Chapter 2: Time is of the essence
3 days before Dia de Los Muertos Miguel tried everything he could. Every book, website phone call everything but it was no use.
"It's no use Mijo you can't save her entirely ". Héctor sighed
"Well I've got to try I'm not letting her go back there, I saved you by the skin of my teeth and if I can do that Papá I can do this ". Miguel was determined
"You're not giving up are you?" Héctor questioned
"Don't count on it". Miguel winked
He opened the seventh book that had as much information as it could hold, one thing for sure he was certainly not giving up and not with the girl he loved more than life itself.
"Ay, That's the seventh book you've tried this morning Mijo ". He sighed
"I thought you were positive on this". Miguel smiled
"Was mijo I gave up after the fifth book you tried". He corrected
Miguel sighed as he looked through the book flipping through pages, Imelda smiled softly and sighed kissing Héctor on the cheek.
"Has he found anything?" Imelda whispered
"Not a note yet Amor". Héctor shook his head
"I swear if someone thinks this is a joke to our Mija I'll make sure they know how it feels". Imelda sighed angrily
"I think Miguel will take care of that, I mean it's not just me he takes after ". Héctor smiled laughing
"Watch it". Imelda smirked softly
She then went to go wash up for lunch, as Victoria and Mirabel entered with Oscar and Felipe falling behind.
Mirabel gently put down the box full of ripped clothes, as her visits to shantytown were more frequent with Victoria she had given them her whole heart and soul into giving back. Victoria smiled at the amount.
Héctor smiled and hugged them both.
"That much this time Mija?" He coaxed Cleary surprised
"Well count Ruben talking to me I sewed as much as I could, it's freezing out there so they've got quilts to keep them warm". Mirabel replies
Victoria chuckled and went to put the first crate into the wash. Oscar and Felipe went to see Coco as they wanted to discuss a surprise they had planned for Mirabel's 3rd anniversary since coming to Santa Cecilia.
"You are something special Mija ". Héctor smiled hugging her tightly
"I try my best". She smiled
She looked towards Miguel and smiled he was exhausted and had gotten very little sleep and Mirabel sighed.
"You should go home and sleep". Mirabel sits next to him
" I can't, not with this ". He said
"Miguel, Musico I appreciate your help but you've been trying for the past two days already and you look exhausted get some sleep you look like la Llorona". She joked
Miguel shook his head refusing to go anywhere, she sighed and shut the book.
"How long have you been up?" She asked
"I'm not saying ". He mumbled
"Miguel Emilio Rivera ". Mirabel had that stern look on her face
Héctor smiled chuckling softly at the sight he knew that his grandson couldn't get out of this easily.
"Why do you do that? I hate it". Miguel sighed
"Just to know that it works". She smiled
"48 hours ". He answers
Mirabel was touched that he would do this for her she hugged him tightly and smiled. Noting how much time he spent looking through these books and how much he loves her.
She looked him in the eyes and Miguel smiled tired but happy.
"No don't do that". She chuckled
"What?" He asked
"The puppy dog eyes, those don't work on me". Mirabel laughed
"Please they work every time ". He sighed
"Not to this Señorita, she knows all your tricks ". She tapped his nose
Mirabel collected the books and put them aside to look through again later, at this sight meanwhile Imelda smirked softly at the two of them.
"Well, if you refuse to go home and rest this is just going to have to make do". Mirabel replies huffing
"What if I don't go to sleep?" He tests
"Well, then Señor Rivera, one other choice ". She eyed her boots as a joke
"Oh dear god what has Mamá Imelda taught you". He was a little scared
'That's my girl ' Imelda smirked
Héctor smiled laughing knowing that his granddaughter had Miguel in a trap that he couldn't get out of.
"Ha, I'm kidding". She laughed
"No, but seriously get some sleep you need it". Mirabel replies drifting slowly over to the couch in La Sala
Miguel tiredly walked over and huffed like a child as he sat and sighed taking off his shoes, Mirabel smiled at him and he smiled back.
"You would've done the same more for me if it was the other way around admit it". She sighed
"I would but you wouldn't lose me". He chuckled
Mirabel chuckled softly smiling at the comment knowing it was true he would do anything for her.
As Miguel laid back he smiled as Mirabel lifted the blanket to cover him up, Miguel smiled feeling like a child being wrapped in a blanket like this.
"What makes you think you're going to lose me". Mirabel asked
"It's just with everything that's happening lately"- He stopped shifting to get comfortable
"We'll figure this out I promise, I can't leave my forever family now could I ?" Mirabel Continued
Miguel smiled.
"I can't leave you, trust me that is the last thing I want to do". Mirabel replies kissing his forehead
"I know ". He sighed shutting his eyes
Imelda sighed reminded of the time they first brought Héctor home after escaping final death and how much she still loves him promising never to leave his side again.
Meanwhile, Mirabel sighed knowing leaving him was the last thing she wanted to do, she would never admit it but she loved him more than life itself. She went straight to the bathroom (which is ironic considering that skeletons don't have any bowel movements or organs)
She had no idea what she was meant to do she was out of ideas. She was sick of the running she made a home for herself in Santa Cecilia and a life she was happy, she didn't know what else to do but cry she didn't want to lose Miguel or any of the family.
Coco heard crying coming from the bathroom and noticed it was locked so she knocked on it.
"Mija, it's Mamá Coco ". Coco called
At Coco's knock, Mirabel quickly wiped her tears stood up unlocked the door and faced Coco but not before quietly running out the back door.
Coco quietly followed her as Mirabel made her way to the garden where Pepita was lying bathed in sunshine. Pepita could somehow sense something was wrong with Mira and purred up against her as she cried, Mirabel sighed and petted her feeling her fur as she cried.
Pepita grumbled and purred against her as if to say 'It's okay I'm here'
"I do know what I'm supposed to do girl, I feel like the worst friend in the world". She cried
Coco was heartbroken that Mira would think of herself like that, but what hurt even more was that she might never get to see Miguel again if she didn't figure out her residency soon.
Coco decided enough was enough she came straight to Mira's side in an instant and hugged her tightly Mirabel sighed not even looking up as she knew who it was.
"Ssh Estas bien Preciosa, we'll figure this out I this out ". Coco cooed
"I feel really bad". She sighed
"I know". She nodded
"I feel like I'm breaking his heart". Mirabel replies
"I know, but he loves you so much and you love him as much as we do". Coco chuckled
"I guess you're right". Mirabel smiled
"And I know how much he makes you smile". Coco sighed
Mirabel laughs at how many times he's made her smile and laugh and never failed at it not once. Coco smiled and chuckled softly.
"There's the smile I love". Coco sighed
Just then her phone unexpectedly rang, still really surprised that she was able to great cell service down here.
"Wow". She mouthed
Coco chuckled softly and pointed to her that she would be inside if she needed her, Rosita was still gardening so she couldn't hear the conversation.
When she picked it up she noticed it was her accountant wondering what had happened she answered the call.
"Hola Andrea is everything okay?" Mirabel Continued
"Not so much Mira, did you access your account recently ". Andrea asked
"No, why do you ask?" She coaxed
"There's a 200$ deposit out of your account are you sure you didn't take some out". Andrea questioned Again
"No, 200$ are you serious? From which account ". She asked
"Savings". Andrea answers
"WHAT HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE?" She yelled
Rosita had just finished gardening when she heard the yelling coming from Mirabel on the phone and she was very confused.
"I don't know how but I'm trying to figure out I promise ". Andrea sighed
Mirabel took a breather and sighed.
"I'm not angry at you Drea ". Mirabel replies
"I promise, I'm looking". She sounded worried
"Just keep looking ". Mirabel sighed
"Thank you so much for helping ". She adds
"Honey, that's my job". Andrea said
"Okay, I'll talk to you later". Mirabel replies
"I'll keep you updated ". Andrea promised
"Thanks". She sighed
Mirabel sighed as she hung up the phone, she tapped her feet pacing up and down the porch so busy and stuck in her thoughts that she didn't even notice Rosita coming up from behind her.
"Mija?" Rosita coaxed
Mirabel jumped at her voice.
"Tia, you scared me ". She sighed
"Lo siento sweetheart I just wanted to see If you're okay". Rosita checked
"I will be, Do we have any lemonade?" She asked
"Si, Papá Héctor just made some". Rosita smiled
"Good, at least I can drown my sorrows in that". She chuckled
"For What?" Rosita coaxed
"I'll tell you when we get inside ". Mirabel Promised
Everything will be fine, for now, Mirabel could take this time with family while she still had it she just needed to tell them but how was the question…