Dorothy was correct, fat free, sugar free... Miranda thought as she tasted the cakes this bakery had to offer. Taste free... “What do you think, Andrea?”
Curling her lip, Andy shook her head.
Nodding, Miranda turned to the woman who had presumably baked the cake in question, “It appears your offering is not what we require.” Gesturing to the small tray that held morsels of each cake they'd tasted, Miranda told the woman. “You may go.”
“No...wait.” She licked her lips as the cool blue gaze turned her way, “I um...” She took a deep breath, “When I told my friends and colleagues I was going for this booking, they all thought I was crazy. They said there was no way I could ever please...you.” She looked at Miranda, “But I'm good at what I do, the best, and that is what you need at your wedding.”
Miranda blinked at the woman's forwardness, but sat back in her chair and waited for her to proceed.
“They all told me that you, being who you are, wouldn't want sugar and carbs and all that... so I made these,” She gestured to the tray Miranda and Andy had been sampling off of, “But that isn't really what I make. I also know that it is nearly time for your children's birthday.” She pressed her lips together at Miranda's distrustful look, and shrugged. “I looked on the internet, last year's society page, reported on their party.”
Andy didn't like that any more than Miranda did. “What about the girls?” Apparently the girls didn't like it all that much either, because they both moved to sit on their parents' laps, Caroline on Miranda's, Cassidy on Andy's.
Cassidy whispered to Andy, “That's kinda creepy.”
Wrapping her arms around the girl, Andy pressed her cheek into Cassidy's shoulder and nodded, “I know...”
“I was just trying to find stuff about you,” She looked at Miranda, “To figure out your tastes... but the search brought up the article about the girls' party...” She continued quickly, “Anyway, I decided that in addition to these things, I would also make samples of cakes for the girls' birthday party, for their cake, if you don't already have someone to make it.” She licked her lips, “I can use any of them for your wedding cake as well.”
Miranda was intrigued. “What is your name?”
“Brenda.” She breathed deeply, glad to still be standing here talking instead of heading out the door.
“Well, Brenda,” Miranda wrapped her arms around Caroline's waist, “Show us what you have concocted that you deem suitable for a child's birthday cake.”
Nodding, Brenda reached into the cooler at her feet and quickly produced a second tray with several squares each of four different kinds of cakes. “I make all these myself, no mixes.”
Cassidy, Andy, Caroline and Miranda all reached out each taking a different bite from a different selection on the tray.
The girls chorused, “Oh!” “Yum!”
The bite Andy had taken literally melted in her mouth, “Oh my god, that's... that's...” She wasn't sure she knew a word that described the delicacy. She looked over to Miranda whose eyes had closed to savor the taste.
When the editor's eyes opened Miranda smiled and provided the word Andrea was looking for. “Decadent.”
Andy smiled and turned to Brenda, “You have the jobs, wedding and birthday.”
“Excellent!” Brenda was elated.
“Right,” Emily marked a tick in her planner and pulled out her phone. She dialed the number of the baker who was scheduled to arrive later, “The Priestly Sachs wedding will not require your services, therefore your attendance for the tasting today is canceled.”
Brenda produced several three ring binders, passing them over to the couple. “These are examples of my work, I can do any design though, tailored to your specifications.”
“We're having a Twilight themed party.” Cassidy informed the woman, “Do you have any designs for that?”
Nodding, Brenda turned the pages to the section where all the currently popular designs were shown. “I'm not sure you girls would want something so common though...” She pointed to the photos of the cakes, “I could do something like this as a center piece,” The picture showed a square black and white checked cake with chess pieces and an apple on it, “then make individual cakes shaped like apples to set around it...”
“Ohhh! Cool!” Cassidy grinned. “That would be great, right Ro?”
Caroline nodded, “Yeah, that will be cool.”
Brenda nodded, “Which kind of cake do you want?”
Cassidy pointed to the sample she'd tried, and Caroline pointed to the one she'd taken.
“Girls,” Miranda chided, “you should try them all before making a decision.”
Dutifully trying each of the samples, both girls stuck to their original choices.
Brenda nodded and made a note of which design and which cake types they wanted. “I can do two separate cake types if that's what you want. It's not a problem.” She looked at the adults, “And for the wedding cake? What's the decor for the wedding going to be?”
Miranda was a little taken back by the question, because she had no idea what had been decided on that issue. She looked to Andrea for the answer.
Andy smiled and deferred to Emily, “It would be easier to show her don't you think Em?”
“Of course,” Emily produced the designer's book and turned to the page showing the Greek Temple design.
Miranda peered over and sniffed when she saw the photo, “It's rather... common, don't you think?”
Emily looked shocked and then turned an almost angry 'I-knew-it' glare at Andy.
Laughing, Andy waved off the redhead and reached over to take Miranda's hand, “You're a goddess and that is the appropriate place for a goddess to be married in.” She grinned as Miranda and Caroline both rolled their eyes in exactly the same way.
Cassidy groaned and slid off Andy's lap and shook her head as she walked out of the room, mumbling, “I'm going to get cavities from all the sweetness around here...”
Dorothy chuckled and reached for a cake sample. She had waited for Andy and Miranda to make their decisions before tasting the morsels, not wanting to influence their choices. She was only there to help if they had trouble making a decision. “I tend to agree with Cassidy...” Dorothy popped the bite in her mouth and groaned, turning startled eyes at the baker. “We're going to talk.”
Andy laughed, “Brenda, this is my mother, Dorothy.” Her dark eyes twinkled, “And I've seen that look in her eyes before, so you may as well just give up the recipes now.”
Brenda laughed, “My secret recipes?” She grinned, beyond happy to have gotten the jobs, “I don't think so.”
Andy shook her head as her mother reached for another bite. “I'm telling you, it's a lost cause.” Andy watched as Dorothy's eyes glazed over slightly at the bite she'd just taken, Oh yeah, Brenda's recipes are practically sitting on index cards in Mom's kitchen right now.
###
The next caterer arrived and began to set up their presentation in the dining room as Brenda was gathering her things. Dorothy helped the baker and followed her closely to the kitchen, as Andy had predicted, determined to get the recipes. Caroline decided she was bored with the tasting process and went upstairs to find Cassidy. Most of the caterers all brought the same things and there wouldn't be any more bakers coming around with any sweet stuff anyway.
Andy was a bit surprised that this presentation was actually slightly different than the four they had already endured. Their appetizers were much the same as the others, but had a little something extra that made them very good. They had also done their homework and tried to present dishes they thought were Miranda and Andy's favorites, for the meal portion of the evening. Andy thought it was creepy that someone could find out that she like Chicken Marsala, and that Miranda's favorite was steak. Of course, there were quite a few restaurants they frequented, especially Miranda, and they almost always ordered the same thing. Most of the better known chefs in town knew their preferences.
These people however, were obviously mainly used to preparing the appetizers and weren't actually very good at cooking main course entrees. The beef was overcooked, a sin in Miranda's eyes, and the Marsala sauce was severely lacking on Andy's chicken. Andy had known these people weren't really serious when she saw the salad offering. Caesar salad was good, and she loved it, but the lettuce in this case had been cut, with a knife. She had clenched her teeth and not said anything about it, mindful of Emily's 'Bridezilla' comments, but even she knew that lettuce for salads should be torn by hand. She'd given them the benefit of the doubt, perhaps they'd just been in a hurry or something and had the main courses been acceptable she could have easily told them how to prepare the salad correctly.
Miranda didn't bother to take a bite of the not-even-pink steak. Although the appetizers were delicious there was no way to overlook the ruined main course and she gestured for the hopeful caterer's to leave.
Emily ushered them out quickly and was apologizing when she returned, “I am so sorry, I mean really, I could cook a steak better than that...” She ran her fingers through her hair, “God, these people...”
“Relax, Emily.” Miranda waved off her apologies, “Sit, we have more things to discuss yes?”
“There are still several things to decide,” Emily took out her planner as she sat across from the couple. “You still have to decide on your dresses, you need to choose brides maids and their dresses, and I don't know who will be performing the ceremony so that I can coordinate their schedule.”
“I'm going to begin my search for the perfect dress on Monday, after my television appearances.” Andy leaned back in her chair, “That is why Ma, Gram and Mary are here, to help me out with that...”
Miranda nodded, “I too am still contemplating my ensemble for the occasion.” For my age...
Nodding, Emily moved down her list. “Bride's maids?”
Miranda looked over at Andrea and raised her eyebrows in question.
Andy grinned, “That's what I was thinking too, but I haven't asked them yet.”
Blue eyes twinkled at the ease with which the young woman had read her intentions. “Perhaps we should do that now?”
“Sure,” Standing, Andy offered her hand to assist Miranda up, which was, as always, not taken until the woman was already standing. She listened carefully, “At least one of them is upstairs, practicing.”
Emily was puzzled by that statement and tilted her head to hear what she thought was a classical CD playing much too loudly. Curious she followed the couple up the stairs, past the second floor where she knew the tv room was, to the third floor. There were bedrooms here and also another large room at the end of the hall, it was about the size of the TV room on the floor below, but this room contained two baby grand pianos nestled together so that the players would face each other, in addition to several other musical instruments, some chairs and a sofa that looked like a match to the one in the study downstairs.
Cassidy was seated on the sofa, well, seated wasn't exactly correct. Sprawled was more accurate, but her eyes were closed as she listened to Caroline playing. “Watch your tempo, Ro...”
Caroline sighed, nodded, then saw the newcomers in the room and stopped playing. “Uh... was I bothering you? I should have closed the door.”
“No, my darling, that was lovely.” Miranda smiled at the girl and grinned as Cassidy hurried to sit up. “Andrea and I wanted to speak to you for a moment.”
“Oh,” Caroline moved to the sitting area, “What's up?”
“It's about the wedding.” Andy started, “We um.. well we wanted to ask you...”
Miranda continued Andrea's halting speech, “It is traditional for the bride to have someone stand with her, in our case we need two people to be bridesmaids...”
Cassidy's eyes widened and Caroline's jaw dropped, but they both spoke simultaneously. “Us?!”
“That was to be the point of my statement, yes.” Miranda frowned as the girls answered in stereo.
“No way.” Cassidy shook her head and Caroline held up her hands to fend off the suggestion, “Not us!”
“Why not?!” Miranda was disappointed that the girls didn't want to stand up with them, Do they not approve of the marriage after all? Do they also realize I'm too old for Andrea?
Caroline sighed, “Okay, look... We want nothing more than for you two to be married and together forever... but we've talked about it, and there is no way we can be bridesmaids. There are things bridesmaids have to do, things we can't do.”
Cassidy nodded and elaborated, “The bachelorette party... we can't organize something like that. For that you need her.” She pointed to Emily.
Andy understood that the girls were serious about not being bridesmaids. “You are my first choice,” she told them, “But if you really don't want to, I can always ask Lily, or Jo.”
Miranda also nodded, “Yes, if you truly don't want to take part in the ceremony, I will get someone else as well.”
“We're gonna play at the wedding,” Cassidy gestured to the pianos.
Caroline saw how disappointed the women were and spoke up, “Some people have more than one bridesmaid...”
“So, you will stand up with us...” Andy clarified, “As long as you don't have to plan the 'bachelorette' party?”
The girls looked at each other then back at their parents. “Yeah, we could do that.”
Emily shuddered slightly at the silent communication between the children and their simultaneous response. That is so creepy. She vowed, I am never having children. Miranda's voice pulled her out of her musings.
“So now we will each have two bridesmaids.”
Andy nodded, “I'll have Lily and one of the girls...” Andy grinned at the twins, “And you will have one of the girls and whoever else you decide...” Now Andy glanced at Emily then again before rolling her eyes at Miranda's obstinance. Leaning over, Andy whispered, “Just ask her.” A quick kiss on the cheek justified the motion and Andy stood. “C'mon girls, lets go see what Ma is up to.” She hoped they wouldn't find her mother with the baker tied up in the pantry, torturing her to give up the cake recipes.
Miranda watched her family leave the room then turned to face her assistant. “Emily.”
“Yes, Miranda?” The redhead looked up from her planner, “I can schedule lunch for you with Donatella on Tuesday.”
Blinking, Miranda shook her head, “What?”
“Um.. so you can ask her to be your bridesmaid?” Emily watched her boss' face, as the eyes she normally saw as hard and icy, softened.
“I'm sure Donatella will attend any party that is organized, and of course she will be at the wedding, but I do not think she would make an appropriate bridesmaid.”
“Oh,” Emily began to erase the penciled appointment she'd made, “So, uh...” She couldn't figure out how to ask Miranda who she wanted to stand up with her.
“Andrea is under the impression that, you, should fulfill that duty, for me.” Miranda watched Emily's eyes widen and nodded, “I understand if you are unwilling to do that.”
“You...Uh... want me to?!” Emily paled slightly and clasped her hands together on her lap.
Miranda sighed, “Don't faint, Emily, we have no cheese cubes readily available.” She waited for the woman to control herself and continued, “You have been my assistant, my trusted right hand, for the better part of five years, longer than any other assistant in the history of my tenure as Editor-in-Chief at any Elias-Clarke publication.” Miranda smiled at the redhead, “Don't you think it would be appropriate for you to stand with me in this as well?”
“I... don't know...” Emily studied her hands, avoiding Miranda's gaze.
“Because of your feelings toward me.” Miranda's blue eyes watched intently as Emily's head snapped up.
“How do you...” She pressed her lips together and bit them to keep them closed then looked down at her lap again. Strong fingers under her chin gently lifted her face up to meet Miranda's gaze.
“How could I not know?” Miranda sighed, “I had hoped it would pass, I am a cold hearted bitch most of the time after all.”
“You're not!” Emily swallowed hard as Miranda's fingers slid away from her chin. “You just get the job done...”
Nodding, Miranda agreed, “Yes, I do that, but often I'm quite ruthless while I do it. I didn't keep the Dragon Lady reputation for being nice and reasonable.” She smiled at her assistant, “I have watched your relationship with...” Serena... “certain people, growing...possibly into love...”
“I loved you first.” Emily's eyes widened and her hands clapped over her mouth.
Miranda sighed and she informed her assistant in no uncertain terms, “You do not love me.”
“Oh but I...”
“No,” Miranda reached out and took Emily's hand, pulling it over, placing it on her own knee, Miranda let go and Emily immediately withdrew her hand. “You see? You draw back when you touch me. Love is tangible and tactile, a palpable thing. What you feel for me is not love, possibly a crush, infatuation maybe, adoration at times...” She refused to vocalize Andrea's assertion of 'worship', “but love?” She shook her head, “No.”
“I had always hoped that you would...” Emily clamped her lips shut, unwilling to embarrass herself further.
“I do care for you, but not in that way.” Miranda smiled sadly, “I will miss your presence in my office.”
“Miss...” Emily thought she was going to cry, “Am I being fired?”
“No,” Miranda smiled and reached out to tap the woman's cheek gently, “Promoted... there is an opening in Event Planning...”
“But,” the red head shook, It doesn't feel like a promotion.
“Five years, Emily,” Miranda raised her eyebrows, “You can not be my assistant forever, can you?”
“I could.” She sighed as Miranda shook her head. “But you don't want me to be.”
“I want you to fulfill your potential.” Miranda leaned back in her seat, “You can not work for me forever. You have done a wonderful job with the wedding, reception and birthday party so far...” Tilting her head in question, Miranda again offered, “The opening in Event Planning is yours, if you want it.”
“I spoke with Joan yesterday, she didn't say anything about firing anyone.” Emily liked the woman and her staff. They had worked together on several occasions, when Miranda was going to attend the event being planned.
“No, the opening is at British Runway.” Miranda watched the woman carefully, “Would you like that Emily? Do you want to go home?”
Home? “I... I'm not sure...” She answered truthfully, “I would miss all my friends,” she reminded herself, Don't mention Serena's name....“and colleagues here. I do miss London sometimes, but I love it in New York.”
“I can arrange that,” Miranda offered, “Joan can go to London and you can remain here in her place.”
Emily blinked, “But she's...”
“The Head of the department, yes, but that is the opening in London as well.” Blue eyes twinkled at the redhead, “Think about both offers, and let me know.” Miranda stood, looking down at the still seated, slack jawed woman, “The bridesmaid offer is rather limited on time, there are preparations to make before the ceremony, a dress to fit, and apparently a party to throw...”
Closing her mouth to swallow against her dry throat, Emily nodded and actually ventured a question, “How long do I have to decide on the job?”
Licking her lips Miranda smiled, “Take tonight and tomorrow, talk to...” She closed her eyes as again the woman's accented words came to her, For your age..., and she couldn't bring herself to say Serena's name, “someone you trust, you can give me your decision on Monday... for both offers.”
Someone I trust, Emily thought, Serena, she means Serena...but won't say her name... What could have possibly happened...? Emily looked up at Miranda and thoughts of Serena left her for the moment, there was another burning issue she wanted to understand and now might be the only chance she ever got to resolve it. “May I ask you a question?”
Nodding, Miranda waited for the woman to speak.
“Why... her?”
Miranda's eye twitched slightly at the question, knowing who the 'her' in question was, but then she took a deep breath, sending a silent apology to her fiancee, and moved out the door. Leaning over the railing of the staircase, Miranda called down through the house, “Andrea, would you join us up here for a moment?”
“Be right there,” reached Miranda's ears and she nodded as she reentered the music room. Sitting on the large sofa, Miranda rested back against the soft surface, “I feel ill.”
Emily sat up straighter and moving slightly away, reached for her phone, “Should I call a doctor?”
Waving off that suggestion, there was a moment of silence between them before they heard footsteps on the stairs and Miranda quietly broke the silence, “Watch.”
When Andrea entered the room Miranda again said, “I feel ill.”
Andy immediately sat next to Miranda, wrapping one arm around the woman's shoulders, she used her other hand to feel Miranda's forehead and cheeks, “No fever. Is it your head or stomach??”
Andrea's phone appeared seemingly from nowhere. “Stop,” Miranda captured phone and cleared the screen of Dr. Dawson's information. Holding Andrea's hand between them, settling back into the embrace, Miranda assured the young woman. “I will be fine. I didn't mean to upset you.” Miranda kissed Andrea lightly on the cheek then blue eyes looked past the woman currently holding her to see the dismay on Emily's face. “You see?”
Love... Emily nodded, “Yes. Of course.”
“Perhaps you should go home and, think about things?” Miranda patted her fiancee's arm lightly, “I'm sure Andrea and I can manage the last caterer on our own.”
“Of course,” Emily stood, “I'll do that, thank you.”
“Em?”
“Andrea, there isn't that much more to discuss regarding the wedding, so I won't be meeting you in the park anymore.” Emily slid her phone into her pocket, “If you have any questions about any of the arrangements, just call me.”
“Um... okay.” Andy watched her former co-worker walk out of the room before she turned to Miranda. “Are you sure you're okay?”
“Yes, Andrea, I'm fine.” Miranda had known the demonstration would concern Andrea for a moment, but she hadn't realized the extent that the young woman would worry. “I didn't mean to worry you so much.”
Narrowing her eyes at the tone, Andy realized that Miranda really was fine. “You gonna tell me what that was all about?”
“Yes.” Laying her head on Andrea's shoulder, Miranda began recounting the encounter with Emily.
###
They all heard the mail drop through the slot and Dorothy chuckled as the twins exchanged looks then ran down the hall to check the daily delivery. She looked up as Andy walked into the kitchen. “Hi Sweetheart...” One look was all it took for the mama instincts in her to kick in, “What's wrong?”
Andy shook her head and waved off the question, “Nothing we can't deal with.”
“Does this have anything to do with that redheaded woman running out of here in near tears?” Dorothy had worried about the woman getting home safely in the state she was in.
Andy winced to think about Emily being close to tears. “Yeah, a little.” She snagged a cold bottle of water from the fridge and informed her mom, “I'm going to take a walk.” She opened the drawer to grab Patricia's leash.
“Where are you going?”
Andy whirled to see Cassidy and Caroline standing just inside the kitchen door. “I was just telling Ma, I'm going for a short walk. I need to clear my head.”
Caroline's venomous tone caught Andy off guard.
“Maybe you should take your mail with you to read!” A letter was flung across the kitchen at her.
Andy looked down to see the letter at her feet, closing her eyes at the now familiar handwriting. “Dammit!” She wanted to tear it up, she wanted to burn it and she was beginning to want to take the pieces and the ashes to the jail and throw them in Judy's face. Scooping up the letter, she slammed her water down on the counter, grabbed the marker from the white board and wrote the usual 'Return to Sender' instructions on it. “Now I have to take that walk to mail this back!”
“What?” Caroline didn't understand, “You aren't going to read it?”
“No I'm not going to read it!” Andy was angry now, angry at everything and nothing. She raised her voice, “She tried to kill Miranda! You think I want to have anything to do with her?! You think I want to know what her demented mind has come up with now?!”
“We're sorry, Ma...” Cassidy tried to intervene, she'd never seen or heard Andy this mad. “It just, surprised us...”
“Sweetheart,” Dorothy ventured, “Why don't you go ahead with your walk...” She urged Andy toward the door, “We can talk about this later when everyone is a little calmer.” She tried to switch the conversation to the one subject that always distracted her daughter. “Where is Miranda?”
Andy took a deep breath, her voice dropped to it's usual level, “She's upstairs, she'll be down in a little bit.”
Nodding, Dorothy rubbed Andy's back lightly, “Okay... go on then. We'll be here when you get back.”
“Okay,” Opening the door, Andy whistled for Patricia to meet her and she snapped the leash on the dog's collar. “C'mon Patricia, let's go walking...”
Dorothy closed the door behind her daughter and turned to see both children's crestfallen faces.
“We didn't mean to make her mad...” Caroline seemed to be on the verge of tears. This day sucks!
“We're really sorry.” Cassidy's glistening blue eyes looked at the door sadly, “It just...”
Nodding, Dorothy opened her arms and grunted as the girls moved to either side of her holding on tightly, “It will be fine. Andy wasn't upset with you...”
“She yelled...” Caroline buried her face in Dorothy's side, “I've never seen her yell before.”
Miranda came down the stairs quickly, adjusting her earrings as she stepped down, “What is all the yelling about,” she saw Dorothy hugging the girls and looked around, “What happened? Where is Andrea?”
“She's taking a walk.” Dorothy smiled as the girls detached themselves from her and reattached themselves to their mother. “She...had a letter to mail.”
Closing her eyes, Miranda muttered under her breath, “Damn.”
Cassidy looked up at her mother, shocked, “Language!”
“Sorry, my darling,” Miranda kissed the girl's head, then turned and kissed Caroline's head too. Frowning, she pushed some of the curly red hair off Caroline's forehead and pressed her lips against the skin there. “Caroline, you have a fever.”
“Huh?” Caroline pulled away, “I don't feel bad.”
“Go upstairs and take your temperature.” Miranda patted Caroline on the back, “I'll be up in a moment to check on you.” She eyed her other daughter, “Cassidy, go with your sister.”
Cassidy sighed, she knew she was going to keep Ro honest about the results on the thermometer. “Okay...” She grabbed Caroline's hand, “C'mon, Ro, let's go see how hot you are.”
Miranda chuckled at Cassidy's phrasing, but worry crossed her features as she watched the girls disappear up the stairs. She spoke quietly to Dorothy, “Caroline often becomes ill, we will have to keep an eye on her temperature.”
Dorothy nodded, “Some children are more susceptible to that kind of thing than others.” She'd seen it time and time again while she taught school. There were some children who became sick as regular as clockwork and others who never missed a day. “Andy was very rarely sick.”
Miranda was thoughtful as she moved to the fridge, “Andrea is always wonderful with Caroline. You said she was taking a walk?”
“Yes, she took the dog.” Dorothy spoke quietly, “She was upset about something, before the letter arrived. Can you tell me about that?”
Miranda retrieved a small Sprite from the fridge and answered slowly, “No. It is a private matter between Andrea and me... speaking of which,” reaching into a cabinet she grabbed a small package of saltines, “Have you spoken to Andrea regarding your mother?”
“No,” Dorothy justified herself quickly, “I never seem to have time.”
Heading for the staircase, Miranda paused to look Dorothy in the eye, “It's her grandmother, she deserves to know. Make the time.” Without another word, Miranda started up the stairs to check on Caroline.
“Make the time...” Dorothy shook her head speaking softly to herself, “Why does that sound so easy?”
###
Miranda entered Caroline's room to find both her daughters sitting on Caroline's bed. It was Cassidy who spoke, “Her temperature is ninety-nine point nine.”
“Hardly anything at all...” Caroline pouted. “I feel fine.” Except for those stupid letters... She knew it wouldn't last though, soon she would begin to ache, and her stomach would start to turn on her.
“Mmmm...” Miranda put the soda and crackers on the nightstand and sat on the edge of the bed next to the feverish girl, wrapping her arm around the small shoulders. “Would you like to go to the sunroom and rock?”
“No.”
Nodding, Miranda shifted so that her back was against the head of the bed. She beckoned both girls to settle on either side of her. “Have I ever told you about the time I met Coco Chanel?”
Both girls gasped and shook their heads. “No.” “Really?” They knew Coco Chanel was their mom's very favorite.
Caroline thought it was awesome that her mom had actually gotten to meet the woman. Her voice was a bit breathless as she rested her head just below Miranda's shoulder, “Tell us.”
“Well, I was very young, just a few years older than you are now and was working in the dress shop for Daniella...”
Cassidy saw that Caroline's eyes were closed and she hoped Ro didn't get too sick this time. I wonder why I don't get sick all the time too, I guess we're not exactly identical. She didn't think about it too long though, instead she concentrated on her mother's soothing voice. Cassidy closed her eyes too, she loved listening to their mom's voice. It didn't happen often though, so she wanted to savor each word.