AUTHOR'S NOTES: I just want to give a heads up that we get a little more background on both the extended Madrigal family as well as slightly touching upon a few of the 'Coffeehouse Mysteries' characters.

Next chapter, we'll be going to the Village Blend in New York so if you haven't read up on the books, I'd advise you do so. I'll try to make things easy to follow if you're new to the Cleo Coyle series.


CHAPTER 2

X

It was well after midnight when the hullabaloo about Matteo's arrival finally died down.

The younger Madrigals (the youngest children to those in their 20's) alternated between asking about life in the United States and showing off their Gifts.

The older adults, however, wanted to know more about Matt's job as a coffee hunter and buyer and what sort of price would be fair for the encanto beans.

As the old grandfather clock in the courtyard chimed one in the morning, Antonio finally shooed everyone off to bed before leading Matt upstairs and towards a glowing door with 'Antonio' written upon it along with his image surrounded by various animals. "My room is a little large, but I think you'll be comfortable enough," Antonio remarked.

But before he could open the door, another, ordinary, door opened and a wizened old woman stepped out.

She leaned heavily on a cane and a dark green shawl hung over her shoulders. Her long, curled hair was twisted into an elegant knot and held in place by a flowered hair comb.

"Not so fast, Tonito," the woman commented before pointing her cane at Antonio. "You didn't tell me you were bringing a special guest."

Straightening up, Antonio rolled his eyes good-naturedly before giving a slight grin as he bowed, formally. "Forgive me, Mira. May I present Matteo Allegro: Coffee Man for the Village Blend in New York and Washington, D.C." Turning to Matt, he finished the introduction. "Matteo, this is Madrigal matriarch, Abuela Mirabel Madrigal."

"Ahh!" Mirabel exclaimed, recoiling as though she had heard something offensive. Elbowing Antonio hard in the ribs, she retorted, "You are the one who delights in that title, Antonio. Being called 'Abuela' makes me feel old."

Antonio couldn't help laughing as he crossed his arms, leaning against the doorframe. "You're 10 years older than me, remember?"

"Hmmm..." Mirabel murmured, leaning on her cane as she studied Matteo intensely. "I understand you want our Encanto coffee beans for your daughter's engagement." Narrowing her eyes as she straightened up, she asked, "Why do you feel that your daughter deserves something so special?"

The question caught Matt off guard but after a moment to consider how to respond - he doubted that Mirabel wanted to hear about the various dramas between himself and NYPD Sergeant Emmanuel Franco - he finally replied, "You have to understand that I can't talk about Joy without talking about my mother and ex-wife."

"Oh?" Mira said, cocking her head slightly.

Matt nodded, trying to explain as best he could. "Joy has... She's had plenty of struggles and she's made her share of mistakes... even copying a few of my worst ones. But she's learned and grown... and she's strong. Not just physically, but she's... resilient. She's taken all of the hardships life has given her and she's looked at them as opportunities. And while a lot of that is her... there's plenty that has come from my mother and my ex-wife, Clare."

There was an appraising smile on Mirabel's face as she exchanged a look with Antonio. "We like strong women who can rise above adversity, don't we, Tonito?"

"I'm looking at one right now," Antonio agreed with a smirk.

"Tomorrow, we should talk more about the shops you work for," Mirabel decided. "I think that our coffees would find a perfect home at the Village Bend."

After bidding goodnight to Mirabel, Matt finally followed Antonio into his bedroom, his jaw dropping as he saw the man's rainforest room. "This is...? This is all real?"

"As real as I am," Antonio assured him. "There's hammocks or there's the bed... your choice. Casita moved your things over to that corner by the bookcase."

"I'll - I'll take the bed, if that's alright," Matt replied, sitting down on the mattress and kicking his shoes off, watching in astonishment as the floorboards moved them next to his backpack and knapsack.

"Suit yourself, Coffee Man," Antonio replied, pointing to a door to the left. "The bathroom is through there. Don't be alarmed if you hear growling, though. Tempest - my jaguar friend - she likes to stash her cubs in the bathtub overnight."

All Matt could do was nod as he watched Antonio head towards one of the hammocks, hopping nimbly into it and settling down for the night.

It was a while before Matt's thoughts finally allowed him to get to sleep.


"Buenos manana, Coffee Man," a gentle, lyrical voice rang out as the door to Antonio's room opened up, revealing a woman in her mid 30's. Her curly hair was in a ponytail which hung over her left shoulder and while her color-splashed top had a very traditional style to it, her jeans and sneakers were very modern.

Matt sat up, looking over at the alarm clock sitting on the nightstand and marveled that he'd actually slept in. "Sorry. I didn't mean to sleep so late."

"No hay problema, senor," the woman replied with a smile, watching as Matt got dressed and pulled on his shoes. "I just didn't want you to miss breakfast." Taking a step towards the visitor, she held out her hand. "I'm Antonio's daughter, Amelia, by the way."

Shaking Amelia's hand, Matt's brain ran through the family members he'd been introduced to the previous day. "You're Alma's twin sister, right?" he asked, unable to resist kissing Amelia's hand.

"She's named after our Bisabuela Alma," Amelia confirmed. "Although, she has our Gran Tio Bruno's Gift."

There was an intoxicating aroma of cinnamon, vanilla, and pine surrounding Amelia and Matt suddenly found it hard to concentrate while in the woman's presence. "Ahhh... You said something about breakfast?" he said quickly, heading for the door.

x

Given the beautiful spring morning, Matt wasn't surprised that the Madrigals had chosen to open up the side doors and extend the dining area to the expansive patio where numerous tables were set up. There didn't seem to be any special assigned seating and after filling his plate and getting a cup of coffee, he found Antonio sitting at a table near the house with Alma, Viola, and Viola's mother, Olivia.

"Happy birthday," Matt said to Viola who was practically bouncing in her seat.

"Olivia is Samuel's wife," Antonio explained, his smile wavering ever so slightly.

"It's okay, Abuelo," Olivia assured him, putting a hand on her grandfather's forearm. "Sam just... He couldn't handle being ordinary. And I while I hate that he doesn't want to be involved in this part of our daughters' lives - or mine, for that matter - that's his choice."

"Tonight, Olivia's other daughter, Carmen, will tell the story of how the Madrigals came to Encanto and how we founded Rio Suenos," Antonio added, sipping his own coffee.

"You said that she was quite the storyteller," Matt noted, remembering the conversation the previous day. Taking his first sip of coffee, he closed his eyes, letting out a sigh of utter bliss. Trying to pinpoint all the flavor nuances, he found that it seemed to change with each imbibement. Sometimes there was an almost floral note. Others, there was a richness to it that was almost buttery. But there was a hint of chocolate as well... Or was that molasses? Opening his eyes suddenly, he looked down at his cup, shocked to discover that it was empty.

Alma quickly went to retrieve one of the numerous insulated coffee pots and refilled Matt's cup, smiling politely. "Esta bien, Hombre Cafe," she replied, sitting down again and taking a bite of an arepa con queso. "It happens to everyone the first time."

Once breakfast was over and the majority of the Madrigals began preparations for the evening's festivities, Mirabel found Matteo and led him to the library where the two sat down in a pair of armchairs. Mirabel leaned back, smiling as she considered the coffee hunter and after a moment, she prompted, "Last night, I asked you why you thought that your daughter is worthy of the coffees we grow here." Leaning forward slightly, she went on. "Now, I would like to know why you feel the Village Blend is worthy of our beans." Catching Matt's would-be confused expression, she wagged a finger at him, smirking as she did so. "I may be an old woman, but I am no fool, Senor Allegro. You would not venture all this way... trek to a valley you had never been to, with a guide you knew nothing about... if you were only after a present for your daughter. You want to sell our coffees in the United States, don't you?"

Matt nodded, leaning forward as well as he spoke. "A... We'll call him an associate - Eric Thorner... He has promised that whatever price you want for the beans... he'll cover it. And as for the beans themselves, the Village Blend - Well, my ex-wife - will be doing the roasting."

"I see," Mirabel mused, leaning back once more. "I am aware of Mr. Thorner's reputation and wealth. If I like the answer to my first query, the beans are yours."

Matt didn't need much time to think about his response and he sat up as he gave a brief history of the Blend before elaborating. "It's more than just a family legacy. It's part of the community. It's... It's like the Encanto, really." When Mirabel gave him an intrigued look, he became even more animated as he went on. "The Village Blend is part of the community and just about everyone in the States knows about it in one way or another. We're a family there, and we welcome those with a passion for helping others and their own unique gifts."

The corner of Mirabel's mouth tweaked in a smile at the phrasing and she gave Matt a silent 'go on' nod.

"Tucker Burton is the energy and heart," Matt replied after a moment. "He's one of the best baristas I've ever seen, next to Esther Best. Both of them are performers in addition to working at the Blend. Dante Silva is a painter. Nancy loves helping anyone. She does a lot of volunteer work. And at the Village Blend, D.C., Gardner is a jazz musician. We all seem different, with different talents, but we're family," he reiterated.

Mirabel was silent for a moment or two, but finally, she stood up, holding out a hand. "Senor Allegro, you give me the contact information for Eric Thorner... and I will give you our coffee beans."

Matt stood up as well, shaking the matriarch's hand and grinning as he imagined Clare's face when she first tried the coffee..


Sitting out on the front lawn of the estate that evening, surrounded by the Madrigal family and assorted friends and relatives, Matt watched Carmen stand before everyone and after a brief pause, she began her tale.

"Well over a century ago, Alma and Pedro Madrigal fled their home with their infant children in search of safety..."

As the young lady spoke, it was as if someone had turned on a massive 3-D projector...

But it was more than just images...

Matteo was wholly immersed in watching Pedro and Alma's courtship, their marriage... and their exodus from the town they'd grown up in. He could feel their fear as they were pursued by the bandits meaning to kill them and Matt even felt tears sliding down his face as he watched Alma grieve for her slaughtered husband, clutching her children tightly to her.

As he considered Alma's strive for perfection and serving the community, he couldn't help but be reminded of his own mother - a woman who had also lost everything dear to her as she fled a Nazi-occupied Paris, France.

But while Alma strived to hold on to the past to protect the future, 'Madame' Blanche Dreyfus Allegro Dubois had opened her heart to change, and the lack of isolation had strengthened her as she grew the community she'd found herself in.

Alma hadn't known what lay on the other side of the mountains and she feared for everyone inside if they were invaded.

It was incredible how two women could be so similar, and yet so different...

As Carmen spoke of the casita falling apart and the miracle being broken, Matt again felt tears in his eyes as he saw Alma finally telling Mirabel of their true past and admitting her culpability in the loss of the magic.

Just like when Matt had finally confessed to Clare that it was ultimately his fault that their marriage had failed.

Seeing the Madrigals rebuild themselves and grow stronger with each generation, Matt could only marvel at the strength and love that everyone had for one another. And it was strange, but even Samuel's bitterness began to make more sense. How could he be part of something greater than himself when he felt so much less than his family?

When Carmen finished with a haunting rendition of the song 'Dos Oruguitas', Matt couldn't help getting to his feet and offering the teenager a standing ovation - something that was soon followed by everyone else.

After several minutes of applause, Mirabel approached her granddaughter, giving her a hug before gesturing Viola forward. "Tonight, little Viola turns 5 years old, and with that first milestone, takes her first steps towards becoming who she is meant to be. Our family's Gifts are a blessing bestowed to help them grow and blossom. But they cannot define us. Who we are on the outside may differ from who we are on the inside, but no matter what Gift Viola receives - or doesn't receive - she will always be a celebrated member of La Familia Madrigal!"

Taking Viola's hand, Mirabel walked her into the house while the family followed behind.

"You, too," Amelia whispered to Matt, taking his arm and leading him to the courtyard and onto the stairs leading to Viola's glowing door.

As Matt watched Viola walk up to her door, he couldn't help but pick up on her nervousness and when the little girl turned to her family for courage, he was smiling right along with everyone else as they tried to reassure her that it would all be okay.

Touching the glowing doorknob, Viola gasped as the door glowed brighter and after a moment, she giggled before turning into an exact replica of her abuela.

Antonio let out a loud, boisterous laugh as he picked her up, giving her a big hug before turning to the crowd and hollering, "She has the same Gift as mi hermano!"

"Camilo died just last month," Amelia quietly explained to Matt. "Usually if a Gift is repeated, it's while the original recipient is still alive and can teach the next bearer."

"Samuel thought he was going to get that Gift, didn't he?" Matt murmured, thinking about the cafe owner. "He and Camilo were close?"

"Practically inseparable for years," Amelia confirmed, nodding, sadly. "But Samuel grew up and he began to resent Camilo for 'passing him over'. Even though the Gifts don't work that way," she added as they headed downstairs where some of the villagers were helping set out party food.

x

While the celebration for Viola carried on and the other children explored their friend and cousin's new room, Alma slipped away and headed towards her own room. Going into her vision chamber, she lit the candle set in front of the framed picture of her Gran Tio Bruno before setting up the vision circle just as he'd taught her.

Matteo Allegro's arrival had triggered a brief involuntary vision but now, having seen how her sister was flirting with the coffee hunter, she needed to see the full future that awaited the two of them.

Clearing her mind, Alma waited until her Gift began to fill her before asking the question, "Is Matteo Allegro destined to be my husband... or Amelia's?"

The sand swirled around her and her eyes glowed green as the vision played out...

Matteo dancing with Amelia before joining Alma, the two sipping wine as they spoke of love lost...

Matt looking sorrowful as he prepared to leave until Abuela Mirabel and Antonio gave their blessing for Alma to go with him...

Amelia joining them, excited for the chance to learn about America and grow her coffee plants in New York...

Amelia meeting a young artist with a shaved head who looked at her like a priceless painting...

The twins overcome with joy as they married their true loves, finally finding perfect happiness...

The vision ended and as Alma tilted the emerald plate, tears slid down her cheeks as she saw herself and her sister in wedded bliss...

"Thank you, Tio Bruno," Alma whispered, getting to her feet and brushing the sand off of her clothes. "Thank you for my Gift..."

X