Alma smiled as she lead Senora Guzman and Mariano into Casita, "Julieta made ajiaco tonight, I understand that it's your favorite."
"It is," Senora Guzman insisted, "That was very thoughtful of you."
"It's just right this way," Alma announced, guiding her towards the dining room, when a shout from the balcony above them caused her to stop.
"Mirabel!" Agustin called out, glancing down at Alma and the Guzmans, "You didn't happen to see Mirabel in town did you?" he questioned, "Julieta wanted me to check to make sure that she was ready for the dinner, and I can't find her anywhere."
Alma silently groaned, leave it to Mirabel to be missing in action and for Agustin to announce it to their guests. She plastered on a smile, before saying, "Why don't you ask Dolores to listen for her," she offered, honestly, if he really wanted to find Mirabel before dinner he should have done that, instead of upsetting their guests. Although, Mirabel had been informed of the family dinner, and if she decided not to attend it was on her.
Dolores poked her head through the dining room door, "Mirabel's still at Senora Silva's shop," she announced, "I think that she forgot about the dinner, though, she offered to stay late to help with a dress order."
Alma nodded, pursing her lips, it wasn't like Mirabel to forget about a family function, "I suppose these things happen," she said, "How long until cena's ready?" she asked.
"Tia has some appetizers ready, to be served in the living room, the ajiaco is about fifteen minutes out," Dolores explained.
Alma nodded, "Good, Why don't you two stay, enjoy the appetizers, and get to know the rest of the family better while I go fetch Mirabel?" she asked, flashing them a warm smile, "I'll be back in time for dinner."
…
Alma entered the shop and looked around, bolts of fabric lined the walls and there were dresses on forms in different levels of completion, and Mirabel sat at the sewing machine, feeding fabric through it at a steady pace.
"I'm sorry, the shop is about to close," a new voice called out from the back room, before Senora Silva appeared, carrying a large bolt of fabric, which she sat on top of the cupboard, "So make it quick okay?"
"Senora," Alma said brightly, "I understand that Mirabel offered to stay late tonight?"
"What's it to you, she's my apprentice, and I decided to keep her an extra hour today. She said that it was fine."
The thrum of the machine died, and Mirabel carefully folded her project before heading toward them, a look of confusion on her face.
"I'm afraid when she agreed to work late she forgot that la familia had plans tonight," Alma turned to face Mirabel, "Don't you remember me telling the family about the Guzmans coming for dinner at breakfast this morning."
Mirabel shrugged, "I figured you would prefer if I stayed out of everyone's way, step aside, that's what you told me yesterday, isn't it." she admitted in a calm cold tone that Pepa used to use right before she brought a tornado down on top of someone.
"You know what," Senora Silva suddenly announced, "I think I'll inventory the back room, she grabbed a clipboard and hurried to the back room, as abuela and nieta stared each other down.
Alma sighed loudly, "Honestly Mirabel, stop this nonsense and come home now, the whole family is waiting for us."
"Oh, I'm sorry," Mirabel muttered, glaring at Alma, "I didn't realize that I'm part of the family again. You really need to announce that, it's really hard to guess."
"What are you talking about?"
"I had an epiphany last night when you and the rest of the family took a family picture without me. It made me realize something. I was trying to do something impossible. No matter what I do, I will never make you proud," her voice trembled, tears spilling from her eyes, her whole body shaking, "I will never fit into your perfect family. So why should I try?"
"Come now… Mirabel… I know that… last night was… hard… and I'm sorry… if something I said… if you misunderstood what I meant… Why don't you come home now, and after the Guzmans leave we can talk this out."
Mirabel glanced at Abuela, before glancing at the door Senora Silva disappeared behind. She took a deep breath, "Misunderstood? Misunderstood? What was I supposed to think when you snapped that picture without me? When you constantly push me to the side? When you dismiss every little thing that I do? When you never smile at me? When you only speak to me when you're scolding me? When you and Isabela can't say one single positive thing about me? And I just misunderstood? I don't think so. I am sick and tired of bending over backwards trying to please you. I'm tired of waking up before the sun's up and going to bed after everyone else making sure that everything is running smoothly. I'm tired of getting yelled at for helping people. I'm sick and tired of being blamed for every wrong deed Isabela does. I'm done with it. I'm done with you, with Isabela, with the familia, and with that stupid candle!"
"I understand that you are upset," Alma said, "But you're only fifteen, you need to think this over, leaving your family is a very serious decision, there are better options."
"Like what? Besides being stuck in the nursery for the rest of my life?"
"You will not be stuck in the nursery for the rest of your life," Alma protested.
"You're right, Isabela and Mariano will need the room for their five babies, then I'll get kicked out."
"That won't happen."
"Then what will happen? Huh, can you answer me that? What will happen when Isabela, Dolores, or Luisa need the nursery for their children and there isn't any room for me?"
"We'll figure something out."
"Oh like when I was five and my door faded away. Or when I was eight and my bed got too small. Or when I was nine and Tia announced she was having a baby. Or when Tio kept walking in on me, or my peers called me a baby or every other time I had a problem with sleeping in the nursery and you promised to figure something out. It's been over ten years, it's just words now. Lies. you're nothing but a liar, and I am done being lied to."
"Mirabel…"
"Tell you what, Senora Silva's offered to take me in for a little while. I'm going to take her up on the offer. You go home and kiss up to the Guzmans and I'll stay here, where I'm appreciated and wanted."
"You're wanted."
"Oh yes, being stuck in the nursery for ten years with a bed that's too small and getting told daily that I'm messing something up, or in someone's way really tells me that I'm wanted," Mirabel snapped, "If you want me to believe that I'm wanted, stop treating me like I'm a waste of space."
Alma blinked in surprise as Mirabel turned on her heels and slipped into the back room, Senora Silva slipping out as if they were doing some sort of tag team against her and it was Senora Silva's turn.
"The shop's closed," the seamstress announced, "I need you to leave so that I can lock up shop."
"Why are you destroying my family? Why are you allowing Mirabel to hurt us like this? I can't let you do this. I can't let Mirabel do this. I don't think you realize how painful it is to have a child turn their back on the family. I can't let that happen to Julieta."
"I'm not destroying your family, all I'm doing is offering a place for Mirabel where she doesn't have to deal with your emotional abuse."
Emotional abuse? What was Senora Silva talking about? She would never abuse Mirabel, or any of the children in any way shape, or form. Right?
Five-year-old Mirabel looked up at her with tears in her eyes, "Did I do something wrong, Abuela?"
"Not right now Mirabel, can't you see the mess I have to clean up."
"Abuela, Abuela look at this!"
"Not now Mirabel, can't you see I'm busy?"
"Mama, Mama look, look, I made it all by myself."
"Can't you see that your madre is busy, go bother someone else."
"Lulu play with me."
"Stop pestering your sister, Mirabel, she has chores to do. Go play by yourself."
"Abuela do you like my skirt, I made it myself?"
"Later Mirabel, can't you see I'm in the middle of something very important."
"Be nice to Mirabel, Mama, tonight's going to be hard on her."
"I figured you would prefer if I stayed out of everyone's way, step aside."
"I didn't realize that I'm part of the family again. You really need to announce that, it's really hard to guess."
" If you want me to believe that I'm wanted, stop treating me like I'm a waste of space."
No matter what I do, I will never make you proud.
…
Alma entered Casita with a sigh, how was she going to explain this to the rest of the family, to Julieta?
Dolores poked her head out of the living room, before stepping out fully, "Abuela," she whispered, "I told the Guzmans that an emergency popped up and that we'll have to reschedule."
"You heard?" Alma demanded as the door opened and the rest of the family poured out.
Dolores gave her a dead look, "Of course I heard, I hear everything."
"Did you tell the others what was going on?" Alma asked straightening her shawl, what damage was she going to have to deal with?
"Not really," Camilo grumbled, "Only that you had a pretty nasty argument with Mirabel."
Alma nodded, "Mirabel has moved out because she feels like she's unwanted. I tried to convince her otherwise, but…" she sighed loudly, shaking her head, "It didn't work."
Julieta gave her a look, "I've always told you that you were too hard on Mirabel."
"I know," Alma said, "The way I treated Mirabel was abusive. I was so focused on what everyone else could do with their gifts, that forgot to notice everything Mirabel could do without one."
"All Mirabel wanted was for you to love her," Antonio insisted, "For you to be proud of her. But you couldn't so she's gone."
"She's only at Senora Silva's," Dolores pointed out, "She hasn't vanished like Tio Bruno, sorry Mami, but she hasn't vanished like him, so there's still a chance. We might be able to prove to her that we do want her. We just need to figure out how."