Chapter 8:

(Dolores POV)

We were all left shocked when Mirabel didn't receive a gift. I could hear the whispers in town as they began to theorize why she didn't get one. Mirabel retreated into herself as she went back to the nursery, something no Madrigal child ever had to do, and went to bed as Abuela guided everyone out. Abuela called a family meeting and we all hung our heads low not wanting to upset her further, "We need to prove that we are still worthy of our miracle. Dolores, I want you to listen to what everyone is saying in town about us so that we could prove them wrong, I want to know everything. Julieta I want to see if you could heal Mirabel, clearly there is something wrong if she didn't get a gift. Pepa, you need to keep the weather in check. Only grant the weather that we need. Camilo and Isabella tomorrow you two will go into town and show the strength of our gift. Isabella, do what you always do and Camilo be whatever or whoever everyone else wants you to be." She took a breath and turned to Bruno, "I need to speak with you privately." He nodded his head and walked off with her.

Tío Augustine went to Tía Julieta, "There is nothing wrong with our daughter." She nodded her head, "I know. I'm sorry that she said that." She looked around at all of us, "Let's continue this conversation in the kitchen." He nodded his head and they went off.

"No, Julieta. I don't like what she said," Tío spoke. Tía was rubbing his shoulder, "Augustine, she is just upset and nervous about the miracle. Giver her time to cool off." I could hear him release a breath, "I just don't want this to be like when Felix and I married into the family." Tía caressed his cheek, "Hey. You know I never cared that you don't have a gift." He looked at her, "I was the first one to marry into la familia Madrigal and the look your Mamá gave me when she realized I would never get a gift... I saw that look on her face towards Mirabel tonight." She released a breath, "Augustine," I heard her kiss him and separate, "We are her parents and we will always love her, just like the rest of the family, for who she is not what gift she may or may not have."

Mamá turned to Papa clearly upset, "I-I always try to..." He shook his head shushing her, "I know. I know. Let's go to bed, ok mi vida?" She nodded her head and left the room.

"I don't know what to do Felix. I will never have enough control," she whispered. He gently rubbed her shoulders as I heard the fabric shift under his hands, "Mi vida, you are a wonder. I love your gift and everything that it brings." She didn't respond and he let out a breath, "If you really are nervous, remember that I am always here and whenever we are together you always say you have more control." I heard her head fall on his shoulder as she took a breath, "Thank you amor." He kissed her hand, "Always." "Do you think that if Mirabel didn't get a gift that some of us might lose ours?" He didn't respond to that instead he said, "Mi vida I love you with or without your gift."

Camilo had been silent the entire time as he looked up at me, "She will never... I never thought she..." He swallowed the lump in his throat and took a breath before forcing a smile, "I'll try to cheer her up tomorrow." His heartbeat was different, it sounded heavy. Same can be said for his step, he was usually very light on his feet but tonight I could hear the news physically weighing him down. Mirabel and him had always been very close and I could tell from his reaction he was scared about how this would effect them.

Luisa and Isabella looked at each other, "So she is never going to have a gift?" Luisa asked. Isabella just looked stunned, "She is never going to have a gift." Her voice was a whisper as they tried to process this. They eventually went up to their rooms as well. There were two people who I still didn't hear. As soon as the thought came into my mind their words echoed even louder and I couldn't stop it.

"Bruno, you must look into the future to see what happens," Abuela was saying. He looked up at her, "Mamá, I don't know. Is it really so bad that Mirabel doesn't get a gift?" I heard a loud bang as a bunch of items fell on the floor, "BRUNO. YOU MUST DO THIS FOR ME! FOR LA FAMILIA! DON'T DISAPPOINT US AGAIN." I could hear Tío Bruno retreating into himself, "I will tell you what I see, tomorrow." She took a breath as she stepped on some of the items that she had shattered and sighed, "Sorry hijito. I didn't mean to scare you. Thank you." I heard him rubbing his hand against his other hand and nodding his head. He went upstairs to his room and began having a vision.

I pulled myself into a ball. I hated when everyone in Casita was upset. It was loud and quiet at the same time and the people in town weren't making it any easier. The rumors were buzzing in my ears as the town remained awake. I didn't even know how I felt about everything because I was so busy sorting through what everyone was saying. I knew Abuela wanted to know all of it but, I just wanted it to stop for a minute.

I don't know how but, I eventually fell asleep. I could still hear everyone talking but, it was in the background of my dreams. Suddenly I felt someone shake my shoulders. My eyes fluttered open and I saw Tío Bruno. "T-Tío?" I asked as I rubbed my eyes. He held his finger to his lips, "Sh Chiquilla we need to be very quiet." I nodded my head and sat up as he sat on my bed, "Abuela had asked me to have a vision to see what Mirabel not getting a gift meant..." He started but I looked up at him, "I know." He gave me a deflated smile, "You heard." I nodded my head, "What did the vision say?" He moved one of the curls out of my face, "I'm not going to tell you chiquilla. I'm not going to tell anyone." I didn't understand, "B-But Abuela?" He nodded his head, "She can never know either. I destroyed the vision." I looked at my lap, "But, won't she just make you have it again?" He sighed, "She would if I stayed."

"No, no" I started as the tears came to my eyes. He wrapped his arms around me, "You can't leave us. The family needs you. You are just playing a mean trick on me. You are going to be downstairs with everyone tomorrow morning for breakfast. I'll see." He shook his head, "No, I won't and no, they don't. At least not here. If I stay the family will be torn apart." I shook my head, "I need you, you know that Tío. This has to be a joke. Please tell me it is a joke." We separated as he wiped the tears from my eyes, "You don't need me Chiquilla. You never have."

I looked down and then back at him as anger began to bubble in my chest. He was going to leave the family. He was abandoning me, "You are breaking your promise." He sighed, "No I am not..." I interrupted him, "YES YOU ARE." He shushed me, "You need to be quiet." "You promised me you wold always be here for me, whatever and whenever. You can't leave me. You will be breaking your promise." He held my hand, "Just because you won't see me doesn't mean I won't be there for you. You are my ahijada, mi chiquilla." I shook my head as I stood up to face, "No. You are a liar. You promised me." Hot tears were streaming down my face. He stood up and I started pushing him away calling him a liar. He stood there not moving as I cried. When I finally stopped he wrapped his arms around me in a hug as I sobbed into his chest, "I'm sorry chiquilla, I have to go. I promise though, I would never abandon you."

I tried to think of something anything when I looked up at him, "I-I could hear you and m-maybe I could visit you?" He shook his head, "I can't risk them finding me." "Please I will be very sneaky, I'm out alone in the fields most days no one would notice if I made a little detour." He shook his head again, "You know the moment that I disappear the eyes of the town will be more focused on la familia than ever, besides I'm planning on going somewhere a little closer to home." "Please, I will make sure that no one sees. I won't tell anyone," He gave me a small smile, "I know you won't tell anyone, but you still can't see me. I'm sorry Chiquilla but, you need to promise me that when people ask you have no idea. The family knows we're close and will be watching you to see if you know where I am or if you hear me."

It was sinking in further. I looked up at him with tears in my eyes, "When are you going to come back?" He took a breath, "I don't know. I know that isn't what you want to hear but, I'm not going to lie to you Chiquilla. I don't know if I will ever come back" He held onto me as I let myself fall into his hug. After a little while he pushed me back a little to look at me, "I have to go. I left a note on my door, make sure Abuela reads it ok." I nodded my head and we hugged on last time before he left my room and hid away. I laid down in bed and listened as he walked down the hallway, he opened some type of doorway and then he was walking somewhere else. I wan't sure where he was and decided to focus on something else.

In the morning there was immediately a commotion that woke me up, "BRUNO!" I went out of my room and saw everyone making their way out as well. Abuela started running around the house, "Brunito's door stopped glowing." She said, "BRUNO! WHERE ARE YOU?" The light of his door was gone and I felt the tears coming to my eyes again. I took a breath and went up to the door and pulled off the note, "Abuela there is a note on the door. It's for you." I handed it over to her. Her eyes quickly glanced over the words as she looked back up at me and towards the door again. Everyone was gathering around looking for Abuela's reaction. Finally I asked, "What did Tío Bruno say?" She crumbled up the note in her hand and dropped it on the ground, "Bruno has left the family." Tía Julieta went closer to pick it up but, Abuela turned to face her with a harsh expression on her face, "He left us, Julieta. He abandoned la familia." "But, Mamá Bruno is still..." "I don't want to hear another word about him. He has never cared about or helped this family and now he has abandoned it. From now on we will no longer talk about Bruno," she declared in front of all of us.

We all stood quietly looking at her, "Everyone go attend to your chores. I need to lie down." Everyone quietly dispersed as Abuela went into her room and closed the door. I heard her crying on the other side as the tears began to fall from my eyes as well, "I failed Pedro. I didn't keep the family together. I failed." I went to pick up the note on the ground and smoothed out the paper against my dress. I tucked it away carefully before I heard something familiar. I heard Tío Bruno bump his head. It was so close. Like it was here in Casita. I wanted to look around and find the sound but, I remembered my promise to Tío and I had to keep it.

However, throughout the day I heard Tío Bruno make even more noise that led me to believe that he was nearby. Later that night I heard a creak outside my room. I made my way out after I knew that everyone was asleep as I took a step out. I noticed the painting next to my room wasn't fully against the wall. I went closer and opened it a little and saw a figure standing there. I nodded my head and closed the painting door. I thought about the note from earlier and knew what to do. I knocked on their door and waited. Tía Julieta opened the door, "Dolores? Is something wrong?" I didn't respond at first not sure what to say and she sighed, "Sweetheart it has been a really long day and we all need to sleep."

She started to close the door and I put my foot in the door frame, "Wait." She opened the door more and sighed. I held up the note, "I-I didn't want Abuela to get rid of it. I-I think that you should have it." She took the note in her hands and brushed her fingers over the words. She held it to her chest with tears in her eyes, "Thank you Dolores." I went to walk away but, turned around, "Tía, I know that we aren't supposed to talk about him anymore, but I don't think that I can... maybe we could..." She smiled, "If you ever need to talk about him, my door is open." I nodded my head, "Same here."