Here it is. So sorry for the long wait. I hope this makes up for it.
A Shocking Reunion
Mirabel and Juano left the school, smiling after telling the children the story of how they met. It had lifted their spirits a little to entertain the children.
"Shall we see how the others are getting along with the searching?" Mirabel asked.
Before Juano could answer, they heard a mother walking up to them calling for Mirabel.
"Hey, Mirabel! Hey Juano!" a mother with her children came pacing up to them. "Think you two could spare a moment?"
They shared glances and nodded; helping people was their favourite activity.
By the time the Madrigals had reached the outer city sections, Antonio had dashed off into the streets. They dismounted their horses and hurried through the streets, panting with exhaustion, trying to keep up with the youngest kid.
"Tonito!" cried out Dolores. "Slow down!"
"Man! Why is our tio so fast?" Camillo panted, feeling humiliated that a ten year was much faster than theirs.
Elonzo galloped through the streets as fast as he could to the Casita. Bruno and Gabriella were busy organising fruit in some crates whilst Pedro played with the twins hoping it would calm their fears of the green clouds hovering over the valley, spooking him.
Meanwhile, Sinfonia and Esperanza slept by Esperanza resting with their foal inside her whilst Sinfonia laid his head over her large belly. She munched on some apples that Gabriella had fed her.
"Bruno!" a loud voice made them jump. Esperanza neighed in fright but Sinfonia nuzzled her face gently assuring her he was right beside her.
The parents turned to see Elonzo jogging up to them from his horse.
"What is it Elonzo?" Gabriella stumbled forward, carrying a basket of apples. "Have they found something? Do we know what's causing these clouds to turn green?"
"No. It's nothing like that," Elonzo took a moment to catch his breath, bending on one knee.
"Then what's the big rush?" asked Bruno giving him a hand up. "Has something happened?"
"Thousands of immigrants are here. They said their homes were…" Elonzo coughed and took a gallon of water that Bruno offered. "….affected by the prolonged drought out there. They came here seeking refuge,"
"Well, that's with the pale look? Our city welcomes everyone," Gabriella reminded.
"It's not that. There are people here. I wanted to tell you all as soon as possible,"
Bruno stared at him a little pale himself. "What people?"
Elonzo took a moment to hold himself together. Then he looked at the parents with sincere anxiety.
Pepa managed to catch up to her youngest kid. "Just stop Antonio! Please!"
Giving into his mother's shout and his exhaustion, Antonio fell to his knees and panted for dear life.
Felix reached him. "Why did you run off like that? You're gonna get us into trouble," he helped him up.
The others managed to keep up with them.
Isabella and Luisa stared in wonder at the glorious town. "It's much more beautiful up close," the eldest complimented. Despite the dark clouds over their heads, the extravagance built before them was a wonder to behold.
"You think Mirabel's here?" asked Luisa to Antonio.
"I know she is," said Antonio optimistically. "I've never felt certain in my whole life,"
"It has to be her," said Julieta with hope. "Remember? That letter she left behind? It mentioned a candle. She and Julio gained a miracle, a candle. And this is the city everyone's been talking about. And that Casita, we just saw…it's just like ours. I know in my heart that is the moment we've been wishing for years,"
"We'll all be together again," Agustin was leaking out tears. He embraced his wife and two elder daughters tightly. "And we'll be a happy family again,"
Felix and Pepa embraced their children too. But Dolores remained uncertain.
"What is it Dolores?" asked Isabella. "What's wrong?"
"I don't think she'll want to see me," she said despondently.
Felix gawked at her in shock. "Why would you say that?"
"Because of what I did. I blabbered out her secret to everyone and they wanted her gone. She'll never forgive me," Dolores slumped on a nearby barrel in deep guilt.
Her words affected Camillo too. "I don't think she'll want to see me either. And neither will Isandra. She was so mad at both of us for our mistakes. I don't want to imagine what their faces will be like when they see us,"
Isabella shook her head. "We can't give up guys. We didn't come all this way just to stop and mope about our mistakes. Mirabel needs us. And we need her,"
"She's right," agreed Luisa. "We've got to see her. And we need to see Tio Bruno and his family too,"
"We can't forget Isandra. Or Juano either," Julieta reminded. "With Carlos and his siblings here too, he needs us as well. We'll welcome him into our family. Love him as much as we love Mirabel," The Madrigals nodded in agreement. Before she could move her mouth again, they heard the loud shouts of the two brothers whom they had ditched back at the entrance. They were trying to stop them.
"Let's split up," Pepa suggested. Julieta's spouse and her children dodged one way, she and her side of the family dodged the other way.
"Stop them!" shouted the younger brother, shooting after Julieta, the other, Pepa.
Felix looked back and saw the older brother pursuing them. He was gaining on them. "You guys get ahead while I deal with this guy,"
"But Felix…" Pepa tried to say.
"Just go!" he urged. He stopped running and turned his back to his running family. They stopped and watched as he grabbed the older brother who wrestled at him. They continued rushing as fast as they could through the city streets.
Mirabel helped Balthasar's warm, caring mother with pushing carts of food. Her younger kids bounded behind them.
"Thank you so much, Mirabel," said Adella. She had long curly hair and wore a simple blue dress with golden flowers.
"Helping people is what I do," she smiled. She looked up again at the clouds noticing that they were getting bigger. Fear gripped her throat.
"What is wrong Mirabel?" Adella asked. She knew it wasn't just the presence of these clouds that darkened her emotions.
"I'm worried. The last time Juano and I set out to save a miracle…we failed yet it led to us discovering this one. I'm worried about failing our home, all of our people,"
Adella stopped pushing a cart and stood in front of her, holding her hands. "You and your family could never let us down, Mirabel," the tearful girl raised her head to meet hers. "You and your family gave us hope, a home. But Milagro de Amor isn't just this city. It's the people. The people you all brought together. It was not the miracle that did. It was you and Juano. We all know you both would do anything for us. And now it's time to repay that debt. We will all do whatever it takes to save our home,"
Mirabel wiped a tear away. "Thank you," she hugged Adella. The warm hug she received back, reminded her so painfully of her mother; she missed her so much.
Julieta was petrified by the brother chasing after her, Agustin and their two eldest daughters. Agustin knocked down several barrels to slow him down but he kept on a tight chase after them.
"What is wrong with him?" cried out a mad Isabella. "Doesn't he know we're Mirabel's family?"
As she asked that question, Luisa suddenly panicked. "What if this means she doesn't want to see us? What if she hates?"
"She wouldn't," Agustin refused. "We are not letting anything stop us from bringing your sister back to us!"
"But papa, if Mirabel and Juano built this place, they're not gonna want to leave! No, when all these people look up to them!" Luisa screamed out again.
Agustin didn't have time to dwell on that account with the loud shouts of their chaser yelling at them to stop running making them bite their tongues. Quickly Luisa turned a corner and then again. She then pulled her older sister and their parents behind a cart and they crouched down. They stayed very quiet where they were.
"What do you mean they're here?!" Bruno squealed out, pale white at Elonzo.
"They just joined all these other people who heard about our town and came here," Gabriella answered for their friend.
"Oh my god," Bruno collapsed to his knees, fanning his face with his hands. "I can't…I can't…I can't breathe,"
"It's all right," Gabriella soothed his shoulder. "We're going to get through this together,"
"What are we supposed to say? What about your family? What are they gonna think when they see us officially married now with three children?"
Hugging her husband closer to her, Gabriella swallowed the lump of anxiety that had been building up in her throat. For years she had wondered what her family had been doing since she and Isandra left. Were they feeling angry? Heartbroken? Both? How would they react when they saw her now married to Bruno and not with three children? "We need to find Mirabel, Isandra and Juano now,"
The mention of Juano made the frantic Bruno look again at Elonzo. "Was there a man named Carlos among the party?"
Elonzo nodded. "Yes,"
"We need to keep a firm eye on him," he ordered. "And ensure he doesn't go anywhere near Juano if he finds out he's here,"
Juano was walking around the city. He had just helped some men collect some water and used his light to try and help the searchers looking for any clues around the ancient valley for the origins of the green cloud problem but still nothing. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a box, velvet and squared-shaped. He opened it. A gold butterfly on a ring of gold sparkled.
"What's that you got there?" spooked a voice.
Juano jumped and twitched his head surprised to see Isandra standing close by, with a goofy grin. Quickly he stuffed the ring back behind him. "Nothing,"
Isandra's grin grew. "I don't think that was nothing,"
"Sure wasn't," a new voice crept up behind Juano. The latter felt a swift hand pickpocket his pocket and before he could turn around Balthasar appeared into view holding the box. "Ooo looks like someone's worked so hard to prepare this…" he flipped the ring box open. "…for a certain bride,"
"Give that back!" Juano snatched it back. He became overcome with embarrassment. "Just pretend you never saw that!"
"Too late. We just did," teased Isandra. Juano stared at her intently expecting her to turn serious but instead, she joyfully hugged him. "I'm so glad you're going to propose to her,"
"You mean, you're not against it?" asked Juano awkwardly.
Isandra pulled back. "Why would I be? You're perfect for Mirabel. For the past six years, you have made her happy after so many years of neglect. And she makes you happy too. There is one whom I would rather see my best friend with than you,"
Juano smiled a little.
Balthasar smiled brightly. "Looks like we've got a wedding to plan,"
"No!" Juano objected. "Right now, we need to focus on what's happening to our miracle and why those clouds are covering the city. That has to come first. And I'm having second thoughts that perhaps Mirabel isn't ready yet,"
"Why wouldn't she be?" asked Isandra. "She loves you. And you love her. You're the couple that founded this city. This miracle came because of you two. It became to you two because you both are meant to be together,"
"I know in my heart that we are…but….there's just so much she's been going through recently. Not in terms of our relationship but…I feel like if I ask them to marry me, it means she might feel that she has to completely move forward. I know how much she still misses her family and I don't want her to feel like she should just forget about them,"
"What's past is the past buddy," Balthasar consulted. "Perhaps taking this big step forward is what both you and she need," Juano took a moment to consider his words. "When were you planning on proposing to her?"
"Today actually. But then I had second thoughts yesterday and decided to wait a long while. And then all this started happening. The miracle and the city's well-being have to come first. And I don't care how long it takes. We can't let everything we built together be for nothing,"
"Juano…" Isandra grasped his shoulders. "We're going to find out what's happening. We're gonna save our home. It won't fall,"
Juano moved his lips to speak again but they heard the loud pants of a tired man rushing up to them. "Aaron?" he came over to catch him as he collapsed in exhaustion. "Are you okay?"
"Juano…the…Mad…dri..gals…here,"
Juano felt pale. "What did you just say?"
"The Madrigals are here. They came with thousands of refugees but they rushed into the city without permission. I think they're looking for you and Mirabel. I tried to stop them from entering the city but they were just too fast,"
The news flabbergasted the latter and Isandra. "They're here?" she breathed. "Wait a minute. That means…that means my family are here too," she released out tears, her mind was sent racing in different directions. She imagined faces of anger, heartbreak…
"It's going to be okay," Balthasar soothed. "Just breathe. Breathe,"
"Was there anyone else?" asked Juano to Aaron.
"Yes. Thousands of people. And a very mean man named Carlos,"
Juano felt sick. He felt his world spinning. Like he could faint at any second. Memories of the past took hold of him, crushing his insides like stone. His disowned father's cold voice echoed in his eardrums, weakening his power of dignity.
Regaining herself, Isandra saw the pale state he was in. "It's gonna be okay Juano," she embraced him tightly. "No one is going to harm you. Not now. Not ever,"
Juano couldn't break himself free of the fear of facing the people who wronged him. "We have to find Mirabel. Now," That mattered more to him than anything.
After managing to ditch their chase, Mirabel's parents and sisters strolled swiftly through the town. The inhabitants observed them from their windows, startled by their presence. But they didn't care. All that mattered to them was that the youngest daughter in the family was found. They split up in different directions sensing tension coming from some men who were disturbed by their frantic searching.
Luisa went off with Agustin. And Isabella went off with Julieta. The mother and eldest daughter's search took them to the town centre where they didn't find anyone at all. It was so quiet. They panted for dear life.
"Mama…" Isabella panted. "What if Dolores is right? What if Mirabel doesn't want to see us?"
"Don't say that," begged Julieta.
"But you saw everyone's faces. They know who we were. Mirabel must have told them about us, how we…drove her away. And Bruno too. You did nothing mama but I did,"
"Isa…" Julieta held her hands. "I've made mistakes too. I should have tried harder to make your grandmother include her more. I should have realised she was hardly in any of our photos. And I should have done more to help Bruno feel accepted by the community. I let them down just as much. I know in my heart that Mirabel l loves us all so much. And Bruno too. When we find them, we'll all make it right. We just need to believe,"
Isabella felt comforted but she remained enclosed in a cage of emotional anxiety.
Her lips parted to reply when they heard panting from a nearby street. They saw Pepa and her children appearing. "Any luck?" asked her sister.
"No," Pepa answered regrettably.
"Where's Tio Felix?" asked Isabella worriedly.
"He had to deal with that crazy guy who kept chasing us," Antonio panted. "We've got to get to that Casita,"
"We don't for certain if Mirabel and the others will be there," said Pepa. Before the conversation could continue, they heard some cheerful singing from another alleyway. The chiming of that chanting made everyone's hearts lift from their chests.
Julieta's tears spilt. "It's her,"
Hearing her sister's voice made Isabella more scared than frantic. "Everyone hide!" quickly she urged them into a narrow alleyway hidden just out of sight. They all peered over anxiously. Everyone was quiet for a bit. Then a person loud and cheery scared them.
"Hey guys," greeted Felix from behind. "Managing to lose that bad-tempered guy," His wife shushed him. He tried to speak again but she placed a hand over his mouth over his face and he nodded, getting the message. They all poked their heads out and to their surprise, they saw Mirabel appear into view, completely different from when they last saw her. They admired her dancing around the square being followed by so many children who admired her performance. She conjured beautiful butterflies with the flow of her hands The kids danced around for joy.
The family were speechless. This was the first time in years they had ever seen Mirabel so something as incredible as they did with people. She was giving those kids joy and merriment. They gathered around her.
Oblivious to the crowd watching her from where they hid, Mirabel glanced at all the children she had entertained with her magic.
"Thank you, Mirabel," the youngest said giving her a surprise hug which she affectionately returned.
"You're welcome. I hope that my magic has cheered you all up,"
"Do you and Juano have any idea why those clouds are here?" a kid asked.
Mirabel's enjoyment died down. "I don't know. But we're doing everything we can to find out what's happening. We're gonna do whatever it takes to save this city. It's not the magic that's important to us. It's the people. And that includes all of you,"
The kids suddenly jumped on her hugging her tight. She laughed as they tickled her for joy.
The parents and their children were warmed by what they were seeing. They looked up to Mirabel as a hero. Not because of her powers but because of how she cared for every person in this city. And she wasn't pretending like everything was all right. She knew there was a problem but she was doing whatever it took to keep everyone's spirits high.
The kids let Mirabel up. "Mirabel…" a girl spoke.
"Yes, Amira?" asked Mirabel.
"I hope you won't me asking.."
"Please. Speak," she said kindly.
"Do you ever think about your family?"
Her question made the Madrigal's ears ring. She fell into a state of depression and pain. Agustin and Luisa appeared in an ally way but hid behind a cart when Isabella from across signalled them not to. The father and middle daughter listened intently. "I…I do…a lot," Mirabel rubbed her arms.
"Don't you ever want to go back to where you came from one day?" a boy asked.
"I can't," Mirabel confessed. "It's just too painful to be with them. Being the only member without a gift was so hard. And besides, this is where I belong now. I don't know if I'll ever see them again. Or that they'd even want to see me,"
Antonio couldn't take it anymore. Freeing himself from his mother's arms, he sprinted out into the town centre crying out: "No! You're wrong Mira! We do need you!"
Mirabel's heart dropped hearing a voice she hadn't heard in years. It can't be. She felt herself freeze. The kids pointed behind her. She slowed and turned around and before she could react, she felt her primo's body collide with hers, his arms engulfing her.
"We've missed you so much!" Antonio was crying out for joy, unable to contain his long-buried happiness any longer. He let go of the petrified girl. "Oh, look at you. You've grown,"
Mirabel remained speechless. She was quiet. Too quiet. She was pale as a ghost. She wanted to believe this wasn't real but it was. And so she was scared to speak, excessively overcome by misery to think either. The children became concerned. "Mirabel?" Antonio's enjoyment withered. "Don't you recognise me? It's me, Antonio. Your favourite little cousin,"
Mirabel found the courage to speak. "What are you doing here? How did you…"
"We all came here Mirabel,"
Mirabel felt her heart drop again, her hair tingle. "'We?'"
"The whole family! Except for Alma of course. She's too old now to walk without a stick,"
The mention of her grandmother made Mirabel quiver in fear. The last time they saw each other there were shouts and slaps between them. She looked ahead and saw her family pouring out from their hiding spots. She saw her parents' faces flushed with tears of enjoyment. Her sisters. Her cousins. Her tia and tio. They all looked overjoyed. But she couldn't feel that way. She stumbled back.
"Mira…it's us," her father reached out.
"How did you all find me?" she breathed out in shock.
"Mirabel…you've no idea how it warms my heart to see you," Julieta marvelled at her beauty. "You've grown so much," she tried to come forward to hug her but Mirabel stumbled back again.
"Please pretend none of you saw me," she begged. Everyone's faces of enjoyment turned to faces of shock. "Please go. I need a moment," she crossed her arms and turned her back.
Dolores felt her fears coming to life. "Wait, Mirabel. Please…" she tried to reach out for her when all of a sudden, three loud voices cried out her prima's name echoed into the plaza. Juano, Isandra and Balthasar came bursting out of the streetways. Eyes of shock glanced at them.
"Mirabel!" Juano rushed to her pulling her with her wet face into his arms. "Are you okay?"
Mirabel sniffled and nodded against his chest. He glanced cautiously at the Madrigals as they saw how close they were. He held her close.
Isandra glanced at them a little tensely, mainly Isabella, Dolores, and Camillo. Camillo eyed her with tears. Both joy and sadness. She glanced back at him feeling like she would faint any moment. She reached for her pendant. Balthasar stood beside her clasping her shoulder. His presence and his warm touch on Isandra made Camillo's insides twist in and out. He had never seen a guy so close like that to Isandra.
Sensing how anxious his friends were, Balthasar spoke up for them. "Madrigals…I know how overwhelming this must be for all of you…but we need to ask you to leave now. You and everyone who's come here are welcome to stay here as long as you need,"
"Look sir whomever you are…" Camillo shouted up. "We have missed Mirabel and Isandra for six years! And you are not keeping them away from us for a moment longer!"
"Camillo…please," begged Isandra. "Please everyone…please just…"
"There you all are!" boomed a loud voice. Elonzo entered the scene with Bruno and Gabriella; the party were shocked to see them. What shocked them more was the presence of Pedro and the twins. Pepa and Julieta marvelled at seeing their young nieces and nephew. He glared at the Madrigals. "What right did you all have to go gallivanting off into our city like that?"
"Look here, mister…" Agustin marched right up to him, pointing a strong finger in his face. "We are here because we have missed Mirabel for six years! And we want her and Bruno and Isandra and Juano back with us!"
Elonzo growled back. "Don't," Bruno gently grabbed his wrist before he could do anything. "Not here," he shook his head. He glanced anxiously at his family. Gabriella stood beside the shocked Isandra. "Why are you guys here?"
Julieta and Pepa were tear-stricken to see their brother for the first time in years. "We became here with our people because of a drought…" Pepa tried to answer.
"I mean why aren't you with the other people?"
"I just wanted to find you and Mirabel so desperately," lamented Antonio. "You both have no idea how terrible it's been for us. Since you guys left,"
"Guys, you need to go back to the other people," said Gabriella calmly. "Elonzo will tell you all where you can stay and make camp. But for now, you need to stay away from us. We've been having a problem since a few nights ago and we need to solve it before this gets any worse,"
"Is it to do with these?" Felix pointed up to the sky; he quivered under the glowing green colour.
"Yes. It is," said Bruno. "We need everyone to stay calm and with you and everyone else here, you need to get settled in. There's a chance you might need to move again. So, just focus on those people. Please don't come and see us. It's emotional enough as it is," he was pale in colour like his niece and he was leaking out tears, making his sister cry for him too.
Julieta began to cry again with Agustin and Juano gently escorted Mirabel away who hid her wet face. Balthasar guided away Isandra too. Camilo tried to reach out to her but Dolores gently grabbed his hand again shaking her head sadly. The Madrigals were devasted. This wasn't how they wanted this reunion enough as it was. Mirabel and Bruno didn't look happy at all. They were frantic. Devastated. Had the six months of separation really taken a toll on them that much? Was it really difficult to let go of what was past? They realised that even they couldn't let go of the mistakes they made either.
Elonzo with a stern face escorted them out of the city towards the outskirts where already people were setting up tents and shelters. Alma awaited them with the grandfather and grandchildren. She stood up, holding up a proud smile, expecting Mirabel to be with them. But instead, all she saw was agony and yearning. She felt her heartbeat decelerate with desolation. Oh, Pedro. She prayed. Please let there be hope.
Wow. What a shocking reunion. What did you all think of their reactions? As much as they love their family, it's hard to show joy from all the pain that's happened. I hope you all enjoyed this chapter a lot. Please send reviews and let me know what you all thought. And I would love to hear ideas too. See you all sooner.