“Hey Munchkin, how're ya feeling?”
“I'm okay.”
Andy dropped her hands to Caroline's shoulders and looked over the girl's head to see the cake table. “Wow, that looks great!” She kissed the top of Caroline's head and turned to the baker. “Nice job.”
“Thank you.” Brenda smiled. “When that Emily woman gave me the check for the cake she said there would be a wait staff so I don't have to stick around.” She looked at Caroline, “You girls have a great birthday, okay?”
“Thank you.” Caroline's eyes twinkled at the approving squeeze on her shoulders. “Thank you for all the hard work you did on the cake. It really does look great.”
Nodding, Brenda chuckled, “It did turn out pretty good, if I do say so myself.” She adjusted one of the apple shaped cakes on the table. “Just a few final touches and I'm out of here.”
“Looks like everything is under control here.” Andy released Caroline's shoulders and moved away. She walked through the room quickly and stopped at the DJ's table. “How's it going? Do you need anything?”
“Nope,” Carmen indicated Cassidy, “Cass here is the best assistant I've ever had. It won't take very many more trips to the truck and we'll be all finished.” She began to queue up songs in some playlists.
Andy laughed, “Okay then, I'm about to tell the Top Chef production crew that they can set up their cameras. They may need you to sign a release so they can use any footage that has you in it...”
“Sure,” Carmen shrugged, “Whatever.”
“Cool.” Andy winked at Cassidy, “I'll leave you guys to it then.” She took a step away then stopped, “Oh!” Catching the DJ's eye, Andy spoke solemnly. “I know you know that Miranda has something to do with fashion, but whatever you do... do not play Vogue, by Madonna.”
“Oh?”
Andy nodded, “I know it's a great, and fun, song to dance to, but it's also the name of a rival magazine.”
Carmen glanced at the screen she was currently on and scrolled up to the first song on the list, deleting it. “No Vogue. Got it.”
“Great!” Andy smiled and walked on toward the door to the backrooms of the studio. She reached it and before it closed behind her, Andy looked back at Miranda sitting at the table. Their eyes met and with a wave and a nod, Andy smiled then continued on her way, secure in the knowledge that Miranda loved her. One thought floating through her head as she walked.
I'm gonna marry her.
###
“Padma...” Andy called the woman away from her colleagues for a moment, “May I speak with you?”
“Of course,” Padma moved closer to Andy, “What can I do for you?”
Andy chuckled at the question she thought a great many people would probably like to hear from this particular woman. “Your people can start setting up the cameras. And,” She took a deep breath and closed her eyes as she continued, “Nate Cooper.” Opening her eyes, Andy sighed, “I need to speak with him, when the contestants arrive.”
Padma nodded, “I thought you might.” She directed Andy to a small storage room that had been converted into a sort of interview room, where the contestants could sit in front of a camera to share their feelings about the challenge, “They should be here any minute. Wait inside and I'll send him when he arrives.”
“Okay.” Andy entered the room and unfolded a chair that had been propped against the wall. She tried to get comfortable as she waited, but she was not looking forward to this. Nate had never been a fan of Miranda. Jumping up, Andy nervously paced the room half a dozen times then sat back down. Forcing herself to calm down had never been her strong suit, Miranda and the girls usually helped with that. Now trying for calmness only amped up her anxiety. This, history, with Nate was complicated but not really messy, not like if Stephen were to show up out of the blue. Resting her elbows on her knees, Andy pressed her palms into her temples. “What a mess.” She didn't notice the red light on the camera blinking on. Her head snapped up as the door opened and an all too familiar man appeared.
“Andy!” Nate didn't bother to close the door as he rushed over to her and pulled her up into an embrace, then before she could utter a word, kissed her.
For half a second she was transported back in time, back to when this relationship might actually have had a chance. But as her eyes closed and her arms wrapped around him, automatically, she was suddenly aware that everything about this kiss felt wrong. He was the wrong height, his lips were too full, there were muscles where there shouldn't be and the softness she normally felt pressing against her breasts was not there. It was so unlike kissing Miranda, Andy wondered why she'd ever settled for being with Nate. There was warmth and even a bit of affection, but this came nowhere near the feelings and emotions that even a glance from Miranda evoked in her. Andy broke the kiss, pushing Nate away but when she opened her eyes she wasn't focused on him, she focused on the doorway, where a small sound had drawn her attention. “Cassidy...” Andy took a step toward the girl who was standing there, holding a piece of sound equipment, shocked. “Cassidy, let me explain!” Before she could take another step, Cassidy was gone, running down the hallway.
“Cassidy?” Nate was confused and held Andy's elbow to stop her from leaving. “Wasn't that one of Miranda Priestly's girls?”
Andy thought if she squinted a little she could actually see the lightbulb hanging over Nate's head. It disappeared when he spoke again.
“Oh my God. Are you working for her again!?” Nate shook his head, “Why would you do that? You hated her!”
“No!” Andy pulled her arm out of his grip and whirled on him, torn about going after Cassidy, beating the crap out of Nate for being so clueless, or just smacking her head up against the wall for her own thoughtlessness. “I never hated her. You hated her, Nate. Because I worked so much, because we never got to see each other anymore... because she changed me and you didn't like those changes.” Andy took a deep breath, “But I did, Nate. I loved the changes that Miranda evoked in me. I needed that change, to be the real me.”
“The shallower, more fashionable you?”
“You never did get it.” Andy shook her head and pressed her lips together. “And I don't have time to explain it to you. I only wanted to let you know that this party is for Caroline and Cassidy's birthday. I only wanted to make sure that you knew that Miranda and I would be here at this party, together.”
“Together?”
“Yes,” Andy held up her left hand, “I'm going to marry her, Nate.” She smiled at the utter shock on his face. “I love her and she loves me.”
“But...”
“If you'd check your emails once in a while you'd know.”
“I've been away, on a retreat at my boss's cabin in the mountains. So I could prepare for this competition.” Nate shook his head, “You're together?”
“Yes, we are very much together.” Andy wanted to go after Cassidy very badly now. “I'm sorry I can't stay and chat, but I know you're going to be busy... and I have got to find Cassidy.”
Nate scoffed, “She's more important than I am...”
“Nate,” Andy was angry now and clenched her hands into fists at her side, “Miranda, Cassidy and Caroline are the most important things in my life, ever. They are more important than... anything.” She slowly relaxed her fingers, knowing there would be indentations in her palm from her fingernails. “I wanted to let you know, before you got out there and saw Miranda and me, together. So you could have at least a little time to deal with the reality.” She took a deep breath and smiled, “Good luck in the competition.”
She left him standing in the middle of the room and began to search for Cassidy. Andy was so intent on finding the girl that she didn't notice Padma trailing behind her. Her first thought was to check outside, but was almost certain that Cassidy wouldn't go outside in a strange neighborhood without someone with her. So, Andy walked quickly back to the large room. Her heart dropped to see Cassidy, crying in Miranda's arms, while Caroline looked on sympathetically. Oh no.
###
Miranda was stunned when Cassidy burst through the door at the back of the room and only barely stopped as she nearly tossed the electronic component she carried to the DJ. The beeline the child made to her at the table was enough to concern Miranda, but the tears in her baby's eyes amplified her worry. “What's wrong, Bobbsey?”
It took several minutes to calm the girl enough that she could speak. It was actually Caroline who managed the feat, speaking for several minutes in low tones to her sister, in their own unique language. Miranda's worry had only just begun apparently as she saw the tears begin in Caroline's eyes as well. Dragging her eyes from her children, Miranda looked over Cassidy's shoulder to see Andrea and Padma approaching. She demanded an explanation. “What has happened?”
“Miranda... I...” Andy started and then caught the steel in Caroline's eyes and faltered, unable to explain so much in just a few words. Kneeling down next to Cassidy, Andy placed her hand on the girl's shoulder only to have Cassidy flinch away. “Cass... please let me try to explain...”
Caroline spoke for her sister. “She saw you, Andy. She saw you kissing him.”
“No...” Andy shook her head and immediately looked directly into Miranda's hurt blue eyes. “He kissed me.”
Cassidy looked up at her Ma through teary eyes and asked in a broken voice. “What's the difference?”
Miranda took a deep breath and spoke quietly to both her children. “There is a big difference.”
Taking a breath she didn't know she'd been holding, Andy swallowed hard and tried to explain. “Remember what we told you about photographers and the pictures in the papers? How the pictures only represent a second of time?” She waited for Cassidy to nod before she continued. “That is what you did, you took a picture with your mind. What you saw was only a second of the whole conversation.”
“Who is that guy?” Cassidy sniffled.
Andy replied truthfully, “He's my ex-boyfriend and one of the contestants trying to be a competitor next season.”
“Why were you kissing him?”
Caroline's eyes were miniature versions of Miranda's and the confusion Andy saw there brought fresh tears to her eyes. “He hadn't seen me in a long time... he was surprised to see me here and thought I was here for him. He didn't know about me and Miranda.”
Both the girls and Miranda scoffed at that and Padma spoke up.
“I believe I can clear this all up.” She smiled at the small family and gestured to them all. “Follow me.” Padma led them through the back corridor to a large RV parked behind the building. Inside Padma gestured to the seats in front of the monitors and patted the tech manning the equipment on the shoulder. “Replay the footage from the interview room please.”
Andy went very still, “Footage?”
Padma nodded, “The camera they put in there today is voice activated.”
Turning their attention to the screen, the Priestly's watched a picture of Andrea sitting with her head in her hands suddenly jump up when a decidedly masculine voice called her name. They watched as he grabbed her and kissed her, as she broke the kiss, as he stopped her from going after Cassidy, as she told the man that they meant more than anything to her. Miranda kept her right hand on Cassidy's shoulder for reassurance, but her left hand found its way to Andrea's and she smiled softly as the young woman's thumb absently brushed over the dragon ring.
When the scene showed Andy leaving a decidedly shocked Nate standing in the middle of the room, Andy was surprised to hear a soft, “Well, fuck” from him. He very rarely cursed.
“Is there any way we can get this footage deleted?” Andy shivered slightly, “I really hate it when I've been videotaped without my knowledge...”
“I want a copy of it.” Miranda informed the tech, and Padma, “Then deletion would be preferable.”
Padma nodded and the tech shrugged, pressing the appropriate buttons. A very short time later he handed Miranda a disc, and smiled. “There ya go, Lady.”
Miranda accepted the disc and asked, “And the deletion?”
He nodded, “Done and done... it wasn't anything about the competition anyway. No reason to keep it.”
Andy relaxed a bit. “Thank you.”
Glancing up at another monitor, Padma smiled, “I believe your guests are beginning to arrive. We should send out the contestants to set up their tables.”
“Guests?” Miranda glanced up at the screen. “It's much too early for anyone to be arriving.”
Andy also looked up at the screen and laughed, “Not these...” Her huge smile lit up the small space they were in, “... we better go greet them before they try to take over and Emily kills them.”
Caroline and Cassidy found the correct monitor and both smiled as well, “Yay!”
Miranda chuckled, “Perhaps we should go freshen up a bit. I'm sure Andrea can keep your guests occupied for a few moments.”
Padma spoke quietly, “The contestants will begin setting up soon so that we can get some footage of that before the bulk of your guests arrive.”
“Very well.” Miranda guided her daughters out of the RV. “Come now girls, we need to fix our faces before the cameras start to roll.”
###
Miranda dried Cassidy's eyes with a tissue from her purse. She didn't want to use the hard paper towels that the dance studio's bathroom supplied.
“I'm sorry, Mom.” Cassidy sniffled, “I should have known that Andy wouldn't...”
“Shhh....” Miranda smiled at her daughter and nodded, “Faced with the scene you witnessed, I'm sure I would have been equally upset and confused.”
Caroline was amazed at her mother's words, “You don't trust Andy?”
“Yes,” Miranda nodded, “I trust Andrea more than anyone,” her gaze softened to encompass her children, “almost anyone, on this planet.” She saw Caroline draw a breath to speak and quickly continued the explanation, “However, were I to look into a room and see her kissing someone else, it would take my heart a moment or two to convince my brain that what it was seeing wasn't what it looked like. After Andrea explained the situation everything would be fine.”
“Like it was when we watched the footage...” Cassidy nodded, “I see.”
“Yeah,” Caroline sighed, “That helped a lot. I probably would have been really mad for a long time if I hadn't seen that.”
“Me too,” Cassidy admitted, “I was already...” She clamped her lips together quickly, but of course Miranda caught the slip.
“Already what?”
Cassidy pressed her lips tighter together, unwilling to expand on her feelings.
Miranda had other ideas. Dropping her voice to its lowest, most threatening “motherly” register, Miranda rumbled, “Cassidy...”
Both girls' eyes widened. Miranda never used that tone unless it was really, really important. Cassidy relented immediately and admitted, “I was already upset about some other stuff that was going on...”
“Like Andrea and I going out to the clubs together?”
“yeah, like that...” Cassidy shrugged, “I'm over it.”
“Good.” There was no mistaking the tone now. Miranda was glad that Cassidy had somewhat come to terms with the press and her own idea of what life should be like. Miranda winked, “Now I believe we have a party to attend?”
Both girls' eyes crinkled as they smiled. “Yeah!”
###
“Ma!” Andy slowly crossed the room and wrapped her arms around the older woman for a long hug. “I didn't think you were gonna get to come today.”
“I was kidnapped.” Dorothy glared at the older couple to her left.
Pava chuckled and opened her arms to embrace Andy. “How are ya, Darlin'?”
“I'm good, Gram.” Holding the older woman just as long as she did her mother, Andy took comfort from the familiar arms. “How are you?”
“I'm fine.” Pava held Andy at arms length and looked at her granddaughter's outfit. “You look great.”
“You too.” Andy grinned at her Gram and turned to the woman next to her, “Hello Mary.” She hugged the woman tightly, just as she had Gram, but not quite as long. “Thank you for being here.”
“My pleasure.” Mary's eyes twinkled. “Unlike your mother, I actually like being kidnapped every once in a while.”
“Hello Dorothy, Pava, Mary, glad you could make it after all.” They all turned to see Miranda and the girls walking up to them. The white-haired woman chuckled and answered the comment she'd heard during her approach. “And it isn't always a terrible prospect, being kidnapped. Negotiations for release can be...” She glanced at Andrea and raised her eyebrows, “... enjoyable?”
Andy's dark eyes glittered as she licked her smiling lips, “You bet.” She turned to her mother, “Have you seen the cake table yet, Ma?”
Caroline and Cassidy surrounded the woman, “Yeah, C'mon grandma... you gotta see this!”
Pava laughed at the astounded look on Dorothy's face, “Feels nice, right...grandma?”
Dropping her arms to the girls shoulders, Dorothy smiled. “It sure does.” She jostled the children's shoulders and laughed. “Let's go oogle the cake.”
“I need to speak with Emily.” Miranda also moved away, leaving Andy standing with her Gram and Mary.
Pava watched them go then moved closer to Andy, “How ya doin', Darlin'?”
Andy took a deep breath, “Nate's here, Gram.”
“Ah,” Pava sighed, “You okay with that?”
“I have to be, don't I?” Andy shifted and glanced at Miranda. “I'm not sure she is though.”
“Miranda's a big girl.” Pava led Mary to the nearest table and pulled out a seat for Mary even as she continued speaking to Andy. “I'm sure she'll deal with it.”
“Maybe.” Andy sighed, “I just hope it hasn't ruined the girls' party.” She saw the confusion on Pava's face and explained what had happened and what they were doing just before the trio had arrived. “I hope the girls aren't too biased against Nate to be able to judge the food... that was part of their present. Cassidy was really upset.”
“Oh I think they'll be fine.” Pava assured her granddaughter. “They don't seem too upset now.” They watched as the children laughed with Dorothy about the cake and their mock attempts to sneak a taste.
The door at the back of the studio opened and two men with cameras walked in. They were quickly in place in the middle of the room, lenses trained on the door they'd just come through, and the chef contestants began to file into the room. Each team, carrying coolers and rolling the tall racks of shelves heavily laden with trays of food, began to quickly set up their stations.
Andy checked her watch and nodded. The party was supposed to begin in a half hour, so she expected most of Caroline and Cassidy's friends to be here within the next forty five minutes or so.
###
Carmen had some soft music playing in the background as all the guest tasted the various dishes offered by the wannabe chefs.
Caroline leaned back in her chair, turning slightly to see her sister. “What did you think of those?”
Cassidy pushed back from the table she sat at with her friends and shrugged, “Eh.” The four selections from the last table they'd sampled were really nothing special, the small dish of pasta in the tomato based sauce had been good though. “Ready for the next four?”
Caroline glanced at the next table of contestants and licked her lips. “I suppose so.”
As if just realizing what Caroline had been aware of for some time, Cassidy took a deep breath, “Oh, he's in this batch isn't he?”
Nodding, Caroline kept her eyes on the curly haired man that she'd seen on the video, kissing Andy. “Yeah.” Oddly enough, the table he was at was also the most interesting looking one.
“Oh well...” Cassidy indicated Padma's approach. “Here we go.”
“Are you ready for the last four dishes?”
Both girls stood and gestured for their guests to join them. They were aware of their Mom and Andy rising from their own table to meet them. Allison moved to Padma's side.
“Whose food is your favorite so far?” Allison fawned over the tall model. “I think they've all been quite nice.”
Dark amused eyes looked down at the girl and Padma smiled as she spoke quietly, conspiratorially, “I'm not supposed to give any indication as to which one I like best...”
“Oh!” Allison's eyes widened. “Right...” She looked around and then whispered to the hostess, “But which one do you?”
Padma chuckled, “It's not up to me.”
“Oh, right...” Allison nodded knowingly, “The producers will say who, right?”
“Nope.” Padma stepped between Caroline and Cassidy, dropping her arms around the girls' shoulders. “Caroline and Cassidy have the final say. This is their birthday after all.” She turned her attention from Allison and smiled at the adults behind the table, “Hello, chefs.”
The quartet all spoke at once and smiled. “Hello Padma.”
“So what do you have for us today?”
Nate took a deep breath and began, “Well, Padma, none of us have children or really know anything about Twilight other than it's about vampires...” He swallowed hard at the twins ice chip eyes and cursed the fact that their group had decided last night to make him their spokesperson. “So we did the chocolate fountain,” He indicated the small three tiered item, “But used white chocolate and colored it red.” He pointed to the variety of cut fruits and tidbits that were laid out on the tray next to the fountain. “You can use the toothpicks to spear and cover anything you want with the chocolate. I recommend the strawberries and pretzels.” He exhaled softly as some of the guests began to do that, but the twins didn't. He was also aware now, of Miranda Priestly watching him closely and of Andy standing very close to her. “On the savory side we have several choices of snack type foods.” He pointed to the plated food on the table, describing each of the items arranged there, “There are small pepperoni and sausage pizzas made with mini-bagels as a crust, some pigs in a blanket, there are some granola snack bars, and we have some small grilled cheese sandwiches.”
“With the chocolate fountain,” Caroline pointed out, “That's five things.”
“Yes,” He grinned at the girl who frowned back, “The chocolate fountain is just a fun thing. It's not really very, chef-ly to just cut up fruit and stuff...” He indicated the actual food on the table. “We each made something in addition to that.”
“Grilled cheese...” Cassidy picked up the plate and wrinkled her nose at the bit of grilled sandwich, “What kind of cheese?” The man took a breath to speak, but it was a soft, familiar, voice behind her that answered.
“ It's Jarlsberg...” Andy reached past Cassidy to take two plates off the table and whispered in the girl's ear. “And it's delicious.” She handed one of the plates to Miranda who looked dubiously at the offerings, including the sandwich. From Andrea's tone of voice, she knew who had made it and hated it immediately.
They all took their plates back to their tables and again began to discuss the pro's and cons of each bite.
“Thanks for inviting us to this, Cass. Mom's gonna be ticked that she's missing it.” Alyssa Hartstone picked up the grilled cheese sandwich and bit into it with a grin. “All this stuff is delicious.”
Cassidy looked at the sandwich and again her nose wrinkled with distaste, “I think it stinks.”
“It's actually pretty good.” Alyssa gestured to the item in question. “Try it.”
Her stomach turned a bit at the memory of seeing Andy kissing the man who had made this sandwich but, in the interest of trying to be fair, Cassidy took a bite. She only chewed a few times before she grabbed her napkin and spit the bite out. “Yuck.”
Caroline sighed softly when she saw Cassidy spit out the bite. She knew it wasn't going to be an easy sell, but, taking a second bite of the cheese sandwich, Caroline chewed slowly and thought, It's not that bad. In fact, it was kinda good. Picking up her pencil, Caroline filled in the appropriate notations for each selection and decided to go back for some red chocolate covered strawberries.
###
Everyone took Caroline's return to the chocolate fountain as the sign to return for their favorites as well. So each set of chefs had to deal with a small rush of people returning for their favorites. Padma, Miranda and Emily were the only ones who didn't enjoy seconds of at least one of the dishes.
People were nearly finished eating and the chefs had began to pack up their equipment and leftovers when the door to the building opened. Caroline had wandered over to the chocolate fountain again, and had just coated another strawberry in the red confection when the opening door drew her attention. Her small gasp drew all the chefs at the table's attention. Nate in particular looked over to see an older gentleman making his unsteady way toward Andy's table. “Who is that?”
It spoke to the depth of Caroline's shock that she answered Nate's question. “Mom's ex.” Dropping the strawberry, Caroline moved toward her parent's table unaware of Nate following close behind her.
They didn't have to take very many steps to realize that the man's voice was overly loud, although it didn't quite carry over the music, yet. Miranda had one arm around Cassidy and was speaking intently as they moved close enough to hear.
“You are not welcome here, Stephen... leave now, before the police are summoned.”
“I have every right to be here,” Stephen slurred, “I was these girls father for free...three years...”
“I'm their father...” James stepped up.
“You can't even tell us apart, Stephen.” Cassidy crossed her arm with Caroline's behind their mother as her sister moved up on the other side of Miranda. “This is our party. You weren't invited.”
“You see that...” Stephen glanced at the adults in the room. They had all arranged themselves a short way away, keeping the other children away from Stephen then he glared at Miranda. “This is the disrespect they're being taught. That slut Miranda's screwing is a terrible influence on them...” He glared at the girls, “You two need to learn your place...”
“Yo! Asshat...” Nate pushed forward. He put himself between the drunk man and the Priestly women. “This is a kid's birthday party... the kids don't want you here and you're here anyway. It seems like you're the one who doesn't know his place.”
“Who the fuck are you?”
“No one.” Nate took another step forward, “Just the guy that will kick your ass if you don't get out of here, now.”
Miranda disconnected the call she had just made then released the girls and walked forward a step to stand next to Nate, “I suggest you follow, Nathan's instructions, the police are on the way.”
“Do you really want that kind of publicity? That TV appearance trick was a good one. No one will listen to me now... Do you think they'll want the story of you not allowing the children to see me?” Stephen's muddled brain couldn't believe Miranda called the police on him.
“I don't care about the media, but I believe my lawyer will love the story of you arriving at my children's birthday party, uninvited, drunk and making a scene...Luckily,” she gestured to the Top Chef cameras all trained on them, “this is all being filmed.” Miranda let a hint of steel creep into her tone, “This is a violation of our divorce agreement. This will benefit me far more than you. I don't expect to see you, ever again.” Without looking at her phone, Miranda dialed another number and brought the device to her ear, “Yes, we have a guest that needs to be taken home.”
“Who was that?” Stephen sneered, “Who did you just call?”
Miranda took a deep breath, “An old friend.” Less than thirty seconds later, Roy walked in and looked heavenward when he saw Stephen standing there.
“Mr. Tomlinson,” Roy greeted the man as if they actually were old friends. “How great to see you...” He patted him on the back and smiled, “Why don't we take a drive and chat?”
“Roy! My friend...” Stephen smacked the driver on the shoulder. “Excellent idea...” He allowed Roy to guide him outside and settle him inside the towncar.
Andy watched the car drive away and informed Miranda, “You owe Roy a huge bonus.”
“He is not the only one I owe.” Miranda turned to face Nate. She studied him for a long moment before speaking, “Why would you do that? You didn't have to get involved.”
Shaking his head, Nate ran his fingers through his curly hair and glanced at Caroline, “She seemed really upset that he was here.” He shrugged, “I can't just stand by and let some jerk mess up a kids birthday party.”
“Yes, well...” Miranda sighed and licked her lips, “Thank you.”
“He was your ex...” Nate grinned. “Looks like you traded up.”
Miranda's eyes twinkled. “You have a flair for understatement.” Motion behind Nate drew her attention. “Your colleagues are ready to leave.”
He glanced behind him. “Oh, right... I need to go.” He took three steps back toward the table when Andy stopped him.
“Nate.” Andy kissed him on the cheek. “Thank you.”
He looked at her fondly and nodded, “I hope you two are really happy.” His teammates called his name again and he waved to them. “I gotta go.”
“Right.” Andy watched him take a few steps back toward the table that had been his workstation then she turned back to her family. She was grateful as Miranda's arms slid around her middle and she automatically wrapped her arms around Miranda's tense shoulders. “I love you.” She looked past Miranda and asked the girls. “Are you guys okay?”
“Yeah,” Caroline glanced at Cassidy and they both nodded, “We'll be right back.”
James watched the girls walk over to Padma. He spoke quietly to Miranda. “Stephen was totally wrong you know. The girls are wonderful and you're both a great influence on them.”
Andy could feel Miranda's tension ease slightly. Stephen's words had pressed her buttons, but not quite as much as they'd hit home for Miranda. Andy was grateful that the man who's opinion actually mattered where the girls' were involved had refuted Stephen's drunken statement. One thing Miranda hated above all others was for anyone to think that the girls were not being raised properly. Laying her cheek against the soft hair at Miranda's temple, Andy spoke quietly, for both of them. “Thanks, James.”
###
“Padma.” Cassidy spoke quietly to the tv show host, “I, um... kinda slammed the dish Nate made...” She shuffled her feet slightly, “It didn't really deserve it, it wasn't a terrible sandwich... I just.. don't like that kind of cheese.”
Padma smiled at the girl, “I understand.”
“Is there some way that Nate can get a fair chance at being on the show?” Caroline knew it would bother her sister a lot if the man was denied his chance just because of what Cassidy had put on her comment card.
Nodding at that, Padma reached out and cradled the worried girl's jaw in her hand. She caressed Cassidy's cheek with her thumb, “The producers and staff tasted the dishes too. We'll take your comments into account, but all the chefs will be judged fairly. If there's a tie we'll use your comments to break it.”
Both girls smiled at that. “Good.” Caroline reminded the tall woman. “Don't forget us, when you need a baby sitter.”
Padma laughed and glanced around. The show's crew had taken the extra tables down and they were all ready to go. “I won't forget you.” Her dark eyes twinkled at the twins. “Happy Birthday. Enjoy the rest of your party.”
Cassidy watched Padma walk out the door she'd first appeared through then signaled Carmen to start the music for real. She spoke fairly loudly in a sort of cheerleader tone to the rest of her guests. “Let's dance!”
Andy sighed and looked mournfully at the remaining food table, “What about the cake?”
“Later.” Cassidy laughed and patted her belly. “I'm stuffed!”
“Me too,” Mark grinned and took Caroline's hand. “Let's dance.”
Andy and Miranda exchanged looks as all the kids piled onto the dancefloor and began to jump around. It didn't matter who was dancing with whom at this point, the fast song had everyone doing their own thing. Andy and Serena joined in the fun while Miranda, James and Emily took seats at the edge of the dance floor watching the partygoers. Pava and Mary just shook their heads at the fast paced song and took seats at the table next to Miranda and the others. Dorothy joined them.
“At that rate, they'll all be able to eat as much cake as they want, no problem.” Dorothy was amazed at the energy the young people, including her daughter and tall friend, displayed. “I don't remember ever dancing like that.”
Pava laughed, “We didn't have music like this when we were young enough to enjoy it.”
“I believe we did,” Miranda watched the dancers thoughtfully, “It is possible that I did dance like that, once or twice. If I recall correctly.” The current song ended and a slower song began to play. The kids paired up but with a glance at each other, Serena and Andy moved back toward the tables.
Miranda looked at the hand stretched toward her, then up into Andrea's dark eyes as the young woman spoke quietly.
“Care to dance?” Andy grinned as Miranda accepted the offer and rose gracefully to her feet. As they walked to the dance floor, Andy saw Serena leading Emily toward a semi-darkened area of the space, to dance with a bit of privacy. Pulling Miranda close, Andy began to sway to the music. She pressed her lips to Miranda's ear and whispered, “You okay?”
Miranda smiled and leaned into Andrea's solid form. “This day has taken some unexpected turns...”
Andy snorted, “And you think Nate has a flair for understatement?”
“And now you are in my arms, so all is well.” Miranda looked into Andrea's dark eyes, “Any day that includes you in my arms is a good one.”
Unable to help herself, Andy leaned in to press her lips lightly against Miranda's, “Queen of Understatements.” She grinned at her fiancee, “Are the girls giving us the evil eye?”
Miranda glanced around and shook her head, “They are otherwise occupied.”
Andy twirled Miranda around and took a look at the dancing children. Caroline was dancing with Mark, and Cassidy was swaying awkwardly with Hunter. The others had paired up as much boy girl as possible, but there were a couple of girls dancing with each other and a couple of boys standing off to the side. Apparently their preferred partners were dancing with other people at the moment. She was surprised to see her mother dancing with James, but Gram and Mary had remained at the table.
###
James looked across the table at Dorothy and smiled. “Care to dance?”
“Oh, I don't...” Dorothy looked around, “Don't you have a...”
He waved off that concern, “She has a doctor's appointment right now.” James stood, holding out his hand gallantly.
Relenting, Dorothy took the offered hand and joined the man on the dance floor.
Pava grinned and turned her attention to Mary, raising an eyebrow in an obvious care to dance question. Mary shook her head, almost imperceptibly, but the answer was there, in her eyes, No, not here, not in front of all these people. Sighing to herself, Pava continued to smile as she watched the others swaying together. She wouldn't, ever, push Mary to do anything the woman wasn't ready for. They often held each other, in the privacy of their own home but public displays were going to take time for Mary to come to terms with. They'd hidden their feelings for each other for so long it was difficult to think that showing their affection in public was acceptable. Her eyes landed on one of the dancers, the older neighbor gal they'd met during their last visit, and Pava recalled what she'd told the girl about being patient. She graced Mary with a nod and an understanding smile then turned her full attention to the dancers and told herself, I can wait.