26First Encounters
Andy had been running what Emily had said over and over in her head as Roy drove her to Miranda's townhouse. Be Invisible. Don't talk to anyone. Don't look at anyone. Open the door. Walk across the foyer. Hang the dry cleaning in the closet across from the staircase. Leave the book on the table with the flowers. Be invisible.
She wanted to impress Miranda so badly. It was like a compulsion inside her. It was something that was there from the moment Miranda had entered the office, not for what Miranda could do for her career, (which granted could be a lot, though Andy would never use her) or who she was to the world, (because Andy had genuinely not know) but because of the way she carried herself and the look she'd had in her eye ever since Nigel had given Andy her makeover, as if she were seeing her for the first time and wanted to devour her. Andy wanted that look, wanted Miranda's eyes on her. Whenever she took her long, leisurely perusals of Andy's outfits (because she couldn't possibly be looking at her body...right?) Andy felt tingles down her spine. She just wanted to impress Miranda to prove that she was good at her job, not because Andy couldn't stop thinking of her, and had had some suspect dreams of piercing blue eyes that woke her hot and bothered next to her boyfriend who had become too clingy, and sweaty, and who's beard itched too much when he kissed her. The swirling in her belly when Christian had called her Miranda Girl was anger, not a warmer feeling for belonging to Miranda. Not that for sure.
Repeating her mantra, Andy climbed up the stairs and opened the door as silently as she could. Step one complete. Slowly she crept across the foyer, being careful to not let her heels clack too loudly on the floor. She stopped when she noticed not one but two doors across from the stairs, and every table had a flower on it. She looked around a little frantically. "Shit!" She squeaked. Damn Emily and her damn vague instructions!
"It's the door on the left." A little voice whispered from the sairs. Andy turned around and saw two little red heads peeking at her through the banister. So much for being invisible. She thought as she turned and quickly put the clothes in their proper place.
As the six-year-olds crept closer on the stairs one of them sniffed. She saw that the matching blue eyes that were so much like Mirandas' were red, and they had salty tracks running down their faces. Instantly all thoughts of Emily's instructions, and her previous panic flew from her head. She gently put the book down on the closest floral table and knelt with no thought for the couture she wore as the girls reached the landing hand-in-hand so she was at their level. "Are you Mommy's assistant?" The twin on the left asked.
"Yeah I am. My name's Andy. What's yours?" Clearly something was wrong and she had to tread gently.
The more outgoing of the twins looked at her a little suspiciously in a way very reminiscent of her mother, not yet sure she could trust this new adult, before giving a curt nod (point one for Andy), "I'm Caroline, and this is Cassidy."
"It's really nice to meet you." Andy said sincerely. "Are you two okay?"
This time Cassidy said so softly Andy had to lean forward to hear, "Mommy and Stephen are yelling. Can you make them stop?" Her eyes welled up again and Andy reached for her hand, her heart breaking for them. She knew a thing or two about a troubled home life and wanted desperately to wrap these children in her arms and make everything better for them, but didn't know what sort of boundaries they might have. Cassidy clasped her hand back tightly as if she were a lifeline in a stormy sea. In that moment a surge of protectiveness swelled through Andy and she knew she would do anything to make things better for these sweet girls.
"Oh sweetheart. I'll do my best I promise." At that Cassidy threw herself into Andy's arms with Caroline not too far behind, nearly knocking Andy over. Andy held them close as she wracked her brain for a solution. Her eyes fell on the book she'd left on the table. It was worth a shot...
Andy shakily descended the stairs to return to where the girls were waiting. She sat on the step between them and pulled them close. The look Miranda had given her was truly frightening and spelled her certain demise, but what had filled her with anger was what she heard Stephen saying and the look of hurt Miranda's fury had tried to mask. He didn't understand at all. Didn't he realize how hard she worked, or how carefully her schedule was arranged to get her home on time but inevitably some imbecile would screw something up and she'd have to stay late and fix whatever mess they had made. His words echoed the ones thrown at Andy when she'd get home late. Andy hated her pleading tone. The Ice Queen should never have to grovel. Especially not to Stephen who's whining phone calls Andy intercepted at least once a week, demanding something Miranda couldn't possibly be able to do, like go golfing with his buddies like their wifes did on a random Thursday afternoon. Didn't he know how furious Miranda had been when she couldn't make it back for that dinner or to see the girls on their last night before going to Grandma's? Obviously not.
"It's okay now girls, Stephen's gone to bed, and it's much too late for you two to be up and about still."
Caroline yawned "Okay Andy."
Sleepily the girls extricated themselves from Andy's arms, but Cassidy held onto her hand. "Will you tuck us in Andy?" She asked shyly. Andy hesitated a moment before looking at their pleading eyes and nodding with a sigh and a little smile. Miranda could really only kill her once (she hoped) and since she was already going to die she might as well.
Quietly the trio made their way to the girl's bedrooms on the fourth floor, and Andy made sure they were all warm and cozy and kissed them each on the top of their heads before turning off the lights and making her way back downstairs and into the cold night, half expecting Miranda to open every door and jump out of ever shadow to eat her alive. She braced herself for her own welcoming committee, and prayed Nate would be understanding enough to let her get to sleep before she had to wake up to pay her penance.
Andy arrived at the townhouse at 2:15, bound Harry Potter manuscripts in hand. She gave each girl their copy and, much to her surprise, they thanked her profusely and gave her a big hug each. She'd gotten the impression from Emily that the Priestly twins were spoiled-rotten devil spawn, but Andy was discovering that she might have to take what Emily said with a grain of salt and make her opinions for herself. To her, the girls were just sweet six-year-olds with a troubled home life.
Andy even managed to give the book with the correct name to the correct girl, remembering Cassidy had just slightly more petit features, and Caroline was the more outgoing one from their late night encounter. She spoke with Cara, their nanny, while they went up to get their bags.
"I'm surprised they're so open with you Andy, usually it takes them a while before they're comfortable with new people. Even with Stephen they were terrors for a good long while, and they still don't seem to like him as much as they like you."
Andy ducked her head, smiling "I like them too. They're sweet girls."
Cara smiled back at her. "I know, just not very many people realize it."
Andy returned to Runway, impossible task completed, Miranda's coffee in one hand, last two manuscripts tucked under her arm, (she wanted to know what happened to Harry and the gang next as well) and most importantly, victorious smile shining from her face. She didn't regret climbing those stairs for one moment.