“Grandma!”
Dorothy was astounded to find herself surrounded in twin hugs as soon as she entered the hotel lobby. She returned the embraces as best she could then looked at the girls with wide eyes. “Have you grown since your birthday?”
Caroline laughed, “No, not really.” She lifted up the hem of her dress and stuck out her foot. “It's just the heels. We're learning to walk in them so we don't fall flat on our faces at the wedding.”
“They're doing an excellent job too.” Nigel held out his hand to greet the woman. “Nice to see you again, Dorothy.”
“Oh, Hello!” Dorothy shook his hand and, along with all the others, laughed at the girls comedic attempts to walk in the rather high-heeled shoes. She assured them. “You're doing great. I never could get the hang of it.”
“Me either,” Pava laughed and moved forward to receive her own stereo hug. “How are ya? Still causing trouble?” She had to laugh at the oh-so-innocent faces of the girls and the duel, “No, Gram.” response. “Uh huh.” She grinned and winked at them, squeezing them a little tighter when they grinned back at her.
Even Miranda laughed at that, “Come on now, there are more people for you to greet.” She nodded when Cassidy released her hold and moved on, but Caroline gestured for the older woman to bend down and whispered in her ear. Pava nodded in response and then winked at Caroline again. This did not bode well for future events and Miranda caught Pava's eye as the woman straightened. Surprisingly, or perhaps not, Pava met Miranda's gaze with a steady one of her own. With a small internal sigh, Miranda conceded that there were just some people in this world that she couldn't intimidate. Andrea's hand slipped into hers and Miranda smiled as she thought, And there are some people I don't want to intimidate.
The girls had greeted all the people they knew so it was time to introduce them to the family members they didn't know, or had only met once in their youth. After their polite hug greeting to Natalie, both children turned to the rest of the group and waited for Miranda to speak.
“Girls, this is your Uncle, Daniel, and his wife Josie.” She smiled as the girls tentative waves garnered waves in return and moved on, “This is your Uncle Asher.” She warned, “Do not listen to a word he says...”
Asher smiled and opened his arms wide even as he admonished his sister, “Miriam, why do you tell them such things? I'm a wonderful Uncle!” He laughed as both girls gave him a brief hug.
“I always tell my children the truth, Asher.” Miranda leveled her gaze on him, “You will not encourage them into trouble!” She watched his exuberance fade slightly. It is nice to be able to intimidate some people though... Miranda moved on to the last, most important, person to introduce the girls to. The others had seen the girls before, albeit when they were small. This woman, had not.
“Tante Louise... These are my children. Caroline and Cassidy.” Miranda turned to the girls, “This is my Tante... my Aunt, Louise.”
They were twelve years old, but as Miranda's children they were already well versed in social niceties. They could tell that their mother was tense about this meeting for some reason so they were both on their very best behavior. Already as tall as Tante Louise, made even taller by the heels they wore, both girls took turns, very carefully, hugging the older woman.
“It's nice to meet you.” Cassidy smiled.
Louise brushed her fingertip across the child's cheek. “Nice to meet you too.”
Caroline asked, “Should we call you Tante or Aunt Louise?”
Smiling at that, practical, question Louise chuckled, “Tante means Aunt...and you may call me anything you wish. But I wouldn't know you were speaking to me unless you call me Tante.” She seemed to have a bit of trouble pulling her gaze away from Caroline's face.
“Okay then,” Caroline grinned. “'Tante' sounds cooler than 'Aunt' anyway.” Wincing, Caroline turned and faced one of the other newcomers, “Sorry, Aunt Josie.”
Josie laughed and waved off the girl's concern. “No, you're right,” she said and shot an affectionate look at the older woman, “Tante is pretty cool.”
Emily rejoined the group and handed out the keycards to their rooms. She was about to hand Tante Louise her card when Andy intercepted it.
“Thanks, Em.” Andy again offered her bent arm to Louise, “I'll escort Tante to her room. Fourth floor, right?”
“Yes.”
“This way to the elevators,” Andy began to lead the older woman away when Louise stopped her.
“One moment young woman...” Louise looked at Miranda and took a deep breath. “You have beautiful children, Miriam.”
Miranda nodded, “It runs in the family.” Gasps from the surrounding crowd made her realize how that would sound to someone who didn't know what Miranda and Tante knew. She looked at Andrea and smiled She spoke to Andrea but loud enough for everyone to hear, “Remind me, when we get home, to show you a picture of Tante from when she was twelve.”
“No need for that, Miriam.” Tante gestured to the girls, “There I am.” She looked at the girls for a moment longer then patted Andy's arm that was linked with hers. “All right, young woman, it's already been a long day. I believe I could do with some rest.”
Everyone began to murmur agreement at that and the crowd dispersed to the elevators. Natalie hung back to speak with her sister.
“I had forgotten that you'd taken the old photo albums.” Natalie's gaze followed the eldest member of their family being escorted away. She walked with Miranda toward the lifts. “There are pictures of father too, aren't there?”
“It is only one, album, Natalie.” Miranda entered an empty elevator car and admitted. “There are some of our father, in his younger years. There are only a few of Tante when she was young and carefree... then there is quite a lot of skipped time before the photos resume.”
Natalie bit her lip and nodded, willing herself not to cry as she almost always did when she thought of the years that had been ripped away from their beloved Aunt. It took a few moments to calm herself as the lift carried them to the correct floor. “I would like copies of those...”
Miranda took a deep breath just as the doors opened, “Of course.” She stepped out of the elevator and turned toward their rooms. Miranda smiled as Andrea exited Tante's room just ahead of them. “When Andrea and I return from our honeymoon, I will give the album to Emi...” Pausing in that thought, remembering that Emily was no longer going to be her assistant when they returned, Miranda quickly adjusted her thought and reassigned the task, “...to Andrea to copy. She will want to see the photos anyway.”
Andy wrapped her arm around Miranda's waist and smiled, “You bet I will.”
“Why not just make a phone call and have your assistant do it?” It had seemed to Natalie that Miranda often did that with tasks, assigning them to her assistant immediately.
“The album in question is currently in the bank vault.” Miranda relayed a bit more information to her sister than she would to any other person, anyone other than Andrea and in truth Andrea had not heard this yet. “I will have to retrieve it from the safe deposit box, before copies can be made.”
“You can't call the bank and have it sent?” She hadn't dealt very much with banks, or ever had a need for a safe deposit box, but Natalie thought that as wealthy as Miranda seemed to be, the bank should be happy to provide that service for her.
“No,” Miranda shook her head, “No one can recover anything from our safe deposit box without myself, or Andrea, present to authorize it. Access to the vault and deposit box is dependent on our presence, in combination with the presentation of the required key.”
“Oh...” Natalie stopped at the door to the room she'd been assigned. “I see. Okay then, I look forward to the photos when they arrive.”
Miranda nodded, “Of course. Try and get some rest before dinner. I know the flight can be tedious even if the plane is luxurious.”
“Yes, I believe a nap will do me some good.”
Miranda waited for Natalie's door to close between them and then led Andrea on toward their suite. Her fiancee had been very quiet since hearing the explanation regarding the photo album and the safe deposit box so Miranda wasn't surprised when Andrea spoke quietly.
“Miranda?”
“Hmmm?”
“Um... 'our' safe deposit box?”
“That's right.” Miranda faced her inquisitor. “We are to be married in two days Andrea, what's mine is yours.”
“But...”
With a sigh, Miranda led Andrea to the couch and as they settled together, Miranda spoke in no uncertain terms. “There are a lot of issues we still need to deal with, but I do not want money to be one of them. Your belief that a pre-nuptial agreement will make things easier is not true. It will just complicate matters further. The only way to make the money a non-issue is to literally make it a non-issue, Andrea. I don't care about the money, or the jewels, or any of that. The agreement that you have already dismissed is currently in the hands of another lawyer for possible revision. I believe he will bring it to you soon. But again, I don't care about any of that, the material things are just that and are not nearly as important to me as you. I only want us to be together. I only want to make you happy.” She continued speaking, hoping the stunned look on Andrea's face didn't reflect the status of the woman's brain. She tried a slightly more practical argument. “Your necklace set is in that vault and you should have access to it any time you want.”
Blinking, obviously trying to absorb what Miranda had been saying, Andy seized upon something Miranda had said earlier, before she went into obvious shock. “I need a key?”
“You have a key.” Now Miranda grinned, “It's hanging in the kitchen of the townhouse, with your keys to the Porsche.”
“What?!” Andy panicked, “But.. Miranda?!”
“Shhh...” Pulling Andrea to her, Miranda kissed the top of her head and tried to assure her, “It's perfectly safe. You are the only one who can use it...”
“But...”
Miranda chuckled, “It is not just a matter of showing up with the key. There are other security measures in place.” With a smile, Miranda shifted and snuggled against Andrea, “I will take you through them when we return to the City.” She mumbled, “In any case, you still need to sign the signature card and put your thumbprint on file.”
“I... I don't know if I'm comfortable having access to your... private stuff.”
“Stuff?” Miranda grinned as Andrea stammered.
“I'm s...sorry I just don't know what else to call it...” Andy shook her head, “My parents always kept important papers and things that were precious to them in their safe deposit box... “
“Andrea...” Miranda moved to look directly into her love's deep brown eyes, “I trust you with my heart, and the hearts of my children. There is nothing in all the banks on this Earth that is more precious than that.”
“You're right.” Lifting one trembling hand to cup Miranda's jaw gently, Andy agreed, “I can't think of anything more precious than that. Thank you.”
Miranda accepted a soft kiss on the lips and smiled. “Only two days left... are you ready for this, Andrea?”
“Yes,” Andy leaned in for another kiss. “Very, very ready...”
The double meaning of the agreement was not lost on Miranda. Stretching out on the couch under the love of her live, Miranda too was ready, for the next few days and the next few hours. Very, very ready.
I'm going to marry her.
###
When it was time for dinner Miranda and Andy began the trek back downstairs to the banquet room. They stopped at Tante Louise's suite to escort her downstairs, Andy again offering her arm to the elder member of Miranda's family. They were joined by Pava and Mary and much to Miranda's surprise, Pava released Andrea from her escort duties by offering her arm to Louise with familiar gallantry.
“I do believe you and I should get to know each other a little better, since we are going to be family soon.” Pava smiled down at the shorter woman. “Don't you?”
“That sounds quite nice...” Louise chuckled as they walked and she patted the arm linked with hers, “I'm thinking it will be nice to speak to someone at least close to my own age.”
“We are just over a decade apart.” Pava grinned, “When we get to be our age, that's not so much...”
“Sometimes no...” Louise met Miranda's concerned gaze and offered a comforting nod to her niece before continuing her comment to Pava, “And sometimes... you have no idea how much that difference can cause.”
By the time they'd reached the banquet room everyone else had either joined them on the walk, or were waiting for them there.
Miranda saw the girls seated at a small round table for four with the Hartstone children. Their mother, Lara, a new but loyal friend of Andrea's, was seated at a table for eight, with Nigel, Emily, Serena, Lillian, Douglas, Blair and Joanne. Leading Andrea to two chairs in the middle of a slightly larger table, one with six place settings along each side, Miranda managed to be the gallant one by pulling Andrea's chair out for her. She smirked at the odd expression on Andrea's face and leaned down to whisper, “Every once in a while, I like to pull the chairs out for you.” She kissed the cheek so close to her lips and took her own seat. Andrea's murmured response pulled another chuckle from her.
“Yes, Miranda.”
Waiting as Pava assisted Louise into the seat next to her, Miranda noticed an odd expression on Mary's face and glanced at Pava who was being very attentive, to Tante.
Pava wasn't ignoring Mary, not exactly, Mary just wasn't the sole focus of Pava's attentions at the moment. Miranda watched as Andrea's Gram made sure Tante was comfortable and then moved to pull Mary's chair out for her, before taking her own seat at the end of the table, across from Mary and next to Tante. Interesting, Miranda thought but then dismissed that as none of her business whatsoever. She waited for the rest of her and Andrea's families, to find a seat before she stood.
“I want to thank you all for coming this weekend.” Miranda looked around the room at her family and friends. “It is a great pleasure for us to have you all here to share in our union.” She smiled as everyone raised their glasses and made sounds of agreement. “Dinner will be served momentarily, but please feel free to chat among yourselves. The purpose of this gathering is for everyone to get to know each other a little better.”
###
“Identical twins run in your family... how cool is that?” Alan continually glanced at the head table where the older pairs of twins sat. “Do you think you and Cass will ever be as different as your mom and her sister? It's easy to tell them apart.”
Caroline shrugged, “I dunno... when we were younger people had a hard time telling us apart, but now... the ones closest to us are starting to catch on.” They could probably still fool most people, if they did a switch-a-roo and really wanted to pretend to be the other... but never Miranda, or Andy. That comforted Caroline somewhat. “As we get older I'm sure there will be more changes to differentiate us.”
Cassidy groaned, “Geez, Ro... do you have to use the word of the day?” Rolling her eyes Cassidy informed her tablemates, “Ever since dad got us the cool new laptops, Ro signed up for this thing... it emails her a new word every day.” She cast a disgusted look at her sister, “And she always finds a way to use it...”
“I'm just trying to expand my vocabulary.”
“You're just trying to drive me crazy.” Cassidy grinned when Alyssa punched her bicep lightly.
“Short trip?”
“Ha Ha...” Cassidy ducked her head to hide the blush she knew was on her cheeks.
“Well I think it's neat,” Alan smiled at Caroline, “You're going to follow in your mom's footsteps right? To be an editor... you need to know a lot of words for that.”
Caroline nodded and mimicked her sister's pose, knowing that the blush that was tinging Cassidy's cheeks wasn't nearly as deep as the one on hers after Alan smiled at her. She hoped the food would arrive soon.
###
“Is your room okay, Ma?”
“It's just fine, Sweetheart.” Dorothy smiled at the description of her “room” as “fine”. It was in fact the most luxurious hotel suite she'd ever stayed in, in her life. It was so amazing, in fact, she believed that Dawn had remained in hers to enjoy it and not because she was exhausted from the travel as the woman had claimed. “How are you? Getting nervous??”
“Excited.” Andy smiled and got that faraway dreamy look she always got when she thought about her future with Miranda. “It's going to be wonderful, Ma.”
Dorothy's heart hurt just a little at the trusting tone in Andy's voice. But she was determined to keep that going for as long as possible and didn't say anything about Richard, or Miranda's visit to him. If Andy trusted Miranda that much then she would honor that. “I'm glad you're happy, Sweetheart.”
“I am, Ma.” Andy's million watt smile made an appearance and her hand reached out to find Miranda's, her thumb automatically rubbing across the dragon ring on Miranda's finger. “I really am.”
Glancing past her daughter, Dorothy saw Miranda and the charmed look on her face. That one, unguarded expression, was enough for Dorothy to reaffirm her decision. No matter what Richard did, Dorothy was firmly in Andy and Miranda's corner. She smiled at her daughter then turned to take a sip of her water. Caroline and Cassidy's father was sitting beside her, so Dorothy turned to speak to him while Andy turned her attention to some of the other guests. “How have you been...James?”
He smiled and nodded, “I'm... better now.”
“Oh?” Dorothy thought for a moment and realized he was here alone, “Don't you have a...”
“Ah... no.” He sighed, “Not anymore.” With a sad sort of smile, he began to speak to Dorothy about his so-called fiancee and the elaborate scam he'd been caught in regarding Candice's pregnancy. Candice and the 'doctor' caring for her had both been lying. They had fake test results and a fake ultrasound machine.
His story paused when the meal was served, but he continued to speak to his tablemate as they ate. He told her about how, at first, he'd felt anger that he'd been duped. The fact that the con artist duo had deceived several other men with the same scam didn't help very much. Once the police had detained Candice and her partner in crime, James' emotions had shifted. He was over the anger, they hadn't really gotten anything from him. He had been shown how the thieves would have made their move had the ruse lasted another week, but they'd been caught in time to prevent any sort of major theft. “I would never have known if my lawyer hadn't gotten an anonymous email, not until it was too late.” He confessed the real reason for his introspective mood quietly to Dorothy, “I had started looking forward to having a baby...”
###
Lara smiled at her children, chatting amiably with Miranda's children then looked across the table at her running buddy. “Did we know that Miranda had a twin?”
Serena opened her mouth to reply when Emily spoke for her, “No, we did not know...” She glared at Nigel who held up his hands defensively.
“Hey, I didn't have a clue. I've never met her family... and you know how talkative she is about them...”
“She always seemed really nice to me.”
Three sets of eyes, belonging to disbelieving Runway employees turned to look at the man sitting next to Nigel. Nigel spoke for them. “What?”
“Any time I've ever met Miranda, she's been very pleasant... even when she's drunk.” He smiled as Lily bumped her shoulder into his.
“She didn't get drunk you idiot... she was the most sober one among us...”
“You...” Emily's eyes bugged out and she lowered her voice to hiss across the table. “You went out drinking with Miranda?!” She recalled that insinuation before but had dismissed it as impossible.
Lily grinned at Emily, “Nope...” licking her lips, she nudged Dougie again and answered Emily, “She went out drinking, with us.”
Jo laughed, “I've always thought the Old Lady could drink us all under the table...”
A throat clearing from the larger table drew all their attention.
“The 'Old Lady' has excellent hearing and as you so eloquently put it Detective, I most certainly can drink any of you under the table quite easily...” Miranda's eyes held the hint of a challenge. “Perhaps, in the near future, we will find an opportunity to demonstrate that ability.”
Jo grinned, “Bring it on...” She glanced at Blair and chuckled, “I'll get the beer.”
Blair scoffed, “Where are you going to get beer here?”
With a wink at her wife, Jo repeated, “I'll get the beer.”
Laughing at that, Blair just nodded then turned back to her meal and muttered about some things never changing.
###
Miranda chuckled at her challenge. Perhaps the hen party would hold a bit of excitement after all. From what she'd gathered from overhearing Emily's planning of it, there was to be wine, and some sedate games. Not exactly the blowout night of debauchery that was normally depicted in the various movies and television shows. Time would tell she supposed.
“Miriam?”
Blinking, Miranda pulled herself out of her thoughts and focused on her beloved Tante. “Yes?”
“Are you sure a drinking contest with these young people is a good idea?”
“I believe I can hold my own, Tante...” Miranda smiled at the older woman, “As I recall you were fairly good at holding your own as well, back in the day.”
Louise laughed, “I was fairly good at a lot of things... back in the day.”
“Ah,” Pava turned, laid her arm across the back of Louise's chair and grinned. “I would definitely like to hear more about you... back in the day.”
“You shouldn't badger the woman, Pava...” Mary was practically glaring at her friend.
Quickly evaluating the expression on the woman sitting across from Pava, Louise smiled and reached down to pat Pava's thigh, under the table. “She's not badgering me.” Turning to Pava, Louise winked. “I'll be happy to tell you all about my thirties...”
Josie grinned across the table at Louise. “Tante, you know it's your forties/fifties they'll want to hear about...” She watched Louise visibly shudder and the entire table broke into laughter at Tante's response to the thought of those years.
“Disco...”
“Our Tante has had many interesting times.” Asher was shocked at the borderline hostile glares from the rest of his family. “What? She has!”
Natalie was furious with her brother. “That is for Tante to tell!”
“Of course.” Asher looked around the table, “What did I say that was so wrong?”
“Nothing...” Tante assured her nephew, and the rest of her family, “Nothing at all.”
“Asher is correct.” Miranda raked her gaze past her family members to land squarely on Asher's face. “There are many tales Tante could tell while relating the story of her life. Some of them, however, should not be brought up during such a pleasant evening.”
“Oh...” Asher's eyes widened. “Oh! No... of course.. I didn't mean...” He turned to Tante and apologized, “I didn't mean that...”
“I know.” Tante smiled and nodded, “No worries, love.”
Pava watched the interplay with great fascination then grinned at the older woman next to her. “Now I'm even more curious.”
Tante chuckled and sighed, “Of course you are.” She patted the thigh her hand had remained on. “All in good time.”
Sensing the need to lighten the mood, Pava shot a sly look at Louise, “Disco, eh? Maybe we can convince that DJ gal to play a few seventies tunes so we can see your moves?”
With a grin, Tante laughed, “That is entirely possible, but I'll only dance if you dance with me.”
Smiling widely at that, Pava nodded. “Of course, it'll be an honor.” She tilted her head in question, “The Shuffle?”
Tante corrected primly, “The Hustle.”
Pava's eyes gleamed. “Excellent.”
Miranda chuckled and looked forward to that event. In fact, everyone at the table seemed to be anticipating the reception just a little more now. Her gaze landed on Mary. Pava's friend didn't seem happy at all and Miranda amended her thought, Well, almost everyone.
###
The remains of their dinners had been cleared away. The children had excused themselves, Cassidy and Caroline wanted to practice the song they were going to play on the actual instruments they would use, and Alyssa and Alan wanted to hear them. The adults left behind were now mingling around with various alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks in their hands, thanks to the portable bar that had been set up near the front of the room. Everyone was milling around talking to each other amiably.
“So,” Nigel looked up at the tall, blonde man. “You're Six's brother...”
Chad tilted his beer in acknowledgment and smiled. “If Six is Andy, then yeah. My name's Chad.” He took a drink from the bottle he held and asked, “Why do you call her Six?”
Nigel chuckled and gestured to the closest chairs, “That, my boy, is a long story...”
“It's not that long a story...” Andy plopped down in a chair next to Nigel. She leaned into the man, reaching over to take the olive from his martini, “He called me 'Six' because that was my dress size when I first started working at Runway. He loved to remind me how huge I was, am, compared to practically everyone else that works there...” She popped the olive into her mouth and smirked as she chewed.
Serena chuckled and wandered over, leaning down to wrap her arms around Nigel's shoulders. “Nigel does love his little nicknames.” She straightened and ran her hand over his bald head, “It took me many months to get him to stop mine.” When he looked up at her, she held up a finger as warning, “Do not say it.”
Chad just stared at Serena, his mouth slightly open, until Andy scoffed and smacked him upside his head. “Like you have a chance with her...”
“Hey! I'm a good-looking guy with a lot going for me...” He sighed as he saw the expression on Serena's face. “No, eh?”
“You are not my type,” Serena grinned. “I prefer redheads...”
“Oh,” he brightened. “I can change my hair color...”
Nigel and Andy laughed outright while Serena chuckled. “You can change other parts of you as well, but I do not believe it would be worth the trouble, just to be with me.”
“Well, that's wrong...” Emily had heard the last statement as she approached the little group, “You're worth any trouble.” She wrapped her arm around Serena's waist, and smiled as Serena's arm draped over her shoulder. “It's getting late...”
“Yes, we should be going.” Dropping a kiss to Emily's temple, Serena sighed. “There are many things to do tomorrow.” Serena smiled down at Nigel and then at Chad, “Cheer up. There will be many models at the wedding and reception...” She guided Emily away, heading toward the door.
Andy laughed and stood, “Yeah, little brother, you'll get your chance, eventually.” She patted his shoulder and addressed Nigel, “Don't keep him up too late...”
“Aww, C'mon... I'm not a kid.” Chad rolled his eyes when Andy laughed, but focused back on Serena and Emily, who had stopped to speak with Miranda.
“Care to ask our Mommy about that??” She looked around for their mother and was surprised to see that most people had gone. She couldn't remember saying good night to that many people.
“No!” Chad grumbled, “I'm just going to finish my beer.. okay?”
Andy laughed and gave Chad's shoulder a final pat before walking away, “Sure, bro... See ya tomorrow.”
Chad sighed as he continued watching Serena. A short nod from Miranda set Serena and Emily again moving toward the door and Chad shook his head, “How do you do it Nigel?”
“Hmmm?”
“How do you work around so many beautiful women all the time and not just...” Chad sighed, “I doubt I'd work there for very long.” He took another long drink of his beer. “I'd have sexual harassment charges brought against me for sure.”
“It helps that they aren't my type.” Nigel grinned at the young man and stood, “Enjoy your beer. I will speak to you again soon. I'm thinking you must have some good blackmail material for me to use as leverage against Six, if I ever need it.”
Chad grinned, “You're probably right.”
Nigel walked around the table and sat next to one of the older men still in the room, “So, you're Miranda's brother...”
###
Miranda's eyes narrowed as she watched Nigel approach Asher. “That does not bode well...”
“Mmm... at least he's not talking to Chad anymore.” Andy laughed, “The last thing I need is Nigel getting the scoop on my childhood from Chad.” There was an immediate glint in Miranda's eye that made Andy grin. “Oh no... don't you go getting any ideas about grilling my little brother... I have access to your family too now.” It was a relief to see Miranda back off slightly because of that threat, but it also made her curious. The reporter part of Andy perked up a little. Wrapping her arms around Miranda's waist, Andy nuzzled the older woman's neck and sighed. “I need to get to bed if I'm gonna meet Serena and Lara for our usual morning run.”
“Of course, my Darling.” Miranda leaned into Andrea's solid form. “I do believe we should get some rest. Tomorrow will be a full day.”
“Yeah,” Andy nibbled on Miranda's earlobe and whispered, “rest.”
Miranda cleared her throat to address the remaining guests. “Thank you all for being here this evening. Please feel free to remain as long as you like.” She smiled at her family and friends. “We will see you all tomorrow.”
There was a flurry of exchanged farewells before Miranda was able to guide Andrea through the door.
###
Pava walked through the hotel lobby. It was still very early in the morning and things were very quiet in the hotel at the moment. She knew, though, that soon everyone would be up and moving to begin the day. A familiar profile caught her attention and Pava turned her footsteps to investigate.
“Louise?”
“Oh, hello.” Louise smiled up from her lounge chair at Pava, “Good morning.”
“It's good but very early in the morning...” Pava moved farther out onto the landscaped area and took a seat next to Louise. “Problems sleeping?”
“No more than usual.” Louise chuckled, “I'm old, I sleep very little at a time...”
“Ah,” Pava nodded and grinned, “We are closer in age than you think. But that doesn't explain why you're out here at this time of morning.”
“Mmmm...” Louise returned her attention to the horizon. “I have made it a practice to watch the sunrise whenever possible, especially if I'm in a new place. You?”
“I see.” Pava shrugged, “I'm just lookin' to get some coffee...”
“Ah...” Louise wrinkled her nose, “Nasty stuff...” She reached for the tea pot next to her and poured some steaming liquid into the small cup on the table next to it, “Tea is my preferred drink.”
“Yeah... English and all that...” Pava grinned as Louise's eyes glittered over the rim of the cup.
“I'm not, you know...” Louise spoke between sips and smiled at Pava's confused expression, “English...” With a small shrug, Louise elaborated, “I was born in Poland, in Nineteen Twenty-Five... I lived there for the first twenty years of my life, before esc... moving, to London.” Setting her cup down, Louise scanned the pinking horizon and smiled, “Here it comes...”
Pava turned to watch the rising sun and, after several moments of viewing, she had to remind herself to breathe. The sheer beauty of the dawning day was incredible. “Wow.”
“This one is rather spectacular.” Louise did not look away from the blushing sky, “Many times they are, when oceans are involved.” With a deep breath, Louise nodded to herself and watched as the shifting vivid lines of red faded and the sky settled into its normal brilliant blue. She tested the warmth of the teapot with her fingertips and sighed, “Cold.” Shaking her head, Louise rose from her seat, “Time to get on with the day then.” She grinned at her sky-watching companion. “You should find that coffee. Your friend will be waiting, yes?”
Waving off that concern, Pava spoke without thinking, “I have some time. She's been sleeping longer lately.” When she realized what she'd just said, implied, Pava looked wide-eyed at Louise's smiling face. “Uh.. I mean...”
Louise chuckled. “Go on. We can talk later.”