While Mirabel went on her little adventure to find Bruno's vision, Nora made sure no one in the family would suspect anything. She was just heading to the kitchen to help Julieta prepare dinner for the seemingly important and much awaited proposal this evening as she spotted Alma leaving her room. There still was this constant, nagging question in the back of Nora's mind and so she approached the elderly woman.
"Excuse me, but can I ask you something?"
Alma raised a curious eyebrow and gestured to Nora to walk with her. They walked downstairs together in silence for a moment. Then, Alma cleared her throat.
"Well?"
"I was just wondering about Encanto. The town. The Valley. You don't get many visitors, I suppose?"
"Just wayfarers now and then, very rarely though. Everything this town needs and produces is sold and bought in nearby bigger towns."
They left the Casita, stepping out into the late afternoon sun. Alma smiled as she looked over the village.
"There is more to your question, I guess?" She turned to Nora.
"It might sound silly, but I was wondering if Encanto is marked on a map. Any map, really."
"No. And I hope it remains that way." She replied and moved on, Nora following. "I certainly don't mind visitors and you seem like a fine young lady. With a troubled past, I can tell."
Nora stopped and stared at her for a moment before she hurried on, catching up with the Madrigal matriarch again. "What do you mean, you can tell?"
"I notice things. Little things even. The way you fumbled with the sleeve of your dress. You fear someone will find you here in Encanto. Tell me just one thing, Nora." They stopped on the stone bridge. "Do you mean trouble for my family?"
Nora held the elder woman's gaze, slowly shaking her head. "No, putting you family in harm's way is not my intention. And something I hope never happens. If you say no one will find me here then we're all fine."
"Good. Lets hope we're both right then. Now, excuse me, but I have to get to the Guzmans to make sure everything is going well tonight. Why don't you go and help my daughter with dinner. I'll be back soon with our guests."
"Señor Cortez, a letter was just delivered."
Hector took the envelope from his butler, ripping it open as he saw it was coming from his private investigator. His eyes flew over the scribbled text, then he tossed the letter onto his desk in frustration. They did find his horse on a farm in the north. According to one of the stable boys Nora had been staying there until she managed to find a spot on a boat that was heading to Mexico.
This little minx truly managed to escape the country. He saw that there was more writing on the back of the letter. He picked it back up and read on. The boat had been destroyed in the storm, but they found the captain alive. There was an address for a hospital just a few hours outside of Bogota where the man was currently in care.
"Julio!" He barked.
The butler returned to the study. "Yes?"
"Get the car ready, I am leaving for a few hours. Maybe a few days, depends how it goes."
"So tell me, this Mariano. Do you know him well?" Nora asked as she stirred the cream.
Julieta nodded. "He is a very lovely young man. Always polite, always friendly."
"But?"
"What do you mean?" She asked confused.
"Everyone has a 'but'. As in 'always friendly, but it can be too much sometimes'. You see where I am getting with this?"
"I think I do. But trust me, I wouldn't let someone marry my daughter if I am not sure he can make her happy."
"I wouldn't put too much faith into a man making your daughter happy. First and foremost Isabela must be happy by herself. That's what truly counts."
Julieta put the avocados aside. "What happened to you? Back home?"
Nora sighed. "It's that obvious?"
"It's obvious you mistrust men. You're against marriage."
"Oh no no, don't get me wrong. I am not against marriage if it's truly the right person. It's just…I was about Isabela's age when I married a seemingly nice guy. Hector was always friendly too. In front of other people. Once we were alone though…I've been through emotional and sometimes physical hell for 6 years, Julieta. Forgive me if my awful experience makes it sound like I don't think this whole proposal tonight is a bad idea."
Wordlessly Julieta pulled her into an embrace. "I am sorry for what you've been through." They let go of each other.
"Thank you, really. I haven't had a friend in a very long time thanks to my husband but I am glad I have you. I really do consider you a friend."
"And I you." She smiled at Nora.
"Nora? Nora!" Mirabel called from somewhere in the house.
"Sorry, I will be back in a bit." Nora then said and hurried out of the kitchen and spotted Mirabel upstairs, gesturing wildly for her to come with her. Nora followed her into her room.
"Close the door, quick."
Once the door was closed Nora watched Mirabel pour out the contents of her bag. Green glowing stone fragments tumbled onto the table.
"Is that…?"
"Bruno's vision, yes. I didn't have time to put it together yet. His room..is very tricky."
"Well, let's put it together then and see what's in it." Nora pushed away from the door and stepped closer as Mirabel began shuffling the fragments around, piecing them together carefully.
"This is weirdly exciting." Nora said trying to make out anything on the stone tablet. "Wait, there!" She pointed. "Isn't that the Casita?"
"It is!" Mirabel said excitedly. Then her face fell as she began moving the tablet a little. "And…that is me…" She breathed. "Does that mean…I'm the problem?"
"You're not a problem, Mirabel." Nora took the tablet, the stone felt warm beneath her fingertips. "This could mean anything. Look, see?" She moved the tablet back and forth. "These are the cracks you saw, right?"
"Yes, which means I am the one who causes them. Why else would I be in it? And Bruno thought so too, that's why he left."
"We really shouldn't jump to conclusion."
Nora put the stone tablet back down on the table just as the door opened and Agustin, Mirabel's father came in. He stopped and stared at them as his eyes rested on the tablet. Mirabel threw herself on it in a desperate and very clumsy way to hide it from him.
"What…is going on here?" He asked slowly.
"Well, you see…" Nora began but was cut off as everything spilled out of Mirabel, telling him everything. As she finished she cast an uncertain glance at her father. He stepped closer, looking down at the stone tablet. Then at Nora. Then at Mirabel. Suddenly a bell rang downstairs.
"That are the Guzmans, I guess." Nora said.
He nodded, then began picking up the stone pieces, stuffing them in Mirabel's bag. "Look, tonight has to go perfect. You did not break into Bruno's tower, you did not find his vision, the house and magic is not in danger. We will have a nice dinner, your sister will receive a proposal. This is between us three. No one has to know." He whispered.
They all agreed to keep it a secret for at least another day when suddenly the door slowly opened, revealing Dolores.
"I know." She said and hurried off.
"Great." Mirabel groaned. "She's going to tell everyone."
"Tell me, where is my wife!"
Hector made sure the man in the hospital bed knew he didn't come to play nice. Emilio - former captain of a ship that was smashed into bits in a storm - winced at the bark.
"I wish I could say, but as you can tell, I barely survived this incident. How would I know where your wife is? She could very well have drowned! And considering of how you act she might be better off dead than alive."
Hector leaned down, pressing his hand on the man's throat. "If I were you I'd be very careful what you say next. It might be the last thing you say. Tell me where the boat sank."
Emilio gasped, pulling at Hector's hand. "F-Fine. I tell you. But it won't help you. She could be literally anywhere. If the current got her she might have ended up in the Rainbow River. I have no clue where that leads to but if that is what you want to hear then you got your info. That is all I know. And all I will say."
Hector stepped away from the man. "Was that really so hard?" He turned and left the room. The Rainbow River. Surely one of his lackeys would know where to look exactly.
"Mirabel?"
Nora hurried upstairs after the desaster of a dinner. Now that everyone knew that Mirabel had snuck into Bruno's room to retrieve her vision utter chaos had broke lose and Mirabel had run away. An hour had almost passed.
"Have you found her yet?" Julieta called as she hurried after Nora.
"No, I thought she might be in her room but she's not. Could she have left the Casita? Maybe she's in town?"
"I will head to town with Agustin and Luisa to search for her. Please, can you stay here in case she turns up again?"
"We'll find her, I'm sure. I will be here if anything happens."
Nora watched Alma downstairs guiding the Guzmans outside. At least they didn't look angry. More so they looked confused. Scared maybe. This town seemed to depend on the Madrigal magic so much. Suddenly she felt a tug at her dress. A fluffy coatie looked up at her, still holding her dress. Then she saw Antonio.
"I know where she is." He whispered. "I can show you."
"Why are we whispering?" She asked as she followed him along the rown of rooms.
"No one can know. It's a secret. The rats told me though."
"Right, the rats." She muttered and stopped too as she stopped in front of a painting. He pushed gently against the painting and it opened a bit. Nora stared at the gaping hole as Antonio pulled the painting open a bit more.
"What in…where is this leading?" She asked as Antonio was already halfway through the hole.
"The walls of the house. Trust me." He hopped through the hole and vanished.
Nora looked around her shoulder, making sure no one was watching, then she climbed in after him, closing the secret door behind her. Dust whirled up as she landed safely on the ground.
"Are you sure Mirabel is inside the walls of the Casita?" She asked still quite unsure about the current situation.
He nodded and took her hand, guiding her through narrow passages. This did not look or feel childproof at all. Then again, this boy was literally riding a jaguar for fun so this seemed rather safe in comparison. They stopped as they heard voices of which one was clearly Mirabel's. Then, a man was talking.
"Look, even if I wanted to, which I don't, you wrecked my vision cave. Which is a problem, 'cause I need a big open space."
"We'll find one!" Mirabel replied.
"Where?"
Vision cave? Wait a second. Was that Bruno? But how was that possible? Nora shook her head as she saw Antonio enter a room through yet another makeshift door.
"Use my room." He said.
"Antonio, what are you doing here?" Mirabel said surprised. Nora just then stepped into the room as well, taking a good look around until she spotted Mirabel and…clearly Bruno.
He stared at her, confused even. "Wait, what's going on?"
Mirabel smiled at her uncle. "That's Nora. It's a long story but she's staying with us for a couple days already."
"I see. So, let me get this straight. I have been in these walls for 10 years and just now not only my niece, but also my nephew and a complete stranger barge in here and want to drag me back out there?" He paced, driving a shaking hand through his hair.
Nora furrowed her brow, taking in his appearance. Something about it looked familiar. That's when it clicked.
"You were there…behind the plants on the night Antonio got his gift. The plants outside the secret door painting." She said. He stopped pacing, looking back at her.
"You saw me?"
"Well, not you. I saw your ruana." She said with a sheepish smile.
"Is that true?" Antonio asked, his eyes shining brightly.
"Yes, it's true. I needed to see if the magic was truly dying. Which, clearly, it isn't. Not entirely at least. Which also is a strong point in my case again, Mirabel." He turned to his niece again. "I left to protect you and I really don't want to cause any more trouble."
"Don't you think I am old enough to make my own decisions, tío Bruno? Please, I must know what the vision was about. I need to protect our family. You told me you love them."
"Of course I love them." He muttered. "My gift wasn't helping the family or anyone else though."
Nora saw a sadness in this man's eyes. So deep, so genuine. She cleared her throat.
"What if your vision about Mirabel was going to help though? I've seen the vision too. What if out of desaster something good will come?"
"And let's be honest," Mirabel added, "You need to get out of here."
After another moment of silence Bruno shrugged. "Fine."
Mirabel smiled brightly and Nora nodded towards Bruno, sending him a warm, thankful smile.
There it is, the first encounter between Nora and Bruno. Like I said this is a slowburn, so bare with me. :D
Chapter 6 will come soon!
