"Antonio!" Félix's voice called out in the distance.
Antonio lay under the nursery bed, keeping very quiet. He wondered if he waited long enough, maybe everyone would just forget about tonight.
He traced his finger along the dusty floorboards, drawing pictures of animals. He drew a little boy standing next to a jaguar, then gazed down at it.
"I wish I was brave like you." He whispered to the jaguar, using his finger to add in it's spots.
"Antonio!"
He glanced up, hearing the sound of his Mamá's worried voice approaching. He shrunk back under the bed.
There was a flash of thunder and lightning as Mamá opened the nursery door, wind swirling through the room and sweeping up everything in it's path.
Antonio's expression softened as he watched the wind blow his dust animals away.
"Tonito?" Mamá's voice called out anxiously. She took a shaky breath. "Are you in here?"
Mamá sounded upset. Antonio decided to come out from under the bed, but then thunder crashed and he stopped. He covered his ears with his hands and stayed very still, closing his eyes as the cold wind blew his hair.
He heard Mamá's fast and shaky breathing as she walked around the room, then heard her whimper in distress. Thunder crashed again as she turned to leave.
Antonio opened his eyes, watching the door close behind Mamá. He took a deep breath, unsure if he felt guilty or relieved.
Pepa's hand shook anxiously by her side as she struggled to control her weather. Every empty room she checked in just made her panic worse.
Lightning flashed as Pepa headed through the casita.
What if she never found him again? What if her son disappeared forever?
It'd happened before.
Thunder crashed, the wind spiralling with her thoughts.
Stop, stop. You'll just make everything worse. She exhaled heavily. We don't talk about Bruno.
Pepa rubbed her hands over her eyes, pressing her palms hard into her face as she moaned in stress.
"Are you ok?"
She turned to see a group of villagers watching in concern. Pepa quickly straightened up, her face hot with embarrassment.
"I'm fine, thank you." She replied breathlessly, forcing a smile as the cloud above her continued to thunder. She glared up at it, then hurried off.
"Clear skies." She muttered with a frown, rubbing her chest as she walked. "Clear skies."
The cloud flashed with lightning, her panicked heart aching as it refused to internalise any more storms.
She groaned, thumping her chest with her fist. The cloud thundered in protest, and Pepa shot it a scathing look.
The cloud and wind followed Pepa across the balcony.
"Pepa!"
Mamá's voice stopped Pepa in her tracks.
She turned to see Alma standing on the other side of the balcony with Mirabel, watching in disappointment.
"You have a cloud!"
"I know Mamá, but now I can't find Antonio!" Pepa exclaimed, throwing her hands up as she spoke. "What do you want from me?"
Her cloud thundered again as she headed off, humiliated that Mama only noticed her when everything was going wrong.
Pepa exhaled slowly as she walked away, determined not to cry.
Dolores came upstairs, following the sounds of thunder and Mamá's panicked heartbeat.
She found Pepa on the balcony, leaning into the railing and breathing fast. Wind spiralled around her and blew at her hair.
Dolores made a soft hum and came to Pepa's side.
"I lost him." Pepa whispered as she stared ahead, her eyes filled with stress. "He's gone, mija. It's all my fault."
"Come on, Mamá." Dolores gently put an arm around Pepa, leading her away from the balcony. "I got you."
Pepa clung to her daughter as Dolores led her through the casita, wind circling them as they went. They made their way through a group of townsfolk and Pepa hid her face, her breath shaky against Dolores' shoulder.
"You're ok." Dolores quietly reassured her. "Almost there."
They entered Pepa's bedroom and Dolores closed the door behind them, containing the weather inside.
Knowing it was now safe to feel, Pepa broke down into tears, feeling overwhelmed.
Dolores picked up the yellow umbrella by the doorframe and opened it, sheltering them from the pouring rain. Her other arm wrapped tight around Mamá. Pepa leaned into her daughter, her chest heaving as she sobbed.
Thunder crashed with Mamá's storm and Dolores flinched, her back stiffening a little at the sound.
"I'm sorry, baby." Pepa whimpered, putting her hands over Dolores' ears. She tried forcing her feelings back down to stop the thunder, then gasped in pain as it crashed again.
Dolores hummed in concern, hearing the strain Mamá was putting on her heart whenever she did that.
"Don't try to stop it." She said softly, resting her forehead against Pepa's. "Just let it out, Mamá. You're safe in here. It's ok."
Pepa shook her head, then made a panicked sound as thunder crashed again. She kept her hands tight over Dolores' ears, feeling ashamed.
Dolores kissed Mamá's forehead and held her, feeling her take shuddering breaths as she sobbed into her shoulder. Around them, rain bucketed down, the ceiling flashing and thundering.
"What do you need?" Dolores' voice remained calm and gentle. She was used to enduring Mamá's storms.
"Tonito." Pepa gasped softly. "I lost Tonito."
Dolores hummed in understanding, taking one of Pepa's hands down from her ears so she could listen.
She held onto Mamá's hand, squeezing it reassuringly while she searched through the storm for sounds of her brother.
Dolores couldn't hear Antonio, but that didn't necessarily mean he was missing. Both her brothers knew how to keep quiet when hiding from her, something Dolores found infuriating.
"I'll find him." Dolores reassured her. "Wait here. I'll send someone to help with the pain."
Pepa sat under the umbrella, her eyes closed as she cried.
It felt good to let it out. The more she allowed the storm to happen, the less her chest hurt.
The door opened.
"Julieta?" She looked up hopefully.
Isabela smiled back at Pepa with a gentle expression. She slowly waved a hand, creating an oasis of palm trees and flowers around them. The rain pattered over the leaves as it sheltered them from the storm.
"Mamá's busy with Abuela." Isabela explained as she approached, sitting down with Pepa. She scoffed a little, then added, "They're having an argument about Mirabel."
Isabela let her hair sweep over her face to hide her frown.
"Tonight is hard on Mirabel." Pepa reminded Isabela, stroking back her long hair so she could see her face. "You should be kinder to your sister, mm?"
She sighed. "Not you too, Tía."
Pepa hugged her close, taking one of the flowers from the oasis and putting it in her neice's hair. Isabela couldn't help but smile, leaning into her.
They'd always shared a strong connection, their gifts linked by nature. Pepa's clouds made Isabela's plants thrive, while Isabela's flowers calmed Pepa's storms. Sometimes the flowers were the only thing that helped.
Isabela took Pepa's hand in hers, her movements gentle as she drew shapes along Tía's palm with her fingers. Pepa watched quietly.
"Tonight is hard on you too, Tía." Isabela said, gently tracing up and down each of her fingers. "You went through so much to get us here, and of course you'll be worried about how it turns out... Tonight has been coming for a long time."
Pepa rested her head against Isabela's, feeling grateful for the validation.
"A very long time, mija." She sighed in agreement.
Isabela continued to stroke Pepa's hand, remembering the years of pregnancies. Tía had tried so hard to make it work.
Watching that bright and hopeful light fade from Tía's eyes over those years made Isabela decide she never wanted to have children of her own.
Not that it mattered what she wanted, Isabela reminded herself. The family comes first, always.
"What if it doesn't work?" Pepa avoided Isabela's eyes, looking instead at the rain. She fidgeted with her hair, her fingers tense.
Pepa remembered Antonio's birth. The storm and the snow. Her blood spilling to the floor as she screamed, the red mixing in with the rainwater.
"I'm scared, mija." Pepa admitted quietly. "I... don't know if I can do it again."
Isabela exhaled slowly, also remembering. She pushed the memories back down to make room for a smile. That's why she was here, after all. It was her responsibility to make them happy.
"It's ok to be scared." Isabela said, her voice gentle. "Come here."
Isabela made lavender in Pepa's hands. Isabela leaned in close as Pepa breathed in the flowers, their healing properties calming her.
"You won't have to do it again." Isabela reassured her. "Antonio's gift is going to work."
Pepa turned to her with worried eyes.
"And if it doesn't?"
Isabela hugged Pepa tight. She'd never admit it, but she was scared of that too.
"If it doesn't, then we try again." Isabela smiled. "We keep trying until we save the miracle."
Pepa looked back at her in despair, but Isabela gently took her hand.
"You'll be ok, Tía." She reassured Pepa. "It won't be you who does it next time. It'll be me."
Pepa frowned protectively, her eyes searching Isabela's in concern.
"Im going to marry Mariano, remember?" Isabela smiled, doing her best to sound happy and excited about it. "Abuela and I have been discussing this for a while now." Her hand stroked Pepa's. "I'm going to have children next, Tía. Not you. You'll never have to do it again."
Pepa watched her carefully, her eyes still concerned. "You really want that, mija?"
Isabela put on a brave and convincing smile, her eyes sparkling with false sincerity.
"Of course I do."
Pepa's expression softened as she believed Isabela's words. She closed her eyes, feeling her entire body shift in relief. A tear of gratitude rolled down Pepa's cheek as she took a deep breath and felt a huge burden lift from her.
Isabela wiped under her Tía's eyes. Above them the clouds faded away and the rain stopped, making way for a rainbow. Isabela looked up at it, the sight reassuring her that she'd made the right decision.
"You really are our angel." Pepa said, her voice filled with love.
Isabela smiled, a genuine one this time.
"You're the angel, Tía." Isabela reassured her. "You've already saved our miracle. Just wait till tonight, you'll see."
Pepa smiled back hopefully.
There was a knock on the door and Dolores poked her head in, making a little peeping sound.
"Antonio is ready." Dolores announced.
Pepa sighed in relief. "You found him, mija. Thank you."
"Oh! I didn't find him." Dolores smiled knowingly. "It was Mirabel."
Isabela rolled her eyes. Of course it was Mirabel. Another mediocre achievement for Mamá to make a big deal over.
Dolores paused, making a soft peep as she heard a message come in for her.
"Dolores." Abuela spoke up from a distance. "The guests are arriving. Isabela is supposed to be dancing already. Hurry her up, the Guzmáns will be here any minute." Abuela's voice seemed calm, but Dolores could hear stressful undertones. "Find Pepa and take her to the sitting room. And make sure Félix calms her down, she's been difficult all day."
Dolores carefully paraphrased the message.
"Abuela says, time to dance." She smiled to her cousin.
Isabela nodded, hurrying off with a sense of urgency.
Dolores then turned to Mamá, gently taking her hand in hers. "Ready to see Tonito?"
Pepa nodded with an excited smile.
Dolores smiled back, leading Pepa out the door.
As Pepa entered the sitting room, she saw curtains had already been hung up over the entry to the main room, creating a backstage area for the ceremony.
"Ay, guapa!" Félix chuckled as he saw his wife approach.
Still feeling overcome with joy from earlier, Pepa ran to Félix, jumping up into his arms like they used to do. Félix grinned in surprise, catching her and spinning her around. Pepa laughed as Félix covered her face with kisses.
"Get a room." Camilo groaned uncomfortably, his arms crossed as he leaned against a nearby wall. Dolores giggled a little.
"Not this room!" Antonio called out from a little side room where Mirabel was helping him get ready.
Pepa grinned in excitement at the sound of Antonio's voice. She broke free from Félix's embrace and tried to run to him, but Félix stopped her with a chuckle. "Wait, wait. He wants to surprise us, amor." He pulled her back into him, rubbing his nose against hers. "You are all sunshine tonight, hm?"
Pepa smiled back at him, putting her arms around his shoulders and kissing him.
Dolores glanced at Camilo, who made a sickened face, slowly shaking his head in exasperation.
"Almost done!" Mirabel called out. She did up the last button, then straightened up her cousin's vest.
"Are you ready, Señor?" She smiled at Antonio, putting a hand out for him to take. Antonio smiled back, his eyes warm with love.
Pepa's face lit up as she saw Mirabel lead Antonio over, all dressed up in his white suit. A cloud sprinkled over her head as she felt overcome with a strange mix of pride and sadness. Seeing him in his suit made Pepa realise he wasn't her little baby anymore.
Félix laughed, holding out his arms. "There you are!"
"Look at you!" Pepa couldn't take her eyes off him as she came over. "All grown up."
"Pepi, amor, you're gonna get him all wet." Félix smiled, waving away her cloud and gently pulling her back.
Pepa sighed, holding her hands over her heart as she gazed down at her little son. She didn't even care about the weather. She just loved him so much. All the stress and worries of today were all worth it for him. Everything was worth it for him.
Camilo could see his brother was nervous, so he switched into a smaller version of Félix, knowing it would make Antonio laugh.
"You are making your Papá proud!" He imitated Félix's voice, squishing his brother's cheeks with his hands.
"I don't sound like that!" Félix protested.
"I don't sound like that." Camilo repeated in a squeaky voice.
Antonio smiled, his eyes lighting up. Pepa watched him in adoration.
In this moment, Pepa was finally able to see past her own stress and allow herself to feel happy for Antonio, and to feel excited that tonight her son was going to get his magic.
She remembered when she'd first received her magic, and how special it had felt to open the golden door, and turn back to see Mamá watching her. To hold her brother and sister's hands as they danced together, the three of them laughing as rainbows sparkled over their heads.
She smiled at the thought. Pepa wanted that same happiness for her son.
Dolores tilted her head as she heard her next set of instructions come through.
"Dolores. Everybody's here." Abuela's voice was hushed this time. "Send Camilo out. Have your parents come to the door. And remember, no clouds."
Dolores paraphrased.
"Abuela says, it's time." She announced with a smile.
Pepa took a breath, leaning in closer to Antonio.
"We'll be waiting at your door." She whispered to him, kissing his forehead before turning to leave.
"Okay, okay. vamo vamo vamo!" Félix encouraged, leading her through the curtain.
Seeing a glimmer of fear in his brother's eyes as the family left, Camilo lingered a little longer as tiny Félix. "Okay, okay. Vamo vamo vamo!"
Antonio grinned as Papá quickly pulled his brother through the curtain.
Pepa went through the curtain, stopping at the sudden sight of the crowd. The main room was filled to capacity with people, the entire town watching them, their voices soft and overlapping as they murmured in anticipation.
She took a step back, feeling overwhelmed. She felt Félix's hand take hold of hers and she turned to him.
Félix didn't have to say anything, his reassuring smile was enough to tell her everything was going to be ok. Pepa took a deep breath and smiled too, watching him with trusting eyes. She held tight to Félix's hand as they made their way through the crowd.
The energy of the room was exhilarating, the room alive and moving with people, a montage of familiar and excited faces and voices calling out to Pepa and Félix as they headed to the stairs.
Julieta made her way through the crowd, handing them food as they passed her. Pepa turned back, feeling braver for seeing her.
"You got this!" Julieta whispered after her in encouragement, her eyes bright.
Pepa held Félix's hand as he led her up the stairs, her other hand clutching Julieta's arepa con queso close to her chest.
Mamá stood on the stairs, holding the magic candle. As their eyes met, she gave Pepa a slow nod of encouragement. Pepa smiled back, feeling the crowd's excitement becoming her own. She could do this.
The two of them reached the glowing door at the top of the stairs and stood together, looking down at the people below.
Pepa saw Félix's family in the crowd, his Pá and brothers and nieces and nephews all beaming up at them proudly. Pepa held Félix's hand and smiled back at them.
She then spotted her sister again, standing with Agustín and their children. They waved in encouragement, their faces proud and excited. Pepa grinned, feeling very loved and supported.
Félix ate his arepa and gestured for Pepa to do the same. She took a bite and felt her energy replenish, then kept the rest of it in her hand. She wanted a reminder that Julieta was close by.
Drums started to play and the room fell silent.
Pepa quickly put the rest of the arepa in her pocket, dusting off her hand and holding tight to Félix.
She watched Mamá sigh softly to herself in anticipation, then turn to the crowd.
"Fifty years ago, in our darkest moment, this candle blessed us with a miracle." Alma announced to the people. "And the greatest honour of our family has been to use our blessings to serve this beloved community."
Pepa felt Félix kiss her hair and she glanced back at him, seeing his eyes sparkle proudly in the candlelight as he watched her. Pepa smiled, touching her nose to his cheek before turning back to Mamá.
"Tonight, we come together once more," Alma continued, "As another steps into the light, to make us proud."
The drums returned, and the curtains pulled back to reveal Antonio standing there.
Casita rolled out a path of coloured tiles for him and shined down the spotlights, the crowd all clapping in approval.
Alma came up the stairs and stood beside the door, waiting. Pepa watched Mamá approach, then turned back to Antonio.
He looked so frightened.
"You can do it." Pepa whispered, smiling in encouragement. Her hand squeezed Félix's hand in repetitive little bursts as she watched Antonio. "Come on, mijo."
Antonio turned away, holding out his hand. Pepa saw his mouth move a little as he spoke to someone from behind the curtain.
She glanced at Félix in confusion, but he didn't know either. They turned back to see Mirabel slowly step out into the light, taking a hold of Antonio's hand.
Pepa's expression softened.
The townsfolk exclaimed quietly. Mirabel looked out at the crowd, her eyes filled with hurt but also determination as she glanced down at her cousin, then looked back up at the door.
Pepa took a shaky breath, feeling her heart start to race as she watched them. She exhaled slowly. Clear skies, clear skies.
Seeing Mirabel standing there, Pepa's mind flashed back ten years, to little Mirabel in her white dress and bow, her eyes bright and full of wonder as she stood in that same spot.
Pepa slowly brought her arm up over her chest, her other hand holding tight to Félix.
"Come on, let's get you to your door." Mirabel smiled to Antonio. He hugged onto her arm, then looked forward in anticipation.
As Pepa watched them, her mind flashed back and forward between present and past.
She saw little Mirabel, letting go of the golden handle and standing in front of the disappearing door. Little Mirabel slowly turning to Abuela, her expression confused and devastated.
Pepa remembered standing in the crowd with Bruno, a cloud over her head as she held her brother's hand and leaned into his shoulder. They watched together, feeling heartbroken for Mirabel.
She remembered the fear and murmurs that spread through the room like cracks as Mamá's candle suddenly faltered, the light of the glowing doors around them flickering and the cloud above Pepa's head fading in and out. She heard the people gasp and whisper around her, all eyes turning to Mamá.
Mirabel and Antonio walked slowly across the room, following the path of coloured tiles as the crowd around them watched in silence.
Dolores hummed softly, her hand squeezing Isabela's as she glanced around the room, hearing the stress and fear in everyone's breaths and hearts. She glanced up at her Mamá, hearing how distressed she was becoming, but also how hard she was trying to hold in the weather.
Camilo watched his brother and cousin, saddened by how scared they both looked. He changed his form a couple times, doing funny little dances and pulling silly faces as he followed them through the crowd, trying to make them smile as they passed him by.
Antonio was leaning into Mirabel and watching the door, while Mirabel just stared blankly ahead. Neither of them saw Camilo. They reached the bottom of the steps and Camilo stopped, turning back into himself. His shoulders slumped and his expression fell as he realised there was nothing else he could do to help.
Pepa focused on keeping the weather calm as she watched them climb the stairs, memories continuing to play over in her head.
She remembered feeling sick all the time, her body refusing to carry another baby. She remembered crying because it hurt so badly, but having no choice but to endure. She remembered waking up in blood and snow, Félix holding her as they cried together.
"Breath with me, amor." Félix whispered from beside her, interrupting her thoughts and bringing her back to reality. "All we gotta do is breathe. Ready?"
Pepa nodded, leaning her shaking body into Félix and and breathing slowly in time with him. Félix held her tight, watching Antonio with worried eyes as he tried to stay strong for his wife.
Mirabel and Antonio made their way up the stairs and reached Abuela. Pepa swallowed as she watched, her mind flashing in and out of memories as Alma spoke. She bit her lip to try and stop the weather, her heart burning at the effort.
"Will you use your gift to honour our miracle?"
Pepa remembered Mamá's voice over the years, encouraging her to keep the miracle burning. She remembered Mamá finding her crying alone in the rain and sitting beside her, stroking her hair as she held her close and told her everything was going to be ok. Then later, Mamá gently reminding Pepa that they needed to try again.
"Will you serve this community, and strengthen our home?"
She remembered little Camilo staring up at her in desperation, blaming himself that his Mamá still wasn't happy, even though he'd tried everything he could to make her smile.
She remembered Isabela standing with her in the rain, helping her to plant a new flower over the spot they'd buried the newest addition to an ever-growing garden.
Pepa felt Félix squeeze her hand, bringing her back to the present.
Antonio nodded to Abuela, touching the candle with his hands before stepping forward to the door.
Pepa watched him, too afraid to take a breath, too afraid to move. It felt like if she did anything it was going to be a disaster. She twisted her arms anxiously around her body, feeling her heart thumping, but refusing to let it rain.
Clear skies, clear skies, clear skies.
Antonio touched the handle, and it's shimmer spread up the door, the magic glowing bright.
The crowd all took a breath as the room became brighter, the door and magic coming to life and illuminating Antonio's face.
Pepa stared, almost in disbelief, as she tried to process what she was seeing.
The magic worked.
They did it. They actually did it.
She turned to Félix and exhaled, the two of them resting their heads against eachother. She felt Félix squeeze her body and they laughed softly in relief.
There was a loud squawk and they both turned to see a toucan fly over their heads and land on Antonio's arm.
Pepa couldn't help but smile, watching it in curiosity.
Was that his gift? She wondered. A big bird?
Pepa glanced knowingly at her Mamá.
Alma eyed the bird suspiciously. Mamá didn't like birds, and it made Pepa laugh a little to think this was the magic she had wanted.
The bird squawked again and Antonio gasped, his eyes lighting up in excitement.
"Uh-huh, uh-huh." Antonio spoke to the bird, his face breaking into a smile. "I understand you."
The bird flapped and shrieked. Pepa grinned as she saw Mamá's eyes widen a little.
"Of course they can come!" Antonio exclaimed to the bird.
Pepa hesitated, glancing at Félix. What did he just invite into their home?
There was another loud squawk from the distance, and Pepa's face lit up in amazement as a whole flock of birds appeared over the walls, flying towards them.
Alma fought back the instinct to duck behind the balcony or shoo the birds, reminding herself that the whole town watching. Instead Alma stood tall, maintaining composure as the birds swooped past her.
The crowd exclaimed in surprise as all matter of wildlife entered in from the rainforest and ran across the floor. Camilo grinned at Dolores as little animals ran past their feet and flocked up to the top of the stairs.
Antonio laughed in joy. This was the best gift ever.
At the sound of his laugh, the candle glowed brighter. Alma sighed in relief, turning to see a glowing picture of Antonio appear over his door. She turned back to the crowd with a smile.
"We have a new gift!"
The crowd all cheered for them, the family coming up to the stairs in support. Pepa watched their smiling faces, feeling like the weight of the world had just been lifted off her shoulders.
Félix kissed Pepa's hand, gazing up at her proudly. She looked back at him, her eyes warm with love.
