The Gift of You- part 2

The next day - Saturday

                She didn’t want to wake up. The dream was too perfect to let go of. There were no hospitals, no doctors, and no more feeling like a walking, talking bone bag.

Of course, it was only a dream. The real world is calling, in the glorious form of a hangover, the over whelming need to throw up and the shrill ringing of a phone.

“I’ll get it!”

The sound was cut short as her aunt answered the call. With the call no longer a problem, next item on the to-do list was to go vomit. Kicking aside the covers, Andy sat up with a grunt and began her death march to the toilet. As she passed the sink she stopped to take in the lines of orange and white pill bottles, all lined up in order like troops waiting for battle.

She sighed as the need to hurl came back with gusto.

The next hour of her day was spent hanging over the porcelain hellhole as her aunt held her hair. When the last of her heaves tapered off she flushed and with some help stood up and washed her mouth out.

“I made some tea and broth; lets’ get that in you before we go through the lineup.”

The “lineup” was the funny little pet name they had for her medications, like a nickname would obscure their purpose.

“I checked your e-mail; you only have three articles today. When you’re done with that you can spend the day sleeping if you like. I need to get to work. Samantha next door will come and check on you every hour or so and to make sure you eat.”

“Ok, fine, whatever I’ll see you when you get home, I love you, aunty.”

She knew it hurt her aunt when she acted as she did, but at least she wouldn’t hide from her pain. There was a soft snick of the door closing and a key in the lock to announce that Kasey had departed.

With a sigh it was time to start the most painful day to date.

 Of course, not being able to safely leave the house without accompaniment sucked and forced her to stay home. But at least work kept her mind busy and focused. She just wished they would give her more.

The next few hours consisted of working on editing and checking facts. It was boring and easy work. If the writers of the articles would do it themselves or just not mess up there would be no need for her. Then again, she was grateful for them being only half assed slackers.

The clock chimed noon, jerking Andy out of her work induced haze. With a groan and a hiss of pain Andy arose and walked to the bathroom.

There again was the waiting army ready to die to try and help her. All lined up in their uniforms of orange and white.

The first charge was choked down with a flood of water; the next wave nearly retreated back to the sink. As the final wave massed, the enemy sat and waited for the end 0f mild horror. You could hear the battle cries and explosion, the last act of heroes that didn’t know if this was going to do any good in the long run. Heck, it might not even work for the short run.

There was a quiet on the battle field, everyone knew this was the end. Friends say good bye, say a prayer, take up their weapons, and charge.

Andy managed to down the last of her pills with a gag. Little fuckers do more harm than good, she thinks. With that out of the way the rest of the day was hers to do with as she saw fit. On the down side there was not much she could do.

In the last year, she has amassed video games, books, puzzles, and other pastimes that might help her whittle away the hours of the days. So far, she has completed all the puzzles, beaten all the Mist puzzle computer games and worked through half of her books. She needed to get out of there, maybe a walk in the park would help bleed off some of this restlessness.

But God damn it all to hell she was so tired.

-

The same day- Miranda’s house

                Today was meant to be just her and the girls. Whatever they wanted to do, it was their choice. But, since last night she’s felt down and angry for so many reasons.

The sight of Andrea last night was still playing behind her eyes. The girl looked like death had run her over and then tried to put her back together again. She was seconds away from walking over and demanding to know what was going on. However, the man picked her up and carried her out before she could.

The rest of the night everyone at the table was so quiet, the shock at what they had seen still echoing in their minds. The silence could be felt wafting through them. No one wanted to break the spell.

“Here you go everyone - a new round.”

It had to end sometime.

“Thank you, will you please get the bill? We will be leaving soon.”

With the waitress gone, they all picked up their drinks and downed them in one go.

“What we just saw never happened. Do I make myself clear?”

Miranda just wanted to forget the sight and run away. The girl came back with the check before she could say anymore. So she grabbed it, signed it, and gave the girl more than enough to pay for the night. With that done she pulled out her phone and called for a car.

The moment she stepped into her home and shut the door she was already fighting tears. She rushed up stairs, striped her clothes and jumped into the shower. As the hiss of water filled the air she finally gave into the battle and cried. Mixing with the spray you would not have been able to tell, water from tears, if you tried to look for them. Yet, you could see the shaking of her frame and hear the hitched breathing. Her body language also gave her away. She had one arm wrapped around her middle as the other was using the wall for support. Looking at her then, you would have seen a smaller woman.

A years’ worth of pent up emotions came spilling out. Images and random moments spent with Andrea flashed through her memory. The silly girl had talked back to her as when they first meet. Had walked up the stairs the night she and Stephen fought. She was shocked as she saw the transformation of the caterpillar to a butterfly.

Then those moments spent in quiet contentment in the back of the car. Every moment spent with the girl was another key in the door to her soul.

But then on came the realization of why she felt the way she did when Andrea was around. It nearly took the world from under her feet. It was a ridiculous and ill timed revelation.

The night in Paris, after Stephens’s call, as she sat on the couch thinking about what would happen next. Tears trying to fall, the door  opened and in came Andrea. Thinking she could block it all out with work she called the girl over.

When Andrea asked about Stephen, it was too much. The biting, angry words just flowed out.

-

“Well, if you speak to him and he decides to rethink the divorce, then, yes, fetch away.”

She waved her hand in a dismissive way, like she was shoeing a fly away.

“And then when we get back to New York…”

Those eyes, those dark, true eyes dug into her very soul, causing her to lose herself for a moment.

 “We need to contact Leslie to see what she can do to minimize the press on… all of this.”

Those eyes…

What was it about those eyes and the soul behind them?

“Another divorce splashed across page six.”

“I can just imagine what they’re going to write about me.”

She was saying too much, those eyes were making her say too much. They were getting behind her wall, she had to get away, but she couldn’t.

“The Dragon Lady, career-obsessed, Snow Queen drives away another, Mr. Priestly.”

“Rupert Murdoch should cut me a check for- for all the papers I sell for him.”

Run, she was falling.

“Anyway, I don’t. I don’t really care what anybody writes about me.”

Get away!

“But my - my girls, I just - it’s just so unfair to the girls, I just…”

Stop!

“Another disappointment, another let down, another father figure, gone.”

No more!

“Anyway, the point is - the point is-.”

… You’re going to get hurt.

“The point is we really need to figure out where to place Donatella.”

The eyes looked away and the walls came back, stronger than before.

She got out a few more words before her ears picked up a whisper.

“I’m so sorry Miranda. If you want me to cancel your evening, I can.”

The stupid girl, don’t look at me with those eyes!

“Don’t be ridiculous. Why would we do that?”

They were gone again, but this time something inside hurt at the flash of pain in those doe eyes.

“Um, is - is there anything else I can do?”

“Your job, that’s all.”

Then she felt it, something brushing against her heart as she watched the girl leave. If she had known then what she does now, then maybe life could have been different. When she given Andrea her speech about this life, and seeing so much of herself in Andrea. There was a look in those eyes; a battle was forming in them. With the end of her speech that battle was over. A question was asked and an answer given.

“Don’t be ridiculous, Andrea. Everybody wants this. Everybody wants to be us.”

She turned away after that, so she didn’t see the finality and sad look on the face of her assistant. She got out and she heard the other door open, so she assumed the girl followed like always. But when she turned around to tell her something, and didn’t find her there. The world stopped. She couldn’t hear or see anything and for a short second the world was still.

She knew then, the secret of her heart.

-

Miranda’s Town House- present day

She said, “Mom we’re ready to go! Hurry up Patricia. She’s getting antsy.”

That’s right, the girls wanted to go for a walk in the park. They packed a picnic lunch for the trip and everything. Her beautiful girls - how could she every live without them now?

“Let me get my bag darlings, and then we can go.”

-

Central park - same day 

                There were sounds everywhere, wonders of smells filled her nose and play time movement flooded her senses. Her pack didn’t come here often but when they did she knew she would get treats that she never was allowed at home.

The gentle tug on her neck caused her to stop. She remembered what it meant. Her pack found a large wooden object for seating and prepared to eat. It was time for treats!

She loved it when all of her pack could be together in one place. There could be a stillness that would settle in her bones and she was happy to be with them.

The small one that smelled of sweet grass and dirt held out a bit of food under the table. With a quick swipe of her tongue the meaty bit was taken. Sniffing around for hopes of more, she waited maybe the other small one that smelled of charcoal and mint would give her something tasty. As she hoped for another morsel her human fulfilled that and a bit of bread was gobbled down.

She loved her humans, all three of them, but she loved the human that smelled of a flower scented rain the most. When this human was home she would try to spend as much time with her as the human would allow. Why she did this is because she could smell the loneliness and sadness that emanated from the human in waves.

A hand holding a piece of cheese wondered below the table top. Her big human was just as easy as the small ones.

The time passed and she ate her fill of the scraps passed to her. When the hands stopped giving her food and legs moved to stand she knew it was time to leave. Her grass and dirt human took her away from the others and to a spot that smelled of other dogs. She marked the ground and kicked earth at it now that was her spot know and walked back to the others.

She didn’t want to leave this place of food and fun but her humans were so she had to. They passed rows of trees and walked beside a wall. The smells of the passing humans had her turning her head this way ant that. That is until a sharp shale odor made her stop, upwind was a human in pain. That human smelled so strongly of hurt that she happed to see if she could make it go away. As they got closer an underlying smell appeared. She recognized the odor.

Long ago there was a human that smelled like warm sunshine and spice. That human would always scratch that hard to reach spot under her chin. Whenever that human and her big human were together her big human didn’t smell so lonely.

The smell got stronger as they neared a park bench with a thin human on it. This was the one, the human that smelled of hurt and emptiness. She had to help this human so she pulled away from her own humans and ran to the other.

“PATRICIA!”

She ignored the call, this human needed her.

When she reached the thin human she did the only thing she knew of that always made her small humans smile. She started licking the humans face.

The Gift of You- Part 1

A month before Christmas

It had been six months after Paris and her interview at The Mirror and Miranda’s surprising but welcomed letter of recommendation. She started off with a bang. In her great luck The Mirror had just lost a food critic and she was more than willing to accept the job.

She was happy, so happy. She had the privilege of circulating freely and eating nearly free food. Well, food at half price. Then she wrote about it. But sadly, as stories go, the worst happened.

She felt tired after her morning run. Running was a habit that helped her weight control and helped her forget. More tired than usual, even when she cut back on running, she lost weight at an alarming rate and her joints felt like millions of pins were drilling holes in them.

Then there were bruises that took too long to fade, and a knife cut that didn’t stop bleeding as soon as it should have.

One clear, blue sky day she was at work and in her rush to the bathroom she arose too quickly. A typhoon of dizziness crashed over her. It was too much and she fainted.

The next thing she knew she was waking up in a white room with a loud beeping in her ear, multiple tubes in her arm, and mask over her nose.

The next few hours after that, a once full day of pride filled work. Good laughs over bad jokes and stale coffee with friends. Now turned up, down and shattered.

-

A year later- Runway

A piercing voice asserted itself, saying “I don’t see why it is so hard to find a simple set of photographs of next month’s designs.”

The voice was cool and razor sharp. It was the voice of command and power, the voice that must be obeyed to grant witness of the next twilight.

The peons receded in the presence of the glory that is Miranda ‘Dragon Lady’ Priestley. She always dressed as if she just walked out of a fashion runway photograph. Such is sometimes true when she finishes having her photo taken for the editors’ letter.

The only spine among them that had not disintegrated was her long time co-worker and friend Nigel Kipling, who scratched lightly at his bald head and shifted a few papers on the table in front of him. When he found what he was looking for he held it up and sighed in relief.

“Well then, it is nice to see that at least one of you is, as they say, ‘On the ball’. Nigel, make sure they are sent to the art department, and where is that silly girl with my coffee?”

Just like that everyone was on their toes again.

A few moments later found both Miranda and Nigel in her office. To the horror/relief of both assistants the door was shut.

“Incompetent, that’s what they all are. Is it so hard to ask for the best? I did not ask for the moon, only that they do their jobs.”

With a sigh the queen sank with grace onto her thrown, turned to face the window, and sighed again. This time it was with regret.

“I hear congratulations are in order?”

At this, Nigel glowed with a smile that would put the whole of New York’s lights to shame.

Only two days ago Nigel’s lover of nearly three years proposed to him, and like the fool he was for the man he said yes.

“I was just going to tell you. Really, it doesn’t surprise me much that you know. Lord knows I could hardly keep the smile off my face the whole weekend.”

She was happy for her friend. Truly she was. However, along with the thought of marriage came overwhelming guilt from her choices and how they affected her girls and a small echo of a lost could have wisped through her. She only hoped that this time she had gotten it right.

“On my last day as a free man I would like to take every one out for a drink.”

Miranda gently jerked her thoughts back to the present.

“A last day, Nigel Surly not…”

“Oh yes! Mark and I are going to have a small ceremony this weekend with just the two of us and a judge. Then, of course, we will have a marvelous Christmas theme reception at our place.”

The small upturn of Miranda’s lips could barely be called a smile. It was the only sign that she found his words funny.

“As I was saying, I hoped to take all of my girls out for a drink, and I do mean all of my girls. Miranda, it just would not be a bachelor party without my best friend.”

The comment warmed her. There were so few she could call friends and an even rarer few she could call true friends.

After the attempt at her down fall in Paris and her slice at Nigel’s knees. She had been looking for a way to make amends to him. The best she could think of was letting him run his own magazine. She has discussed it with her superiors.

“Well, as long as it is not that hideous little dive you call a bar, I would be happy to come along, if only to scare the underlings, of course.”

“Oh, that’s only natural.”

“Good, Emily!”

The long time veteran of three years hurried in, clutching her ever present note pad and pen.

“Yes Miranda?”

“Make sure the house keeper is home to watch the girls and make sure they eat. I will be home late tonight. Oh, and don’t be late, that’s all.”

With a flurry she made a list and quickly uttered, ‘Yes Miranda’. She was out the door.

“I leave it to you as to whom else you wish to bring along.”

He would always wonder at her ever wicked humor, even after all these years.

“I will be seeing you then. I must make the rounds.”

With that he walked out.

-

Later that night- Sweet Cat Club

            On a beautifully star filled night the sounds of the city, the slush of gray snow, and Christmas decorations rushed by the car’s windows as they made for where ever Nigel decided to host his party.

When the car stopped and everyone got out Miranda nearly got back in it.

It wasn’t a dive but it was almost too close to one for her liking. However, this was for her friend, so she would tolerate it.

The group comprised of herself, Nigel, Emily, Serena, and Emily the second also known as Kristal, spelled with a “K”. She had yet to earn that.

The line wasn’t long and you could hear the soft pounding music filtering through the door every time it opened. The Neon sign above it depicted a cat licking a piece of candy. The doorman, or woman in this case, periodically checked IDs then unclipped the red and white striped cordon rope, letting people in.

Of course this being Nigel, every other person in line had a partner of the same sex with them. This was, without a doubt, a gay bar.

 “All right ladies, follow me. I hear a martini calling my name!”

They walked up to the rope. Nigel stated his name and they immediately went inside.

-

Earlier that night- Just a Bad Day

            Pissed off - that could come close to how she was feeling. Also hurting, agonizing, and dizzy, could have been equally descriptive. Dear god, a year ago she was happy. What the fuck had happened?

When she received the news the first thing she did was break something. Well, really she was numb for a few hours and then she broke something. She had then proceeded to cry her very heart out.

She was nearly 27 years old and had a great life. Granted, she didn’t have a love life to speak of but that was OK. She thought she was young and had all the time in the world, or thought she did.

She was being stupid in her youth, walking through ankle deep snow on her way to do something even more stupid. For a year she has been tired, worn out, and just plain sick of everything. She wanted to let loose and forget the year even happened. She wanted to drown her world in a haze of amber. The best place to do that was at a bar.

That day after she’d found out. When she calmed down enough she called the last two people who would still talk to her. Doug immediately rushed to her and sat by her side for two days. Then her aunt walked through the door.

When released her aunt said she would stay with her for as long as Andy had need of her and even when she didn’t. It didn’t take long after that for her aunt Kasey to say that she was going to move in and help out.

Later, when money started getting tight she was so grateful that she cried into her pillow for nearly an hour. But these last few weeks had been really hard. Sure, there where options out there, but not any that the combined paychecks and insurance could facilitate. There was little indication that her treatments were working, but at least she did respond. From that sprang a small hope.

But today she just wanted an escape. So there she was, walking along, passing bar after bar, looking for one where she could sit undisturbed and fall to pieces.

When she saw the sign she nearly bypassed it, but there wasn’t a line of customers and that won her over. She walked up to the doorwoman, paid her fare, and walked into the club, to wash her life away in booze.

When she found a seat at the bar she ordered a mug of Irish Death and started the night off with a toast to her fucked up life.

Nearly an hour later found a very much tipsy Andy talking up the bartender and spilling her story to her. In a way it was kind of nice to tell someone that wasn’t in any way connected to her. Plus, it kept the drinks flowing at half price because the bartender felt sorry for her. Hey, bright side!

When a half hour passed the bar started filling up and the music cranked up in volume. More bodies filled the dance floor and new smiles to buy the drinks. To say that she was wasted was really on the money, and she was having the time of her life.

She danced the night away, barely feeling any of the pain that had plagued her for a year’s time now. But every show has a closing curtain. Her phone buzzed in her pocket. When she fished it out she knew it could be one of only two people.

“And the lucky winner is… Doug!”

She flipped the phone open and staggered her way back to her bar chair.

“Doug! My main man! The Doug-a-natter, Buddy old pall! How are you?”

Aye, she was three sheets to the wind alright.

“Andy, you need to tell me where you are and I’m going to come pick you up. Your aunt is worried sick a…”

“I’m having a good time for the first time this year, Doug.”

With a sigh Doug could only even itch at what Andy was going through. It broke her aunts’ heart when she could only help financially, and it ripped him up too, just seeing his once larger than life girl, looking so, so frail. What was even sadder was that there was very little anyone could do for her, and her treatments could only work for so long.

“I am so God damned tired, Doug.”

Her head was now resting on her arm on the bar top, tears present in her eyes. There really was only so much someone could take before they gave in, and Andy had just reached her limit.

“I know Sweet Pea, but what you’re doing isn’t going to help. Just tell me where you are then wait for me. Can you, will you, do that for me, please?”

What else could she do? The haze was gone, the bubble popped. She had to wake up. So, with a sigh she said, “I’m at the Sweet Cat Club.”

 -

Back to the present- S.C.C

            They found a table and Emily Two had taken drink orders for the first round. The crowd was mostly on the dance floor, shaking and jiving to the beat.

Miranda, Nigel, and Serena were talking and Emily was scanning the room to see if there was anyone among the few that she might take home with her. It was a long shot, really. The few well-dressed candidates she found were all men and the one she wanted was not available to her. With one last look she saw “her”. There, in the back corner of the row of bar chairs was a brunette slumped over the counter.

She was wearing last season’s shoes but everything else looked fantastic on that enviably thin frame. In fact, she was jealous. What was her secret?

“Emily dear, please, there is no need for that, you are perfect the way you are.”

Emily whipped her head back around to the owner of the voice. Serena, who had a nightly starring role in her dreams for years now. Sadly, up until a month ago she had been seeing someone.

Emily huffed.

“I’m a cow and you know it. Look at her, she is so thin. I wonder if I can get her secret.”

She turned to look back when she noticed a man fumbling with his wallet and trying to get the woman to, from what it looked like, wake up. When he succeeded in paying and waking the beauty, he got her to her feet and rushed to hold her up when her knees gave out.

“Well, it looks like I’m too late. Oh well, drunks are never the best.”

“Be nice, Emily. For all you know she could have good reason to be as drunk as she is.”

“Really, Nigel, what possible reason could there be?”

“Well, for one, she could have just had a heart break or just a really bad day.”

“Oh well then, if you put it that way.”

There was a crash from the bar and all their heads shot to the sound. The same woman had knocked over her glass and it hit the floor. The man looked panicked, and even over the music you could hear him telling her to stay awake.

“How pathetic, it should not matter what kind of day you had. To get as drunk as she has is just sad. Really, what could drive a being to…?”

The man in his haste to get the woman out of there picked her up, and in doing so cast her head back and swept the hair that had been blocking her face.

The face of one Andrea Sachs, in all its shallow pale glory was revealed to them.

“Dear sweet God above, look at her.”

Every heart at the table shook at the sight, one more so then the rest.

The once lively fire that always seemed to emanate from the girl was gone. In its place was a dark cloud that wept of pain and sadness. You could see the bones of her face where once round cheeks were. A dull, pasty complexion was where rose colored flush used to be.

The summation of Andrea in a word, and only one word would fit, was “shattered”. That girl looked completely and utterly shattered.

“Andrea?”

There was another crash as Miranda’s fingers lost their grip on her glass. It fell without notice to the floor.

That Time Around

Chapter 5

December 16 1962- 4:30 a.m.

Scull busting loud rings filled her ears as she woke up and for a brief moment thought nothing was different then last time few times she had woke up in this bed. But then she saw the calendar hanging on the wall, sighed and hid under her pillow.

Six year jump from then to now, was not weird at all, no, she was just your ordinary Ohio breed TIME JUMPER FROM THE FUTURE!

After savagely silencing her alarm, she got up took and a shower and was about to up on the clothes that were hanging on the inside of the door when she saw the old pillow top pageboy hat and a license to legally drive a horse and carriage.

“LOU!”

-

December 16 1962- 4:55 a.m.

The smell of hay and wood dust got stronger the closer to the Stables she got, the cries of horses all so got louder.

When she had confronted Lou about her new “job” all she got was a smile and a “lucky your grandfather taught you how”.

It scared her, a little that Lou knew so much about her life.

To clarify, her grandfather lived on a horse ranch that every holiday would rent out rides around the nearby lake. He would have every one pitch in and drive a carriage.

She spent most of her school holidays hitching up old Smokey and driving around that lake. Her aunt now owns the place.

The smell of manure slaps her out of her memory. The stable was huge! It must hold at least a good twenty to maybe forty horses inside. Red brick and rich heavy wood doors stained dark amber. She could see other riders and carriage drivers getting ready for the day.

“Excuse me, miss?”

Turning to the voice Andy saw a young man jogging her way.  He had on cowboy boots and jeans along with a thick blue plaid cotton button down tucked into said pants. His hair was wheat blond and large hazel eyes and an even bigger smile.

“Are you Miss Andy?” he was out of breath but the smile stayed and she couldn’t help but smile back.

“Yes, but how did you…”

The boy cut her off by saying that a Miss Lou called ahead to make sure that she got there on time and made sure that she had help finding her way around.

“Come on I’ll show you to your horse so you can get to know each other”

He took her into the barn and memories of being back at her grandfathers came flooding back to her. Rows of paddocks surrounded her and the cries and smells stronger her then outside.  They tuned right at a four way and they stopped at the forth stall they passed.

“Here you are, this beauty is Gypsy, no one was clever enough to come up with a better name so they named her after her breed, and she is a sweet thing, very playful and high spirited.”

Andy stepped up to the stall door to look in but jumped back right quick when a large black and white popped up.

Andy was instantly in love with those large sweet brown eyes.

“Hi there girl” she slowly stepped back to the door and slowly reached out to take the first ginger steps of introducing herself to Gypsy.

“Alright seeing as it’s your first day you get a grace day and you have the rest of the day to do get yourself acquainted and familiar with the layout to the barn.”

And with that he ran off.

With another smile Andy tuned back to Gypsy and started speaking softly to her letting the horse get to know her voice and running her hands over her face and neck letting her get use to her touch.

Andy spent a good half hour talking a petting gypsy before she felt ready to open the door and walk in to the stall.

Once in Gypsy skittered back away from her but came back once Andy picked up talking to her again, this time Andy just stood there talking as Gypsy checked her out. When a shove to her chest was given Andy started running her hands over Gypsy’s shoulders and flank always keeping in her sight.

Gypsy’s was a painted horse, a tapestry of whites and blacks and feathered feet. All in all Gypsy was a real beauty just like the stable hand said.

“I have a feeling we are going to be great friends.”

 A gentle shove and a soft snort was her answer.

-

December 17 1962- 5:00 a.m.

Andy was excited about finally being going out and being behind the rains again. Yesterday Andy had gotten back into the swing of hitching and unhitching a horse and carriage, her first few tries were not so pretty but Gypsy didn’t seem to mind and behaved very well for her.

By the time she was confident in her skills again, the sun was setting, and the cold wind was chilling them both.

Today would be her first day and her plane was to stay close to the stable and slowly branch out and get to know the park. She did not want to get lost on her first day. 

And so she checked and double checked the riggings and leads as well as the under carriage and wheels. It would not do to break down or lose her horse due to bad joints and harness. Once that was done Andy tied back her hair in a simple low ponytail and donned her hat with brand-new ribbons and bells, claimed into the drivers set and set off at a walk down a path that would lop around the stable and back.

They started out slow and steady getting a feel for the land, themselves and each other. The park was not much to look at with most of its trees bear of leaves but the evergreens that dotted the here and there helped. 

“It’s going to be a short ride then will head back get are bearings then head out for a longer ride, how does that sound?”

Gypsy snorted and bobbed her head in answer.

They had made it about half way on their rout when Andy heard what sounded like crying up ahead. But as they got the sound stopped and curious Andy stopped Gypsy and called out.

“Hello! Is anyone there, are you alright?”

The scare above her eye started to itch. And for a few moments she heard nothing but then movement out of the corner of her eye made her turn and find a girl probable no more than ten at least with bright red hair and blue eyes rimed in red from crying had come out from the bushed from her right.

“Hi there sweetie, are you alright, where are your parents?”

The girl said nothing just continued to silently cry.

So with a sigh Andy set the breaks of the carriage and clime down. Once she made sure that Gypsy wasn’t going anywhere she slowly approached the girl speaking in soft tones.

“Hey, it is ok, look how about I take you back to my stables and let you use the phone so you can call your parents ok, is that all right?”

When she got nothing, she decided to try another way.

“My name is Andy and that’s Gypsy, what is your name?”

When again she didn’t get an answer she sighed.

“Sweetie I can just leave you here if you’re lost, can I please get you to a phone at least, and free of charge just let me get you somewhere safe ok?”

This time she got a nod and the girl slowly approached her. When she was in range Andy stepped back to let the girl get into the carriage. With her safely in Andy claimed back into the driver’s seat.

“Ok you all set back there?”

Another nod and Andy clicked Gypsy into a movement. The ride back to the stables was mostly quite only to be broken by a sniffle or soft sob. For some reason it broke her heart to hear this little girl cry, but then again it was hard not to be heart broken when a kid cried.

When they got back to the stables a hand came running up to grab Gypsy harness as Andy stepped down and help the girl out of the back.

“Paul, could you please unhitch Gypsy and brush her down, I need to help this girl find a phone.”

She was proud of her self that after only two days she had already made a friend.

When Paul smiled out a yes, Andy and the girl navigated the halls and into her main office were the public phone was. Andy pointed it out and the girl picked it up and dialed. Not wanting to leave her alone Andy took a seat not far away so she could keep an eye on her but still give the illusion that she had privacy.

She heard the phone click as the girl hung up and was baffled as she came over and sat next to her, but did not protest and smiles as the girl eyed her but smiled a small thank you.

When the silent’s was getting too much for her Andy asked again.

“You know I never got your name and why, were you all alone out in the park like that, your luck I found you before someone not so nice did.”  

The girl didn’t say anything for a few moments before she answered.

“My name is Miranda Priestly and my parents forgot that today was my birthday.”

That Time Around

Chapter 4

December 16^th- 1952

They had been sitting still for nearly two hours and Andy could not fathom that NO one had found them yet.  She had Alison breathing and gripping her hand when she needed it; she was rethinking that, and was softly speaking to her that everything would be alright. The contractions were getting closer and Andy was losing feeling in her hand.

“GOD, MAKE IT STOP!”

It was all she could do to not panic when she went to look, even with her lack of medical know how she just knew that if someone didn’t come along soon, she would be bringing this new life into the world.

“Hold on, ok, I’m going to try the phone again” and when she picked up the receiver and put it to her ear all she heard was… nothing. With a frustrated huff she slammed the phone down and the car shuttered violently causing Andy to lose her footing and hit her head on the open metal door of the phone box.  

The car gave a screech as Andy fell to the ground with dizziness and had almost passed out if Alison had not screamed. With a grunt she righted herself and crawled back to the very soon to be mother.  She grabbed the woman’s hand again and they breathed through another contraction.  

Ten minutes later Alison screamed again.

“IT’S COMING!”

It was time to panic now as Andy shifted to place herself at Alison’s feet and another wave of dizziness hit her. When it cleared Andy lifted Alison’s dress and took off her own over shirt so she could have something to clean and wrap the baby in.

And for the next half hour Alison pushed when she need to and Andy breathed. Then finally, Andy glanced at her watch, nine minutes to 5:00pm, a screaming baby landed in her arms and shirt. Wrapping up the kid she cleaned it off as best she could and placed the baby in the now happy, glowing mother’s hands.

“Hi there” was the last thing Andy was able to make out before she passed out.

-

December 16^th – 1952- 7:00pm

The first thing she saw when she woke up was white, lots and lots of white, then the smell drifted in, she was in a hospital. For a moment she thought she had been found at the park and everything was a dream. But the fates were not with her this day, when the gentle face of Lou came into view.

“I hear you had quite the day today” Andy was not in the mood for that overly joyous voice.  

Andy sat up with a groan, clutching her head when it started throbbing.  When she felt the bandages she was confused, what had happened?

“You hit your head dear, the doctor said that the stitches could come out in a week or two, you had a rather nasty cut over your eye.”

The soft spoken words did nothing to sooth the pounding in her head. A fuzzy thought slipped to the front of her mind.

“How is Alison and the baby?” she didn’t remember much, she also never got to see the gender of the kid.

“Both Mother and son are doing just fine. Be proud girl you just brought a life into the world!” the pride in Lou’s eyes was hard to miss.

The only thing she cared about was the mother and son. 

“Alison has asked was your name was and I told her that it was Andrea and she could call him Andy.”

The smile that had burst forth could put ten thousands suns to shame.  To say she felt good would be a gross understatement.

“That is so neat, but if I don’t get up and to the bathroom there is going to be a mess that I would really not like to make.”

Lou laughed and helped her up.

“So when can I get out of here?”

With a nod Lou turns around and walks out to the nurses’ station. While she is out there Andy checks to see if she is hooked to anything, when she doesn’t see anything she then looks around for her clothes and finds them packed away in a plastic garment bag. With an exasperated sigh Andy throws the covers off her and gets out of bed. She takes a few steps and then immediately grabs for the bed rail when a dizzy spell hits her.  The door handles shacks and Andy lets go to try and appear like she is fine. “Andy dear it would appear that they can’t let you go yet, you still have a mild concussion and they want to keep you here another day.”

For a moment Andy just stares at Lou but then gives a huff of defeat and gets back into bead.  

“You suck.”

-

December 17^th- 1952

They had finally said that she was well enough to leave, so Andy was leaving with on two day old clothes that were stained with god knows what and her own blood.  To say that Andy was upset would be slightly under adequate.  

As Andy was tying her shoes, Lou and a nurse with a wheel chair came in.

“All right lets bust out of this joint!”

“Oh thank god!”

Lou just laughed at Andy’s joy.  She could understand why she was so happy. Hospitals had not been the best of friends to her.

 Once finished with her shoes, Andy sat down in the uncomfortable chair. They made their way out and down the hall to the elevators.

“Hey, how is little Andy doing?”

“Last I heard he was happy, healthy, and already charming every nurse in the ward.”

Andy was thrilled! To have brought a small person into this world was something she would never forget, the head wound excluded. 

They step or in Andy’s case roll on to the elevators then Lou pressed a button and the elevator starts to move. They don’t say anything to each other, there really is no need.

The elevator stops and Andy thinks it’s time to roll off but when she looks up she sees a woman being rolled on to the lift with them.  She looked to be holding a baby in her arms.

The woman had they deepest red hair that flowed down to her shoulders and tied back with a hair tie and the bass of her head.  She had a pale completion and she couldn’t make out her face for she was looking down at the little life wrapped in a pink blanket in her arms.

Andy was curious and strangely pulled, had to ask.

“Hi, what’s your little girls’ name?”

The woman looked up and Andy was pinned with a pair of the bluest eyes she had ever only seen once in her life.

“I don’t know yet I was hoping it would come to me and I have been asking my husband for some suggestions but Mr. Priestly here.”

And she nods her head back at the man pushing her chair

“He does not seem to have any.”

Andy was floored, after nearly a week and here she is sharing an elevator with Miranda’s parents.

It was so surreal, never in all the world’s history had anything like this ever happened and here she was living it.

She snapped out of her mystified funk when the girl in Mrs. Priestly arms started to whine. Her mother tried to sooth her but it seemed even at an early age Miranda never raised her voice.

“Can I try” the question came out of nowhere. 

The woman looked up and saw a look of wonder and for almost a moment saw a spark of something on this strangers face that for some reason set her at ease to let her hold her daughter. So with a nod she carefully handed over her fussing girl to Andy.

Then, once little Miranda was settled in Andy’s arms she stopped fussing and blinked up at this new person holding her.

When their eyes found each other’s they studied the other. It was then that Andy fell even more in love with this soon to be marvel of the fashion world.

“Miranda” the name just slipped out.

Here she was holding her infant love in her arms, with a dusting of red hair and freckles and the softest skin, with the same blue eyes that would one day be the bane of every heel wearing clacker in all of New York.

“What?”

Andy’s head shot up, realizing she was overheard and blushes.

“Miranda, I am sorry it’s not my place but, I don’t know it fits her somehow I guess” and hands the baby back.

Little Miranda’s parents look at each other then the baby, nod and turn and smile at her.

“You know you’re right, it dose suit her somehow.  Thank you”

The elevator dings signaling they had reached the ground floor and both Miranda and her parents get off closely followed by Andy and Lou.

Andy’s eyes never strayed from the family; it was yet another moment that she would never forget.

“LOU..!” Andy hissed when the chair came to a stop and she lost sight of them.

“Sorry Andy but I have to sign you out.”

“But…”

“Yes Andy I know… This is why you’re here, and now that it’s done I can take you forward now.”

Then the room starts to fade out as Lou starts to push her towards the door.

That Time Around

Chapter 1

December 2, 2008

New York winters were always beautiful at the very beginnings of snowfall, before anyone can step on it, drives through it or shovel it aside. It was one of these rare moments, that Andy could be found walking around Central Park snapping shots of the landscape around her.

Yes, she had majored in journalism but had also minored in photography. She had hoped to be a journalist one day and had nearly been, but it had slipped away. So she turned to the next skill she had and became a photographer, an artist of sorts.

She had applied for the New York Mirror job but had come too late and the job had been filled, fortunately, they had needed a photographer. Two years later a company recognized her talent and had asked her if she would like to sell her work.  It had been a leap of faith but had said yes and hadn’t looked back yet, a year later.

Hefting the old Voigtlander camera that she had inherited from her grandfather when she had shown an interest in pictures when she was young, she turned to snap a shot of a pair of girls ice-skating. When she had them in focus, she snapped four or five shots before they moved away.

It was funny, that after nearly a year of working for Runway and holding out for her dream job, that she now made a living as a classic black and white photo artist. She had one small show so far and had nearly sold all of her collection.

Wanting to get more of the skaters she walked up to the wall lining the rink and focused on them again.  She took about six more before one of them turned to face her.

She nearly dropped her camera and if it hadn’t been hanging on a strap around her neck she would have.  Of all the people she could have been taking a picture of they had to be the Priestly twins.

‘Dear god, how they have grown?’ was the only thought that could fleet across her brain before they zipped over to her.

“Hey! I remember you! You use to work for my mom and hung out with us some times right?” it was Caroline and damn, three years later she could still tell them apart.

“Hello Caroline, nice to see you again and yes I use to work for your mother and yes I did, they were some of my better days hanging with you two.” the girl looked amazed that she could tell them apart after so long.

But then a sudden fear spiked her gut. Was Miranda here?

Quickly scanning the surrounding area she could not find the iconic hairstyle that was Miranda.

Seeing Andy’s panic, Cassidy spoke up.

“She’s not here, we wanted her to take us but she was called away for some meeting or other, so we are here with our nanny.”

Sagging in relief, Andy started to breathe a little easier. It would not be good if Miranda caught her photographing her girls and thinking her a member of the press.  She shuddered at the thought.

“So, what are you doing here?” that was Cassidy.

“I am taking pictures of the snow for a season’s collection that I am putting together.”

“Why? I thought you wanted to be a journalist? Mom told us once that that was your dream right.”

Sighing Andy waved the two over to some benches lining the wall and they all sat down.

“Well I tried to be, but I could not find work because,” but Caroline cut her off.

“It was because you left mom during Paris wasn’t it. She black listed you didn’t she?”

Sighing again, ignoring the interruption, she finished her thought.

“Because they had already been filled, but one paper needed a photographer and I had minored in it, so they hired me and then,” Cassidy this time.

“But why are you here?” impatient things.

“If you would allow me to finish my story I’ll tell you” when she got a pair of nods, she continued.

“Then a company found my work, liked it and had offered me a contract to sign with them and sell my work under their name and get three fourths of the profits of every picture I sell.” She stopped to buy three hot chocolates from a passing vender.  After taking a sip she started again.

“So now I am here to photograph the winter wonderland around us and put together a collection for my upcoming gallery opening.”

The girls sat silently for a few seconds thinking she was going to tell them why she was taking pictures of them, when she didn’t they asked.

“So why were you taking photos of us?”

Andy smiled.

“Because, winter and ice skating go together and you two were there and I did not know it was you till I got closer and you turned my way.”

After another set of nods, they sat and drank the rest of their now, lukewarm, hot chocolate and rested till the girls in unison stood up and said.

“Would you like to take more pictures of us, we don’t have to leave just yet and it would be cool if you could send us some copies.”

She laughed brightly and agreed, and they spent the rest of the time the girls had left doing tricks and taking photos. Andy got the girls to slow down for one more shot before they heard the nanny call out to them, that it was time to go and that dinner would be ready soon. With sad sighs the girls turned to leave but turned back and shout.

“Bye, Andy, and thanks for hanging out with us!”

“See you and we’re looking forward to seeing how our pictures turn out!”

They left the rink and her sight quickly after that.

How odd, that she would run into them. She was glad she did, just surprised was all. But after four years of crushing on Miranda, she had finally started to banish her from her thoughts. And now those thoughts had risen again to flood her head with all things Miranda. It was madding!

A harsh wind cuffed her ears and quid her into the drop in temperature, she was home bound.  She was too sad and too many people had mucked up the snow. So she packed up her camera and walked out of the park and headed home.

December 9^th, 2008

A week later and still all she could think about was Miranda. She had managed to develop the pictures of the girls and they were ready to be sent out. She left her dark room, washed her hands in the sink and got sandwich fixings from the fridge.

Another great thing about the work she did was making way more money than she ever would in journalism. And because of that she had gotten a better apartment.  And that allowed her to build an at home dark room.  It also had two bedrooms so that when her parents came to visit they didn’t have to sleep on the sleeper sofa.

Piling on a few thin slices of honeyed ham on bread then spreading honey mustard on one side and mayo on the other she thought about the last time she saw Miranda.

She had just gotten the job as a photographer for the New York Mirror, feeling a little sad the she could not be a journalist but still happy about getting the next best thing. Without realizing it she had found herself across the street to the Elias-Clark building and stopping to admire the structure a thought accrued to her. Pulling out her phone and dialing.

After waiting only a few seconds the other line picked up.

“Hello” well it was better than nothing.

“Hey Emily, it’s me, DON”T HANG UP” she had a feeling that she was about to.

“What”

“I was wondering if you could do me a favor”

“Do you a favor, what could I possibly do for you?”

“Well I have all these clothes from Paris and I don’t have any place to wear them and so I was thinking that you could take them off my hands for me?”

Silence was the only answer she got.

“Emily?”

“Well, yes I’ll have Roy pick them up later this afternoon, I’ll have to have them taken in or they’ll drown me but yes”

“Thanks Em and good luck” more silence and then the dial tone.

She smiled and put her phone away and glanced back up to noticed Miranda leaving. She was on her phone and sniping at whoever was on the other side most likely. She watched as the car pulled up and Miranda started to get in when she had looked up at her. For only a second her heart stuttered, and then she smiled and gave a little wave. Then Miranda was gone and driving away.

She had stood there and watched as the car was lost in the crowed and felt her smile fade and her heart sink. Thinking that would be the last time she would ever see Miranda again.

Shaking her thoughts from the past, Andy finished her lunch and went back to work.

Back in the dark room she picked out two of the best shots that she had of the girls and a few that she thought that Miranda would like from her other shots. She put them into three different envelops and addressed them to each of the Priestly women, in the girls she put notes with her name and address and new phone number saying that if they ever wanted to hang out or just wanted to talk they could come over or call.

She didn’t put a return address, just signed it as A. and summand a messenger. She told him to go straight to the house, no detours and gave him $200 to make sure.

Sure that they would be safely delivered Andy thought of the girls. She had grown to love the girls and their fire like attitudes when she worked for Runway. They had gotten to the point that, when they were home alone they would hang out and talk. Miranda had never known but had commented one day that the girls seemed much happier as of late and it had made Andy smile knowing that she was the cause of that.

She wanted to at least be friends with the girls again, mostly because they had some of the best ideas. One time they had taken Andy’s car out for pizza and had taped the empty box to the top of the car and had driven it all over town. They had so many people honk and point to the roof trying to tell them that they had left the box up there.

When they could hardly breathe from laughing too hard they had finally pulled over and taken the box down.  They had spent a lot of time together and learned so much about each other that it had nearly killed her to tell them that she could no longer see them because she quit her job. The girls had cried and told her they would miss her. She told them the same and hadn’t seen them since till last week.

She had finished cleaning up the dark room and was just about to sit down and look over her plans for the gallery when the phone rang. She looked at the clock and saw that it was nearly 12:00.

She picked up on the second ring. “Hello?”

The other line was quiet and Andy was about to hang up thinking it was a prank caller when she heard the voice that had been haunting her dreams.

“Hello Andrea, I do hope you are doing well.” She could feel the ice through the headset but two can play at that game and three years was more than enough to build a shield around her heart.

“Hello to you as well Miranda, I am fine, just finishing a project, and how are you?”

If it was possible Miranda’s voice got softer but warmer, like she was speaking to an old friend close to her heart.

“Not well, but it has slightly brightened when I got home and found my girls pouring over some rather beautiful photos and surprised that I had a set waiting for me as well. And imagine that my set were just as lovely if not more beautiful than the girls. Please could you tell me why these were sent to us? I would like to thank them for their thoughtful gifts.”

Andy was in shock, she did not think to remember that Miranda would know her handwriting and find her. And the warmth in her voice had melted any thought from her head and nearly collapsed her knees.

“Andrea?”

Jumping back into the real world she answered.

“I had run into the girls at the park last week and we talked and they wanted me to take their picture and send them some copies.  At first I did not know it was them till I got closer, and before you ask, no I am not a member of the press hoping to blackmail you for something. All I wanted was to give them want they wanted, yours were just because.”

“Well then I must find some way to repay you for your kind gifts. So I will take you out to dinner and then we will call it even.”

There was no way that Andy could ignore her heart and said yes.

“Wonderful, I will see you this Saturday at four then, goodbye” and she hung up.

She panicked for a moment, thinking that she had no idea were to meet her then remembered that it was Miranda. God she so hated and loved that woman. It was going to be hell trying to find something to wear.

Later that night her cell rang and Andy jumped to answer it and was overjoyed to hear Cassidy’s voice on the other line.

“Hey there Andy, we got your pictures and we love them! Plus we over heard mom saying something about taking you out to dinner as a payback and thought you would like to know that she was making a reservation for this Saturday at ‘The Timeless’ restaurant.”

That just lifted a huge weight off her shoulders.

“Thank you so much, that helps me out so much” she could see their prideful smiles even over the phone.

“Glad we could help and thanks for the offer of letting us hang out with you again. We really have missed you.”

The sadness she heard nearly broke her heart but the joy that filled it wouldn’t let it because she could hang out with her girls again, sorry, the twins again.

“I have missed you two as well and hope we can hang out again soon” there was a muffled sound and Caroline saying that they had to go to bed now and then both girls said goodnight and hung up.

Smiling she put the phone back in its holder and got ready for bed. She had a feeling that her life was about to be turned upside-down and was looking forward to it.

She snuggled into her soft sheets and bed reached over and shut off the bedside lamp and fell asleep soon after that dreaming about Miranda.