VOCALISE - CHAPTER 7
Title: Vocalise
Rating: Erm... 15?
Warning: Established character death. T__T
Pairing: Andy/Miranda
Length: 7700 words (this chapter)
Prompt: based on a prompt by amles80
Summary: A/U - Miranda is a choral director and Andy is a journalist who enjoys singing. Miranda has a painful past and Andy has to learn to believe in herself. Miranda is 47, Andy is 26 in this story.
Disclaimer: I don’t own The Devil Wears Prada.
Chapter: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6
A/N: Sorry it toko so long, I was very busy in RL and I did not want to rush this chapter. ^_^ More singing! Yay! And fluff! Will take a small break with this in order to finish my secret santa story on time, but I think it leaves off at an acceptable spot. ^_^
Chapter 7
Dinner was surprisingly relaxed. Miranda’s parents were remarkable people who didn’t hide their curiosity regarding Andy but managed to make, what was essentially an interrogation, feel like a pleasant conversation.
“Northwestern University? I received my law degree at the Chicago campus,” Mr. Priestly said with a gleam in his eyes, no doubt remembering his wild college years. “So Medill School, I take it? You said you’re a journalist?”
Andy nodded. “Yes, I went to Medill and now I write for the Mirror.”
Carefully resting her knife and fork on her plate, Andy took a sip of water and then dried her lips with a napkin.
“I nearly went to law school, though,” she added.
Charles looked pleasantly surprised. “At Northwestern?”
“No,” the brunette sheepishly shook her head. “I got into Stanford.”
At this, Miranda looked up and Andy realised that, of course, they hadn’t talked about these kind of things yet, everything was still new.
“What made you chose journalism over law?” the conductor asked, intrigued.
“Well, I believed I could do more good as a journalist, than as a lawyer.”
“Do you still believe that now?” Miranda inquired further, leaning back in her chair and studying Andy thoughtfully.
“That depends,” Andy said shyly. “Some of the articles I wrote about the recent withdrawal of government funding from special education programs made me wish I had a law degree after all. There’s only so much I can do with words in this case. I draw other people’s attention to certain issues but other than that I’m just a helpless bystander.”
The conductor raised her chin and regarded the journalist through lowered eyelids, as if thoroughly impressed with the answer. It made Andy glow and she felt a sense of pride expand her chest with a burning freshness. For a moment she forgot the other dinner companions and allowed herself to drown in Miranda’s warm gaze, enjoying the dreamy giddiness that surged up in her.
“What’s for dessert, Grandma?” Caroline called from across the table.
Marianne delicately folded her napkin next to her plate and smiled at her granddaughter.
“I think this year Xavier has completely outdone himself. There is Cranberry Vanilla Crème Brulée waiting in the fridge.”
She pushed back her chair and stood, nodding at her husband. “Your grandfather and I will go and get it.”
Once Mr. and Mrs. Priestly had left the dining room, Andy whispered to the remaining two. “Who’s Xavier?”
“Xavier has been my parents’ cook for over thirty years,” Miranda explained after taking a sip from her grape juice.
Caroline chimed in with a crinkle to her nose, “He’s French, and sometimes he makes really weird things, and he still can’t get my peanut butter and jelly sandwiches right.”
Andy offered the teenager a compassionate smile. Seeing how PB&Js were practically her specialty, this would not be a problem in the future. The future, she realised with a start. She had only just met the kid and she was already picturing making her packed school lunches. Even if things worked out with Miranda, Caroline still lived two hours away and Andy could not really imagine leaving New York to move to the Hamptons. Oh god, she rubbed at her eyes. She could not possibly be thinking these kind of things!
She looked across to Miranda and was immediately trapped in another warm gaze. It seemed as if the older woman could actually read Andy’s thoughts and was pleased with the direction they were going. Like two poles, pulled closer by their magnetic force, their eyes remained locked and the intensity muted out everything else around them.
The arrival of their dessert broke the magic enough for them to find their bearings.
“Caroline move your chair back a bit, or your grandfather will melt off your eyebrows,” Miranda said evenly when Charles walked over with a broiler.
The teenager giggled and pushed off the table as her grandfather set down her portion of crème and proceeded to ‘brulée’ it.
Once Mr. Priestly had successfully caramelised the sugar on top of everybody’s dish, without inflicting any minor injuries, they dug in.
The rich, sweet flavour of vanilla custard with the twist of fresh cranberries, and a crispy and slightly burned top layer, flooded Andy’s senses and she hummed in approval. “Hmmm, wow, this is spectacular.”
Caroline eagerly nodded her agreement and Miranda raised an eyebrow at the two of them. After she had finished her own bite, however, the conductor faced her mother and said in her typical, even voice, “You may keep Xavier in your employ for another year.”
Both Andy and Caroline giggled and Miranda’s parents shared an amused look.
While they finished their dessert, Marianne brought the focus back on Andy.
“So why are you not with your family on Christmas Day, Andrea?” she asked lightly.
The brunette swallowed her last spoonful of the crème and then placed her cutlery on the table.
“My parents are in Paris over the holidays.”
“Oh! Pari’... how romantic. I am certain they are having the most wonderful time,” Miranda’s mother said dreamily, while drawing little circles with the dessert spoon between her fingers.
“I love Paris, you see. I’ve had the great pleasure to perform in the Palais Garnier twice in my career, and I have seen countless of beautiful operas, musicals and other concerts in that wonderful city.”
Andy looked from Miranda to her mother and then asked, “So you’re a singer?” She blushed slightly, as she realised how lame that had sounded. “I’m sorry if that is a silly question... we just haven’t...” she sheepishly gazed at the conductor, “... talked about those kind of things yet.”
Mrs. Priestly warmly looked at her daughter and then back to Andy.
“Not a silly question at all, Andrea. Yes, I used to sing professionally. I was quite a successful soprano, if I may say so,” she chuckled.
“Of course I’ve always had high dreams for my little Mira to step into my shoes one day,” Andy watched as Miranda defiantly crossed her arms and leaned against the back of her chair, looking challengingly at her mother. “... but alas, she got too frustrated with other people’s shortcomings and chose the path of musical director instead.”
There wasn’t any bitterness in Marianne’s voice and she just sparkled at her daughter, who was now rolling her eyes at the ceiling.
“Mother!”
“Oh, and did you know that Mira has one of the most beautiful mezzo soprano voices in the state of New York?”
Mrs. Priestly then became thoughtful. “It’s a shame she stopped singing when she got married to her ex-husband...”
The brunette felt the atmosphere at the table shift at the mention of Miranda’s ex and Caroline’s father. A strangled silence was the result and every one of the four Priestlys sat in their own somber thoughts about the man who had caused so much heartbreak.
“Maybe,” Andy looked at the conductor and tried carefully, “maybe one day you can sing for me?”
Miranda found her eyes and stared into them thoughtfully for a while before giving a slow nod. “Yes, maybe.”
There it was again, the unstoppable force grabbing at their souls, and pulling them together. Andy felt it claw at her when she let herself sink into Miranda’s dark blue pools and she watched as the conductor’s face mirrored her emotions.
“Hey, why don’t we all go and sing right now? It’s what people usually do on Christmas!” Caroline sat up straight and seemed surprised at her own, brilliant idea.
Charles sent his granddaughter a loving smile. “That’s a wonderful idea, Darling. How about we move into the sitting room for some coffee and I will set up the grand piano?”
The flicker of hope Andy had felt at the prospect of hearing Miranda sing so soon, was quickly extinguished by the terrified look on the conductor’s face.
“Miranda, you don’t have to sing if you don’t want to,” the brunette said softly, conveying through her eyes that she wouldn’t think any less of the older woman. “Maybe you can watch and listen, though?”
The conductor held her gaze for a moment and then nodded with a small, relieved smile.
“Okay, okay, let’s go!” Caroline said as she lunged herself forward on her crutches with her grandparents trailing behind her.
Miranda stood from her chair and walked around to Andy, who still sat frozen at the sudden realisation that she would have to sing in front of people she had only just met. Singing a solo with a choir was one thing. Singing in an intimate setting, in front of a small group of people, who had such a profound musical background, was a whole different task.
Soft fingers on her cheek brought her out of her musings.
“You coming?” Miranda asked gently as she extended a hand.
Sliding her fingers into the waiting palm, Andy smiled shyly at the older woman and rose from her chair. She suddenly realised that they were alone, and standing this close to Miranda lulled the brunette into a secure, warm cloud and made the prospect of having to sing to her family less daunting. Deep blue was staring at her intently while a thumb sweetly caressed the back of Andy’s hand.
The young journalist felt shy, but thoroughly flustered under the intense gaze. She saw different shades of affection flood the older woman’s irises. There was adoration and a sparkle of contentment. A hint of surprise, some unguarded longing and inside the dark pupils Andy saw... desire.
It was not necessarily physical desire, Miranda didn’t appear to want to ravish her alive right there and then. No, it seemed like an overwhelming need to be with Andy, in any possible way, to know everything about her, and to share everything with her.
A warm hand sneaked around the brunette’s neck and tenderly pulled her closer until their lips met. Like the night before, it was slow and sweet. After a short moment of Andy losing herself in the soft, cranberry-vanilla flavoured kiss, Miranda pulled away, just enough to put her forehead against the brunette’s and then gently stroked the back of the Andy’s neck.
They shared a smile and Miranda pulled her into a warm embrace, dragging her palms up and down her back, and causing unmistakable tingles to collect in the pit of the journalist’s stomach.
“We should go, they probably wonder where we are,” Andy said a bit flustered.
Miranda nodded and stepped away, while grabbing the brunette’s hand and then pulled her into the sitting room.
------
A wild torrent of emotions was swirling inside of Miranda as she settled down beside Andrea on the cream-coloured sofa. Her body was still buzzing from the kiss and tight embrace and she was acutely aware of Andrea’s thigh pressing against her side as the brunette shifted in her seat.
The more Miranda felt her heart open up to the younger woman, the more she also allowed for the physical responses to break through her inner ice walls. Now that being with Andrea was manifesting itself as a real possibility, the conductor had a hard time keeping her hands from reaching out and brushing against those soft cheeks again, or trailing gentle patterns on Andrea’s palm.
Miranda was glad that Caroline came clacking over and maneuvered herself on her lap. Pulling her closer, the conductor deeply inhaled her daughter’s scent, her chest heavy with regrets about past negligence but quickly also filling with the knowledge that both her and Caroline were finally healing. Her love and sorrow for Cassidy found a catalyst in the remaining twin. She finally understood that the memory of Cassidy would always live on in the bond she shared with Caroline.
She pressed a cheek against her daughter’s back and hugged her tightly.
“Mom! You’re squishing me!”
The conductor’s chuckle was muffled by the teenager’s thick sweater but Caroline wriggled happily on her lap with giggles of her own. Across the girl’s shoulder, Miranda watched her parents exchanging a meaningful look, but she couldn't quite decipher it.
As Marianne set down two coffee cups on the side table next to the couch, Charles proceeded to prop up the grand piano lid and then sat down on the red-velvet-covered bench. He began to play a soft swing melody, and after a short intro, began to sing with that warm, deep voice Miranda had always loved so much.
“Chestnuts roasting on an open fire... Jack Frost nipping at your nose,” he sent a loving smile to his daughter and granddaughter.
”Yuletide carols... being sung by a choir... and folks dressed up like Eskimos.”
Miranda closed her eyelids and lost herself in the moment. She felt happy. Yes, this was happiness. And it wasn’t fragile, or hesitant, but sending her entire body ablaze with a vibrant glow.
”Everybody knows... A turkey and some mistletoe... help to make the season bright...”
The conductor felt Andrea shift beside her and she opened her eyes to watch the younger woman relax against the back rest with a content smile on her lips.
”Tiny tots, with their eyes all aglow... will find it hard to sleep tonight...” Charles went on singing, as his fingers continued to conjure the lazy and warm piano melody.
”They know that Santa’s on his way... he’s loading lots of toys and goodies on his sleigh. And every mother’s child is gonna spy... to see if reindeer really know how to fly.”
At this Andrea turned her head and looked back at Miranda with eyes full of warmth and affection. Miranda suddenly felt her heart jolt as she realised the truth. She loved Andrea. She was in love with her. Maybe it was soon, but it was definitely there and could no longer be ignored.
”And so... I’m offering this simple phrase... to kids from one to ninety-two... although it’s been said, many times, many ways...”
The brunette offered her the most brilliant smile and then mouthed the words along as Miranda’s father sang them.
“Merry Christmas.... to you...!”
Miranda knew, that if it weren’t for Caroline’s weight on her, she’d lean over and crush Andrea in a tight embrace. She had not felt the need to express affection to anyone for five long years, until recently, and now, that the floodgates of her heart were opened, she wasn’t sure how to handle the sudden onslaught of emotions.
She raised a heavy hand to the brunette’s cheek to cup it tenderly, and then mouthed a silent ‘thank you’, which made Andrea glow impossibly more.
Marianne and Caroline clapped their hands once Charles had played the final piano note, and quickly Andrea and Miranda joined in the applause.
“Grandpa, that was awesome!”
“Thank you, Sweet pea. Now, who’s next?”
------
Andy listened in awe as Miranda’s mother gave a beautiful rendition of Judy Garland’s ‘Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas’. The sweet hope of the song sent the promise of a happy future into the room and everyone listened in silence, entranced by the gentle vibrato of Marianne’s voice.
Her cheek still tingling from where Miranda had just pressed a hot palm against it, the journalist traced her fingertips over her lips, lost in thought. Her eyes peered through one of the windows, into the dark evening that was so softly broken up by the flurry of thick snowflakes dancing outside.
The cozy warmth, the togetherness and the affection between the different generations felt so much like home. A small pang shot through her heart at the thought of her parents being so far away, but Andy knew that she would not rather be in Ohio with them right now. This... being here with Miranda and her family, felt so natural and familiar that she did not really miss her own parents’ home.
Once Marianne had finished singing and everyone had rewarded her with applause and heartfelt praise, Caroline hobbled up to the piano and whispered to her grandfather who then nodded with a smile and began to play a slow jazz tune.
”I.... saw mommy kissing Santa Claus... ” Caroline sang with her clear voice slightly distorted by the wide grin she wore as she looked at Miranda.
”Underneath the mistletoe last night...”
The amused sniff made Andy turn her head to watch Miranda purse her lips, but her blue eyes had a distinct, cheeky sparkle to them.
”She did not see me creep... down the stairs to have a peep... she thought that I was tucked up in my bedroom, fast asleep...”
The teenager kept on singing, some words unrecognizable through her giggles, and Andy became completely endeared by the affectionate playfulness between mother and daughter.
The song finished with Caroline hobbling back to Miranda and earning a sweet poke to the tip of her nose and a big hug.
“Okay, and now Andy!” the teenager beamed after she had pulled from her mother’s embrace and had leaned against the armrest of the love seat.
Feeling less shy after the other performances Andy stood and walked to the piano.
“Does it have to be a Christmas song?” she asked Caroline, who had settled into the now empty seat next to Miranda.
“Hmmm, no, of course not. Just sing whatever you like. Grandpa can play anything,” the teenager smiled and then clapped her hands expectantly.
With a final look to Miranda, who sat up straight, her legs crossed elegantly and an intrigued eyebrow raised back at her, Andy bent her head down to Charles and whispered the song name and the key she wanted to sing.
Miranda’s father nodded and then began playing.
Andy closed her eyes to collect herself. She knew that this performance wasn’t an audition or a contest, but she realised that what she was about to sing was important, and she wanted to do it justice.
”Climb every mountain... search high and low... follow every highway... every path you know, she began slowly, her hand resting on her belly, on the very spot Miranda had touched four weeks ago, and had caused such a symphony of intense feelings.
”Climb every mountain... ford every stream... follow every rainbow... till you find your dream.”
Andy opened her eyes and looked directly into shiny blues.
”A dream that will need... all the love you can give... Their connection was strong as it hung between them in thick, steel cables, humming with each caress of Andy’s voice.
”Every day of your life... for as long as you live... Andy raised the volume of her voice only slightly, as to not overpower the small room. However the intensity of the words still hit her as she realised that she truly meant them.
The overwhelming sensations moved from her chest and drenched the song in vivid colours as she gave melodious shape to everything she wanted to say to Miranda at that moment. The conductor’s eyes watered, her lips were parted and her hands had risen to her chest where she clamped down on her heart.
”... follow every rainbow.... till you find your... dream.” Andy hit the final high note perfectly and before Charles had finished the piano part, Miranda was already up and rushing across the short distance to the brunette.
She looked intently into Andy’s eyes and took both her hands in her own.
“I think I already found my dream,” the conductor whispered, a single tear rolling down her flushed cheeks.
Andy wanted to do nothing more than to wrap her arms around Miranda and kiss her with all the love she felt, but she was too acutely aware of the sudden silence in the room and only offered a shy smile instead. They stood together for a while until Mr. Priestly cleared this throat.
“That was really beautiful, Andrea,” Marianne said clapping her hands, and Caroline added, “Wow, Andy, that was awesome!”
Relieved, Andy smiled at the Priestlys and then stroked the back of Miranda’s hands with her thumbs.
“Thank you.”
Charles stood from the piano and moved to the small liquor cabinet in the back of the room. “Would any of you like a drink?”
Miranda looked at him confused. “Father, we still need to drive back!”
“Yes, well, I don’t think that will be possible,” Marianne, who had stepped next to Andy, said as she placed a hand on both Miranda’s and the brunette’s shoulders. “Look outside, there is absolutely no way I will let you two drive tonight.”
Andy recalled watching the thick snowflakes fall and she turned to look out the window. Softly illuminated by the lights from the inside of the house, she could see the back garden completely covered in a heavy blanket of snow.
“Oh...” she allowed softly, immediately liking the thought of spending more time with the Priestlys and especially with Miranda.
The conductor searched Andy’s eyes. “Are you okay with spending the night here?”
“Yes!” It may have sounded a little over-eager, but then again, Andy did not want to leave.
Miranda smiled at the quick answer, and without her sparkling blue eyes leaving the brunette’s, she addressed Charles. “Okay Father, how about some eggnog, then?”
“Yay! Andy, then you can play more Guitar Hero with me!” Caroline clapped her hands.
“Oh yes! I will get my revenge!” the journalist giggled, and Miranda glanced between the two with a warm, determined look. She gave a final rub to Andy’s palms and then moved back to sit with her daughter on the couch, leaving Andy to sit in the chair next to them.
“Caroline, there was something I wanted to talk to you about,” the conductor began, taking one of her daughter’s hands in hers.
The teenager was a bit spooked at first, but after seeing the warmth in her mother’s eyes, she visibly relaxed.
“Mom, I get it. I’m not a kid anymore. You and Andy are dating, no reason to have an all-serious talk about it,” Caroline offered with a grin and a dismissive hand-wave, so much like her mother’s. “If you two are happy, I’m happy.”
Andy’s heart pounded heavily. Were her and Miranda actually dating? Wasn’t it less than that? Wasn’t it more? It felt like more, but they hadn’t even gone on an actual date yet.
The conductor was smiling sweetly at her daughter and then embraced her and planted a big kiss on the girl’s cheek.
“My darling, thank you. It means a lot to me, to hear that,” she leaned back and took both of Caroline’s hands. “But that’s not really what I wanted to speak to you about.”
Caroline gazed at her mother with renewed concern. “What’s going on, mom?”
Andy watched as Miranda shyly looked at their hands, appearing insecure about what she was about to say. “Well... how would you feel... about coming back to live with me in New York?”
The teenager’s eyes widened and she gaped at her mother. “Are you serious?”
Miranda nodded, with a cute, tentative smile on her lips that sent sweet ripples down Andy’s spine. “Yes, I’m serious.”
“Moooooooom!” Caroline pushed herself off the couch as fast as she could manage and lunged at Miranda, pushing the older woman against the armrest of the couch in a bone-crushing hug. “Yes yes yes yes yes yes yes!”
Andy’s heart warmed as Miranda slung her arms around her daughter and rocked her from side to side, burying her face into the girl’s neck with a happy chuckle.
Caroline pulled away and with the help of her mother, stood and eagerly reached for her crutches, “So, when do I move?”
“We were thinking next term,” Marianne said from across the room and Caroline turned around and hobbled over to her grandmother.
“I’m sorry Grandma, I did not mean...” she hugged Marianne and the older woman enveloped the ecstatic girl in her arms.
“Darling, we know that. We think it’s time for you to live with your mother again, and your grandfather and I will be quite alright.”
“Yes, Sweetheart, don’t worry about us!” Charles chimed in as he placed little eggnog glasses on the coffee table and then proceeded to wrap his arms around his granddaughter.
Andy watched all of this with a soft burning in her chest. She knew she was witnessing important, life-changing moments in these people’s lives, and it warmed her soul that she was allowed to be a part of it. She glanced at Miranda and the radiant glow coming off the conductor, her eyes shining and her beautiful lips drawn in a relaxed smile, made the brunette’s heart leap.
Of course Andy had experienced her fair share of erotic dreams involving Miranda, and she’d fantasised many times about spending time with the conductor outside their choir rehearsal, imagining what the woman behind the many protective walls was really like. But now that she actually saw the older woman, so warm and affectionate with her daughter, in the safety of her parents’ house, something clicked inside of Andy.
She understood that her feelings for Miranda were stronger than anything she had ever felt before. She was in love with the forty-seven-year-old, extremely beautiful, sometimes cold and difficult, but secretly oh so wonderfully sweet conductor. Taking long, steadying breaths through her nose Andy attempted to get the raging fire inside her chest under control.
She would need to be alone with Miranda. And soon.
------
It was close to midnight and Caroline had gone to bed, the many excitements of the evening having taken their toll on the young girl and she had said goodnight, not without demanding that Andrea play more video games with her the following morning.
Miranda sat snuggled into the couch next to the brunette, her legs tugged under herself and a fresh cup of hot coffee on her lap. The four adults had commenced with an intriguing conversation about nineteenth century composers and their influence on art and literature, and the conductor had been pleasantly surprised by the vast knowledge Andrea possessed for her age.
Her age, the conductor mused. Yes, there was a rather large age difference between them. Two decades was a long time. Andrea could be her daughter. Sheepishly Miranda looked to the side and watched as Andrea gave a passionate monologue about how much Clara Schumann had influenced her husband Robert’s later compositions.
The journalist animatedly gestured with her hands and her face displayed a dozen different expressions as she went on about the underrated women composers of the Romantic Era. Miranda got lost in the young woman, in her voice, her movements, her slender neck and her full lips. She understood then, that things like their age gap did not matter. Andrea was beautiful, kind and wise beyond her years, and Miranda had a hard time coming up with any other reason why a relationship between the two of them would not work.
The brunette then turned her head to smile at Miranda and their gazes locked, pulling them into their own world of silly little grins.
“It’s getting late, we will head off to bed,” Charles said quietly, interrupting the two, who were so lost in their own universe.
Miranda felt her cheeks blush when her mother regarded her with a raised eyebrow and then gently pushed her husband out of the room with hurried goodnight wishes.
The conductor felt so utterly silly, sitting on her parents’ sitting room sofa like a horny teenage boy, waiting for mom and dad to leave so he could get to second base with his girlfriend. She closed her eyes and lowered her head to pinch the bridge of her nose. Soft pressure on her knees forced her eyelids to flutter open and she watched as Andrea sheepishly trailed her shoeless toes over Miranda’s pantyhose.
“Hi,” the brunette whispered and gave another one of her shy waves and Miranda felt longing and desire brew behind her like a sea of mumbled whispers escaping a haunted forest, as she stood at the edge of a clearing, ready to leap toward the light. The low, murmured chorus of voices, lurking in the dark behind her and pushing against her, forced the tiny hairs on the back of her neck to stand and made one last attempt to pull her back in, trying to stop her from reaching out and escaping into the brightness that was Andrea.
“Come here,” Miranda whispered huskily as she uncurled herself and pulled the glowing brunette tenderly to sit between her legs. Andrea sweetly draped her arms over the conductor’s shoulders and loosely folded her knees around Miranda’s middle, only to cross her ankles behind the older woman’s back. It was a gentle and sweet hold but all Miranda could think off was their centres, so close to each other that she could feel the heat radiating from the brunette.
They didn’t touch there, nor at their chests, but the knowledge of their close proximity and the faint heat buzzing against her, caused Miranda to be delirious with want. She looked deeply into Andrea’s eyes and saw raw desire, sticky and heavy like honey seeping from the chocolate brown orbs. Miranda wasn’t sure if it was her who was moving, or Andrea, but suddenly their faces where mere inches apart, and she could have sworn that small electric charges were jumping from the tip of her nose to Andrea’s.
The tension between them was nearly unbearable and both their breathing had dramatically increased in just a matter of seconds. Miranda was overwhelmed by the force with which her body reacted. She had never felt this intense need to be close to somebody. Of course she’d felt physical desire before, but never coupled with the mind numbing longing to connect to someone else’s soul.
Their lips were hovering impossibly close but neither moved the final inch and instead they leaned their foreheads together, with a long, mutual sigh. Andrea’s lips curled up in a sweet grin and she whispered, “I think we should talk.”
“Hmmm,” Miranda hummed in agreement as she tenderly rubbed her elegant nose against the brunette’s. Neither of them spoke first, which elicited another round of shy, mirrored giggles, until Miranda finally pulled herself together and tightened her hold around Andrea.
“I want to be with you,” she breathed against those full lips that seemed to instinctively stretch into a wide smile at her words.
“And I with you,” Andrea breathed back, nuzzling Miranda’s cheek. “I want to know everything about you. All your joys, all your pains... I want you to share everything.”
Miranda felt her eyes burn and inhaled deeply through her nostrils, Andrea’s sweet scent filling her chest with reassurance and warmth.
“I want to hold you like this forever,” the brunette continued. “To keep you safe. To cause you happiness.”
The words echoed in the conductor’s mind and she let her hand trail up Andrea’s neck to gently stroke her long, brown tresses.
“Andrea...”
And then the younger woman’s lips were on hers. Thick and slow, moving against her mouth as if to make sweet love through this slight connection of their bodies alone. The ticking of the grandfather’s clock in the den was the only sound accompanying their soft smacking noises, and the blood rushing past her ears pushed Miranda into a surreal daze.
The brunette’s bottom lip pushed between her own, slightly parted mouth, and Miranda began carefully sucking it, causing Andrea to moan and part her lips wider. Driven by the rush of arousal to her abdomen, the older woman determinedly ran the tip of her tongue along the entire length of Andrea’s bottom lip and sucked on it more firmly. She felt the brunette shift against her as another moan left her throat.
“Hmmm... Miranda...”
Pulling a bit more forcefully at the nape of Andrea’s neck, the conductor pulled their mouths firmly together and parted the younger woman’s lips with her tongue, letting it slip into moist heat. She felt Andrea readily suck on the strong muscle and could not prevent a groan from bubbling up her throat. The sensation of a hot tongue on hers sent another ripple of arousal down her body she could practically feel herself pounding against her now entirely too restrictive underwear.
Andrea’s arms pulled her closer and their breasts met in a collision of softness, causing another moan surging up in both of them, and their mouths opened wider around their dancing tongues, allowing for Miranda to pull Andrea in to her own mouth, rhythmically sucking and stroking the eager muscle.
She had never kissed anyone like this before. It was completely raw and open, baring it all to each other, through the mere meeting of mouths. This felt more intimate than anything Miranda had ever done with her ex-husband or college boyfriends. And more intimate than anything she had ever done with the only other woman, whom she had ever allowed touching her like this. Well, not touch her like this.
Miranda groaned when Andrea pulled her even closer, their heated groins sliding against each other, and the contact driving the conductor to the brink of insanity. It was too much, too fast. She did not want her first climax with Andrea to happen on her parents’ cream-coloured couch, and she certainly was extremely close, any further touch would surely push her over the edge.
Torn between pushing at the brunette and pulling her even closer, Miranda could only manage a half-sob.
“An... Andrea...”
Somehow the younger woman understood, reading her so perfectly, and very slowly pulled away, breaking their kiss. Their breathing was ragged and irregular as their foreheads connected again, in an attempt to somehow find their bearings.
“Andrea...” Miranda whispered once more, a shaky hand cupping the brunette’s reddened cheek.
“I don’t want to rush it either, Miranda...” Andrea said softly, while tenderly rubbing her palms up and down the older woman’s back. “Well, certain parts of me want to,” she added with a smirk.
The playfulness in the younger woman helped the conductor relax and she buried her face in the curve of Andrea’s slender neck and felt her lips smile against the smooth skin.
“We should go to bed, before we do anything... uhm... stupid,” Andrea said with a cute smirk that completely soothed over Miranda’s anxious nerves.
She chuckled. “You have such bright ideas.”
-----
Andy tossed and turned in the soft, warm and cozy bed. Marianne had offered her their most luxurious guest bedroom with en-suite bathroom and complimentary sleepwear and slippers. She had been amazed at the size of the guest quarters alone but the huge bathtub, separate shower and double sinks had blown her away. And this was only the bedroom for visitors.
The beauty of the room could, of course, not distract her from the symphony of emotions raging inside of her. The earlier moment with Miranda, on the sitting room couch, had left her restless and sticky. For a moment after she had slipped under the silk bed covers, she had considered helping herself, just to take the edge off and find some peace of mind. However the thought alone had felt like she had betrayed what her and Miranda had just shared, so she had decided on a cold shower instead.
Returning to the warm, comfy bed after ten minutes under a freezing stream of water should have quickly lulled her to sleep. She was an easy sleeper after all. Never one to lie awake for long, unless of course her mind was occupied by a certain white-haired conductor. As it was now.
She sighed and buried her face against the soft pillow she held in her arms. She’d really much rather be holding Miranda. Even if they were to turn it down a notch and simply snuggled. Then again, would they be able to do just that, without losing control and ravaging each other? Andy wanted to scream and groaned into the pillow instead. She had been so close, earlier. It would have taken next to nothing for Miranda to push her past the barrier.
But she had sensed reluctance in the older woman, and Miranda had been right. Their first time should not be in one of their parents’ homes, with a teenage daughter sleeping upstairs, where they’d have to be quiet and restrained. Both of them were adults, with their own apartments, so the first time they’d have sex they would do it properly, in a bed, with their clothes off and taking all the time they needed.
Andy felt her cheeks burn at the thought of inviting Miranda over to her place for exactly that.
Stop it! she internally chided herself. Must sleep!
The sound of the turning door knob pulled her from her inner ramblings and she held her breath, wide eyes staring into the darkness. She strained her ears to listen, her heart pounding heavily in anticipation. Who would it be? She hadn’t heard the clacking of crutches, so Caroline was ruled out. Would Mr. or Mrs. Priestly make their rounds to see that no ‘hanky panky’ was going on in their house?
Of course not, you idiot! Andy rolled her eyes at her silly thoughts.
“Andrea,” it was clearly Miranda’s voice. “Andrea, are you awake?”
The sweet voice reached out to her through the darkness and Andy turned around in the bed to face the door, the rustling of the sheets enough indication for her wakefulness. She heard Miranda pad quietly into the room and shut the door, before slowly walking around the bed and stopping by Andy’s side.
Andy could just about make out the shape of Miranda, her silver hair reflecting the light shimmer of light that seeped in from beneath the blinds. She stood there for a few seconds, neither of them speaking, before Andy shyly cleared her throat.
“Can’t sleep?”
Miranda remained silent but Andy could faintly see the silver head nod.
Overcome by affection for this ghostly nighttime visitor, the brunette scooted over, into the middle of the large bed and then lifted the corner of the covers.
“Come on. Get in.”
Andy felt the bed shift as Miranda hesitantly slipped onto the mattress and under the covers. She shuffled next to the younger woman and Andy could feel the heat from her body just inches away. They lay facing each other in the darkness, the only sound their mingled breathing, until a cold foot tentatively touched Andy’s.
“Jesus, Miranda! Your feet are ice lumps,” the brunette hissed, but the older woman did not remove her frozen toes but instead added a second foot.
“Sorry,” she whispered smugly into the night.
Andy let the icy burns slowly sink into her system until it no longer felt uncomfortable and then gently rubbed one of her toasty, warm feet over Miranda’s.
“Why weren’t you wearing slippers?” the brunette inquired as she drew the sole of her foot up and down Miranda’s calves.
“Well... I didn’t know I’d be pacing outside your room for minutes before finally having the courage to come inside, now did I?” the older woman admitted, her voice vulnerable and shy, but also trusting. Andy knew it took a lot for Miranda to admit to her worries and fears.
The brunette held Miranda’s feet still between her own in an act of reassurance.
“You silly woman,” Andy said lovingly. “I don’t want you to ever feel like you need to be scared of entering a room I’m in.”
“I was not scared,” the older woman scoffed, but still allowed the warm ministrations to her lower limbs.
“I was merely concerned about waking you,” she added softly.
Andy chuckled. “Well, there was no way I was going to sleep after... you know... earlier.”
“Andrea... I didn’t really come here for... that.”
The brunette sought out and found Miranda’s hands under the covers, and sweetly caressed the older woman’s palms.
“I don’t care why you’re here, Miranda. I’m just glad that you are.”
“Sweet-talker,” Miranda sniffed, but Andy heard the grin in her tone.
They remained like that for while and the young journalist was content to just hold hands and feet with Miranda.
“Have you ever slept with another woman before?”
The question came out of nowhere and for a moment Andy was too stunned to answer.
“Uhm... I... uhm. No.” The brunette answered shyly. “I’ve had two serious boyfriends... but I’ve had a fair amount of thoughts... about women...”
“Hmmm,” Miranda seemed contemplative.
“You know... they were nothing... nothing like this. Us.” Andy continued softly. “My ex-boyfriends. I always felt like there should be more. They were both sweet enough... just something... wasn’t right. I wasn’t in love.”
The older woman began to trace slow circles on Andy’s wrists.
“In hindsight, I think I’ve had plenty of crushes on women, it just never sunk in what that meant. You...” she paused, enjoying the soothing sensation of Miranda’s thumbs on her arms. “You made me truly realise that I liked women... in that way.”
“Hmmm,” the conductor gently stroked up and down Andy’s lower arms. “That makes you a quicker study than me.”
“Huh? What do you mean?”
“I didn’t fully figure it out until I was unhappily married to the girls’ father, Jacob.” Miranda took a deep breath and her hands stilled on the younger woman’s arms.
“We got divorced when the girls were seven. It should have been a picture book marriage. Our parents were old friends and Jacob had been romancing me for over a decade until I finally gave in and went on a date with him.”
Andy reached up and took hold of the conductor’s hands again, locking their fingers together between their chests. Her heart ached at the thought of Miranda with a man she wasn’t happy with, both from jealousy and from compassion for the older woman’s struggles.
“It was alright for a while, I got pregnant fairly quickly and had the girls to focus on. Once they were born, I had these two little sunshines in my life...” Miranda faltered and Andy shuffled closer to wrap her arms around the older woman’s shoulders.
“Well, they made me less lonely and I finally felt loved. It was then that I realised that I was in a loveless marriage, and despite his weakness for alcohol, it wasn’t all Jacob’s fault. I simply could not love him the way I was supposed to.”
The brunette pulled her tighter and Miranda snaked her arms under Andy’s elbows and clung to her middle.
“Two years after my divorce I had finally admitted to myself that I had feelings for women. It took a lot of courage but after a few months and some help from Nigel,” she gave a stifled laugh at the mention of her friend. “I went out to bars, while my girls stayed with my parents. I had told my Mom and Dad the truth, and although there were less than thrilled, they still supported me.”
Andy placed sweet kisses on Miranda’s temple, urging her to continue.
“One night I met this French woman, who had been eyeing me from the moment I had stepped into the bar. She began to actively woo me and I felt extremely charmed by the special attention she gave me.”
The conductor sighed.
“We ended up in bed quickly after that and a whole new world opened up for me. I was forty-one and had only just discovered myself. I got lost in the pleasures... but it never felt enough.”
Andy stilled her movements and just held Miranda tightly.
“She did things to me, physically, that I had never felt before. For the first time in my life I actually enjoyed being intimate with someone, and then I truly understood what I had been missing this whole time... however... I mistook my desire to be intimate with her for something more. We never did anything else but sleep together. She had no desire to get to know my children, or any other part of me.”
Miranda’s voice became very quiet.
“As soon as I was no longer her plaything, but a grieving mother in need of support, she left. Without looking back.”
The brunette shuffled even closer and brought their middles together, entangling their legs in an attempt to show Miranda that she was safe with Andy. Her heart burned at the thought of Miranda being all alone at such a horrible time. How could anyone ever possibly turn their backs on Miranda?
“I don’t think I loved her. I barely knew her... But I had allowed her to come between me and my girls, finding excuses for my parents to take the twins, and... on that fateful night, I even asked Jacob to drive them down here from their days with him, instead of picking them up myself, to make sure they were safe... just so I could...” she took another deep breath. “Indulge in my new-found identity...”
A ripple went up Miranda’s back as Andy rubbed soothing circles through her silk nightgown.
“Miranda...” Andy whispered against the older woman’s neck. “I’m not like that. You know that, right? I would never leave you at a time like that.... I would never ask you to put me before Caroline, or anyone else you hold dear.”
“I know, Darling. I know,” Miranda whispered into Andy’s long tresses and pulled the brunette firmly against herself.
I love you, Andy wanted to say, but she felt like the moment was too vulnerable to take a chance at something that could potentially scare Miranda away. There was a mildly confident guess that Miranda loved her back, or would, over time, but now wasn’t the moment to put that theory to the test.
“We should try and get some sleep,” she whispered against Miranda’s skin. “I have a bunch of rock concerts tomorrow. I need to regain my strength.”
A hearty chuckle echoed through the dark room and the older woman rolled the brunette half on top of herself so that Andy’s head could rest on her shoulder and one leg was lazily draped over Miranda’s middle.
“Goodnight, Darling,” she said with a final kiss to Andy’s forehead.
“Goodnight, Miranda.”
----
To be continued...
Rating: Erm... 15?
Warning: Established character death. T__T
Pairing: Andy/Miranda
Length: 7700 words (this chapter)
Prompt: based on a prompt by amles80
Summary: A/U - Miranda is a choral director and Andy is a journalist who enjoys singing. Miranda has a painful past and Andy has to learn to believe in herself. Miranda is 47, Andy is 26 in this story.
Disclaimer: I don’t own The Devil Wears Prada.
Chapter: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6
A/N: Sorry it toko so long, I was very busy in RL and I did not want to rush this chapter. ^_^ More singing! Yay! And fluff! Will take a small break with this in order to finish my secret santa story on time, but I think it leaves off at an acceptable spot. ^_^
Chapter 7
Dinner was surprisingly relaxed. Miranda’s parents were remarkable people who didn’t hide their curiosity regarding Andy but managed to make, what was essentially an interrogation, feel like a pleasant conversation.
“Northwestern University? I received my law degree at the Chicago campus,” Mr. Priestly said with a gleam in his eyes, no doubt remembering his wild college years. “So Medill School, I take it? You said you’re a journalist?”
Andy nodded. “Yes, I went to Medill and now I write for the Mirror.”
Carefully resting her knife and fork on her plate, Andy took a sip of water and then dried her lips with a napkin.
“I nearly went to law school, though,” she added.
Charles looked pleasantly surprised. “At Northwestern?”
“No,” the brunette sheepishly shook her head. “I got into Stanford.”
At this, Miranda looked up and Andy realised that, of course, they hadn’t talked about these kind of things yet, everything was still new.
“What made you chose journalism over law?” the conductor asked, intrigued.
“Well, I believed I could do more good as a journalist, than as a lawyer.”
“Do you still believe that now?” Miranda inquired further, leaning back in her chair and studying Andy thoughtfully.
“That depends,” Andy said shyly. “Some of the articles I wrote about the recent withdrawal of government funding from special education programs made me wish I had a law degree after all. There’s only so much I can do with words in this case. I draw other people’s attention to certain issues but other than that I’m just a helpless bystander.”
The conductor raised her chin and regarded the journalist through lowered eyelids, as if thoroughly impressed with the answer. It made Andy glow and she felt a sense of pride expand her chest with a burning freshness. For a moment she forgot the other dinner companions and allowed herself to drown in Miranda’s warm gaze, enjoying the dreamy giddiness that surged up in her.
“What’s for dessert, Grandma?” Caroline called from across the table.
Marianne delicately folded her napkin next to her plate and smiled at her granddaughter.
“I think this year Xavier has completely outdone himself. There is Cranberry Vanilla Crème Brulée waiting in the fridge.”
She pushed back her chair and stood, nodding at her husband. “Your grandfather and I will go and get it.”
Once Mr. and Mrs. Priestly had left the dining room, Andy whispered to the remaining two. “Who’s Xavier?”
“Xavier has been my parents’ cook for over thirty years,” Miranda explained after taking a sip from her grape juice.
Caroline chimed in with a crinkle to her nose, “He’s French, and sometimes he makes really weird things, and he still can’t get my peanut butter and jelly sandwiches right.”
Andy offered the teenager a compassionate smile. Seeing how PB&Js were practically her specialty, this would not be a problem in the future. The future, she realised with a start. She had only just met the kid and she was already picturing making her packed school lunches. Even if things worked out with Miranda, Caroline still lived two hours away and Andy could not really imagine leaving New York to move to the Hamptons. Oh god, she rubbed at her eyes. She could not possibly be thinking these kind of things!
She looked across to Miranda and was immediately trapped in another warm gaze. It seemed as if the older woman could actually read Andy’s thoughts and was pleased with the direction they were going. Like two poles, pulled closer by their magnetic force, their eyes remained locked and the intensity muted out everything else around them.
The arrival of their dessert broke the magic enough for them to find their bearings.
“Caroline move your chair back a bit, or your grandfather will melt off your eyebrows,” Miranda said evenly when Charles walked over with a broiler.
The teenager giggled and pushed off the table as her grandfather set down her portion of crème and proceeded to ‘brulée’ it.
Once Mr. Priestly had successfully caramelised the sugar on top of everybody’s dish, without inflicting any minor injuries, they dug in.
The rich, sweet flavour of vanilla custard with the twist of fresh cranberries, and a crispy and slightly burned top layer, flooded Andy’s senses and she hummed in approval. “Hmmm, wow, this is spectacular.”
Caroline eagerly nodded her agreement and Miranda raised an eyebrow at the two of them. After she had finished her own bite, however, the conductor faced her mother and said in her typical, even voice, “You may keep Xavier in your employ for another year.”
Both Andy and Caroline giggled and Miranda’s parents shared an amused look.
While they finished their dessert, Marianne brought the focus back on Andy.
“So why are you not with your family on Christmas Day, Andrea?” she asked lightly.
The brunette swallowed her last spoonful of the crème and then placed her cutlery on the table.
“My parents are in Paris over the holidays.”
“Oh! Pari’... how romantic. I am certain they are having the most wonderful time,” Miranda’s mother said dreamily, while drawing little circles with the dessert spoon between her fingers.
“I love Paris, you see. I’ve had the great pleasure to perform in the Palais Garnier twice in my career, and I have seen countless of beautiful operas, musicals and other concerts in that wonderful city.”
Andy looked from Miranda to her mother and then asked, “So you’re a singer?” She blushed slightly, as she realised how lame that had sounded. “I’m sorry if that is a silly question... we just haven’t...” she sheepishly gazed at the conductor, “... talked about those kind of things yet.”
Mrs. Priestly warmly looked at her daughter and then back to Andy.
“Not a silly question at all, Andrea. Yes, I used to sing professionally. I was quite a successful soprano, if I may say so,” she chuckled.
“Of course I’ve always had high dreams for my little Mira to step into my shoes one day,” Andy watched as Miranda defiantly crossed her arms and leaned against the back of her chair, looking challengingly at her mother. “... but alas, she got too frustrated with other people’s shortcomings and chose the path of musical director instead.”
There wasn’t any bitterness in Marianne’s voice and she just sparkled at her daughter, who was now rolling her eyes at the ceiling.
“Mother!”
“Oh, and did you know that Mira has one of the most beautiful mezzo soprano voices in the state of New York?”
Mrs. Priestly then became thoughtful. “It’s a shame she stopped singing when she got married to her ex-husband...”
The brunette felt the atmosphere at the table shift at the mention of Miranda’s ex and Caroline’s father. A strangled silence was the result and every one of the four Priestlys sat in their own somber thoughts about the man who had caused so much heartbreak.
“Maybe,” Andy looked at the conductor and tried carefully, “maybe one day you can sing for me?”
Miranda found her eyes and stared into them thoughtfully for a while before giving a slow nod. “Yes, maybe.”
There it was again, the unstoppable force grabbing at their souls, and pulling them together. Andy felt it claw at her when she let herself sink into Miranda’s dark blue pools and she watched as the conductor’s face mirrored her emotions.
“Hey, why don’t we all go and sing right now? It’s what people usually do on Christmas!” Caroline sat up straight and seemed surprised at her own, brilliant idea.
Charles sent his granddaughter a loving smile. “That’s a wonderful idea, Darling. How about we move into the sitting room for some coffee and I will set up the grand piano?”
The flicker of hope Andy had felt at the prospect of hearing Miranda sing so soon, was quickly extinguished by the terrified look on the conductor’s face.
“Miranda, you don’t have to sing if you don’t want to,” the brunette said softly, conveying through her eyes that she wouldn’t think any less of the older woman. “Maybe you can watch and listen, though?”
The conductor held her gaze for a moment and then nodded with a small, relieved smile.
“Okay, okay, let’s go!” Caroline said as she lunged herself forward on her crutches with her grandparents trailing behind her.
Miranda stood from her chair and walked around to Andy, who still sat frozen at the sudden realisation that she would have to sing in front of people she had only just met. Singing a solo with a choir was one thing. Singing in an intimate setting, in front of a small group of people, who had such a profound musical background, was a whole different task.
Soft fingers on her cheek brought her out of her musings.
“You coming?” Miranda asked gently as she extended a hand.
Sliding her fingers into the waiting palm, Andy smiled shyly at the older woman and rose from her chair. She suddenly realised that they were alone, and standing this close to Miranda lulled the brunette into a secure, warm cloud and made the prospect of having to sing to her family less daunting. Deep blue was staring at her intently while a thumb sweetly caressed the back of Andy’s hand.
The young journalist felt shy, but thoroughly flustered under the intense gaze. She saw different shades of affection flood the older woman’s irises. There was adoration and a sparkle of contentment. A hint of surprise, some unguarded longing and inside the dark pupils Andy saw... desire.
It was not necessarily physical desire, Miranda didn’t appear to want to ravish her alive right there and then. No, it seemed like an overwhelming need to be with Andy, in any possible way, to know everything about her, and to share everything with her.
A warm hand sneaked around the brunette’s neck and tenderly pulled her closer until their lips met. Like the night before, it was slow and sweet. After a short moment of Andy losing herself in the soft, cranberry-vanilla flavoured kiss, Miranda pulled away, just enough to put her forehead against the brunette’s and then gently stroked the back of the Andy’s neck.
They shared a smile and Miranda pulled her into a warm embrace, dragging her palms up and down her back, and causing unmistakable tingles to collect in the pit of the journalist’s stomach.
“We should go, they probably wonder where we are,” Andy said a bit flustered.
Miranda nodded and stepped away, while grabbing the brunette’s hand and then pulled her into the sitting room.
------
A wild torrent of emotions was swirling inside of Miranda as she settled down beside Andrea on the cream-coloured sofa. Her body was still buzzing from the kiss and tight embrace and she was acutely aware of Andrea’s thigh pressing against her side as the brunette shifted in her seat.
The more Miranda felt her heart open up to the younger woman, the more she also allowed for the physical responses to break through her inner ice walls. Now that being with Andrea was manifesting itself as a real possibility, the conductor had a hard time keeping her hands from reaching out and brushing against those soft cheeks again, or trailing gentle patterns on Andrea’s palm.
Miranda was glad that Caroline came clacking over and maneuvered herself on her lap. Pulling her closer, the conductor deeply inhaled her daughter’s scent, her chest heavy with regrets about past negligence but quickly also filling with the knowledge that both her and Caroline were finally healing. Her love and sorrow for Cassidy found a catalyst in the remaining twin. She finally understood that the memory of Cassidy would always live on in the bond she shared with Caroline.
She pressed a cheek against her daughter’s back and hugged her tightly.
“Mom! You’re squishing me!”
The conductor’s chuckle was muffled by the teenager’s thick sweater but Caroline wriggled happily on her lap with giggles of her own. Across the girl’s shoulder, Miranda watched her parents exchanging a meaningful look, but she couldn't quite decipher it.
As Marianne set down two coffee cups on the side table next to the couch, Charles proceeded to prop up the grand piano lid and then sat down on the red-velvet-covered bench. He began to play a soft swing melody, and after a short intro, began to sing with that warm, deep voice Miranda had always loved so much.
“Chestnuts roasting on an open fire... Jack Frost nipping at your nose,” he sent a loving smile to his daughter and granddaughter.
”Yuletide carols... being sung by a choir... and folks dressed up like Eskimos.”
Miranda closed her eyelids and lost herself in the moment. She felt happy. Yes, this was happiness. And it wasn’t fragile, or hesitant, but sending her entire body ablaze with a vibrant glow.
”Everybody knows... A turkey and some mistletoe... help to make the season bright...”
The conductor felt Andrea shift beside her and she opened her eyes to watch the younger woman relax against the back rest with a content smile on her lips.
”Tiny tots, with their eyes all aglow... will find it hard to sleep tonight...” Charles went on singing, as his fingers continued to conjure the lazy and warm piano melody.
”They know that Santa’s on his way... he’s loading lots of toys and goodies on his sleigh. And every mother’s child is gonna spy... to see if reindeer really know how to fly.”
At this Andrea turned her head and looked back at Miranda with eyes full of warmth and affection. Miranda suddenly felt her heart jolt as she realised the truth. She loved Andrea. She was in love with her. Maybe it was soon, but it was definitely there and could no longer be ignored.
”And so... I’m offering this simple phrase... to kids from one to ninety-two... although it’s been said, many times, many ways...”
The brunette offered her the most brilliant smile and then mouthed the words along as Miranda’s father sang them.
“Merry Christmas.... to you...!”
Miranda knew, that if it weren’t for Caroline’s weight on her, she’d lean over and crush Andrea in a tight embrace. She had not felt the need to express affection to anyone for five long years, until recently, and now, that the floodgates of her heart were opened, she wasn’t sure how to handle the sudden onslaught of emotions.
She raised a heavy hand to the brunette’s cheek to cup it tenderly, and then mouthed a silent ‘thank you’, which made Andrea glow impossibly more.
Marianne and Caroline clapped their hands once Charles had played the final piano note, and quickly Andrea and Miranda joined in the applause.
“Grandpa, that was awesome!”
“Thank you, Sweet pea. Now, who’s next?”
------
Andy listened in awe as Miranda’s mother gave a beautiful rendition of Judy Garland’s ‘Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas’. The sweet hope of the song sent the promise of a happy future into the room and everyone listened in silence, entranced by the gentle vibrato of Marianne’s voice.
Her cheek still tingling from where Miranda had just pressed a hot palm against it, the journalist traced her fingertips over her lips, lost in thought. Her eyes peered through one of the windows, into the dark evening that was so softly broken up by the flurry of thick snowflakes dancing outside.
The cozy warmth, the togetherness and the affection between the different generations felt so much like home. A small pang shot through her heart at the thought of her parents being so far away, but Andy knew that she would not rather be in Ohio with them right now. This... being here with Miranda and her family, felt so natural and familiar that she did not really miss her own parents’ home.
Once Marianne had finished singing and everyone had rewarded her with applause and heartfelt praise, Caroline hobbled up to the piano and whispered to her grandfather who then nodded with a smile and began to play a slow jazz tune.
”I.... saw mommy kissing Santa Claus... ” Caroline sang with her clear voice slightly distorted by the wide grin she wore as she looked at Miranda.
”Underneath the mistletoe last night...”
The amused sniff made Andy turn her head to watch Miranda purse her lips, but her blue eyes had a distinct, cheeky sparkle to them.
”She did not see me creep... down the stairs to have a peep... she thought that I was tucked up in my bedroom, fast asleep...”
The teenager kept on singing, some words unrecognizable through her giggles, and Andy became completely endeared by the affectionate playfulness between mother and daughter.
The song finished with Caroline hobbling back to Miranda and earning a sweet poke to the tip of her nose and a big hug.
“Okay, and now Andy!” the teenager beamed after she had pulled from her mother’s embrace and had leaned against the armrest of the love seat.
Feeling less shy after the other performances Andy stood and walked to the piano.
“Does it have to be a Christmas song?” she asked Caroline, who had settled into the now empty seat next to Miranda.
“Hmmm, no, of course not. Just sing whatever you like. Grandpa can play anything,” the teenager smiled and then clapped her hands expectantly.
With a final look to Miranda, who sat up straight, her legs crossed elegantly and an intrigued eyebrow raised back at her, Andy bent her head down to Charles and whispered the song name and the key she wanted to sing.
Miranda’s father nodded and then began playing.
Andy closed her eyes to collect herself. She knew that this performance wasn’t an audition or a contest, but she realised that what she was about to sing was important, and she wanted to do it justice.
”Climb every mountain... search high and low... follow every highway... every path you know, she began slowly, her hand resting on her belly, on the very spot Miranda had touched four weeks ago, and had caused such a symphony of intense feelings.
”Climb every mountain... ford every stream... follow every rainbow... till you find your dream.”
Andy opened her eyes and looked directly into shiny blues.
”A dream that will need... all the love you can give... Their connection was strong as it hung between them in thick, steel cables, humming with each caress of Andy’s voice.
”Every day of your life... for as long as you live... Andy raised the volume of her voice only slightly, as to not overpower the small room. However the intensity of the words still hit her as she realised that she truly meant them.
The overwhelming sensations moved from her chest and drenched the song in vivid colours as she gave melodious shape to everything she wanted to say to Miranda at that moment. The conductor’s eyes watered, her lips were parted and her hands had risen to her chest where she clamped down on her heart.
”... follow every rainbow.... till you find your... dream.” Andy hit the final high note perfectly and before Charles had finished the piano part, Miranda was already up and rushing across the short distance to the brunette.
She looked intently into Andy’s eyes and took both her hands in her own.
“I think I already found my dream,” the conductor whispered, a single tear rolling down her flushed cheeks.
Andy wanted to do nothing more than to wrap her arms around Miranda and kiss her with all the love she felt, but she was too acutely aware of the sudden silence in the room and only offered a shy smile instead. They stood together for a while until Mr. Priestly cleared this throat.
“That was really beautiful, Andrea,” Marianne said clapping her hands, and Caroline added, “Wow, Andy, that was awesome!”
Relieved, Andy smiled at the Priestlys and then stroked the back of Miranda’s hands with her thumbs.
“Thank you.”
Charles stood from the piano and moved to the small liquor cabinet in the back of the room. “Would any of you like a drink?”
Miranda looked at him confused. “Father, we still need to drive back!”
“Yes, well, I don’t think that will be possible,” Marianne, who had stepped next to Andy, said as she placed a hand on both Miranda’s and the brunette’s shoulders. “Look outside, there is absolutely no way I will let you two drive tonight.”
Andy recalled watching the thick snowflakes fall and she turned to look out the window. Softly illuminated by the lights from the inside of the house, she could see the back garden completely covered in a heavy blanket of snow.
“Oh...” she allowed softly, immediately liking the thought of spending more time with the Priestlys and especially with Miranda.
The conductor searched Andy’s eyes. “Are you okay with spending the night here?”
“Yes!” It may have sounded a little over-eager, but then again, Andy did not want to leave.
Miranda smiled at the quick answer, and without her sparkling blue eyes leaving the brunette’s, she addressed Charles. “Okay Father, how about some eggnog, then?”
“Yay! Andy, then you can play more Guitar Hero with me!” Caroline clapped her hands.
“Oh yes! I will get my revenge!” the journalist giggled, and Miranda glanced between the two with a warm, determined look. She gave a final rub to Andy’s palms and then moved back to sit with her daughter on the couch, leaving Andy to sit in the chair next to them.
“Caroline, there was something I wanted to talk to you about,” the conductor began, taking one of her daughter’s hands in hers.
The teenager was a bit spooked at first, but after seeing the warmth in her mother’s eyes, she visibly relaxed.
“Mom, I get it. I’m not a kid anymore. You and Andy are dating, no reason to have an all-serious talk about it,” Caroline offered with a grin and a dismissive hand-wave, so much like her mother’s. “If you two are happy, I’m happy.”
Andy’s heart pounded heavily. Were her and Miranda actually dating? Wasn’t it less than that? Wasn’t it more? It felt like more, but they hadn’t even gone on an actual date yet.
The conductor was smiling sweetly at her daughter and then embraced her and planted a big kiss on the girl’s cheek.
“My darling, thank you. It means a lot to me, to hear that,” she leaned back and took both of Caroline’s hands. “But that’s not really what I wanted to speak to you about.”
Caroline gazed at her mother with renewed concern. “What’s going on, mom?”
Andy watched as Miranda shyly looked at their hands, appearing insecure about what she was about to say. “Well... how would you feel... about coming back to live with me in New York?”
The teenager’s eyes widened and she gaped at her mother. “Are you serious?”
Miranda nodded, with a cute, tentative smile on her lips that sent sweet ripples down Andy’s spine. “Yes, I’m serious.”
“Moooooooom!” Caroline pushed herself off the couch as fast as she could manage and lunged at Miranda, pushing the older woman against the armrest of the couch in a bone-crushing hug. “Yes yes yes yes yes yes yes!”
Andy’s heart warmed as Miranda slung her arms around her daughter and rocked her from side to side, burying her face into the girl’s neck with a happy chuckle.
Caroline pulled away and with the help of her mother, stood and eagerly reached for her crutches, “So, when do I move?”
“We were thinking next term,” Marianne said from across the room and Caroline turned around and hobbled over to her grandmother.
“I’m sorry Grandma, I did not mean...” she hugged Marianne and the older woman enveloped the ecstatic girl in her arms.
“Darling, we know that. We think it’s time for you to live with your mother again, and your grandfather and I will be quite alright.”
“Yes, Sweetheart, don’t worry about us!” Charles chimed in as he placed little eggnog glasses on the coffee table and then proceeded to wrap his arms around his granddaughter.
Andy watched all of this with a soft burning in her chest. She knew she was witnessing important, life-changing moments in these people’s lives, and it warmed her soul that she was allowed to be a part of it. She glanced at Miranda and the radiant glow coming off the conductor, her eyes shining and her beautiful lips drawn in a relaxed smile, made the brunette’s heart leap.
Of course Andy had experienced her fair share of erotic dreams involving Miranda, and she’d fantasised many times about spending time with the conductor outside their choir rehearsal, imagining what the woman behind the many protective walls was really like. But now that she actually saw the older woman, so warm and affectionate with her daughter, in the safety of her parents’ house, something clicked inside of Andy.
She understood that her feelings for Miranda were stronger than anything she had ever felt before. She was in love with the forty-seven-year-old, extremely beautiful, sometimes cold and difficult, but secretly oh so wonderfully sweet conductor. Taking long, steadying breaths through her nose Andy attempted to get the raging fire inside her chest under control.
She would need to be alone with Miranda. And soon.
------
It was close to midnight and Caroline had gone to bed, the many excitements of the evening having taken their toll on the young girl and she had said goodnight, not without demanding that Andrea play more video games with her the following morning.
Miranda sat snuggled into the couch next to the brunette, her legs tugged under herself and a fresh cup of hot coffee on her lap. The four adults had commenced with an intriguing conversation about nineteenth century composers and their influence on art and literature, and the conductor had been pleasantly surprised by the vast knowledge Andrea possessed for her age.
Her age, the conductor mused. Yes, there was a rather large age difference between them. Two decades was a long time. Andrea could be her daughter. Sheepishly Miranda looked to the side and watched as Andrea gave a passionate monologue about how much Clara Schumann had influenced her husband Robert’s later compositions.
The journalist animatedly gestured with her hands and her face displayed a dozen different expressions as she went on about the underrated women composers of the Romantic Era. Miranda got lost in the young woman, in her voice, her movements, her slender neck and her full lips. She understood then, that things like their age gap did not matter. Andrea was beautiful, kind and wise beyond her years, and Miranda had a hard time coming up with any other reason why a relationship between the two of them would not work.
The brunette then turned her head to smile at Miranda and their gazes locked, pulling them into their own world of silly little grins.
“It’s getting late, we will head off to bed,” Charles said quietly, interrupting the two, who were so lost in their own universe.
Miranda felt her cheeks blush when her mother regarded her with a raised eyebrow and then gently pushed her husband out of the room with hurried goodnight wishes.
The conductor felt so utterly silly, sitting on her parents’ sitting room sofa like a horny teenage boy, waiting for mom and dad to leave so he could get to second base with his girlfriend. She closed her eyes and lowered her head to pinch the bridge of her nose. Soft pressure on her knees forced her eyelids to flutter open and she watched as Andrea sheepishly trailed her shoeless toes over Miranda’s pantyhose.
“Hi,” the brunette whispered and gave another one of her shy waves and Miranda felt longing and desire brew behind her like a sea of mumbled whispers escaping a haunted forest, as she stood at the edge of a clearing, ready to leap toward the light. The low, murmured chorus of voices, lurking in the dark behind her and pushing against her, forced the tiny hairs on the back of her neck to stand and made one last attempt to pull her back in, trying to stop her from reaching out and escaping into the brightness that was Andrea.
“Come here,” Miranda whispered huskily as she uncurled herself and pulled the glowing brunette tenderly to sit between her legs. Andrea sweetly draped her arms over the conductor’s shoulders and loosely folded her knees around Miranda’s middle, only to cross her ankles behind the older woman’s back. It was a gentle and sweet hold but all Miranda could think off was their centres, so close to each other that she could feel the heat radiating from the brunette.
They didn’t touch there, nor at their chests, but the knowledge of their close proximity and the faint heat buzzing against her, caused Miranda to be delirious with want. She looked deeply into Andrea’s eyes and saw raw desire, sticky and heavy like honey seeping from the chocolate brown orbs. Miranda wasn’t sure if it was her who was moving, or Andrea, but suddenly their faces where mere inches apart, and she could have sworn that small electric charges were jumping from the tip of her nose to Andrea’s.
The tension between them was nearly unbearable and both their breathing had dramatically increased in just a matter of seconds. Miranda was overwhelmed by the force with which her body reacted. She had never felt this intense need to be close to somebody. Of course she’d felt physical desire before, but never coupled with the mind numbing longing to connect to someone else’s soul.
Their lips were hovering impossibly close but neither moved the final inch and instead they leaned their foreheads together, with a long, mutual sigh. Andrea’s lips curled up in a sweet grin and she whispered, “I think we should talk.”
“Hmmm,” Miranda hummed in agreement as she tenderly rubbed her elegant nose against the brunette’s. Neither of them spoke first, which elicited another round of shy, mirrored giggles, until Miranda finally pulled herself together and tightened her hold around Andrea.
“I want to be with you,” she breathed against those full lips that seemed to instinctively stretch into a wide smile at her words.
“And I with you,” Andrea breathed back, nuzzling Miranda’s cheek. “I want to know everything about you. All your joys, all your pains... I want you to share everything.”
Miranda felt her eyes burn and inhaled deeply through her nostrils, Andrea’s sweet scent filling her chest with reassurance and warmth.
“I want to hold you like this forever,” the brunette continued. “To keep you safe. To cause you happiness.”
The words echoed in the conductor’s mind and she let her hand trail up Andrea’s neck to gently stroke her long, brown tresses.
“Andrea...”
And then the younger woman’s lips were on hers. Thick and slow, moving against her mouth as if to make sweet love through this slight connection of their bodies alone. The ticking of the grandfather’s clock in the den was the only sound accompanying their soft smacking noises, and the blood rushing past her ears pushed Miranda into a surreal daze.
The brunette’s bottom lip pushed between her own, slightly parted mouth, and Miranda began carefully sucking it, causing Andrea to moan and part her lips wider. Driven by the rush of arousal to her abdomen, the older woman determinedly ran the tip of her tongue along the entire length of Andrea’s bottom lip and sucked on it more firmly. She felt the brunette shift against her as another moan left her throat.
“Hmmm... Miranda...”
Pulling a bit more forcefully at the nape of Andrea’s neck, the conductor pulled their mouths firmly together and parted the younger woman’s lips with her tongue, letting it slip into moist heat. She felt Andrea readily suck on the strong muscle and could not prevent a groan from bubbling up her throat. The sensation of a hot tongue on hers sent another ripple of arousal down her body she could practically feel herself pounding against her now entirely too restrictive underwear.
Andrea’s arms pulled her closer and their breasts met in a collision of softness, causing another moan surging up in both of them, and their mouths opened wider around their dancing tongues, allowing for Miranda to pull Andrea in to her own mouth, rhythmically sucking and stroking the eager muscle.
She had never kissed anyone like this before. It was completely raw and open, baring it all to each other, through the mere meeting of mouths. This felt more intimate than anything Miranda had ever done with her ex-husband or college boyfriends. And more intimate than anything she had ever done with the only other woman, whom she had ever allowed touching her like this. Well, not touch her like this.
Miranda groaned when Andrea pulled her even closer, their heated groins sliding against each other, and the contact driving the conductor to the brink of insanity. It was too much, too fast. She did not want her first climax with Andrea to happen on her parents’ cream-coloured couch, and she certainly was extremely close, any further touch would surely push her over the edge.
Torn between pushing at the brunette and pulling her even closer, Miranda could only manage a half-sob.
“An... Andrea...”
Somehow the younger woman understood, reading her so perfectly, and very slowly pulled away, breaking their kiss. Their breathing was ragged and irregular as their foreheads connected again, in an attempt to somehow find their bearings.
“Andrea...” Miranda whispered once more, a shaky hand cupping the brunette’s reddened cheek.
“I don’t want to rush it either, Miranda...” Andrea said softly, while tenderly rubbing her palms up and down the older woman’s back. “Well, certain parts of me want to,” she added with a smirk.
The playfulness in the younger woman helped the conductor relax and she buried her face in the curve of Andrea’s slender neck and felt her lips smile against the smooth skin.
“We should go to bed, before we do anything... uhm... stupid,” Andrea said with a cute smirk that completely soothed over Miranda’s anxious nerves.
She chuckled. “You have such bright ideas.”
-----
Andy tossed and turned in the soft, warm and cozy bed. Marianne had offered her their most luxurious guest bedroom with en-suite bathroom and complimentary sleepwear and slippers. She had been amazed at the size of the guest quarters alone but the huge bathtub, separate shower and double sinks had blown her away. And this was only the bedroom for visitors.
The beauty of the room could, of course, not distract her from the symphony of emotions raging inside of her. The earlier moment with Miranda, on the sitting room couch, had left her restless and sticky. For a moment after she had slipped under the silk bed covers, she had considered helping herself, just to take the edge off and find some peace of mind. However the thought alone had felt like she had betrayed what her and Miranda had just shared, so she had decided on a cold shower instead.
Returning to the warm, comfy bed after ten minutes under a freezing stream of water should have quickly lulled her to sleep. She was an easy sleeper after all. Never one to lie awake for long, unless of course her mind was occupied by a certain white-haired conductor. As it was now.
She sighed and buried her face against the soft pillow she held in her arms. She’d really much rather be holding Miranda. Even if they were to turn it down a notch and simply snuggled. Then again, would they be able to do just that, without losing control and ravaging each other? Andy wanted to scream and groaned into the pillow instead. She had been so close, earlier. It would have taken next to nothing for Miranda to push her past the barrier.
But she had sensed reluctance in the older woman, and Miranda had been right. Their first time should not be in one of their parents’ homes, with a teenage daughter sleeping upstairs, where they’d have to be quiet and restrained. Both of them were adults, with their own apartments, so the first time they’d have sex they would do it properly, in a bed, with their clothes off and taking all the time they needed.
Andy felt her cheeks burn at the thought of inviting Miranda over to her place for exactly that.
Stop it! she internally chided herself. Must sleep!
The sound of the turning door knob pulled her from her inner ramblings and she held her breath, wide eyes staring into the darkness. She strained her ears to listen, her heart pounding heavily in anticipation. Who would it be? She hadn’t heard the clacking of crutches, so Caroline was ruled out. Would Mr. or Mrs. Priestly make their rounds to see that no ‘hanky panky’ was going on in their house?
Of course not, you idiot! Andy rolled her eyes at her silly thoughts.
“Andrea,” it was clearly Miranda’s voice. “Andrea, are you awake?”
The sweet voice reached out to her through the darkness and Andy turned around in the bed to face the door, the rustling of the sheets enough indication for her wakefulness. She heard Miranda pad quietly into the room and shut the door, before slowly walking around the bed and stopping by Andy’s side.
Andy could just about make out the shape of Miranda, her silver hair reflecting the light shimmer of light that seeped in from beneath the blinds. She stood there for a few seconds, neither of them speaking, before Andy shyly cleared her throat.
“Can’t sleep?”
Miranda remained silent but Andy could faintly see the silver head nod.
Overcome by affection for this ghostly nighttime visitor, the brunette scooted over, into the middle of the large bed and then lifted the corner of the covers.
“Come on. Get in.”
Andy felt the bed shift as Miranda hesitantly slipped onto the mattress and under the covers. She shuffled next to the younger woman and Andy could feel the heat from her body just inches away. They lay facing each other in the darkness, the only sound their mingled breathing, until a cold foot tentatively touched Andy’s.
“Jesus, Miranda! Your feet are ice lumps,” the brunette hissed, but the older woman did not remove her frozen toes but instead added a second foot.
“Sorry,” she whispered smugly into the night.
Andy let the icy burns slowly sink into her system until it no longer felt uncomfortable and then gently rubbed one of her toasty, warm feet over Miranda’s.
“Why weren’t you wearing slippers?” the brunette inquired as she drew the sole of her foot up and down Miranda’s calves.
“Well... I didn’t know I’d be pacing outside your room for minutes before finally having the courage to come inside, now did I?” the older woman admitted, her voice vulnerable and shy, but also trusting. Andy knew it took a lot for Miranda to admit to her worries and fears.
The brunette held Miranda’s feet still between her own in an act of reassurance.
“You silly woman,” Andy said lovingly. “I don’t want you to ever feel like you need to be scared of entering a room I’m in.”
“I was not scared,” the older woman scoffed, but still allowed the warm ministrations to her lower limbs.
“I was merely concerned about waking you,” she added softly.
Andy chuckled. “Well, there was no way I was going to sleep after... you know... earlier.”
“Andrea... I didn’t really come here for... that.”
The brunette sought out and found Miranda’s hands under the covers, and sweetly caressed the older woman’s palms.
“I don’t care why you’re here, Miranda. I’m just glad that you are.”
“Sweet-talker,” Miranda sniffed, but Andy heard the grin in her tone.
They remained like that for while and the young journalist was content to just hold hands and feet with Miranda.
“Have you ever slept with another woman before?”
The question came out of nowhere and for a moment Andy was too stunned to answer.
“Uhm... I... uhm. No.” The brunette answered shyly. “I’ve had two serious boyfriends... but I’ve had a fair amount of thoughts... about women...”
“Hmmm,” Miranda seemed contemplative.
“You know... they were nothing... nothing like this. Us.” Andy continued softly. “My ex-boyfriends. I always felt like there should be more. They were both sweet enough... just something... wasn’t right. I wasn’t in love.”
The older woman began to trace slow circles on Andy’s wrists.
“In hindsight, I think I’ve had plenty of crushes on women, it just never sunk in what that meant. You...” she paused, enjoying the soothing sensation of Miranda’s thumbs on her arms. “You made me truly realise that I liked women... in that way.”
“Hmmm,” the conductor gently stroked up and down Andy’s lower arms. “That makes you a quicker study than me.”
“Huh? What do you mean?”
“I didn’t fully figure it out until I was unhappily married to the girls’ father, Jacob.” Miranda took a deep breath and her hands stilled on the younger woman’s arms.
“We got divorced when the girls were seven. It should have been a picture book marriage. Our parents were old friends and Jacob had been romancing me for over a decade until I finally gave in and went on a date with him.”
Andy reached up and took hold of the conductor’s hands again, locking their fingers together between their chests. Her heart ached at the thought of Miranda with a man she wasn’t happy with, both from jealousy and from compassion for the older woman’s struggles.
“It was alright for a while, I got pregnant fairly quickly and had the girls to focus on. Once they were born, I had these two little sunshines in my life...” Miranda faltered and Andy shuffled closer to wrap her arms around the older woman’s shoulders.
“Well, they made me less lonely and I finally felt loved. It was then that I realised that I was in a loveless marriage, and despite his weakness for alcohol, it wasn’t all Jacob’s fault. I simply could not love him the way I was supposed to.”
The brunette pulled her tighter and Miranda snaked her arms under Andy’s elbows and clung to her middle.
“Two years after my divorce I had finally admitted to myself that I had feelings for women. It took a lot of courage but after a few months and some help from Nigel,” she gave a stifled laugh at the mention of her friend. “I went out to bars, while my girls stayed with my parents. I had told my Mom and Dad the truth, and although there were less than thrilled, they still supported me.”
Andy placed sweet kisses on Miranda’s temple, urging her to continue.
“One night I met this French woman, who had been eyeing me from the moment I had stepped into the bar. She began to actively woo me and I felt extremely charmed by the special attention she gave me.”
The conductor sighed.
“We ended up in bed quickly after that and a whole new world opened up for me. I was forty-one and had only just discovered myself. I got lost in the pleasures... but it never felt enough.”
Andy stilled her movements and just held Miranda tightly.
“She did things to me, physically, that I had never felt before. For the first time in my life I actually enjoyed being intimate with someone, and then I truly understood what I had been missing this whole time... however... I mistook my desire to be intimate with her for something more. We never did anything else but sleep together. She had no desire to get to know my children, or any other part of me.”
Miranda’s voice became very quiet.
“As soon as I was no longer her plaything, but a grieving mother in need of support, she left. Without looking back.”
The brunette shuffled even closer and brought their middles together, entangling their legs in an attempt to show Miranda that she was safe with Andy. Her heart burned at the thought of Miranda being all alone at such a horrible time. How could anyone ever possibly turn their backs on Miranda?
“I don’t think I loved her. I barely knew her... But I had allowed her to come between me and my girls, finding excuses for my parents to take the twins, and... on that fateful night, I even asked Jacob to drive them down here from their days with him, instead of picking them up myself, to make sure they were safe... just so I could...” she took another deep breath. “Indulge in my new-found identity...”
A ripple went up Miranda’s back as Andy rubbed soothing circles through her silk nightgown.
“Miranda...” Andy whispered against the older woman’s neck. “I’m not like that. You know that, right? I would never leave you at a time like that.... I would never ask you to put me before Caroline, or anyone else you hold dear.”
“I know, Darling. I know,” Miranda whispered into Andy’s long tresses and pulled the brunette firmly against herself.
I love you, Andy wanted to say, but she felt like the moment was too vulnerable to take a chance at something that could potentially scare Miranda away. There was a mildly confident guess that Miranda loved her back, or would, over time, but now wasn’t the moment to put that theory to the test.
“We should try and get some sleep,” she whispered against Miranda’s skin. “I have a bunch of rock concerts tomorrow. I need to regain my strength.”
A hearty chuckle echoed through the dark room and the older woman rolled the brunette half on top of herself so that Andy’s head could rest on her shoulder and one leg was lazily draped over Miranda’s middle.
“Goodnight, Darling,” she said with a final kiss to Andy’s forehead.
“Goodnight, Miranda.”
----
To be continued...