Valentines Day had arrived and coincided very nicely with the end of Andrea’s course. As Andrea looked lovingly into the eyes of her partner across the table at The London the events of last week seemed like a distant memory to Andrea, not that she could really remember much about passing out and vomiting in her old workplace. Tonight was the night that everything would be revealed; she just hoped Miranda would understand. To Miranda however something didn’t quite fit. According Andrea, she had injured herself on a piece of gym equipment and decided to forgo her writing class that evening to get a lift home from Roy as she was not feeling up to taking the subway. This plan would have worked perfectly if she had not acquired concussion and… well Miranda decided not to dwell on the past, even if she never did discover what part the broken Jimmy Choos had to play in it all. She was happy with Andrea, happier than she could remember being in a long time. Therefore it did seem logical to cause problems, especially seeing as today had been so wonderful. Having decided not to go to the office Miranda made breakfast in bed and exchanged gifts with Andrea. Andrea had purchased several of Miranda’s favourite films which led to them spending most of the afternoon curled up watching An Affair to Remember, how ironic Miranda thought and laughed out loud and receiving a quizzical look from Andrea. “Sorry I was just thinking about what a nice day we’ve had so far.”

“Hmmm it has been nice… but you still have your big present when we get home” Andrea subtly began to run her foot up Miranda’s leg watching her partner begin to blush. Andrea’s cell phone ringing interrupted the moment earning her a glare from Miranda. Looking at the screen Andrea groaned.

“I have to take this, sorry” Andrea headed towards the ladies room. Miranda was furious, she had put up with Andrea’s writing class, suspicious bruises, concussions, the not so subtle change in her figure and that bag of La Perla lingerie she discovered hidden under the bed that she had never seen Andrea wear. Slinking off to take phone calls during dinner was not normal behaviour and at that moment Miranda stood up to follow her partner to the bathroom.

“Look, stop panicking! You cannot mess this up. Do you have any idea how hard it’s been to keep this a secret!?” Andy was locked in a cubicle and was not aware that Miranda was standing outside listening to her every word.

“Yes I know you’ve had to keep quiet too….Yes I know it’s an inconvenience…LOOK, we’ll be leaving here pretty soon make sure everything is ready and that you are long gone.” Andrea’s face fell as she was met with Miranda as she left the cubicle.

“Ok…. That must have sounded bad but” Andrea began to stutter as Miranda held her hand up.

“How long has…whatever this is been going on Andrea?”

“Miranda it really isn’t what you think do you really think I could… what exactly do you think I’ve done? Had an affair!?” Andrea felt ill surely she couldn’t think she would actually cheat on her.

“This is crazy” Andrea began to pace around the bathroom, “look I’ve gone about this all wrong, you have no idea how badly I have screwed up. Please can we go home I can explain everything?”

“Everything Andrea!? Oh really, so you can explain exactly why you have been lying to me? You can explain your sudden weight loss, injuries, broken shoes and your secret phone calls.” Miranda scoffed.

“Yes I can, everything you have just mentioned is to do with your Valentine’s Day present” Despite the seriousness of the situation Andrea smiled slightly at the look of utter disbelief on her partners face. “Yes I know that sounds far fetched but I’ve been planning it since Christmas! I’m sorry if I’ve made you think anything else but I swear to you Miranda. Look at me” Andy reached out to caress Miranda’s cheek and looked into her eyes “Everything will make perfect sense if we go home now.”

Sitting in the car Andrea was struggling to understand how she had managed to turn what should have been a pleasant surprise into such a mess. As she put the privacy screen up she turned to look at Miranda, Andy could have hit her self for making her partner look so hurt.

“What do you want to know, I know you don’t believe me but honestly… I think we’ll be laughing about this pretty soon” Andy smiled at Miranda but the look in the older woman’s eyes told her it was too soon to make light of the situation.

“Have you really been going to writing classes?”

“Err… No that was a slight fabrication” Andy felt Miranda stiffen next to her, “Wait! I was going to classes, just not for writing. I’ve been trying to learn something so that I could give you a very special present tonight.”

“Did you really injure yourself at the gym?” Miranda was looking right past Andrea as she spoke.

“Well… no I injured myself at class, which will make sense later ok? And before you ask yes I broke the shoes, I knew you had bought them and I convinced Emily to let me borrow them so that I could… practise” that caught Miranda’s attention.

“And what exactly were you practising that caused you to break the heel off a 4inch pair of Jimmy Choos and obtain a concussion?”

“I was practising for tonight and that’s all I can say without ruining your surprise anymore that I already have” Andrea said as the car pulled up in front of the townhouse. “I know I royally fucked this up ok?” Andrea stated pulling Miranda into an embrace as they entered the townhouse, “I really didn’t think it would cause so many problems.” Miranda scoffed, “I’m sorry okay? This was meant to be so romantic and now I’ve gone and messed everything up”

“Okay enough” Miranda gently pressed her lips against Andrea’s, “you do realise this is going to have to be some present to make up for making me think you were… well what I’m trying to say is that it better be good.” Miranda smiled as Andrea began to lead her upstairs. “Oh I think you’ll be more than satisfied Miranda, if you could just wait here whilst I check that Emily managed to sort out the drama.

“Emily?” Miranda raised an eyebrow.

“Yeah, she’s been helping me out, that’s who I was on the phone to when you overheard me.” Andy shouted as she walked into the living room.

“Well… I suppose that makes sense” Miranda muttered. Andrea eventually emerged with a glass of champagne glass and handed it to Miranda.

“Trust me, everything will make sense” Andrea whispered in Miranda’s ear as she slipped a blindfold over her eyes. Miranda felt herself being led into the living room and sat in a chair.

“Andrea what are you doing?” Miranda suddenly felt nervous as she felt Andrea leave her side.

“Getting ready… I’ll let you know when you can take off the blindfold” Miranda was about to reply when she heard a bang and Andrea swearing. Instinctively she reached to remove the blindfold. “DON’T take it off. I’m fine, just fell over. No concussion this time though” She heard Andrea giggle nervously. After a few minutes Andrea spoke again.

“Okay… when I turn the music on I want you to take the blindfold off, and err please don’t laugh” eventually Miranda heard the song that Andy been listening to for the past few weeks and reached to remove her blindfold.