Mirabel sat on her bed and blew a tired breath out of her mouth. Her shoulders sagged and her fingers clenched the edge of the mattress. She sucked in a breath and let it out…and just like that, she looked fine again. Every negative emotion was locked away.
Seeing that…worried Alma. Mira shouldn't be hiding things, not from her mother.
After a moment she turned to her bedside drawer where she pulled out a present tied with colorful yarn. She set it on her lap and fiddled with the bow a little.
"Everyone's looking for you~." She softly called out.
Alma glanced around the room in confusion.
Mira dangled the present at her side. "This present will self-destruct if you don't take it." The present swayed back and forth, tempting whomever it was for. "In 3…2…1-oh!"
A small pair of hands shot out from underneath the bed to grab the offered gift. This was where Antonio was hiding? How did Mira know?
Chuckling, Mirabel squeezed herself under the bed to join her primo. Alma waited for something to happen, listening intently, but all was silent. Carefully as she could, she sat on the bedside drawer and lifted the blankets to peer under the bed.
Antonio picked at his gift with a finger, a worried frown on his face. Mirabel was smiling at him gently.
"Nervous?" She asked. Antonio's only response was to bury his face in his arms. "You have nothing to worry about. You're going to get your gift, and you're going to open your door and it's going to be the coolest ever. I know it."
Alma smiled at the tender display, happy that Mirabel knew where Antonio was and how to help.
Antonio's smile only lasted a second. "What if it doesn't work?" He whispered fearfully.
"Well," Mira folded her hands as she appeared to contemplate this. "In the impossible scenario…you'd stay here in the nursery…with me. Forever," She whispered back before reaching out to tickle him. "And I'd get you all to myself."
Giggles erupted from Antonio warming Alma's heart. Like the smile before though, this too was short lived. Ay, Antonio was too young to be this serious.
"I wish you could have a door." He admitted quietly.
Mira's and Alma's faces both fell at this. "I wish she could too Toníto."
"You know what? You don't have to worry about me. Cause I have an amazing family and an amazing house…and an amazing you." She put her hand over Antonio's and they smiled at each other. "And seeing you get your gift and your special door…that's going to make me way more happy than anything."
After everything that happened this afternoon, Mirabel still had kind words to say…
"But alas," She grabbed his present and dragged it in front of him. "I am gonna miss having the world's best roomie." Mira gestured to the present, encouraging him to open it.
Antonio excitedly opened his gift and was delighted to pull out a stuffed jaguar. Alma was as well; Mira must have put a lot of time into making the toy. It was adorable.
"I know you're an animal guy." Alma chuckled at that. "And I made this so when you move into your cool new room, you always have something to snuggle with."
Smiling up at Mirabel, Antonio simply laid his head on her shoulder and snuggled into her side. It was such a precious moment…Alma wished she could have a picture.
A single floorboard gently played with the stuffed jaguar, getting both occupants beneath the bed's attention. A clock bounced across the floor as Casita showed them the time before quickly dancing away.
"Alright hombrecito, you ready?" Mirabel grinned. Antonio nodded, mirroring Mira's confident look.
Mirabel moved to leave when she turned back and snatched Antonio in a hug.
"Sorry, gotta get in one more squeeze." Her nieto giggled and squealed in the tight embrace making Alma's smile grow.
Casita used its floorboards to remind them to get going, tossing and rolling them about underneath the bed.
"Okay, okay, we're going!"
Alma could hear guests beginning to arrive outside the door and when Mirabel led Antonio down to the courtyard where he was to make his entrance she could hear herself among the throng of excited voices.
"Aha! There you are!" Félix exclaimed. Pepa and her family greeted Toníto warmly, cooing over his outfit. Mirabel however had stayed behind by the stairs, hiding slightly in the shadows. She smiled as she watched them encourage her primo before his ceremony began.
Alma found this odd. Just a minute ago the two seemed inseparable, and now it was like the girl was standing on the outside of a family moment.
"You're making your papá proud!" Camilo shifted into a tiny version of Félix, trying to make Antonio smile.
"I don't sound like that."
"I don't sound like that." That got a giggle from the boy.
Dolores cocked her head to the side. "Abuela says it's time."
"We'll be waiting at your door."
"Okay, okay. Vamo, vamo, vamo."
"Okay, okay. Vamo, vamo, vam- all right, I'm done!"
A few moments passed in tense silence before Alma heard herself beyond the curtain. "Fifty years ago, in our darkest moment, this candle blessed us with a miracle. And the greatest honor of our family has been to use our blessings to serve this beloved community."
Mirabel let out a soft sigh and Alma was beginning to realize how much emphasis was placed on having a gift.
This is what's wrong…she doesn't need a gift…but everyone tells her otherwise…
"Tonight, we come together once more as another steps into the light to make us proud."
Does she know that you're proud of her...? The golden butterfly nestled in the back of Alma's hair twitched, wings fluttering in agitation.
Hiding in the shadows, gazing off dejectedly, Mirabel looked…a lot like Bruno. And it hurts to admit… The longing stares, downcast gaze, the hunch in her shoulders like she was trying to make herself look smaller. The distance that somehow manifested between her and the rest of the family…
Mira should be out there, with her familia. Instead she's here, by herself, and no one had even come looking for her.
Cheers erupted from the crowd as a spotlight shone down on Toníto. The boy's confidence quickly withering once faced with the limelight. His eyes darted around, looking for something.
Casita nudged him with its tiles, trying to move him forward. Instead he turned and his gaze found Mirabels. With a pout he held his hand out to her.
She shook her head gently, telling him no. "I can't."
Antonio insisted. "I need you."
Alma could feel the anxiety flow off of Mira as she hesitated to take her primo's hand. But really… who could say no to that face?
Knowing what she does now, Alma was glad that Mirabel decided to walk Toníto to his door. Her poor nieto looked terrified as he clung to Mira. Though it was bitter sweet, watching Mirabel carefully control her breathing, trying to stay strong for her hombrecito, Alma knew she was holding back a well of emotions that had been building all day.
As they made it up the last few steps she let Antonio's hand go so he could place it on the candle. Mira then went to stand beside Pepa and Félix. Her eyes trained solemnly on the glowing golden door.
Alma had never wished to hug Mirabel more, than in that moment.
