"We need to split up, to cover more ground."
Julieta's voice was breathless as she addressed the family and townsfolk who'd gathered. Her hands were clasped together, something Pepa knew her sister did when she was emotional.
Villagers were talking all around her, worried for Mirabel. Pepa stiffened, feeling overwhelmed by the crowd. She exhaled slowly, hands running through her braid.
Usually this is where Mama would step in. She would take charge, reassure the crowd, lead the family. But losing their home had been too much for Alma. She sat on broken stone, tears running down her face and her stare miles away. Because of that, it all fell on Julieta.
Pepa felt her heart sink for her sister. She'd just lost her daughter, and was clearly distressed as she attempted to hold everything together. Pepa felt angry at herself for not being able to step up and talk to the town for Julieta.
She attempted to take a step forward, but it was like Pepa's feet froze. Her mind screamed at the memories of townsfolk crowding her, shouting and pointing in the rain. Children crowding her when she was young, chasing and shoving her down to see the clouds. The thought of addressing the crowd terrified Pepa.
"If you find Mirabel, ring the church bell." Julieta instructed everyone. "Then we'll know to meet back here, at Casita."
"What's left of Casita." Camilo mumbled in a dry tone, and Felix nudged him.
People started murmuring, glancing around at the ruins with worried expressions.
Isabela noticed her Mama's mouth tremble, and the way Julieta bit her lip to try and stay strong as the crowd called out questions.
Isabela frowned, turning on her cousin.
"What's your problem?" Isabela hissed. "You're not helping. You're just making everything worse."
The words hit Camilo hard, triggering his insecurities. He felt like crying, but instead he lashed out, his pain projecting into anger.
"You're the one not helping!" Camilo shot back. "Mirabel left because of you."
Isabela's eyes flashed. She took a sharp breath and threw a hand forward, but no flowers or vines came out. Camilo puffed his chest, trying to transform into someone bigger, but his body stayed the same. Realising they couldn't fight like that anymore, they rushed at eachother.
"Hey!" Agustin quickly stepped in, holding them apart. "Don't fight."
Isabela quickly shrugged Papi off, face burning with anger.
"Truth hurts, right?" Camilo provoked, his arms crossed.
"Camilo," Pepa urged. "We're all scared, corazón. But this is not the way."
Camilo looked hurt as he glanced back at Mama.
"If it's anyone's fault, it's mine." Luisa stepped in. "I told Mirabel to go to Bruno's tower. I started all of this."
Dolores hummed softly, remembering how she'd set that up.
Julieta's shoulders dropped as she saw them all turning on eachother.
"It's not your fault." Isabela told Luisa, then turned to Dolores, furious tears in her eyes now. "If someone had just kept their mouth shut at dinner! I swear. You did it out of spite!"
Dolores eyes widened. "I have a lot I could say, Prima."
"Hey!" Felix stepped in. "This isn't helping. No one's to blame-"
"Oh come on, Pa!" Camilo gestured to Isabela. "You're gonna let her get away with it? Isa was mean to Mira every chance she got! And you all just let her! Why does everyone always take Isabela's side?"
"There are no sides." Felix held his hands up. "We are a family. We are one."
"Mirabel didn't deserve the way you treated her!" Camilo turned furious eyes to his cousin. "She tried so hard to be good enough! She almost died saving the candle-"
"I almost died for the candle!" Isabela shouted back, her cheeks hot as she shoved Camilo.
"So did I!" Camilo pushed back.
They began to fight, voices overlapping as the others pulled them back. Villagers tried to help too, voices overlapping in concern.
Pepa picked up Antonio and stepped back, hugging her son tight as he hid against her. She breathed quickly, feeling overwhelmed. Usually she'd be surrounded by spiralling wind, and the lack of it made people stand very close. Pepa shot Mama a look, furious she wasn't helping.
Julieta turned to Alma too, desperate for help, but Mama wasn't looking. Alma held her head in her hands, taking sharp and shallow breaths.
Julieta's expression darkened in betrayal.
Mama had pushed their family to breaking point. She'd hurt every one of them, especially Mirabel, until she'd run away. Mama had destroyed everything they loved, and had left Julieta to pick up the pieces. Again. She was sick of it.
"Stop it!" Julieta exclaimed. "Stop! Just stop!"
Everyone went quiet.
They turned to see Julieta, her fierce eyes filled with tears and her chest heaving.
They all stepped back, watching quietly. They weren't used to seeing Julieta get angry, so it held a lot of weight.
"I have just watched our home fall apart." Julieta took a shuddering breath, wiping her eyes. "I will not watch our family fall apart too."
Alma felt like a ghost, watching her body from a distance, unable to do anything. Her mind was numb and distant. It all felt so much like the night she'd lost Pedro, past and present blurring into one.
She stared blankly ahead as tears slowly rolled down her dusty cheeks. Casita lay dead in pieces around her. Candle was dead too. Why did every Alma love have to die?
People were all gathered around, but the noises were muted and muffled. Alma tried to see them, but all she saw was fire and water, falling tiles, the swish of swords, cracking walls.
Alma's mind flashed back and forward, past and present blurring into one. Someone was shouting now, but the sounds mixed in with sounds of the river.
"Mama, just listen to me! For once!"
The recognition of Julieta's voice brought Alma back to reality.
What?
Julieta didn't shout.
She was their good girl, their quiet girl.
What was happening?
"You don't get to do this, Mama!" Julieta's dark eyes were fierce as Alma opened hers to meet them. "You don't get to say all those terrible things to my daughter, then hide away in your mind and not take responsibility. It's not fair!"
Alma blinked, her mind clarifying as it absorbed the urgency of the situation. Dios. How much had she missed?
"Mirabel is gone!" Julieta was crying now. "You drove her away, Mama! You drove her away just like you drove away Bruno!"
Pepa felt tears well up at the mention of their brother, infuriated as she remembered the way Mama had pressured Bruno into having that vision, and how they never saw him again. It wasn't fair. He didn't even say goodbye.
Alma glanced at Pepa for her reaction, and saw that her daughter was seething. It was strange, now Pepa's clouds were gone, her emotions felt intensified in her eyes. Or maybe it was because Alma was looking at them now, instead of the clouds.
Pepa turned to Felix, whispering for him to take the children away. He nodded, taking Antonio into his arms and turning to Camilo and Dolores.
"Let's go find Mirabel." He told the kids. "Bring her home."
Agustin led his daughters away too. Isabela turned back with a longing expression, but then Luisa put an arm around her shoulders, holding her protectively as they continued to walk away.
"Come on," Luisa encouraged. "We gotta find her before it gets dark."
Isabela hid her face against Luisa and nodded, the two of them leaving with Agustin, her hand gripping tight to Pepa's yellow hair ribbon.
Alma watched them all go, feeling suddenly very alone and afraid, but at the same time resigned to the fact that she deserved this.
"I let so much slide over the years, Mama." Julieta told Alma, her words candid now the children were gone. "I let you walk all over me, my entire life. I've worked until I collapsed on the kitchen floor. I've worked until my body broke, and then I healed myself and kept working."
Alma took a shaky breath, because she didn't know this. Why did she know nothing about her daughter?
"You used to smack me If I was too slow." Julieta told her. "You made me afraid to fail. You made me think I was only good if I was useful, if I was quiet, if I was working. You taught me to put my own needs last. And I used to think all that was normal. But it's not, Mamá. It's wrong."
Alma felt so ashamed, knowing the whole town was watching, judging her. People started to walk away, recognising that this was too personal. Alma tried to take a breath, but it was like there was no air left.
"And when I got older I thought, as long as you treat my children right, then it's okay." Julieta continued. "Maybe you just needed to be harsh with me, to learn how to get it right for them." Julieta took a shaky breath. "But you are just as bad to them, Mamá. You put so much pressure on Isabela and Luisa. And you hurt Mirabel. Not physically, but your words crush her. You crush her kind heart, you crush her spirit."
"You said terrible things to Mirabel today." Pepa agreed. "You made her feel like she is not good enough. Like she does not belong in our family."
"Don't do this, Pepa." Alma's voice was strained.
That only made Pepa more upset. Why was she never allowed to talk about her feelings? Pepa slipped a hand into her pocket, taking out her little piece of Casita. A tear ran down her cheek as she looked down at the little sun design on broken tile, then closed her fist around it. Casita didn't deserve what happened. None of them did.
Alma glanced over her shoulder at the townsfolk, who for the most part dispersed, though some were still listening. She turned back to her daughters. "Not here."
"If not here, then where, Mama?" Julieta asked. "We have nowhere to go. Our home is destroyed."
"Your words broke it." Pepa agreed, gazing sadly down at a piece of tile in her hand, before slipping it back into her pocket.
"Why did you tell Mirabel that Bruno left because of her?" Julieta demanded.
"And that Bruno didn't care?" Pepa added, tears rolling down her cheeks now. Her chest burned with anguish, but it didn't rain.
Without the storm, Alma was finally able to see Pepa. She saw the hurt in her eyes, the way her pale cheeks burned red, the way her fingers fidgeted with her hair and her arms twisted. Alma had always been so worried about the clouds, she'd never seen how deeply hurt her daughter was emotionally.
"Bruno cared!" Pepa was sobbing now, tears running down her face. "He cared about us, Mama! He loved us!" She reached for her braid, finding it hard to stop shaking. "I loved him, Mama. And-" She took a breath, "I want to talk about him."
"So do I." Julieta agreed.
"Bruno cared." Pepa continued. "And so do I." She took a sharp breath. "I care so much. Till it hurts me, Mama."
Alma watched as words poured out of Pepa like rain.
"I tried so hard not to show it." She continued. "I know I can't be sad. I can't be angry. Because if I feel anything, I'm bad. I embarrass you. People get hurt. But... I can't stop." She sobbed. "I can't stop caring."
Pepa shuddered, cheeks hot as years and years of pent up emotions came spilling out. All the storms trapped inside of Pepa's body were released. Not through her clouds, but through her words.
"It hurts, Mama." She told her. "You know how much it hurt to save the miracle?" She gasped. "To stop the storms, to stay happy, while everything inside of me was dying?"
"Pepa." Alma whispered, reaching a hand for her, wanting to stroke her hair. "I'm sorry... I know it hurt."
Pepa shot a furious look at Mama, eyes gleaming with pain as she pulled away.
"You don't!" Pepa screamed. "You don't know! If you knew, then why did you make me do it? Why?" She gasped from breath. "It killed me, Mama. It killed me. And you just made me do it, again and again. Because all you care about is the magic. You never cared about us!"
Alma backed up, Pepa's anger frightening her. She glanced at townsfolk who were all watching in concern.
"Clear skies, Pepa." Alma whispered, unsure how else to calm her down, but that just made Pepa even angrier.
"They are clear, Mama!" Pepa threw a hand to the sky. "You see? No lightning! No thunder! So why can't I be angry? Why am I never allowed to feel anything?"
Alma blinked, trying to stay calm even though her heart was breaking. Pepa glared back at her, because her own heart was already broken. She remembered herself as a child, sobbing in the rain while Mama stood over her.
"You taught me it was bad to feel." Pepa continued. "My whole life. You made me think I was a monster for feeling." She took a shaky breath. "But I'm not, Mama. I'm not a monster." Her eyes flashed like lightning. "You are."
Alma blinked slowly, tears running down her face as she backed away, her chest heaving.
"You hurt our family, Mama." Julieta confirmed. "You used me. You used Pepa. You used our children. To help the town, to fix the magic. It's not fair."
"You hurt us so much, I don't know if we can ever get better again." Pepa agreed, taking a shuddering breath. "Our family is not broken because of Mirabel, it's broken because of you."
Pepa's words hit Alma so hard she felt herself shatter.
Julieta's expression softened and she glanced at Pepa. Now that they'd hurt Mamá, they couldn't help but feel guilty. They were angry at her, but deep down they still loved her.
Alma took a shallow breath, unable to stop herself from shaking. She crossed her arms, watery eyes shifting between her daughters.
"I'm sorry." Alma's voice broke. She turned away, her vision blurred by tears as she quickly headed away from town, too ashamed to look back.
Pepa watched her go, feeling conflicted.
The next day
"Mirabel!"
Felix called out, hand to his mouth as he searched. Dolores followed sadly, holding a hand to her ear and feeling useless. She knew this is where she normally would've helped.
Dolores wished she did more when she had her powers. Now it was too late. Bruno was dead, Mirabel was gone. All because Dolores had done nothing.
She trailed after Félix, trying not to cry as she remembered Tio's rat telenovelas. This would be the first morning Dolores wasn't going to hear his voice.
Or so she thought.
"Psst!"
The bushes rustled as Dolores passed them by.
"Hey! Kid."
Dolores stopped with a hum, her eyes wide.
"Is that my favourite listener?"
Her face lit up into a smile.
"I'll search here." Dolores called to Papà, scrambling through the bushes to see her Tio.
"There you are." Bruno grinned. "Ready for the morning- Ayy!"
Dolores threw herself into Bruno, knocking him over as they tumbled into a hug.
"Dios! Here I was thinking I avoided getting crushed," Bruno groaned, although he was grinning.
Dolores couldn't stop laughing.
"You're alive!" She kissed his cheeks, cuddling up against him. Bruno's face softened. It felt good to be so wanted.
"Better than alive, kid." Bruno told her, brushing himself off. "I'm here to make things right."
Dolores watched him in surprise. Bruno climbed back to his feet, offering her a hand.
"Im gonna find Mirabel, and bring her home." Bruno held up a finger to emphasise his point. "Then I'm gonna stand up to Abuela, once and for all."
Dolores hummed. "That's brave."
Bruno made a nervous laugh, and Dolores could see how much it frightened him. Rats clambered onto his shoulders, squeaking in encouragement, and Bruno exhaled, gathering up the courage.
"I kept on hiding, kid." Bruno admitted. "And I don't just mean in the walls... In here, too."
He tapped a finger to his head.
"Your Mama and I used to do it all the time as kids, y'know?" Bruno explained. "The town would get mad, so we'd hide away in my tower. We'd make up stories, dances, plays..." He smiled sadly at the memories, then chuckled. "It's funny, in our stories Pepa and I were always the heroes. We were the good guys."
"You still are." Dolores was sincere.
Bruno smiled. "You're a nice kid."
He reached over his shoulder and adjusted his ruana, plucking up the nerve to say what he really wanted to tell her.
"Those, ah, morning shows. Well," Bruno began, his eyes on the rats. "Sometimes, they were the only thing I had to look forward to." He shuffled nervously. "I'd spend all day writing the next episode for you. And then I'd get excited to perform them each day, and see how happy it made you, and, well, it made everything else okay." Bruno glanced back at her with a shy expression. "What I mean to say is, thank you. You really got me through each day."
Dolores gently took his hands, eyes warm with love. "Me too, Tio."
Bruno smiled at Dolores, and was met with a look of sincerity. Bruno felt his heart sink, because she reminded him so much of her Mama, and Bruno felt terrified to face Pepa again.
"I love her." Bruno admitted. "We used to do everything together... But then one day, Pepi grew up. Went out and faced the world." Bruno sighed. "And I kept on pretending. Kept on hiding. And my life went on without me... You know?"
Dolores hummed, remembering how she'd handled things with Mariano. "I do know."
Bruno noticed Dolores' sad expression.
"Does it hurt anymore? The uh-" He pointed to his ear.
Dolores shook her head.
"That's good." He smiled. "Must be hard, not knowing stuff anymore, huh? I mean, I understand... No more divine wisdom." Bruno waved his arms with flair, then chuckled. "Now I only see what's right in front of me."
Dolores nodded in understanding, absently rubbing her ear. Bruno's expression softened.
"But you know what, kid. Maybe this is a good thing," Bruno decided. "I mean, pressure's off. Now the only things you're gonna hear are the things that really matter to you."
Dolores remembered how Mama had held her so Dolores could listen to her heartbeat.
"That's true." She agreed.
Bruno shifted, hands in his pockets.
"Your gift, it was a lot for you to carry." Bruno admitted. "So thank you... For keeping my secret."
Dolores put on a brave smile. "It's what I do, Tio."
Bruno smiled back.
"Well, not anymore." Bruno reassured her. "No more secrets, kid. No more hiding... I'm gonna fix things."
He pulled his hood up, exhaling slowly.
"I'm gonna talk about Bruno."
Later
After a while, the weather began to act on its own.
Pepa saw clouds in the sky and her face lit up. She ran out into the fields, chasing after them.
"Wait!" She called out as she ran. "It's me! It's Pepa. Remember?"
The clouds drifted in the wind, and Pepa pushed herself to run faster, determined not to lose sight of them.
"I'm sorry!" She called to them, remembering all the times she'd shooed them away, or told them she hated them. "Please. I didn't mean it."
She tripped, tumbling over. Her face hit the ground and she began to cry, but the clouds didn't respond. She looked up at them, feeling betrayed. It felt wrong to cry without the rain.
"I love you." She sobbed, looking up at the clouds. "Please. Don't leave me." She reached a hand up to the sky. "I need you."
The wind started to blow and Pepa cried out, scrambling to her feet and running after them.
"Mirabel?" Felix called, searching the fields. "Mirabel!"
He gasped as he saw his wife laying amongst the crops. Felix rushed over to find Pepa hyperventilating.
Felix glanced up at the clear sky. It felt jarring that Pepa was so upset, while the sun shone bright.
"Hey." Felix spoke gently, gathering Pepa up into his arms. "Hey, beautiful." He kissed her sweating face, picking up her shaking body. "You're alright. I got you."
"Felix." She gasped, "Something's wrong." She took a shuddering breath, but the rain wouldnt come. The air around her felt empty. "It hurts."
"Where?" Felix said softly, holding Pepa. "Where, mi amor?"
Pepa sobbed, placing a hand to her aching chest. Tears ran down her dry cheeks and it all felt wrong. She knew how much rain should be falling right now. She knew it to the millimetre, she and her cloud watering these fields for almost half a century. She knew every crop, how much water they needed.
"They're gone." She sobbed, holding onto Felix's arms. "They're all gone..." She took a shaky gasp. "I always told you I hated them. But," She swallowed, glancing up at the clear sky. "I didn't mean it." Pepa broke into tears. "I didn't, Felix. I didn't mean it."
"I know you didnt." Felix kissed her forehead, holding her close. "I'm sorry, Pepi. I should've come with you. This is so hard for you, coming back the fields."
This only made Pepa cry more.
"Felix." She sobbed. "Without them... I'm nothing."
Felix blinked in surprise.
"If I can't make it rain, then the crops don't get watered." She gulped, then kept gasping. "And if the crops don't get watered, the crops die."
Felix's expression softened. He held her tight as he listened.
"I'm not useful anymore, Felix." Pepa sobbed. "I'm not good for the village. Mama won't want me back. She won't love me anymore."
Pepa imagined how Mirabel must've been made to feel, and it hurt her stomach. She groaned as the storm built up inside, making her feel sick.
Felix gently wiped under Pepa's eyes, keeping firm pressure on her chest as he held her.
"You are not nothing, Pepa Madrigal." Felix looked her in the eyes, his voice calm. "You are everything."
Pepa watched quietly.
"Everything." Felix reassured her. "To me, to our children, our family-"
"I was supposed to help you." She whispered. "Remember? I was supposed to carry you."
"You do." He smiled, stroking back her fringe. "You helped me so much. And our children, you know Dolores told me what you did for her. With the fireworks-"
"But I stopped." She sobbed. "I stopped being strong. I was supposed to keep carrying you. I wasn't supposed to give up."
"Hey." Felix kissed her wet face, "You carry me every day, mi amor." He rested his forehead against hers. "Every day, just by being you. You're so strong. You are being so strong right now."
Pepa took a sharp breath. It didn't feel like it.
"When I say don't give up," He spoke gently, "I mean I want you to stay, Pepi. I want you to live. I want you to see tomorrow. That's all I mean... There's no pressure to do anything more than that. Some days we just survive... That's okay."
Pepa's hands gripped Felix, her chest tightening as the hurricane inside her body worsened. She leaned into Felix and groaned, feeling sick.
"We won't make tomorrow. Not if we starve." Pepa gasped. "We'll starve because of me, Felix. We'll die because of me."
"We won't." He kissed her face again. "We're gonna grow our crops like every other village. Luck of the season." He rubbed her back. "You watch. They're gonna regret complaining, when they see how good they've had it. They're so lucky to have you, mi vida. So lucky."
"Not anymore."
"Always." He looked into her eyes. "You light up our lives."
Pepa glanced up at the sky. It was shining without her.
"Not the sun," Felix smiled, lifting Pepa up to sit with him. "You." He put a hand to her chin, so he could look into her eyes. "You light up our lives, Pepa Madrigal."
"Not today." Pepa muttered.
Felix gently wiped her tears. "Every day."
Pepa hid her face against Felix as they held eachother in the long grass, warm sun on their backs.
She put hands to his back, feeling the way Felix's body slowly rose and fell against hers with each breath. She breathed in time with him, and it grounded her when their bodies felt like one.
Felix supported Pepa's body weight as she leaned on him, her fingers fidgeting with the fabric of his shirt.
"You're my best friend." She said quietly.
Felix broke into a bright smile. He hadn't expected her to say that. "Yeah?"
"Hm." Pepa couldn't help but smile too.
He kissed her forehead, then gently wiped under her eyes again. "I'll always be your friend, Pepi."
Felix felt her body relax into his. Pepa's arms slowly wrapped around Felix's shoulders and she hugged him close, her breath on his neck as she watched the sky. They stayed like that for a while, then Felix spoke again.
"Where's your Mama?"
"Gone." Pepa admitted. "I left her behind."
Her eyes lowered to the fabric of his shirt, slowly tracing the patterns with her fingers.
"I told her a lot of things, Felix." She spoke quietly. "Angry things. Things I kept inside. They all came out."
Felix gently stroked her face. "You stood up to her?"
Pepa nodded, still avoiding his eyes.
"And what did she say?"
"She said she was sorry... I think." Pepa cuddled close, feeling ashamed. "I don't know, Felix. I didn't hear. I just couldn't stop shouting... I was so angry at her."
He kissed her head, fingers stroking through her hair now. "And how do you feel now?"
Pepa glanced up at the bright sunny day. It didn't match her heart.
"I don't know." She admitted.
Felix kissed her, eyes glittering in the sun. "It's okay not to know. Maybe you are feeling a mix of things?"
She nodded, wiping her eyes as she leant into his chest.
Felix gazed down with a loving expression.
"I'm so proud of you, Pepa."
Pepa's expression softened and she looked up at him. She loved when he told her that.
"You let your Mama know what you really think." Felix chuckled. "Dios, mi amor. I would've shouted too."
Pepa couldn't help but smile. Felix leaned in, his arms around her waist as he pulled her up onto his lap, her legs either side of him.
"Do you remember when we were young, and we'd run through these fields?" Felix grinned, "And I would chase you through the crops?"
Pepa nodded, eyes warm with nostalgia as she remembered.
"Dios. I had to work so hard to keep up with you." Felix chuckled, a hand running along Pepa's leg. "These long legs."
"Because you are viejo." Pepa grinned.
Félix rolled Pepa onto her back. She made a soft sound in surprise, then smiled as Felix leaned in, rubbing his nose against hers.
"Is that so?" Felix pinned her down, tickling Pepa while she squirmed, then stopped to let her catch her breath.
Pepa took dried leaves and grass in her hands, reaching up to let them shower down over Felix's head.
"Hm." Felix grinned, leaves in his hair now as he leaned in and kissed her.
The orange leaves fluttered over Pepa. She giggled, blowing them off her face. Felix kissed her again.
"We can still do things like that, amor." Felix grinned, gently moving the leaves from her face. "There's still so much magic in the world. Beautiful memories that you don't need a miracle to make."
Pepa smiled, leaning up so their noses brushed. The sun shone golden against them, but this time it matched her heart.
"You are my miracle, Felix."
Felix smiled back, fingers running through Pepa's hair as he kissed her. Pepa moved into his kiss, loving the feel of him against her. She put hands to Felix's back and pulled his body into hers.
Felix trailed kisses down along Pepa's neck and she gasped softly, hands sliding down his back and leg around his waist.
"Umm... Ew."
They both stopped abruptly, sitting up to see their children standing there.
Dolores giggled from beside her brother, while Antonio just looked confused.
Pepa quickly got back up, her cheeks flushed.
"So, did you find Mirabel?" Camilo asked, his arms crossed uncomfortably.
Felix chuckled, an arm slipping around Pepa's waist as he glanced at the crops. "Hm, not here."
Camilo scoffed at his Pá, while Dolores covered a laugh. Their parents got up, joining them as they walked.
"It wasn't what it looked like." Pepa muttered, leaning into her daughter. She felt the need to explain herself now Dolores wasn't all-knowing with her gift. "Papi was just helping me to feel better."
Camilo groaned and Felix gave him a playful push.
Dolores hummed, smiling as she rested her head against Pepa's. "I know, Mama."
Antonio took Pepa's hand from the other side, hopeful eyes looking up at her. "Did it work? Do you feel better?"
Pepa lifted Antonio into her arms and hugged him tight. Something about holding her little baby made everything okay.
"Yes, Papito." She smiled and kissed his face. "Much better."
Antonio searched Mama's eyes, then smiled. "I can still see it, Mami."
"Hm?"
"Your rainbow." He explained. "It's in your eyes."
Pepa's expression softened. She turned to Dolores and her daughter nodded in confirmation.
"You glow, Mama." She agreed.
Later
Antonio sat on top of Pepa's shoulders, Mama holding his ankles as she walked. He pointed out where to go next as they searched the forest.
"Mirabel!" Camilo called from nearby.
His shout was followed by Dolores, who called out in an unexpectedly loud voice. "Mirabel!"
It took Camilo by surprise. Dolores noticed her brother watching and she turned to him.
"What is it?" Dolores asked.
Camilo shrugged and smiled. "You have a nice voice."
Dolores smiled back. She called out again, even louder this time. Camilo laughed, trying to outdo her.
The church bell began to ring.
Pepa turned at the sound, then grinned up at Antonio, who bounced in excitement on her shoulders.
"Mirabel's back!" He peered down at Mama, swinging his legs.
Pepa nodded, her eyes bright and hopeful. "Hold on tight, Papito."
Antonio did as he was told, then shrieked with joy as Mama began to run, sidestepping trees and hopping over fallen branches as they raced back towards town.
"Mami, you're so fast!" Antonio laughed as Mama ducked them under a branch, then jumped out into the open fields. She glanced back at him with a smile. Pepa ran through the crops as Antonio grinned, holding out his hand and letting the plants brush past his fingers.
"Antonio!" Felix trilled, running nearby with Dolores and Camilo. They all grinned and waved to him. "Vaya! Vaya!"
Antonio waved back and laughed. He couldn't help but be reminded of the first time he'd ridden his jaguar. He smiled at the memory, hugging Mama gratefully. Pepa smiled too, wanting to make new magic for her son in these happy moments.
She leapt through the crops and broke into a sprint through the long grass, determined to beat her family home and make her son feel like he was flying. Antonio exclaimed in excitement from her shoulders.
Pepa skidded to a stop, panting as they arrived back at Casita. Returning to their destroyed home should've been a distressing moment, but the hope of finding Mirabel combined with Pepa's playful gesture had comforted them both.
She bent forward, letting Antonio tumble forward and fall into her arms with a delighted shriek.
"Got you." Pepa laughed breathlesly, catching Antonio upside down and kissing his face all over while he giggled.
He watched her with sparkling eyes. "I love you, Mami."
She smiled. "Love you too, cielo."
Pepa spun him the right way up, making a whooshing sound with her mouth. Antonio giggled as Mama gently put him down.
"Tia."
Pepa turned to see Luisa and Isabela approach.
Isabela glanced at Antonio, unsure if she'd be welcomed, but her little cousin grinned, running over and hugging hers and Luisa's legs.
Pepa approached, and Isabela gently tied the yellow ribbon back around Tia's hair, fixing her fringe to make sure it sat right.
"Did it help?" Pepa asked.
Isabela nodded, gently moving curls so they framed Tia's face. "More than you'll ever know, Tía."
Pepa smiled, then noticed a couple stings along Luisa's arm. She gently traced them with her fingers, her brow furrowed in concern. "Tesoro. You're hurt?"
"Just some bees." Luisa shrugged. "Mama and Papa kept running into hives in the dark, so I diverted the swarms."
Isabela stifled a laugh at the memory.
"It was hard at first, you know, without my gift." Luisa admitted, "But once we outsmarted them-"
"You outsmarted them." Isabela corrected her sister. "All I did was hide in the bushes." She turned to Pepa. "She's getting wiser, Tía."
"Our hero." Pepa agreed, kissing Luisa. "Still got it, mm?"
Luisa shrugged, her face softening into a smile. "Guess so, Tia."
"Mirabel!" Julieta's voice called out in the distance.
Pepa held Antonio's hand and the four of them followed the voices.
"Ay mi amor, I was so worried. We couldn't find you."
"There were bees everywhere."
They arrived just in time to see Agustin's puffy face. Pepa rolled her eyes, trying not to laugh because it was just so typical of him.
"I'll be okay." Agustin reassured Mirabel, who was exchanging an amused look with her Mama.
"Uhh... Not if we don't have a house." Camilo spoke in a dry tone, arriving with his Pa and sister through the trees.
Felix nudged Camilo.
"What?" Camilo turned to Felix. "We don't have a house. I can't say we don't have a house?" He threw a hand to the rubble. "What is that? Not a house."
Mirabel couldn't help but smile. She headed up the front steps of Casita.
Pepa joined the family as they all gathered close, waiting to hear what Mirabel had to say.