Chapter Text
On Saturday morning, Miranda and her daughters were watching TV. Well, the twins were, their mother was reading the Book.
“Mom?” Cassidy asked.
“Yes, Bobbsey?”
“Will we go ice skating this year?”
“I’ll ask Cara if she’ll be available to take you this week, before the 25th.”
“No, mom! We want you to come with us.”
“Duh!”
“Girls, you know I can’t do that. I will take you there and take pictures of you, but that’s all.”
“Why? You are the best ice skater ever!” Caroline complained.
“Yeah, you literally got trophies from when you were young!” Cassidy added.
“Are you calling me old?” their mother raised an eyebrow, trying to suppress a smile.
“No, no, I meant younger.” Cassidy smiled. We can’t afford making her upset or else she won’t come with us.
“I don’t want any paparazzi harassing my family. If I skate with you, they won’t leave us alone, and I want you to enjoy Christmas like normal children.” she shrugged.
“Are you saying we’re abnormal?” Caroline mimicked her mother’s tone, making her roll her eyes.
“I will take you ice skating, but I won’t join you on the rink. That’s my final decision.”
“Okay…” they said in unison. They were a bit disappointed, but at least she would be coming with them, unlike the two previous years. They were tired of having to depend on Cara to go places and wanted to spend more time with their mother.
“We’re gonna walk Patricia now. Will you join us?” Cassidy asked.
“We are going to,” Miranda corrected, “and yes, I don’t see why not. Don’t forget your gloves, girls.”
“Yass!” they run upstairs to get changed.
“Girls, no running in the house! I’m gonna have to start treating you like dogs if you behave like one!”
“Going to, mom!” Caroline corrected her from the stairs.
Check mate. They really were her daughters.
The three Priestly women were ready to walk the dog, and truth be told, to appear in the cover of a magazine, dressed very fashionable. The twins were wearing cute beanies: Caroline in Pink and Cassidy in blue. They wanted to convince their mother to get a beanie as well, but of course the woman refused to.
The weather was chilly, but fortunately, it was sunny enough. They saw children having snowball fights, and at some point, Patricia started running toward one of her furry friends.
“So cute!” Cassidy took a pic of Patricia and her friend, Blair, a Shetland sheepdog.
Miranda rarely had time to walk her dog, it was usually Cara who took her girls everywhere. I should start spending more time with my girls, Cara seems to be doing everything with them and they’re already growing up so fast…
Blair walked back to where her owner was.
“Come on, go get it, girl!” the stranger threw a ball so that her dog fetched it.
Except she was no stranger at all. She was wearing a red coat and a matching beanie, and her golden locks made her look like a winter Barbie. She may not be wearing her glasses, but Miranda recognized her easily. The Clark Kent effect did not work in real life, or at least she was immune.
“Hey, where’s Stacie?” Caroline asked.
“She’s always the one walking Blair, so I decided to do it myself today, since I have free time.” the woman smiled.
“And what’s your name?”
But before the woman could reply, Miranda did, “Serena.”
“Miranda? Are these yours?” she asked, surprised to see her Boss in the wild.
“Yes, I made these.” she said in a serious tone.
The twins looked at both women like there was a tennis game going on. They could sense some tension in the air but did not know why.
“They’re pretty. I love your beanies and the fact you don’t dress exactly the same, like other twins do. That has always given me the creeps.”
“We are independent entities.” Caroline declared with a smug smile.
“Yeah, I wouldn’t want to be mistaken by my sister.” Cassidy added.
“Hey, what’s that supposed to mean?!”
“Nothing! Why are you getting so defensive all of a sudden?”
Before they could keep arguing, someone else appeared behind Serena.
“Last time I saw you two, you were very well-behaved, and it’s this time of the year when you should be nicer than usual, for your own good.” she winked at them.
“Andy! What are you doing here?” Cassidy asked.
“I came along with Serena to walk Blair. I was gonna clean the house, but… I guess I’m just too lazy in the morning.”
She and Serena came together to this park? Now Miranda had no doubt these two were dating. She felt her pulse racing. Control yourself, you are old enough to not feel like a stupid teenager who has a crush on a silly girl.
“I convinced her to come with me. I get bored easily when I’m alone. Stacie doesn’t mind spending thirty minutes or more with Blair. Not that Andy has been good company anyway, she is not only lazy to clean her place; she decided to sit in that bench over there all the time we’ve been here,” she pointed out a bench behind them, “to read a magazine.”
“Hey! At least I came all the way here! Next time, you’ll go alone, how about that?”
“I hope you weren’t reading Vogue.” Miranda decided to stop being a mere onlooker.
“Miranda! Hi!” the girl had not seen her Boss there and had assumed Cara had took Caroline and Cassidy to this park, “No, of course not! I don’t want to get my…,” she stopped before she could say ‘ass’, “…myself fired.”
“Good.” Miranda nodded briefly.
“It’s time for us to go. Nice seeing you, Miranda and… Miranda’s children.”
“Bye, Andy’s friend.” Caroline said using a different tone when saying the last word, for some reason.
“Interesting…” Cassidy mumbled while looking at her phone.
“What?”
“I’ll tell you when we’re back home. I think I’m on to something.” Cassidy said mysteriously.
--------------------------- ✮ ---------------------------
“So? Have you been talking to someone new on the app?” Serena asked Andy on their way back to the blonde’s place.
“I’ve been blocking people.”
“What happened?”
“I didn’t know people could be so damn annoying. There were two straight couples looking for a third.” Andy rolled her eyes, “I just don’t understand why women agree to do that! It’s never a man they’re looking for: it’s always a woman in order to fulfill her disgusting boyfriend’s fantasies. Yikes, girl, yikes!”
“Oh, yeah, that kind of propositions are, unfortunately, quite common there, I forgot to tell you about it. Good thing there’s a block button.”
“Also, another woman messaged me.”
“Oh?”
“She was from a different State and I told her I just wanted to meet women in my area, as I had stated on my bio. And then she went and sent a picture of herself hugging someone who was cosplaying as a character from Five Nights at Freddy’s. So creepy! Then she asked me ‘do you like what you see?’”
“So she decided to ignore what you said.”
“Yes! And she was not my type at all, that much I can tell you. At first I thought she was a man, and you know I like women who look femme, like M… many others out there.” That was close!
“Like Miranda, you mean.” her friend gave her a knowing look.
“What? Why would you say such a ridicu…!” the assistant was saying in a high-pitched tone, but Serena interrupted her.
“No, no, that’s not gonna work on me, querida. Don’t you think I’ve noticed? You may want to fool yourself, but I’ve seen the way you look at her.”
“I have to look at her because she is bossing me around all day! That’s all!”
“And now you’re sounding just like her.”
“I am not! Ugh!”
“Whatever you say…”
--------------------------- ✮ ---------------------------
Miranda could not go back to reading the Book. Her eyes had read the same lines over and over again, but she was not paying attention. How dare she take Andrea to the park? How dare she use her dog to lure her in? If Andrea likes dogs so much, she may as well walk Patricia with Caroline and Cassidy and me…
And of course, Serena was wearing a beanie, like my Bobbseys! I never wear one no matter how many times my girls tell me to. First, she stole Andrea from me, and now she’ll try to replace me as my Bobbsey’s mother! Miranda closed the Book and left it next to her, on the couch. Then, she took off her glasses and chuckled at these ridiculous thoughts that had invaded her mind all of a sudden. How absurd! Where do all these silly ideas come from? I am losing my damn mind.
However, she was not the only one thinking of Andrea and Serena. Her daughters, who were in their room, closed the door, making sure their mother could not hear them.
“So? What were you looking at before that you found interesting?” Caroline asked.
“You tell me.” she showed her sister a picture she had taken while the women were speaking.
“Mom seems more upset than usual.”
“Uh-huh. And who is she looking at?”
“The blondie. I took this one when she said she had convinced Andy to come with her.”
“And here?” she scrolled to the next picture.
“She seems surprised but in a good way. Who was she looking at? Andy?”
“Yes. No further questions, your Honor.”
“Okay, I thought I was imagining things.”
“Why?”
“Just the way mom said that woman’s name and how she was standing. When she talked to Andy, she even made a joke about Vogue.”
“Right. The ‘V’ word that shall not be mentioned in her presence.”
“I just think it’s not fair that Barbie got Andy and not us.”
“You mean not mom?”
“That too. Imagine how good things would be if she made plans with the three of us. I don’t want to keep going out with Cara, I’m a grown-up girl, for goodness’ sake!”
“Same.”
A week had passed by. Andy had finally found someone on that app who seemed normal. She was seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.
“So you’re fine with that? You don’t have to if you don’t want to.”
“Andy, you know it’s no problem at all. Let’s meet there at 7pm and then we’ll go in, together.”
“Thank you so much, I owe you a big one.”
“Don’t even mention it.”
Emily was eavesdropping, but the two women had been mumbling during their short conversation. She was only getting random snippets, but just enough to know they were serious and that she would get an aneurysm just imagining them acting all lovey-dovey. She typed furiously on her keyboard, rearranging a meeting Miranda had decided to change one hour before it took place. I curse the day I let Andrea bloody Sachs walk through these sacred corridors! Damn you! Oh, I look so cute with my new haircut, oh, I’m so much better than you, wearing the Chanel boots…
“Did you say something?” Serena asked her friend. The Brit did not know she was actually making mocking faces and mumbling instead of keeping her thoughts to herself.
“No? I’m just typing. I’m very busy as you can see.” she did not bother looking up.
“Hey, if you find a spot in your busy schedule, you know where to find me.” and with that, she left.
It was very hard for Emily to try to cut her best friend off of her life (only friend, really, a friend she had a huge crush on, not that she would ever tell her) but she had to be strong, or she could end up feeling hurt (more so, if it was even possible).
“Good morning, Six.”
“Morning, Nigel. How can I help you?”
“Very funny. So, I was thinking, how about you and I go get drinks after work? I really need it.”
“Oh, I would love to, but today’s impossible.”
“You already got plans?” he asked with a strange look on his face.
“Is that so hard to believe?”
“Normally you stay home watching The Office. You told me yourself.”
“Well, this loser has a date.” she pointed at herself with her thumbs, smiling.
“Really?” This is so exciting! I can’t wait for Miranda to know. If only she wasn’t so stubborn, she would have already asked Six out, but nooo, the Dragon Lady can’t risk anything going wrong or people will talk. Oh, please!
“Are you going to a fancy place? Do you need any help with your outfit? Because I’ve just seen something in The Closet you’d look very cute in.”
“No, it’s just coffee. We’re just getting to know each other. We’ve texted for a few days, but… I think it’s time to finally meet someone instead of talking through a screen, you know. She’s the first woman I’ve talked to on that app who actually lives in New York.”
So it’s not Serena she’s dating! This has to be one of the very few times Miranda has been wrong about something. This is going to be fun. “Well, let me know how it goes. Good luck, my friend.” he smiled before going inside his Boss’ office and then he closed the door behind him.
“Just the man I wanted to see. Nigel, Patrick called and… why are you smiling?”
“Oh, Miranda, I don’t know how to tell you this…” he walked in and adjusted his glasses dramatically.
“What is it? Tell me, now.”
“It turns out you were right all along.”
“Of course, I always am. About what?”
“Andy, of course.”
“What about her?”
“She has a date. Today.”
Miranda did not batter an eyelid. She did not say a word.
“So? Are you going to do something?”
“My employees are free to do whatever they wish in their free time. I’m not the Boss of their leisure time. Whatever happens outside of these offices is none of my business.”
She’s stubborn as a mule! “Right. Well, in that case, I’ll go back to my duties.”
“Yes, you should.” she did not look at him. Instead, she stood still next to her window, lost in thought. Do something about it, how absurd!
Later that day, Nigel joined Andy and Serena at lunch.
“So, are you excited about your date, Six?” he wiggled his eyebrows at the brunette. Serena gave him a strange look.
“Yeah, Serena, I told him. He’s a good friend and even offered to help me with my outfit.” she explained, and the blonde nodded, “Truth be told, I’m quite nervous. What if it’s a catfish?”
“You don’t have to worry, that’s why I’m coming with you for support. I’ll just sit at a different table and if something goes south, we’ll leave together.” Serena said, placing her hand on Andy’s to show support.
“I don’t know what I’d do without you, guys.”
“Aww, what a sensitive little bitch! I hope your girl likes that.” the man joked, making Andy roll her eyes, but smiled about that silly comment.
“She will. Andy is very charming. You’ll be fine.”
“You put too much faith in me, woman.”
“If this isn’t the woman you’re looking for, it’ll be the next one. There’s nothing to be worried about.”
“I guess.”
“Which time are you meeting her at? I’d avoid meeting her at night, she could be a vampire. We’re all used to Miranda sucking the life out of us, but that’s a whole other level.”
“Ha, ha… we’re meeting at a Starbucks at 7pm, the one I always get Miranda’s coffee from. That way, at least I’ll be in a familiar environment and I’ll feel less nervous.”
“Smart.” Nigel smiled. Perfect.
A few hours later, Miranda saw her employees leaving the office. It was Friday, so naturally everybody had plans. Everybody but her. Before she could start overthinking about her lack of social life, she received a message:
Nigel: This may be none of your business, but if, hypothetically speaking, you wanted to do something about it, just know Andy is having her date at the nearest Starbucks at 7pm. Oh, I almost forgot! She isn’t dating Serena, you got that wrong xD She’s meeting a girl from a dating app. Do what you will with this information. You did not hear it from me.
Miranda reread the text three times. How could it be possible? I’ve seen Andrea and Serena hanging out a lot lately and without Emily! Not that that matters to me, anyway. What is he implying? That I should just appear there and say: Andrea, don’t date that girl, she’s unworthy of you: ‘pick me, choose me, love me!?' My name is Miranda Priestly, not Miranda Grey, for Goodness’ sake!
Before she could text her friend back, he sent her a new message:
Nigel: I’m serious, Miranda. I know you won’t admit it, but you know I know. This is the universe giving you a chance to do what’s right for you: will you for once in your life follow your heart? Yikes, I didn’t mean to sound so corny. Anyway, I promise I won’t keep bothering you with this… topic. Your move.
Miranda looked at her phone, then left it on her desk upside down. It would be so inappropriate of me to do anything about this. It’s her life, her decision, who am I to try to stop this madness? If she wants to date a stupid girl, so be it. She sighed, and then grabbed her phone again to finally send a reply:
Miranda: That has to be the dumbest idea you’ve ever come up with.
Nigel: Not dumber than suggesting florals for spring though :)
Miranda: Fair enough. I think I will go, to just make sure Andrea is alright. I don’t trust any strangers with my employees.
Nigel: Sure, ‘your employees’. Just so you know, Serena is going to be there for the same reason. You don’t need to pretend to be her knight in shining armor ;P
Miranda: Stop saying silly things. When it comes to Andrea’s safety, two people are better than one.
Nigel *voice note* And I… will always love youuuuu
Miranda: Send me one more of those voice notes and you’re fired. The truth is she had smiled at hearing that silly audio, not that she would ever tell her friend.
Nigel: It was worth it. Now, get ready and go save your girl from that stranger’s hands.
Miranda: I’ll have to use Cindy’s help. Drastic times call for drastic measures.
Nigel: No way! Now I wish I could go too. But Andy would recognize us, it’s too risky.
Miranda: It is. I’ll call you tonight.
Nigel: Good luck, my friend.
--------------------------- ✮ ---------------------------
Okay. You can do this. Andy was fidgeting in the street, but luckily, her friend was there to give her the push she needed.
“Damn it!” she did not literally need to be pushed, but Serena decided that was better than seeing her friend standing there, not opening the damn door. Andy turned around and saw her smiling, as if she had not just done that to her.
Let’s see, she said she’d be wearing a green sweater… After looking around discreetly, she saw a girl who looked very similar to the picture in her profile. Thank God. It’s not a catfish. The girl waved at her, smiling.
“Hi, Destiny!” Andy took her coat off and placed it in the back of her seat, and placed her bag on her legs.
“I’ve ordered us a gingerbread latte. I hope you don’t mind.”
I would’ve preferred to choose my own coffee, but well, I guess it’s her treat, so I’m not gonna be an ungrateful bitch. “It’s fine.” At least it’s not black coffee.
“How was your day? Stressful as always or is your Boss chill now that it’s Christmas time?”
“I would never refer to her as chill regardless of the time of the year, now that would be a Christmas miracle!” they laughed.
While the women were talking about their day, Serena had taken a seat, not very close to them. She was not there to eavesdrop on Andy’s first date. She decided it was a good moment to text her friend, who had been avoiding her for some reason:
Serena: So, got any plans for Christmas? :)
It took her friend two minutes to reply back:
Emily: Yes.
Serena: Oh. It’s just, I miss you. I don’t know if it’s just me or if you’ve been busier than usual, but I’m under the impression you don’t want to hang out with me anymore.
Emily: Why do you even care? Now you have your girlfriend to hang out with.
Serena: Again with the girlfriend? I told you, Em, I don’t have one! Where did you get this idea from?
Emily: Do you think I’m stupid? You and Andrea have been a thing for at least two weeks, if not more.
Serena: YOU THINK I’M DATING ANDY?? Emily, don’t get upset, but you’re being silly. I’m only her friend.
Emily: Sure, friends who hold hands at lunch time
Serena: What?
Emily: I saw you two and Nigel. You were placing your hand over that snake’s. It looked like you were saying your wedding vows and Nigel was the priest.
Serena: Don’t talk about her that way, she’s not a snake and you’re better than this. I’m just helping her with her dating life.
Emily: What do you mean?
Serena: She’s using a dating app and this is new for her, so I’ve been supporting her. In fact, I’m now having a coffee at the place she’s meeting the girl she’s been texting all this time. If everything goes well, I can leave and if you want, we can have dinner. Unless you’re still upset for helping out a friend :P
Emily: Do you promise this isn’t an elaborate lie?
Serena: I have no reason to lie to you. Also, I know if I ever did something to you, you’d probably get rid of me and would make it look like an accident. You’re kinda scary sometimes.
Emily: stop being a twat and just tell me where we are having dinner at.
The blonde smiled. Finally! Emily could be so hot-tempered and often saw what she wanted to see. But she loved her anyway. She decided she would tell her how she felt about her tonight.
These women were unaware that there was another woman they knew at a different table not far away from Andy’s. That woman, with beautiful, long, curly, blonde hair, made sure to be sit in a way that would not be facing Andrea so that she could not get caught. She purposely chose a table that would not be very close to the assistant and her date, but just enough to hear their conversation. She was very proud of herself.
After about ten minutes of having a nice conversation about their week, though, things changed.
“You may think this is weird, but I’m going to need you to do something for me.” Destiny said.
“Okay?” Andy raised her eyebrow.
“I need you to tell me what’s your sign.”
“I’m sorry, what?” Is this a joke?
“Your zodiac sign! Everybody knows theirs.”
“Are you into astrology?”
“Astrology is very important, it’s key for developing human relationships, it gives meaning to life.”
“You gotta be kidding.”
“Do I look like I’m kidding?” the girl suddenly got all defensive, crossing her arms.
Oh, my God. I got a date with a girl who’s bananas. This girl is bananas, B-A-N-A-N-A-S. Ok, focus. Please, please, hate my sign so I can get rid of you…
“I’m a Gemini.”
“Oh, no. No, no, no. This can’t be happening again…” her hands were covering her face, like she had just heard someone has died or something equally dramatic, “…but if you let me take a look at your birth chart, maybe it won’t be that bad, maybe your ascendant and moon sign can save this relationship.”
“My what? What do you smoke? Look, if you’re gonna get weird for such a random thing…”
“Typical Gemini! You guys are the worst, I’m not gonna let a two-faced bitch criticize me for caring about what’s important in this life, I’m over your negative energy!” she said, drawing an imaginary circle with her open hand toward Andy, and then stood up.
“Typical Asparagus to get mad over something so stupid!” Andy exclaimed, to emphasize how ridiculous Destiny was being, “and good luck with Mercury in the microwave!”
“It’s Mercury retrograde, you jerk!” she got her things and turned around to leave, while everybody at the establishment stared in disbelief.
Serena got up and walked toward Andy so they both could get out as quickly as possible. It was quite uncomfortable to know everybody was looking at them.
I can’t believe the things young people put themselves through. Whatever happened to meeting people in real life? Those damn apps are full of crazy idiots. If I ever catch my Bobbseys using them when they’re older, I’m taking their phones away from them. Miranda wished she could just meet Andy outside before Serena and she left for good to tell her assistant that everything would be alright, but she could not let Andrea see her wearing her wig, Cindy. It would make her look like a crazy, possessive woman. She was starting to feel like she had made a big mistake coming here. She adjusted her sunglasses and sent Nigel a message:
Miranda: Andrea’s date has been a nightmare. Her date was a lunatic!
Nigel: Oh, no! What happened?
Miranda: She went crazy over astrology, calling Andrea something I’m not going to repeat. She should be locked up at an asylum!!
Nigel: Well, what are you going to do now?
Miranda: I just want her to forget this date ever happened.
Nigel: There’s only one thing you can do about that ;)
Miranda: I may already have an idea. I’ll let you know if it was a success or not this weekend.
Nigel: Oh, come on! I’m so intrigued! It better be worth the wait.
Once Miranda finished her beverage (her spy duties may be over, but coffee was sacred), she called Roy. A few minutes later, she gathered her things and walked toward her limousine to go home. She had some thinking to do.
The next morning, Andy woke up after hearing her phone beep. It was a text from… Miranda?
“What the Hell? It’s Saturday! I swear life won’t let me catch a break!” she read the message and shook her head. How can she make me work on the weekend to run a few errands? I swear if after my time at ‘Runway’ is up this job hasn’t opened any doors for me to become a journalist, I’m burning down the place!
Miranda needed those items for that afternoon, so she could have breakfast and lunch in peace.
A few hours later, Andy had bought everything. There was one hour to kill before the time her Boss had requested her to deliver her shopping. Before she decided on a way to kill time, her phone rang. Shit, shit, shit! She carefully left the bag with the goods resting on her forearm and picked up the phone with her other hand:
“Andrea, do you have everything?”
“Yes. I’ve just finished…”
“Good. Meet me at the townhouse as soon as possible.”
“But you said at…”
“What’s the point of waiting when you already have everything? Come to the townhouse before it’s New Year.” and with that, she hung up the phone.
My God, she really can’t chill. Well, I better get going.
After taking a cab, she knocked on the door.
“We’ve been expecting you.” a couple of identical twins said in unison.
Spooky. It’s not Halloween, right?
They let her in and before she could say a word, Miranda showed up, making a gesture so that Andy handed her the bag with the goods.
“I’m impressed you’re done with your shopping, considering how many people there are in the streets these days going from shop to shop.”
“I left home early so that I could make it in time.”
“Always so efficient.” the older woman smiled.
The twins looked at them, trying to hide a smile.
“Do you have any plans for today?”
“Uhm… not really.”
“Perfect. Girls, grab your co… oh, okay, I see you can get ready quickly when it’s convenient for you.” she said crossing her arms.
“Mom, drop the act. Just ask her.” Caroline said.
Andy was amused at seeing the little girl talk to her mother like that. This was so casual.
“Andrea… would you like to come with us to The Rink?”
“You are going ice skating?!” it was hard to imagine Miranda enjoying herself, skating with her daughters.
“Yes. If a bunch of simpletons can, why wouldn’t we? So, yes or not? We don’t have all day.”
“Sure!” the assistant was very excited, she really needed to take her mind off of the catastrophic date she had the day before.
“Just promise us you won’t lean on us when you are about to fall, if you are clumsy, you’re on your own.” Caroline said, putting on her gloves.
“Hey, just so you know, I am very good at ice skating!”
“Really?” Miranda raised an eyebrow.
“I mean, I can skate just fine, I don’t know any tricks, it’s not as if I have ever trained to go to the Olympics, but…”
“Funny you said that…” Cassidy started saying, before her mother cut her off.
“Enough chitchat, let’s go before it gets late.” Miranda put on her coat and gloves, and they left the house.
They arrived at Rockefeller Center later than they normally would. There were people everywhere, lots of cars honking at each other…
Andy was sitting at the front, next to Roy, while the twins and Miranda seated behind. The girls looked at the lights through the windows and were giggling about God knows what.
“Enjoy your evening.” Roy said.
“Thanks, and Merry Christmas! Say hello to Joanne and the kids.” Andy replied.
“Will do.”
“Aren’t you joining us?” Andy asked, seeing Miranda had stood behind she and the twins, and did not seem to have any intentions of renting a couple of ice skates.
“No, I think it’s better if…”
“Please, mooom!”
“Miranda, are you telling me you can’t ice skate? If that’s the case, I promise I won’t tell.” the younger woman made gesture to zip her lips.
“Don’t be ridiculous, Andrea! Of course I know.”
“Well, I can’t believe it unless I see it.” she gave her a smug smile, knowing her Boss would fall into her trap. If there was something Miranda could not stand, is people saying she was useless at anything.
“I will join you if you admit you’re wrong afterwards.”
“Deal.”
The twins were in awe with Andy. Their mother’s assistant had been the only one who could manage to get her to ice skate with them just like that!
Once they got in the rink, Caroline and Cassidy took it slow. They wanted to see these women skating together to check if their theory was right or not.
“One race, Miranda.”
“What?”
“I bet you can’t beat me.”
“There are people surrounding us, we’ll get kicked, it’s not safe.”
“Oh, come on, just have a little bit of fun! It’s Christmas!”
The twins heard them. This would be so fun. Caroline decided to help with their bet: “Alright, on the count of three: one, two…” but before she could finish, their mother already started skating.
“Hey, that’s cheating!” Andrea followed her right after.
“I’m not a cheater, Andrea, I am a winner!” she avoided bumping into people with ease, and felt more alive than ever before. But a couple of seconds after, Andy had already got to her level.
“We’ll see about that.”
They were on pair, almost reaching the twins, who were cheering for their mom (although if Andy won, they would not mind, if it was not for her, they would not be seeing their mother ice skating in the first place).
“Ha! Say it, say you were wrong!” the older woman said, right before doing a flip jump.
“Excuse me, what the fuck?” Andy was astonished, “How… I…”
“Cat got your tongue, Andrea?” Miranda skated toward them, feeling very proud of herself.
“She’s a pro, duh.” Cassidy said.
“What do you mean? Did you do ice skating for a living before becoming Editor-in-Chief?” This woman’s a box of surprises!!
“Don’t be silly. I simply participated in ice skating contests as a hobby.”
“Don’t be humble, mom. She meant she won lots of contests! She has trophies, Andy!” Caroline exclaimed, shaking her arms in excitement.
“Lots of them!” her sister added.
“Wow, that’s so cool…” the brunette was really impressed. Who would have thought? But again, this is the Ice Queen we are talking about.
“Yes. Well… now, let’s keep ice skating before it’s dinner time.”
They were a bit tired after they were done, but had had lots of fun.
“Well, I really enjoyed this evening, but I gotta go get myself a cab.” Andy said, embracing herself. It was really cold.
“Don’t be silly, you’re joining us for dinner.” Miranda said, as if her assistant had to know this random information for some reason.
“I am?”
“You said you do not have any plans, correct?”
“Yeah, I mean no, I don’t.” Dinner with the Priestlys. Now wouldn’t that make a good title for a mystery novel?
“What’s that?” Caroline pointed out at some light spectacle being projected into a building.
“Christian Dior & Saks” Andy read out loud, “Hey, if it was spelled with a ‘c’ and an ‘h’ it may as well have been my light show!” she joked, making the twins laugh and their mother roll her eyes, smiling.
“It’s so pretty, I love the city lights.” Cassidy said.
They were staring at a circle full of colors, with different motives, such as stars, a moon, and flowers at the very bottom.
“Florals? For Christmas? Now that is what I call groundbreaking.” the older woman said, making Andy chuckle. She was seeing a different side of Miranda she was loving. Another one, that is.
“Mom, Andy, let’s take a picture under the tree!” Cassidy said, pointing at the 6th Avenue Christmas tree that was full of lights. There were people everywhere, taking pics and taking in the sight of The City of Lights. The city was really beautiful at night.
Andy took a pic of the Priestly women, but then asked a random woman she walked by if she could take a picture of the four of them, which she agreed to. She took three to make sure they got at least a good one.
“Thank you, Merry Christmas!” Cassidy took her phone from the woman’s hands.
These kids were so well-behaved, Andy did not understand why people said awful things about them. They were very nice kids (when they did not pull off a shenanigan to get her fired).
“Can we go now? I’m starving!” Caroline asked.
“Yes, I’ve already called Roy while your sister was asking that woman to take a picture of us.”
Twelve minutes later, the driver arrived to pick them up.
Once the four women got inside the townhouse, the twins hanged their coats and Miranda helped Andrea to get her coat off. It felt so nice to let her do that for her…
“Girls, wash your hands and set the table, please.”
“Do we use the new napkins?”
“Yes, the ones in the bag I put on the island.”
“Wait, the stuff you made me buy today…” Andy started putting two and two together.
“I was hopping you would join us for dinner, and well, I know you don’t expect me to go grocery shopping. Besides, it’s just some Christmas items to use at dinner and some wine.”
“Some expensive wine.”
“We deserve the best after all.” Miranda shrugged.
We. I like that. Andy nodded, smiling.
“I’m gonna go see what’s taking my Bobsseys so long…” she climbed the stairs, which made the brunette look up, admiring the woman’s ass.
No, what are you doing? Bad, bad Andy!
“What are you doing?” Miranda said after knocking on the door.
“Look at the pics we took together, mom!” Cassidy said, showing it to her mother.
“Yes, we look quite beautiful.”
“Let’s go downstairs before Andy changes her mind and thinks we’re planning to get rid of her for Christmas or something.” Caroline said, leaving the room.
“The things you say…” Miranda shook her head, and both her and her other daughter walked down the stairs and headed to the kitchen.
“Andrea, you didn’t have to set…”
“It’s fine, I like setting the table, especially with these Christmas decorations. Not to brag or anything, but I really have nice taste.” she said, making a gesture with her head in the napkins direction.
“Yes, well, not as good as my taste in wine, though.” she opened up the bottle and served it in both her and Andy’s cups.
“Look, Andy, here are the pics from this evening.” Caroline handed the assistant her phone.
“Wow, they’re beautiful!”
“Because we’re beautiful, duh!” Caroline said.
“Vanity isn’t cute, Caroline.”
“I’m just stating facts, mom”
After finishing dinner (which Andy had to admit was just divine) Miranda’s phone beeped.
Ugh, what does this man want now? "Yes?”
“Grumpy, are we? I didn’t know I was calling the Grinch house!” Nigel exclaimed.
“I’m not grumpy. I’m having dinner with my twins and… Andrea.” the brunette looked in her direction at hearing her name.
“WHAT? AND YOU DIDN’T BOTHER TO TEXT ME?”
“Don’t yell or I’ll hung up on you.”
“Put me on speaker, please!”
“Don’t do anything stupid.”
“Me? How could you say such a thing!”
After she had put her friend on speaker, the other 3 women said:
“Merry Christmas, Nigel!”
“Merry Christmas to you all! I know someone’s been having fun, according to Page Six.”
“What?! What did those…” Miranda stopped herself before she could curse in front of her children, “so-called journalists do?”
“I’ve sent the link to the article to Andy. You guys look like a lovely family.”
Andy clicked on the article:
The Ice Queen Melts
“Spotted: the Devil herself and her daughters were seen with who, according to our sources, is Miranda Priestly’s second assistant on The Rink ice skating.
No, dear readers, we are not joking. We have to reckon they look cute when they’re playing ‘happy family’.
It seems even the Devil gets merry during the holidays. Will she kiss the woman who seems to have melted her heart under the mistletoe?
Stay tunned for more. Happy holidays!”
“The audacity!” Miranda exclaimed.
“But they are right, aren’t they?” Andy asked.
“What do you mean?”
“We look cute. I have to thank them for the picture they posted.”
“Do you love it?” Caroline asked her mother, using a funny voice.
“Who are you even mimicking?”
“Paris, of course!”
“I don’t have time for this nonsense.”
“So I haven’t melted your heart? Aww, and here I thought I had done a Christmas miracle!” Andy said dramatically. Seeing the older woman did not reply, she added, “For the record: I liked playing ‘happy family’.”
“I liked it too.” she admitted.
The twins sensed some tension in the air and decided it was their cue to leave, “Bye, uncle Nigel!” Cassidy pressed hung up Andy’s phone after the man started complaining. Then, they both left the kitchen.
“And you wouldn’t invite Emily for dinner, right? But you invited me.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know.”
“Yes, you do.” she challenged her. If her gut was right, she wanted to hear it from Miranda herself.
“I guess your presence is appreciated. The girls really wanted to go to The Rink and it’s Christmas.”
“That doesn’t answer my question.”
“We all wanted you to spend Christmas with us.”
“Why me?”
“Because I have feelings, Andrea, goddamn it!” she let it out like she had just confessed a huge secret, which, in a way, it was.
“You do? Oh, wow, I wouldn’t expect that from the Ice Queen.” she joked, “Any chance those feelings have anything to do with la moi?”
“Don’t be smug, Andrea, it’s not cute.”
“But you think I am cute, I know. I know since that day I appeared in your office after my makeover. I literally left you speechless.” she said, approaching the other woman.
“I hired a smart girl, after all.” she smiled, “What are you going to do with this… information?”
Only Miranda could take a romantic moment and talk things out like they were at a business meeting.
“Well, it’s too bad we don’t have mistletoe hanging in here, so…” the younger woman said.
“Ahem!” they heard someone clearing her throat outside the kitchen, and, to no one’s surprise, they saw mistletoe hanging near the door frame.
Those cunning little demons… they take after their mother after all.
“I didn’t raise my girls to be a couple of gossips!” Miranda said still looking at the door, and before she could look back at Andrea, she felt a couple of hands resting on her shoulders.
“May I?”
“Yes!” she exclaimed.
And just like that, the couple kissed for what felt like minutes, while two pairs of eyes watched the scene.
“We got our Christmas gift!” Cassidy whispered.
“I knew Potter Girl was a Christmas miracle!”
“So, what now? Am I gonna be your dirty little secret?” Andy winked at the Editor.
“Don’t be ridiculous, Andrea. Now you’re family.”
“Should we do the dishes?”
“You’re our guest tonight. How about we watch a movie?”
“Yes, movie night!” the twins appeared in the kitchen again.
“Girls, were you eavesdropping? Santa doesn’t like gossips.”
“Then I’m sad about uncle Nigel because he can’t possibly have got a gift in his life.” Cassidy said, making everybody laugh.
“Do you guys want to watch The Holiday? It’s my favorite Christmas movie.” Andy suggested.
“We love it too! We’ll go browse Netflix, you guys keep smooching or whatever.” Caroline said before going to the living room with her sister.
“Your kids, they’re hilarious!”
“We’ll see if you keep thinking that from now on.” Miranda smiled.
“Oh, I will. Just so you know, I’m a keeper.” the brunette said, before giving her now girlfriend a peck on the lips and running toward the living room.
Miranda smiled to herself. I can’t believe I got my Christmas gift.