Fic: The Better Life Chapter 3
Chapter 3: The Talk
Miranda watched the car drive up and opened the door. The twins exited the towncar at the same time, wearing their school uniforms. The only thing that could have helped in telling them apart were the hairstyles they choose to wear that day. Contrary to anyone else, Miranda didn’t need any help with recognizing her daughters.
She grinned internally, while allowing herself to think of Stephen for the first time in months. Even after years of marriage he didn’t once managed to match faces and names. Well, not once but for the time they wore their golden necklaces bearing their names.
Cassidy was the first to notice Miranda and instantly asked: “Mom! Why got we picked up from school?” Miranda saw that Caroline sported the same worried expression as her sister and smiled reassuringly at them. “Come in first, I”ll explain it to you.”
She had seen this day coming. The last telegrams from England had shown clearly how the condition of her mother worsened. Terminal bone cancer. Repeatedly the doctors had given her no more than a few more weeks. Day after day Miranda had thought about this day. What exactly she would say and do. But none of her musings reflected what was going through her mind right now when she has to face her daughters.
Miranda loved her daughters. She would have never believed herself able to love in such an all consuming way. Probably the reason her heart hammered wildly, while she greeted the girls with a kiss on the forehead. The apprehensive expressions on the faces of the twins still hadn’t disappeared. She could see the wheels turning, trying to figure out if they messed something up.
Miranda sighed and sent them to the living room.
She wasn’t afraid. Miranda Priestly represented fear. She spread it around, pulling no punches. She worked hard for titles like “Icequeen” and “Dragonlady”. Who should be able to knock her from her throne?
If even one of the gossip rags figured out who she really was, they would roll around laughing.
Miranda was full of fear. Every damn day. She just didn’t show it. Especially not in public.
She earned herself an Oscar a long time ago. No one could beat her in pretending, not even this record holding Oscar winning actress- whats-her-name again?
Whatever. Point was: her heart was racing and she would swear she could feel the blood running through her veins. She had to stay calm. While praying that her shaking didn‘t show she made her way into the living room.
“Did we … do something wrong, mom?” Caroline asked hesitatingly, after Miranda had remained silent a tad too long. The reason for her keeping quiet were the tears she fought hard to keep in. She felt them and it looked like she would lose the fight every moment.
Cassidy, was sitting closer and noticed the state her mother was in first. “Mom, is everything okay?”
Miranda started, „It’s…, It’s that….“
Her daughters knew that she never spoke of her past. Since the telegrams started to arrive in monthly intervals from London, Miranda had carefully tried to explain it to her teenage daughters.
“You never knew her, I didn’t…I didn’t want you to meet her…” Once again she stopped and looked into the eyes of her daughters. The only grandmother they knew and loved was the mother of their father. They didn’t need more.
“My mother… you’re grandmother from London passed away.“
Cassidy got up first and hugged her mother, whilst Caroline hastened to join her sister. The fight was lost. Miranda tucked her head in the neck of her daughter. She had never wanted her twins to see her that way, but she just couldn’t help it. She had meant to stay strong, but the tears came anyway. It was not so much grieving over the dead of her mother, but the much needed release of suppressed anger, that had driven her to this place.
Not that the girls would know that.
“It’s ok, Mom. It’s ok.”, Caroline whispered in her mothers ear. Miranda Priestly or not, right now she was just her mom.
For a moment they stayed like that, until Miranda had herself under control again, wiped away the tears and released her hold on the twins.
“Like I said…. I‘m going to fly to London tonight or early tomorrow morning. There are… a few things I have to take care of. I didn’t want to tell you this over the phone, which is why I let you pick you up from school.”
The girls nodded. It was horrible to see their otherwise cool and controlled mother so vulnerable. It reminded them of the few fights between Miranda and her husband’s they had witnessed. The things she had ‘to take care of’ in London seemed to be important.
„Can we come with you?” Cassidy asked.
“No Bobbsey, you’ll stay here. You have exams coming up, and with this trip to London you would miss too many of your classes. Besides… I’ll have to meet someone who used to be very important to me. I have to meet this person alone.”
The disappointment was clear on the faces of the twins, but before they got a chance to protest Miranda continued.
“Please, understand that. I told you that I can’t discuss my past. Not even with you. It’s… complicated.“
More complicated than you could ever imagine…
“I have to do this alone, to conclude this. After this…maybe after this I’ll be able to tell you about it.”
I know you’ll never understand why I had to leave. Maybe you never will…
Caroline tried to speak up, but was interrupted by her sister.“ We understand mom. At least that you have to go alone to London.” She shot a look towards Caroline who simply nodded.
Miranda came up with a small smile. “Thank you. That means a lot to me.”
For long minutes there was only silence, before the clock announced the time. Quarter past One. Roy would pick her up shortly and she had some things to manage before that.
“Girls, I have to take care of some travel arrangements. After that, I’ll clear my day and spend it with you. Go up to change. I’ll order lunch and call your school about your homework assignments.”
The last point caused the girls to groan in unison. “No discussion. You’ll do your homework whether I’m here or not. Oh, and I’ll ask your father to take you in for the next few days. You can start packing.”
With a deep sigh, but without any verbal protest the girls went to their rooms.
Miranda followed them with a loving look. She was ashamed about her breakdown in front of the twins. She knew, she had confused them with her vague speech about her past and going alone. And even if she promised to tell them about her background, she definitely wouldn’t tell them the whole disturbing story before they were legal. Or ever.
Do you really want that? Do you want to live this life? With all those lies? The voice in her head reminded her. She drove away the thought. There were more important things to do.
After quickly telling Roy not to bother with picking her up, no need to stay available for the next days she rung up the office to tell them the good news. Luckily she reached the real Emily and told her that she wouldn’t be in today or the next few days. That Nigel was in charge and she would be on a private trip abroad. The point which caused Emily to audibly gasp, was that Miranda insisted on handling the travel arrangement herself. HERSELF!
Everything that would come up during her absence was to be sent to her usual mail address. Nothing special so far, until she mentioned that she would not be reachable per phone. There wasn’t even a word for the noise Emily uttered as a response.
A fact Miranda only commented with a very bland “That’s all.” before hanging up.
So far so good. To travel as Miriam Princhek would be far more difficult. She had spent the last 30 years as Miranda Priestly, a woman whose voice alone managed to make people cry. Instantly.
This was the woman she had become. The power she wielded. And the first time it dawned on her how much she resembled her mother. And not in good way. It was nearly as comical, as it was surprising.
To pass as Miriam she had to be different. Still rich, of course, but out of the limelight and… normal.
Which is why she found herself booking a flight and a hotel with an only slightly forced friendly voice. Managing to get out the words “business class” without groaning, but drawing the line at stepping lower than 4 stars while choosing a hotel. She was proud of herself for not snapping at the imbecile on the end of the line asking her the same questions over and over again.
Not a hint of sarcasm found itself in her tone and she even remembered to end this dreadful exercise with a “Thank you.”.
She had to prevent anyone from knowing about her trip to London. Well, that is, Miriam Princhek’s trip.
She sunk back into the chair and was aware of her grumbling stomach. Not a moment later Louisa entered the townhouse and was surprised to see Miranda still there in casual cloths. Instead of ordering lunch, Miranda took Louisa at her word and asked her to prepare a small meal for herself and the girls. That would save her some time. And time was what she was missing.
After all those years of time just going by. NOW she was in a hurry.
There she was again, irony of fate.