"We simply don't have the time," Alma said firmly.
Felix looked across the dining room table and felt an ounce of relief that he wasn't the only one feeling frustration over his mother-in-law's statement. Pepa was muttering up a storm to STOP a storm from brewing. Agustin had his jaw set and a fire in his eyes that Felix hadn't seen in years; apparently not getting stung a thousand times a day helped rekindle his energy and with it his urge to fight. Bruno once more sat at the head of the table, staring down his mother with eyes that were beginning to blaze green for reasons OTHER than a prophecy. And Julieta...
He knew what people thought about his wife and her siblings. Pepa was the fiery one that barely had control of her emotions. Bruno was the creepy one that would slink away the first chance he got. And Juliete was the calm one, a cream puff that would give with just a little pressure. Growing up people had wondered how the triplets could be siblings when they were so vastly different?
Except... Bruno had recently proven that his decade away from casita had allowed him to finally find his backbone. Pepa had gushed over how he had stood up for her even as she felt remorse that her hermano might not need her anymore. And the way he had handled them all during that first night after he and Mirabel had returned and he'd discovered their secret plotting session... after he'd gotten done being embarrassed Felix had sought him out, apologized, and then told him how amazing he was.
Now Julieta was proving that she had steel in her bones as well. It had just taken a very long time for it to temper but finally, at long last, it had hardened and now she would not bend; instead she would make others BREAK.
"We have three weeks until Antonio's ceremony," Julieta informed her mother. "We were already planning to do something to celebrate Mirabel's return."
"A small party, just family," Alma said. "Perhaps just a dinner, considering her...eccentric ways."
Bruno spoke up. "You do know that when you send her down to the village people actually SEE her, right? While she did ask for it one year we never were able to find a cloak of invisibility."
"There is a difference between seeing her from afar running about with Luisa and her being the center of attention," Alma stated.
"With the latter you can't lie and make up stories to force Mirabel into the mold you want her to be," Julieta said, causing Felix's eyes to widen at the raw passion in her voice.
"Julieta!" Alma snapped. "You will watch your tone-"
"When you do the same, mama," Julieta declared. "Mirabel is my DAUGHTER. I wouldn't let a stranger talk about her the way you are... you think blood protects you?" Agustin placed a hand on her arm and she settled back in her chair. "Mirabel has done nothing to embarrass us. In fact Luisa tells me that several villagers have thanked her. She has helped make repairs that have been long overdue."
"Something you always go on about," Pepa stated. "She is helping the village. Is her clothing choices really that horrible that it wipes out all the good she's done? If so then our neighbors are far more vain than I ever thought."
'Or you're the one that's that vain,' Felix thought as he looked at Alma who was beginning to realize just how trapped she was.
"It wouldn't be right to do it now. She has already turned 15... a birthday party must be held on one's birthday."
"Says who, mama? You?" Bruno shook his head. "Plenty of people all over the world celebrate their birthdays on days other than the date of their birth. It happens."
"Not here."
"But that doesn't mean it can't."
Julieta cut in. "I want to do this, mama. I want to give her a quinceañera. Just as we gave Isabella and Luisa and Dolores. She deserves it."
"But what does it matter, Julieta, when it has already passed?"
Felix leapt in his seat as, of all people, Agustin slammed his hands on the table. "Because you cost us nine birthdays already, Alma!" Now it was Julieta's turn to place a calming hand on her husband's arm. Only Agustin still continued to stare hard at the head of the family. "I will always be grateful that Ernesto and Bruno were there for her but I don't think I will ever forgive you for stealing those birthdays from me. You will NOT take this one."
If there was one thing that could be said about Alma Madrigal it was that she had a will cast in the densest metal. Even in the face of them all she continued to stare at her family like they were nothing more than a pack of unruly toddlers screaming for cookies only minutes before supper. Felix wondered if that truly was how she saw them.
"We may have a party," she said finally, "after Isabella's wedding."
"Isabella isn't even engaged yet, mama," Julieta pointed out. "The wedding could be a year or two from now."
"A reason for Mirabel to stay then," Alma stated coolly.
Bruno scoffed. "Until you get it in your head to find a man for Dolores or Luisa and then we must wait for their wedding. And then Isabella becomes pregnant and we wait for the birth. You'd have us celebrate Camilo's daughter's quinceañera before we get to Mirabel's."
"I do not want to intrude on Isabella's important time."
"Isabella has been given enough attention before now and will receive plenty after," Pepa said, sending an apologetic smile towards Julieta who merely nodded in thanks. "There is no harm in doing this for Mirabel."
"And you are so quick to diminish your son's big day?" Alma asked. "Antonio will be getting his gift... that is far more important than Mirabel-"
"Mirabel can have my party."
Everyone turned and stared in surprise at Antonio who was standing in the doorway, a bowl full of cookies in his hands.
"Hijo," Pepa said, "what are you doing? You are supposed to be with Camilo and Dolores."
"Mirabel was teaching us how to play a card game but we needed something to eat so I volunteered to get cookies," Antonio said before looking right at his abuela. "Mirabel can have my party."
"Antonio," Agustin began.
But Felix's son cut him off. "She hasn't had a birthday here in years! She... she deserves one!"
"But this is your ceremony," Alma said. "You will get your gift. You don't want to give that up."
"But this is really big for Mirabel too and she's very nice... she deserves a party! I don't need a gift-" Alma leaned back in shock, "-she can have my party."
Felix got out of his chair and walked over to his hijo. "Mirabel will get her party. AND you will get a ceremony as well."
"You promise?" Antonio asked. "Because she's so nice papa and-"
"I promise," Felix said, knowing that Antonio was ramping up for a ramble. He patted Antonio on the head. "Go win that card game and tell me all about it when I tuck you in, okay?"
"Okay," Antonio said before hurrying off.
Alma let out a harsh breath. "Do you see what she has done? Her selfish desires are making the family bend over backwards-"
"Enough."
Felix clenched his hand into a fist.
"I have been quiet as you have forced my wife to never feel an emotion you didn't approve of. I have been quiet as you turned my daughter into your spy so that she feels like she can't even show her face in town. I have been quiet as you made Camilo into whatever person you need him to be at any given time. But now... you try and use my four year old son as a weapon in this... vendetta against your own granddaughter?" He turned and saw Pepa lean back in shock at the sight of him. But he didn't care.
No more.
"This family is not a dictatorship, Alma. It is not your word and that is all. You don't want Mirabel to have a party? Then you are welcome not to come to the one I will be throwing for my sobrina!"
"Felix," Julieta whispered, pressing her hands to her mouth.
"Tomorrow I will find a place to hold it. I will arrange the food and the music and invite everyone in town. I will show Mirabel the love that you seem determined to steal from her because you care more about a CANDLE!"
Alma merely rose up from her seat.
"There is no need to be so dramatic. It doesn't suit you." She looked at the others. "We will have Mirabel's quinceañera next Friday. That will leave use two weeks to prepare for Antonio's ceremony."
And with that she walked out of the room.
"...dios mios that woman!" Felix ranted, throwing his hands into the air. "She thinks she is Christ come again sometimes and-"
Pepa collided with him, pressing her lips against him and tangling her fingers in his hair.
"We'll need to weather proof the sheets because I am rewarding you tonight," Pepa hissed in his ear and he felt his hair stick up a bit more from the electricity she was generating.
"None of us need to see this," Bruno teased and Pepa pulled away, shooting him a glare. "I'm just saying…" he pleaded, holding up his hands.
"Felix…" Julieta whispered, walking up to him. "Did you mean what you said? About the party?"
"I did," Felix stated. He clenched his jaw. "I have been a poor father and tio. I like to go with the flow, the rhythm of life… but I forgot that sometimes the band doesn't know how to play and the guitarist is drunk and the woman on the piano is only there because she is sleeping with the lead singer and-"
"I think you lost yourself in that metaphor," Agustin teased. "But thank you, Felix."
"If you want to take over, I understand," he said. "I offered because of Alma but now-"
"Nothing has changed," Julieta stated. "Yes, we are able to have the party at the casita… but we need someone to plan it and I want it to be you."
"Mirabel has been here a week and we've hardly spent any time with her," Agustin said. "I think that is changing now but we can't do that if we are focused on a party."
"In fact," Julieta said suddenly, eyes lighting up, "why don't we make that a new tradition? Parties are done by the tios and tias. Birthdays, celebrations, milestones… that way the parents can focus on the joy and not worry about all the stress that comes from planning things."
Bruno scoffed. "oh sure, that just means I have to plan for everyone!"
"You don't have to-" Felix began to tease only for Bruno to cut him off.
"No! No… I want to help," he said, licking his lips nervously.
"Good!" Felix said. "So, for theme I am thanks it needs to be as fun and original as Mirabel is-"
"Adventure!" Antonio called out from the hall. "oops."
"I told you to be quiet," Camilo complained.
"Look who is talking," Dolores said, entering as she knew the game was up.
Pepa just shook her ehad. "Came for more snacks?"
"No, we wanted to hear papa fight with abuela and make sure Mirabel got her party!" Antonio said brightly.
Felix shook his head but chuckled all the same. "Well, I welcome your help but I think right now the best thing you can do is go spend time with her, okay?" Antonio nodded and ran off but Camlio and Dolores remained behind. "Tomorrow? Your only chores are helping me."
"Abuela won't like that," Camlio pointed out.
"Mama doesn't like many things," Pepa said firmly. "What's one more?"
Felix smirked as he began to already plan for the biggest and best party the valley had seen in years.