Meeting Vivian - Chapter 6 - The Models
See Chapter 1 for disclaimers and notes.
Chapter 6 - The Models
Andy Sachs sighed as she admired the framed Runway cover hanging on the wall. The cover from July 1963 showed Bridget O’Conner wearing a sleeveless ivory sheath dress. It was the first part of a larger exhibit Andy planned for this section of the Runway Museum. As she stepped back to take in the rest of the display, she was joined by one of the ghost models.
“What do you think?” Andy’s eyes moved over the other framed and matted pictures that surrounded the Runway cover.
“I love it, but then I’m biased. It was my first Runway cover.”As Bridget stared at her picture, Andy wondered if she was trying to recall the young woman in the photograph.
“It was a beautiful cover. With your auburn hair up, you looked so sophisticated.” Andy turned and smiled at the woman. “It looks wonderful down though.”
Bridget nodded her thanks. “Was this your idea?” The ghost waved at the pictures arranged on the wall. They were all from the last shoot Bridget and others worked on.
“Yeah, I’d been thinking about it for a while.” Andy fluffed her bangs as she tried to decide if she liked the way everything was organized.
“Vivian says that you’re in charge around here,” Bridget murmured.
“That’s funny. I always thought Vivian was in charge.” Andy grinned at the ghost. “Miranda loved the idea of a museum when I suggested it, but she knew that the E-C board was too cheap to fund something like this. So she set up a foundation to pay for everything.” Andy shrugged. “I’m on the committee that runs the museum.”
Without saying anything Andy and Bridget wandered along looking at the rest of the pictures arranged on the wall. They then turned their attention to the couture draped mannequins in glass display cases.
“I’d like to tell your story,” Andy said in a nonchalant way.
Bridget raised an eyebrow and continued to study the formal gown in the case. “I thought you were a reporter? I’m old news.”
Andy shook her head. “I also like to think of myself as a storyteller. I’d like to hear your story.” She looked around for the ghost’s absent companions. “I’d like to tell your friends’ stories as well.”
Bridget glanced at Andy. “I’ll talk to the girls. We’ll see.”
Andy dipped her head. “Thank you.” She watched Bridget fade away.
The next evening Andy was wandering the museum as she waited for Miranda. They were on their way to dinner when Miranda received an overseas call. Miranda promised it wouldn’t be more than twenty minutes so Andy came down to the museum. Bridget appeared just as Andy was heading towards Vivian’s office.
“The girls and I have agreed to talk you.” Andy’s delighted expression brought a smile to Bridget’s face.
“Thank you. That’s great. Will this weekend be okay?” Andy was excited to get started. She immediately felt silly when Bridget raised an eyebrow and gave her a wry look.
“We’ll be here,” Bridget answered.
“Oh, yeah.” Andy blushed. “I’ll see you then.” Just then her cell phone signaled a text. “I have to go. Miranda’s ready. See you this weekend.” Andy waved over her shoulder as she hurried towards the elevators.
***
Saturday morning Andy was dragging a folding chair through a door into the unoccupied area of the thirteenth floor. She paused as she stepped into the open room. ‘One day,’ she thought ‘this will be filled with exhibits too.’ The Closet took up a little over a quarter of the thirteenth floor and the Museum almost half. She planned to take full advantage of this space’s potential.
Andy set the chair near one of the windows. “Ladies?” She grinned when the six ghosts appeared nearby. “Good morning.”
The models nodded their greetings as they milled around, looking out the windows, or examining the space.
“How would you like to do this?” Bridget asked.
Andy pulled a notebook and pen out of her bag and set the bag on the floor by her chair. “I thought I’d talk to you as a group first and then do some one on one interviews.”
Bridget looked at the others and they all nodded their agreement.
“Great. Did you work together frequently?” Andy flipped open her notebook and got her pen ready before sitting down.
A couple of the girls pointed at Bridget to act as spokesperson. Bridget rolled her eyes. “We had been friends for years and worked with each other at some point in our careers. But as a group, I think there were four times we were all together,” she sighed, “before that last shoot.”
Andy raised her head from taking notes. “May I ask about that day? I would like to know even though I can’t include anything you say in my article.”
The models looked at each other and nodded.
“Tell me about that day,” Andy asked as she closed her notebook.
“It was the first time we had been back at Runway since Vivian’s death. I remember thinking it was hard to believe that she had been gone six months.” Bridget ran her fingers through her hair. “Most of the magazine’s offices had moved up to the seventeenth floor. I think there were a few stragglers still around. Since there was space available the photographer set up down here.”
“Really?” Andy watched the models gather closer to Bridget. “Where?”
“Remember that open area outside of Vivian’s office?” Tess said. “There was plenty of room for lights and backdrops.”
Marla nudged Amanda’s shoulder. “Remember saying that Vivian was probably watching over us?”
Amanda shook her head. “We had no idea.”
“I remember thinking I wanted to make Vivian proud,” whispered Gina.
“We all did,” Denise mused. “Vivian watched out for us. For all the models,” she added.
“The shoot went well. It was April so we were modeling summer dresses.” Bridget reached out and took Denise and Tess’ hands.
Andy watched as the models linked hands. She wondered if it was a way for them to support and comfort each other.
“When we finished we were to fly to Martha’s Vineyard,” Bridget continued. “We were going to get shots by the water the next day. The photographer and his staff sent us on ahead. They would follow in another plane. There were some vague plans for dinner that night.”
“The pilot was young but seemed very nice,” said Tess softly.
“I always hated flying in small planes.” Bridget shivered. “Somewhere over the water the plane started making strange sounds. I heard the pilot radio that there was a problem with the engines.”
“I remember I said I wish I was still at Runway.” Amanda gave everyone a wry smile.
Bridget nodded. “Of course we all agreed. Denise started chanting Runway, Runway.”
“And we all joined in,” Tess chuckled.
“Runway, Runway, Runway, Runway.” Bridget lowered her head and sighed. “Then it was black for about a minute and we were back here.”
The girls dropped their hands but gathered closer together.
“Vivian was there,” Bridget whispered. “As soon as I saw her, I knew.”
“I didn’t,” said Denise. “I started to panic. I didn’t understand what had happened.”
Amanda came over and looped her arm around Denise’s shoulder. “Vivian came over and wrapped you in her arms. She calmed you down.” Amanda glanced at Andy. “She hugged each of us and helped us understand.”
“She took care of us. I’ll always love her for that,” Bridget said.
Andy wiped a few tears from her eyes. “She’s a good friend.”
Just then Vivian popped in. “Are you alright?” She looked at each of the models.
“She became our mother hen.” Bridget smiled fondly at the petite woman.
Vivian glared. “I’m more of an older sister.” She swung around and pointed at Andy. “Not one word,” she cautioned.
“Yes, Vivian.” Andy grinned at the woman’s teasing.
“I think we all fell in love with Vivian that day.” Tess leaned over and kissed Vivian’s cheek. “We owe her so much.”
“No,” Vivian shook her head. “Any debt you owed has been re-paid ten times over.”
Curious, Andy tilted her head and studied Vivian. “What do you mean?” She marveled as the mood immediately lightened.
“Do you remember when Miranda interrupted your offer to let me take you instead of her?” Vivian’s eyes twinkled at Andy’s blush.
“Yes.” Andy jabbed her finger at Vivian. “You set me up.”
“I know,” Vivian agreed. “When Miranda learned that you might be on this floor, she rushed down in case the girls were scaring you. She told me later that she had no idea what she was going to do but she had to protect you.”
Andy melted at the thought of Miranda coming to her rescue. “That is so sweet. But I don’t understand.”
Bridget held up her hand to forestall Vivian. “About a year after Runway cleared out of this floor, the other two magazines that had offices here folded. The entire floor was empty.”
Gina stepped past Bridget. “I was wandering around when I overheard two men from building management talk about leasing this space to a brokerage firm.”
Denise sidled up next to Vivian and wrapped her arm around the petite woman’s waist. “Vivian tried to hide it but she was beside herself with the thought that stockbrokers might possibly take over.”
Gina moved to the other side of Vivian and took her hand. “There was no way we were going to allow anyone to take over our home. So we came up with a plan.”
Andy grinned at the models. “A plan that involved scaring the bejeebers out of anyone that came down here?”
Vivian chuckled. “They were very creative.” She gave her friends a fond look. “Bridget is able to project a feeling of dread. Tess and Gina are quite adept at creating fog or mist. Denise’s sound effects are very chilling. Marla can make the lights dim and Amanda can make it cold.”
Andy mock glared at Amanda. “You were the one that chilled Miranda’s coffee the first time I visited the floor.”
Amanda bowed with a flourish.
“The girls were able to run off leasing agents, representatives of building management, and E-C board members. After a few years, no one wanted anything to do with the thirteenth floor.” Vivian kissed Gina and Denise’s cheeks before moving out of their embrace and closer to Andy. “We became a family and, even though it wasn’t pretty, this floor became our home.”
Andy looked up at Vivian. “It’s still your home and I hope you continue to enjoy it for a very long time.”
Over the next several weekends Andy interviewed each of the models. With their help she was able to track down the families they left behind. The family interviews helped Andy to fully expand on the women’s too brief lives. She was a little sad when she gave Nigel the final article. There was so much more she wanted to write but no one would believe a story about ghosts haunting a deserted thirteenth floor.
***
Andy stood off to the side as the crowd gathered in front of the newest exhibit, The Lost Models. Her article about the lives and deaths of the six women would be published in next month’s Runway. Today was the 45th anniversary of the plane crash that took their lives. As she researched her article, Andy tracked down all of the models’ living relatives.
At some point during her interviews she decided there needed to be some way to mark the loss. Miranda had been very supportive of her final plans. Andy talked to Bridget and the others to get their approval also. She wasn’t sure how the ghosts would react to seeing family members after such a long time. So she decided to ask.
Tess said she wouldn’t mind seeing her brother and sister. She didn’t think it would bother her since they had aged and changed over the years and she had not. For the most part, the others agreed.
Andy had worried about Bridget, but the woman assured her she would be fine. When Bridget died, she left behind a nine year old son to be raised by her mother and sister. Bridget made a point to look in on her family every year on Halloween night. Andy had been impressed with Benjamin O’Conner during her interviews. He told her that his mother had originally wanted to be a teacher, but finding out she was pregnant at nineteen had stifled that wish. Benjamin felt that his becoming a teacher honored his mother’s dreams.
With the models’ blessing, invitations had been sent out to their families.
Andy chewed her lip and glanced at her watch. It was time.
“Ladies and Gentlemen, thank you for coming today.” Andy smiled briefly at the crowd. “When we started the Museum, I immersed myself in Runway history. The story of the six models touched my heart. I had so many questions. What kind of women were they? What happened to the family and friends they left behind? Being a reporter, I decided to look for answers. The more I learned about these women, the more impressed I became. This exhibit,” Andy waved towards the pictures on the wall and the free-standing easels, “is a tribute to their hard work.
“During my research, I met with most of you. You helped me learn about the women’s hopes and dreams. I hope that my words will be a tribute to their personal lives.
“I am sorry for your losses. The women you lost that day,” Andy paused, “were doing what they loved. Their jobs weren’t always glamorous, but they did what they needed to do for the shot, for that picture that told a story.
“As a way to honor their lives the Foundation will be endowing six scholarships named for each of the young women lost that tragic day. I hope our celebration of their lives will give the souls of those young women some peace. Thank you.” Andy nodded her appreciation for the smattering of applause and moved through the crowd to Miranda’s side.
“That was beautiful, darling.” Miranda kissed Andy’s temple.
“Thanks, sweetheart.” Andy sighed as she watched the families of the models mingle and wander around the exhibits. “Their story touched me. They were all around my age when they died. So sad,” she whispered.
Miranda blanched and grasped Andy’s hand.
“Miranda?” The expression on her girlfriend’s face sent a cold chill down Andy’s spine. “Sweetie, what’s wrong?” She cupped Miranda’s cheek and gazed into terrified eyes.
“I need, I, I,” Miranda stuttered and started pulling Andy across the museum.
Andy hurried to keep up. She was afraid that if she paused and asked for an explanation, Miranda would pull her off her feet. She was so worried about what scared Miranda that it took her a few seconds to realize they were in Vivian’s office.
Miranda framed Andy’s face with gentle hands. Andy felt Miranda run her thumbs over her cheeks as she gazed into worried blue eyes.
Andy reached up and placed her hands over Miranda’s. “Are you okay?” She turned her head and kissed the palm of one hand.
“I think so. Now.” Miranda continued to stare into Andrea’s eyes. “Since we’ve been dating, I’ve been holding back. I’ve been so worried about my mortality, I never considered…” She couldn’t continue.
“My mortality.” Andy pulled Miranda’s hands down and kissed her knuckles. “I tried to tell you.”
Miranda shook her head. “I heard the words, but I didn’t really understand.” She took a deep breath. “Andrea, will you marry me?”
A slow smile spread across Andy’s face before she squealed and threw her arms around Miranda’s neck. “Yes! Yes!” Andy pulled Miranda into a soul-searing kiss.
When they came up for air they realized they weren’t alone.
“Finally!” Smirking, Vivian crossed her arms and stared at the couple.
“Really, Vivian. Is it too much to expect a little privacy?” Miranda sniffed and kept her arms loosely wrapped around Andrea.
“It is my office.” Vivian started to fade out but paused. “Congratulations.” With a final wink she was gone.
“She’s going to be insufferable,” Miranda huffed.
“Probably. Come here.” Andy pulled Miranda back in for another kiss.
Chapter 7 - Irv
Chapter 6 - The Models
Andy Sachs sighed as she admired the framed Runway cover hanging on the wall. The cover from July 1963 showed Bridget O’Conner wearing a sleeveless ivory sheath dress. It was the first part of a larger exhibit Andy planned for this section of the Runway Museum. As she stepped back to take in the rest of the display, she was joined by one of the ghost models.
“What do you think?” Andy’s eyes moved over the other framed and matted pictures that surrounded the Runway cover.
“I love it, but then I’m biased. It was my first Runway cover.”As Bridget stared at her picture, Andy wondered if she was trying to recall the young woman in the photograph.
“It was a beautiful cover. With your auburn hair up, you looked so sophisticated.” Andy turned and smiled at the woman. “It looks wonderful down though.”
Bridget nodded her thanks. “Was this your idea?” The ghost waved at the pictures arranged on the wall. They were all from the last shoot Bridget and others worked on.
“Yeah, I’d been thinking about it for a while.” Andy fluffed her bangs as she tried to decide if she liked the way everything was organized.
“Vivian says that you’re in charge around here,” Bridget murmured.
“That’s funny. I always thought Vivian was in charge.” Andy grinned at the ghost. “Miranda loved the idea of a museum when I suggested it, but she knew that the E-C board was too cheap to fund something like this. So she set up a foundation to pay for everything.” Andy shrugged. “I’m on the committee that runs the museum.”
Without saying anything Andy and Bridget wandered along looking at the rest of the pictures arranged on the wall. They then turned their attention to the couture draped mannequins in glass display cases.
“I’d like to tell your story,” Andy said in a nonchalant way.
Bridget raised an eyebrow and continued to study the formal gown in the case. “I thought you were a reporter? I’m old news.”
Andy shook her head. “I also like to think of myself as a storyteller. I’d like to hear your story.” She looked around for the ghost’s absent companions. “I’d like to tell your friends’ stories as well.”
Bridget glanced at Andy. “I’ll talk to the girls. We’ll see.”
Andy dipped her head. “Thank you.” She watched Bridget fade away.
The next evening Andy was wandering the museum as she waited for Miranda. They were on their way to dinner when Miranda received an overseas call. Miranda promised it wouldn’t be more than twenty minutes so Andy came down to the museum. Bridget appeared just as Andy was heading towards Vivian’s office.
“The girls and I have agreed to talk you.” Andy’s delighted expression brought a smile to Bridget’s face.
“Thank you. That’s great. Will this weekend be okay?” Andy was excited to get started. She immediately felt silly when Bridget raised an eyebrow and gave her a wry look.
“We’ll be here,” Bridget answered.
“Oh, yeah.” Andy blushed. “I’ll see you then.” Just then her cell phone signaled a text. “I have to go. Miranda’s ready. See you this weekend.” Andy waved over her shoulder as she hurried towards the elevators.
***
Saturday morning Andy was dragging a folding chair through a door into the unoccupied area of the thirteenth floor. She paused as she stepped into the open room. ‘One day,’ she thought ‘this will be filled with exhibits too.’ The Closet took up a little over a quarter of the thirteenth floor and the Museum almost half. She planned to take full advantage of this space’s potential.
Andy set the chair near one of the windows. “Ladies?” She grinned when the six ghosts appeared nearby. “Good morning.”
The models nodded their greetings as they milled around, looking out the windows, or examining the space.
“How would you like to do this?” Bridget asked.
Andy pulled a notebook and pen out of her bag and set the bag on the floor by her chair. “I thought I’d talk to you as a group first and then do some one on one interviews.”
Bridget looked at the others and they all nodded their agreement.
“Great. Did you work together frequently?” Andy flipped open her notebook and got her pen ready before sitting down.
A couple of the girls pointed at Bridget to act as spokesperson. Bridget rolled her eyes. “We had been friends for years and worked with each other at some point in our careers. But as a group, I think there were four times we were all together,” she sighed, “before that last shoot.”
Andy raised her head from taking notes. “May I ask about that day? I would like to know even though I can’t include anything you say in my article.”
The models looked at each other and nodded.
“Tell me about that day,” Andy asked as she closed her notebook.
“It was the first time we had been back at Runway since Vivian’s death. I remember thinking it was hard to believe that she had been gone six months.” Bridget ran her fingers through her hair. “Most of the magazine’s offices had moved up to the seventeenth floor. I think there were a few stragglers still around. Since there was space available the photographer set up down here.”
“Really?” Andy watched the models gather closer to Bridget. “Where?”
“Remember that open area outside of Vivian’s office?” Tess said. “There was plenty of room for lights and backdrops.”
Marla nudged Amanda’s shoulder. “Remember saying that Vivian was probably watching over us?”
Amanda shook her head. “We had no idea.”
“I remember thinking I wanted to make Vivian proud,” whispered Gina.
“We all did,” Denise mused. “Vivian watched out for us. For all the models,” she added.
“The shoot went well. It was April so we were modeling summer dresses.” Bridget reached out and took Denise and Tess’ hands.
Andy watched as the models linked hands. She wondered if it was a way for them to support and comfort each other.
“When we finished we were to fly to Martha’s Vineyard,” Bridget continued. “We were going to get shots by the water the next day. The photographer and his staff sent us on ahead. They would follow in another plane. There were some vague plans for dinner that night.”
“The pilot was young but seemed very nice,” said Tess softly.
“I always hated flying in small planes.” Bridget shivered. “Somewhere over the water the plane started making strange sounds. I heard the pilot radio that there was a problem with the engines.”
“I remember I said I wish I was still at Runway.” Amanda gave everyone a wry smile.
Bridget nodded. “Of course we all agreed. Denise started chanting Runway, Runway.”
“And we all joined in,” Tess chuckled.
“Runway, Runway, Runway, Runway.” Bridget lowered her head and sighed. “Then it was black for about a minute and we were back here.”
The girls dropped their hands but gathered closer together.
“Vivian was there,” Bridget whispered. “As soon as I saw her, I knew.”
“I didn’t,” said Denise. “I started to panic. I didn’t understand what had happened.”
Amanda came over and looped her arm around Denise’s shoulder. “Vivian came over and wrapped you in her arms. She calmed you down.” Amanda glanced at Andy. “She hugged each of us and helped us understand.”
“She took care of us. I’ll always love her for that,” Bridget said.
Andy wiped a few tears from her eyes. “She’s a good friend.”
Just then Vivian popped in. “Are you alright?” She looked at each of the models.
“She became our mother hen.” Bridget smiled fondly at the petite woman.
Vivian glared. “I’m more of an older sister.” She swung around and pointed at Andy. “Not one word,” she cautioned.
“Yes, Vivian.” Andy grinned at the woman’s teasing.
“I think we all fell in love with Vivian that day.” Tess leaned over and kissed Vivian’s cheek. “We owe her so much.”
“No,” Vivian shook her head. “Any debt you owed has been re-paid ten times over.”
Curious, Andy tilted her head and studied Vivian. “What do you mean?” She marveled as the mood immediately lightened.
“Do you remember when Miranda interrupted your offer to let me take you instead of her?” Vivian’s eyes twinkled at Andy’s blush.
“Yes.” Andy jabbed her finger at Vivian. “You set me up.”
“I know,” Vivian agreed. “When Miranda learned that you might be on this floor, she rushed down in case the girls were scaring you. She told me later that she had no idea what she was going to do but she had to protect you.”
Andy melted at the thought of Miranda coming to her rescue. “That is so sweet. But I don’t understand.”
Bridget held up her hand to forestall Vivian. “About a year after Runway cleared out of this floor, the other two magazines that had offices here folded. The entire floor was empty.”
Gina stepped past Bridget. “I was wandering around when I overheard two men from building management talk about leasing this space to a brokerage firm.”
Denise sidled up next to Vivian and wrapped her arm around the petite woman’s waist. “Vivian tried to hide it but she was beside herself with the thought that stockbrokers might possibly take over.”
Gina moved to the other side of Vivian and took her hand. “There was no way we were going to allow anyone to take over our home. So we came up with a plan.”
Andy grinned at the models. “A plan that involved scaring the bejeebers out of anyone that came down here?”
Vivian chuckled. “They were very creative.” She gave her friends a fond look. “Bridget is able to project a feeling of dread. Tess and Gina are quite adept at creating fog or mist. Denise’s sound effects are very chilling. Marla can make the lights dim and Amanda can make it cold.”
Andy mock glared at Amanda. “You were the one that chilled Miranda’s coffee the first time I visited the floor.”
Amanda bowed with a flourish.
“The girls were able to run off leasing agents, representatives of building management, and E-C board members. After a few years, no one wanted anything to do with the thirteenth floor.” Vivian kissed Gina and Denise’s cheeks before moving out of their embrace and closer to Andy. “We became a family and, even though it wasn’t pretty, this floor became our home.”
Andy looked up at Vivian. “It’s still your home and I hope you continue to enjoy it for a very long time.”
Over the next several weekends Andy interviewed each of the models. With their help she was able to track down the families they left behind. The family interviews helped Andy to fully expand on the women’s too brief lives. She was a little sad when she gave Nigel the final article. There was so much more she wanted to write but no one would believe a story about ghosts haunting a deserted thirteenth floor.
***
Andy stood off to the side as the crowd gathered in front of the newest exhibit, The Lost Models. Her article about the lives and deaths of the six women would be published in next month’s Runway. Today was the 45th anniversary of the plane crash that took their lives. As she researched her article, Andy tracked down all of the models’ living relatives.
At some point during her interviews she decided there needed to be some way to mark the loss. Miranda had been very supportive of her final plans. Andy talked to Bridget and the others to get their approval also. She wasn’t sure how the ghosts would react to seeing family members after such a long time. So she decided to ask.
Tess said she wouldn’t mind seeing her brother and sister. She didn’t think it would bother her since they had aged and changed over the years and she had not. For the most part, the others agreed.
Andy had worried about Bridget, but the woman assured her she would be fine. When Bridget died, she left behind a nine year old son to be raised by her mother and sister. Bridget made a point to look in on her family every year on Halloween night. Andy had been impressed with Benjamin O’Conner during her interviews. He told her that his mother had originally wanted to be a teacher, but finding out she was pregnant at nineteen had stifled that wish. Benjamin felt that his becoming a teacher honored his mother’s dreams.
With the models’ blessing, invitations had been sent out to their families.
Andy chewed her lip and glanced at her watch. It was time.
“Ladies and Gentlemen, thank you for coming today.” Andy smiled briefly at the crowd. “When we started the Museum, I immersed myself in Runway history. The story of the six models touched my heart. I had so many questions. What kind of women were they? What happened to the family and friends they left behind? Being a reporter, I decided to look for answers. The more I learned about these women, the more impressed I became. This exhibit,” Andy waved towards the pictures on the wall and the free-standing easels, “is a tribute to their hard work.
“During my research, I met with most of you. You helped me learn about the women’s hopes and dreams. I hope that my words will be a tribute to their personal lives.
“I am sorry for your losses. The women you lost that day,” Andy paused, “were doing what they loved. Their jobs weren’t always glamorous, but they did what they needed to do for the shot, for that picture that told a story.
“As a way to honor their lives the Foundation will be endowing six scholarships named for each of the young women lost that tragic day. I hope our celebration of their lives will give the souls of those young women some peace. Thank you.” Andy nodded her appreciation for the smattering of applause and moved through the crowd to Miranda’s side.
“That was beautiful, darling.” Miranda kissed Andy’s temple.
“Thanks, sweetheart.” Andy sighed as she watched the families of the models mingle and wander around the exhibits. “Their story touched me. They were all around my age when they died. So sad,” she whispered.
Miranda blanched and grasped Andy’s hand.
“Miranda?” The expression on her girlfriend’s face sent a cold chill down Andy’s spine. “Sweetie, what’s wrong?” She cupped Miranda’s cheek and gazed into terrified eyes.
“I need, I, I,” Miranda stuttered and started pulling Andy across the museum.
Andy hurried to keep up. She was afraid that if she paused and asked for an explanation, Miranda would pull her off her feet. She was so worried about what scared Miranda that it took her a few seconds to realize they were in Vivian’s office.
Miranda framed Andy’s face with gentle hands. Andy felt Miranda run her thumbs over her cheeks as she gazed into worried blue eyes.
Andy reached up and placed her hands over Miranda’s. “Are you okay?” She turned her head and kissed the palm of one hand.
“I think so. Now.” Miranda continued to stare into Andrea’s eyes. “Since we’ve been dating, I’ve been holding back. I’ve been so worried about my mortality, I never considered…” She couldn’t continue.
“My mortality.” Andy pulled Miranda’s hands down and kissed her knuckles. “I tried to tell you.”
Miranda shook her head. “I heard the words, but I didn’t really understand.” She took a deep breath. “Andrea, will you marry me?”
A slow smile spread across Andy’s face before she squealed and threw her arms around Miranda’s neck. “Yes! Yes!” Andy pulled Miranda into a soul-searing kiss.
When they came up for air they realized they weren’t alone.
“Finally!” Smirking, Vivian crossed her arms and stared at the couple.
“Really, Vivian. Is it too much to expect a little privacy?” Miranda sniffed and kept her arms loosely wrapped around Andrea.
“It is my office.” Vivian started to fade out but paused. “Congratulations.” With a final wink she was gone.
“She’s going to be insufferable,” Miranda huffed.
“Probably. Come here.” Andy pulled Miranda back in for another kiss.
Chapter 7 - Irv