"I'm fine, honestly, clear skies, clear skies," Pepa muttered, tugging on her braid as her husband and brother exchanged looks.
"Are you sure?" Felix muttered.
"It kind of looks like rain," Bruno added, which got him a dark look and a slap on the arm.
"You aren't funny Brunito," Pepa snapped.
"And you aren't letting go like you promise you would," Felix pointed out, "What's got you so upset this time Mi Amor."
"I'm fine…" Pepa insisted, "honestly, clear skies."
"Just let it out," Felix insisted, pulling her into a tight hug, "Whatever it is, we'll deal with it," he insisted, "Is something wrong."
Pepa nodded, sniffling slightly, "I'm just…" she sniffled as she accepted a handkerchief from Felix, "Mariano asked Dolores out, and she said yes!" Pepa exclaimed, "Mi Bebe is growing up! And I'm fine, really I'm fine, stop worrying about me. I'm just overreacting. I just can't believe that she's dating. Dating leads to courting, and courting leads to engagement, and engagements lead to weddings and that leads to babies…" Pepa trailed off as she tugged on her braid again.
Bruno reached out and grabbed her hand, "It's okay to feel upset over the fact that Dolores is growing up, just let it out."
Tears streamed down her face, which quickly caused her to swipe angrily at her eyes and start to chant her clear sky mantra again.
"Hey," Felix said, pulling Pepa close, "It's okay, help me out here, how are you feeling? Dolores went on a date, so are you sad about it, mad, or worried? Tell me."
"She's growing up," Pepa muttered, shaking her head, "Soon she'll get married and won't need me anymore! I'm losing my hija."
Bruno shook his head, "Dolores will always need you Pepa," he insisted.
"It's not just Dolores," Pepa pointed out, "It's all of them, they're growing up too fast! Dolores is dating, and the others are…" she buried her face into Felix's shoulder, not willing to say anything else.
"It's okay Pepa, just let it out," Felix insisted.
Bruno watched awkwardly, wondering if he should leave these two to it. He took a step backward, ready to turn around and leave when he felt a hand grab his arm and pull him into the hug. Pepa wrapped an arm around him and pulled him close.
He really wasn't sure about this, after going so long without any physical contact being involved with a hug was confusing to say the least. Finally, Pepa released her grip on him, allowing him to pull out of the hug.
"Feeling better?" Felix asked as he too pulled away.
"Yes, as a matter of fact, I do," Pepa insisted, swiping at her eyes with a teary smile, "I'm being silly," she admitted, "Just because Dolores is dating doesn't mean that she will stop loving us."
"Exactly," Felix insisted, "Come on, she'll be fine, and you'll never stop loving her, and she'll never stop loving you. Let's go."
"But I'm not ready to be an Abuela."
Bruno snorted, "Seriously that's what you're worried about? You have the gray hairs for it."
Pepa shot Bruno a dirty look, "If I was you, I'll start to run," she hissed as she gathered her skirt up in her hands.
"Why is it whenever we encourage Pepa to unleash her emotions, I'm the target."
"You just have a terrible sense of humor bro," Felix confessed as he watched his wife go after her brother with a grin.