13. Chapter 13

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Julieta awoke early as usual headed down to the kitchen to start preparing breakfast as the rest of the family slept. Entering the kitchen a fresh cup of hot coffee was pushed towards her on the counter "Gracias, Casita." Julieta accepted the cup and sat down in the chair that was pulled out for her. She enjoyed these peaceful mornings to herself without any injuries to heal.

She liked to take this time to sort out her thoughts. The rift between her and Agustín remained despite his attempts to rekindle what they once had if anything the more he tried the further away Juileta pushed him. It's not like she wanted this, she long to go back to the way things were before one happy family. But how could they ever be a whole family again with Mirabel gone? What kind of mother was she? Couldn't even protect her own daughter.

No it wasn't her fault, she knew exactly whose fault all this was-one Alma Madrigal. Ever since the failed gift ceremony Alma would go out of her way to make sure Mirabel didn't feel like part of the family, purposely excluding her from family events and photographs. Every progress anyone made to make Mirabel feel loved Alma would quickly put back at the start. Mirabel would be forced to stay confined in the walls of their casa Alma barring her from going into the the town saying it was for the safety of the community. When the family had guests Mirabel would be left a plate of food and locked in the nursery. For five long years Mirabel remained prisoner in her own home.

Yet for reasons Juileta never understood she remained so positive and outgoing at least that's how it appeared from the kitchen she could hear her each morning knocking on every door to awaken the sleeping family members inside. She was given Pepa's embroidery kit after attempts to learn the art ended in a literal storm of frustration and though there we many finger pricks and tears at first it turned out she had natural talent. That passion for embroidery grew into one for designing and making her own clothing and accessories with proficiency that would make any seamstress weep with envy. Mirabel could of easily gone on to open her own store in town one day but in the blink of an eye all that was ripped away. Juileta wanted to cry over the waste.

Now when she looked at Mirabel she knew that happy spirted girl who would sing and dance around the courtyard was no more and she was never coming back. Alma took that broken heart and shattered it completely by forcing the rest of the family to shun and practically disown her, it was wrong it was just so wrong.

Standing up she put her empty coffee cup in the sink and pulled out the pan to begin making the scrambled eggs for the family thoughts of her estranged daughter still on her mind. The sounds of her cooking were joined by the sounds of the waking family, the morning chatter and grumbling making it's way down to the kitchen.

"Benos dias, Mamá."

Julieta turned her head to smile at Luisa "Beno dias, mi vida. Sleep well?"

"Yes, Mamá" was the reply but the bags under Luisa's eyes and tired tone told a different story.

Julieta frowned "Luisa, mi hija. What's wrong? Tell me what's wrong."

"I'm.."

"Querida, you can tell me." Julieta began piling the scrambled eggs onto plates.

Luisa sighed "I'm just so tired, Mamá. Tired and sore..and..." she trailed off.

"And?" Julieta finished dishing up breakfast taking Luisa's hands in her own "I know something is bothering you."

"I'm losing my gift!" Luisa blurted out before putting her hand over her mouth.

"What do you mean-" Julieta was cut off by another voice

"Yes, what do you mean?" Alma entered the kitchen hands on hips "Losing your gift? I have never heard of anything so ridiculous."

Luisa's gaze dropped to the floor for a moment before meeting Alma's gaze "I..." she didn't quite know what to say.

"This is why I told you to stay way from Mirabel. Look what she is doing to you. Now take the table outside for breakfast please."

"Yes Abuela..."

Once Luisa had left the room Julieta spun around to face Alma "Really? You're going to blame Mirabel for this?"

"I saw Luisa with Mirabel just the other day and now she's having these problems. It can't be coincidence."

"Mamá, did you ever not stop to think that maybe Luisa it's exhausted from all the work you force upon her and this has nothing to do with Mirabel at all? Luisa told me about meeting with Mirabel and I don't see how that was harmful. What did Mirabel do? Feed Luisa a cursed tamale? Or does she keep her curses in her picnic basket?"

A frown deepened on Alma's face "Julieta, you sound like a child. Luisa knows her duty to serve the community. You know your duty. Everyone in this family knows their duty." she held up her hand as Julieta opened her mouth "I will not let Mirabel interfere. You have two daughters you should be focusing on-one of which is preparing for her proposal."

"Three" Julieta corrected.

"Three?"

"I have three daughters. Isabela, Luisa AND Mirabel. I don't care what you say Mirabel is and always will be my daughter. And I will not stop either anyone in this family from spending time with her. YOU will not stop them." Juileta turned to face her mother aware the whole family was now gathered in the kitchen and was staring in shock as Julieta finally let her feelings out "You never cared for Mirabel! Never, not since she didn't get a gift. But you don't have one either so what is the difference?"

"Julieta, stop this nonsense at once. Listen to me-"

"No, Mamá you listen to me. Do you even care what happens to Mirabel? Do you? No you know what, don't bother. I know the answer, Mirabel could drop dead in front of you and you'll hardly blink." Juileta was aware they were all getting soaked from Pepa's cloud "I love this family, Dios knows how much I love this family especially my daughters-all THREE of them."

"Julieta enough."

"No, I'm not done. Did you ever think about Mirabel felt? Ever think of her out there crying alone because her family abandoned her? How scared she must of been to wake and find out she's blind? If not for the candle blessing her glasses with the magic she would be a world of complete darkness alone but even with them she's living in a blur . But he candle at least showed some mercy which is more than you did."

"If she didn't touch the candle she wouldn't be blind, she got what she deserved though in my opinion she didn't deserve being showed mercy she should of lost her sight completely at least that way she shouldn't be a threat, if she couldn't see at all she could no nothing and we would all be safer!" Alma smugly turned to face the family behind her to be greeted by a sea of shocked faces "I know it sounds harsh but it's the truth. Of course I wish Mirabel has gotten a gift and could serve the community alongside the rest of you but it was not to be. You are ALL to stay way from her. I will not let her hurt this family." grabbing a plate "Now all of you must eat quickly today we are all ready behind."

Dolores waited until everyone else had grabbed their plates in an awkward silence only broken by the thundering coming from Pepa and filed out the kitchen before walking up to Julieta and putting her arms around her startling the older woman "I don't care what Abuela says." she began quietly "I promised you I'll look after Mirabel and I will. Abuela is wrong she is the one hurting the family not Mirabel."

Juileta returned the embrace of her sobrina "Thank you Dolores. It's still very hard but I can sleep a bit easier knowing she has you to look after her."

"Tía Juileta I want to bring Mirabel into here."

Julieta's eyes rose "Oh I would like that too but.."

"No, not to stay though I want that too. Once everyone is out I was going to bring her in to take care of her hygiene, she said she doesn't like asking at the Pérez house. But if she stays the way she is she is going to get ill. I just want to get her out of those filthy clothes, get her in a tub to get all that muck off and do something about that hair. Clearly the river isn't cutting it she doesn't even own a bar of soap."

"Oh, Dolores if you could do that for her...I would do it but..."

"You can't get away long during the day without Abuela getting suspicious I know, I'll take care of it. I don't know what clothes she has in the barn that are clean but I have an old dress that will fit her perfectly she can wear."

Julieta bit her lip "If she gets seen wearing it your Abuela will know.."

"Just until I can wash her own clothing."

"Gracias Dolores, gracias. When were you planning on doing this?"

"Today."

Julieta nodded "I'll try and slip away, I'll think of something. Just long enough to see her...even if just a moment."

A smile spread across Dolore's face "Mirabel would love that I know." feeling happier now she had approval of her plan she picked up her now cold eggs "Tía Julieta?"

"Yes, mi sobrina?"

"If it won't be too much hassle, could you make something extra later. For Mirabel and me?"

"For Mirabel and you? Of course, say no more."

"Gracias."

A smile spread across Julieta's face "No need to thank me." reaching down she picked up a small basket of almojábanas "Could you deliver these to Mirabel?"

Dolores took the basket "Por supuesto, no need to ask. Adiós, Tía." Dolores left the house taking her usual path going around the backroads. Should she tell Mirabel about this morning events? She wasn't going to react well that's for sure. But she deserved to know. She was going to know.

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"Abuela said what?!"

"That it would of been better if you lost your vision completely so you can't harm anyone." Dolores told Mirabel she was sitting across from the younger girl telling her of the mornings events.

Mirabel growled under her breath at that thought "Gee, she sure knows how to make me feel loved doesn't she." she took a bite out of a almojábana "I'm just sad I couldn't be there to see Mamá call Abeula out."

"Wait until you hear about what happened before that."

"Do tell."

"Luisa said she was losing her gift."

Mirabel froze just as she was about to take another bite "She is?"

Dolores nodded "That's what she said, I don't know all the details but I have noticed her door flickering."

"How...unfortunate.." Mirabel let a small smile slip onto her face "What would the town do without their personal carthorse?" she let out a mock gasp "They might actually have to learn to do things themselves..oh what a tragedy."

Dolores couldn't help but let out a small giggle before her expression turned serious "Mirabel?"

"Sí?"

She had no idea why she was doing this but if she kept it in much longer she felt as if she would burst "I know about the prophecy. And I know what you're doing. You want to destroy the miracle and get rid of the gifts."

Mirabel just stared mouth wide in shock "H-h-how?"

"I hear everything Mirabel, I overheard it on the night of your ceremony when Tío Bruno first had the vision. I overheard it when you were thrown out. I started putting everything together, you see how the gifts are just harming us more than they help. You know it's Abuela is the one hurting the family over her obsession with the miracle. The miracle that destroyed you so you're going to destroy it back."

"Then why stay with me? If you knew all along? You know I want to take your gift away."

"I want you to take it away. I hate my gift, I always have. I don't want to hear everything all the time, I just want to live a normal life."

Mirabel blinked in surprise "Is that the only reason?"

Dolores shook her head "No, you were right Abuela just sees us as tools not the beloved family she should cherish. Look how she treats you, wishing her own nieta would loose her vision completely just so the candle would be safer. If it takes destroying that darned candle for her to see us than that's what we will do."

"We?"

Dolores reached over and grabbed Mirabel's hands "I'm going to help you, I know your strategy one by one you're going to make everyone see what Abuela is really doing. Once Abuela no longer has control over the family...you strike."

"You really have me all figured out don't you?"

"I hear you in here of a night talking to yourself, making plans while everyone else sleeps you're in here thinking up some revenge plot against your own Abuela."

Mirabel let out a snort "When you say it like that, it sounds ridiculous."

"And after that we can be a family again, I know it won't erase your trauma or make you forget everything you been through. But we can begin anew-all of us."

"I won't be forgiving Abuela."

Dolores sighed "I don't expect you too and but lets not worry about that now prima. Today let me take care of you, at the end of the day you are still a child and since your madre can't be there for you because of Abuela, I will. Today we are going to the Casita."

"The Casita..why?"

"Remember me mentioning getting you a bath, it's happening today." Dolores stood up grabbed Mirabel's hand to pull her up "You look like you been rolling in the dirt, your clothes are filthy, your hair is a mess and the smell is getting overpowering. When's the last time you washed?"

"Umm..."

"Exactly, come on."

With a defeated groan Mirabel allowed herself to be guided along the pathways towards Casita "You sure everybody is gone?"

"Yes, stop worrying I got you."

"It's not me I'm worried about."

""I'll be fine, your mother is going to try and come see you later."

Mirabel's face lit up at the thought "I'm going to get to see Mamá?" her voice filled with childlike excitement.

Dolores couldn't help but smile "Well she's going to try and get away. I'm sure she'll find a way if it's to see you." the pair remained silent until they were right outside Casita's door to the surprise of both the door opened for them and the window shutters almost seem to wave at the two.

"Casita?" Mirabel whispered before the ground started moving under her feet almost throwing her into the house, losing her balance she began to fall forward. Casita rapidly moved a cushion to soften her fall and she landed with a 'humph'.

Dolores slowly followed behind her "I guess that answers the question if Casita will let you in, gracias Casita." the tiles flipped happily in response. Dolores grabbed Mirabel's arm to help her up "Come along, lets get you cleaned up.". Dolores quickly stopped by her room emerging with a yellow dress and ribbon before leading Mirabel towards the upstairs bathroom.

Mirabel paused in the doorway "You know, I never really thought how creepy it would be to others..you know the fact this house has a mind of it's own. It's real-ow" she was cut off when the door smacked her in the head "Hey-" smacked again.

"Casita!" Dolores seemed to be scolding the house "That's not very nice, she does have a point." the was a creak and a groan coming the house.

Was it just Mirabel or did the house seem..ashamed? Shrugging it off she allowed Dolores to pull her rest of the way and close the door behind them. "Just so you know, I can bathe myself."

"Yeah, you look it." Dolores put the clothing down where it wouldn't get wet as Casita starting running the bath. "I'll be taking those." Dolores gently removed the glasses from Mirabel's face "We don't want them being accidentally broken."

Surrendering to her fate she allowed Dolores to help her remove the dirty clothing and guide her into the bath "I have to get mi prima to bathe me...am I really this pathetic?"

"It's not pathetic to accept you need help, Mirabel." Dolores commented as she scrubbed at Mirabel's arm with a bar of soap "I just wish I helped sooner."

Mirabel just closed her eyes letting herself relax and enjoying something which was a luxury for her, something so simple as a bath which everyone else took for granted was quite a treat. Mirabel knew even though she had shelter, the barn wasn't a house so essentially she was homeless.

After scrubbing all the dirt off and washing her hair. Dolores helped Mirabel dry off and put on the yellow dress she picked, just as she thought it was a perfect fit. Coming the knots out of her hair took some effort and a lot of 'ows' from Mirabel and 'sorries' from Dolores but in the end she was pleased with herself finishing it off with a yellow ribbon to match the dress "This is more like it." Dolores grinned admiring her handiwork "Talk about before and after." placing the glasses back on Mirabel's face she stood back still smiling before freezing and looking towards the door.

"Is someone back?" Mirabel whispered eyes wide.

"Dolores?" Julieta's voice called out.

Relief filled Dolores as she placed her arm around Mirabel's shoulders. Her dirty clothes under the other. Making their way down to the kitchen Dolores called out "Tía Julieta."

Julieta spun around face lighting up see her daughter "Mira!" she ran over pulled her daughter into a hug "Oh Mira..."

"Mamá." Mirabel whispered buried her face into Julieta's side "Te amo y te extraño."

"Te amo más y te extraño más." Julieta whispered back pulling a hand free to run her fingers through her daughters hair "Dolores did a wonderful job with your hair, mi amor." she looked over at Dolores "You have no idea how much this means to us.."

"No, I think I do." Dolores smiled "I'm glad to do this, I don't care what Abuela has to say about it. Mirabel is family." she glanced down at the dirty clothes she was holding "I'll leave you two alone while I go wash these. I'll call out if I see someone coming."

"Gracias, Dolores." Mirabel's voice was muffled as she kept her face buried into Julieta.

Julieta without loosing her hold on her daughter guided her over to the sitting room sitting down on the couch pulling her daughter tighter as if she never wanted to let her go "Oh, mi preciosa pequeña mariposa."

"We shouldn't have to sneak around like this Mamá."

"I know mi vida, I know...it's not fair." Julieta pulled Mirabel into her lap "You're so thin, cariño. Oh I just want to keep you here and feed you up." she began rocking her daughter as if she was an infant and not a teenager of fifteen years.

"Dolores told me about what happened this morning. With you and Abuela. She wishes I was fully blind."

"Oh we will be hearing about that again that's for sure, right now she is focused on Isabela's proposal dinner."

"Which you'll have to do all the work for of course." Mirabel leaned her head on Julieta's shoulder "You do the work so she can take the glory. Does Abuela ever do anything? Besides being a heartless old witch that is."

Julieta sighed "You know how it is, she makes the arrangements for us to work and we must oblige."

Mirabel let out a hmph "You need to rest too, Mamá. I watch you and by the end of the day you look like you're about to drop where you stand. And that's even before you made dinner. I know Tía Pepa helps you now but you're still so overworked. Some of the injuries people come to you for could easily be fixed with a bandaid. People should only come to you if it's a serious injury like a broken bone or a major open wound. Enough with you having to worry about healing a stubbed toe."

"Oh Mira..."

"You stood up to Abuela this morning." Mirabel pointed out "So why backdown now? This town needs to start learning to take care of themselves. If Abuela has a problem with it she can get on her broomstick and fly off."

"Mira.." Julieta let a snort of laughter out under her breath in the distance they heard the soft laughter of Dolores who couldn't help but listen into the conversation. She sat up "You hungry, mi corazón? I can get you some lunch."

Mirabel just nodded keeping her mother's hand in her grasp as they entered the kitchen, Casita pulling out a middle chair for her.

Dolores joined them in the kitchen "I washed your clothes and hung them up to dry, you won't believe the dirt that came out of them." she took the seat on Mirabel's left looking at her younger cousin with a smile "Fly off on her broomstick..gotta remember that one." all three laughed as Julieta put a plate of empanadas on table.

"Help yourselves." Julieta smiled taking the seat to the other side of Mirabel "How did you get in exactly anyway? I still remember Casita throwing you out the door like ragdoll."

"Well this time, Casita threw me in. I don't know why, last time Casita I tried to come here locked the door then threw a flowerpot at my head." Mirabel snorted taking a bite of a empanada. The three talked and joked with each other as they ate, Mirabel's gaze kept drifting over the the family tree on the wall the one that no longer held her image. Mirabel wasn't sure how much time had passed when Dolores suddenly sat up straighter and looked towards the door but from judging the light outside they had been sititng there for hours.

"They are coming back..we lost track of time..if you go out the door they'll see you." Dolores jumped from the chair and grabbed Mirabel "I'll take you to my room, they won't be able to hear you in there." before Mirabel or Julieta could say a word Dolores was rushing her up the stairs and pushing her into her room quickly closing the door behind them "Listen, you must stay here tonight."

"All night?"

"You could try sneak out once everyone has gone to bed but it'll be so dark you won't even be able to see where you're going. So just sleep here tonight, I'll bring you some dinner. Just please..just please do not leave this room."

"I ran out of here in the middle of the night after Antonio's ceremony.."

Dolores crossed her arms "I'm not budging on this, you're staying here."

"I guess I can't deny spending a night sleeping like an actual human instead of a donkey."

"Good, once everyone leaves tomorrow you can come out." Dolores looked around picking up the embroidery kit she purchased at Mirabel's insistence "Here, work on this and once again do not leave this room." after making sure Mirabel was settled Dolores left the room quickly closing the door behind her to be greeted by Julieta "I'll keep her in my room tonight, I know you want to but don't go see her in there.."

"I know it'll look very suspicious." Julieta sighed longingly looking towards the door.

"By the way..how did you get away today-'

"Julieta." Alma's voice called out as the elderly woman climbed the stairs "Still got the upset stomach?" her tone made it clear she didn't believe one word of Julieta's story.

"Oh, no it's fine now. I just needed the lay down." Julieta forced a smile on her face "I'll be fine to make dinner."

"Good. And I hope there will be no more childish behaviour like this morning." Alma scoffed before looking at Dolores "And where were you today?"

"Sensory overload..I been in my room." it took everything Dolores's power to not scream at the old woman.

"Well...you haven't been doing much at all lately. Get your act together and stop being so lazy." Alma walked off before either her daughter or granddaughter could comment."

Dolores whispered so only Julieta could hear "Not doing much? Lazy? She is one to talk-"

Julieta placed a hand on her shoulder "I know..I know..come on, your mother is helping me with dinner. I'll love if you could help too."

"Of course, Tía."

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Mirabel sat crosslegged on the bed humming to herself shoes discarded on the floor jumping slightly when the door opened.

"Just me." Dolores entered carrying a bowl of soup "I bought you some soup. Not as hot as when we had it but still warm."

"Gracias." Mirabel accepted the bowl as Dolores sat next to her on the bed "You something tells me you're enjoying this..doing something you know will make Abuela blow."

"Oh believe me, I am. But I no longer care to please Abuela. My priority is your welfare. I worry about you the way you're living"

"You don't need too." Mirabel finished the soup "But it's nice to know you care, five years since I got to sleep in an actual house."

Dolores took the bowl placing it on the side table "I promised Tía I would look after you, and I am going to just that. And together we will put an end to this mess." as she spoke she pulled the ribbon out of Mirabel's hair and taking her glasses and laying her down "Rest now baby cousin." Dolores whispered as she stroked her cheek.

Mirabel wanted to protest about being treated like a baby but at the same time she found it comforting...soothing. It brought her back to the time before her failed gift ceremony, when she was shielded from the cold cruel reality of the world. The words of a soft lullaby filled her ears, she remembered as the one Dolores would sing her and Camilo all those years ago. With a contented sigh Mirabel drifted off to sleep.

Dolores gently pulled the blanket over Mirabel before laying down next to her, arm wrapped around the younger girl protectively. This is how things should have been, gift or no gift. Glancing down at her cousin Dolores and sighed she looked so small for her age the years of malnutrition having taken their toll. If she didn't know about the vision the thought of this puny girl being able to destroy anything would of made her laugh. "You're not alone anymore Mira.." Dolores whispered "Abuela will finally see what she has done."

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And yes Mirabel spent the five years between her gift ceremony and being kicked out never leaving the house. More on that to come.

Review responses:

KaliAnn: I like to think as Mirabel and Camilo as best friends when they were younger, playing pranks and causing all sorts of mischief together. But the movie just has it 'oh he is my cousin' and thats it.

Z-King: Won't be happy that's for sure but what is she going to do about it.

World'snumber1scaredycat: Yep, and Alma would never see it coming. Completely unaware that Dolores is working directly with Mirabel.

God of the Challenge: Really? I have not seen anything about that. But it's something for me to consider for future stories.

Avian: And now that's going to be in my head, thanks lol