Chapter 11:
(Dolores POV)
The next morning I got up and went about my morning the same as usual as I finished getting ready. Suddenly, I heard Mirabel talking to who she assumed was me. I made my way down the stairs and tapped Papa's shoulder, "Dolores, but I just saw you outside." I gave him a look and he threw his head back, "Ay dios mios, that boy... one day... aye" he started muttering as we made our way outside, "Camilo. Stop pretending to be Dolores so you can have seconds." I looked at Camilo as he reverted back to himself and smirked, "Worth a shot." Mirabel turned to face me and I knew where to jump into the conversation, "The only person worried about the magic is you." I thought about Tío Bruno and the rats running around last night, maybe they were worried too "And the rats in the walls." I went to walk away when I remembered last night, "Oh and Luisa I heard her eye twitching all night." I squeaked as I went over to the table.
Camilo walked next to me, "I'm Mirabel's favorite cousin." He boasted. I looked at him, "One, she thought she was talking to me. Two she said of her older cousins which lead me to number three. We both know who her real favorite cousin is..." We took a breath and both said, "Antonio." We looked over at him and he smiled and waved at us. I laughed a little waving back and so did Camilo and he shrugged refocusing on his mountain of food. I looked at his plate and it looked like it was going to fall over. I tapped one of the arepas in the middle of the stack as I went to take my seat, "Dang it Dolores," Camilo whisper yelled. He was balancing his plate carefully setting it down.
I gave Isabella a small smile as we sat down before focusing on my food. The chitter of animals were all around as as they seemed to be drawn to Antonio. He seemed to be loving it being able to talk to all of them and telling them what to do. He even told them to go to Abuela's seat to warm them up. I smiled when Abuela went to sit down and was stunned by them. Abuela began talking to everyone but, I just kept my head down and continued to eat. She knew that I was listening anyway, I couldn't not listen.
I just wanted to focus on my food but as Abuela came over to Isabella and I. "First an announcement. I spoke to the Guzmán's about Mariano's proposal to Isabella," she said walking over to Isabella. I was cutting up my food and hit it with my fork harder than I intended to. No one seemed to notice but to me it was clamoring in my ears. Suddenly all I could hear were the Guzmán's. "Mariano are you ready for tonight?" His Mamá asked. I went to lift my fork up to my mouth when Abuela asked, "Dolores do we have a date?" I paused for a moment as they continued to talk, "Yes Mamá it will be perfect." Señora Guzmán clapped her hands together, "Excellent I can't wait to have grandchildren running around." "How many?" He jokingly asked. She hummed before saying, "As many as possible. I mean Pepa had kids up until she was 45 and Isabella is 22. That means that you can have at least 10." He laughed, "How about we start with 5." I heard him walk away and Señora Guzmán sighed, "Mamá he is doing better than we could have every imagined." I spoke quietly, "Tonight..."
I then said, "He wants 5 babies." I could hear Isabella's heart racing as her breath became heavier and flowers bloomed in her hair as I gave her a quick side glance before refocusing on our food. "Wonderful," Abuela said, "Such a fine young man with our perfect Isabella. Will bring a new generation of magical blessing and make both of our families stronger." I let out an exhale as I tried not to think about it too much. "Ok our community is counting on us. La Familia Madrigal," she said. We all repeated, "La Familia Madrigal." Luisa quickly left followed by Mirabel and Isabella while the rest of us continued to eat.
As everyone finished and left Abuela stopped me, "Dolores can I speak with you for a moment." I nodded my head and waited at the table for everyone else to leave. She sat down next to me and patted my hand, "I have some news for you as well. Some of the families in the community who have sons have expressed interest in you." I weakly smiled as she smiled at me. I had never seen her look so proud of me. "Now we won't do anything until after Isabella's proposal, but you and Isabella are the same age. It might be time for you to begin looking for a match in town as well. Help strengthen La Familia with even more magical blessings." I smiled, "Of course Abuela. Can I ask which families?"
She smiled as she entered her own world, "Well..." she began listing off some of the influential families in Encanto the Peréz's, the Martinez's and more. I knew which families it was going to be though, they were the ones who were talking to their sons last night when Antonio got his gift. She then looked at me again, "Today I want you to do your normal chores but, pay attention to these families. We need to know more about them before we let them entire ours of course. I will also be meeting with them with you later on." I nodded my head, "Of course Abuela. I'm going to go attend to my chores. I don't want to be out too late. Tonight is an important night." "Yes, yes go," She said as she kissed my forehead. As I walked away I could hear her whisper, "Maybe she will actually be able to help the family grow." I let out a breath and continued to walk away to walk the perimeter, wondering if she thought I was useless like everyone else in town did.
When I walked into town and I could feel all eyes on me. It was never all eyes on me. I took a breath and tried to focus on something else. I made my way to my booth and I saw someone waiting for me. "Sorry I am late," I said as I began arranging everything. "It's no problem," His voice always rang a little bit louder than everyone else's and I always knew who it was because of it, "Mariano, what are you doing here?" I said as I was clearing away the dust. He began ruffling his hand in his pockets and I could hear his fingers brushing up against something. "I need your help," he said. I wiped my hands together as I faced him, "Of course. Is anything wrong?" He took out a small jewelry box and discreetly placed it in front of me. I looked around and picked it up slowly opening it up to see what was inside. It was a ring. An engagement ring. And my heart sunk because I knew what was coming next. Still I knew that I was going to have to smile through it.
"Do you think that Isabella will like this?" I examined the ring in my hand. It was a gorgeous gold band with a pear diamond in the center. "It was my Abuela's and she gave it to me to give to my wife." "It's perfect," I whispered to myself. He asked, "What?" I turned to face him, "She will love it. So everything is set for tonight then?" I asked and he nodded his head, "Yes hopefully all will go as planned," He smiled before looking at a clock, "I have to go to work but, thanks for your help. You are a great friend Dolores." I nodded my head, "I'm always here. See you at dinner." I brought my hand to my chocker as I watched him walk away, "I'll always be here for you." I whispered as quietly as possible as my hand grasped around the charm. That felt a lot harder than usual. I let out a long breath as I tried to refocus, but I couldn't. I decided just to head home early, but I could hear Abuela talking to Isabella about hers and Mariano's perfect match. I stood outside Casita and let out a long exhale before going upstairs.
As Abuela left Isabella she came over to me, "Hey Dolores can we talk?" I nodded my head and we walked into her room. She closed the door and then used her vines to block it to make sure that no one else would come in. She took a long breath and turned to face me, "Dolores you hear everything..." she started and I nodded my head. It was true. "What exactly did you hear Mariano say about having kids?" I could see the stress on her face. "He was talking with his Mamá and she mentioned wanting grandchildren," she nodded her head as I began to explain. She took a breath, "So everyone is expecting kids right away." I nodded my head knowing that Abuela was along with everyone else in town was also expecting this. She nodded her head as more flowers were popping up around me, "Um Isabella..." She turned as I was almost completely covered in flowers, "Oh sorry."
All the flowers disappeared. "Isabella?" I questioningly asked, but she shook her head and smiled, "Thank you for clearing that up. I wasn't really sure what you meant this morning." I could hear her heart racing as she smiled. She wasn't breathing heavy or gritting her teeth or anything else really so she must have been excited. Her prophecy was coming true... soon. But something felt wrong. "Isa..." I started but she released the vines from the door and began walking to the door, "I have to go help everyone get ready. See you later." She smiled and walked away without saying anything else.
I left her room and saw Camilo making his way inside. He cracked his back as he turned and saw me, "Dolores." He said waving up at me before making his way upstairs. "What were you doing in Isabella's room?" "We were talking," I said. He looked at me, "Girl stuff." I nodded my head and he shuttered, "Yeah, I don't want to know." He slung his arm over my shoulder, "So what has Antonio been up to today?" I looked at him, "He ran right to the jungle this morning and right back to Casita with more animal friends that are all upstairs in his room." Camilo laughed with me, "Dang he got the good gift." I looked over at him, "Said the shape-shifter." He made a face, "Yeah, yeah. I get it your the nosy one." We laughed and walked along the balcony when Luisa came into the house very clearly upset. She looked up at us as tears started to come down from her eyes and her breath was clearly uneven. She ran upstairs to Abuela and Camilo turned to face me, "What was that about?"
"I'M LOSING MY GIFT!" Luisa yelled. I turned to Camilo, "Did you hear..." He nodded his head, "Yeah, I heard that." I tried to think about what the right thing to say was, "Um Alright, well how is your gift?" He cocked his head side-to-side, "I haven't noticed any changes, you?" "Nada," We stood still as I heard Luisa continue to cry and Abuela yell at Mirabel. I saw my door right there as Abuela was getting ready to turn the corner. I turned to Camilo and gestured my head towards my room, "Angry Abuela coming round the corner." He nodded his head and we went into my room and shut the door. I listened as Abuela left Casita and went into town to meet with the Guzmán's. "It's safe."
Camilo let out a breath, "Good, angry Abuela is a scary Abuela." I nodded my head, "Yeah but, the Guzmáns should be here soon." We both nodded our heads as Camilo sighed, "Ever wish we didn't have to worry about being worthy of a miracle." "Everyday," I said as I ruffled his hair. He changed shape to Antonio and I tripped as I was leaning up against him. He circled around me and I fell to the floor I looked back at him as he became himself again, "Don't mess with the hair." I looked at him and shook my head remembering when he was little and how I would wake up to his cries and sit with him for hours, "You are getting too grown up."
He smirked looking down at the ground when we heard Mamá thundering, "Oh no." I listened and turned to face him, "Mirabel is asking about Bruno." His face fell, "Oh come on... Abuela just left... Not a moment of peace in this house." I laughed a little and he turned to face me, "What?" "You just sounded a bit like Papa." He changed into Papa, "I don't sound like that." We heard another loud struck of thunder. "Yeah, no we better get out there and help before there is a hurricane out there."