A/N: Edited 7/6/22 for spelling and grammar. This is SO LONG and I'm sorry but I also just wanted you to have all the fluff so here it is.

Chapter 24

It began with a tamale.

Several tamales, actually.

She didn't realize it then, but later on - Lucía would pinpoint that simple tamale as being the turning point in her relationship with Bruno Madrigal.

Lucía had just put the finishing touches on Josefina's braids (today her hair was parted down the middle and her two thick braids hung straight down; it had been a long week and Lucía was running out of steam.) On the first day of La Feria de Las Flores, they'd both worn the traditional dresses and elaborate braids and up-dos that most women wore for the festival. Today, Josefina wore her second favorite dress – a pretty indigo dress with black detailing that spun out when she twirled. Lucía had also worn her best outfit the past two days - but after helping Selena last evening, didn't have the time or energy to wash it. Today, she wore a simple off-the-shoulder dress. It was a soft olive green, the ruffles off her shoulders slowly fading to a more sage green color. It had yellow-gold accents along the edges of the ruffles and along her waist and the bottom hem. Honestly, it was more comfortable and much less voluminous than the outfits she'd worn the past few days and she was looking forward to enjoying the day in it.

"All done, mi fresita," she sighed as Josefina danced away, performing pirouettes in the courtyard. She hadn't yet had time to braid her own hair, and it cascaded down around her shoulders and kept getting in her face. She hated her hair in her face. Or more specifically, in her mouth. Sofia always asked why she didn't just cut it off, then. But if she cut it short, it would be in her face all the time. At least when her hair was long, she could tie it up and away.

She was running a brush through it when Josefina suddenly exclaimed "Don Bruno! Buenos días, Bruno!"

Lucía turned to see him letting himself in to the courtyard gate, and her brush paused halfway through its stroke. Something turned over in her chest at the sight of Bruno Madrigal smiling down at Josefina, complimenting her on her dress and hair and nodding seriously when she demonstrated a twirl for him. He was…different, today. A warmth spread from her chest outward, radiating to her toes and fingertips and up to the top of her scalp. It settled like an invisible glow over her and would stay there for the rest of the day.

He wore the new ruana Mirabel made for him – he'd worn it to the opening ceremony and then switched back to his older one for the next few days - and she could tell that today, underneath, he had on a newer shirt. It was a deeper burgundy than the old one – his old one had probably originally been that shade and faded as it aged. She could tell he also had on a new pair of pants and…actual shoes. He had his curly hair slicked back into a short ponytail, the ends of it still curly. Although she'd seen it tied back many times while working or rehearsing together, and he'd worn it up during their performances – there was something – something - in the angle of his jaw or his neatly trimmed beard or his bright eyes or his gentle smile that made her brain malfunction for a moment.

"Hey, you're all dressed up too! You look handsome! And you brought breakfast. What – oh! Tamales! Mamá, Don Bruno brought us tamales for breakfast! Can I have some?" Josefina ran back to Lucía to beg.

It took her a moment to shake herself out of her stupor. "Ah – sí, sí, of course, mi amor. Mi amorita. If they really are for us…?" She looked to him in question.

He was looking at her with a strange expression on his face, but he smiled and it disappeared. "Oh – of course. I – uh – I knew you helped Señorita de León with the murales last night. I thought – you might want – something easy for breakfast."

Josefina relieved him of the bag and took it to the table. Lucía quickly finished brushing and braiding her hair, winding it up into a bun on the back of her head and pinning it in place. She felt a slight flush rise in her cheeks as she sensed Bruno's eyes on her. She'd braided her hair in front of him before. But again – something felt different about it today. More…intimate.

"Gracias, Bruno," she smiled brightly as she finished, attempting to push the foggy feeling of confusion away. "That's a lovely surprise. They smell delicious."

He shrugged and looked away. "You – ah - you told me once, they were your favorite."

Lucía blinked. "The tamales with the little peas and carrots and potatoes and pork?"

"Sí, Mamá!" Josefina called as she unfolded the banana leaf from her tamale and grabbed several forks from the drawer. "Abuelo!" She yelled suddenly, facing the stairs and the upper floor. "Breakfast! Don Bruno brought tamales!"

Lucía sat down at the table, pulled out a banana leaf – and sure enough, there was her favorite tamale. She felt Bruno sit beside her and she looked to him. She searched his face as he smiled at her and she blinked back at her plate in wonder.

Something was different.

"Are – ah - did I get it wrong?" Bruno asked nervously.

"What? No! They're perfect!" She cut into it with her fork, stabbed a piece, and it practically melted when she put it on her tongue. Her eyes widened. "Wow. They really are perfect. Gracias."

He smiled and flushed and looked away.

She looked down at her tamale and finished eating it as her Papá and Josefina walked back in. Papá squeezed Bruno's shoulder in thanks as he walked around the table to sit. "Eh, what have we here? Tamales? Mmmm, delicious! Gracias, Bruno."

Once again, he shrugged away the praise, though a pleased smile twitched at his lips.

When they'd finished eating, Bruno rubbed his hands nervously on his pants and asked if there was anything she needed or wanted to do today, before their final performance.

"I want to go shopping!" Josefina announced. "I want to see those little – those little things again. You know? That move? I counted out my money and I don't have enough to buy one but I thought maybe I'll save up all my money and next time we have a festival if that man is here, I'll buy one. I really like the little mouse. It has little wheels Mamá – and bumps all over the place - you've seen it. Have you seen the little wind-up mouse, Bruno? It's so cute! And then maybe - "

Bruno chuckled nervously. "Actually, I was – I was going to offer to stay here with you, in case your Mamá wanted to go…do something on her own."

Josefina's shoulders drooped and her mouth fell open. "What?!"

Lucía blinked, surprised at the offer. The truth was, Lucía felt a little disappointed that she had not yet been able to enjoy the festival as she did last year. Last year was the first year she'd felt enough like herself again after Alejandro's death to somewhat enjoy it. And last year was the first year Josefina had been old enough to run off with her older primos while Lucía shopped and ate and browsed the contest winners with Sofia. And in the evenings, the children ran around the town square with pinwheels and ribbons and flowers while she danced with her Papá and Lorenzo and most of Lorenzo's brothers. She realized she hadn't danced at all yet, at this year's festival. She enjoyed dancing, but they'd been busy with the play and the consequences she'd put in place for Josefina were as much a punishment to her as they were to her daughter. She'd been so preoccupied with keeping an eye on her daughter that she hadn't really…enjoyed much of the festival herself. Perhaps tonight Josefina could dance with her Abuelo and Tío while she danced, as well.

"I could stay with Josefina while you two go out," Papá said casually. "If you prefer. I do have some certificates to print for the contest winners."

"What?!" Josefina frowned and squeaked again in protest.

Papá raised his eyebrows at her. "Last time I checked, mi fresita, it hasn't been a week, yet. But you can help me. Little Señorita Elena won for biggest produce this year. Did you see the size of that watermelon?! It was a big as you, Josefina!""

Josefina pouted. "I know," she grumbled under her breath. "But it's the festival!"

Lucía gave her a sympathetic look. "Sí, Josefina. It is. And sometimes the consequences of our actions mean that we miss out on exciting things. Lo siento, I know it is not fun. But as I said, there will be other festivals." She moved around the table to crouch before Josefina. "I think I'd like to dance tonight," she said quietly. "Perhaps, if you help Abuelo with the certificates now, later you can stay up a little later and dance with us."

Bruno was suddenly very still.

Josefina contemplated the offer. "Okay," she sighed, resigned. "I'll help. But I can dance later?"

Lucía nodded, smiling at her daughter. "As long as you stay where you can see me - and I can see you – we can dance tonight. For a little while."

Josefina hugged her. "Okay. Deal." She hopped down from her chair. "Abuelo, let's get printin'!"

Señor Hernandez chuckled and allowed her to lead him out of the kitchen, leaving Lucía alone with Bruno. She made quick work of cleaning up the dishes.

"I guess I have the morning free!" She smiled as she washed the forks. "That – that doesn't happen often. It feels strange to think of leaving Josefina behind during the festival. Even if it's just for a few hours. But I guess – that's how grounding works, isn't it. Anyway." She frowned and shook her head. "Is there anything you'd like to see? We can -" Lucía said, wiping her hands on a towel and turning back around to Bruno. He was still stuck there at the table, scrunching and unscrunching his ruana in his fists. His cheeks were pink.

"Bruno? Are you okay? Lo siento – did you want to stay with Josefina? If you'd prefer to stay here - "

"What? No…" he said, and then seemed to shake himself out of whatever was bothering him. "No. I mean – I'd love to. I like spending time with Josefina. But I was just – I was just trying to help. But – I can – I can stay. Or go home. If you want time to yourself."

"Oh - " Lucía felt strangely disappointed. "Whatever you want to do is fine. You can stay here – Josefina would be thrilled. Or go home, if you want to. Or…you could come with me." She said it nonchalantly, but she was really hoping he wanted to go with her. She wanted his company.

He brightened considerably. "You don't mind if I go with you?"

She smiled. "Of course I don't mind. Have you seen Elena's watermelon? I'd think she had some sort of magical plant-related gift if I didn't know better."

They walked through the streets, shoulder to shoulder, and Bruno watched her exclaim over the lines of produce and rows of flowers, waiting to be presented with their ribbons and certificates. He smiled at her smiles and listened attentively to her talk.

Today was a gift.

And he didn't want to miss a moment of it.

This morning, his sobrinas had ambushed him as soon as he came out of his bedroom, all eager eyes and wide smiles and laughter. Mirabel claimed they couldn't get ready for the day until they could relax knowing he was ready for his final performance...and perhaps a dance or two later in the evening. With his sobrinas, of course. And any other ladies he chose to dance with. Mirabel winked at him in the most un-subtle way possible and he laughed.

He groaned and complained good-naturedly as they poked and prodded and styled his hair and cajoled him into the best outfit he owned. He relished the way Isabela suggested Dolores borrow one of her necklaces for the day, the way Luisa suggested Isabela wear her hair up and offered to try doing it for her, and the way Dolores insisted Mirabel wear her earrings; their conversation was peppered with hugs and teasing and excited giggles. His little niñas had come so far and grown so much, and he basked in the warm glow of their affection for him and for each other.

When they were done, Dolores leaned toward him conspiratorially. "Señora Moreno and her family are just waking up," she said quietly. "There's lots of stalls open selling breakfast already. Just…a thought."

It took him a full ten minutes of internal debate before he decided that he could buy her and her family breakfast, that it wouldn't be weird – Lucía fed him all the time and Sofia was always trying to feed him whenever she saw him, too - and he thought if he offered to spend time with Josefina so Lucía could get out on her own for a while it would distract from the fact he'd chosen Lucía's favorite breakfast treat.

And somehow, they'd ended up here, together, in the sunshine and light breeze on the last 'big' day of the festival. Tonight would be the biggest celebration of the week by far. There would be dancing well into the night. Sunday was a more relaxed day – vendors would be mostly cleaned up, and Padre Tomás would host a later mass focused on giving thanks, and then the festival would end in the evening with a fireworks display.

They stopped to try some churros and fresh-squeezed jugos. Bruno got a limonada de coco and Lucía ordered a lulo cholado; hers was so thick and icy the vendor gave her a spoon to eat it with. (1) The sat against a small stone wall along a storefront and enjoyed their treats. Bruno was surprised when she held out her cup to him.

"It's good," she said enthusiastically. "I haven't had cholado in a long time. Do you want to try it?"

He hesitantly took the cup from her hand and stirred the cholada with the spoon. "You don't mind?" He asked. There was only one spoon. It made his cheeks feel warm to think of eating after her.

"No, why would – oh. You don't have to, if it makes you uncomfortable. But…I don't mind." Now she wouldn't meet his eyes, and he couldn't tell if he'd embarrassed her or not. He didn't want to embarrass her.

"No, it's fine!" He took a big scoop and put it in his mouth, but it was thicker and icier than his limonada de coco, and his eyes widened as he swallowed and coughed at the sudden spike of cold in his mouth.

Lucía covered her mouth with her hand, her eyes laughing. "Lo siento, you're not supposed to take such a big bite! Here, take a bite of churro, it will warm your mouth up."

She held out the churro to him and he did as she said, and sighed in relief as the sharp frozen sensation on the roof of his mouth ebbed away. "Yeah…think I'll stick with this, thanks." He held up his drink.

He paused a moment. "Do…you want to try it?"

"…okay." She leaned forward and sipped from the straw, and the tartness made her tongue tck on her teeth when she was done. She shivered and grinned. "Ooh! It's sour!"

He laughed. "It only tastes sour because yours is full of sugar. If you'd had this first, it wouldn't taste so sour."

She raised an eyebrow and was about to respond, when a voice called out to her from nearby.

"Lucía? Lucía!"

She looked around until she spotted someone in the crowd. "Ana? Raquel?" A small smile of surprise bloomed on her lips, but there was also tension in her eyes.

Bruno followed her eyes to two women who pressed through the crowd, mochilas bulging with trinkets and drinks in their own hands. One was tall and lean, with dark skin and her hair wrapped in a red scarf. She wore a flowing red sundress with yellow piping, and she was grinning. The one behind her was shorter, but still taller than him, with pin-straight sandy brown hair pulled back into a bun and lots of freckles across her pale skin. She wore a blue dress that made her blue eyes pop, but her face was guarded and she didn't smile.

"Lucía! Girl, you look gorgeous! Look at you! That shade of green looks amazing on you! It's good to see you out and about. How's Josefina?" The taller woman in the red dress looked around, her expression changing to one of concern. "Where is Josefina?"

Lucía stood and offered a tentative embrace to both of them, patting their shoulders hesitantly. "It's so good to see you both. Josefina is at home with my father. She's – ah – she's still experiencing the consequences of her actions. From – ah - "

"-running away Monday morning and scaring us all to death?" The sandy brown-haired one asked wryly.

"Um – yes." Lucía blushed. "She's – ah – she's been – I've been keeping her close all week, but – um - " her eyes slid to Bruno and her face lit up. "Oh! Bruno! These are my old friends, Ana," she nodded to the woman with the red scarf, "and Raquel," she nodded to the brown-haired woman.

"Ana, Raquel, this is my - " Friend seemed inadequate, but – that's what he was. " – my good friend, Bruno Madrigal." The two women nodded politely.

Lucía's expression temporarily froze on her face as she contemplated exactly what Bruno was to her. She knew she loved him dearly – she'd felt a warm affection for him ever since she caught him muttering thank-yous to Itziar after bringing Mirabel home, and it had only grown as she got to know him better. She could even readily admit she adored him. How could she not, when he'd brought her daughter home and inspired her to finish her story and made her laugh and brought her tamales?

Something faint and urgent pressed into her heart and whispered in the back of her mind, but she brushed it away with an uneasy smile and refocused on the people around her. He was her friend, he was Bruno - and that was that.

...Right?

"…welcome back," Ana was saying kindly, and Raquel gave him a small smile.

Bruno gave them a little wave and a small sound that might have been 'hola.'

"Do you want to walk with us and catch up a bit?" Ana asked, threading her arm through Lucía's. Her eyes widened and she pulled back again. "Or are we interrupting a date?" She lifted an eyebrow and looked between Bruno and Lucía. Raquel sighed.

"Ana - " Raquel chastised, but she sounded more bored than anything -

"No!"

"…no…"

Bruno reassured them quickly. Lucía's 'no' overlapped Bruno's, but it wasn't nearly as vehement. She blinked.

"I mean, we're friends. Good friends," Bruno clarified after an awkward pause. He rubbed his arm and gave her a quick look of gratitude and affection. None of them missed it. "She saved me."

When Ana and Raquel turned to him, confusion on their faces – and even Lucía turned to him in surprise – he blushed and stammered. "Uh - no - I mean – she helped me save Mirabel. Not that Mirabel needed saving, exactly. But I – found her. And brought her back. And I wouldn't have been able to do that - without - wihtout - Lucía. She helped me. By letting me borrow Itziar."

Ana burst out laughing and Bruno looked uncomfortably to Lucía, who gave him an uneasy smile. Before she could explain, Ana did herself.

"Lo siento!" Cried Ana, as Raquel rolled her eyes. "It's not you! It's Itziar! I heard that she'd brought Mirabel back but – I couldn't believe it! It's true?" She looked to Lucía for confirmation, and Lucía nodded.

"I never thought I'd see the day that horse earned her keep. Raquel and I used to hang around the stables with Lucía, back when Sofia and Lorenzo were just starting out, and Itziar was a little filly," Ana explained to Bruno. "Lucía's always had a soft spot for Itziar, but we all know she's a handful. I'm impressed! And you rode her to find Mirabel?"

Bruno nodded.

"Then I'm even more impressed it only took you the night to find her and get back home. It once took me an entire day to get her from one side of the Encanto to the other." Ana beamed at him. "Good for you, Bruno Madrigal." She leaned forward. "I also heard about what you did for Señora Ruiz. And little Marisol. Good for you." She repeated.

"Ah – gracias." Bruno tugged on the collar of his ruana.

"You hosted the Madrigals, too, didn't you? After the house fell." Asked Raquel in a monotone voice, directing her question to Lucía.

"Oh. Sí," Lucía said, her smile still wide but uncertain.

"Glad you seem to be doing better now." Raquel said flatly and looked away.

Lucía's smile fell away. "Raquel - "

"It's fine." She said. "I understand. Things are different now. You have new friends." Her eyes flicked to Bruno.

"Raquel - " Ana gave her friend a warning look.

"I'm not mad," Raquel insisted. She crossed her arms and looked at the ground. "But I have missed you," she admitted gruffly.

There was silence for a split second, and then -

"Oh, Raquel!" Ana cried, throwing her arms around her and pulling her tight. "You finally admitted it?! I'm so proud of you!"

"Oh, get off." Raquel's voice was irritated, but she didn't attempt to move away from Ana's embrace. In fact, she leaned into it a little bit.

"Ana." Lucía's voice was strained. "Raquel. I'm – lo siento. I'm so sorry I pushed you away. It wasn't your fault, it wasn't anything you did. Sometimes – sometimes grief makes you blind to things. I - I was so overwhelmed, and I couldn't – I - I know – things are different. Things will never be the same. And I can't change that. And I'm sorry I hurt you."

Raquel's mouth pulled up at one corner, and she moved apart from Ana, just a bit. Lucía took that as her cue to join the embrace, and Ana squeezed the life out of her as she joined.

To her surprise, so did Raquel. "I don't blame you," she said quietly. "I can't imagine what it felt like. But it was stupid to push us away. You kept avoiding us, and we only wanted to help."

"I know," Lucía said, and her heart sank with guilt. "I know. I'm sorry. Can you forgive me?"

Raquel held her at arm's length, apprising. "Sí. But you have to start coming to Thursday nights again."

Lucía grinned. "You still do that?"

Raquel rolled her eyes. "Duh."

"Okay." Lucía nodded. "Deal."

"Um - " Bruno moved slightly, and the three women looked over to him. He stood and shifted uncomfortably on his feet. "I'm just – gonna go. To – ah – let you all catch up. Thanks – thanks for the morning, Lucía. I really enjoyed it. I - "

Lucía broke away from her friends, concern on her face. "You don't have to do that," she insisted. "We - "

"Oh, we've got places to be," Ana dismissed with a wave of her hand. "Now that we've secured Lucía's solemn promise to join us again on girls' nights, we'll catch up with her then. You two enjoy your day. Oh! And by the way – great performance." Her eyes sparkled at Bruno and Lucía. "That little rat play of yours is going down in history as a classic. You do realize you're gonna have to perform it every year now? My kids can't stop talking about it. They've seen both performances and they're going to the last one today as well."

"Really?" Lucía paused in surprise. "Ángel and Enrique love it?" They were thirteen now. She'd have thought they were too cool or too grown up to enjoy it.

"Really." Ana's smile faltered for a minute. "You should come see them sometime. They've been helping their padre in the shop so they haven't gone to any story times, but…"

"I've missed them too. I'm so sorry, Ana."

Ana just shook her head. "It's all good, chica. Just come back to us once in a while, okay? I'm tired of getting my updates from Sofia in the middle of the marketplace."

Lucía nodded. "Okay. Next Thursday."

"My house," Raquel stated. "Six o'clock. Don't be late." She looked to Bruno and gave him an appraising look. "You look nice." She flashed a glance between him and Lucía. "Cute, actually. Can I have him if you don't want him?" Her tone was still flat and serious.

Bruno immediately turned bright red and stammered and Lucía's mouth dropped open. Her mouth moved for a moment, but no sound came out.

The tiniest of mischievous smirks appeared on Raquel's face. "See? Cute."

Ana laughed. "Leave them alone, Raquel. Let's see if we can find you a nice man from San Cristobál. That vendor with the scarves I liked seemed to have an eye for you." She began pulling Raquel back into the crowd.

Raquel rolled her eyes. "He had an eye for my money." She looked over her shoulder, her expression deadpan. "And maybe I prefer my men short and sweet."

Bruno made a strangled sound in the back of his throat as the two women disappeared.

Lucía laughed nervously. Her entire world had just – gone off-kilter, somehow. "Lo siento, Bruno. Raquel does that to everyone. She flirts – well, sort of. She likes to see people squirm. But not – not in a bad way. She's actually – she's got a weird sense of humor and she acts tough but she's the most sensitive out of all of us, I think. And she didn't mean it. Well," she rushed, her eyes widening in panic. "I mean, she probably did mean that you're cute, because you are, but – ah - "

Bruno ducked his head, and Lucía giggled. She felt relieved, somehow, that Bruno didn't immediately show interest Raquel. She'd have felt – huh. She wasn't sure how she'd have felt if he'd been interested in her friend. She actually - she'd never - she'd never really thought of Bruno being interested in anyone. Something twisted in her stomach, and she flattened her hand over it and frowned. She shouldn't be so…possessive. Maybe Josefina's incident Monday had made her particularly clingy with everyone.

Bruno looked at her and laughed sheepishly. "They're – ah – they're really – um - "

Lucía's smiled in relief and shook the feeling away. "They're really something," she said with affection.

Her gaze turned distant as she absent-mindedly picked her cholado back up and stirred it. It had melted a lot as they were talking. "Um…we still have – an hour before I need to get back to Josefina. I want to have lunch with her so she can walk with us to the performance. Is there anything else you wanted to see or do before we go?"

She hesitated. "Not that you have to come back with me, you might need to - "

Bruno shook his head and collected his cup as well. "Nope. I'm free for the day. Except for the performance, of course. And – the rats. I've got to go collect them before it. But - I've spent the past few days with my familia. It was – it was great to spend time with them, but – ah – they're all – doing their own thing today."

"Oh. Okay. Then – is there something you wanted to see?"

Bruno thought for a moment. "Actually…there is."

"Bruno, you really don't have to do this," Lucía said, but she was smiling.

"I know. But I want to." He replied simply, studying the small mechanical toys in front of them with a serious expression on his face. The vendor waited patiently as he made his choice.

He'd chosen the wind-up mouse Josefina wanted, and the vendor explained that it was buy one, get one free, as it was the last day he was selling and didn't want to haul everything back through the mountains.

He considered getting one for Antonio, but Antonio had live animals around him all day long. A metal one didn't seem nearly as special.

He could get one for Mirabel. She liked little things like this.

Or even one for Mamá.

He frowned as he thought.

Lucía stood beside him, looking over the toys. "Oh!" She exclaimed softly, as she wound a small box with rounded edges, painted with a full moon and stars over dark vines, and it played music instead of moving. She listened for a moment, and then smiled and sang along. "Arrorró mi niño, arrorró mi sol. Arrorró pedazo, de mi corazón." (2)

She looked at Bruno. "I used to sing this to Josefina when she was a bebé. Just like my mamá used to sing for me."

Bruno smiled at her and something in his expression softened. The vendor cleared his throat and Bruno startled. "Um – we'll take these two, gracias." He handed him the coins and took the little mouse and the music box.

"Here," he said, and handed the box to Lucía. "For you."

"Oh!" She looked surprised. "It's – you already got us tamales this morning, Bruno."

He shrugged. "I know. But – you liked this one more than I liked any of the others."

She took the small, smooth metal music box from his hand, her fingers brushing against his palm, and wound it again, humming along to the light, tinkling sounds of the lullaby. "Gracias, Bruno."

Josefina was thrilled with the little mouse. Her entire face lit up and she hugged Bruno so tightly around the waist he thought he might have a bruise, later. "Gracias, Bruno! Gracias, Mamá! Gracias!"

She wound it up and sat on the floor, watching it zoom around her in wobbly figure eights until it slowed to stop, and then she did it again. And again. And again.

Abuelo popped his head out of the kitchen from where he was preparing lunch. "Welcome back. And how did it go? Was it so relaxing you're going to leave Josefina with me in the print shop every day from now on?" His glasses slid down his nose and a winked at Josefina.

Josefina looked up and wrinkled her nose at him. "No! I am un-grounded on Tuesday and then I'm free!" Then she looked meekly at her madre. "Right, mamá?"

Lucía laughed. "Sí, querida. You will be free. Though you will still need to have an adult with you when you walk to and from school or around town, for a while, at least. You are doing very well, though, mi querida. I am proud of you and I trust you've learned from your mistakes. Te amo, mi fresita."

Bruno excused himself from lunch, explaining that he should go check on his rats and make sure they were ready for their final performance. Lucía was quiet all through lunch and siesta, smiling at Josefina playing with her new toy but otherwise staring thoughtfully at her plate or into the distance.

She still felt strangely off-balance. The warm glow from this morning hadn't dissipated in the least, but there was a vague sense of anxious confusion pressing in on her as well. She almost thought she missed Bruno, but that was ridiculous. She'd spent the entire morning with him! In fact, she'd spent more time with him this past week then she ever had before. Wasn't that enough?

She heard Josefina laughing, introducing her doll Beatriz to her new little mouse. She'd named him Leo. Lucía listened for a moment before pulling her little music box toward her. She wound it up and rested her elbows on top of the table, propping her chin on her hands as she listened to it.

It reminded her of Mamá.

She missed her madre. She was a woman who had a strong but gentle spirit and loved her children with all her heart. She had been a great Abuela to Mateo and Miguel. She'd passed away when Sofia was pregnant with Gabriela. One day, she'd gotten a sharp pain in her stomach that never went away. She began eating a steady diet of Julieta's food, but even that became harder and harder for her to eat, until eating much of anything at all pained her. They had all seen her death coming and had time to prepare for it, but it was still hard. Lucía had felt her absence even more sharply when Alejandro died. Still, her madre had repeatedly comforted her before she passed.

"I'm tired, mija. So very tired. I'm going to be so happy when I am not so tired anymore. And it's not good-bye forever, mija. Just good-bye for a little while. Until we meet again."

Papá had taken her death particularly hard. He had tried to speak at her funeral, but began crying and could not say anything. He was silent for a long time after that, speaking only a few words in answer to questions. It wasn't until Sofia gave birth to a little girl a month later and named her Gabriela, after their madre, that Papá had begun to speak again. When Gabriela smiled at him for the first time, he smiled again, too.

He'd been a great help to her when Alejandro died. He understood what it felt like.

"Mija," he called softly from the doorway. "It is time. Are you ready to go?"

She flashed him a tired smile. "Sí, Papá. I am ready."

Their last performance was their best yet. Everyone was so comfortable with their parts and had memorized their lines, and their delivery was flawless and natural. Camilo had even begun improvising, to Bruno's consternation, and they'd had a small tiff over it between the first and second acts.

"We all know you're good, kid!" He whispered, frowning. "Just – stick to the script, today. Okay? We can – we can work on improvising together after this is all over, if you want."

Camilo grinned and batted his eyelashes at his tío. "I thought you'd never ask."

Luisa snorted and Camilo grinned at her as well. "Keep up the great work, prima. Maybe next year we'll be on stage, instead of the rats."

Luisa blushed and shook her head. "Yeah, I don't think that's gonna happen, Milo."

"Yeah, yeah," Camilo shook his head. "You say that now, but just wait. A lot can happen in a year."

As everyone got settled for the second act, Lucía settled back next to Josefina to watch Bruno, Camilo, Luisa and Mariano lend their voices to the first part of it.

She watched Luisa and Bruno argue as Ramón and Viviana, and then she watched as Bruno, Camilo, and Mariano discussed what they were going to do with the troupe of lady pirates.

"They are a menace," Mariano boomed. "But they have not killed anyone. In fact, they have taken special pains to ensure no lives were taken in their piracy. If it can even be called piracy. If their claims about the Rivera's merchant ships are true, they've simply been returning already stolen goods."

"We can't give them special treatment," Camilo said snidely. "The law says they must be arrested and tried, and arrested and tried they will be!"

"What say you, Ramón?" Mariano asked.

"I will speak with Captain Morales. She will listen - "

Camilo scoffed. "She has not listened to any one of the captains of our esteemed navy! What makes you think she will listen to you?"

"Then I will listen to her!" Bruno cried. "I will listen to her and - "

"-you would listen to a common criminal?" Camilo sneered. "Why?"

He looked across the space between them and – though he was talking with Camilo – his eyes darted to her. "Because," he said simply, his voice strong and sure. "I love her."

She straightened slightly at that, and felt goose bumps break out along her neck and arms. And even though he was acting – even though they were all just acting, gathered behind a small stage at a festival in the middle of a little town in the mountains, and she knew what was coming next because she wrote it, for goodness' sake - for a moment, she felt like she was Imelda, and he was Ramón, and like they were on the brink of a great confession and an even greater adventure.

But his eyes didn't linger and he turned away, projecting his voice more to the audience, and she questioned whether she'd imagined that spark of connection in the first place. "I love her, Guido. And I will listen to her. And she will listen to me."

"And if she does not?" Camilo challenged. "If she scoffs and rebels and is arrested and tried? She will be thrown into prison for years. Even her status as a gentleman's daughter will be nothing compared to the crime of spitting a pardon back in your face. What will you do then?"

"I will wait," he said patiently. "I will wait for her as long as it takes - "

Her heart did a little flip in her chest and she pressed her hands into the skirt of her dress. She was being ridiculous. He wasn't talking to her. He wasn't even talking to Imelda. He was just – acting. They were lines a play. Lines she had written.

"-but I must admit," he continued with a grin. "I would vastly prefer to love her now."

"To the next adventure, mi amor?" Bruno-as-Ramón asked, voice loud and joyful.

"To the next adventure!" Lucía-as-Imelda cried.

They paused, breathing heavily as they concluded the final scene, and grinned at each other as the applause started.

Josefina leapt out of her chair, clapping for them, and Lucía tore her eyes away from Bruno's to reach out for her daughter. Josefina jumped into her arms and kissed her cheek. "Mamá! I loved it! I loved it!" Josefina wiped at her eyes with her hands.

"Mi amor," Lucía said softly. "Are you crying?"

"My happiness is just – leaking out my eyeballs, I can't help it!" Josefina laughed and sniffed. "But I'm also sad that it's over. I don't want it to be over!" Her smile twitched into a sad frown, and then back up into a sheepish smile. "I'm – happy-sad."

"You know what? So am I." Lucía kissed her cheek and set her down, and Camilo, Mariano, Luisa, and Papá were waiting for her and Bruno to come around the curtain and stand in front of the stage with them.

"I'll announce us all," Camilo said with a grin, and popped out to the audience from behind the curtain. The applause grew louder, and even though Lucía couldn't see him, she could sense him bowing and hamming it up for audience.

"Thank you, thank you!" He cried dramatically. "You're too kind. It was my pleasure to delight you as Guido, Bertan, Sailor 1 and Sailor 3. You know our rat actors - " he introduced them all by name in a mad rush, ending with – " - Pablo, Lorenzo, Valentino, and the exceptional, irreplaceable Lareina!" The rats skittered to line the stage and gave little bows themselves, before scurrying away to the comfortable little box Bruno and Josefina had set up for them backstage. Lareina lingered, bowing again, and the crowd laughed.

Camilo waited for the crowd to settle. "And now, let's give a round of applause to Señor Hernandez, who played the lovely Imelda's padre, Señor Morales!"

Papá walked to the front of the stage, and the applause continued. He'd obviously given a small bow and wave and walked to the side, because Camilo quickly introduced the next person.

"Mi future cuñado Mariano Guzmán, delighting us as both Ramón's padre and Montana, the great hulking sailor with a heart of gold!"

Dolores cried "Camilo!" but Mariano took it all in stride, walking out with an easy grin on his face, and he bowed and blew her a kiss. She flushed but seemed placated enough.

"The one and only Luisa Madrigal, debuting as the feisty and fabulous Viviana!"

Luisa hesitated, but walked out and gave a little wave, smiling for the crowd before joining Mariano and Señor Hernandez to the side of the stage.

"And now, the authors and directors of this adventure of a lifetime, and the voices of our heroes, Imelda and Ramón – Señora Lucía Moreno and mi tío, Bruno Madrigal!"

The applause was more than she expected, as she and Bruno walked out side by side, Josefina beside them. Bruno's family stood, and the rest of the crowd followed, and she flushed at the standing ovation. She looked to Bruno, and he looked a bit like an owl, blinking at the crowd.

She took his hand in hers and held it up, and she heard a loud whoop of approval from her hermana in the crowd as they bowed. She ignored it as best she could, and bowed again together with Bruno, and they stood waving and smiling and feeling light and happy until Lucía remembered to turn and thank Camilo as well, earning more laughter and another round of applause.

After the final performance, Lucía and her family helped Bruno and his family take his rats and props home. Josefina tucked the rats into his room with little kisses and coos and congratulations, and they squeaked at her in return. Once everything was settled, they made their way, together, back to the town square for dinner and dancing. It was going to be the biggest night of the festival, and everyone was looking forward to it.

On the way, they stopped and stared at the new murales.

Selena de León had a dropcloth covering half of it, but the half they could see was remarkable. She was blending the edge of the painting into the brick of the wall and stood back and stretched her arms, taking in her work with a serious expression on her face.

"Hola, Señorita de León," Lucía greeted her softly. "How are you this evening?"

Selena turned and blinked at them. "Oh. Hola! I'm well, thank you." She turned back to her work, and then slowly turned back around to look at the small crowd gathered around her, taking in the Madrigals, the Rojas clan, and Lucía, Josefina, and Señor Hernandez.

"Can I help you?" She nodded to Señora Madrigal.

Alma smiled and shook her head. "No, Señorita. We were just admiring your work. Do you need anything?"

"Oh, no, gracias. After all," she said matter-of-factly, "The hardest part is done. Now, it is staring at a wall for ten minutes to make a five-second adjustment with a tiny bit of paint here or a little blend of the brush there. It will be done, soon."

"I can't believe all of our handprints made that," whispered Josefina, taking in the sight before her.

"And it's not finished yet!" Selena said, a small, tense smile playing on her face. She herded them away from the murales and bid them goodnight.

"Are you going to the town square tonight?" Camilo asked nonchalantly. "There's food and dancing."

Pepa gave her son a look as though she couldn't believe he was still trying to go down that road.

Selena looked at him for a moment, contemplating. "No," she said slowly. "I've got too much work to finish, and I'm tired." She looked down at her paint-splattered coveralls. "And I didn't exactly bring dress clothes."

"No one cares what you're dressed like."

She raised an eyebrow at him. "Still – job. Tired."

He shrugged again, giving her an easy smile. "Okay. If you change your mind, you know where to find us."

She raised her eyebrows, popping her lips and nodding to herself. "That's for sure. This family is impossible to miss."

"We're unforgettable." He grinned, and turned on his heel. Everyone exchanged looks, trailing after him.

"Milo - " Pepa said hesitantly as they walked away.

His smile fell away, but he didn't look upset. "Mamí, all I did was invite her to the festival. Where the entire village is. The village that she is painting a murales for." He shrugged. "I was being nice."

Pepa sighed. "She's eighteen, Milito."

Camilo paused, and he rubbed the back of his neck. "I'm not in love with her or anything," he said bluntly. "I barely know her. I just – want to make her smile. For real. That's what I do, isn't it? That's my gift?"

Pepa and Félixexchanged looks.

"Camilo," Alma said, slightly alarmed. "You don't have to - "

"But I want to." He said stubbornly.

There was a tense silence for a moment, until Félix stepped forward. "Ah, if he wants to - let him try to make her smile. It's a smile, not a courtship. I worked on you for three years, mi amor. If she's anything like you, he's got his work cut out for him. It builds character."

"Félix!" Pepa screeched, and a sudden gust of wind tugged at all their clothes.

He laughed. "I would not trade those years for anything in the world, mi amor. Learning what made you tick ignited a love for you that will never burn out, mi vida." He waggled his eyebrows at her, and she giggled.

"Okay," she sighed. But she turned to Camilo, her brow still pinched together with worry and cupped his cheek in her hand. "No falling in love yet, though, okay, bebé? She's too old for you."

"If she's too old for me, then what'd Papí do, rob the cradle?" Camilo shot back playfully.

"Ay, mijo!" Félix turned back to him with annoyance. "I am not that much older than your madre!"

Camilo just laughed.

Josefina was quiet, and Lucía let the group before them pull ahead.

She crouched down beside Josefina and spoke quietly. "Josefina, mi amorita. How are you feeling about the murales? About – everything?"

Josefina shrugged.

Lucía rocked back on her heels and thought. "I feel…lots of things," she said honestly. "Mostly happy things. I'm happy because you're here with me. I'm happy because the festival has been so wonderful. I'm happy that our play about Imelda and Ramón did so well, but I am a little sad it's over – just like you. I really loved working on it. But there's always more plays we could do next year."

She paused, and her words were slow and measured. "I am very impressed with the murales Señorita de León is working on. I think it's beautiful, and I think she's working very hard on it, and I think it was so special to use everyone's handprints in it. But I do miss your Papá's murales, still. I think a part of me will always miss it – will always miss him. There was so much work that went into painting it; so many memories there. But just because the murales is gone doesn't mean my memories are. It's okay to like the new one and miss the old one, too."

Josefina nodded thoughtfully. "I feel…a little bit guilty," she whispered after a moment.

Lucía blinked. "Guilty? Why do you feel guilty, mi amor?"

Josefina looked away. "I think…I like this one," she confessed. "Because I got to help make it. And it's pretty. But I still like the old one! A lot! And I miss it!"

Lucía nodded. "That's okay, mi querida."

Josefina looked up at her with worried eyes. "It is?"

Lucía nodded. "It is. We can be happy-sad together. But there is no need to feel guilty over a murales." She stood and held out her hand. "Shall we go have dinner and maybe do a little dancing?"

Josefina nodded, and her eyes lit up. "Yes."

They'd eaten dinner and talked for an hour, interrupted frequently by people in the village coming up to congratulate Bruno or Lucía on the play, or to thank Isabela for her help with the festival and wish her an early birthday (it was coming up on Monday), or to compliment Mirabel and Alma on their choice for the new murales.

Music had been playing since they sat down to eat and the town square was slowly filling with dancers when Félix stood and bowed low over his wife's hand and asked her to dance. She obliged with a grin and he led her to the dance floor, shooting a glance over his shoulder at Bruno, who swallowed nervously.

Lorenzo stood next, offering for Sofia's hand, and she accepted with a flirtatious smile. Isabela offered to sit and hold Diego for her, who was already looking particularly sleepy.

Sofia and Lorenzo's son Mateo gallantly asked Alma to dance, but she thanked him and said she was going to find Señora Guzman. He went off in search of an old classmate to dance with. Miguel shrugged and asked Mirabel if she'd like to dance. Mirabel grinned and accepted. Mariano whisked Dolores away, and Camilo and Luisa went off to find partners of their own.

Abuelo bowed to Josefina. "May I have this dance, Señorita?" He asked seriously.

She curtsied just as seriously, her indigo dress shiny in the light from the lanterns around the town square. "You may, Señor Abuelo." He held out his arm and lifted his chin and led her a little ways away, where they were in Lucía's line of sight but still far enough away that Josefina felt a little bit more 'free'. Gabriela and Emilia, Sofia's daughters, invited Antonio to dance and pulled him out beside Josefina and her Abuelo.

Agustín bowed smartly before Julieta and invited her to dance (Julieta guided him to a quiet corner, not wanting their romantic interlude to inadvertently end in injuries for him or anyone else around them), and that left Bruno and Lucía, standing near the tables on the side of the dance floor, while Isabela and Diego observed.

Bruno took a deep breath and wiped his palms on his pants, fidgeting and waffling between attempting to speak to her and then clamming up when he noticed she was focused on watching the other dancers. Isabela watched this impatiently for about five minutes before she discreetly waved her hand.

"Ah!" He cried in surprise as a cactus appeared out of nowhere, right behind him. He saw it from the corner of his eye and sprang to the side, nearly crashing into Lucia. She put her hands on his chest to steady him and his hands automatically grasped her arms, just beneath her shoulders. "Lucía!" He blurted out, and then winced. "Would - ah - would - would - would you like to dance?" He finally got it out in one go.

Isabela smirked. A harmless little cactus to the backside did wonders for motivation. She subtly waved her fingers and it receded into the crack in the cobblestones.

Lucía eyebrows drew together in concern, but she smiled at him. "Of course. I'd love to."

His shoulders relaxed and he stepped back a bit, dropping his hands from her arms. He looked over her shoulder and narrowed his eyes at Isabela before refocusing on her, a relieved smile on his face. He held out his hand, but when she went to place hers in his, he pulled it away suddenly.

"Oh!" He exclaimed. "Wait! Just – a minute - " he pulled his ruana over his head, folding it and placing it neatly on a chair beside Isabela. "I've found it's – ah – it's easier to dance. Without the ruana. I mean – I'm – ah - more graceful without it. Not that I'm particularly graceful. I just - I tend to get – um - tangled. According to Pepa. Heh."

Lucía blinked at him, and a slow warmth spread across her cheeks as he held out his hand to her once again. And once again – something she'd experienced with him before – the simple act of watching him take off his ruana – made her feel all sorts of something inside. It was familiar and yet – it confused her because – it was also unfamiliar.

He was her friend.

He was her Bruno.

"Ready?" He asked softly.

"Sí," she said, and placed her hand in his.

But the truth was, she'd never felt more unprepared.

How could she be ready when she couldn't even pinpoint what she should be ready for?

A/N:

1) jugos – fresh squeezed juices and drinks. Limonada de coco is coconut milk and lime blended with ice. Cholado is lulo blended with condensed milk, ice, and sugar. Lulo is an acidic citrusy fruit that tastes somewhat like a pineapple and lemon.

2) Arrorró mi niño, arrorró mi sol. Arrorró pedazo, de mi corazón – a Colombian lullaby. "Cuddle up/hush a bye my child, cuddle up my sun. Cuddle up a piece of my heart."

YOU GUYS YOU GUYS YOU GUYS I'm so excited for the next chapter I want to scream into a pillow. I'm sorry you have to wait until next week to see the dancing and the result of it but this chapter was already so long so I had to cut it up. I hope you still enjoyed this one because I had so much fun writing it. Thank you all so much for your reviews and support. God bless you all and have a great week!