That sound, the sound of a candle flickering. Dolores had heard it before. She'd become very acutely attuned to that sound, the sound of Casita groaning under the strain. It was deafening over the sound of Abuela's booming voice.
Abuela had been trying. She really had, but old habits die hard. Dolores had been quick to find Mirabel who was making rounds through town doing inventory for the council.
"Oh hey, Dolores. Did you have a message for me?" Mirabel smiled as she looked up from her clipboard.
Dolores heard Abuela leave. She was going to go speak with Señor Morales. She should probably let that conversation run its course. Abuela was a talented diplomat and it was probably for the better that she ensured no lingering ill will could come from the scuffle by the river. Dolores heard the fight, she knew Señor Morales had instigated it with his words, but still. How long would that conversation take? Thirty minutes, maybe an hour?
"I was just passing by. I think you should go talk to Abuela when you're done with inventory." She had checked in on Mirabel's progress throughout the day and knew she was nearly done for the day.
"Oh, did she need something?" Mirabel asked.
Dolores didn't want to hurry her prima. "There's been a slight incident. I'm sure she would appreciate your help." She responded evenly.
Mirabel seemed confused, but Dolores left before she could ask any further questions. If she told Mirabel everything, she would drop what she was doing and storm in on Abulea's conversation with the Morales family. Not yet. Give her time. Besides, Abulea would be calmer after she felt the first concern had been handled.
Dolores herself had a few messages left to deliver around town before she could head home. Bruno left for his room after Abuela's scolding. He was quiet. Eerily quiet. Had she not been able to hear his fingers running through rat pelts she might have rushed home. His companions were comforting him. He would be alright.
Dolores had learned at a distressingly young age how fragile her tío could be. She kept his secret for years out of fear of what the family's judgment would do to him. She let him hide in the walls if that's what made him feel safe. She still remembered the disturbed drunken ramblings she'd heard one night when she was ten. The ones that sent her running home in a panic. Ever since that night she'd become very familiar with the sound of his voice, every little crack and stutter. She could tell when he was scared, sad, lying. He talked to himself a lot, it was a useful tool for monitoring his well being. Quiet was always a bit concerning though. It meant he was holding it in so as not to frighten her.
It took all she had to focus enough on her task between listening in on the rumors circulating at home.
"He can't make it to dinner tonight."
Isabela was talking with Tío Agustín. It sounded like Bruno had been in pretty bad shape when Luisa brought him home. Hard to say if she was exaggerating, but it didn't sound like it as her angry ranting devolved into sad whimpers. Isabela loved Tío Bruno as much as Dolores did. Camilo and Mirabel didn't remember him as well and Antonio hadn't been born yet when he left, but she knew Isabela had missed him when he left. She'd tried to console her favorite prima back then, but couldn't bring herself to tell her what was really happening. She couldn't trust Isabela to keep his secret, especially not with the adults putting pressure on them to keep an eye out for him.
"They said they need four more bolts of cloth by next week."
She and Isabela grew up like sisters. It hurt not to let her in. Abuela got stricter after Bruno left and she and Isabela grew more distant. She could hear Tío Agustín soothing his daughter as he ran his fingers through her silky smooth hair. Isabela was scared like Abuela. Scared that one bad day could drive Bruno away again. Dolores knew Abuela's controlling behavior was rooted in that fear. In the fear of losing her family again.
"She needs you to get new chalkboards when you leave for the city."
Camilo was home, he overheard Papá and Agustín. Tío Agustín was explaining what he heard from Isabela to Papá on his way to talk to Luisa who'd already retired to her own room. Camilo was far too entertained by the story. Pa was quick to deflate his enthusiasm; however, as he nervously considered how to explain the situation to their madre. Luisa was crying and her father was just as adept at comforting her. Tío Agustín was a tender soul. She could hear the hurt in his astonished stammering as Luisa relayed the reason for the fight. The harsh words that had been relayed to her by the Fontana siblings. He told her the same thing Tío Bruno did.
"Dolores?"
Dolores' ears perked up as she listened to see what new message she would have to relay before she could finally retire for the night, but the voice was close, closer than she expected. A pair of large hands clasped over her eyes and she felt silly for not having noticed his approach sooner. She really was distracted today wasn't she.
"Mariano." She giggled. Bruno was well. Physically at least. Abuela was handling things and Isabela and Luisa were comforted. She could afford a brief reprieve from her family woes.
She pulled her novio's hands from her eyes and he settled them around her waist as he rested his chiseled jaw on her shoulder.
"Is something wrong mi vida. You're usually much harder to sneak up on."
Dolores tilted her head back to look at him. Shifting her focus and trying to block out the noise for a moment. She focused in on his big puppy dogs eyes, his strong arms wrapped around her delicate waist. She traced lines along his forearms with her finger tips and could hear his heart race as she did so. He was beautiful. So beautiful.
"There's just a lot going on today is all." She replied softly.
Mariano eyed her face quizzically. She could practically hear the gears turning in his head and struggled not to laugh as he tried to read her expression. She liked being mysterious, watching him figure her out.
"Like what?" He asked.
"Oh just things." she hummed.
"What kind of things?"
"Famila things. Those kinds of things." She replied, careful to give nothing away.
"Is the casa in trouble?!" Mariano asked, alarmed. He pulled his hands from her waist to rush in front of her. She couldn't help but be a little disappointed. She had been very comfortable wearing him like a life preserver. Oh well.
"Oh no, Casita is fine. Nothing like that." At least she didn't think so. At least not yet.
She placed a hand on his chest and ran it under his collar. Her skin prickled with delight as she ran her finger through the hairs on his chest. Mariano was a treat for the senses, a welcome distraction from the noise. Much to her disappointment however he removed her hand from his clothes. Holding it in both of his he kissed her knuckles softly.
"If you need help with anything you know you can talk to me." His face was almost pleading. This was as much a tender request as it was a statement.
She knew he wanted to support her, to lavish her with love and affection. But Mariano was, despite his stature, a soft and simple man. She wasn't certain he would be much help in dealing with the sort of problems her family faced. Dolores had been processing other people's problems for years. That heavy load was something she was well equipped to handle. She didn't need to talk to him. Just needed him to be his wonderful self. To be hers. That was enough.
"I'm fine mi amor." She reassured with a gentle smile. "It's nothing I can't handle."
She brushed his cheeks with her hand before reaching up on her toes to plant a kiss on his beautiful lips. As she pulled away; however, she realized bitterly that she needed to return home. She could hear Mirabel and Abuela arguing as they approached the house.
"I do need to get home though."
Mariano looked sad. She'd been busy today, always scurried from place to place relaying messages to direct the town's hustle and bustle. He had a hard time getting in a word with her most days. Not that anyone else ever seemed to notice how busy she was.
"You're still coming over for dinner tomorrow, right?" He pleaded as he held her hands in his.
"Of course mi amor. I wouldn't miss it for the world."
One last kiss. Then back to the din.
A walk back to the casita. Voices again. Noise. No distractions. She focused in on Abuela and Mirabel as they made their way through the front door.
"If he can use his gift to terrorize the neighbors he can use it to help the town." Abuela flustered.
Her heartbeat was slower than before, she was calmer. Still angry. But calmer.
"I'm telling you if you force him to use his powers you're going to do more harm than good." Mirabel pleaded. She was right. Mirabel was often right, even if she only said what most people knew.
Dolores could hear the dry sound of Abuela's fingers rubbing together. She was thinking. Mirabel was right. Surely Abuela understood that?
"Just let me talk to him please? I can get his side of things. You can wait and decide what to do after we have the full story."
Abuela let out a deep controlled breath through her nose. "Sí," she replied finally, "I can wait. Señor Morales has already agreed to forget this happened. But I will still expect Bruno to make up for his behavior somehow."
"And we can talk about that after dinner." Mirabel suggested.
Dolores could hear the relief in her voice. She could feel Mirabel's relief wash over her. Abuela was trying. She was listening. At least a little. Dolores hadn't been paying attention to her pace but realized she had slowed down once Mirabel made her way up to Bruno's room. She hadn't realized she had been speed walking. She often failed to notice the tension in her own body.
Mirabel could handle this. She had a talent for these sorts of things. Dolores almost envied her. She remembered how powerless she had felt hearing her tío sobbing in the walls. She was just a child, still… She could have said something, done something more, if she were more like her prima maybe Bruno would have come home sooner… It seemed all she knew how to do was listen.
Dolores paused in front of Casita's doors for a moment as she heard Mirabel climbing the stairs in Brunos' tower.
Casita opened its doors and rattled their tiles curiously to get her attention.
"Sí, sí, Castia, I'm coming." She smiled as she stepped over the threshold.
Thunder. She knew she wasn't the only one who heard that. Her parents were discussing the day's events. The sun was setting, Juileta was preparing dinner. Her poor Pa had his work cut out for him.
She heard Mamá ranting tales of childhood mayhem. It sounded like Duilio Morales had been giving her tío a hard time for years. It hurt, imagining him as a little boy, tormented by a gaggle of bullies. It didn't surprise her though. He was an odd man, and probably an even odder child. Dolores knew full well how most folks felt of strangeness. Even the miracle was not completely without suspicion, though most folks would never admit it publicly. She'd heard the things people said about her family when they thought they were alone. The things they said about her.
Dolores stopped to grab Tío Agustín on her way to her room.
"Tío Agustín?" she called to him gently as he made his way from Luisa's room to the stairs. No doubt he was headed down to soothe his wife. Tía Julieta always put forth a calm, controlled demeanor but Dolores could hear the stress in her breathing as she prepared dinner. She knew she was worried about her brother. Tío Agustín didn't need magic to know that.
"Hm?" Agustín looked up at her and straightened his glasses. His eyes were just a bit flushed. She knew what Luisa told him must have hurt to hear, but Mirabel needed to hear it too. She doubted Bruno would give the full story. He had a terrible habit of taking blame for things, downplaying the transgressions of others. Perhaps he found it easier to simply take responsibility and let things pass. Either way Dolores needed a backup plan.
"You should talk to Mirabel when you get the chance."
"Oh, Sí, you're right." He replied softly. He looked pensive as if he was trying to decide which woman to comfort first.
"Tía Julieta needs you more right now." Dolores reassured him with a gentle hand on his arm. "Mirabel can wait. But you should talk to her before dinner." She needed Agustín to complete the picture for Mirabel before she spoke with Abuela again.
Agustín took her hand for a moment and nodded. Once he retreated towards the kitchen Dolores made her way to her room.
Just past the door was a small entryway, on the other side of it, thick red velvet curtains. Beads and windchimes hung from every corner. Her room always had this slight inexplicable breeze that filled the space with gentle rattling and whistles. Faint textured sounds that soothed her mind and made her head tingle.
She could still hear the rest of the world outside while standing in the entryway, but once she passed through the curtains she would be truly alone. Just her and the faint massage of the mind her room had crafted for her. Not yet though. She still wanted to hear what Bruno had to say for himself.
All day she'd heard so many other people recount the events of the day. She wanted to hear him. Wanted to hear his voice after hours of silence.
"Hey Tío," Mirabel called out. She was trying to sound relaxed and friendly.
Dolores could hear Tío Bruno shuffle up awkwardly from the floor where he had been petting his rats.
"Oh, h-heeyyy Mirabel. What's up?" Bruno was bad at hiding his stress.
"I'm sorry, I tried knocking but it's hard to tell if you can hear sometimes."
"Oh, yeah, I mean. This place echos like crazy so that's usually not a problem. I guess I was just distracted." Bruno didn't want to answer his door. He wasn't going to tell Mirabel that.
Dolores noticed a lot of things Bruno didn't say. He had a nasty habit of leaving things out to make other people more comfortable. Ever since that night when she was ten, he'd even become careful of the way he spoke when he was alone. Not always, sometimes she caught him slipping when he thought she wouldn't be listening. But his more private thoughts, she hadn't heard in a long time.
"I heard about the fight." Mirabel opened softly.
"Oh, yeah." She could hear Bruno pulling on his ruana, the stretch of the fabric and crack of his boney knuckles. "A-about that, y-you don't need to worry about me. I just, we were all just talking, and, and things got a little outta hand I guess. You know how los chicos can be, eh?"
"Mh,hm." Dolores could hear the sarcasm in Mirabel's hum followed by the wrinkling fabric which accompanied crossed arms. The sound of her glasses shifting on her face as she creased her nose.
"Tío Bruno, this isn't like you."
"W-well what would you know?" He sounded defensive. "You barely remember me from before… you don't know what I'm like." A bit harsher than he probably intended. "Not saying that you, I mean, it's just…" He was stammering as he realized how hurtful his words sounded.
Dolores heard the creak of his bed, it was Mirabel judging by the sound. A heavier sound followed as Mirabel pulled their tío down to sit beside her.
"I know you wouldn't do something like this without a good reason." She soothed.
"I-hm…" Bruno was thinking
Knocking. Was he worried she wouldn't understand?
"They, they were talking about tu hermana. He kept saying nasty things about Luisa and I guess I just… I just lost control for a minute." Bruno tugged on his ruana again. "I- I didn't mean to cause trouble."
"I know you didn't." Dolores could hear Mirabel run a hand through their tío's curls. Looking to find his eyes behind that salt and pepper curtain no doubt.
"What were they saying?"
"Oh just… things. Nothing that bad just…" She heard Bruno shift away slightly. "I, I've always been a bit too sensitive. Just ask tu madre. It doesn't matter what they were saying. I shouldn't have acted the way I did. Lo siento mija, I let you down."
Dolores knew he would do this. She hated that she knew.
It wasn't long before Bruno tired of Mirabel's attempts to comfort him and she picked up the not so subtle hint he wanted to be left alone. As Mirabel made her way down the steps from Bruno's tower she heard Tío Agustín meet her in the hall.
"Miraboo can we talk?"
Exhausted, Dolores let out a deep sigh she'd been holding in. Agustín would fill in the gaps left by Bruno. Mirabel would have the information she needed to talk with Abuela. Mirabel was a mediator. Empathetic, attentive, just distanced enough from the matriarch and her son to approach the issue from an impartial perspective. Dolores couldn't do that. She couldn't handle that kind of pressure. She resented her own weakness. Mirabel was stronger than she knew.
Satisfied she'd done her part Dolores retired past the curtains till dinner to enjoy the quiet melody of her room.
At dinner few people spoke. With Abuela eerily silent the rest of the family was hesitant to speak. It was Antonio who, having seated himself next to Bruno, finally broke the silence.
"Did it hurt Tío Bruno?" He asked sweetly.
Bruno coughed on his soup before turning to look down at Antonio's curious, concerned face.
"Perdona?"
"Carlos told me you got hit really hard today. Some big bully hit you. Did it hurt?"
"Et tu, Carlos?" Bruno replied sadly to his rat who had climbed onto Antonio's shoulder.
Mamá shooed the rat away. "Toninto we talked about this, you're as bad as your tío!"
No rats at the table. Mamá would tolerate some animals for Antonio's sake but rats were a limit for her. Not that Tío Bruno didn't break that rule all the time, he was just more subtle about it. Bruno looked a bit disappointed as he watched Carlos the rat scurry off.
Antonio wasn't deterred however as he ignored his mother to press the question.
"Carlos said it looked like it hurt a lot."
Bruno cleaned soup from his whiskers with a napkin. He looked surprised by the boy's insistence. "Uhm, well a little I guess." He replied.
"Don't lie!" Camilo protested. "I heard you got destroyed!"
"Camilo!" Tía Juileta protested in shock.
"It's true though isn't it?" Camilo insisted. He acted cool, like he was just teasing, but Dolores knew he was as worried as everyone else had been. "Hey Pa! Maybe you should teach him some moves for next time." He suggested to their father.
Papá sputtered a moment before Abuela replied for him.
"There won't be a next time." Abuela insisted.
The conversation died after that.
True to her word Mirabel stayed up with Abuela that night discussing the incident.
Dolores stayed up. Seated comfortably in the entryway of her room she listened closely to their conversation. Determined not to sleep until she knew what would come of all this.
"Honestly, what would you expect him to do?" Mirabel seemed near her wits end with the stubborn old woman. "We can't just let people talk about Luisa like that!"
Abuela was quiet as she considered her words. Her heart rate was slow. Her breathing calm. Abuela truly had managed to regain control of her temper. She was listening. She was actually talking instead of demanding.
"Mirabel, our family is special." She explained slowly.
"Well duh, I know that." Mirabel laid down on the bed beside her. Dolores could hear the mattress buckle a moment under the weight of a lazy flop.
"We can do things no one else can."
"Yeah?"
"We can hurt people in ways no one else can."
Mirabel was quiet for a moment. Bruno had knowingly used his powers out of spite.
"Bruno can't control the future, you know that." Mirabel protested weakly.
"I know that. Try convincing them." Abuela sighed for a moment before continuing. "Our gifts are a blessing, and a burden Mirabel. Your sister understands this. She's heard the things people say. She knows."
Mirabel sat upright. "This sort of thing… I had no idea. She never told me."
"Do you know Álvaro Graciani?" She asked.
"The farmer with the missing teeth?"
"Luisa was seven when she nearly killed that boy. She was young, she didn't know her own strength yet. She's the reason he's missing teeth."
Juileta's magic could do a lot, but she couldn't replace what was lost. Not limbs. Not teeth. Dolores remembered that day. She was certain she'd never forget the sight of his disfigured face as he convulsed on their dining table. Or the way he vomited up his own teeth once Tía Julieta managed to get him stable. Luisa's distraught wailing as she clung desperately to her father's arms. Dolores had slept in her entryway that night to listen to her prima's choked sobs. Luisa didn't sleep that night.
"You were too young to remember. But Luisa knows better than all of us the responsibility she carries. Your tío is well old enough to understand this. He acted irresponsibly. This is not a precedent he should be setting. Think of Antonio. Imagine what could happen if he decided to use his powers in such a manner."
Dolores could hear Mirabel swallow hard. No doubt their minds wandered to the same place. Antonio's jaguar companion. Abuela wasn't wrong. Dolores herself was privy to so much knowledge, every day, every secret. Dolores could destroy this town with only her words if she so chose. But what would that serve?
"So what do you want to do about it?" Mirabel finally inquired.
Dolores suspected she knew where her abuela's mind was headed.
"If he can't be trusted in town, he should stay here. Besides, he's clearly happiest at home. I doubt he'd see it as a punishment." She replied as though it were a compromise in her mind.
"And I think that's a huge step backwards. Abuela he's been doing so much better lately. He's been talking to people, making friends. Today was just a hiccup. If you want to punish him, then make him do some errands around town. Make him talk to people."
Abuela agreed to consider it before sending Mirabel to bed and Dolores decided to follow suit.
The next morning Dolores paid little mind to the morning announcements. She already knew Abuela would be assigning Bruno to help her deliver messages around town. An easy job, if a lot of walking. Tío Bruno was well accustomed to walking. There were a lot of mornings like this. Dolores would tune in on the rest of the town. Listen for her name or any interesting events. One house did catch her attention.
Señor Fontana had skipped breakfast, his sister was late getting out of bed. It sounded like this was a normal routine for them. The town's elderly librarian greeted Jacqueline with a grunt as he ate his food. She grabbed some fruit from the table and asked where her brother was and Señor Robledo merely grumbled "library" through a mouthful of food.
"Y'know I thought the point of graduating was you didn't need to study anymore." Jacqueline teased.
Wilfredo was seated at the counter by the front window. Dolores could hear rapid pen scratching and the flipping of pages. Wilfredo was either irritated or merely a fast writer, it was hard to tell.
"One does not need a reason to study." He replied. He sounded tired. "Besides I'm not researching, I'm planning."
Dolores listened to the creaking of the library's wooden floor as Jacqueline crept up behind her brother.
"Planning what?"
Wilfredo flipped open another book, his fingers gliding down the page before scratching something down. "After yesterday's fiasco I feel like I owe it to these people to make myself useful." The way Wilfredo spoke reminded her of Abuela at times. "The only people who ever seem to visit this place are the Madrigal boy and that Ayla girl who won't even talk to me. The kids in this town could use the enrichment but few people seem to care unfortunately."
Was he implying the people in their town were uneducated? Dolores was almost offended. Then again, he was singling her hermanito out as one of the smartest children in town. Perhaps she could let it slide. Besides Señor Fontana was a former university professor, of course his standards would be skewed.
"You're getting Bruno in on this!" Jacqueline praised after another flip of pages. Dolores could only guess she must have seen something in her brother's notes.
"The saturday tablas are quite popular with my target demographic." Wilfredo replied evenly. "I was thinking if I could get him and Camilo to agree to come and read to the kids-"
His sister cut him off, "You don't have to make up excuses. I see what you're doing. Chico astuto."
"Por favor don't make this weird." Her brother half scolded, half begged.
Dolores wondered just how much control he had over her. The Fontana siblings were new. Dolores was still learning things about them. Learning their voices, their sounds. The older brother sounded like shuffling paper and the steady thumping of heavy footsteps and leather shoes. The younger sister sounded like a dancer, the way her feet tapped lightly about any space she was in, she sounded like flirting and music.
"Relax hermano. You two can have your little story time,"
"Nos tres." Her brother corrected irritably.
"Right. I mean Camilo's cute but he seems a little young don't you think?"
"Jacqueline!" Wilfredo was trying not to shout. Lucky for him Señor Robledo was very hard of hearing.
Jacqueline's little joke made Dolores' stomach turn as she took another bite of her breakfast. She wasn't naive, she knew the things people said about men like Wilfredo. She also knew he wasn't the only man in town to share his proclivities and had learned many years ago not to expect people to live up to stereotypes. She was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt and assume his sister was merely being inappropriate as it seemed she often was.
"Estaba bromeando!" She soothed playfully.
Dolores could hear Wilfredo's weight settle back into his seat.
"You're right about one thing though." Jacqueline confessed. "I owe it to Bruno for putting him in that situation in the first place."
"That's… surprisingly mature of you." The tone in her brother's voice made it clear he was waiting for some kind of catch. Was Jacqueline really so untrustworthy?
"Sí," She replied sadly and tutted. "I'm afraid one of us has to be the mature one."
Her brother snorted.
"I'm going to go talk with mis chicos today and make sure none of them give him any more trouble." The possessive way Jacqueline spoke of men she'd only known for a couple weeks was rather audacious.
Jacqueline turned to leave and her brother nearly fell out of his seat.
"Espera! Espera!" He stumbled. "What exactly are you planning!" Again more hushed shouting. He didn't need to be so quiet, the old man in the other room was already dozing off as he usually did after a meal.
"Don't worry, I'm not going to do anything bad." Her tone was mischievous and didn't instill much confidence. "Consigues más con miel que con hiel."
"That doesn't answer my question!" He dropped any attempt to restrain his volume as he yelled out to his sister who had already gone out the door.
"Bruno, you will be assisting Dolores today." Abuela finally announced. At the sound of her name being mentioned Dolores brought her focus back to the table.
She peered down the table to her tío to observe his mannerisms. Dolores wasn't always in the best habit of watching people's faces. She spent so much time listening there were times it almost felt like her eyes had become redundant. Nonetheless, Tío Bruno's face was a comfort. One she really should appreciate more often, now that she could finally see it again.
Bruno looked surprised. He'd stayed largely quiet, keeping his head down, now he seemed to relax a bit.
"T-that's it?" He replied in disbelief.
"Mirabel thinks you need to spend more time with people outside the family." Abuela replied with a side eye to Mirabel.
Mirabel blushed and twirled her hair awkwardly to create a barrier between her and Tío Bruno's annoyed, tired, expression. Tío Agustín took Mirabel's hand from her hair and gave her an encouraging smile.
"She's right hermanito." Mamá took a sip of coffee.
Bruno shot his sister a frustrated glare across the table.
"Good Luck mi vida, you're gonna need it." Papá told her. "We've tried for years to get your Tío out of his shell."
Bruno's sour expression spoke volumes.
"It's an easy job, you just deliver messages. You don't have to make small talk or-" Mirabel tried to defend.
Their uncle cut her off with a flick of his wrist, "It's fine mija. I'll manage." He returned to his plate and grumbled irritably as he shredded his food with his fork. "All you wanna do is just sit and home and play with your rats and everyone acts like you're crazy. It's almost like I'd talk to people if there was anyone in this town worth talking to. Bunch of ungrateful…"
Dolores was glad no one else could hear him. He was generally a sweet man but he could say some nasty things when no one was listening. Surely he knew she could hear him though. After he'd become acutely aware of how much of his ramblings she'd overheard growing up he had gotten better about filtering himself, but still. Sometimes the frustration bubbled over. It seemed to be a big part of how he processed his emotions, talking to himself.
"Maybe if you could just be normal for once people would leave you alone."
She hated when he was cruel to himself. The grumbling stopped after that.
The rest of the table finished their breakfast and dispersed for the day but Bruno still sat there eating as slowly as possible. Not looking up from his plate. He was stalling.
Dolores made her way over to sit in the chair beside him.
"Ahem."
Bruno's head bolted sideways sending more curls loose from his struggling ponytail. Dolores hadn't meant to startle him. She was naturally very quiet and had a bad habit of that.
"Oh, right, right. Disculpa, we should probably get to work, huh?"
Dolores leaned forward to rest her chin on her knuckles.
"They only want what's best for you, you know?"
Bruno's face fell back into that same tired, sour expression. "Sí, Sí, I know. But I really don't need this."
"I know." Dolores replied.
Bruno looked like he was going to rattle off some self defense but was immediately disarmed by her response.
"It's just that…" He pulled gently at his ruana. "See you understand." He turned to look back at her with pleading eyes. He hoped she understood. She was fairly certain she did.
"I know a lot of people don't give you a fair chance. That isn't your fault Tío."
"A-and, and, even when they do what would I even talk about huh? All anyone in this town ever talks about is work and stale gossip. I mean could you imagine if something interesting actually happened in this town?! People would lose their minds!"
Dolores couldn't help the slight giggle that escaped her. El Encanto wasn't as dull a place as it seemed on the surface. If only her Tío knew what this town was like behind closed doors.
"Interesting. Like your fight with Duilio?"
Bruno gave her an exasperated side eye before chugging down the rest of his orange juice. "If Ma has her way, no one will be talking about that."
Dolores couldn't tell if Bruno was grateful or disappointed.
"What about the Fontanas? It's been a long time since we've had newcomers. That's interesting." She coaxed.
Dolores knew something very interesting about the Fontanas. She knew Señor Fontana had a certain peculiar taste. She knew that his sister was convinced Tío Bruno was to his taste. Perhaps he wasn't keen. Perhaps he enjoyed Bruno's company the same way the family did and his sister was simply teasing him. She wasn't completely certain. Señor Fontana's voice was usually very even and gave little away. The only time she really heard him express himself was in private chats with his sister. Though he did sound just slightly more sincere when he spoke to Bruno. His parents sounded like difficult people.
She wasn't sure how Tío Bruno would feel if he knew. Far as she could tell she had heard little solid evidence of him being keen on the man. Or keen on men for that matter. However… She'd never heard her tío talk to any woman the way he spoke to the new librarian. She recalled the throaty purr she'd overheard as he laughed at the man's jokes by the river. That was a very interesting sound. He sounded happy though, relaxed. Even if he didn't share Señor Fontana's tastes, surely he could at least enjoy his company for a little. He needed a friend.
At the very least it would get the family off her exhausted tío's back for a little while.
"Oh por Dios, I don't want to hear what people are saying about Jacqueline." Bruno groaned. "At least Wilfredo has the good sense to keep to himself. There's a man who gets it."
A first name basis.
"Gets what?"
Bruno looked startled by the question, "W-well I mean, uh…" He stammered as he suddenly became acutely aware of what he was saying.
"He thinks we're all a bunch of uneducated plebeyos." Dolores finished for him.
"You uh," He sighed. "Of course you were listening. No one can ever just leave me alone."
"I didn't mean to intrude." Dolores apologized as she watched him try to rub the embarrassment and shame from his face. "You just seemed like you were having a fun time talking to him. I like hearing you laugh."
She gave him a sweet smile which thankfully he returned, if a bit reluctantly.
"Prometo I'll try not to invade your personal space like that."
"It's fine, I know that's hard for you."
"I'm not a little girl anymore Tío." She reminded him. "I can practice a little self control every once in a while." She teased.
Bruno watched her get up with a certain awe in his eyes. She wondered what he saw when he looked at her. She wondered if he remembered teaching her how to focus her mind when she was a girl. Tricks he used when his thoughts were racing. Tricks he taught her to block out the noise. She wondered if he knew how grateful she was for him. How grateful she was to still have him in her life.
"Dolores," Álvaro Graciani, she could recognize his voice by the whistling gaps in his teeth. He needed a message relayed to the council regarding crop rotation. She would handle this one.
"Tío Bruno could you go tell Señora Delgado, Ayla's parents need her home early today? Oh, and bring some snacks for Gabrio."
This worked out well for Dolores of course. It meant her brother couldn't harass the poor girl after school. She knew he had the best of intentions, but Ayla was never very fond of him and he couldn't seem to stop himself from his hairbrained schemes to win her approval. Camilo was a good boy but he thrived on attention and validation from others. Modest, disciplined, Ayla wouldn't be easily won over by his performances.
"Uh, sure." Bruno replied before fumbling as Dolores turned to leave. She had work to do and had wasted enough time as it was. "Why do they need her home? Dolores?"
It wasn't his business. He didn't need to know. Dolores knew. She knew her parents hadn't actually asked. She knew Ayla's mother had accidentally ruined their laundry while the Madrigals were eating their breakfast and would probably appreciate an extra pair of hands sewing replacements. Today she needed her brother free after school.
"Meet me in the plasa when you're done." was all she called back as she left for work.
Dolores had already passed along three messages by the time she heard her tío's distinctive knocking on the schoolhouse door, followed shortly by salt hitting the ground behind him. He was moving so slowly. Unsurprising, she knew how he navigated the town. Not hiding per say, but old habits die hard.
"Bruno Madrigal? Well isn't this a surprise." Señora Delgado's voice sounded nervous. She could tell she was trying to hide it as Dolores heard Bruno's sandals hit the schoolhouse floor.
Señora Delgado's son Gabrio was thirteen. He'd been sickly all his life despite Juileta's best efforts. Bruno had a reputation as a bearer of bad news and Dolores knew it would be surprising to people to find him turning up at their doors unannounced.
"I uh," Bruno began to stutter. Dolores had given him the means to defuse the tension in the young school teacher. "I brought snacks." He announced awkwardly as he held out a cloth bundle for the woman to take. "F-for Gabrio…" He explained though he didn't seem to quite understand the gesture himself. Gabrio was so small when Bruno left Dolores wasn't sure he recalled the boy at all.
Señora Delgado let out a relieved sigh as she took the bundle. "Gracias Señor Madrigal."
"Buenos días Tío Bruno." Mirabel called cheerily from her seat by the window.
"Hope my sister isn't working you too hard today." Camillo teased. Dolores could hear him imitating her voice as he rattled off a list of absurd messages with lighting speed. He always made her sound so sickly sweet and demure. If only he knew. Some of the fake messages were pretty funny though. The town could be pretty demanding at times and her brother was acutely aware of the absurdities of her job.
The whole class erupted into giggling fits. All except for Ayla of course who's groan Dolores was sure only she had noticed.
"Y-you shouldn't make fun of your sister." Bruno stammered awkwardly. "B-but yes, I'm helping her deliver messages today." He finally explained to the teacher. Camilo's jokes seemed to have had the desired effect as they broke up their tío's anxious thoughts enough for him to remember his purpose for being there.
"Ayla's parents said they need her home early today." He finally explained.
"Did they say what they need her for?" The teacher asked with concern.
Dolores could hear the distinct rustle of Bruno's clothes creasing around his neck as he shrugged.
"Don't worry Señora." Ayla assured. "I'm sure I can finish today's exam before I have to leave." Ayla was the town's best student. Her confidence was far from misplaced. That said it wouldn't hurt if she simply finished the exam tomorrow. Their town didn't answer to any larger governing body. Education was done for its own sake and could be done at whatever pace worked best for a child. But Ayla was a punctual, competitive sort. She would want to take the chance to show up her classmates no doubt.
"Well if you're sure. But please don't rush." The teacher requested as she went to collect a stack of papers from her desk. Dolores listened to the satisfying sound of papers rustling as she passed them out. It made her head tingle and gave her goosebumps. She loved that sound. She almost missed the teacher reminding Ayla she could finish her exam tomorrow if need be.
"Dolores," Abuela, right next to her. Dolores brought her focus back to her immediate environment. She had been talking to Abuela about crop rotation and had taken advantage of her place on the sidelines as the council discussed the issue amongst themselves.
"Did you ever find the thief who was causing trouble last week?" Dolores of course had found the thief. It wasn't that hard.
A boy named Oscar. He was seventeen and had been stealing people's personal valuables. In their town people didn't need to steal. Whatever you needed would be provided, provided you did your part. But Oscar was a troubled child. She knew he was already on thin ice.
"No, but I think they caught me snooping. I haven't heard of any more incidents since then." She replied calmly. Dolores was a very talented liar. At least when it didn't personally affect her.
She still regretted the panic that broke her resolve when she heard Casita would collapse. No wonder Tío Bruno never told her his reasons for hiding. The thought of losing the very thing the town had been built on was terrifying. She still couldn't bring herself to apologize to Mirabel for that. It wasn't fair, having to lie so often, keep so many secrets. Her pride and frustration wouldn't allow her to apologize for a moment of weakness amidst years of unwavering resolve.
She could make it up to Mirabel however. She knew Mirabel was worried about Oscar. His trouble making had gotten the attention of the council and Mirabel wasn't fond of the things they were saying. She knew her kind hearted prima would hate to see the community abandon one of its members. Especially a boy barely older than herself. If Mirabel thought this boy was worth saving, then Dolores would support her endeavors.
Once Abuela was finished with her inquiries Dolores stepped out into the plasa to catch up to Bruno who was now waiting around by Juileta's table petting his rats. He still seemed a bit unsure of what to do with himself but he made his sister laugh and that seemed to bring him a great deal of comfort. Dolores didn't intend to startle him when she disrupted their conversation.
"Ready for more work?"
Bruno nearly lept out of his skin and knocked some of his sisters cooking to the ground in his fumbling.
"Dolores, you have to stop sneaking up on people." Tía Juileta scolded as she helped her brother back to his feet.
"No, no, that was my fault. I should have been paying better attention." Bruno insisted. He never could let others take blame when he was around could he?
"Lo siento. I'll try to be more considerate next time." Dolores replied as she leaned down to help her tío clean up the mess he'd made.
She attempted to make eye contact with him though it took touching his hand to get him to look back up at her. She gave his hand a reassuring little squeeze and he smiled meekly back at her.
"So…" He began slowly as he passed the soiled food he'd collected in his ruana back to his sister. "You have more messages for me?"
Dolores dusted her skirt gently as she rattled off the few messages she thought would be easy to remember and keep him busy until the older class let out for the day. She took careful consideration to the order to simplify his route and focus on sending him to speak to people who, as far as she knew, harbored him little ill will.
"Tell Marcela Díez that Abril Coll can't make it today, she'll be coming by tomorrow at two pm. Miguel Basurto needs to ask Dylan López how many bamboo stalks he needs. He needs that number by four or he's just going to guess. Julian Cabrera can't remember if Jairo Menéndez wanted to borrow Azúcar or Begonia. If it's the latter he'll need her back soon. She's still nursing."
She was about to continue but stopped when her Tía gave her shoulder a little squeeze and drew her attention to her Tío's face. She could see the gears turn in his head as he repeated the instructions she'd rattled off to him a few times under his breath. It only then occurred to Dolores that perhaps not everyone was as good with names as she was. Perhaps those three would be enough to keep him busy for now.
"You got all that hermano?" Juileta's voice snapped Bruno from his thoughts.
"Oh, yeah, I think so." He replied with a shy smile before dropping his face again to go back to muttering the instructions on repeat. Raising a finger with each name he listed as though some physical representation would help him remember.
Dolores couldn't help but shake her head as she watched her uncle struggle with, what was to her, a very simple task. Oh well. He'd do fine, though he may take a bit longer than she was anticipating.
She shuffled over to Tía Juileta's cart to reach under the table cloth and collect the last task she had for her Tío. The cart has wheels on the bottom and a shelf for extra storage. Among the back up food stores was a heavy leather bound book.
"When did that get there?" Her Tía bemused.
Dolores gave her confusion little thought. People rarely noticed her comings and goings around town. She wasn't about to waste her time on explanations.
Bruno was still planning his route in his head.
"You can talk to Señor Lopez on your way to la casa Coll and relay the message to Señor Basurto on your way to talk to Señor Menéndez." Dolores instructed.
"Oh, right, that…" Bruno thought for a moment as he mapped the town in his head, "that makes sense."
Dolores had years of practice planning the most efficient routes, she could do it in her sleep. She never had to run. She could navigate this town more efficiently than anyone.
"When you're done with all that." She passed Bruno the book she'd materialized. "You should return this."
Bruno looked a tad surprised as he took the book from her. He'd never actually mentioned it to her directly. Dolores often gave little thought to the disorientation it caused people when she intervened on affairs which she had not been explicitly included in.
"Uh, right."
"You said you would return it yesterday but forgot." She clarified. Perhaps her withdrawn, often disoriented, Tío deserved some thought.
"G-gracias." He replied with an awkward smile as he waved the book at her before hugging it to his chest.
With the day's plans set in motion Dolores turned to leave.
"W-wait, wait, did you go in my room without asking?"
Dolores was swift on her feet as she went about her duties with grace and precision. Sometimes she was delivering messages on people's requests, other times she was assisting in ways few people would ever notice. A nudge here, a hint there. Sending people in need to those who could help, assisting clueless young lovers, directing parents to wayward children. There were some things she couldn't easily assist with but thanks to her El Encanto was a safe place. It would be deeply difficult for someone to cause harm without her noticing.
There were times however. Some people were convincing liars. Some people were rooted so deeply into the town's foundation that exposing them would cause more problems than it would solve. Some conflicts were better left private. Some people didn't want to be helped.
As Dolores approached the school house she could hear Mirabel's flustered voice.
"Wait up! Oscar, I need to talk to you!"
Dolores took a step aside as she heard the boy's angry footsteps. She moved just in time to avoid being rudely shoved aside by the most standoffish teenager in town. She could hear his frustration in his breathing as he passed her by. Mirabel didn't even seem to register Dolores as she followed behind him. Dolores would have to check back in on their conversation in a minute.
"Spying on Mirabel's new enamoramiento? I want in."
Dolores was almost startled by her hermano's voice. Almost. People often overlooked Dolores but Camilo never did. For all his ego and performance he was a highly attentive person. Deeply sensitive to other's needs. In this situation though he was deeply misunderstood.
"Too bad, I've got a different job for you." Dolores was eager to disappoint. Mirabel's situation was complicated and she didn't need Camilo's brand of mischief involved. Bruno however was an easy task. He just needed a little push to spend time with the people whose company he clearly enjoyed.
Camilo grumbled as he shoved his hands deep into his pockets and leaned against the frame of the door to make room for passing classmates.
"You just won't let me have any fun will you?"
"Nope." Dolores teased.
Camilo rolled his eyes before smiling back, "Alright what do you need me for?"
"Señor Fontana was hoping you and Bruno would help him with a reading program for the little ones."
"A reading program?"
"He wants you two to read to the kids to attract them to the library." Dolores explained.
"You're worried Bruno's gonna aculilla."
"Mh,hm." Dolores squeaked.
A sly smile crept over her brother's face as he pulled a hand from his pocket to inspect his perfectly manicured nails. "Well, he did ask for both of us didn't he? And we all know I'm the one who really brings in the crowd."
"Camilo." Dolores replied sternly. He could have such a big head sometimes.
"Alright, alright," he insisted as he stepped out of the door frame with his hands up in playful submission. "Nah, seriously, it sounds like fun. Especially if Señorita Fontana is there." His voice trailed off a bit as he looked away wistfully with a mischievous grin.
Dolores glared at him.
"I'm kidding!" He insisted. "You really are no fun."
"That's my job hermanito." Dolores asserted confidently. "Now go do yours."
Dolores listened for her tío's distinctive footsteps only to hear his voice instead.
"So what do you need to borrow a goat for anyway?"
She groaned before calling out to her brother. "He's taking his time so no hurry."
"Entendido!" He called back as he clicked his finger guns back at her.
Now with that set up she had some time to focus her attention elsewhere before tuning back in with the boys.
"Dolores baby." It was her mother's voice. She could recognize her mother's voice by the subtle crackle of the atmosphere around her when she spoke. A soft sound likely no one but her could hear but that made her head tingle and always made her feel safe. She was sitting with a few farm hands she'd been chatting with, one of whom had a child in the junior class.
"Could you go walk Antonio to class?" She asked sweetly. There was a faint thunder crackle like crinkling paper, "Apparently he skipped class yesterday." She groaned. "He's been so distracted lately with his pets, he really is as bad as your tío."
Dolores smiled a little as she tuned out the rest of her mothers rant as she returned to discussing her children with her friends. It was no trouble. She could listen in on Mirabel on her way to find Antonio.
"Just talk to me! Maybe I can help!" Mirabel pleaded.
Dolores had been paying careful attention to her prima's most recent pet project. She worried perhaps Mirabel might be projecting some of her anxieties onto the local problem child. Ever since Tío Bruno had started going out more often and being generally more independent Mirabel seemed to not quite know what to do with herself. Not that Abuela wasn't trying to find things for her to do but Mirabel had never really understood the amount of busy work that went into most of the familia's jobs.
"If you really wanna help then leave me alone!" Oscar barked.
The boy had a gruff voice for his age. Dolores could often hear him grinding his teeth or absentmindedly chewing on things. His stomach growled a lot. She worried Mirabel might be getting in over her head. It was one thing to stand up to Abuela, it's another thing to interfere in other people's family affairs.
"Honestly, why do you even care?" Oscar was still walking away. He hadn't stopped at all on his route home. His footsteps were very heavy despite the slight frame she knew the boy to have.
Dolores could tell from her breathing and the pace of her footsteps that she was struggling to keep pace with him.
"Look I'm training for the council right?"
"No duh. It's just about the only interesting thing about you. Bet you're real proud of all the attention." That was a bit cruel.
She could hear Mirabel take a deep breath. Dolores knew a comment like that had to cut deep. Mirabel never failed to surprise with her patient, empathetic, nature however as she formulated her reply.
"Look. It's the council's job to make sure everyone in town is taken care of. As long as you live in El Encanto you're my responsibility." She huffed.
Oscar's footsteps stopped. Mirabels clattered to a frantic stop afterward. She heard Mirabel take a soft step backwards.
"This is a joke. You're a joke." He replied after a moment of silence.
Dolores listened to his heavy footsteps slowly making their way towards Mirabel. The way her heart beat increased and her breath grew shallow as she took another timid step back. Oscar was tall, slight but tall and very heavy footed. Dolores imagined he was standing over her now, given what she could glean of their positions from the sound of their footsteps.
Mirabel swallowed hard. Her heartbeat was almost deafening. Dolores wondered if she should be worried. Should she send someone to intervene? Surely not. Oscar was a sour soul but he wouldn't hit a girl. Would he?
Dolores was halfway to the house, she looked around to see if she could make use of anyone nearby. Her eyes landed on Luisa who was chatting with a group of girls on a little stone wall by the roadside. A couple girls' eyes shimmered as they listened to her regale them with her tales of heroism. Luisa never seemed suspicious of the attention she sometimes received.
She was such a sweet girl. So clueless.
"Luisa?" She called out to her prima.
Luisa's head snapped up immediately. "Sí, do you need something?" She asked obediently."
"I don't need your help." Oscar growled. He was about half a mile away. Luisa was a fast walker, she could be there in a few minutes.
"Could you go tell Mirabel I need her help with Anotonio? She's over by la casa Cortés" She asked, a request she knew Luisa would treat with urgency but wouldn't cause her panic.
"Can do!" She assured before leaving her adoring fans behind. Luisa was quick and strong, reliable, safe.
"I don't need this town. We all know the council is just waiting for an excuse to kick me out. Don't pretend to care." Oscar's voice was low and raspy.
There was hurt in the boy's voice. Rage and disgust, and a twinge of hurt. Dolores listened very intently to that pain, to his heartbeat, his breathing. He sounded like a wounded animal.
"If I didn't care." Mirabel's voice quivered at first but she cleared her throat and seemed to steal her nerves. "If I didn't care, why would I have covered for you?"
Oscar took a step back. He said nothing. His heart beat increased very slightly.
"I know you're the one who's been stealing people's valuables." Mirabel took a step forward. "Why?"
"I don't have to explain myself to you." He replied stubbornly. It was clear from the very faint crack in his voice however that Mirabel had gained the upper hand.
"Fine then." Mirabel took a step back again. "I guess I'll just have to tell mi Abuela what you've been up to."
She heard her cousin turn to leave. Walking slowly, a wide exaggerated gate. The sound of Oscar's teeth grinding.
A few more steps.
"Wait!"
Well played Mirabel.
Mriabel stopped walking. There was silence for a moment. Grinding teeth. A hand tightening on the strap of a heavy book bag. Suspiciously noisy bookbag.
"I just need, I just need a little more time." He said. "Then I'll be out of your hair."
"What do you mean, out of my hair?" Mirabel turned and walked back towards the boy. He stumbled back before steeling his nerves.
"I won't be a problem anymore. Just leave me alone. I won't cause anymore problems for you. Prometo."
Dolores could hear the tension in his breath as Mirabel stood questionably close. She was on her tiptoes, now doubt trying to meet his eye level. Don't push your luck Mirabel.
Dolores listened for Luisa's heavy fast walking. She was close. In case Mirabel pushed too far, back up was on the way.
Mirabel stepped back. "Promesa?" She clarified. "I'll give you a week." she mused. "We're not done with this conversation. But I'll give you a week to figure out… whatever this is."
Oscar let out a relieved sigh, "Gracias Señorita Madrigal." he replied with mock respect. He still clearly wasn't fond of Mirabel's newfound authority, or at least what she seemed to think was authority, but his aggression had been pacified.
"Hey Mirabel!" Luisa, good. Dolores' timing was impeccable as always. "Dolores says she needs help with Antonio."
"What for?"
"I don't know, she didn't say."
Dolores decided she would wait outside for Mirabel before going to check on Antonio. She could hear him in his room talking to his friends. He still had some time before he needed to leave for class and she still had to check back in on Bruno. She didn't want her attention divided when she spoke with Antonio.
She could hear her tío's signature knocking on the library door. Salt, just for good measure. She knew how anxious he was around the library. He'd been scared to go near the place as long as Dolores could remember. She didn't know why but he had so many fears she'd be driven mad trying to understand them all.
She could hear her brother nearby. His soft chuckle as he watched Bruno from a nearby alley. The rustle of curls as she shook his head.
"Ah, Señor Madrigal!" Wilfredo's voice was friendly and polite. No hint of over-fondness. He still addressed Bruno formally.
"Heyyy." Bruno's response was awkward and drawn out. Dolores could hear Bruno drum his fingers along the heavy leather bound book in his hands before the rustling of his ruana confirmed he was holding it out to the other man. "I forgot to return this to you yesterday, what with everything that went down…" He sounded so ashamed as his voice trailed off.
Dolores wondered when Camilo would make his entrance. Always one for theatrics she was sure he'd pick the most convenient time to make himself known. Really pushing suspension of disbelief.
Señor Fontana took the book. "Oh, I'd nearly forgotten entirely." He replied. He adjusted his glasses.
"You did say it was one of your favorites. I'd hate to hog it all to myself." Bruno chuckled out awkwardly.
"That's very considerate of you." Wilfredo's tone was even. "Considering the disaster that was yesterday's outing I'm shocked to have crossed your mind."
"Oh, that, well, uhm," Bruno was stuttering. Dolores heard a rat scurry up to his shoulder. The scratching lapping sound of a tiny tongue on his skin. Bruno's fingers running through the soft pelt.
"You didn't have to do this. I'm just happy to see you're alright." His voice was soft, gentle even.
"It was mi prima Dolores who reminded me."
Dolores could hear him shift his weight onto the door frame. "Did she now?" He replied. His heart rate increased but his voice gave nothing away.
Bruno chuckled, "Yeah she's pretty attentive. I swear I'd forget my own head if it wasn't attached. She's real helpful like that." His voice was so warm and sweet when he talked about her. Bruno always had so much love in his voice when he mentioned her or her hermanos and primas. That tone was so soothing, it warmed her chest to hear.
Her tío's sweet reply aside. Dolores could tell from Señor Fontana's reply that he was suspicious of her. He was right to be. She knew his secret. No doubt the only reason he still tolerated his sister's language when they were alone was because he assumed Dolores already knew. That didn't seem to reduce his stress however. The fact Dolores had yet to say anything had done nothing to ease the man's anxieties.
Should she talk to him? Just confirm to him what he already knows? Reassure him she had no intention of using that knowledge against him? She couldn't promise that though. She knew she couldn't. Far as she could tell he was a good man. It wouldn't be fair to use something so harmless to ruin him. But Dolores still didn't know him well. If she had misjudged him? If he proved a threat to her town? To her tío? She could make no promises.
No, she would let him sweat it out for a while.
"It's funny you came by when you did." Wilfredo finally broke the momentary silence that seemed to indicate he was thinking. "You're actually just the person I wanted to talk to." Wilfredo's voice was still friendly. His heartbeat was still slightly elevated.
"That so?" Bruno replied curiously.
"Yes actually. The kids in town, they really enjoy the plays you put on." Wilfredo explained.
"Sí, though really I think Camilo's the one who steals the show." Bruno replied modestly. "What can I say? The kids got talent." Another prideful chuckle.
"You hear that? What did I tell you?" Camilo whispered to Dolores. She couldn't see his face but she knew he was grinning ear to ear. She wished she were there and could push him out into the spotlight. He was waiting too long. Really just going to swoop in at the last second hermano?
She couldn't help but roll her eyes.
"Is something wrong Dolores?" Mirabel's voice startled her back to her back to the casita.
She thought she had a bit more time. She apparently underestimated Mirabel's concern. Now she would have no choice but to split her focus. This was unfortunate.
"Oh, it's nothing serious. Antonio has just been really distracted lately. He skipped class yesterday and Mamá was worried. I thought maybe you could help me talk to him. He trusts you, if there is something wrong he'll talk to you." Dolores explained.
It felt like a knife to her chest to act like she needed Mirabel's help to support her own hermanito. But Mirabel was tempting fate and someone needed to get her away from Oscar. Besides, it was getting time to leave for class and she still had to make sure Camilo did his job properly. Antonio deserved her undivided attention… Someone's undivided attention…
"That's strange. He usually likes to study." Mirabel replied thoughtfully.
Dolores hadn't considered that. Her brother often would gush to his animal friends about the things he learned. Try to teach them. It was strange he would skip class, very strange… Why had Mirabel thought of that before her?
"So do you think you'd be interested?" Señor Fontana was finally pressing the question.
"He's in his room isn't he? Let's go talk to him." Mirabel was already headed for the stairs. Casita's open doors waved to Dolores gently.
Dolores looked out onto the town for a moment before following behind.
"Oh uh, I don't know. Señor Robledo, I'd hate to be a nuisance.. I really don't think he'd want me to-"
"Tío Bruno hey!" Camilo cut off Bruno's anxious rambling. About time. "I heard you guys were talking about me."
"Antonio! It's almost time for class!" Mirabel called out into the lush expanse of Antonio's room.
"I'll be down in a minute." He was up in the tree near his bed. She could hear the scuffling sound of him filling his book bag. The chitter of a toucan who's claws scratched the wooden floor.
"I know, it's ok. I'll just get my school work and be right back. Then we can play some more." Antonio was whispering, he still seemed to think that would work. He was planning on skipping class again. That was worrying.
Dolores nearly jumped as the sound of a palm hitting bare skin caught her attention. Mirabel was ahead of her up the stairs, she didn't see. Dolores had enough to worry about right now but listened in just to check and see who it was.
"What is this!? Are you trying to ruin us!?" It was Oscar's mother. Her voice was shrill. The sound would be terrifying but his heartbeat was surprisingly slow. He was calm. This wasn't the first time. She'd have to focus on that household more in the future, gather more information, formulate a plan.
But not now. It was sad but it wasn't urgent. It wasn't her family. Her brother needed her.
"Obviously we would love to." Camilo was answering for Tío Bruno.
"B-but, wait, hold on…" Bruno sounded annoyed.
"Come on Tío." Camilo whined. "I just wanna spend more time with you. Besides, you love kids."
"I do…" It wasn't clear which statement he was responding to, probably both. "I can't be around Señor Robledo." Bruno confessed.
Why? Was this why he was afraid to go near the library?
"Hey kiddo." Mirabel soothed as they caught up to Antonio who had just finished filling his book bag. "Can we talk for a minute?"
"Uh, ok."
"Why is that?" Señor Fontana sounded as confused as Dolores.
Mirabel led Antonio over to his bed to sit and talk. Focus Dolores. Antonio needed her right now. He looked confused and a little guilty.
"Am I in trouble?" He asked.
"Well not exactly." Mirabel reassured as she pulled him close. "But we are a little worried about you."
"Mamá told me you skipped class yesterday." Dolores explained. She tried to offer the most reassuring expression she could manage. Antonio didn't seem terribly comforted as he hugged Mirabel's arm.
A knife. The stabbing pain. Mirabel rubbed his tiny shoulder and relaxed him with her soothing voice. "It's ok we're not mad. We just want to know why."
Why. Why could Mirabel comfort their family in ways Dolores never could. Her own brother…
"Oh it's a long story." Tío Bruno's voice was pained. He was struggling to maintain an even tone. "I just, there was this vision…"
Had she made a mistake? Was the library an unsafe place for him? She never heard Señor Robledo speak ill of her uncle but he did sleep a lot and talk little. What if she had just sent Bruno into the lion's den unwittingly. Dannmit, pay attention Dolores.
"Say no more." Señor Fontana replied. "I understand completely."
"I'm sure it's not that bad." Camilo was still trying to salvage the situation. "Whatever it was, it's ancient history now."
Bruno grumbled irritably under his breath.
"Señora Delgado says I can't bring my friends to school with me." Antonio whimpered.
"Well it is a pretty small classroom mijo." Mirabel teased.
"I know… But I don't have any friends at school. I get lonely." Antonio admitted.
Why would Antonio struggle to make friends? He was the sweetest child Dolores had ever known. What kids would dare to exclude her precious hermanito.
"Well that's just silly." Dolores couldn't help the words that slipped out.
Antonio looked sad.
"I think what Dolores means," Mirabel translated. "is, you're such a good kid. We're sure loads of kids would love to be your friend."
Antonio sniffled a little but sat up and seemed a little more confident when Mirabel spoke to him.
Good going Dolores. Why are you so useless?
"But seriously bontia why Bruno?" That was Duillio Morales' voice. She wouldn't have noticed had he not mentioned her uncle but the sickly sweet tone held her attention.
"Cause I like him that's why." Jacqueline cooed. She sounded like she was flirting, why was she flirting? Dolores could hear her fingers trace lines along the man's shirt. No wonder her brother didn't trust her.
"I'm just trying to make friends in this town. I can't have my friends getting into fights like that."
"He started it, and you roughed up mis amigos pretty bad."
"I'm scared." Antonio confessed. "The other kids are loud and they play too rough."
Animals tended to respond best to calm, careful movements. They would be easily startled by that kind of rudeness. Dolores supposed it was unsurprising Antonio would be overwhelmed by it too. He had only started school recently and he was the youngest kid in the junior class right now. Why hadn't she noticed this sooner? Why did Mirabel have to be the one to get this confession out of him?
Dolores wanted to go and cuddle her baby brother. To comfort him. To tell him he was amazing.
"You know I was thinking we could do story hour in the afternoon after the junior class lets out. Señor Robledo is usually asleep around that time. He'd hardly notice you were here." Señor Fontana explained.
Right. Bruno. She still needed to know he was ok. She needed to know she hadn't just set him up for suffering.
"That's perfect." Camilo read the room. Please just lay off. This was a mistake.
"Well, I guess…" Bruno was thinking. Tugging his ruana.
"Only if you're comfortable with it, of course." Fontana clarified. "I'd hate to put you in a difficult spot again." He seemed like he genuinely had Bruno's best interest at heart. That was sweet of him.
"It does sound like fun…" Bruno knocked on the open library door. "You know what, worth a shot." He replied.
Dolores felt confident tuning them out after that. Bruno sounded fine, happy even. One less crisis to worry about. Antonio was still talking to Mirabel about the kids at school. He sounded so overwhelmed.
"You were being mean and you know it." Right, Jacqueline. What sort of game was she playing? "Promesa you won't break my toys like that again lindo?" She purred. Dolores could hear her hands. Why? Why this disgusting married man? At least she seemed to be trying to protect Bruno. In her own twisted way, she was trying to help.
Dolores heard the clock downstairs. They needed to get going or Antonio would be late for class. God going Dolores you were useless. No, no she wasn't. She brought Mirabel here. Mirabel was able to help.
"It's time to go Tonito." Dolores was trying to be gentle. Affectionate like their mother. She hated to cut Antonio off while he was trying to open up. But what else could she do?
"Dolores." Aubelas voice cut through as she reached a hand out to her brother and stopped her. "Where is Mirabel? The council meeting is starting soon, she's running late." Of course. Dolores had been so worried about the Oscar situation she'd forgotten to consider Mriabel's schedule.
Antonio pulled her back to reality as he slipped his tiny hand into hers. He looked up at her with wide expectant eyes.
"Abuela says the council meeting is starting soon." Dolores told Mirabel.
"Oh, right! I almost forgot!" Mirabel rushed to check her bag and ran over to grab Antonio's cheeks and kiss his forehead. "I'm sorry I can't walk you to school. We'll talk more later, ok?"
"That's ok." Antonio replied. "Dolores can walk me to class."
Mirabel gave Dolores a trusting smile before darting off down the creaky wooden steps. Dolores looked down at Antonio who smiled up at her. He didn't seem disappointed to be left with her.
"Why don't you tell me more about your classmates on the way?" Dolores encouraged. It was the least she could do after interrupting him. She wanted to make sure he got everything off his chest. Dolores took a deep breath and just focused on his tiny hand in hers. The rest of the world could wait for now.
The walk to school was thankfully peaceful. Dolores did her best to give her brother her undivided attention. He told her about all the ways the kids at school overwhelmed him. The way they would shout and rough house. Juancho was especially loud and always talked too fast. Dolores couldn't help but empathize. She knew better than anyone how it felt to be bombarded by too much at once. As they approached the school house she knelt down to his eye level.
"Can I tell you a secret?" She asked him.
Antonio nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah, anything."
"Sometimes I get scared too. People are loud and it can be a lot."
Antonio's eyes lit up with a sudden realization. "And you hear everyone all the time. It's like being at school but times a billion." His face fell and he looked down at his hands. "Lo siento."
"For what?" Dolores asked, bewildered by the sudden apology.
"You have it so much worse. Your gift must be so hard. I shouldn't be such un gallina."
"Oh no, no Antonio!" Dolores lifted his chin till their eyes met again. "I just meant, I know how you feel." She clarified.
Antonio's wide sad eyes melted her soul.
"I want to teach you a trick. Something to help when the kids get too loud."
"What kind of trick?" He asked.
"Close your eyes." She told him. He did so immediately. "Now I want you to take a deep breath in and hold it." He did so again. His little fingers fidgeted in front of him as he awaited her next instruction.
"Then count to three, uno, dos, tres, then breathe out slowly." Antonio let out the breath he was holding, a bit less controlled than instructed but he was young, it could take some practice.
"Now tell me, what can you feel?" She asked.
"Uhm…" Antonio thought. "I can feel my hands." He replied curiously as he continued to fidget with his fingers.
"Good job. Anything else?"
"Uhm, my bookbag." He thought some more as a gentle breeze blew past. "I can feel the wind. I can feel your hands." He peeked one eye open. "Can I open my eyes now?" He asked.
"Yes you can open them." Dolores giggled.
Antonio laughed in kind and his laughter made her heart flutter.
"Do you feel better?" She asked.
"Yeah, I do actually." He replied.
"You're Tío Bruno taught me that." She explained. "Whenever the world gets too loud, and you're not sure if you can handle it, I want you to do what I taught you. Take a deep breath and focus on something other than the sound. Focus on your body, let the rest of the world disappear for a minute."
"What if it doesn't work. What if it's too loud and I can't focus?"
"Then call for me." She instructed as she planted a kiss on his forehead. "I'll always be there when you need me. Lo prometo."