Chapter Two:
Julieta looked up from the pot of soup as Pepa burst in, fuming. She was drenched and struggling to control her emotions. "Clear skies, clear skies." She murmured to herself as she brushed past the dining table, where most of the Madrigals sat.
"What's her problem?" Isabela asked, watching her tia's retreating figure.
"Be nice, Isabela." Alma said absentmindedly, also watching her daughter storm off.
Pepa returned a few minutes later, donning a new dress and a bright— obviously forced— smile. "Are we going to eat?" She asked as she sat beside her husband.
"Agustin isn't here yet." Julieta said, adding a pinch of salt to the soup. She flipped a few arepas, swatting Camilo's hand away when he tried to snatch one. "We eat as a family, Camilo." She admonished, watching him sit down, defeated. "Besides, they aren't even done yet."
"Where is Dad?" Mirabel asked, eyes on the door.
Pepa frowned. "He was right behind me."
Julieta spun on a dime and stared at her sister. "What?"
"He was right behind me when I left town." She bit her lip. "I kind of yelled at him, though."
"You what?" Julieta placed her hands on her hips.
"He got me in trouble with Senor Chavez." Pepa said, a rain cloud forming over her head. "Then he tried to apologize."
"You yelled at him for apologizing?" Julieta repeated incredulously. "You didn't strike him with lightning or anything, did you?"
"No, of course not!" Pepa exclaimed, the wind picking up. "I'm not that unreasonable!"
"Well, where is he?!" Julieta demanded, stirring the soup aggressively.
"I think he went back to town to try to salvage some of the paperwork he ruined." Pepa snapped. "Why do you care? All he does is cause disaster!"
"You take that back!" Julieta ran at Pepa, brandishing a wooden spoon. "Agustin is a wonderful—"
A loud boom of thunder shook the house. Pepa was standing now, her face red. "It's true!"
Julieta dipped a spoonful of soup and flung it at her sister. The hot liquid missed, but it made Pepa furious. In seconds, Julieta was flung against the wall, held by a forceful wind.
"Pepa! Julieta!" Alma yelled, standing angrily. "Break it up!"
The wind died down and Julieta fell to the floor, glaring at Pepa.
"This kind of behavior is uncalled for!" Alma berated them. "Julieta, bring the soup here. We'll eat without Agustin."
That evening, Julieta paced the perimeter of Casita, concerned for the well being of her husband. He hadn't been seen in town since lunchtime, and she couldn't keep the horrible thoughts out of her head. What if he had been in another accident? What if he needed help and she couldn't help?
She would have gone looking for him, but Casita wouldn't let her out. She'd pleaded with the house for hours, but Casita was stubborn. Julieta was not leaving the house. And neither was anyone else in the family, much to their distress.
Despite all her worries, no one else seemed to share her concerns.
"Isn't anyone the least bit curious?" Julieta asked, addressing the various family members scattered around the house.
"Oh, be quiet, Julieta." Pepa grouched. "Would you help us try to find a way out?"
Casita seemed to laugh at that.
"Agustin could be hurt!" Julieta threw up her arms in frustration. "Does no one care about him?"
"I doubt anything could have happened to him that you couldn't fix, Mamá." Mirabel commented, trying to calm her down.
"Has it ever occurred to you that I don't like healing him a million times a day?!" Julieta suddenly shrieked. "It's a bit exhausting!"
The Madrigals all froze at her sudden outburst.
Pepa smirked. "Should you?" She asked. "He's nothing but a burden."
Julieta seemed to have collected herself. She glared at Pepa. "I just wish he would be more careful." She frowned, turning to look at the doorway. "Did you see something?"
"No." Pepa walked over to the door. It swung open; Casita had finally decided to let them out.
Julieta wasted no time leaving the house. She was going to find Agustin.
The light was blinding.
Agustin rolled over to get out of the bright sunlight. Or, he tried to. The throbbing in his head was almost unbearable. How was he even alive? He blinked and finally managed to move.
The sun was setting, and raindrops glistened on the foliage. Where was he? And why was it so blurry? He sat up… and nearly passed out from the searing pain in his back. What was wrong with him?
Agustin steadied himself and managed to heave himself up to a standing position. He dug in his pocket for one of Julieta's arepas, which he had taken that morning. He took a bite. It didn't do much, but it made it bearable.
As he took a shaky step, his leg buckled and he crashed to the ground. He heard a sickening crack. Fearing the worst he looked down at his left leg. To his relief, it was only his glasses crushed under his knee.
Agustin picked himself off the ground and, hoping for a bit more strength, limped towards Casita. Julieta would be able to help.
The hammering in his head persisted as he made his way home, falling several more times. Agustin wanted to cheer when Casita came into view, but he didn't think he could take the strain.
The pain in his back made him wonder how he was even able to walk. He was positive his spine had to have been injured somehow. He pushed the intrusive thoughts out of his head. He could think about that later.
Agustin finally reached Casita and the door opened, abnormally quietly. He crept in, getting the same feeling he had when that strange woman was pestering him. He stuck to the walls, sliding along as quietly as possible.
"Has it ever occurred to you that I don't like healing him a million times a day?!" Julieta's voice came echoing to his ears. Her words pierced him like a thousand needles.
That's how she felt? She'd never given any indication of annoyance before.
"Should you?" Pepa's fiery voice followed. "He's nothing but a burden."
"I wish he would be more careful!" Julieta continued, but Agustin didn't hear any more. He slipped quietly into his wife's room, his heart aching more than his body.
How would she react when she heard of his fall?
The idea came to him suddenly, a perfect solution. He simply wouldn't tell her.
He wouldn't tell anyone.
No one has to know.