sigh, Andy moved closer and rested her forehead on Miranda's, “Thank you for the thought, but why don't we just stick to Lombardi's for tonight?”
“Mmm...” Miranda accepted a gentle kiss on her cheek and shook her head, “Very well, Call them, and Andrea...”
Andy held up her hand to stop Miranda's next order, “I know, don't worry...” She winked at her fiancee, “I'll get your favorite.”
Dorothy grinned as the twins exchanged long suffering looks.
###
“This is great.” Mary took another bite of her pizza.
“I agree,” Pava reached for another piece, “Why would you want a different pizza than this?”
“It is good,” Andy agreed, “it's just not the deep dish Chicago-style I lived on in college.”
“That explains a lot.” Miranda smirked as she bit into her portion of the pizza.
Andy rolled her eyes, “I do eat a lot healthier these days.”
“But junk food is okay every once in a while...right?” Cassidy took another piece out of the small pizza she and Caroline were sharing.
“Everything is fine, in moderation,” Miranda nodded and pushed her plate, still holding half her second piece, away. “Did you enjoy your extended outing at the museum?”
Pava grinned as Mary's hand shook slightly at the wording. “It was lovely, they have some brilliant works there.” Mary silently agreed.
Miranda nodded, “Andrea and I did not have time to visit any of the museums in London, but one day we will return and make a point of going, perhaps we'll jump across the Channel and visit the Louvre as well.”
“Wow,” Mary laughed, “That sounds...”
“Extravagant.” Dorothy filled in the word and then pushed her cynical thoughts away. “And fun.”
Andy grinned at her Mom's effort and at Miranda's outrageous suggestion. “It does sound fun.” Turning to the girls, her dark eyes twinkled, “Doesn't it?” The bobbing heads made her smile.
Miranda also smiled at her family and guests before looking around the room and changed the subject, “One day we will have a formal dinner in this room, as was intended.”
“Yeah, it's kinda weird eating in here.” Caroline looked around, as if just noticing where they were.
“It is unusual,” Miranda looked around the dining room, “With the way our lives have been in the recent past, dinner parties have been out of the question.” She looked at Andrea and smiled, “Perhaps that will change soon?”
“I hope so. Maybe the press won't be so interested in a boring married couple.” Andy nodded, “It would be fun to have friends over every once in a while.”
Miranda nodded but remained thoughtful, I will have to stop keeping her all to myself... cultivate friends for her, she smiled at her young fiancee, she will need that, one day.
###
“Ugh, I'm stuffed!”
All the adults chuckled as Cassidy patted her belly, Andy nodded and agreed, “Me too! I can't even think about tomorrow and all those people bringing us samples of their wedding offerings...”
“It will only be small bites though right?” Dorothy didn't think the caterers would actually bring large amounts of the items on their menus.
“Yes, small samples, but,” Andy rolled her eyes as she recalled the schedule stuck to the fridge, “A lot of them!”
“That reminds me.” Miranda picked up her cell phone and dialed one of the many pre-programmed numbers. The call was answered just after the first ring, “Emily, we require your presence tomorrow for the tastings.” Not waiting for the woman's response, Miranda simply said, “That's all.” and disconnected the call.
Andy saw the appalled look on her family's faces and sighed, picking up her own phone she also dialed Emily's number. It was answered on the third ring. “Yeah, Em... Hi.” She raised her eyebrows at Miranda who merely took a sip of her drink, “Miranda tells me that she wants you here tomorrow for the tastings... so I guess we can skip our park meeting in the morning.”
“Oh, are you sure?”
Trying not to grin at the slightly disappointed tone in the woman's voice, Andy answered with only a bit of regret of her own, “Yeah, no reason for you to get up that early on a Saturday when I'll just be seeing you later anyway.”
“Right...”
Andy waited for it and wasn't disappointed when Emily asked.
“Will Serena still be running with you then?”
“You know, I'm not exactly sure.” Andy grinned, “I haven't spoken to her about running on the weekends.”
“Ah...perhaps I can ask her later.”
“Oh?” Andy grinned, wondering if Emily was going to admit she was having dinner with Serena tonight. The tall Brazilian had told Andy about the arrangements during their run back to the house this morning.
“Yes, she and I are having dinner this evening...” The tone in Emily's voice left no room for ridicule, the snobbery masked her nervousness, “...friends do that, you know?”
“Yes, of course they do.” Andy smiled and winked at Miranda, “I've had dinners with Jo and Blair.”
Emily sighed, “I'll be there tomorrow before the first caterer arrives.”
“Okay then,” Andy again caught Miranda's eyes and said, “Thank you, Em.”
“You're welcome, Andy.”
Disconnecting the call, Andy immediately dialed Serena's number. “Hey, Serena. Listen... can we push our run tomorrow back a little?”
“Sure...” the statuesque woman was surprised and asked, “Why?”
“Well, My mom and Gram are visiting from Ohio and I wanted to take them to the Farmer's Market in the morning... We need some supplies around here anyway, and if you've ever been there you know the best time to go is in the morning.”
“Of course,” Serena hesitated, “Have you informed Emily of the schedule change?”
“As a matter of fact I just spoke with her. We are having the caterer's and baker's come here tomorrow for tastings and Emily is going to be present for that, so I told her that she didn't have to meet us in the park.” She heard a disappointed sound and grinned, “I figured, if we timed our run correctly, we could be just getting back when Emily arrives.”
“Oh!” Serena's tone brightened, “That would be lovely...”
“Bring a change of clothes...” Andy grinned at the new enthusiasm, “You can stick around and help us encourage Emily to at least taste the food.”
“I will.” Serena laughed, “Thank you, Andy.”
“Anytime... and Serena... have fun tonight.” Andy winked at Miranda and the girls as she disconnected the call.
“How long is it going to take for them to get together?!” Caroline was exasperated by the situation.
Andy laughed, “I dunno, Munchkin, sometimes these things take time... their dinner tonight might help.”
Cassidy scoffed, “Mom, just order Emily to go out with Serena.”
Laughing louder at that, Andy reached over and jostled the girl's shoulder gently, “I've already brought up that possibility with Serena.”
“Really,” Miranda pressed her lips together for a moment, “I would have thought I would be the one with which to discuss that strategy.”
“It would expedite matters considerably, I would think.” Andy chuckled, “But I don't think either Serena or I were serious when we brought it up.”
“Mmmm...” Miranda tapped her lips with her fingertips thoughtfully, “I suppose we shall see how it plays out tomorrow.”
Mary broke in to the conversation quietly, “I'm not sure I understand...”
Grinning at their guest, Andy explained about Serena and Emily, their friendship, how Serena wanted to be more than friends but was afraid that Emily didn't return those feelings and how both she and Miranda were helping the couple try to figure it out.
“I have nothing to do with this...matchmaking.” Miranda lowered the timbre of her voice, “This is all on you Andrea...”
“Fine,” Andy waved off the warning tone, “When they finally get together and decide they are the loves of each others lives, they can blame me.” Changing the subject completely, Andy looked around the table. “Who's up for a movie?”