Chapter 36:
(Caleb POV)
- 1 year later -
We unloaded the cart and Isabella leaned over and placed a kiss on my lips. "Alright, alright well I need to speak to your Abuela and Mama if we are going to have get this everything done in time," Grandma said. "Thank you Grandma," I said as I looked at her and Grandpa's cart that just pulled up next to us. Grandma stood up and stretched her back out, "How do you two make this trek every two months." Isabella just smiled at me, "It get's easier with practice."
I slung a hand over her arm as I thought about how she would grow and retract the plants to give us an easier path. Despite spending 3 weeks living in Santa Marta with my grandparents she still never told them exactly what her gift was. They did know about the miracle, but they believe that it only works in Encanto. I don't remember who's idea it was to keep it a secret but, it was something we both agreed on.
I looked at the shack and back at Isabella, "So you are heading to Casita." She nodded her head, "I'll bring your Grandma with me." She leaned in closer and whispered, "Give you time to make the shack look decent." I cocked up an eyebrow, "You are going to keep her for a year." She let out a laugh and shook her head. "Amelia, would you mind if we walked to my family home. I need to stretch out my legs after the trek" Isabella smiled. Grandma let out a loud sigh of relief, "Thank you for saying it. Boys try not to mess anything up while I'm gone." I heard Isabella laugh as she walked arm and arm with my Grandma.
I turned to Grandpa, "It still scares me how good of friends they have become." He nods his head, "Yeah it scares me too. How much work do you think it is going to take to clean this place before she gets back." I turned to face him, "Isabella is sending over some of her cousins to help." Grandpa looked at me, "And with them?" I sighed, "She isn't going to be happy." Grandpa patted my back, "Great. This is going to be a long night." I nodded my head, "There is also only one room." He groaned as we made our way inside.
(Isabella POV)
- a week after they left Encanto for Santa Marta -
We pulled up to his house and I couldn't help but smile, "It feels weird being back here." He smiled at me and held out his hand, "Well come on. We need to get inside before my Grandma rushes out here." I nodded my head and we made our way inside. "Caleb if that is you without Isabella I swear..." she started but stopped when she saw me and then turned to Caleb, "Oh thank God you didn't blow it." I clasped my hand over my mouth trying to suppress a laugh I looked over to Caleb and I saw him biting his bottom lip looking up to the sky.
I went over to her and held out my hand, "It's nice to see you again Mrs. Williams." She smiled at me, "Please call me Amelia. Now let's have some tea and chat." She said guiding me into the dinning room. "Grandma," Caleb called out but I just smiled at him, "Don't you have to drop off the crops from Encanto to your boss?" I stepped away from his Grandma for a second and went over to him, "I'll be fine." He nodded his head and placed a kiss on my forehead, "I'll be back later."
He then leaned back and said, "Don't harass my girlfriend, like you harassed my boss please." After he left I turned to his Grandma, "Did you really harass his boss?" She shrugged, "I gave him a push he needed. Don't worry I will tell you all about it and all the other secrets to handling a Williams man." I smirked, "Well mine is a Ramones-Williams, if that makes a difference." She looked me dead in the eyes, "After everything I've seen it really doesn't." We both laughed and began chatting.
(Caleb POV)
I watched as Camilo, Mariano and Antonio made there way over. I smirked, "Leaving Dolores alone with the triplets?" Mariano let out a breath, "I'm the one who wanted 5 kids. I'm the one who wanted 5 kids." He said like it was a mantra, I just shook my head and turned to my Grandpa, "Grandpa, these are Antonio, Camilo and the one with 5 kids is Mariano." He raised his hand, "Well we have however long they are at your house to make this place a somewhat decent place to stay for my wife. How likely is that to happen?" They all just shrugged, "It's a lot better now that Caleb has done some improvements to it."
We made our way inside and I looked around. It did need a good dusting but, the paint was holding up pretty well. I grimaced at the couch, I finally bit the bullet to purchase 2 months ago, as that was going to be my bed for the next couple of weeks. However the furniture that was there was really shifted around and cluttering the place and I knew that the kitchen needed a good cleaning too. I turned to everyone, "Alright Mariano and I are on furniture moving. Camilo and Grandpa you two dust and Antonio can you make sure there is nothing disgusting or rotting in the fridge, again?" The all nodded their heads and we got to work.
(Isabella POV)
- 2 months ago -
We were in our first week in a three week stay in Encanto. We were laying on the bed that was designated as a couch enjoying our last few moments before I had to go home. I looked around the shack and smiled to myself, "What's going through your head?" Caleb asked. I smiled at him, "Well you stay here for 3 weeks whenever we come to visit whereas I stay in a very large, magical room in Casita." He nodded his head, "Yeah, so?" I smiled at him, "How would you feel if I spruced the place up a little bit?" Caleb looked down at me, "Isabella I really don't mind." I scoffed at him, "When we are in Santa Marta at your house, I'm in a beautiful room with an ocean view. When we are here you live in a shack, please let me do this."
"If you really want to, I think I can manage to disappear from here for a day or two," He said and I smiled as I planted a kiss on his lips. I went to stand up but her pulled me back down, "Where are you going?" I gave him a sad smile, "I have to head back, my family is expecting me back for dinner." I gestured my head to the clock and saw him sigh, "2 more weeks and then we are traveling." I smiled at him, "And then after a week of travel we are under the watchful eye of your grandparents." I heard him groan as I made my way to the door, "You know what needs to happen for things to change." He groggily looked up at me, "If I thought you would say yes, that would have been handled 4 months ago." I just laughed and left the shack.
The next day after I kicked Caleb out I came from the market with paint, wood stain and a few other things to brighten up this place. I also enlisted the help of my non-pregnant family members. I got an off-white paint for the walls and a forest green for the window sills and door frames. We also got rid of all the old hooks in the walls as that just made everyone uncomfortable and added some shelves. We re-stained all the wooden furniture. As I looked around at everything it just felt better, more like a home and less like just a place to sleep at night. I went into town when we were done and let the paint fumes out of the house for a few hours.
When I finally found Caleb I couldn't help but smile. "All done?" He asked. I nodded my head, "We might need to find you a place to sleep tonight because of paint fumes but, other than that." He nodded his head and we made our way to the shack. When I opened the door though I was surprised to find the second bed missing and in its place an actual couch. I couldn't help but stare at it, "I can admit to everything else, but I have no idea where that couch came from." I turned to face him and saw him smiling, "That might have been my contribution," I smiled, "You didn't." "I mean after all your months of complaining about it." I laughed and kissed him.
(Caleb POV)
We all sat down on the couch as it was realized that this was the best it was going to get. Antonio, after cleaning out the fridge, was able to create a sheet type thing to at least create a barrier around the bed so they had a room of sorts. I looked at Grandpa, "So, how do you think Grandma is going to feel?" He leaned his head against the door, "It is going to be a lot better than if she had just come in here." I nodded my head knowing it is going to be a long couple of days.
I heard a knock on the door and went over and saw Isabella and Grandma standing outside. I opened the door and Isabella wrapped my arms around her. She smiled at me, "Miss me that much?" I rolled my eyes and for a moment forgot we were in front of both of our families and pulled her in for a kiss only to hear, "Caleb, time and place. Don't you think?" from Grandma. I sighed and Isabella went up on her toes and whispered, "One more week" and patted my chest with her left hand. I smiled down at the ring and nodded my head, "One more week."
(Isabella POV)
- 2 months ago -
As we separated from the kiss I ran over to the couch and threw myself across landing on the throw pillows. I laughed at him as he came over to me. He looked around the room avoiding my gaze, "Hey is everything ok?" He smiled at me, "Yeah it is." He lifted my legs up and sat down next to me. He pulled me over closer and I couldn't help but smile. "This place looks great." "Besides the dingy outside," I joked and he nodded his head laughing as well, "Hey if anyone besides us decides to travel in to Encanto, I'm the least likely to be robbed."
As his laughter died out it was clear that there was still something on his mind, "Caleb? What's going on?" He reached between the cushions, "There is something stuck in here." I looked at him, "Caleb?" He pulled out a small box and smiled at me, "This is for you." I opened the box and saw a ring, it had a silver band with an amethyst stone that was set in something that looked like vines. I let out a breath and looked at Caleb wondering if he was asking what I think he was. One look at his face and I knew, "Yes." I pulled him into a kiss and smiled against my fiancé's lips.
(Caleb POV)
I looked over at Isabella as she spoke with her family, "Oh by the way big family dinner tonight." Grandma smiled as she looked towards Grandpa and I, "I already accepted the invitation on our behalf." I heard Grandpa, "Of course you did." Grandma looked at him, "Are you surprised by this William?" He shook his head, "Nothing you do surprises me anymore Amelia." I wanted to laugh but, I looked over at Isabella and I smiled thinking about us getting to that point one day where nothing surprises us anymore. One more week and we are a huge step closer.
Author's Note:
We are getting close to the end of the story. There is 2-3 more chapters left. Thank you to everyone for reading this story and your continued support.