A moment of your time?
It occurred to Mirabel she wouldn't be able to hide this.
…Well technically she could, but only for so long.
Point was, she knew she should tell her family soon.
That didn't stop Mirabel from hiding the door. She wasn't sure why she did that, maybe to avoid getting her sisters or Deloris in trouble? Whatever the reason, she'd hung a blanket over it, hoping it wouldn't be too conspicuous.
Thankfully Casita aided in keeping the door out of view with some potted plants. Sometimes it really felt like the house was the only one in her corner.
Whatever, Mirabel had more important matters to attend to. First and foremost, she needed to speak with Senora Delgado. It was only fitting, the women had lost her husband and son, she deserved to know before anyone she was going to have a grandchild.
Taking a deep breath, Mirabel knocked on the women's door and waited for what had to be the longest seconds of her life. "Oh, hello Mirabel" Senora Delgado greeted her with a smile, still wearing all black "what a pleasant surprise, how may I help you?"
Mirabel cleared her throat, desperately trying not to lose her nerve. "H-hola Senora Delgado" she said politely, Dios Mio, she could feel herself begin to sweat! "U-uh…may I come in?"
"Of course, dear" she said as she ushered her inside "how have you been? Things must be hectic at Casita right now, what with Antonio's birthday next month" Senora Delgado asked as she poured them both a cup of tea.
"I'm a little anxious but super excited to see Antonio get his gift" she confessed as she sat down "but…I came here because I…I needed to talk to you about something…something important."
"Is everything alright?" Senora Delgado asked as she set the cups down and took a seat. With Antonio's birthday coming, she'd been growing worried the Madrigals were letting Mirabel slip through the cracks more then usual. She was sure it wasn't intentional, although she often wondered about Alma, but it was still hard to watch. Mirabel was such a sweet girl and…she knew how much her son had cared for her.
She just wished the Madrigals, the Encanto, could see how truly wonderful Mirabel was.
Mirabel chewed her lip "w-well you see…L-Lorenzo and I…w-well we…" oh heck, there was no easy way to say this, just to it quick "well, long story short…I'm pregnant and…its Lorenzo's." Senora Delgado froze mid sip, slowly lowering her cup as she stared at her with wide eyes "t-the mid wife can confirm it if you need more proof, a-and yes, I'm sure its his. He's…he was my first and only…I'm so sorry-"
"I…I'm going to have a grandchild?" She whispered hopefully, too scared to let herself believe it could be true. Mirabel nodded slowly, a small, apprehensive smile on her face "oh!" She gasped as tears formed in her eyes "oh, Mirabel!" Setting her cup down, Senora Delgado was imminently up and hugging her gently. "My angle, my angle!" She said with a wet chuckle, kissing her face "thank you!"
Mirabel froze for a moment, but soon the tension left her body and she happily returned the hug "I'm glade you're taking this so well, goodness knows I'm dreading telling my family."
Senora Delgado stiffened "aye yes…who knows how they'll react" she pulled away, tapping her chin. "I'm sure your parents will understand…oh Dios Mio, then there's Alma…" she trailed off as she bit her lip. Yeah, Mirabel was dreading telling Abuela the most too. After a moment, her face morphed into one of determination as she took the girls hands into hers. "Well, don't you worry, no matter what happens, you both will always have a home under my roof" she promised "you just leave Alma to me, Sí?"
Mirabel wasn't sure if it was the hormones, or just knowing she had some support, but she felt tears begin to well up in her eyes. "Gracias" she whispered as she wiped them away.
Senora Delgado smiled "now, let me get you some new tea, something better for you and the little one" she said as she stood back up. "And don't worry, I won't speak a word of this to anyone" Mirabel smiled, she was so happy the older women was so accepting of the situation. More then anything, she was happy at how much joy the news had brought her.
She could only hope her family took the news as well.
For whatever reason, she decided to try telling Isabela first. She didn't know why, maybe because she was getting engaged soon, or maybe some naïve part of her wanted to believe she could still go to her big sister like before her failed ceremony.
Whatever the reason, she found herself approaching her eldest sister as she brought life to a wide field. "So…when do you think you and Mariano will have kids?" Well, she could've stared that better. Although it wouldn't hurt to know if she'd have to bunk with two babies in the near future. She was fairly sure she was only having one, there was only one door.
Isabela actually almost tripped over her own feet as she whirled around to face her. "Wh-what?!" She cried, looking unpoised for the briefest moment, her hair covered in blossoms, before clearing her throat and regaining her composure. "Why do you ask?" She asked in that coy tone.
Mirabel shrugged "well…with Antonio's birthday next month, I was curious to know how long I'll have the nursery to myself when he moves out." A plausible reason, even if she already knew the answer.
Six months, the answer was six months.
Something shifted in Isabela's face, but it was gone before Mirabel could really think about it. What, was the idea of her child sharing a room with her that terrible. "I…hadn't thought about it, actually" she confessed, flowers growing as she walked "not anytime soon, of course, I'd like to wait a year or two…or more."
"Yeah, that's fair. Although I don't think Abuela will be able to wait that long" it was a joke, mostly, but she swore she saw her sister flinched. "B-but its not up to her, of course" she added quickly. As much as Senorita Perfecta irritated her, she didn't want to make her uncomfortable.
"Sure" she said, her voice and smile weirdly tight. Mirabel stared at her in concern, she knew it was normal to have some anxieties before getting married, but this felt…different.
"Isa…?"
"A-anyway, was that all?" Isabela asked, that haughty tone Mirabel had come to know and hate all too well returning "because unlike some people, I have work to do." Before Mirabel could respond, Isabela was already walking off.
Mirabel sighed in aggravation. Why did she expect anything different again?
"Luisa!" Mirabel called out as she caught sight of her sister, waving the basket in her hand for good measure. She was fairly confident Luisa would take the news well, she just hoped she didn't hug her too tight. Probably not good for the baby.
"Hey Mirabel!" Luisa greeted her with her usual enthusiasm as she jogged over. "Sorry I don't got a lotta time to talk, I'm pretty busy today" she said with a apologetic smile.
"Too busy for lunch?" Mirabel asked playfully, holding up the basket. Luisa's face instantly brightened, and she took the basket with a quick thanks and stared eating "easy there, you don't wanna choke or make yourself sick" Mirabel warned her gently.
Luisa snorted in amusement "you're such a mother hen, Mirabel" she teased lightly, but her tone was affectionate.
"Funny you should mention-"
"Luisa! My wagon broke down!"
"On it!" She called out without missing a beat "sorry sis, hate to eat and run, but my works never done." With that, she jogged off, basket still in hand, before Mirabel could utter another word.
"…Yeah, probably should've seen that coming."
"Marco!" Mirabel called out as she wandered through town, looking for Camilo. When he'd first gotten his gift, they'd come up with this as a way for her to always find him. Even if they weren't as close anymore, he neve failed to answer back "Marco!"
"Polo!" Ah, there he was. She turned to find what looked like Senor Herrera with a smirk that did not fit a fifty-five-year-old man.
Mirabel giggled "herding the sheep again?"
"You know they only listen to him" Camilo said as he changed back "and he's not the young man he once was." He chuckled but then quickly looked around apprehensively "d-don't tell him I said that."
"I wont" she promised, it should be easy enough to tell Camilo, right? "So you help take care of a lot of babies, right?" She began, if only because she didn't know how else to.
Camilo sighed dramatically "aye, they're adorable, but exhausting" he confessed. Mirabel understood that feeling, what with all the times she found herself crowded by the children of the Encanto, but she had no complaints. She enjoyed every second of their company.
"For what its worth, I've offered to babysit myself" not that many took her up on that offer. Usually, the kids sought her out themselves.
"Kids do seem to like you" he agreed with a nod, why did he sound surprised by that? Cause she didn't have a gift to entertain them? She found plenty of ways to do that, thank you very much "but I can handle it, you've got better things to do" did she though? Granted she would soon, but what exactly did he think she had to do now?
Mirabel shrugged, a conversation for another time "I mean…it wouldn't hurt to practice, right?" She said casually, hoping he'd pick up on what she was implying.
He did not.
Well, not the way she intended.
Camilo snorted "practice for what? Your years away from having kids! I'll probably have kids before you" oh the irony.
Mirabel scoffed and shoved him with a smirk "yeah right, good luck finding a girl that can stand you" she snarked back. Maybe it was her imagination, but he almost sounded nervous at the idea of her having a child. Surly Camilo didn't share Abuela's opinions…did he?
"Then again" he spoke up "I guess you will be bunking with any kids Isabela has after she gets married. You might be rusty" he reasoned with a laugh. Because no one thought it was an issue she was still living in the nursery. Although it might make the first five years with her baby easier. "Anyway, I gotta go help the Cabrera brothers. Later Mirabel" he said, giving her a smile as he took off, leaving Mirabel behind.
Like usual.
Mirabel was fairly positive Deloris already knew.
Ignoring that she might've overheard her visit to the mid wife, although she usually tried to block out such personal information, it wouldn't be the first time she'd heard a baby's heartbeat from their mother's womb. It didn't happen often, it was such a hard thing to zero in on, but it did happen.
If she did know, at least she hadn't told anyone, which Mirabel was immensely grateful for.
Although it was strange she hadn't approached her about it yet.
"Hola Deloris" she greeted her "how's your day been?"
"Fine" she said in that quiet voice of hers. She glanced over to Mirabel "and how are you?" To anyone else, it would've sounded like a simple question, but Mirabel caught the suspicious tone. So she did know, or at least suspected something.
"Can't really complain" she answered, playing it casual. There was always the chance they were talking about two completely different things "so…you haven't heard…anything…you know…new or…interesting?"
Deloris stared at her for a bit, before shrugging with that squeaky sound of hers. "Nope" she said bluntly, placing some of Julieta's cooking in Mirabel's hand before quickly walking off.
Mirabel could only stand there, stupefied, how was she supposed to interpret that? Deloris wasn't usually good at keeping secrets.
Well…as long as she wasn't going to tell anyone anytime soon, she supposed it was fine to leave her be for now. Honestly, she was more worried about when Deloris would cave than anything else. Because it was only a matter of when with her, especially if Abuela confronted her.
Again, assuming Deloris knew in the first place.
After some thought, she decided to tell the adults at once, mostly because she was anticipating a lecture and didn't want to hear four different versions one after another. At first, she was happy when she found them all together, but it was short lived when she saw Abuela talking with them, so they were most likely discussing something important.
Not wanting to interrupt, she was about to go when Abuela called out to her. "Mirabel, a word" she said sternly, she sounded angry. She couldn't think of anything she might've done, but then Abuela always found something.
Well, she didn't want to make it worse. Mirabel turned back around and walked up to them. "Yes Abuela?" She asked politely, studying their faces. Her Mother had that look that was meant to be sympathetic, but it usually felt patronizing. Her Father looked anxious, he usually did around Abuela, and her Tio wasn't fairing much better. Her Tia looked very unhappy, if the storm cloud above her head was any sign, her fuse had been shorter recently, being so on edge with Antonio's birthday.
Then there was Abuela, she had her usual disproving look when they spoke, but there was a sharpness in her eyes as she glared down at her. Seriously, what had she…?
…Dios Mio, did Deloris blab?!
Okay, be cool. She could handle this "I understand you've been speaking with your sisters and Primo's quiet a bit lately" Abuela spoke up coldly.
"Y-yes well…I-"
"Mirabel, they all have important work to do, especially with Antonio's birthday coming up" Abuela cut her off.
"I-I know-"
"Then why are you distracting them?!" Abuela asked her coldly.
Oh, okay, they didn't know yet. That was fine, a relief actually, she would really rather wait until they were in better moods. "I-I just wanted to spend some time with them, maybe see if I could lighten their loads a little" she said, hoping they bought it.
"They can handle the work. What they cannot afford is a distraction, you cannot expect them to entertain you, especially with Antonio's ceremony coming up. I cannot stress how important this ceremony is. To Antonio and the family." Abuela explained like she didn't already know this. As she said this, both her's and Pepa's glares hardened. Her parents and Felix just shifted awkwardly.
Mirabel didn't understand, it wasn't like this was the first time they'd gotten upset at her for distracting her sisters and Primos, but what did Antonio's birthday have to do with this? She knew it was important after her failed ceremony but…
Wait…
…Did they think she wanted to sabotage Antonio's ceremony?!
She was speechless. Sure, it was bringing up some bad memories and feelings, but she would never do such a thing to her precious Primo! She wanted him to get a gift! The last thing she wanted was for him to end up like her!
How could they even think such a thing?! How could Abuela think such a think?! Was their opinion of her truly that low?! Just because she didn't have a gift?!
"I hope there will be no more distracting the family" Abuela kept speaking. If she or any of them noticed her growing anger, they didn't comment. They probably thought she was getting upset over nothing if they did "especially not around the ceremony, am I clear?"
Words couldn't describe the rage coursing through her. It was rivaled only by the anger she'd felt hearing Abuela's words a month ago. The only reason she didn't fly off the handle right then and there was by thinking of her wonderful child. Her beautiful baby who deserved the world and then some, who didn't care if she had a gift or not.
Unlike them.
"…Crystal" she said evenly, doing her best to hold back her fury. Before another word could be said, she turned on her heel and walked off, her anger giving way to sadness. How could they? Was not having a gift really a good enough reason to have such awful thoughts and assumptions about her?
She thought back to Senora Delgado, how she'd promised she would always have a home with her.
She was staring to wonder if that would be best.
"Mirabel!" Antonio's voice cut through her focus and halted her sowing. Franticly, she hid the birthday present she was making him before he fully entered their room. She was nearly done; it would be the worst if he saw it now.
"Hola Antonio" she greeted as he rushed up to her with a wide smile.
"Come see what I found!" He said as he took her hand in both of his, practically dragging her off her bed and out of the room.
Mirabel couldn't help laughing at his enthusiasm, he never failed to put a smile on her face. "Alright, alright, I'm coming" she giggled as she let him guide her to whatever had him so excited. She didn't compline though, she wanted to enjoy what time she had left with him. She was really going to miss him when he got his gift. Ture, he'd promised they'd still spend time together, but she'd heard that promise before. It wasn't like it would be completely up to him anyway, she understood that, that's how it happened with Luisa.
To be fair, she'd be pretty busy herself soon, wouldn't she? "Look, look!" Antonio said, practically bouncing as they approached…
…The new door.
Mirabel went ridged as he pulled back the blanket, of course Antonio found it. She should've hidden it better, made it Antonio-proof "it's a new door Mirabel! That means there's gonna be a new baby!" He smiled up at her excitedly. Right, they had explained that to him a while ago. "I wonder which of us is getting a new brother or sister? Oh, or maybe its for one of our sisters?" He sounded so happy.
He would be the happiest, wouldn't he?
Mirabel smiled warmly as she kneeled down next to him. "Promise you won't say anything to anybody?" She whispered, he nodded eagerly and she looked around to make sure they were alone. "Its my baby's door" she said, putting a hand on her stomach.
Antonio's eyes lit up as his smile grew "your gonna have a baby?!" He whispered excitedly. She nodded and he threw his arms around her neck, hugging her tightly. Mirabel hugged him back, feeling the best she had all day. It meant so much to her that her little Primo was so accepting and happy for her. "Who's the Papa?" He asked as he let go.
"Lorenzo" she said softly, looking down with a sad smile.
"Oh" Antonio's face fell slightly, before perking up again. "Don't worry, I'll protect the baby and help you take care of them for Lorenzo" he declared with all the seriousness a soon to be five-year-old could muster "you'll see, I'll be the best Primo ever, just like you."
Mirabel felt her eyes sting, how did she get so lucky to end up with the sweetest Primo in all of the Encanto? "Gracias Antonio" she said softly.
"Did you tell everyone else yet?"
"I tried" she sighed, not wanting to think about the conversation with Abuela "but they were too busy."
Antonio hummed "sorry, its probably cause of my birthday."
"Ah, its not your fault. It is a big birthday, and I'm looking forward to seeing what your gift will be" she assured him, ruffling his hair. The two returned to the nursery after that, where they chatted excitedly about the baby until dinner. It was nice to finally share her news with someone in her family.
She really should have gone to Antonio first.
It was still disappointing the rest or the family hadn't given her the chance to speak. She understood they were busy, but would it really be so hard or troublesome to spare her five minuets of their time? Would the Encanto really suffer so much if they took a small break?
That night, as she lay in bed staring at the ceiling, she thought about what Antonio said. Maybe it would be easier to try again after his birthday? Maybe they'd be more willing to listen to her?
Yeah, doubtful.
Nevertheless, she was going to give them the benefit of the doubt, despite all her doubt. As usual.
Besides, there was a good chance they might notice and approach her before then. She'd be at least three months in by Antonio's birthday, so odds were it might be more obvious. She could already feel the morning sickness beginning, she hadn't barfed yet, but she knew it was coming. As much as she didn't want them to find out that way, it would make it easier to get their attention.
She knew she was the unexceptional Madrigal, but surly someone would notice by then.
…Right?
Hachi machi! How did this blow up?!
I honest to God thought that first chapter wasn't very good, now this story's got, at this time...forty-two favorites and fifty-four follows?!
I mean, don't get me wrong, I'm beyond grateful but wow, that's a lot of people to disappoint. I'm not even sure this chapter will be able to live up.
Okay cool, its cool, can't promise I'll deliver on expectations, but I'll sure as hell try!
Until next time have a happy holiday and…pray for me and this story.