Mirabel paced a little before deciding to settle back into bed for the night. She kept her day clothes on though as she tried to get at least some sleep before enacting her plan for the next day.
Alma noticed her granddaughter's movements speed up again, so she watched the clock beside the bed. The hour hand wound its way around the clock's face faster than the second hand ever should. And just like that, eight hours passed in under a minute.
The matriarch expected to wake up now…any moment…she'd blink and be back in bed.
As she waited for that time to come she began to formulate a plan to fix the cracks. She'd start by explaining herself…why she said what she said. Then she'd tell Mirabel how proud she was, encourage her to help Camilo with the children and apologize for embarrassing her.
It will take time and effort, but Alma didn't want something like this to happen again. She hadn't learned her lesson with Bruno…but she'd seize the chance to change with Mira.
Except…time continued on…Mira got back up from her bed to leave the nursery for the day and Alma was stillhere.
Bewildered and a little fearful of what it could mean, Alma slowly followed Mirabel as she left the nursery for the morning. She was practically buzzing with energy despite the lack of sleep; a stark contrast to Alma's almost subdued behavior.
She went through her nieta's morning routine with her again silently panicking as she questioned herself over and over about what she could have missed.
Seeing herself in what was now thefuture, as she walked both behind Mira in the courtyard and above along the second level, held a hint of warning. Like she was being given something important and she'dbetter not mess this up.
Alma stopped walking, pausing the world around her as Mira stepped out reach, and stared up at the candle sitting in her window. Wringing her hands together in worry she wondered what else there was to discover.
"I've seen what's wrong. I understand why this is happening." She told a still flame. "I promise to change. I don't want to lose mi mariposita like…like I lost myson." She let out a breath. "Send meback, let mefix this."
She didn't want to see what else awaited her. She didn't want to see herself make any moremistakes. She wanted to fix what was going onnow.
You asked for guidance and were given the privilege to bear witness. We're not finished yet…the flame pulsed once, sending a few sparks to swirl in the still air. The butterfly in her hair did the same.
Her eyes widened at being addressed. A chill reverberated through her bones as the words swirled in her mind. The surprise of being spoken to was quickly overshadowed by the realization that there was more going on than what she's already seen.
"What else is there?" She asked herself more than anything. But the candle was silent and still once more.
Taking a deep breath to gather herself she clasped her hands together and whispered a prayer for strength before she continued her morning with Mirabel. She tried to brace herself for whatever may come.
Heading into the kitchen, instead of setting the table like yesterday, Mira began making un cafecito for everyone. She even set out sugar and cream along with the cups she placed along the counter.
Even with everything else on her mind it made Alma smile knowing how much love and care Mirabel showed her family. Soon other family members began filtering into la cocina, each grabbing their little pick me up for the day.
Breakfast prep began as the family finished waking up. A suggestion was thrown out to have breakfast outside and soon the kitchen was filled with chaos as everything was being transferred to outside.
In the whirlwind of activity, and trying not to gettouched, Alma found it difficult to keep close to Mirabel to see what was going on. It wasn't until she made a break for the door and stepped out into the morning sunshine that Alma felt like she could breathe again.
Mirabel looked around for a moment before taking off like a rocket…or at leasttryingto. Alma quickly went after her as she made her way a little stiltedly to the table laden with warm leftovers from the night before. Her movements were stuttered as she was hurrying faster than what her grandmother could keep up with.
"Dolores!" Mira called out as she rushed up to her prima. "Hey, you know out of all my older cousin's you're like my favorite cousin-" Dolores paused at that, glancing at Mira. Pepa's oldest had an unusualarge amount of food stacked on her plate…
"-so I feel like I can talk to you about anything,ergoyou can talk tomeabout anything. Like the problem with themagiclast night-" Alma sighed, she was being far too obvious. "-that no one seemed to worry, but maybe you heard, that maybeI should know about." She ended with a whisper.
"Subtle, Mirabel." Alma muttered flatly.
"Camilo." Félix startled all three as he leaned into the conversation over the food table. "Stop pretending your Dolores so you can have seconds."
Dolores peaked over her father's shoulder at her brother and cousin.
"Ay." The matriarch rolled her eyes. This was not a great start.
"Worth a shot." Camilo admitted defeat and shifted back into himself. Casita showed its irritation by smacking him with a window shutter twice before he could walk away.
Félix rolled his eyes and shook his head in exasperation before following his son, leaving Mirabel with the real Dolores.
"The only one concerned about the magic is you." She told Mira softly as she walked past. "And the rats talking in the walls."
Mirabel and Alma gave her a bewildered look.Rats…talking in the walls…
"Oh, and Luisa," she turned back to Mira. "I heard her eye twitching…all night. Hmm." She shrugged before heading off.
Luisa walked by with the dinner table at that moment and Mirabel's eyes latched onto her sister. No doubt her next target to try and get information from. Rubbing her temples Alma hoped the next conversation went better.
"Everyone, to the table." 'Future' Alma walked out with her own cafecito. "Let's go, let's go." With a few waves of her hand Casita brought out the chairs and placed them at the table.
Seeing her opportunity, Mirabel quickly grabbed a plate of food and stole Pepa's chair right from underneath her so she could sit beside her sister. Startled, Pepa leveled a glare at her sobrina, a dark cloud forming, before Félix gently took her elbow to calm her down.
"Family," 'Future' Alma addressed everyone as she made her way to the head of the table to sit. "We're all thankful for Antonio's wonderful ne-" she stopped abruptly as she felt something in her seat. She looked down to see a pair of coatis's in her chair. They chattered at her. "...gift."
"I told them to warm up your seat." Antonio smiled at her as she shooed away the animals.
Perhaps it was due to an outside perspective, or that it didn't happen to her, but Alma held back a chuckle. He wassopreciosoand considerate.
"Thank you Toñíto." The smile 'future' her gave him was gentle…before turning to give Félix a look, which the man ignored in favor of giving his youngest a thumbs up. "I'm sure today we'll find a way to put your blessing to good use."
"Luisa,"Mirabel leaned over to whisper to her hermana.
"NotnowMirabel." Alma chides. "We're in the middle of breakfast."
Dolores says you'retotallyfreaking out."Luisa turned her head slowly and regarded her sister with a wide-eyed look."Any chance you maybe know something about last night with the magic?"At this her left eye gives a single twitch, which was all the proof Mira needed. "You do!" She yelled and slammed a fist on the table, pointing an accusatory finger at Luisa.
The sudden disturbance garnered looks from everyone at the table.
"Mirabel." Alma knew what was about to happen and sighed. Mirabel knew better than to be rude. "If you can't pay attention, I will help you."
"A-actually I-"
"Casita." Mirabel held on to her chair as she was forcefully relocated next to her grandmother.
"As I was saying…" Leaning back in her chair, Mira stared her sister down, making Luisa glance away nervously.
So Luisa does know something…but what was making her nervous? And why wouldn't she tell her about it? ….maybe she was simply waiting till later…or…no, this is important…why would she keep it to herself…
"...so today we will work twice as hard."
"¿Qué?"Alma looked at herself in surprise…or perhaps she shouldn't. After all, this Alma didn't know what was going on. But even so…no, this is what she would have…will have? done. Because they needed to earn the right to have their gifts. She'd always feared one day they'd be consideredunworthyand the flame would go out.
She couldn't lose the last piece of Pedro she had…it wasall she had…
The miracle was agift…you don'tearngifts because they are freelygiven…
Alma's lips thinned and she fought down a blush at being admonished like a child who forgot a very simple rule.
Mirabel's absent hum if agreement broke through her thoughts. "I will help Luisa!" She pushed herself from the table, ready to pounce on her sister again.
"Stop." Casita moved her back to the table again at 'future's Alma's command. "First, an announcement." She stood with a determined look before making her way down the table. "I have spoken to the Guzmáns about Mariano's proposal to Isabela." She stood between the two primas. "Dolores, do we have a date?"
Dolores paused for a moment before blandly replying. "Tonight, he wants five babies."
Isabela's mouth dropped open in absolute shock as flowers sprouted in her hair.Was she not comfortable with that?
"Wonderful,"If 'future's her noticed Isa's uncomfortable and tense posture she didn't show it. Instead she picked a flower from her hair, the only white one she noticed and continued on. "Such a fine young man with our perfect Isabela will bring a new generation of magical blessings and makebothof our families stronger."
Isabela forced a smile until her grandmother walked away, leaving her open to Camilo's teasing…which she took better than the news of her engagement.
Did she not want to get married yet? Was it too soon?
"Ok, our community is counting on us." The matriarch turned back to the table.
"La Familia Madrigal!"
"La Familia Madrigal!"
Mirabel repeated the mantra halfheartedly, eyes still strained on Luisa, trying to break away from breakfast to continue questioning her sister.
Jumping back from the table Mira had to look around. Luisa appeared to have slipped away faster than she could.
Catching sight of her older sister headed into town, Mirabel took off again. Her progress was stopped momentarily as she ran into Isa, a shower of flowers erupting between them.
"Sorry."
"What is your problem?"Isa growled as her sister ran down the hill.
"What is going on between you two." Alma wondered aloud as she followed as fast as she dared after Mira.
