meme reference if you can spot it.
That one question hung in the air like one of Pepa's clouds.
Abuela turned to look at her granddaughter who seemed to be fiddling with her earring but looking at the floor.
"What do you think Mirabel?" asked Alma, the question had felt like someone had hit her in the gut with a soccer ball.
"Well, you certainly don't love me, not after my ceremony, and probably even less after yesterday," said Mirabel quietly
Another soccer ball to the gut.
"I could never hate one of my grandchildren," said Abuela
"You never saw me as part of the family after I didn't get my gift," said Mirabel
"You think I don't love you Mira?" asked Abuela
Mirabel looked at the floor.
Abuela sighed, what could she say? There was no way for her to fix this, or to even pretend everything was fine because it most definitely wasn't fine. The miracle was listening to Mirabel, casita adored the girl. How could she have been so blind?
No, she knew what had blinded her, it was her fear, a justified fear at the start but now….
"I'm sorry," whispered Abuela
"The candle said it connected with me and gave me some of its powers on the night of my ceremony, I would have gotten my room when I turned twenty, it could feel the magic fading for years and if it had decided to wait any longer than Tonito's ceremony casita would have fallen. The cracks in the family-run deep, I'm trying to help fix them but you have to fix the foundation before the second floor," said Mirabel
"I want to try to be better for my family, but I need to know just how badly I've hurt them so I can start," said Abuela
"I don't think I can forgive you yet, I'm still angry and hurt over everything, and just so much is happening and changing that I don't even think I can explain in words how badly you hurt me. I think I understand how you felt upon receiving the miracle and being thrust into roles you were unprepared for but understanding and forgiveness aren't the same," said Mirabel, her voice still quiet, but now she held her crown in her hands and was turning it over in her hands, still refusing to look Alma in the eyes.
"After I lost my Pedro, I never got the chance to mourn properly, I let myself become apathetic. I had to be strong for my babies and for the village, I thought we had to earn our miracle's protection and our gifts, I lost sight of who the miracle was for and why it was given, your Abuelo loved his family so much that he was willing to give his life for us to be safe and love isn't something that needs to be earned. I know and understand why you can't forgive me yet but I hope maybe we can help each other navigate this new normal," said Abuela
Mirabel nodded, not trusting herself to speak without sobbing.
"Come here Mira," said Abuela softly, before pulling her into a hug.
…
Antonio had gotten bored of the game and just picked up an age-appropriate book, the whole room was rather quiet now except for the splattering of rain on the windows and the occasional roll of thunder.
Bruno and Luisa were both fiddling with their new jewelry, Luisa had her tiara in her hands and Bruno was having fun making the gold on his pendant catch the light for Parce to chase.
"So Mira is going to make new clothes for us centered around the colors attributed to animals we bond with or our sides of the family instead of based on our gifts?" asked Dolores
"I think she wants us to not be defined by our gifts instead let us define them, I get pink and gray with a bit of blue but you can probably ask her if you can pick the colors you want," said Luisa
"She still hasn't come to ask me for what I want on my wedding dress," said Dolores
"Mirabel knows all of us better than we know ourselves, I've seen your dress Lola, you'll love it, the rest of our dresses for the occasion are more sunset themed with mama's side being closer to evening colors and you're mama's side being the bright oranges, yellows, and reds of the skyline, no clue how she's doing her's, Antonio's or Tio's outfits, but Isa's is a deep indigo with orange accents," said Luisa
"Ooh, I hadn't even thought of color schemes, Mariano has been too busy talking to your mama about the food so we haven't even had the chance to talk colors yet," said Dolores
"What's this I hear about wedding colors and dresses?" asked Pepa
"Mira has all our outfits for Dolores's wedding finished, Tia your dress is golden yellow with pink accents," said Luisa
"Oh that does sound gorgeous," said Pepa
"Did she make one for Abuela?" asked Camilo
"Red and orange like the sun," said Luisa
"Speaking of the wedding, Lola you and I need to talk flowers, no roses or flor de mayo though," said Isa
"Well if Mirabel is going sunset theme could you just get creative with those colors? But no cacti or anything carnivorous," said Dolores.
"I'll make some test bouquets later, once this mess is sorted out," said Isa
"It's unnerving not being able to hear them talking, but at the same time I'm relieved, even in my soundproof room I couldn't even escape the noise of my own heartbeat, mama is crying or laughing, and yet the weather is a natural storm that we are completely dry from because we are indoors," said Dolores, looking at the door.
"Do you think Mirabel will forgive Abuela? Should we forgive Abuela?" asked Isabela
Antonio chose that moment to plop down next to Luisa.
"Mami won't forgive Abuela until Abuela shows she's actually changing her ways, she hurt my Mami and everyone else so I can't forgive her yet either. Mami said it's just like being sorry, you can say the words but it doesn't make any difference unless you show that you truly mean it. Forgiveness needs to be earned, and you can forgive with all your heart but it takes far longer to forget," said Antonio
"When did you get so wise Tonito?" asked Dolores
"I grew up observing the family dynamic. If Abuela did try to force me away from Mami if that night hadn't gone like it did, I would have set Parce on her, not to hurt her but just to scare her enough to listen," said Antonio
There was a slight screech from Pepa as a very dapperly clothed rat scurried down Bruno's arm.
The sound was immediately followed by Julieta's laughter that no one had heard since her own wedding day when Agustin had made an awful pun at the altar. The cause of her current bout of laughter was her sister standing on the back of the couch.
"Pepa you put a bow on a ten-foot caiman yet you are scared of such a distinguished little gentleman?" laughed Julieta
The rat puffed out his little chest at his Tia's praise for his dapperness. That only made Julieta laugh harder, and she was almost struggling to breathe when she noticed her husband's avian friend perched on his head scanning for signs of danger, he had obviously flown there the moment Pepa screeched. By then everyone else was laughing until Julieta got the hiccups.
