Chapter 5

Mirabel

"I don't know about this one," Shayla grumbled as she failed to keep herself from stumbling over the skirt of a dress. Isabela inspected her work. We were standing in Isabela's room, near her closets. Yes, closets, with an "s" at the end. We'd done our best to explain our family: The gifts, how the casita worked, all that stuff. I could tell Shayla was having trouble processing everything, and I couldn't blame her. The Madrigal family was confusing.

Luisa and Dolores had left, since somebody needed help from Luisa with some donkeys, and Dolores had a date with Mariano. The usual.

"Oh, but you look so good in blue!" Isabela said. We'd been doing the same thing for what felt like hours. Either me or Isabela would pick out a dress or an outfit, and then either Isabela or Shayla would find something wrong with it, and we put it away. t was exhausting.

"I mean, it's not that," Shayla said, "It's... this."

Shayla let go of the sides of the dress, and the skirt fell over her feet.

"I'm going to trip and fall if I try to walk," she said. She slips it off, leaving her in her own clothes.

"Maybe I can fix it," I offered. Isabela clapped her hands.

"Yes! You do that, and I'll do her hair, jewelry, makeup," She lists more things, looking extremely excited.

"Makeup? What do you--," The end of Shayla's sentence turns into a yelp as Isabela wraps a vine around her waist and drags her away.

I chuckled, then picked up the dress. It was a light blue color, with white trim around the bottom of the skirt. It had a few flowers embroidered at the top, and a white ribbon at the waist. I analyzed every detail, then got to work.

We were sitting at the dining table, and Isabela and Shayla were late. I'd left after finishing with the dress, since I wanted to help Abuela preparing Shayla's room.

The table was filled with conversations, as we waited for Isabela and Shayla to arrive. Bruno kept looking over at Camilo, crinkling his brow, probably trying to get his attention without getting anyone to notice. Camilo didn't see him, though, since he was too busy teasing Dolores about her boyfriend, Mariano.

All activity stopped, however, when Shayla and Isabela came in. Isabela was as stunning as usual. And Shayla... She was wearing the dress Isabela and I had picked out, which swayed with each one of her steps. She had a white flower on the side of her hair, courtesy of Isabela, but no jewelry or makeup, except for a little lip balm.

Camilo's reaction to seeing her was priceless. His eyes nearly popped out of their sockets, earning snickers from Antonio and Luisa. He shook his head, and his eyes went back to normal, but his cheeks had a pinkish tint to them. However, he managed to cover it up with a smirk.

"Hi," Shayla said, with a shy wave. I could tell the way everyone was gawking at her was making her uncomfortable.

Isabela walked over to the table, and gestured for Shayla to sit next to her. She sat down, and food was placed in front of her, thanks to our casita's magic.

"Whoa," Shayla breathed, then she looked up at us, "Y'all are amazing. Thank you for- for everything."

"You don't have to thank us, we're just glad you're okay," I told her. There were murmurs of agreement around the table. Shayla smiled.

"So," Abuela said, after most of us had finished eating,"I don't think anyone has told us the story if how you came here. I'd love to know, if you feel comfortable sharing."

I didn't want to pressure Shayla into sharing, but I also wanted to know how she'd gotten here. Asides form falling out of the sky, that is.

"Oh, um, sure," Shayla said, "Well, as y'all know, I fell out of a void in the sky."

Shayla told us how her father had sent her to her room, and then she'd just... fallen.

"I know it's probably not what you were expecting," she said when she finished, "but I'm telling the truth."

"If it helps, I believe you," Tío Bruno said. I agreed with him.

"I have a question," Antonio spoke up, "Why did your father send you to your room, anyway?"

Oh, Antonio. I love my little cousin, but he really doesn't know what questions are appropriate and which ones aren't.

Shayla seemed surprised by the question.

"Um, I... don't really want to talk about it," she said quietly, "Sorry."

"I have a question, if it's okay," Abuela said, and when Shayla nodded, she said, "Do you have any people with the last name Madrigal in your family?"

I realized what she was trying to do. How had I not seen it before?

If Shayla had a door in the casita, she was most likely related to us.

And if she was... Where had she come from?