"Tonight has to go perfectly. We can't have any bad luck. Mirabel shouldn't be here for the celebration."
"Antonio would be crushed if his favorite cousin wasn't at his gift ceremony. Mirabel is a member of this family. As such, she has every right to stand with us tonight. End of discussion!"
Mirabel sighed. It felt like every day Abuela and her father fought over here. Nothing ever came from these arguments. When Mirabel was younger, they'd always end with Agustín threatening to take his children and leave. Now that Isabela and Luisa were adults, he had to get more creative.
"Pepa! You have a cloud!" Thank you, Tía Pepa.
"I know, but I can't find Antonio! What do you want from me?"
Mirabel felt a lump under her mattress. Mirabel pulled out a small box from her drawer. "Everyone is looking for you," Mirabel called out. "If you don't come out, this present will get destroyed in three seconds. One-"
A child's hands grabbed the gift box and pulled it away. Mirabel looked under the bed, finding her younger cousin. She gave him a faint smile. "There you are," Mirabel said. "Are you nervous?"
Antonio nodded mutely. "You have nothing to worry about," Mirabel responded. "You're going to get the best gift tonight. And your new room will be the best in the house. It will even be cooler than Luisa's."
"What if it doesn't work?" Antonio whispered. Mirabel barely heard him.
"Well, if in the unlikely chance that it doesn't work, then you're stuck with me," Mirabel said. Her voice then entered a low whisper. "Forever."
"I wish you could have a door," Antonio muttered. "And a mamá..."
Mirabel didn't know Antonio had heard Agustín and Alma arguing. Those were the only times Julieta was regularly brought up in conversation because it made Pepa upset. An upset Pepa usually meant there would be a hurricane. She almost wanted to scream at them for fighting so intensely in earshot of Antonio.
Mirabel shook it off. "I don't need a gift," Mirabel responded. "And, while I miss my mamá, I know she's with Abuelo. And I still have an amazing family, an amazing house, and the most amazing cousin with the cutest chocolate eyes."
Mirabel affectionately squeezed his cheeks. "I have a gift for you to take to your room," Mirabel said. Antonio opened the gift box, revealing a stuffed jaguar. Since Mirabel didn't have many chores, she took up sewing and knitting as a hobby. "I figured you'd be lonely in your room. I know I'm going to miss my awesome roommate."
"I love it," Antonio declared.
"I'm glad," Mirabel said. "I know you love animals. You'll have something to snuggle with in your new, awesome room."
The floorboards of the room moved. "It's time," Mirabel whispered. "Ready?"
Antonio nods. "Can I have a hug?" Mirabel asked. Antonio nodded, and the two cousins shared a tight hug.