“Ro...” Cassidy crept quietly into her sister's room, “Ro, are you awake?”
“Yeah...” The shot Doctor Shaw had given her for nausea had worked right away, but the stuff he said would help her sleep hadn't kicked in yet. Her throat was sore from throwing up though and she swallowed a tiny sip of the water the doctor had left next to her bed, wincing when it hit her stomach. “What's up?”
“You okay?” Cassidy watched her sister carefully for any sign that she was going to throw up again.
“Yeah, I will be.” Caroline hated that she worried everyone like this, but she couldn't help it.
“Good.” Settling on the bed next to Caroline, Cassidy asked, “What are we going to do for the wedding? Should we get them a present?”
“I thought you wrote them that song...”
“They've already heard it.” Cassidy sighed. The song was no longer suitable for a lot of reasons. The main one being that even though she'd started out with her parents in mind when she wrote it, her thoughts had quickly turned to their awesome music teacher, and now the only person she could see when she played the music was Alyssa Hartstone. “I'm working on another one, but I don't know if I'll finish it in time.”
Licking her lips, Caroline nodded. “S'okay, finish it if you can, but I know what to get them.”
“You do?”
“Yeah.” Caroline felt the medicine kick in and her eyes began to droop all on their own. “It'll be perfect, you'll see.”
Cassidy watched her sister drop off to sleep and hoped Caroline was right. She left the room quietly, even though she knew there wasn't much that would wake Caroline at the moment. Instead of returning to her bedroom, Cassidy made sure her mother was occupied with the Book then went to the music room.
She double checked that the headphones were plugged in and sat at the electric keyboard for a long moment before she pressed the record button. Closing her eyes, she concentrated on her mother and Andy. She thought about Andy coming to dinner that first time and seeing right through their switcheroo, and how much happier her mother was now that Andy was part of their lives. She thought about how much Andy loved them all, and began to play. Cassidy didn't think about where the music was coming from. She didn't care, so long as it didn't stop. And so, she thought about how their lives would be, and played. Ro and I will grow up, move away, start families of our own, Cassidy thought, but Mom and Andy will still be together, forever. With that thought, the music faded, because, although Caroline was the practical one between them, Cassidy wasn't so starry eyed that she didn't know the one reality that everyone has to face. No one lives forever. There would be a song for that sad time too, Cassidy knew. But this was a wedding, a celebration of two lives beginning a new journey together and this song would reflect that. No projecting farther than happily ever after, Cassidy told herself, not yet. It was a morbid thought for a child of nearly twelve, but Cassidy was Miranda's daughter after all.
###
Andy turned down the music, put the car in park, and slowly beat the back of her head against the seat of the Porsche. The flashing lights in the rearview mirror reminding her of flashes from the paparazzi cameras, except these were red and blue. With a bit of resignation, Andy turned to face the uniformed woman approaching the car. “Hello, Officer...” squinting at the woman's badge, Andy read the name there, “...Rodriguez.”
“Good evening, Ma'am.” The woman narrowed her eyes slightly as she approached the car. “Can you shut the car off for me please?”
“Sure,” Andy turned the key quickly.
“Do you have any idea why I pulled you over?”
“Not really, no... I don't think I was speeding and I'm certain I stopped at all the lights...” Andy tried to think of anything else she might possibly have done.
“The reason I pulled you over, Ma'am, is because your music was too loud.”
“Oh...” Andy groaned, “Sorry... I'm not really used to not having a roof.”
“Is this your vehicle?”
“No... um... officer, it's my fiancee's” Andy ran her fingers though her hair, “And she's not gonna be happy about this either.”
The officer caught the flash from the expensive ring as well as the pronoun, but didn't miss a beat. “Does she know you're driving it?”
“Oh, yeah.” Andy jingled the keys, “This is my set of keys, I can drive it anytime I want.” That had been a weird and brief conversation just before she had taken the car to drive Emily home not too long ago. Miranda had given her the keys saying that if they were going to be married that they should begin learning to share. Andy refused to actually carry the keys with her though, they stayed on a hook next to the kitchen door. She only took them if she needed to drive. Lost in thought, Andy nearly missed the officer's question.
“What's her name?”
“Miranda Priestly.”
“Priestly....” Officer Rodriguez nodded, “I thought I recognized you. You were on Good Morning America the other day, weren't you?”
Nodding, Andy answered with a sigh, “Yeah...” There were a few shouts and she heard her name. Looking toward the commotion, she saw several people with cameras and licked her lips. “Okay then, you may as well just give me the ticket.”
“What?” Officer Rodriguez bristled slightly. That was a phrase many rich people used when they simply wanted to get on with their evening. The tone on this one was different though and she calmed down as this woman continued speaking.
Andy shrugged, “One of my closest friends is on the force, so I know how it is.” Indicating the baby bunch of paparazzi, Andy explained. “You have to give me a ticket now, or be accused of favoritism. A woman cop letting a well known lesbian slide?” A resigned smile touched Andy's large dark eyes, “I don't blame you for it, it's the whole system that's just totally messed up. I certainly don't want you going through a bunch of hassle because of me.”
Grunting at that, Officer Rodriguez blinked then asked, “Do you have your license, registration and proof of insurance?” She waited for Andy to produce the documents and took them with a smile. “Where are you coming from tonight?”
“Oh, well, Caroline our... um.. Miranda's daughter is sick. The doctor stopped by the house and I gave him a lift to meet his wife at Le Bernadin. The house call had made him late for his dinner reservations. Then I stopped at Duane Reade for some antihistamine and some Gatorade...” Andy indicated the bag next to her in the front seat with the drug store's logo on it. “I was just headed home.”
With a brisk nod, Officer Rodriguez looked at the license in her hand. “Alright Ms. Sachs, wait here.”
Relaxing back against the seat, Andy waited for the police woman to return. She wondered what the fine was for playing music too loud. After what seemed like an eternity, Officer Rodriguez returned.
“Okay, Ms. Sachs.” She handed Andy's paperwork back to her. “I'm issuing you a warning. Don't get stopped again or you will get a ticket.”
“Uh...” Andy returned the registration and insurance card to the glove box and slid her license back into her wallet. “Are you sure?”
“I appreciate the thought, but I follow the letter of the law. Your record is clean, this is the first time you've ever been stopped and as such you get a warning,” the woman spoke slowly, clearly enunciating every word, “just like anyone else would. Clear?”
Andy smiled, “Yes, Officer. Thank you.”
With a small salute, the police woman checked the traffic and motioned Andy to continue her journey. “Have a nice evening, Ms. Sachs.” With a slight grin, she tilted her head and added, “I hope your daughter feels better soon.”
“Thank you! You have a nice evening too.” Andy checked her mirrors and before she pulled away wished one more thing on the officer. “Be safe.” She wondered if she should tell Miranda about this incident or not. As she drove, Andy resigned herself to telling Miranda. It was pretty much a given that Miranda would ask what took her so long to return and they were still under the rules of the game. Truth wasn't always fun or easy to play, but it was best for everyone.
###
Cassidy fidgeted in her dress. It was the one her Mom had brought back from London for her and she loved it, although at the moment she thought she'd rather be wearing the jeans Andy had given her instead. Birthday parties were supposed to be fun, right, not all stuffy-like. But, Cassidy now realized that Andy was also dressed very nicely. The woman's form-fitting, off the shoulder dress was a lovely shade of blue. A color that Cassidy knew her mom loved. “Why do we have to be there so early?”
Licking her lips, Andy smiled, “It has to do with a surprise Miranda has planned.”
Caroline looked out the window of the car, “Shouldn't Mom be here with us then?”
“She's meeting us there.” Andy wrapped her arm around Caroline's shoulder, “Are you sure you're up for this?”
“Yeah,” Caroline nodded, “I rested all day yesterday and the fever never came back, it's just that the medicine makes me a little tired.”
“Right. Well you look great.” Andy grinned, “and I'm sure birthday party excitement will take care of your tiredness.”
“Thanks,” Caroline fanned the hem of her dress slightly to settle it into a straight line, “It's going to be fun.”
“You bet.” Andy couldn't stop grinning. The girls were going to love this surprise, she just knew it. Luckily traffic was light and they were soon pulling up in front of the dance studio where the party was being held. “Look.” Andy pointed out the window, “Miranda's already here...”
Both girls followed Andy's gesture to see that their mother was, in fact, just exiting her own car in front of them. “Cool.”
Andy thought it was cool as well, but something in the way Miranda was holding herself set off small alarms in her head. Something was wrong.
Piling out of the car as quickly as they could, Andy laughed as each girl took one of her hands and pulled her along the sidewalk to meet Miranda at the door of the building. “Easy, you know I can't walk very fast in heels!” The girls slowed their progress and Andy exhaled in relief, “Thank you.”
They entered the building and each accepted a light kiss on the cheek from Miranda before they explored deeper into the mirrored studio.
Andy returned the kiss, lingered close to Miranda's ear and murmured, “You okay?”
“An unforeseen annoyance.” Miranda gripped the folder in her hand tighter and pressed her lips together for a moment, “It will work out.”
Narrowing her eyes at that, Andy let it slide to follow the girls as they surveyed the party space.
They walked past several small round tables with five chairs each placed around them and there was a large table already set to hold the cake, when it arrived, and a small table next to that with a currently empty punch bowl. But both girls noticed several extra tables lining the mirrored room and neither could immediately identify their purpose. There was one set off to itself on the other side of a large open space. That one was obviously reserved for the DJ to set up on when she arrived. But the other six were a mystery, that is until Miranda cleared her throat and spoke with a much louder volume than normal. “Happy Birthday, Bobbseys.”
Looking up at their Mother in confusion, Caroline and Cassidy blinked as a door on the far end of the room opened and a tall woman entered the studio. They both stared for a long moment as the newcomer walked toward them, almost Runway style, smiling. They only realized they'd been staring when the woman greeted them in her soft, almost musical voice.
“Hello, girls.” She tilted her head slightly, “Miranda.”
“Padma,” Miranda's eyes twinkled, leaning in to brush her cheek with the tall model's in greeting. “It's nice to see you again.” Wrapping her arm around Andrea's waist, Miranda's lips twitched in a smile, “Let me introduce my family,” She indicated the girls, “These are my daughter's Caroline and Cassidy, and this,” She shook the arm around Andrea's waist slightly, “is my fiancee, Andrea Sachs.”
“Lovely to meet you, girls.” Dark eyes landed on the woman next to Miranda and Padma again tilted her head slightly, “Andrea.”
“Andy, please.” Andy grinned, “It's a pleasure to meet you as well.”
Gesturing to the small tables, Padma raised her eyebrows in question, “Shall we sit and explain to the girls what is going to happen?”
“Of course,” Miranda led them to the nearest table. “I would also appreciate a more detailed description of the process.”
Cassidy caught the phrasing, “Process?”
Nodding, Padma focused on the children, “Yes, I'm told that you two love the show.” She grinned as they nodded enthusiastically, “Well, we're preparing to film another season and thought you might be able to help us out.”
“How?” Caroline glanced back at the table setup and gasped, “An elimination challenge?!”
“Yes,” Padma laughed, “Sort of the ultimate elimination.” She explained, “We've narrowed the field down to twenty-four possible chefs, but we need to make a final cut before filming begins. Miranda thought you guys might want to help us decide the final sixteen contestants to be featured on next season.”
“Really?” Caroline was breathless. This was so awesome. She looked at her mom with shining eyes. “You arranged this?”
“Emily arranged it, via my contacts with Padma.” Miranda grinned at her oldest-by-minutes daughter, “My influence doesn't end with the publishing industry.”
Both girls jumped up and enveloped Miranda in a hug, “We love you Mom... Thank you! You're the best.”
Padma chuckled at the display as her hand dropped to her own middle, “Your children are adorable, Miranda.”
Miranda smiled, “As yours will be, I'm sure.”
With her bright smile faltering, Padma asked, “What?”
Andy blinked as she realized what Miranda had said. “Uh.. Miranda?”
Gesturing to Padma, Miranda asked, “Don't you see it Andrea? She's practically glowing.”
Caroline's eyes widened, “Are you going to have a baby, too?”
Padma's eyes flew wide, “Too?” She looked between Miranda and Andy several times until Andy held up her hands and began to laugh.
“No... not us. Their father's fiancee.” Andy grinned as Padma glanced at Miranda again and relaxed slightly.
“I don't even know for sure...”
“Yes you do.” Miranda studied the radiant woman and smiled, “In your heart, you know.”
Rubbing her flat stomach gently, Padma nodded and smiled, “Yeah... I do.”
“Cool!” Cassidy grinned. “If you need babysitters, just let us know.” She pointed to Caroline with her thumb. “We'll be old enough by then.”
Padma laughed, her musical laugh, “Thank you, I may take you up on that.”
The front door opened and Emily entered the studio, along with a shorter woman carrying a few pieces of sound mixing equipment.
“The DJ is here!” Cassidy seemed to vibrate in place until a gesture from Miranda released her from the current discussion, Caroline followed. Both spoke to Emily briefly and Miranda's lips twitched at the look on her long time assistant's face when she was enveloped in hugs from both the girls. Cassidy moved on quickly to trail the DJ to her assigned table, while Caroline remained speaking to Emily.
Miranda returned her attention to the beaming woman sitting across from her, “Enjoy every minute of it,” She glanced at her two, now across the room, and smiled a bit sadly, “They grow up very quickly.”
“I will,” Padma smiled softly, “Thank you.” She eyed the folder Miranda had placed on the table earlier, “Are those the contracts?”
“Mmm...they are all in order.” Nodding, Miranda pushed the folder across the table, “I made a change to the agreement, however.”
“Oh?”
“Yes,” Miranda nodded, studiously avoiding a glance at Andrea. “I'm acquainted with one of the chefs on the list, as is Andrea. I don't believe our opinions should be taken into account when judging the dishes.” She amended that, “My opinion in particular should not be taken into account as I do not believe I can be impartial when it comes to this particular individual.” Miranda informed Padma, “The girls have no idea who he is.”
“Who who is?” Andy blinked at the tension she saw in Miranda and leaned closer to Miranda. “Who, Miranda?”
Without a word, Miranda flipped through the pages in the file until the list of candidates was revealed. One long elegant finger pointed to the name in question and Andy gasped, “No way.” Dark eyes widened, “I had no idea...”
Padma craned her neck to see the name and asked, “Who's Nathan Cooper?”
###
“Hi, Emily!” Cassidy immediately hugged the thin woman. “Thank you for setting this up, it's wonderful.”
“Uh...” Emily blinked when, as soon as Cassidy released her Caroline moved in.
“Thank you, Emily.” Caroline stepped back and smiled at her Mom's assistant. “We really do think it's great.”
“Yes, well...” Clearing her throat, Emily glanced over at the table where Miranda sat. “I suppose Miranda is finalizing the contracts now.” It took her a minute, but now Emily looked at the young woman speaking to her and nodded, “Caroline, would you help me watch for the baker?” She indicated the DJ and Cassidy disappearing through the door that Padma had used earlier, “Carmen will unload her equipment through the delivery entrance, but the cake will be much easier to bring through the front, since the table is up here.”
“Sure.” Caroline grinned, “This is gonna be a great party! You're gonna hang around right? Food, dancing... I know we're just a bunch of kids but...” Licking her lips, Caroline's eyes twinkled as she looked behind Emily to the woman now entering the front door. “...I thought you might want to stay and chaperone.”
“Oh, well.” Emily hedged, “I'm not sure I...” A soft voice just behind her ear made the halting speech stop completely.
“Please stay, Emily, so that I may have someone to dance with.”
Turning quickly enough to nearly fall over, Emily gasped, “Serena? What are you doing here?”
Shrugging, Serena held up an envelope. “I was invited.”
“You were...” Emily grabbed the envelope out of Serena's hand and pulled the familiar invitation from its holder. “How...”
Caroline laughed, “I invited her.” Looking up at the tall Brazilian woman, Caroline's eyes only held a hint of mischief, “I thought Andy might like some of her friends here too.” She grinned at Serena, “It's funny to see you in regular clothes, instead of running outfits.”
“But you didn't RSVP...” Emily huffed. The wedding RSVP's were a higher priority than the birthday party ones. There had been a few of the parents call to confirm, but for the most part all the arrangements had been made with a blanket number of fifty people, to account for the invited people plus any parents they may bring. That was why the last minute addition of the boy and his mother was not a problem. She was now thrown for a loop at the sneakiness of both Caroline and Serena.
“Don't worry, Emily.” Caroline laughed, “You told us that the arrangements make allowances for each invitation to have additional guests, you can be her, plus one.”
“How about it, Emily?” Serena's voice lowered as her gaze locked with Emily's, “Be my plus one?”
Caroline smiled as Emily didn't speak, but nodded slowly in answer. Caroline was thrilled. “Great!” Movement at the door caught her attention. “Whoops, baker's here...” She left the two adults staring at each other while she held the door for the baker and her assistants to begin carrying in the cake.
###
“Hi, I'm Cassidy.”
“Hello,” The short latino woman held out her hand, “I'm Carmen.”
“Yeah, 'West Coast Carmen',” Cassidy grinned as the woman laughed a little at that title. “You're the hottest DJ in town. Thanks for agreeing to play at our party. A kid's birthday party isn't exactly high on most people's list of things they want to do.”
“A job is a job...” Carmen shrugged and placed her burden on the table.
“Oh... wicked!” Cassidy blinked as Carmen set up her equipment. “You have a Serato setup... that has a Scratch Live interface right??”
“Yeah,” Carmen gave Cassidy a funny look then grinned, “I have a Numark system too, but I like this one a little better... I like the feel of it.” She watched the girl nod and laughed, “You know what I'm talking about?”
“Sure.” Cassidy laughed, “I love all this kind of stuff. The Numark system is good, especially if your stuff is all digital, but if you have much vinyl Serato is way better. I tried them both out last month when Sight and Sound did their coverage of new tech.”
“You really do know your stuff.” Carmen was impressed. “That's very cool.” She indicated the mass of cables, “You wanna help me set up?”
“Sure!”
Carmen laughed and gestured for Cassidy to follow her. “Well then, follow me. My truck is parked at the delivery entrance.” They exited through the door Padma had walked through earlier and walked through a short hallway to the back door of the building. Cassidy lifted a large, but light, speaker out of the van while Carmen managed a few other components. They made two trips before they took a break and began to connect the equipment together.
Cassidy was ready to drop to the floor and begin crawling around under the table to connect all the pieces of equipment together when the DJ stopped her.
“Wait!” Laughing, Carmen shook her head, “You can't be crawling around under there. You'll get your dress dirty.” Handing the cables to the girl, Carmen dropped to her knees and shifted under the table then held her hand out, “Okay, give me the power cord for the mixer.”
Cassidy handed over the correct cable, thrilled to be talking to someone who knew what she was talking about.
###
“Nate.” Andy murmured under her breath and exhaled slowly, now knowing why Miranda was so tense. She informed the show's host. “He's... my ex.”
Padma's eyes widened. “Oh?”
“Yeah...” Exhaling softly, Andy asked, “Does... he know what this party is for?”
Shaking her head, Padma explained, “We only separated them into random groups of four and told them it was for a twelve year old twin girls' birthday party, with a Twilight theme. They had two hours last night to cook in the Top Chef kitchen and will only have forty-five minutes in the small kitchen here before they need to set up their tables. I believe most of them finished their offerings yesterday and only need to either reheat them or put them into chafing dishes today for their team's display. We'll be taking some footage today, but not like we would if it were an actual episode. What we get today may prove unnecessary but they like to get behind the scenes shots to insert later, if the chefs make it very far in the competition some of it will most likely appear in a montage of their rise through the ranks. There will also be a camera in the kitchen while they're setting up.”
“Okay.” Andy pressed her lips together, knowing that Miranda was not going to like what she was thinking. She glanced at Miranda than asked Padma quietly, “Could you, um... give us a minute?”
“Of course.” Padma stood and picked up the documents from the table. “The production supervisor has a mini office set up in the corner of the kitchen. I'll just take these back to him.”
Miranda was already irritated and the news that there was someone lurking in the depths of the dance studio didn't set well with her. “Why didn't he attend this meeting?”
“It was decided that, since I am the host of the show, I should be the liaison between the production staff and... you.” Padma tried not to smile as Andy began to laugh.
“What is so funny, Andrea?” Miranda was not in the mood to be laughed at, even by Andrea.
Andy calmed herself and leaned closer to Miranda. “You scare the stuffing out of them!”
Miranda blinked and looked up at Padma who was nodding. Padma's soft voice confirmed.
“Yeah, that's pretty much it.”
Despite the annoyance of, him, Miranda laughed at the ridiculous attitude people took toward her. Employees at Runway, she could understand, designers, writers, people in the publishing business often had severe reason to be scared of her, but people in the television production industry? A tiny grunt escaped from the back of her throat and she shook her head, “I suppose the reputation is good for something after all.”
Padma chuckled and waved the folder at them, “When you're ready for the camera crew to begin setting up just let us know.”
“Very well,” Miranda watched as Padma walked back to the door she'd entered through, her long legs eating the distance quickly as they always had on the runway. Andrea's concerned voice pulled Miranda's attention back to the present.
“Miranda, are you okay?”
“Really Andrea,” Miranda bristled, “You know full well that I am not.” She took a deep breath, “I do not like the idea of...” The name caught in her throat, stuck there along with the idea of Andrea being with someone else. It was childish, and ridiculous. Of course Andrea had a past, they both did, but Miranda couldn't help it. Her teeth ground together in a futile attempt to stop the pure jealousy she was experiencing.
“I don't even know if he knows about us...” Andy tentatively smiled at Miranda, “I think he should be told,” she licked her lips, “and I think I should be the one to tell him.” Sighing as Miranda remained silent, Andy pressed on with her argument, “It's not fair to him, to be hit with it when he gets out here. They've already done most of the cooking, but he should be told, before he starts the competition so he can deal with it somewhat beforehand. They're in teams of four, it wouldn't be fair to the other members of his team for him to be thrown for a loop...because of us.”
“Us...” Miranda whispered. “Us, as in you and him, or us, as in you and me?”
“Miranda, “ gently turning Miranda's face toward her, Andy locked their gazes, “There is only you and me.”
Miranda visibly relaxed, “I'm being ridiculous...”
“No,” Andy corrected gently, “You're being my Dragon Lady and I love you for it.”
“I do love you so.” Miranda swallowed her jealousy and nodded, “Do what you feel is necessary.”
Pressing her lips together tightly for a moment, Andy exhaled softly and added, “I think we should tell the girls too.”
“Absolutely not.”
“Miranda...”
“No,” Miranda was firm on this point, “Part of their present was to actually get to judge the food. Do not take that from them.”
“Afterward then.” Andy was also very serious about this issue, “I do not want to keep secrets from them.”
Nodding, Miranda understood that, “Very well, after the tasting and judging.”
“Thank you, Miranda.” Leaning forward Andy kissed Miranda's lips lightly and smiled as she wiped a bit of lipstick smear from the corner of Miranda's mouth. “I love you.”
Nodding, Miranda also smiled softly, “And I you.” She glanced over at the cake table, where the woman, Brenda, was just finishing setting up the cake. “Would you please, go inform the production crew that they may set up their cameras now?” She took a deep breath and squared her shoulders, “And request to speak with... him, when the contestants arrive.”
“Okay.” Andy rose from her seat, her fingers trailing across the back of Miranda's neck as she passed the still seated woman. “Be right back.”
Miranda watched as Andrea did not go directly to inform the production crew that they were ready. Instead, the young woman crossed the room and spoke to Caroline and the baker for a moment, then made her way through the long room to speak, briefly, with Cassidy and the DJ. Only after those two tasks were completed did Andrea move to the door that separated the main part of the dance studio with the back rooms.
A bitter thought began to well up from somewhere in the depths of her jealousy soaked brain, taunting her. Running to him without even a glance backward. The pain of that thought was extremely short-lived though, because just as the annoyed thought registered as an ache in her heart, Andrea did look back. When their gazes met, even across the ridiculously large room, Miranda was calmed and the stray jealous thought was overridden by a simple truth. She loves me. Smiling, Miranda waved and nodded as Andrea did the same and then was gone behind the closing door. Sitting back for a moment, Miranda stared at the wooden panel and sighed happily.
I am going to marry her.