Chapter 19: Otter
31 years before Encanto
Alma and Sofia Guzman left the town meeting together, walking along the small river that ran through town.
"Your speech was good, Alma." Sofia smiled. "Was it Brunito's?"
Alma turned to her. "You think I cannot write my own speech?"
Sofia raised an eyebrow, and Alma couldn't help but chuckle.
"Was it?" Sofia prompted.
"Hm." Alma turned back to the river with a knowing smile.
"When will we see Bruno at the meetings?" Sofia asked. "It would be so good for the Encanto to see a little more of him." She nudged Alma. "A chance for him to shine, in a more positive light."
Alma sighed, eyeing the tower and grey skies in the distance. She worried for her children.
"I don't know if he will." She admitted.
"Alma!"
A familiar voice called. "Mama!"
They turned to see Maria sitting at the river's edge, feet in the water. Her crutches lay on the grass beside her as she held hands with Carlos, a boy she'd been seeing for a little while now.
"Come see what we found!" She beckoned them over, eyes shining bright with excitement. "You're not gonna believe this."
The women made their way down to the river, smiling as they saw fuzzy little creatures swimming around in the water.
"What animal is that?" Sofia wondered. "Rats?"
"They're otters." Alma told her, recognising them from books she'd read. She then laughed, turning to her friend. "Rats? Really?"
"Don't make me push you in, Alma."
"They do look like big rats." Maria agreed, then her face lit up. "Can we show Brunito? He would like them. And Pepi and Juli."
"That would get him out of his tower." Alma agreed.
"You know otters, they can't swim at first." Bruno explained as they walked down his tower steps together. "The mama floats on her back and carries them, you know, till they're ready to swim on their own."
"I wonder if otters have triplets." Alma grinned. "That Mama would probably sink."
Alma's smile faded as she realised that might have been rude. She turned with wide eyes to Bruno, who was looking back at her with the same bewildered expression. Realising they both had the same reaction made them laugh.
"Come on," Alma put an arm around her son, opening the tower door for them.
"Pepa." Alma tapped lightly on her daughter's glowing door.
"I don't want to, Mama."
Alma turned to Bruno, who shrugged.
"You don't even know what it is."
"You want me to talk to someone I do not like." Pepa muttered from behind the door. "You want me to water the crops. You are upset with me."
There was a moment's silence.
"Well?" Pepa called. "Which one is it?"
Alma had enough. She opened the door, finding her daughter in bed under her heavy blanket, drinking tea as she read her book.
"How is it possible that my daughter is more an old lady than me?" Alma opened the curtains to let in sunlight while Pepa groaned, not wanting to see the grey sky. She brought the book up over her face.
"It's not healthy for you to spend so much time inside." Alma made a point of looking at Bruno for that one too.
"I'm tired, Mama." Pepa said quietly, the clouds over her head darkening a little.
Alma held a hand to Pepa's forehead, checking to make sure she wasn't sick. Alma didn't like how much time Pepa spent in here with the clouds.
"We are going outside today." Alma told her, taking Pepa's book and cup from her and putting them on the dresser. "Come on. Up."
The clouds thundered as Pepa pulled her blanket over her head.
"I don't want to go to town, Mama." Her muffled voice spoke. "Everybody hates us."
"She's got a point." Bruno agreed.
"Stop that." Alma told them, rubbing the blanket with both hands. "Come on. Out."
Raindrops pattered over the bed. Alma slowly pulled back the blanket, revealing Pepa's sad face.
Pepa shook her head and Alma sighed, kneeling down beside her daughter and kissing her forehead. Alma knew what it felt like to be so sad, but didn't know how to fix it.
"There are otters in the river." Alma spoke gently this time, stroking her daughter's face. "There's a Mama, and little babies too. And they are friendly. You will be able to hold them. Hm?"
Pepa watched Mama quietly.
"Will you please come outside?" Alma encouraged. "Just for a little while."
Later
Alma sat with Sofia at the riverside, watching as their children gathered by the water, feeding the otters and stroking their sleek bodies.
The sun shone a little brighter as Bruno brought a baby otter into Pepa's arms, while Julieta stroked it's tummy. The otter reached it's nose up to Pepa's face and she laughed, the clouds fading a little. Alma sighed in relief at the sight of her smile.
"Señora."
Alma turned to see Arturo approaching on his horse.
Seeing his solemn expression, Alma knew this was something serious. She stood to meet him.
"What is it?" Alma asked, concerned eyes meeting his.
"It's the village watch, Señora." Arturo told her. "They have spotted people in the mountains. Travellers, coming this way."
Alma felt her heart drop, but her expression remained strong and unaffected.
"Do they seem hostile?" She asked in a calm voice.
"They look to be seeking refuge." He told her. "Many are injured. They carry children, clothing, supplies."
"How far off are they?" Alma asked, glancing momentarily back at her children, who were watching in curiosity.
"About a day's journey from here." Arturo told her. "How would you wish to proceed?"
"With caution." Alma advised him. "But, if it is refuge that they seek, we should be welcoming. I can only imagine what our life would be like if we hadn't been given that same chance."
Arturo's expression darkened a little at the memories, then he nodded. "Of course."
He leapt to his horse and rode off, while Sofia let out a low whistle.
"Stop it." Alma whispered, while her friend just smiled.
Later
The travellers watched with fear and caution as Alma and the village watch met them at the forest's edge, triplets by her side.
"Don't be afraid." Alma encouraged one of the travellers to come forward into the town, and Julieta healed their injuries.
"Our family was blessed with a miracle." Alma explained.
Pepa waved her hand with Mama's words. They'd agreed that she would make the sun shine brighter, but Pepa wanted to impress Mama, so she made a rainbow.
Alma looked up in surprise. She hadn't seen one of those in a long time. She turned to Pepa and smiled, and her daughter smiled back.
"This is my daughter, Pepa." Alma told the crowd. "And this is my son, Bruno."
Bruno stepped forward, nervous to use his powers again. It'd been a long time. Alma gave him a worried look, trying to remind Bruno to just let the sand glow and then let it drop. No actual prophecy.
He exhaled slowly, whispering to himself as he tossed a handful of salt over his shoulder, but it hit Pepa in the face.
Alma smacked a hand to her forehead. Dios.
The people all exclaimed as rain suddenly poured down over them. The whole situation became very loud, very fast.
"It's okay." Alma tried to reassure the crowd, while Julieta helped a sobbing Pepa. Alma held up her hands peacefully. "Please, it just just part of her gift. It helps our crops to grow, it's okay."
There was a loud trill from the crowd, then a short and stocky man jumped forward, splashing into the puddles.
Everyone turned to watch as the man laughed, dancing in the rain and splashing, a wide grin over his face.
"Just like home!" He encouraged them. "Cmon, this is great!" He laughed, calling over his brothers to come and join him, and they did, dancing together and trilling. "When's the last time we got to dance in the rain, huh?"
Alma watched as suddenly the whole group grinned and came forward to dance too, the people laughing in excitement at the rain.
Julieta healed her sister and they looked out at the dancing crowd. Pepa blinked in surprise, because she didn't understand why people were celebrating her clouds.
A week later
Alma was surprised to wake up to another bright and sunny day. The weather had been acting very strange lately, changing often and unexpectedly.
She came downstairs to find all three triplets at the breakfast table, drinking coffee and listening to Pepa speak in an excited voice, sun shining bright through the windows.
"You are in a good mood, Pepi." Alma smiled, kissing her daughter's head and rubbing her back. "I like seeing you so happy."
"It's because of-" Bruno was interrupted by a sharp nudge from Julieta.
"Hm?" Alma prompted. "You can tell me."
"It's just good coffee, Mama." Pepa spoke quickly, downing her cup and getting up. She coughed a little as she went to the sink.
Later
The weather was bright again that day, rainbows shining over the Encanto. Alma sat in her windowsill, holding Candle in her lap as she watched the sky.
"Something's different." Alma commented, and Casita playfully wrapped the curtain around her. Alma grinned, looking up at the windowsill as the curtain held her still. "Good idea. Now quick, cover my mouth too, before I ruin everything."
The windowsill shook with laughter and so did Alma, Candle glowing bright in her lap.
There was a sudden bang as the front door was slammed open.
"Mama!" Pepa's shouts echoed through Casita. "Julieta! Brunito! Everybody come! I want you to meet Felix."
Alma almost fell out the window. What?
Alma exhaled slowly as she came down the stairs, feeling tense about whoever this Felix was. Alma had seen Pepa excited about boys before, and it often ended with rain.
She came to the door, and suddenly Alma's expression softened.
Pepa couldn't stop smiling. Her eyes sparkled with joy as she hugged the man who Alma remembered jumping into the puddle to encourage everyone to celebrate Pepa's weather on that first day. A rainbow floated over their heads.
"Felix, this is my Mama."
Pepa spoke in a bright voice, one that Alma had not heard in a very long time. It reminded Alma of her happy little girl, excited for the shadow animals, holding Mama's hands and dancing through Casita, throwing rainbows at her brother as she jumped the stairs. The bright little baby Pedro had named Sunshine.
Alma looked up at the rainbow, then back to her daughter. Pepa had that hopeful light shining in her eyes again. She cuddled Felix and smiled, and Alma couldn't help but smile back.
That night
"Remember when we saw the otters, Mama?" Pepa asked, rainbow still shining over the dinner table as she held onto Felix's hand.
"Yes darling." Alma smiled.
"Well." Pepa glanced at Felix, then back to her family with an excited grin. "Felix comes from the Caribbean coast. And they have more water there than our village river. And even more than the big river in the forest-"
Alma's groaned at the mention of that place, and Pepa hesitated.
"Well, I heard that river was big. I wouldn't know, I've never been there." She added quickly, before turning to her siblings, eyes bright again. "Anyway. It's called the ocean. And there's so much water, as far as the eye can see. And Felix had a boat-"
"You can also call it the sea." Felix interrupted with a grin. "It's a little joke we had back home. Water, far as the eye can sea."
"Hm." Pepa smiled, rubbing Felix's hand with hers as she continued. "So he was in his boat, and-"
"Best place to be." Felix interrupted again, eyes wide in excitement. "Sun shining bright, nice plate of cazuela de mariscos in your hand. Beautiful."
Pepa smiled again, a little strained this time. Alma had to cover her laugh.
"So anyway," Pepa continued. "He was in his boat, and he saw all these animals swimming, and he looked over the edge, and saw-"
"They were sea otters." Felix grinned, arm around Pepa who turned to him in exasperation. A cloud thundered and Alma went to say something, but then Felix gently stroked Pepa's face and it went away.
"Sorry." He laughed, head against hers. "You wanted to tell that part, didn't you?"
Pepa blew a puff of air at him, trying to stay mad.
"Go on." Felix encouraged, his eyes warm with affection.
Pepa smiled. She turned back to the family and took a deep breath, but the moment she started to talk so did Felix. Pepa shot him a look and Felix burst into laughter, because he'd done it to tease her. Pepa went to push Felix but he caught her, squeezing her into a hug that made the whole room light up.
Pepa grinned, playfully nudging him off. She covered Felix's mouth with her hands and Felix pretended to continue speaking, his sounds muffled and eyes wide. Pepa giggled, more rainbows appearing around them. She lowered her hands to kiss him on the lips. Felix made a sound of surprise, then relaxed into it, putting his hand to her back.
Bruno grimaced, while Julieta seemed focused on her food.
Dios. Alma sighed. At the dinner table. Now she finally understood why Ramona complained so much about her and Pedro.
Alma felt suddenly sad, realising that they really did remind her of herself and Pedro.
"Mama?" Pepa grinned, arms around Felix as they both looked at her.
Alma shook herself from her thoughts, putting on a brave smile. "I'm sorry, mija. What did you say?"
"Can we drink canelazo after dinner?" She asked.
"Hm. Okay, but not too much." Alma told her. "Julieta needs to be up early tomorrow."
"It's fine."
Alma turned in surprise at her daughter's blunt tone. She realised she hadn't noticed Julieta all dinner, and when she did it was suddenly obvious that her daughter was unhappy.
"I'm not thirsty." Julieta stood with a scrape of her chair, picking up her empty plate, but not collecting anyone else's like she usually did. She walked off without another word, a clatter as the plate hit the sink, and then she went upstairs.
Alma turned to Bruno, unsure what to do. Dios, would there ever be a day when all three of her children were happy at the same time?
Seeing the tension, Felix picked up his and Pepa's plates with a smile, then offered a hand for Alma's and Bruno's.
"That isn't necessary." Alma told him. "You are a guest."
"I like to, Señora." He beamed. "It's a way of saying thank you for the meal." He kissed Pepa's face as she got close, and a rainbow appeared. "You want to help me, Pepi? The bubbles are fun, like your clouds."
"My clouds are not fun." Pepa tried to say, but then Felix scooped her up over his shoulder, plates in his other hand. Pepa shrieked in surprise, laughing and hugging Felix as he carried her to the sink.
"I love the clouds." Felix grinned over his shoulder, and a rainbow appeared over them.
Julieta sat on her bed, playing the guitar Agustin had gifted her a couple years ago. Tears hit the wood and slid down as she plucked the strings.
Her room was blue and all the decor was cooking themed. The only things that really showed Julieta's personality were the things that she'd brought in herself. For example, she really liked soft stuffed toys, because Julieta loved animals and when she got lonely she liked to cuddle and talk to them. Flowers from Agustin's garden sat in a vase by her bed. Every time Julieta healed Agustin he'd gift her another flower, so of course her room was filled with them. Julieta glanced at them with a smile.
There was a knock at her door and Julieta quickly wiped her eyes. "Come in."
"Mija." Alma entered, slowly coming to sit beside her. "What's wrong?"
Julieta turned to Mama, eyes filled with hurt.
"Why can't Agustin come for dinner?" Julieta asked. "You only just met Felix, and already he's allowed. I've been asking you about Gus for years."
Alma immediately became defensive, her mind flashing back to that night. The rain, the party, the tears.
"You are a good girl, Julieta." Alma spoke carefully. "With lots of potential, and a bright future. Agustin Rojas is a bad influence on you."
"That's not fair, Mama." Julieta said quietly, chin resting on her guitar. "And if you can't see that, then I'm sorry, but I don't have anything else to say to you."
Alma took a deep breath, unsure how to make it right. She was trying to protect her daughter from making a terrible decision. Alma stroked back her daughter's long hair so she could see her face, but Julieta wouldn't look at her.
"Pepa has not been happy for a very long time." Alma told Julieta. "You know that. Please. Just come downstairs and have a drink with her. We don't want her rainbows to go away. We can talk about this another time, but right now it's not fair for us to spoil this moment for her."
Julieta closed her eyes. Sometimes Julieta wished she could swap gifts with her sister, just so people could see that she had feelings too.
"Okay." Julieta whispered, getting up to put her guitar away. "I'll come back down. For Pepa."
A few weeks later
The newcomers threw a party as a way of thanking Alma and the villagers for embracing them into the community. They shared everything they had, including drinks they'd carried all the way from the coastline.
Musicians played and the party was lively and fun. These people were so carefree and warm, and Alma couldn't help but be reminded of her old town, and the way they and Pedro had welcomed her so readily.
There were the sounds of cheering and trilling nearby and Alma came to see, breaking into a grin as she saw a crowd gathered to watch Pepa dancing with Felix.
It was impressive to see. Felix didn't just keep up with Pepa, he matched her. The two of them were fast and captivating as they moved as one, Felix spinning Pepa and dipping her back while she wrapped a leg around his waist and flicked her hair.
Alma smiled because she hadn't seen her daughter dance in a while, and she'd almost forgotten how good she was at it.
Pepa jumped up and Felix caught her, lifting and spinning her.
"They are good together." One of the newcomers chuckled, coming over to stand with Alma. He was short and stocky, a sombrero vueltiao over his grey afro.
He smiled, pointing to Felix. "My son."
"Oh." Alma smiled back, offering a hand. "Encantado. I'm Alma."
"Encantado." He took her hand with a firm grip, leaning in to kiss her cheek. He moved back to look her in the eye, his expression warm. "I'm Milo."
They stood together, watching their children dance. Alma glanced at Milo, unsure what else to say. She'd never been in this situation before, where another parent was involved. It felt strange.
"You have a good girl." Milo commented. "I can see it in her eyes. A good heart."
"They all do." Alma agreed, glancing at Julieta and Bruno, who stood cheering their sister on with the crowd.
"From the same marriage?" He asked, and Alma couldn't help but laugh.
"They are." She grinned. "You might not believe me when I tell you they are triplets."
"They're beautiful." He grinned back, and Alma felt herself glow with pride.
There was applause as the song stopped. Pepa and Félix stood together while everyone cheered for them. Alma saw her daughter look around at the crowd, trying to catch her breath and holding onto Felix as she watched in surprise. She wasn't used to so many people crowded around because they were happy with her.
Pepa's eyes met Alma's and she smiled proudly at her daughter. Pepa's expression softened, because she recognised that Mama was proud of her, and she couldn't remember the last time that had happened. Pepa felt desperate to hold onto this moment, to never let it end.
A sentimental cloud appeared over Pepa and Alma's smile faded at the sight of it.
No, not a cloud. Not now, Pepa. Not with the whole town watching.
Alma mouthed the word. Cloud.
Pepa looked worried now. She looked up at her cloud and it darkened. She turned back to Mama.
Alma made a swishing gesture with her hand, encouraging Pepa to clear it. She felt embarrassed, because these people didn't know them. They didn't know the context, all they probably saw was a mother who didn't know how to control her children.
Rain started to patter and Alma made the gesture again, faster this time. Felix was speaking to Pepa but she was too upset to respond.
Pepa turned and ran, and Felix chased after her, the cloud following. Alma watched them go, then glanced at the crowd. Dios, they were going to judge. What if they decided Pepa was dangerous? Their added influence might just tip the scales at last, where the town has finally had enough.
Alma went to chase after her daughter, determined to make things right, but a gentle hand took her elbow. She turned back to see Milo, his expression calm.
"Let them." He smiled. "It's important they do it for themselves."
Alma frowned, because she hated being told what to do.
"With all due respect," Alma told him, "That is my daughter."
Milo chuckled. "And that is my son. You see?"
Alma hesitated. She wasn't used to making shared decisions.
"So what do you expect me to do?" Alma frowned. "Just sit around and hope they come back?"
Milo laughed, then nodded.
"That sounds like a good idea." He agreed. "But let's add one more thing." He turned, picking up a bottle from the nearby table. He smelled it as he came back, his eyes closed with nostalgia. "Ah. Bueno. This one you will like."
He offered her the bottle.
"I'm married." The words came out before Alma could stop them.
Milo burst into laughter, while Alma frowned in embarrassment.
"Hm." He examined the bottle, then looked back up at Alma. "This does not look like a ring to me. I thought it was a friendly drink. My mistake."
"Sorry." Alma muttered.
"It's alright." Milo chuckled. "Your husband can come have some too. And don't worry, I will not propose to him either."
The comment hit Alma off guard. This was the first conversation she'd had with someone who didn't know Pedro was dead. Alma sobbed without meaning to, then clapped a hand over her mouth, desperate to fight back the tears.
"Ah." Milo's voice became soft. "I see..."
She felt his hand on her shoulder and she quickly pulled away. Milo kept kept for a moment, letting Alma catch her breath.
"It hurts." Milo agreed, his own eyes filled with sadness and understanding. "It hurts so bad to lose them. To live without them. But we have to keep going, hm? Because they need us to."
Alma looked up to see Milo nod his head towards two men in the crowd, who looked like Felix but older, and then to Julieta and Bruno.
"For them." He said, eyes on their children.
Alma took a deep breath, managing to regain composure as she nodded.
"And they're never really gone." Milo told her, tapping a finger to his chest. "They live on in here. Just as long as we remember all the things that they taught us."
"Did you..." Alma couldn't bring herself to ask it, but Milo understood. He nodded.
"The most beautiful woman in the world." He said quietly. "Gone too soon."
Alma swallowed, unsure what else to say.
Milo gave her a gentle smile. "What was his name?"
"Pedro." It hurt Alma to say his name, so she looked away. "Sorry."
"No apologies for feeling." Milo reassured her.
Alma looked back at him quietly. This was not a topic she was used to talking about.
She took a deep breath, then asked carefully, "What was her name?"
He smiled sadly. "Dolores."
Alma stroked one of her braids. She found this really hard to talk about.
"One day here, next day..." He shook his head, then gave her a gentle smile. He shifted his attention to the bottle, recognising that Alma wanted to chance topic. "That's why we enjoy all the time we have left. Hm? Good drink, good company."
"Well. You have one of those things." Alma muttered, and Milo couldn't help but laugh.
Later
"And that's why you do not leave clothes hanging on the boat." Milo grinned, his story making Sofia and Gabriel laugh.
"This is your favourite friend?" Milo asked Alma, patting a hand to Sofia's arm. Sofia looked at Alma, amused to see what she would say.
"She's okay." Alma shrugged playfully, the drinks making her cheeky.
Sofia exhaled in a puff. "Her only friend."
"Hey." Gabriel nudged his wife.
"That's untrue." Alma frowned, taking another drink, then waving the glass as she spoke. "I have many friends. There is the candle, the house..."
Milo burst into laughter, and Alma kicked his chair.
"They are good conversation?" Milo teased.
"Better than you." Alma shot back, then hesitated, realising that might've been too far.
"Dios." Milo grinned, putting emphasis on the word. "You have fire in your mouth."
"That's one way to put it." Alma sighed, resting her head to Sofia as she glanced at the doorway again, worried for Pepa.
"She'll be okay." Gabriel reassured her.
"She had a cloud." Alma reminded him, hands clasped together. She didn't like this relaxed approach to parenting. How could Alma know her daughter was okay if she wasn't there to make sure?
"Clouds will not hurt her." Milo smiled.
Sofia and Gabriel gave him a look of warning, but it was too late.
Alma took a long drink, pushing down her emotions until she was ready to speak in a calm voice.
"When Pepa was five, she almost died." Alma admitted. "The clouds. They made her very sick."
Alma took another drink, deciding not to mention Cora. It was still too painful.
She sighed heavily. "Clouds do hurt people. I know what I'm talking about."
Milo listened quietly. He glanced at the Guzmans, who nodded in agreement.
"So you hold her tight." He observed. "Keep her safe, because when she was small she could not help herself."
Alma nodded once, glancing at the door again.
"But she is not small anymore." Milo reminded her. "Now, if you hold her too tight, she can not breathe."
The Guzmans turned to Alma for her reaction, but she seemed to take that well enough. She frowned a little, refilling her glass.
"Like the otters." Sofia spoke carefully. "Remember? The mama holds them until they can swim on their own. But then she has to let go."
Alma downed her drink in one go, then poured another. She didn't like being told how to raise her children. She knew what she was doing. And even if she didn't, Alma was never going to admit it.
Besides, the thought of letting go terrified Alma.
It was the opposite of the otters. Alma needed them just as much as they needed her. Maybe even more so. If she and her children ever let go of one another, Alma knew she would be the one to sink.