Chapter 15

It's been a few days and no word on the invitations, and they saw little progress on the garden.

Melissa: At least it's some progress.

Bruno: So, how does it look mei amor?

Melissa: Well it's comin', though ah'I hope ah'm not over waterin' the poor dears.

He then walked over to her, picked her up, and spun her around.

Bruno: I think you're doing just fine mei amor. Say, what if I make you some tea to help with the nerves.

Melissa: Oh, thank ya hon, that would be lovely. Anythin' ya got is fine.

As they were walking back to the casita, Maribel came running across the walkway with a letter in hand.

Maribel: Tia Melissa! Tia Melissa a letter for you!

She handed Melissa the letter, and the first thing she noticed was a familiar address.

Melissa: Oh, it's from mah sister.

She kept on reading.

Melissa: It says that I'm invited to her Graduation and a weddin', mah cousin's Samantha's…

Then out of nowhere, a familiar voice came from behind them.

Male voice: Aw, Sammy's getting married!

Then Melissa and Bruno jumped and landed on each other.

Melissa: Damn it, Dad ya nearly gave us a heart attack! Are ya ok hon?

Bruno: Yes, I'm fine mei amor, but next time give us a warning before you, um, pop up sir.

Demon: Sir, I'm starting to like you boy, and did I hear my other little girl is graduating college?!

Melissa: That's what it says, Ah'I wish Ah'I could go and see the ceremony.

Bruno: Why can't you go?

Demon: Yes, why can't you?

Melissa: Because ah'm here, they're in Big Rapids Michigan. Plus ah'I can't leave you Brunito, the casita, and this familia, mah pets.

Bruno: Oh we'll be fine for a while, I'll, we'll miss you terribly, but we'll be fine.

Melissa: Ok, but what about mah animals?!

Bruno: I and Antonio will take care of them.

Melissa: What about the weddin'? Would ya come with meh and mah Dad ta the weddin' please, ah'I might need ya'r moral support.

Bruno: Well I'm not good with weddings, but for you, I'll go.

Melissa: Oh, thank ya hon, thank ya, thank ya… wait, ah'I feel bad ta leave Antonio with all mah pet's, and plus the one ya gave meh.

Bruno: Oh, he'll be fine.

Melissa: By himself at five? And what about Hans, he might bite him, he's very unpredictable.

Bruno: Well if he gets that unruly, he can leave him in the cage.

Melissa: Yeah, but that's what he wants. Let's see, it takes seven hours away by plane, ah'I might have an episode on a plane, but when ah'I was on the bus, it took a whole month and a week.

Bruno and the demon: A month and a week!

Melissa: Yes, and if it's a round trip, that'll be a whole two months and two weeks! Yeah, ah'I might have ta face mah fears and (Gulp) learn ta fly on an airplane. Can ya please come with us ta the graduation taa, ah'I don't think ah'I can't do this.

Maribel: I think you can do this.

Melissa jumped at the sudden voice behind her.

Melissa: Ahh! Maribel how long have ya been here?!

Maribel: I've been here from the beginning remember, I gave you the letter that your sister sent.

Melissa: Ah'm so sorry Maribel, mah mind is all over the place, ah'm just nervous about this, and ah'm nervous about Abuela invitin' mah familia over. If Antonio's dream comes true, we're all so fucked. Half of mah family members are stronger like ah'I said before ah'm not like mah family, ah'm not that strong.

Maribel, Bruno, and demon: I think you are.

Demon: Babycakes, it takes a lot of strength to summon a demon.

Melissa: Yeah, and ah'm paying for it.

Maribel: Yeah, well it takes strength to stand up to those people that hurt Luisa.

Melissa: Yeah?

Bruno: And it took a lot of strength to leave the people that abused you, to leave your country, to take care of someone else's familia, to raise a garden, to take care of your animals, plus making your art, and standing up to my mother. You have a lot of strength mei amor, I'm so proud of you, we are so proud of you.

Demon: That was beautifully put, son.

Bruno: Aw, son!

Maribel: See Tia Melissa, we believe in you, you should believe in yourself too.

Then Melissa pulled everyone in a tight hug.

Melissa: Thank ya, thank ya so much.

Then they went inside, and she went to the guestroom to brainstorm on some ideas for some new earrings for her sister and her cousin Samantha. Then Bruno walks into the room with a cup in hand.

Bruno: Here mei Vida, something for your nerves, and something for you.

Then he sat on her lap kissing her passionately. And they stayed like that for a while.