"Girlfriend, bring it in here!" Aadi Bheeda, a broad smile on their round face, opened their arms to give Miranda a big hug. "How are my little M&M's?"
"We're good," Miranda smiled. "How are you? You look good."
"Enjoying the country life?" Mariah asked with a laugh. Aadi had always been such a dazzling urbanite, she had a hard time imagining them on a farm.
"Girl, Aadi won't lie. It's been an adjustment," they said brightly. "Still, not hating it... especially since the pub got a karaoke machine."
"Madonna," Mariah groaned.
"That's our Aadi," Miranda laughed. "Bringing culture to the country."
"Well come on in," Aadi said. "You know the way."
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In the living room, the three of them settled onto a comfortable couch. Mariah took in the well-lived-in space, with a variety of art hanging on the walls. She couldn't help but notice the soft child's toys and playpen dominating the center of the room.
"Aadi, is there something you need to tell us?" she asked.
"What?" Aadi looked puzzled, then laughed. "Oh, those are Amber's. She is the Cutest Thing Ever. Abbey, her mom, is one of the other artists here, but we all help out with her. They're not here right now," Aadi added. "All my peeps are off at a craft show. Oh, Miranda, I'm supposed to tell you my Jordy says hey. They wanted to see you, but just could not miss the show."
"Jordy? You mean Jordan Scott?" Miranda blinked. "Wait... you and Jordan?!"
"OK, needing backstory," Mariah put in.
"Jordan was a kid I grew up with," Miranda explained. "They taught me how to use makeup. The only out gay kid in Henford Elementary back in the day, which wasn't easy. Their family owns the Gnome's Arms, the pub in Finchwick. I'm not surprised they're in the arts community, but... Come on, Aadi... share."
"Well, Jordy and I met at an art show a little after graduation," Aadi said.
"Sparks?" Miranda asked.
"Lightning and thunder, girl," Aadi grinned. "Aadi is in L-O-V-E. So, Jordy is one of the founders of the Henford arts commune... and, well..."
"I wondered what got you to move out to the country," Mariah quipped.
"The things we do for love, girl," Aadi nodded. "Anyway, I know you said you have some things to do while you're here, but I'm really hoping you can hang around and see Jordy. My boo has been really blue, and I know they'd love to see you."
"What's wrong?" Miranda asked, concerned.
"Oh, of course you wouldn't have heard," Aadi said sadly. "Derek McMillian passed away last week."
"Oh, no," Miranda looked shocked and grief-stricken.
Answering Mariah's slightly puzzled look, Aadi explained. "Derek and his husband Ian were a lovely old couple who lived down the road. Ian passed during the winter."
"Oh... Derek and Ian were wonderful," Miranda said. "They were the first gay couple to get married in Henford church, right after it became legal... even before my mom and Gwen got married. They were all the first openly gay couples in town at the time. Derek and Ian were very supportive of Jordan. Of course, mom and Gwen were too, but Derek and Ian were guys, so they got some of the guy-stuff Jordan was dealing with. Jordan must be hurting."
Aadi nodded sadly. "Yeah. Jordt says they knew it was coming, after Ian. The two of them were just so much in love it was like only natural they'd go together. Sad and romantic."
"Two hearts as one," Miranda sighed.
Mariah shuddered. She felt a sudden cold stab of pain piercing though her heart, beyond the half-imagined echoes of Miranda and Aadi's grief.
You've dealt with this, she told herself. This isn't about you and her. It will be OK.
She barely heard Miranda's next words. Everything seemed so far away.
"Well, we'll totally stop back after... after the thing I want to do," Miranda said. "To see Jordan. You know what, you should bring Jordan to the wedding."
"Bathroom's through there, right?" Mariah said suddenly, fighting to keep her feelings hidden.
"Yeah, straight across the entryway," Aadi said.
"Right back," Mariah said as she dashed from the room.
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Standing in the bathroom, Mariah clutched the sink and tried to steady her breathing.
I've got this, she thought. OK, so a nice old couple lived a long life together and were so much in love, they passed together. It's sad and romantic and It Isn't About Me.
Miranda loves me, she thought, and I love her. We're together and we're going to get married and be together for... OK, so I'll never grow old with her because she's a witch and she'll never grow old. We won't die together because she's immortal. It doesn't mean she can't love me.
Miranda loves me.
Her reflection whispered, "For how long?"
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