Alma could only stare in horror as she stared at the two she declared dead, they were back. She had no clue where they had been but they were back looking better than ever. And this could only mean one thing-trouble.
"Aww look, Dolores, she has missed us so much she is speechless." Mirabel chuckled.
Dolores smirked "Aww, we missed you too Alma."
"Yeah without you around we had no one to irritate."
Alma took a deep breath before slamming the door in their faces without a word. Turning around she saw Pepa and Julieta standing behind her "It was no one important."
"I heard Mirabel." Julieta's eyes were locked on the door.
"And Dolores." Pepa added "They're back."
"No, it wasn't them. Like I said it was no one important."
"We can hear you, you know? What do you mean no one important?!" Mirabel's voice called out.
Hearing her voice Julieta pushed past Alma and opened the door sucking in a breath when she saw it was indeed her missing daughter and niece. Her hand flew to her mouth, she just couldn't believe it. Three long months since Mirabel and Dolores disappeared and now here they were again in the flesh. With a cry, she flew forward wrapping Mirabel into an embrace "Oh my baby...oh my baby..." she sobbed into her daughter's curls "It's a miracle...my baby is home."
"I missed you, Mamá." Mirabel mumbled "I missed you so much."
"Where on earth have you been?!"
"Dolores took me on a horse ride."
"A horse ride? For three months?"
"A very long horse ride?"
Dolores cleared her throat "It was all my idea-" she was cut off as she was pulled into a tight embrace by Pepa "Mami, just. a little too tight."
Pepa didn't loosen her hold "Oh, mi ratonita. I have been so worried, we have all been so worried. Where have you been? Never do that to us again, you both just disappeared into thin air. We were thinking the worst." Pepa wept tears of joy "I thought I would never see my only hija ever again."
"I'm sorry, Mami. But it was all my idea, I took Mirabel out of here for a reason." she looked over to Julieta "Tía Julieta, I am sorry. But I promise you Mirabel was safe, I wouldn't have taken her out of here for so long if it wasn't the best for her."
Julieta just silently nodded as she rubbed Mirabel's back, of course, she knew Dolores wouldn't put Mirabel in danger but it didn't stop her from worrying even after seeing them restored on the family tree. Did they have proper shelter? Were they eating enough? They didn't have her food, so what if they got hurt? What if Mirabel had one of her bad days?
"Miraboo?'
Mirabel looked up at that voice "Papá?"
Agustín pulled off his glasses and rubbed his eyes before placing them back on to make sure wasn't seeing things "Mirabel...it's really you." he looked over to Dolores "We searched all over for you two."
"We checked every nook and cranny!" Félix nearly knocked Alma over in his haste to get to Dolores "We left no stone unturned."
"And there were bees everywhere."
"Bee stings?" Mirabel murmured.
Agustín placed a hand on Mirabel's shoulder "I was fine, it was you and Dolores I was worried about. We were all so very worried."
Dolores was squished in a hug between Pepa and Félix "You won't believe where we have been! It was incredible! We met some wonderful people and saw so many new amazing things. Well, I saw amazing new things anyway, Mirabel couldn't actually see any of it."
"But I could hear them...and feel them." Mirabel tilted her head "And Dolores described them to me enough I could form a mental image."
Julieta finally let Mirabel go "Oh mi mariposa, were you walking about with no vision for three months?"
"Yeah, we left the Encanto so we went out of the reach of the magic."
Alma narrowed her eyes "So there is a way out of here..." she mumbled to herself as the rest of the family gathered behind her to see what was going on.
Luisa couldn't believe it, her baby sister was back safe and sound, and her cousin was back. She knew it, she knew they would stick together. She stood watching as Mirabel got embraced by their parents and Dolores by hers. She glanced at Alma, she still didn't know that Luisa had shifted her loyalties to Mirabel's side of the fight completely. Looking back to Mirabel she narrowed her eyes for a moment. You know what? Screw Abuela.
Mirabel was finally released from Julieta's hold when a larger pair of arms suddenly wrapped around her causing her to flinch.
Luisa immediately backed off hands raised "Whoa, I'm sorry."
"Oh, it's just you Luisa." Mirabel smiled "I'm sorry you just...startled me."
"I have never seen you react like that."
Dolores sighed "Oh that, yeah she has been doing that a lot lately. She's been very...anxious and the smallest thing will send her into a total freakout." she gave a sheepish smile when Mirabel shot her a glare "Oh, sorry. I know you don't like to talk about it."
Julieta shook her head "No, I think we need to talk about it." she ran a hand through Mirabel's hair "What is going on in that head of yours, hmm?"
"Not today, Mamá please..." Mirabel whispered.
Luisa reached a hand out slowly "Err sorry, you okay? Can I give you a hug?"
Mirabel nodded as a small smile formed "I missed you Luisa."
"I missed you too, sis." Luisa put her arms back around Mirabel being mindful of Salomé resting in the carrier sling "Things around here have been...well.."
"Chaos." Alma interrupted frown deepening "You two haven't even been here and you have caused trouble. Luisa, get away from her now, you know the rules."
It's now or never Luisa thought to herself taking a deep breath as she slowly turned around bringing Mirabel with her "No."
Alma reeled back for a moment "No?"
"I will not abandon my baby sister ever again, I don't care what you say. Mirabel needs me more than you or the rest of the town do. I thought maybe you were actually starting to realise and try making a change but you're not. Sure you may let us have more say what and we won't do with our gifts, sure you have your little 'family day' thing but you're still not getting it. You still want us to cut off two members of this family. You don't want anything to do with Mirabel and Dolores? Fine, they don't want anything to do with you either, but you have no right to tell the rest of us not to, even people in town are starting to say you're going too far and are regretting listening to you, Mamá has told you many times about Mirabel's condition. Just leave her alone."
Alma looked from Luisa to Mirabel as she realised just what was going on, Luisa has been on Mirabe's side this whole time. She met Mirabel's eyes the irritation growing inside even further when Mirabel gave her a smug grin and held her hand up making a V sign with her fingers. Alma turned to face Dolores who as soon as she saw what Mirabel was doing did the same. "Luisa, I am sorry you feel that way, I know I made mistakes but I'm trying my best. You must understand that looking after a whole village is not easy even with the aid of magic."
"What does that have to do with treating Mirabel like you do?"
Alma turned around at that voice "Camilo? You too?"
Camilo nodded "This isn't about the miracle, the magic or anything like that. Mirabel and Dolores have been back, not even five minutes? And you're already blaming them for what's going on in town. They don't even know what's going on."
Dolores looked around in confusion "What is going on?"
"We'll tell you, but not now." Pepa jumped in before anyone else could "We have just got both of you back, that's the focus for today."
Mirabel bit her lip "But it does involve us, doesn't it?"
"Yes..."
Mirabel glanced at Dolores "Damn, we have been stirring shit up all the way from Bogotá."
"Bogotá?! You two were in Bogotá?!" Alma exclaimed in shock at the mention of her old home. Bogotá was where she met and fell in love with her beloved Pedro. It was where her babies were born. And it was from Bogotá they were forced to flee. And it was Bogotá that Mirabel and Dolores were hiding in this whole damn time.
"Yeah, you leaving really improved the place." Mirabel chuckled.
Alma shot her a glare "And where on earth did you stay? Sleep on the streets?"
"Nope, we spent the last three months living in luxury in Hotel Paraíso." Dolores smiled "We met a really lovely couple. María and Andrés Coretz. They took us in and helped us out."
"I am glad." Julieta smiled "But…how did you get out?"
"We're not telling."
"Yep, not telling." Mirabel grinned as she turned to look into Casita locking eyes with Isabela.
Isabela looked away, she wanted to run out there and hug Mirabel. Tell her how sorry she was and that she loved her and was proud of her. But she was afraid of Mirabel's reaction, their last interaction was nearly fatal but she understood now why Mirabel acted the way she did, Julieta sat her down and explained. Mirabel was sick, Julieta told her it was an illness of the mind and the lifestyle she was forced to live as well as the treatment she got from the town only worsened her condition. She felt it necessary to always be on the defence.
She felt bad knowing she contributed to Mirabel's suffering but she was going to make up for it, even if it was the last thing she ever did she was going to make up for it.
Bruno closed his eyes with a sigh as he stood back holding onto Antonio, he felt relieved knowing his nieces were safe. He was worried when he couldn't see the future of either of them and feared what it meant. Their images being restored onto the family tree sent a wave of relief and hope throughout the whole household…well for everyone except Alma who felt nothing but dread.
Antonio was pulling against Bruno to go greet Dolores and Mirabel but Bruno kept a firm grip on him. He was so happy they were back, he was starting to wonder if they would ever come home. Dolores missed her Birthday (he remembers his Mami crying a lot on that day) and he never got to give her the gift he got for her, he still had it wrapped up in his room so maybe now he could give it to her. He bounced on his toes "Tío Bruno! Let me go!"
"Just a moment, kid." Bruno murmured.
Antonio huffed in annoyance as his stomach began growling "I'm hungry." he complained "Mami! When is dinner?"
Julieta gave a half gasp-half laugh when she heard her sobrino "I can't believe I nearly forgot about dinner." she smiled at Mirabel "Mirabel, mi mariposa you will be coming in and eating with us. Dolores you too."
"What?" Alma spattered out "No, I made it clear they are not to come into Casita."
"Well, either they come into Casita and eat or I'll make dinner and we'll all go out and eat it in the barn with them, your choice Mamá."
"Fine." Alma snapped "They can have dinner, but I'll be keeping my eye on the both of them and once they eat they can get out."
"I'll be keeping my eye on the both of them." Mirabel mocked mimicking Alma's voice.
"Mirabel, don't test me."
Mirabel gave a challenging grin "Or what?"
Alma didn't answer just shook her head in annoyance.
Dolores joined Mirabel at her side putting an arm around her shoulder, casting a glance towards Isabela she gave she shook her head slightly "Come now hermanita ." she couldn't help but see the flash of jealously that spread across Isabela's face "Let's get some dinner then we get back to the barn and to bed. You must be simply exhausted."
Mirabel glanced from Dolores to Isabela and understood what she was trying to do deciding she would play along "I am so tired, hermana. " Mirabel faked a yawn "And it'll be getting dark soon and you know I can't see in the dark."
"Don't worry, I've been your eyes for the past three months you know I don't let you bump into things."
"I know." Mirabel smiled hugging Dolores "Dolores, you're the best big sister ever."
Isabela could almost hear the crack in her heart hearing those words. Mirabel, her own baby sister had chosen someone else to fill the big sister role. Not her, not even Luisa but Dolores. Their cousin. Isabela saw the way Mirabel greeted Luisa, she was happy to see her. But herself? Mirabel hasn't even said a word to her. She had been replaced in Mirabel's life. Dolores had taken her place.
Luisa would have been upset hearing that if she didn't already know of the duo's plan of guilting Isabela, Of course, what they didn't know was that Isabela was pretty much on their side already. She was jealous though of how close Mirabel and Dolores had gotten.
Mirabel and Dolores stepped in Casita taking in all the cracks covering the walls making both chuckle in amusement.
"Gee, love what you have done with the place the cracks add a real…touch to the place." Mirabel mused "My favourite is the giant one over there."
"You caused those, ever since you turned up that night Casita has been cracking." Alma was keeping her eyes locked on the duo.
"I caused those even if haven't been here? Interesting."
"Maybe you have a gift after all." Dolores chuckled.
"Oh yeah, a secret gift. It's a real CRACKING one."
Alma frowned as both began to laugh so hard they had tears in their eyes, she knew there was going to be trouble as soon as she opened that door.
Julieta entered the kitchen "I'll get dinner started right away, we have a reason to celebrate tonight Mirabel and Dolores have returned to us!"
Mirabel looked around the courtyard eyes landing on the candle sitting in its usual spot, that stupid little candle ruined her life. But soon it would be in her hands and boy did she have some plans for it.
Alma followed Mirabel's line of sight to the candle and felt fear. What if Mirabel went for the candle again? But when she looked back at Mirabel she had seemingly lost interest and was instead focusing on greeting the overly excited Antonio with Dolores.
"Lolo! Mira! I missed you both SO much!" Antonio hugged them both "I thought you left forever."
"We missed you too, Toñito." Dolores whispered "We're sorry but we had to leave, Mirabel had to go somewhere else for a little while."
"Because Mirabel is sick? I heard Mami and Tía Julieta saying Mirabel is sick."
"Yes, because Mirabel is…sick. But she is going to get better, alright?" Dolores smiled softly.
"Yeah, I'm going to be fine buddy don't worry about me, alright? Mirabel ruffled his hair.
Antonio nodded for a moment before his eyes lit up once more "Oh, Mirabel! I have been keeping your jaguar plush safe for you! Let me go get it!" he turned around and ran up the stairs and into his room.
Mirabel chuckled as she pulled Salomé out of the carrier and placed her on the ground "There girl, you have been cooped up in there for a while go run around."
Salomé let out a loud meow as she rubbed against Mirabel's legs before scampering off across the courtyard nearly tripping over Alma when she ran right under her legs.
"Watch it, you mangy creature!" Alma spat "That thing probably has fleas."
"Salomé isn't a thing!." Mirabel said in defence of her cat "She's a good cat."
"She nearly tripped me!"
"Make that a VERY good cat then."
Dolores, Camilo and Luisa all chuckled as they pulled Mirabel into another embrace ignoring Alma's glare burning into them, none of them really cared anymore. What was Alma going to do about it? Kick out Camilo and Luisa?
Mirabel glanced over to Alma a grin on her face, oh how pleased Mirabel was. Alma was forced to watch as her two great enemies were in her home and the rest of the family welcomed their return with enthusiasm. The three months in Bogotá were great but this…this made coming back worth it. Just seeing the dismay on Alma's face when she opened the door made coming back completely worth it.
Isabela stood at Alma's side a well practised expression on her face as she watched her sisters and cousins laugh and joke together not one of them even looking in her direction. She had a plan, she just hoped Dolores would let her near Mirabel and that Mirabel wouldn't just go straight for the kill even if did get passed Dolores. She watched as Antonio raced back down the stairs on Parce's back.
"MIRABEL!" Antonio called out happily.
"Yes-" Mirabel turned around letting out a shriek when she saw the jaguar standing behind her.
"Are you scared of Parce, Mirabel?"
"I get…nervous around things that could eat me as a snack and use my bones as toothpicks. That's all."
Antonio frowned for a moment "Parce wouldn't eat you."
Mirabel took another step back "Are you sure you have that thing under control?"
Dolores sighed "Antonio, please keep Parce in your room okay?"
"Oh alright.." Antonio climbed off the jaguars back watching the big cat retreat to his room.
Dolores leaned in to whisper "Really though, Parce is fine. He wasn't going to eat for dinner."
"No he wouldn't, you would be dinner I would just be the appetizer." Mirabel whispered back.
Dolores just shook her head with a chuckle "What am I going to do with you?"
"Love me, feed me, never leave me."
Dolores leaned in to whisper again "And help you destroy the miracle, right?"
Mirabel nodded chuckling "That too."
"Mirabel!" Antonino called out for her holding the plush jaguar "I got your plushie."
"Oh..thanks." Mirabel accepted it smiling.
"We have the rest of your stuff here too." Pepa left the kitchen with a smile "We took it out of the barn to prevent theft."
Dolores nodded "Right, not there would have been much to steal. Just my books and Mirabel's sewing stuff." she shrugged.
"Oh oh!" Mirabel exclaimed in excitement "Speaking of books, I can read now!"
Antonino looked at her confused "Wait….you couldn't read before?"
"No, she couldn't, Antonio." Dolores said gently "Her ruined eyes mean she can't read like you and I can. She needs a special type of book and reads in a special way."
"I don't understand."
"I'll show you later, okay?" Mirabel offered with a grin.
"Okay!"
"Fifteen years old and only just learning to read, that's actually pretty sad." Camilo commented.
Dolores just shot him a glare in response.
"Dinner's ready!" Julieta's voice called out "Come on everyone!"
Mirabel followed Dolores into the dining room crashing into her when she came to a startled stop "Dolores?"
Dolores was staring at the family tree in shock, her image was back alongside Mirabel's "Mirabel? Can you see what I'm seeing? The family tree."
Mirabel squinted "Err…unless you're also seeing smudged together blurry things then no, I'm not seeing what you're seeing."
"Come here." Dolores grabbed Mirabel's hand guiding her over to the wall where the family tree was "Look."
Now Mirabel could see what Dolores was talking about "The family tree…you're back on it."
"Not just me, look again. What do you see?"
"I see…me." Mirabel stared at the image of herself on the wall "I'm a Madrigal again."
"Mirabel." Julieta came up behind the duo "You have always been a Madrigal and you always will be." placing a hand on her daughter's shoulder she continued "I know your road hasn't been easy, but no matter what happens from here on out your family will be in your corner."
Mirabel glanced up at Julieta and then back at her image on the wall frowning at the scars "Is that really what I look like? Is that really what people see when they look at me?"
"Mija, you are beautiful." Julieta said with a smile "And if others can't see that then that's their problem. Now come eat, por favor."
Dolores grabbed Mirabel's arm "Come on hermanita, I'll get you a plate."
Mirabel found herself seated in between Dolores and Julieta, Dolores dishing up a plate and putting it in front of her. She could feel Alma's gaze burning into her as she began to eat. It felt so surreal to be sitting in Casita eating dinner with the family again as she listened to Anotnio's excited chatter firing questions at her and Dolores. She turned her head to once again look at Alma and found her staring right at her "You know, if you actually let me be in family photos you could look at that much as you want and not need to stare at me like some weirdo." she scoffed and took a bite of her food.
Alma frowned "Why did you come back?"
Mirabel rose an eyebrow "Because me staying away would have made you happy, I don't want to make you happy."
Camilo snorted with laughter just giving an innocent smile when Alma turned her angry glare to him.
"So you came back just to annoy me?"
Mirabel rolled her eyes "Are you that full of self-importance? No, I came back because this is where my family is and contrary to what you think, Alma. I love this family, and I just want to see them happy."
"You really expect me to believe that?"
"Just because you use the family, doesn't mean I am. For me personally…it's never been about the magic. All I ever wanted was to be seen as an equal even without a gift."
Alma shook her head "I know what you're plotting girlie."
"Considering how many times I told you, I would hope so."
Alma stood up "Get out! Just get out of my house!" she pointed to Dolores "You too!"
It was Félix that was the first to jump to the first "Alma, they are not doing anything they are just eating dinner, once they are finished they'll be gone again. They've been missing for three months, at least let your own daughters have their moment with their hijas."
Agustín nodded in agreement "Just…ignore each other."
"Please, your voice makes me wish I was deaf as well as blind." Mirabel chuckled.
Alma growled "I really don't like you."
"Feelings mutual don't worry."
Dolores gave Mirabel a slight nudge whispering "She's trying to provoke to prove a point, don't let her get to you. She's a seventy-five-year-old woman picking fights with a fifteen-year-old girl. That says everything."
Mirabel huffed turning back to her food putting a smile on her face "Mamá, did you hear earlier? I learnt how to read. Well, I can only slowly read simple sentences but I'm getting better every day. Dolores and I met a lady in Bogotá who teaches blind people like me to read braille. Braille is like these dot things that form letters and put bunch together and they form words….it's hard to explain but it works. I can read stories just by touching the page."
The whole family minus a frowning Alma and Isabela who was wearing her mask couldn't help but smile at Mirabel's obvious excitement as she rattled on about learning the read.
"That's wonderful, mija. You'll have to show us all sometime, I for one have never heard of a braille book." Julieta beamed at her daughter "You look so well, you both do. I wish I could thank this María and Andrés for treating you both so well."
"We had a wonderful time there." Dolores hummed "We discovered some wonderful things, like radio. It's like this box thing that plays music and stories." she guestered to Mirabel "It blew her mind, she called it a talking box."
"Well I couldn't see it just hear voices coming from it. Besides you were the one who told me it was a box, you misled me." Mirabel laughed.
"True.." Dolores smirked "Oh and television is just the coolest! It's like watching a novel being acted out in front of you all in this box looking thing."
Camilo turned to Mirabel with a smirk "Let me guess, you called that a talking box too?" he chuckled.
"Well what would you call it when you couldn't even see what it was?" Mirabel shot back.
"She asked 'there is people in the people in the box?'" Dolores chuckled earning the laughter of most of the others "Can't blame her though it really was a whole new world with strange new things like automobiles…weird horseless wagon things,"
"Horseless wagons?" Luisa asked "Then how do they move?"
Dolores shrugged "Don't ask me, we rode a bus quite a few times…it's like an automobile…not sure how to describe it so don't ask."
"I wish I could go there…it sounds like…fun." Luisa murmured.
"Don't be ridiculous Luisa, you belong here in the Encanto helping our community not gallivanting around Bogotá." Alma commented "Besides, they refuse to tell anyone how they got out so no one is going anywhere."
"I want to go to Bogotá." Pepa said with a smile "Me, Bruno and Juli were born there after all."
"NO!" Alma cried "It's dangerous out there, that's why me and your padre fled."
Mirabel chuckled "Yes, very dangerous Dolores and I got tortured with our luxury bedroom and free food. Oh and having a bath every single night almost killed me. We barely escaped with our lives."
"It's been fifty years, Mamá." Bruno joined the conversation "From what the girls said, things have changed…I want to go."
"Well, Mirabel and Dolores won't tell anyone how they got out so no one is going anywhere." Alma held a hand up.
"No, we said we're not telling you specifically." Dolores smiled "One day, we plan to take everyone to Bogotá. Ain't that so, Mira?"
"Mhmm. María and Andrés said we and our family are welcome to stay with them anytime, everyone can come." Mirabel pointed her fork at Alma "Expect her, she's not invited."
"Are you purposely trying to rile me up, girl?" Alma narrowed her eyes.
"Yes."
"Why?"
"It amuses me." Mirabel snickered sweetly.
Alma stood up in her chair "I've had enough, GET OUT!"
Mirabel had a smirk on her face "Or what?"
"You have caused nothing but trouble for this family since the day you were born! You only put on your act to fool your mother, but I know you."
Julieta shook her head "Mamá stop it, I love seeing her. You make it sound like she chose to be born premature and sick. And you didn't seem to think it was too much trouble when you sat up night after night making sure she didn't stop breathing."
"Mira was sick as a baby?" Antonio asked.
"Yes, mijo. Mirabel was a very sick baby, that's why she is so small." Pepa smiled softly.
"Oh…I'm sorry Mirabel."
"Wasn't your fault Antonio, it was no one's fault something just went wrong while she was in your Tía's belly."
"Tía's belly?" Antonio looked to Julieta and then to Mirabel "Wait, why was Mirabel in Tía's belly? Where do babies come from anyway?"
Mirabel chuckled "Well you see Anotino when a Mamá and Papá love each other very much they-OW"
Dolores smacked Mirabel across the head "Mirabel, this is not the time or place to tell Antonio about the birds and the bees."
"The birds and bees? What do babies have to do with birds and bees?" Antonio was confused.
"Don't worry about it Antonio." Dolores chuckled.
"Fine, I'll just ask Pico later. He's a bird he would know."
Alma's scowl deepened as soft laughter fell over the table, ugh these two she swears to God…
"Wait wait wait." Camilo raised his hands "Who gave Mirabel 'The Talk'?"
Everyone turned to Julieta who shook her head "Not me."
Dolores cleared her throat and looked down to the table.
"Dolores?!" Julieta exclaimed "What on earth?"
"I'm sorry…I was reading her a book and there was this one scene….and well…I had to explain…"
Camilo snickered "I wish I was there to see Mirabel's face."
"Oh yes, Mirabel's innocence was lost that day." Dolores snickered the others joining in with laughter.
"What is The Talk?" Anotinio asked.
Félix chuckled nervously "Oh, that's for when you're older."
"How much older?"
"When you're Mirabel and Camilo's age, then we'll tell you."
"Okay." that seemed to satisfy Antonio for now.
Mirabel finished her dinner and smiled "I really missed your food, Mamá your cooking just tastes better."
"I'm glad you enjoyed it, mija. It makes me so happy to see you sitting at the table once more eating your fill. You too, Dolores." Julieta smiled at them "If only I knew you would both be here for dinner tonight, I would have made dessert."
Dolores shook her head "Oh the dinner was plenty, thank you." she stood up "And now we hate to dine and leave but…we need to get settled in the barn before it gets too dark."
"Awww." Antonio stuck out his lip "Oh, Dolores. I have your Birthday present, do you want it?"
"Oh yeah….my Birthday…" Dolores looked over to Isabela whose Birthday was a few weeks before hers "Happy Birthday, Isabela…bet you got thrown a grand party."
"Yeah…everyone in the Encanto came…" Isabela looked down at the table "Happy Birthday to you too…" awkward silence fell between the two.
Pepa looked over to Dolores "Don't think we forgot yours, we were in the middle of planning…then you…..disappeared…" she paused "But, now you're back we can have a little celebration. How does that sound?"
Dolores shook her head "No, it's fine…I still got to celebrate with Mira, we had fun. You can just have an extra big celebration next year instead." she chuckled.
"You sure?"
"Yeah, besides….Mirabel didn't get a quinceañera which should be the most important day of a young girl's life, so if you want to do something. Give Mirabel the quinceañera she deserves."
"That's not needed…" Mirabel began.
"Nonsense, Isabela got a quinceañera, I got a quinceañera, Luisa got one…though you didn't get to attend Luisa's quinceañera you were in the barn by that point."
"Thanks for the reminder, and not like I got to actually attend yours or Isabela's either. I got locked in the nursery."
"Anyway point is, every girl in Colombia has a quinceañera…so why shouldn't you get one too?"
Mirabel shrugged "Yeah whatever, does bother me." her voice cracked as she looked down at her empty plate as she tried to stop the tears from forming. She knew they knew she was lying, being denied a quinceañera hurt, it hurt a lot. All she got for her fifteenth Birthday was a gift from Julieta in the form of colourful thread and a single cupcake. Not even Agustín remembered her big day.
Dolores tapped her shoulder "Come on, hermanita. Let's go."
Mirabel sighed and stood up "Feel free to drop by the barn tomorrow, we'll tell you more of our adventures."
Everyone else besides Isabela and Alma stood up and followed the duo out to the courtyard, Alma's gaze following them, with a huff she turned to Isabela "I'm glad you have sense and remain loyal to me."
Isabela just stared longingly after her sister and cousin "Yeah….of course, Abuela…it is nice to see them safe though…now Mamá can stop stressing."
"Yes…indeed." Alma stood up "Come along, Isa. We best see them off otherwise we will never hear the end of it."
Isabela nodded as she followed Alma out into the courtyard where Julieta and Pepa were holding onto their daughters tightly.
A meow drew Alma's attention and she looked down to see Salomé "Hmm…" she picked up the cat holding her up to her face "Uck you probably have fleas or something."
Salomé let out a loud hiss and swiped out with her claws getting Alma across the nose.
"UGH!' Alma dropped the cat "MIRABEL!"
"What?"
"Did you see what your cat just did?"
"No I didn't see, I'm blind remember? I can't see."
Laughter filled the courtyard as Alma watched Salomé scamper back over to Mirabel and be scooped into the girl's arms and scampered up her to her shoulder and started climbing down her back.
"Salomé." Mirabel laughed "What are you doing?"
Camilo grinned and starting singing "A five-foot frame, cats along her back. When she calls your name it all fades to black. Yeah, she sees your dreams and feasts on your screams. We don't talk about Mirabel, no no. We don't talk about Mirabel!"
"Camilo?" Dolores forced a smile.
"Yes?"
"Shut up."
"Aww, I was just having fun we all know that's not true. Mirabel isn't five feet tall..I was being generous she's shorter than that."
"Ha ha ha." Mirabel wasn't amused as she managed to get the cat into the carry sling "How long did it take you to come up with that one?"
"Believe or it or not, I came up with that on the spot."
"Oh, I believe it."
Julieta shook her head smilingly softly "We'll bring your stuff to the barn tomorrow, alright?"
Dolores nodded "Yeah, that's fine we have everything we need for tonight." she grabbed Mirabel's arm and guided her out to where Luisa had hitched the horses for them "I'll return the horses tomorrow, I'll just put them in the paddock next to the barn tonight."
Luisa shook her head "I'll return them, as soon as you get seen with them they'll have you for horse theft."
"We have to give back Reina?" Mirabel asked as she hugged the mare's neck.
"She ain't your horse, Mira." Dolores reminded her "I know you've grown attached to her but-"
"Can you buy her for me?"
"I would but I can't afford a horse, our money is stored in Bogotá.'
Mirabel sighed as she stroked the horse's neck "Well…Reina, it was nice while it lasted."
Pepa rubbed her chin as she pulled Julieta and Agustín into a huddle whispering something the three sending glimpses in Mirabel's direction as Félix and Bruno joined the huddle. Finally, it ended with Pepa nodding and raising her voice to a normal volume "I'll speak with the Señor tomorrow."
Dolores raised an eyebrow in confusion, whatever was going on had something to do with Mirabel. Oh well, guess she'd find out "Come on, Mira." she helped Mirabel onto the horse's back before climbing on in front of her smiling at the family "Well, buenas noches everyone. Come by anytime, just not too early…we been travelling half the day, I want a sleep in."
"Buenas noches!" the family called as Dolores urged the horses into motion.
"Wait! I didn't give Dolores her Birthday gift!" Antonio protested.
"Don't worry, mijo. We are all going to take her our gifts tomorrow…as well as a very late present for Mirabel…provided it goes well tomorrow morning, which it should." Pepa smiled.
"Huh? What are you getting Mirabel?"
Pepa chuckled as she whispered into his ear.
"WOW!" Antonio exclaimed "I know that will make Mirabel super happy!"
"It will, and we owe her ten years of Birthday and Christmas gifts so…we'll go really big for this one. Now run inside and get your bath things ready, I'll be there in a moment."
"Okay!" Antonio happily ran inside and into his room.
Luisa folded her arms with a sigh "So…how long until they figure out what's going on in town?"
"Not long, and boy are they in for a surprise. Mirabel has more people who have her back than she realises." Agustín smiled.
Félix nodded doubling checking Alma had returned indoors, she had "And Alma has fewer people who have her back than she thinks. The tides have turned in Mirabel's favour."
"Well…me and Juli have been talking, spreading some words here and there." Pepa smiled smugly "This has to end…maybe we could all move to Bogotá…build a home and be a family.
"I would like that."
Everyone turned to Isabela in surprise.
"If I'm being honest…I've been looking for the way out of here…I was going to do what Mirabel and Dolores did and run away." Isabela admitted looking to the ground "Not sure where I would've gone but I just wanted to get away from here."
"Isa…" Julieta was shocked.
"I'm just so…tired…of all of this…"
"You're not still going to….run away are you?" Luisa asked worriedly.
Isabela shook her head "No…I know what I have to do to make things right with Mira."
"And how is that?"
"Give her what she wants."
"Which is?
"The candle"
I LIVE
Apologies if the formatting is off, I'm using a new program for writing.
I know I said Mirabel was going to get this candle this chapter but I ended up writing a 6k+ word reunion dinner so that will have to be next chapter, sorry guys. Unless you wanted a 15k+ word chapter.