Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Madrigals began to trickle in just as Julieta set out the last of the dishes for people to serve themselves from. After the usual banter and small talk, everyone took their seats and started eating.

Well; almost everyone.

Pepa frowned as she took note of the empty spot at the table. And it only grew as she realized that while there was one unclaimed plate, there were two faces missing from lunch.

“Juli,” she asked as her sister finally stopped fussing about everyone’s food and took her own seat, ”Where are Luisa and Mirabel?”

Julieta blinked, finally noticing her middle child wasn’t among them. “I’m not sure… Dolores do you know where Luisa is?” she asked her sobrina. Dolores cocked her head obligingly.

“She’s rerouting the river for Señora Ozma,” she answered plainly before returning to her soup.

“Oh. She must have lost track of time,” Julieta stared in the direction of the river, as if she could see her daughter. “I hope she remembers to join us when she’s done.”

“And Mirabel?” Pepa cocked an eyebrow; Luisa still working unexpectedly didn’t explain why there was only one extra spot at the table. Before Julieta could explain, Antonio jumped in.

“Mirabel’s gone. She left this morning,” he stated point blank.

“WHAT?!” Pepa shrieked, a near black storm cloud immediately poofing into existence over her head with a crack of thunder.

Mirabel paused mid-step, one foot still raised off the ground, as a peal of thunder rolled up from behind her. Half-turning back, she checked the skies and wind for signs of a storm. Not seeing any dark clouds rolling over the mountain edged horizon, she concluded that the most likely culprit was her tía.

For a brief moment, she wondered if her aunt had just learned she’d left and was upset about it...

“Snrk- nah!” Mirabel snorted, shaking her head. “She probably just tripped again. …Hm, hope she’s okay…”

She thought about it for a moment, then shrugged; there wasn’t anything she could do from here. Furthermore, she was on vacation. Resuming her walk, Mirabel relaxed with the knowledge that if something was wrong her tío Félix or someone else would soon set it to rights.

“On a trip!” Julieta exclaimed, grabbing a jug of juice before it could be knocked over by the winds Pepa had conjured up. “She’s gone on a trip and will be back in a week!”

“Oh! Oh…,” Pepa sighed in relief, giving Félix a soft smile as he quickly put her dinnerware back to order. 

“Antonio, maybe you should add the ‘trip’ part when people ask you where Mirabel is, okay?” Dolores explained to her brother with a gentle smile.

“Okay. Why?” Antonio cocked his head.

“So you don’t give people heart attacks,” Camilo deadpanned.

“Where did she go?” Isabela asked, still shaking off the shock of learning her youngest sister wasn’t… here.

“Do you remember that little waterfall we found a few years ago?” Agustín answered, “With a little clearing right next to it?”

“The one that’s on the other end of the valley?” Isabela asked, wide-eyed in surprise.

“Mhm,” he nodded. “She should be nearly halfway there at this point. …Hopefully.”

“And she just left?” Félix asked his cuñado, “On the day her sister is set to get proposed to?”

“She’d already made plans when she learned of the engagement dinner this morning,” Julieta answered for her husband, before looking at her eldest. “And while she’s sorry to miss it she didn’t want to delay her trip any longer. Lo siento, honey, I know this is a big night for you.”

Isabela smiled reassuringly at her mother, “It’s fine Mamá; if she’d already made plans then she’d already made plans.”

“That’s right,” Abuela stated, deftly cutting into her meal. “If Mirabel didn’t see fit to stay for her family then that is on her.”

“Mother-” Julieta hissed but Alma cut her off.

“The dinner will go on as planned, Isabela will be proposed to by Mariano, and that is final.” The look on the matriarch’s face would allow no arguments to the contrary and the family quietly submitted to that, returning to their lunch and previous conversations.

No one dared to acknowledge the hole that was left; far greater in size than a lone empty chair or a plate that was left unused in the cabinet.

Later

Isabela sighed as she moved through town, calling up blankets of flowers whenever requested. She did her best to keep her ‘everything is fine and I’m happy’ smile on her face, but apparently her best wasn’t good enough.

“Isabela?” Mariano asked as he approached her as she bloomed flowers up along someone’s balcony, “Is everything alright?”

“Of course,” she acknowledged, waving to the thankful homeowner before turning to face her future-betrothed politely, “Everything is…wonderful! How are you?”

“Oh! I’m fine! Thank you for asking,” he smiled before his brow furrowed again, “I’m sorry, it’s just…you seem…sad, today?”

Isabela mentally kicked herself even as she remained outwardly poised. Today– well, tonight really –was her engagement! Of course she shouldn’t look sad; she should be thrilled! She was getting set to marry ‘a fine young man’, after all.

She opened her mouth to assure him again that everything was just fine...when she had an idea. It was a long shot, but if she played it just right…

Isabela allowed her shoulders to slump, just a little, and bowed her head with a sigh, eyes closed and the barest hint of a pout; the picture of restrained sadness.

“Isabela?” She could practically hear the concern in his eyes as well as his voice as she looked up with a smile she knew didn’t reach her own eyes.

“I’m sorry, it’s just–” she paused to bite her lip, making herself look conflicted, “–my sister, Mirabel? She left for an impromptu camping trip this morning.”

“Really?” Mariano’s brow furrowed even more, “By herself?”

“Yes, and she’ll be fine!” Isabela rushed to explain, playing the ‘concerned but trying not to be sister’, “I know she will; Papá taught all of us how to survive in the wild. It’s just…I don’t blame her for leaving, after yesterday…”

Mariano winced, “Ay…I know she loves Antonio– they’re always laughing together when I see them around town –but I’m sure it was still hard…” He trailed off, not able to say the obvious. Dios he was really sweet and compassionate, wasn’t he?

“Of course,” Isabela agreed, “So I can’t be upset at her for taking some time for herself-” However selfish it actually is, she internally growled, “-but…no, it’s silly. Forget it,” she turned away, making like she was leaving and did her best to hide her grimace as she felt Mariano– very gently –take her hand to stop her.

“No, what? If it’s upsetting you then it’s not silly.” She bit her lip, though mindful of her lipstick.

She held her ‘conflicted expression’ for a beat more then said, “It’s just that I wanted my family to be there for the engagement. My whole family,” she reiterated, “And it’s silly because it’s only the engagement! There will be so many other events I know Mirabel will be here for: like the dress fitting, the rehearsal, the wedding itself- ”

“But you want your whole family to be there,” Mariano stated, understanding blooming in his eyes. Isabela gave him a smile and scrunched her eyes like she was holding back tears.

“Like I said,” she shrugged, “Silly.”

“Do you know when Mirabel is coming back?” he asked and Isabela could have pumped her fist in satisfaction; he was taking the bait!

Outwardly she furrowed her brows as if thrown by the slight, ‘unexpected’, turn of the conversation, “I think she said a week? Maybe two?” Mariano smiled and nodded his head decisively.

“Bueno. Then we’ll just postpone the engagement dinner until the day she gets back.” He frowned for a moment, then amended, “-Or maybe the day after; I’m sure she’ll be tired from her trip. I’ll explain everything to my mother, I’m sure she’ll understand!”

Yes! “No, Mariano,” Isabela ‘argued’, “I can’t ask you to do that-” he cut her off by bringing her hand up and pressing the faintest of kisses on her knuckles.

“Isabela, I have waited a lifetime for this, for you ,” ugh, why was he so sweet, “In the face of that? A few more weeks is nothing .” Mariano’s eyes lit up and he dropped her hand to pull a small notebook from his pocket. “Ooh, that wasn’t half bad…” he said, jotting something down and mumbling to himself, leaving Isabela to stare at him for a few moments.

“...Ahem,” Isabela cleared her throat delicately, making him snap his head back up to her. “Your mother?” she nudged.

“Ah! Yes!” He snapped his notebook shut and shoved it back where it belonged. “I’ll go tell her right now!” Mariano snapped his fingers, “And I’ll tell your mother as I pass her in the square! I’d hate to have her start making a fancy meal when we aren’t even coming!” With a wave good-bye, he spun on his heel and strode away to apparently do just that.

Isabela watched him go and let out a simple sigh that belied the complicated mass of emotions she felt.

He was kind, warm, and undeniably attractive. He was not the smartest man in town– she’d once overheard him struggle to find a word that rhymes with ‘flower’; for an hour, and it took a bit of power for her not to glower lest she made the mood sour. But he more than made up for it with his compassion and enthusiasm to help others. He was practically perfect and would fit right in with the rest of her family.

So why couldn’t she love him?

She shook her head and chastised herself. No, she didn’t love him yet. She could and would learn, and she’d just bought herself more time to do so!

In the past few years Isabela and Mirabel had gained a tendency to butt heads– her, forced into a ‘perfect’ mold, while Mirabel got to live freely and had the audacity to be ungrateful about it! Here Isabela was, putting aside her own feelings for the sake of her family, and Mirabel didn’t seem to grasp that that included her too! Marrying whoever Abuela picked out for her would mean that the rest of the grandkids, Luisa and Mirabel especially, would probably be free to love who they chose to love.

But did Mirabel get that? NooOOOooo .

So overall, Isabela was rather pleased with how the day had turned out, even if it was because of her youngest sister. She got to have one more week of being as free as she was ever going to be and she didn’t have to worry about tripping over her hermanita while she did so.

With a flip of her hair that sent more petals fluttering into the breeze, Isabela continued her walk through the town.

Have fun, hermanita! Isabela thought with a smile, allowing some of her true feelings to show. And take as much time as you need. Afterall, I can’t miss you if you’re not gone!

As a matter of fact, Mirabel was having fun. She’d found a natural grove of pitaya trees and had stopped to have a late lunch of the tasty fruit, opting to save her mothers’ cooking for emergencies.

At the moment she was using the flat edge of her knife to carve out chunks of the fruit’s ‘meat’ to eat; too lazy to dig out the spoon she had tucked away in her bag. While she did so she stared at the still-whole fruits, contemplating the best way to embroider them.

A fir stitch would be best, she thought, cheek bulging as she chewed, But do I want the colors to jump straight from magenta to green or do I want a color in the middle to act as a gradient? Or maybe an actual gradient...

Taking another bite, Mirabel eyed the sun’s location in the sky. She’d been making good time but only had a few more hours until it would dip below the mountains. She would have to start moving again soon. Finishing off the pitaya in her hand, and storing more for the rest of her trek, Mirabel brushed off her skirt and resumed hiking.

As she walked, she wondered how things were going back home. It was just about time for afternoon tea.

“I hope Luisa remembers to stop to eat something,” she wished as she carried on towards her destination.

Luisa stretched her shoulders with a groan as she dropped off one last pallet of bricks for the construction of a new house that was planned for tomorrow. Rubbing her neck, she glanced around and was surprised to find the town quieting down as people said their good-byes and returned home.

Well it makes sense, she thought as she looked up at a twilight-hued sky, It is dinnertime after all…

“Ay Dios, dinner! ” Luisa panicked as she started sprinting for home. She’d completely forgotten about Isabela’s engagement dinner! She’d just gotten so caught by this request and that task, that she’d barely even seen a glimpse of any of her family all day–

Luisa blinked as it occurred to her just how odd that was. It was normal for her chores to take her all over the place, including way out into the fields outside of town, so she didn’t run into her familia all that often.

But more often than not Mirabel had a habit of running into her . More specifically, she seemed to be the one who would make an effort to find Luisa when it was time to go home for lunch, or sometimes just to have a snack or cup of coffee with her.

Luisa’s rumbling stomach startled her into almost stumbling; chiming in as if to point out that not only has she not seen her little sister since breakfast, but that she also hasn’t had anything besides a lone piece of fruit to eat since then either. And that had been, what? Several hours ago?

Around lunch time, she thinks.

When Mirabel would usually call her back home, but hadn’t.

A heavy feeling began brewing in her stomach as she finally reached Casita’s front door, and Luisa didn’t think it was just hunger.

Reducing her sprint to a light jog, Luisa entered her home and made a beeline for the kitchen, predictably finding her mother standing at the stove. As soon as she saw her, Luisa began spouting apologies.

“Mamá I’m here- I’m so sorry I’m late; the donkeys got out again, then I rerouted the river, then I had to go to the quarry and I completely lost track of time and have you seen Mirabel anywhere-”

“Luisa, Luisa! Calm down, it’s okay,” Julieta assured her daughter, leaving her pots and pans to grab one of Luisa’s flailing hands. “You’re not late for anything, I was just putting the finishing touches on dinner.”

Luisa’s shoulders sagged with relief. “Oh good. I was afraid I missed dinner with the Guzmáns.”

“You didn’t because it got canceled,” Camilo drawled as he walked past her carrying plates for the table.

“Wha- canceled? What?!”

“Oh, Isabela and Mariano decided to postpone the engagement party until after Mirabel comes back,” Julieta explained, only succeeding in making Luisa even more confused.

“Back? Back from where? Mira’s not here?”

“ Ay mija, I’m so sorry!” her mother apologized, “I haven’t seen you since breakfast so I completely forgot to tell you- wait, have you eaten since breakfast?”

“Wha- no but that’s not-”

“Luisa Madrigal, if the next words out of your mouth are ‘that’s not important’, I am going to be very disappointed in you. Eating is important; especially when you work as hard as you do!”

“ Ooh, someone’s in trouble,” Camilo teased, catching the look on Luisa’s face that meant that that is very much what she was going to say.

“Stay out of this, Cami,” Luisa glared lightly before focusing wide eyes on her mother again. “Mamá, where is Mirabel?”

“Discuple, your sister left this morning on a little camping trip,” Julieta finally explained.

“She…left?”

“Gonna be gone all week,” Camilo called as he walked past again, arms precariously full of glasses this time.

Luisa felt her traitorous eyes begin to water. “She left…without saying good-bye?”

“Oh querida,” Julieta murmured as she wrapped her child in a hug as best she could, feeling Luisa’s arms automatically wrap around her in turn. “She wanted to, but ran out of time; she wanted to cross the whole valley by nightfall.”

“But- but-” But I didn’t get to say good-bye. I didn’t know I had to say good-bye. Did I do something wrong? Did I not do something?! Is it my fault- is she mad at me?! She’s my baby sister and I didn’t-

“Hey,” Julieta said gently, calling her daughter out of her spiraling thoughts. “She just needed a break; some alone time. That’s all . It has nothing to do with you or anyone else. Okay?” Luisa sniffled, but nodded her head. Julieta smiled softly at her, wincing slightly as she heard the pot behind begin to hiss; dinner. “Bueno. Now, go wash up. I’ll make your plate, so don’t feel like you have to rush.” 

Luisa nodded again, not trusting herself to speak, and released her mother so that she could make sure dinner didn’t burn. Shoulders drooping from more than just exhaustion, she turned and trudged her way out of the kitchen and up the stairs.

Her mamá may have claimed Mirabel’s trip had nothing to do with her, but Luisa couldn’t help but disagree. In order to take a break you needed there to be something to be a break from.

Mirabel left on a trip by herself.

Mirabel needed a break from the family.

A break from her.

Somehow, someway, she’d become someone her baby sister had needed a break from.

Today alone Luisa had performed feats of strength that would have impressed Hercules.

But now she only felt like she’d failed someone she was meant to protect.