widdy26

FF: Housesitter - Part 2/4

Author: Widdy
Disclaimer:  I don't own the Devil Wears Prada, Miranda or Andy. I also don’t own the film Housesitter, unfortunately someone else does so I'm just borrowing them and I will return them after I'm done.
Rating: PG

Feedback: Yes feel free to feed me.
Pairing: Andrea/Miranda

Summary: When successful architect Miranda Priestly’s lover Stephen suddenly decides that their relationship is not working. Their dream house becomes nothing more than a monument to his rejection. That is until a chance encounter with a waitress turns her life upside down.

A/N: I have always loved the movie and I have been playing with this idea for months. I have changed some aspects to fit this story.

 

 

 

Part 2

 

 Andy bit her lip as she looked around Miranda’s childhood home. It was beautiful; it was the type of home most people dream of growing up in. It was smaller than the home that Miranda had built, but just barely. Unlike Miranda’s ultra-modern home, the house Andy currently found herself in harked back to a different time. Were Miranda’s house was all concrete and glass. Her parent’s home was all wood.

After the incident in the car Charlotte had insisted that she come here. She had tried to refuse, but there wasn’t really anything she could say to deter the older woman.

Andy glanced left and smiled at the man seated in the leather wingbacked chair, in the far corner of the room. His name was Jonathan Priestly, and he was Miranda’s father.

While Miranda shared many things in common with her Mother, her eyes she had inherited from her Father. Andy had felt instantly at ease with him, he had looked a little shocked at first when his wife had announced that their daughter was a lesbian and that she was her lover, but Andy had to give the man credit. He simply placed the book he was reading on the table next to his chair and told her what a pleasure it was to meet her.

Andy looked down and shook her head. She had thought her day couldn’t get any worse. Now she wasn’t so sure.

Andy looked up from the floor as she heard the gentle chime of china. She watched as a small dark haired woman made her way into the room and placed a silver tray upon a coffee table.

“Tea dear?” Charlotte asked as she lazily wafted a hand in direction of the woman and the tray.

Andy smiled at the woman and shook her head, “Oh, no thank you.”

She watched as the dark haired maid poured two cups of tea, added cream to one and a lump of sugar to the other. The maid handed one cup to Charlotte and the other to Miranda’s Father, who took the cup with an exuberant smile.

“Thank you Sarah.”Jonathan said as he took the cup from the Sarah’s fingers.

“Will there be anything else?” Sarah asked as she looked at her two employers.

“No, Sarah, why don’t you take the rest of the day off, spend it with George.” Charlotte suggested as she looked over the rim of her cup.

“Are you sure Mrs Priestly?” Sarah asked wide eyed.

It was clear to Andy that the Priestly’s, well Charlotte at least, had never told Sarah she could leave early before.

“Of course.” Charlotte nodded.

“Thank you. I’ll be here at six sharp tomorrow.” Sarah said as she wiped her hands down her uniform.

Charlotte nodded, “See you tomorrow Sarah.”

When the maid had gone Andy looked at each of Miranda’s parents in turn.

“First I just want to say that this is entirely my fault.” Andy said.

“How so?” Charlotte asked and she placed her cup back upon its saucer.

“Well, it was me who wanted to wait after Miranda just swept me of my feet. I thought it best to see if the marriage was going to work before we told our families about it.” Andy smiled gently and looked at Jonathan to see if he was buying into what she was saying. Once he gave her an encouraging nod she continued.  “Miranda was dead set against it, she said I was being way over cautious, she said I should just be a bit more impulsive and live in the moment.”

Andy laughed and rolled her eyes. “I just want to say that you two raised the most caring and beautiful woman I have ever met in my entire life and I just thank God that we met. Thank you.”

“I just don’t believe this.” Charlotte growled.

“You don’t?” Andy asked as a crease appeared upon her brow.

“No.” Charlotte said with a shake of her head.

“Well...” Andy started as she scrambled to think of something to make Charlotte believe her.

“I mean I want to know what she was thinking.” Charlotte glared hard at Andy and the brunette felt herself buckling under the elderly woman’s intense gaze. “How can she be so insensitive, and irresponsible?”

Andy opened her mouth and was about to speak when Jonathan beat her to it.

“For goodness sake Charlotte leave the girl alone. It’s not her fault.” Jonathan said as he placed his cup and saucer upon the coffee table.

“I know that,” Charlotte sent her husband a look of reproach, “it’s Miranda, this is just like her.”

“You have always been too hard on her Charlotte. It’s no wonder she didn’t come to us, and tell us about her sexuality and her new wife.” Jonathan said the last part with a little smile and looked at Andy.

“I support the arts.” Charlotte grumbled.

Deciding to keep quite Andy just watched and Miranda’s parents argued about their daughter.

“That’s not exactly the same as having someone who is homosexual in the family is it dear? But this isn’t really about that.”

“No your right. This is really about the house isn’t it?”

Finding the ball thrown back into her court Andy hesitated before she quickly nodded and looked sad, “Err... yes, yes it is.”

Charlotte shook her head with a scowl, “I told her it was waste of money to build that monstrosity, and I told her that it was a waste of time.”

“Charlotte for God’s sake let it go.” Jonathan pleaded.

“She just feels awful about it Mrs Priestly and she was telling me all about it the other night, and well she just cried.” Andy breathed.

Andy winced as two shocked faces stared at her. Obviously she had put her foot in it, the looks she was receiving told her that Miranda didn’t cry. Somehow that didn’t shock Andy.

“Did you hear that Charlotte?” Jonathan asked softly as he looked towards his wife.

Charlotte gifted him with another glare before she looked back at Andy, “I’m not deaf yet Jonathan.”

“Miranda cried. I don’t think I have seen that since she was in 3^rd grade.”

The more Miranda’s parents talked about her crying the more Andy knew she probably shouldn’t have laid it on so thick.

“She cried?” Charlotte asked Andy.

Knowing she had to stick with what she had said Andy nodded, “Yes.”

“For God’s sake Charlotte just call the girl and tell her you’re sorry. I am sick and tired of not seeing her. I could drop dead tomorrow.” Miranda’s father said his voice holding an anger Andy had only previously seen from her Mother.

“Don’t say that Jonathan.” Charlotte chastised as she took another sip of her tea.

“Oh I wouldn’t do that.” Andy quickly said. She knew she couldn’t allow Miranda’s parents to contact her.  Andy knew when she was on to a good thing, she didn’t know how long she could hold them off for, but she had to try.

“Why not?” Charlotte asked.

“Well, Miranda is in an emotionally fragile place at the moment.” Andy added a sigh for effect, “Why don’t you let me pass on any messages.”

“Ok.” Charlotte nodded reluctantly. “Will you tell her...”

“Charlotte,” Jonathan prompted when Miranda’s Mother trailed off.

Andy watched as Miranda’s Mother sighed and then placed her cup and saucer back upon the silver tray.

“Tell her; tell her that I’m sorry. Tell her, to just come home.”

Andy felt her heart melt a little as she saw the look of love and hope enter Charlottes eyes.

 

****

 

Andy yawned and rolled over on the picnic blanket she had slept on as a loud knock disturbed her sleep.

Next to the picnic blanket she was laying on sat a wine cooler and an empty magnum of champagne. Andy had found the blanket, the champagne and two glasses in the kitchen.  Andy supposed Miranda had placed them there with the intention of celebrating her engagement to Stephen.

Things hadn’t worked out quite like that and the items had been abandoned. Seeing no reason to waste it Andy had opened the magnum, and made herself a bed with the blanket as a mattress, her holdall as a pillow and a shawl as a cover.

Andy had always prided herself on her ability to sleep anywhere, and it appeared that the previous night had confirmed that fact. She was sure however that the alcohol had helped.

There was another knock and Andy rolled onto her back.

“Come in.” Andy cried as she yawned and covered her eyes with her left arm.

“Hello?” a familiar voice called out from the direction of the hallway.

Andy’s eyes snapped open as she recognised the voice.

“Charlotte!” Andy cried as she lazily sat up.

“Oh there you are dear.” Charlotte said as she finally found Andy.

Andy yawned and stretched.

“Morning, is it morning already?” Andy let go of her sheet and glanced down at her watch to cheque the time.

Her eyes widened as she saw the time, seven thirty. She hadn’t been up this early in years; usually she slept until at least nine.

“Oh, I’m...you should...” Charlotte stuttered.

Andy stretched her arms above her head and looked towards where Charlotte stood. Miranda’s Mother was holding an envelope in front of her face and was looking away from Andy.

With a frown Andy looked about. “Huh?”

“If this is an inconvenient time...?” charlotte trailed.

Andy shook her head, “No I’m fine.”

“I could come back later...” Charlotte offered still holding the envelope in front of her eyes.

“No, no, I’m awake.” Dropping her arms Andy smiled towards Miranda’s Mother.

“...when your dressed” Charlotte finished as she pointed in Andy’s direction.

Looking down Andy saw the reason that Charlotte was covering her eyes. She was nude and showing everything to anyone in sight. Andy felt her eyes widen briefly before she quickly gathered up the sheet and covered her bare breasts. “Oh... whoops.”

“I just wanted to drop by and see how you were settling in.” Charlotte informed Andy as she dropped the envelope from in front of her eyes.

“Oh, great.” Andy smiled.

“I also wanted to give you this.” Charlotte said as she extended the envelope she held towards Andy.

Andy quickly gathered the shawl around her body and pulled herself up onto her feet. She didn’t know what it was that Miranda’s Mother was giving her but she was intrigued.

“What it is?” Andy asked as she accepted the small rectangle of paper from Charlotte’s outstretched fingers with a puzzled smile.

 “It's just a little something to help you get started.”Charlotte told Andy.

“Oh no, I really couldn’t...” Clearing her throat Andy looked down and opened the envelope. As she freed the content Andy felt her eyes nearly pop out of her skull.

“Wow!”

Andy stared at the six figured number on the paper. Two hundred thousand dollars, Miranda parents were giving her two hundred thousand dollars. She could hardly wrap her mind around that Miranda’s parents could just give her this money like it was nothing.

“Well, I know how hard it is for a young couple starting out. Even though Miranda has money, well she is our only daughter.” Charlotte smiled gently.

Andy felt her heart constrict as she looked into Charlotte’s green eyes. She felt her eyes tear up as Charlotte reached out and brushed an errant strand of hair away from in front of her eyes.

The older Priestly woman smiled warmly as she looked down at the cheque Andy held. “Now, let’s go and spend it!”

 

****

 

Miranda accepted the plans from Nigel and spread them over her drafting table.

“I’m selling the house.” Miranda announced as she picked up her scolding hot coffee and downed a searing mouthful.

“You are?” Nigel asked as he leaned over Miranda’s shoulder and looked down at the plans one of the associates had compiled.

“I am,” Miranda nodded, “I’m going to sell it, payback everyone I own money to.”

“That great,” Nigel smiled genuinely pleased for Miranda. “So what do you think of these?” Nigel asked as he pointed at the plans.

Miranda took another sip of the coffee and looked over the plans that Nigel had handed her.

They weren’t bad but Miranda could easily spot several mistakes the junior associate had made.

“Who did these? They have people exiting into a wall over here, what the hell are they teaching at college these days?” Miranda shook her head and picked up a technical pencil and started to mark up all the mistakes the junior had made.

“Really?” Nigel asked with a frown. “Jesus, I’ll tell them to cheque their work more closely next time.”

“That would be helpful, can you imagine if they had given theses to a client?” Miranda asked.

“I shudder to think about it.” Nigel replied.

Dropping the pencil on parallel rule, Miranda swivelled around on her chair to face Nigel.

“Anyway, I just don’t see the point in keeping the house, it’s like hanging onto the past. Besides, it’s a complete drain on my finances, it’s empty someone could be using it.” Miranda informed her colleague.

Nigel nodded and folded his arms with a frown, “So, what’s brought this on?”

“That waitress, you know... the one at the bar.” Miranda said as she lifted her cup towards her mouth.

“The brunette? The one who didn’t speak English?” Nigel asked as he crossed his arms and adjusted his glasses with a fingertip.

“Yes, a strange but very interesting woman.” Miranda nodded.

Interesting didn’t really cover Andrea but Miranda didn’t really want to elaborate on the specific detail. What had happened was between her and Andrea. She knew that Nigel would pounce on it like a starving lion on an antelope if he knew.

“Why bring her up. Did you sleep with her?” Nigel joked as he adjusted his glasses.

Miranda winced and looked down, “that is not relevant.”

Miranda heard Nigel’s laugher die in his throat as he stared at her.

“You did, didn’t you?” He asked his voice faint.

She knew she couldn’t lie to Nigel, he would see right through it. So Miranda just nodded, “Yes, but that's not the point.”

“It isn’t?” Nigel asked shocked.

Miranda shook her head and tried to divert Nigel’s attention away from the fact that she had slept with another woman.

“She made me realise that I’m holding onto the past, and that I need to let go.” Miranda said.

“That’s great, but let’s just go back to the sleeping with another woman part of the conversation.” Nigel said as he tried to steer the conversation back to Miranda and Andrea.

Rolling her eyes Miranda glared at her friend, “get over it Nigel, you sleep with men.”

“Everyone knows that darling,” Nigel reminded Miranda, “but I thought you did too.”

Miranda had thought she did to, but sleeping with Andrea had opened Miranda’s eyes up to something’s she hadn’t considered. She had been on the earth for fifty years and it had taken a woman half her age to give her an eye opening experience.

“I have always been open to new experiences.”

“So it seems,” Nigel chuckled. “We have to celebrate.”

“We did that last night and look where it landed me.” Miranda huffed as she pushed herself up from her chair and moved towards the waste paper basket.

“Satisfied by the looks of it.” Nigel snorted to Miranda’s back.

Rolling her eyes Miranda dropped her empty cup in the trash, “I woke up in the early hours of the morning, and I was completely tied up in knots.”

“She was that good?” Nigel asked with a cheeky smile.

Groaning Miranda rounded her desk and flopped down in the leather chair, “Get your mind out of the gutter Nigel, I don’t mean like that.”

“Ok ok, so you were in anxious.” Nigel said as she made his way over to Miranda’s desk and sat in the other chair.

“Then I did a horrible thing.” Miranda said as she looked away from Nigel and out of her office window.

“What?” Nigel asked.

“I just left.” Miranda admitted.

She could instantly see the horror enter Nigel’s eyes from his reflection in the window.

“Left?” Nigel asked wanting to clarify what Miranda was saying.

With a sigh Miranda elaborated, “After I slept with her I just left the apartment.”

“You didn’t?” Nigel breathed.

Miranda nodded her head with no small amount of shame. She still couldn’t quite believe she had done it. The sun had just been rising when she had awoken naked and entwined with Andrea. The scent of their late night activities clung to her skin and the air around her. Miranda had found herself staring in horror at the other woman, she felt guilty about sleeping with her. Then she had felt angry with herself. She knew she had no reason to feel the way she did about what she had done, but she just couldn’t help it.

“I did, and I know why. Stephen!”

“Stephen?” Nigel echoed.

“Yeah, you were right,” Miranda looked pointedly at Stephen, “I need to close the book on that whole chapter in my life, and that starts with selling the house.”

Before she could continue there was a knock on the office door and a head of dyed red hair appeared. Miranda lifted her eyebrows in question as her British assistant Emily edged her way into her office.

“Miranda?”

“Yes, what is it Emily can’t you see I’m busy?” Miranda said as she lifted her hand and held it out towards Nigel.

“I’m sorry Miranda,” Emily apologised, “but I have the mechanic from BMW on the phone, he says your car is ready to pick up.”

Sighing Miranda pinched the bridge of her nose. Her car had decided, on Tuesday that it was going to breakdown. As a result Miranda found herself using her driver Roy more than she usually did. The fact that it was ready now was great, but she just didn’t have the time right now to go and pick it up.

“Have Roy go and fetch it this afternoon, I’m in a meeting so I can’t go myself.” Miranda instructed her assistant.

“Ok Miranda, I’ll tell him straight away.” Emily nodded and started to write down Miranda’s instructions upon the note pad she held.

“Have him take it straight to my apartment and park it in the car park. That’s all.” Miranda

“Yes Miranda.” Emily nodded again and then quickly exited the office to carry out her tasks.

“So, what was it like?” Nigel asked when he made sure Emily was out of ear shot.

“Nigel,” Miranda frowned in disapproval, “I’m not discussing that, what I’m discussing is that you were right.”

“What about?” Nigel asked confused.

“Moving on and the first step is ridding myself of all traces of what happened.” Miranda said as she pointed her finger towards Nigel.

“That’s great Miranda; I think your making the right decision.”

Miranda only hoped that Nigel was right.

 

****

 

Andy took a deep breath of fresh air as she strolled next to Miranda’s ex-lover Stephen Forde. They had arranged the previous evening to have lunch together. Andy had wanted to refuse, but Stephen had been quite insistent. She knew when Miranda’s Mother had shown up the previous morning with the huge cheque and insistent upon spending it that she was way in over her head.

She had met so many people in the past few days that Andy was surprised her head hadn’t exploded with all the names and the congratulations she had received.

“So what is your relationship with Miranda like?” Stephen asked drawing Andy out of her internal dialogue.

“It is great.” Andy quickly responded. “We just talk, and talk, and talk.”

“Really?" Stephen asked, “I never found Miranda particularly talkative.”

Andy winced.

“Well we certainly talk, it’s like we have a physic link. Like Chinese food.” Andy said suddenly

“Excuse me?” Stephen frowned in confusion.

“Well you know like on Thursdays or something.” Andy said as she spread her arms wide, “You’ve had a hectic day, nothing has gone right and you just think to hell with cooking. Well Miranda will just know, and come home with a huge bag of Chinese takeout.”

Andy laughed to herself as Stephen’s eyes widened at her lie.

“That’s...amazing.”

“I know, isn’t she great?” Andy exclaimed with a smile.

“She sure is.”Stephen flashed a weak smile back.

Andy could tell that Stephen didn’t really like her, just as she could tell that Stephen was just talking to her so he could find out about Miranda. Andy couldn’t help but feel amused by the fact that he really wasn’t receiving any information that was legitimate.

“Look, there it is.” Stephen said as he pointed at a building directly in front of them.

The Colonial Inn was a little dark blue fronted restaurant that sat in the centre of town on Main Street, a block and a half away from May’s hardware store.

Andy quickly followed Stephen across the street and entered the restaurant.

The interior was exactly how Andy had pictured it in her mind.  Andy couldn’t help but compare it to The Sofia, even though the two were like chalk and cheese. Were The Sofia was tacky and over the top, The Colonial Inn was simple and sophisticated.

The restaurant was practically empty and within ten minutes they were seated and tucking into their meal.

Andy had to force herself to laughing along with Stephen as he told her about various aspects of Miranda’s character, and uninteresting little anecdotes.

Trying to change the subject Andy closed her eyes and hummed.

“Have you finished with that?” Andy asked as she reached over with her fork and speared one of the shrimps that Stephen had left upon his plate.

 “Oh that is good.” Andy said as she chewed upon the tasty piece of seafood.

Andy almost laughed when she saw the flash of annoyance cross over Stephen’s face.

“I’m glad that you think so.” Stephen replied with a touch annoyed.

“It is, I’ll have to get that next time.” Andy murmured as she gently dabbed her mouth with her napkin.

“So, you were starting to tell me how the two of you met.” Stephen prompted as he pushed his plate aside and leaned his elbows upon the table.

Andy almost sighed, her lies were getting more and more elaborate. While she had never had a problem keeping track of the fabrications she usually told, she knew the more complex she was forced to get, the more likely it was that she would mess up.

She couldn’t very well tell Stephen she had met Miranda in a Bulgaria restaurant and had slept with her after three hours; no she didn’t think that would go over well. Andy knew that she had to tell a romantic story and as she gazed out at the street an idea flashed into her head.

“Oh, well, I’m crossing West First Street when this moron runs a red, plows right into me. Then takes off, we never did get the bastard.” Andy said with a shake of her head.

Andy smiled to herself when she sees the shock enter Stephen’s eyes.

“Oh my God, were you hurt?” Stephen asked.

“Yeah,” Andy nodded and pointed to her face, “my nose was busted, my cheek bones were cracked, my jaw was fractured and both my legs were broken. I couldn’t walk and my face was all bandaged up, I looked like an Egyptian mummy.”

“Sweet Jesus.” Stephen breathed.

“I know.” Andy agreed.

“So how does Miranda come into it?” Stephen asked not seeing how she could have met Andy.

“Well I’m getting to that. So I’m in the hospital and in the bed next to me is this woman who works in an architectural firm.” Andy quickly supplied her mind working overtime as she wove her most complex lie yet.

“Right.” Stephen nodded following the story.

“And Miranda came into visit and with her she had this huge bunch of flowers. And I guess she felt sorry for me on account of my looking like a mummy and the fact that I hadn’t had a single visitor. So she gave me some of the flowers.”

Andy licked her lips and then continued.

“So she came back the next day, and then the next and the next and the next. It wasn’t like a come on or anything, I think she just enjoyed my company, because all we did was talk. During which came out that I didn’t have the insurance to pay my hospital bill. So Miranda just told me not to worry about it, and it was only after she had gone one evening that one of the nurses told me that she had paid it for me.”

“Miranda did?” Stephen asked with a frown of disbelief.

“Yeah, I know I was just as shocked.” Andy said with a shake of her head.

“Miranda Priestly paid for your hospital bill?” Stephen asked again.

“Yep.” Andy nodded, from Stephen’s disbelief Andy gathered that Miranda was a bit of a scrooge.

“How long were you in for?” Stephen inquired.

“Two months.” Andy supplied.

“And she just paid? How could she afford that? All her money is tied up in that house!” Stephen blurted, his mind struggling to process the information that Andy was feeding him.

 “Well you know she’s an architect.” Andy smirked.

“Yeah, but she’s just management, and she is on a decent wage, but it doesn’t pay that well.” Stephen supplied condescendingly.

Andy cursed herself; she didn’t know how much money architects made. Thinking quickly Andy gave Stephen another smile and then extended her lie even further, “Well you know she made partner.”

“She did?” Stephen asked his voice a little flat.

“Yeah, they love her over there.” Andy enthused.

“They do?” Stephen’s eyebrow’s rose.

“Yep, anyway.” Andy said as she tried to steer the conversation away from Miranda, and her phantom promotion, “She takes me home from the hospital, and she runs all these errands for me, she even pays for a nurse to come and look after me when she was at work.”

“And all this time she had never seen your face, and you’re still all wrapped up in the bandages?” Stephen asked with a shake of his head.

“Yeah, but it was great, it kind of took away all the superficial bullshit that sometimes fills those first few weeks and months when you meet someone.”

“Yeah.” Stephen moved his head up and down.

“So we were sitting drinking a little wine one night, and she kissed me. God, I have never been kissed like that before, and one thing led to another, and well...” Andy trailed off with a shy smile.

Stephen cleared his throat and looked down at his plate embarrassed.

“There I am in this mask of bandages, but it was incredible because I could have been anyone. Oh God Stephen, I can’t tell you hot that made it.” Andy said as she pressed hand to her chest and pretended like she was trying to calm her rapidly beating heart.

“Then she wants to marry me.” Andy announced with a shrug of her shoulders and a small laugh of disbelief.

“You must have been shocked?” Stephen asked.

“I was,” Andy nodded, “but I had fallen in love.”

Andy watched as Stephen pulled on his shirt collar and then cleared his throat.

“Where did you tie the knot?” he asked and he tried to smile.

Andy returned Stephen’s half smile, “Well, it was all Miranda’s idea, and I have to say I loved it from the start. She proposed that we have our union blessed at the hospital.”

“The hospital?” Stephen frowned in confusion

Andy nodded, “Yeah, so there I was, all in white and Miranda to, and instead of lifting the veil, the doctor unwrapped the bandages, and she saw me for the first time. She looked at me,” Andy paused for effect and forced her eyes to tear up, “and I watched as a tear rolled down her cheek as she smiled.”

“That’s beautiful...” Stephen admitted as he forced another smile and looked out of the window.

“Yeah...” Andy smothered a smile as she pretended to dab at her eyes.

Andy couldn’t have asked for more, Stephen looked a little green around the gills; he had bought her story, hook, line and sinker.

 

****

 

Miranda gently turned the wheel and glided her BMW M6 slowly up the gravel driveway that led to her house. Miranda sighed as the convertible allowed a gentle breeze to whip up her hair.

Drawing the vehicle to a halt, Miranda turned off the engine, patted down her hair and opened the car door. She was just about to grab the For Sale sign that was on her back seat when something struck her as odd.

Miranda felt a frown slowly mar her brow as she glanced around the immediate area.  The lawns have been mowed was the first thought that crossed Miranda’s mind. The second was that the borders had been replanted, in fact the soil even looked freshly turned, and the scent of cut grass lingered in the air. Glancing back up at the house Miranda marvelled at how well it looked, the paths were clean and so was the concrete slab path and steps.

 “What the hell?” Miranda muttered as she stared around her.

Leaving the sign Miranda quickly made her way up the path and the steps. Gently and quietly Miranda turned the handle and let herself into her own house. Miranda’s jaw dropped as she stepped over the threshold.

Miranda couldn’t help the way her eyes widened as she walked deeper into the house.

There was furniture, everywhere. As she got closer to the staircase Miranda could make out a dining table, just past that was a modular sofa, a rug and several lamps. Empty book cases lined the wall behind the sofa.  As Miranda passed the dining table she glanced out of the window. Two large wooden garden loungers, complete with their own shades sat just in view while potted palms where angled tasteful against the right hand wall.

Spinning around on the spot, Miranda felt her confusion start to rise. She didn’t know what the hell was going on, but she had every intention of finding out.

At first she thought burglars, but how many burglars bring a line of designer furniture with them?

Stepping passed the modular sofa; Miranda detected the sound of singing coming from the back of the house.

As she made her way down the corridor that led to the kitchen Miranda slowed her steps.

As she reached the kitchen Miranda peeked around the door and was about to quickly leave when she noticed a dark haired young woman jumping up and down with a mixing bowl clutched under her arm. She was dressed in a simple white vest that clung to her torso, and a pair of yellow hot pants with a black trim.

“Stop callin’ stop callin’ I don’t wanna talk anymore, I left my head and my heart on the dance floor...” The woman sung as she flicked her head from side to side causing her pony tail to sway.

Miranda could hardly believe what she was seeing, not only had someone apparently moved into her house but they were apparently having a great time.

“Excuse me.” Miranda called out as she stepped into the kitchen.

“Stop telephonin’...” Andy’s voice trailed off as she turned.

Miranda felt her jaw drop as she got her first full view of her houseguest.

“You?” Andy frowned, “What are you doing here?”

 “What?” Miranda asked outraged. “What am I doing here? This is my house; I think the question is what are you doing here?”

Andy placed the bowl on the kitchen island and quickly moved towards Miranda.

“I got kicked out of my apartment. I would have called you for help, but you never told me where you lived or even left a number. ” Andy quickly explained as she stopped next to Miranda.

“You're the waitress, Andrea!”

“Well excuse me but I thought we had been introduced.” Andy huffed as she crossed her arms over her chest.

Miranda allowed her eyes to track down Andrea’s scantily clad body.

“I recognise you,” Miranda admitted, “it's just the last time I saw you, you were dressed a little different.”

“I wasn’t dressed at all you mean.” Andy supplied.

“Why are you here?” Miranda asked as she ignored Andy’s comment.

Andy shrugged and walked past Miranda and headed towards the living area, “Well it was your fault.”

“My fault?” Miranda asked in shock as she quickly followed Andrea.                

“Yeah, it all happened so fast, apparently Lily came home early and found us, she left and then came back and freaked. Who knew she was homophobic?” Andy threw over her shoulder.

“Anyway, she kicked me out, and I had nowhere to go. Then I remembered you were talking about this house and how it was sitting empty and I thought, hey what the hell.” Andy shrugged.

“Didn’t you have any friends you could go to?” Miranda asked not seeing how she could have just come here.

“No, I told you the only person I knew was Lily and Doug and he’s Lily’s friend.” Andy answered softly.

“I’m calling the police.” Miranda announced as she looked around for a telephone. She was sure what Andrea was doing was criminal.

“No don’t do that.” Andy pleaded as she quickly grabbed hold of Miranda’s hand

“Don’t do that?” Miranda asked not quite believing that Andrea had the audacity to ask her not to turn her in, “You’re living in my house, and I believe the term is squatting.”

“I didn’t mean to do anything wrong.” Andy batted her eyelashes as she gave Miranda’s hand a small squeeze.

“That’s not the point.” Miranda said as she pulled her hand free from Andrea’s grip. She glanced around the room in disbelief; she couldn’t believe the amount of expensive furniture. There was no way that a waitresses salary could get you all this. “Where did all this stuff come from anyway?”

“Roche Bobois, Vitra, some pieces are original.” Andy replied offhand.

Miranda felt her eyes widen as Andy rattled of the names of two furniture suppliers who didn’t produce anything that wasn’t considered a design classic, and anything that wasn’t cheep.

“Who the hell paid for all this?” Miranda asked as a sense of dread settled into her stomach, she had a feeling that she wasn’t going to like what Andrea told her.

“Look...” Andy started.

Miranda nearly jumped out of her skin as something heavy impacted with her from behind. Turning quickly Miranda found herself face to face with a huge mahogany brindle and white St. Bernard.

“What is that?” Miranda asked faintly.

This situation was getting worse, not only had Andrea moved in she had furnished the place and acquired a dog.

“Oh no Patricia, bad doggy, don’t jump on Miranda.” Andy chastised the dog and she reached out and grabbed her collar.

“Sorry about that,” Andy apologised as she gently pulled Patricia towards one of the open widow. The men are coming tomorrow to put in a dog door.”

Miranda watched as Andy’ shooed the St Bernard outside and then pulled the huge window closed.

A horrifying thought suddenly occurred to Miranda, “you didn’t charge all this stuff to me did you?”

“No...” Andy answered evasively as she turned around.

“What the hell is happening here?” Miranda asked her patience wearing thin. She didn’t know what the hell was happening and Andrea’s vague answers weren’t helping. So far all Miranda had found out was that she had been kicked out of her apartment.

“Just listen to me ok?” Andy asked.

Seeing no other way Miranda threw up her hands, “Go on?”

“I was hungry, so I went to Travis’s Store to pick up some bread and stuff, and while I was there I heard Hazel telling Travis...”

Miranda held up her hands to halt Andrea, “Wait wait, Hazel?”

“Hazel Byron?” Andy smiled.

“You know Mrs Byron?” Miranda asked disbelievingly, this who situation was getting beyond strange.

“Your old piano teacher, yeah, great girl.” Andy grinned, “I don’t know if you heard about her son Stuart, but what he put the poor woman through, just chills your blood.”

With a frown Miranda waved off the comment, “just go back to the part at the grocery store, when you over heard them talking.”

 “So, she told him to just put her groceries on her account.”

Miranda’s eyes widened as a white hot spear of anger pierced her chest.

“You charged the groceries to me?” Miranda exploded as she stepped closer to the younger woman.

“Well I was hungry! I’ll pay you back.” Andy quickly said as she took a step back from the angry Miranda.

“How the hell did you convince him? What did you tell him?” Miranda asked her voice steadily rising. She couldn’t think what Andrea must have said to get Mr Keller to give her groceries.

Andy sighed heavily, “Well I guess he was under the impression that I was...”

“Certifiable?” Miranda interrupted.

“No, I just told him to put it on our account.” Andy replied cheerfully.

“Our account?” Miranda echoed faintly, Miranda knew what she heard couldn’t be right, there was no way.

“It seemed harmless at the time.” Andy continued as she stepped away from Miranda and walked over to the sofa.

Miranda followed her and felt her face slacken as she realised when Andrea must have told old man Keller, “you told him you were my girlfriend?”

“No...” Andy hesitated.

“No?” Miranda asked her dread increasing.

“I told him I was your wife.” Andy confessed with a grimace.

Continued