Chapter 3: Pan De Muertos
A few days later, Brittany had completely cheered up. After their dance, Britrany had helped Santana frame pictures of those they had lost. Finn and Santana's grandfather were two of the biggest pictures along with Brittany's grandparents. Smallest was the sonogram, which Brittany insisted should sit up front.
"So what else does the altar entail?" Brittany had asked after they'd taken a moment to deal with the grief of seeing all those pictures together.
"Well, for starters, it's called an ofrenda in Spanish. There's some traditional items I want to pick up this weekend. I found this little Mexican bakery just up the street. They should have everything we need." Santana smiled "But this is perfect for now."
That's how Brittany found herself looking around a tiny storefront bakery, a warm shelter from the cold outside. Santana smiled as Brittany asked about things she saw, gently explaining.
"¡Buenos días señoritas!" the lady behind the counter welcomed them in "Abla Espanol?" she asked.
"Si, pero usa Ingles por favor?" Santana requested.
"Of course, so what brings you in?"
"I'm setting up my ofrenda for Dia De Los Muertos. I was hoping you'd have everything here? Or know somewhere I can find everything." Santana said "We're a bit new to the area.
"Of course. Well I can help you with nearly everything and I'll give you a flower shop for the marigolds." she said writing down an address and handing it to Santana.
"Thanks so much." Santana said, carefully tucking the note in her pocket.
"So how many pan de Muertos do you want?" she pointed to the sweet bread in the case.
"Two please. And then I'll also need some calavera and papel picado." Santana asked nicely.
"Of course. I'll package this up for you. Which of the calavera would you like?" the lady gestured to some of the most beautiful sugar skulls Santana had seen.
"Britt, why don't you pick?" Santana said. Brittany nodded and began to carefully examine them.
"Is this her first Dia De Los Muertos?" the lady asked as she packaged up the bread.
"It's the first time we've celebrated together in our new house. I never had a space or ability to do one in the dorms in college or the apartment we shared with our friends. She and I would visit my parents usually so I could still celebrate." Santana explained "It's a bit emotional this year, especially for her."
"Do you mind me asking why?" the shopkeeper grabbed a pack of perforated paper and stacked on top of the two boxes of bread.
"She suffered a miscarriage just recently." Santana said softly.
"Oh, I am so sorry. Here" the lady grabbed a smaller skull "For the little one."
"Gracias." Santana said "Britt did you pick a few?"
"They're all so pretty!" Brittany looked up "But I like these three" Brittany pointed to a few that Santana agreed were some of the prettiest..
"Great choice. Here you go. You girls have a great Dia De Los Muertos!" the lady waved them off.
"That place was so cool! Can we go some other time too?" Brittany had a skip in her step and Santana nodded.
"Whatever makes you happy love. Let's get this all home. I'll run out to get the marigolds while you get a start on your Hocus Pocus decorations okay?" Santana smiled. Brittany nodded.
Later that day, Santana found herself out the flower shop. She picked out her marigolds when a bouquet caught her eye.
"How much for the lillies?" Santana asked.
"Marigolds and lilies. Odd combination. $20 for the bunch." the florist said.
"I'll take them and the marigolds please." Santana said happily.
"Britt, I'm home!" Santana said, shrugging off her coat. "Britt?" she wandered further into the house and saw the blonde carefully framing a picture of Lord Tubbington.
"We forgot to put him on the altar San!" Brittany shook her head "I feel so ashamed."
"Baby, I didn't know you wanted to. I'm sorry." Santana said, gently taking the frame and closing it before setting the cat on the altar.
"It's okay. Are those lilies?" Brittnay spotted the flowers.
"Yeah, I wanted to get you some. I remember the time you filled the choir room with them. They just brought back good memories." the Latina said, going to put them in a vase.
"Well thank you babe. I'm glad we put the ofrenda up. It feels like they're all here." the blonde smiled.
"I know." Santana said.