Chapter Ten: Going Home

Bruised, battered, and exhausted, Andy Sachs finally staggered back to the long limousine with Patricia safely on her leash once more. The search had taken hours, with Andy entering Central Park near the Museum of Natural History on 81st street and combing nearly every inch of the famous park on foot. She finally found Miranda's massive St. Bernard cowering in the bushes near the Harlem Meer.

"It's all right, baby, it's all right," the dark-eyed beauty crooned in the back seat, squeezing the worn out dog with all her might and kissing Patricia's dirty and matted fur. "We're going home now, precious baby. We're going home!"

Andy was only trying to calm the poor animal down. For Patricia, "home" was actually the very expensive kennel with extensive outdoor grounds where Miranda kept her pet during the work week. But Roy, the limo driver, overheard her words and misunderstood the situation. Or perhaps he understood far more than he let on. The next thing Andy knew they were pulling up in front of Miranda's town house.

"Oh God, she looks furious!" Andy couldn't understand how Miranda could have gotten home from work so early, without Roy to drive her. But there she was, standing on the marble steps outside her building, as frosty and elegant as ever, with the front door left ever so slightly open behind her.

"Come here, girl." Maybe Miranda was only talking to the dog. But when the limo door opened and Patricia went lunging up the front steps, Andy was dragged along with her. After all, she couldn't let go of the poor dog's leash. And so the two of them went crashing up the stairs together, like stray planetoids being sucked back into Miranda's orbit.

"You need a bath," Miranda said softly. But she wasn't talking to Patricia. Her eyes were resting on the grubby face of the slender young woman standing before her.

"I don't work for you anymore, Miranda," Andy replied, in a small but steady voice. "You can't tell me what to do."

"I should have taken better care of you," the silver-haired icon whispered, bending over and kissing the big dog at her feet. "I should never have treated you like an accessory. Jump back in the car now, there's a good girl. Roy will take you someplace absolutely lovely, where you can relax."

By this time Andy was hopelessly confused, not knowing whether Miranda was directing her or the St. Bernard. But at least Patricia knew what she wanted. She bounded down the steps and back into the waiting car. Andy was left staring into Miranda's cool gray eyes as the long black limousine slowly pulled away. Knowing what it all came down to.

"It's funny, I can't help still caring about Patricia, even though she's not my responsibility any more," the girl said casually, leaning against the cool iron railing. She felt like sitting down.

"I think she missed you," Miranda replied, rather awkwardly.

"Uh-huh."

The older woman hesitated, seeming to wage a struggle with herself. "I can't order you to come inside, Andrea. But I'd like it very much. I want to talk to you."

"Why not?" Andy shrugged. "I smell like dog anyway."

The two women walked up the stairs together.

THE END

A/N: I can't say how grateful I am to all the lovely readers here at the DWP board. Your kind reviews have made me very happy! I'm ending this story here just because I'm changing jobs and am likely to be out of circulation for a while. But please review and tell me if you'd like to see more stories like this about Andy and Miranda! And don't forget, if you're in the market for stories like this, GLORY AND THE CLEVER CAT by Carol Storm is on sale now over at Noble Romance. That's www dot noble romance dot com!