Chapter Text
“Hey Mamá, I’m back!”
Camila looks up from her tablet and smiles at the voice of her daughter coming through the door. She can practically hear the smile in Luz’s voice - and sure enough, when Luz enters the kitchen, she’s practically bouncing off the walls, a radiant grin on her face.
“Did you have a good time yesterday?” Camila asks, even though the answer is obvious.
“Oh, yeah, amazing!” Luz replies. “Amity took me to this pop-up market outside Bonesborough, which I never knew existed before, and it had all of these cool foods I could actually digest. Then we went back to hers, and I think she wanted us to have some alone time, but her whole family was there, plus Darius and Hunter, and it actually turned into a chaotic movie night and sleepover.”
“Ah, so that’s why you’ve come back in the morning,” Camila replies with a grin. “I thought something else was happening.”
“Mooom,” Luz groans, slumping into a chair. “You sound like Eda.”
“Considering how much you respect her, I’ll take that as a compliment,” Camila says teasingly, but she gives her daughter a comforting pat on the shoulder as a sorry regardless. “I’m glad you had a good time, mija.”
Luz smiles at her, bright and wide. “Yeah, it really was amazing.” She sighs. “Amity is so amazing.”
There’s a tiny something lurking behind those words, a little complicated feeling, and Camila wants to investigate. “She is, isn’t she, hmm?”
Luz nods, her hands nervously wringing together on top of the table. “I love her so much,” she says, “what if it’s a little too much?”
“What do you mean?” Camila frowns, leaning forward.
“It’s just like-“ Luz throws up her hands. “We’re only seventeen, Mamá. Most of the other couples at Hexside are so… casual. Skara has like ten boyfriends a month. Aren’t Amity and I like… a bit too much for a seventeen year old couple? Everyone says high school romance never lasts anyway.”
“Well, I think it does,” Camila replies. “Your tía Lucía met her husband when they were both fourteen, too. And I met Manny in college. Even though we were a few years older than you and Amity, plenty of people told us you never meet the one you truly love in college, and that we were destined to break up.”
“That’s just bull-… er, nonsense,” Luz cries, hastily switching up word choice after a Look from Camila.
“It was,” Camila agrees. “We were obsessed with each other, quite frankly. And deep down, we know what we had was destined to last.” Her voice always sounds a bit funny when she talks about Manny, she can’t help it, so she clears her throat and moves on. “With you and Amity, yes, you did meet very young, but with the amount you two have been through together? I think your love is very, very strong. And if any other Hexside students have been saying anything about you two, they just don’t understand.” She raises her eyebrows at Luz. “Has anyone said anything?”
Luz shakes her head. “Nah. Just my stupid brain.”
“Hey, don’t call it stupid,” Camila tuts. “It’s a valid worry to have, mija. But you and Amity love each other, so you should just focus on that.”
Luz’s hands are still anxiously wringing together. “That’s the other thing, though. What if… I kinda love her more than she loves me?”
For the sake of her daughter, Camila holds in her laughter. But she still lets a smile spread across her face. “Luz. If Manny and I were obsessed with each other, then I don’t even have a word strong enough to describe the way that girl feels about you.”
Luz’s cheeks go a little pink, and she looks down at the table again. “…Yeah.”
“Come on. Didn’t she set up this whole nice, romantic fancy date for you both? She specifically went out of her way to find a food stall in the Isles that had stuff you can eat. She does everything you’d do for her. You know that.”
“I do,” Luz concedes. “Again, it’s just, I dunno. I can’t stop doubting myself, sometimes. Like I’m just being… too much, again. But I know that’s stupid.”
Camila reaches out to touch Luz’s arm. Luz gives her a weak smile. “It’s not stupid. No worry of yours is stupid. I’m glad you’re telling me all of this.”
Luz nods, her smile growing a little. “I just feel a bit silly worrying like this after such a good date.”
“It’s human nature to worry, I’m afraid,” Camila replies. “But maybe you could tell Amity some of what you’ve told me. I’m sure she’d agree with everything I’m saying. Every conversation we have, she finds a way to talk about you.”
“Really?” Luz asks.
“Yes, of course!” Camila replies. “Unless I beat her to it and bring you up first. Because I love my wonderful daughter so much.”
“Ah, okay, I get it,” Luz says, burying her face in her arms. Then she peeks out, smiling. “I love you too, Mamá.”
“I know,” Camila replies happily. She gives Luz’s arm another squeeze. “Now, are you staying today? Vee’s round a friend’s too, but she’ll be back soon. And Hunter’s returning from Darius’s house in the evening.”
“Yeah, I’m here today,” Luz replies. “I can talk to Amity tomorrow.”
“Alright, I’ll make something then,” Camila says, standing up and heading for her stove.
“Oh, I already ate,” Luz replies, adding: “sort of?”
“Was it something I would consider a full and nutritious breakfast?” Camila replies.
“…It was Hex-Mix.”
“As your mother, you know it’s my duty to feed you again,” Camila replies, turning up the heat with one of the stove’s knobs. “If you can even call that stuff food.”
“You slander it, but there’s literally some in the cupboards here,” Luz hits back. “I’ve seen it!”
“I keep that Hex-Mix for Vee,” Camila airily replies, turning her body away from Luz so her daughter can’t see her face. She stills hears a doubtful snort from behind her, though.
“...By the way, when is Vee getting back?” Luz asks, after a pause.
“Hmm, not for a couple of hours. Why?”
“Oh. Can we do something just us, then? Before she comes home.” Camila turns to face Luz, and sees her daughter giving her a small smile. “I feel bad, because I wanna spend more time with you, but I’m away with Amity or for Hexside classes a lot, I know, and… yeah. I wish I was here more.”
Camila puts down the knife she was already chopping vegetables with, and moves around the table to wrap Luz in a loving embrace. “Oh, mija, it’s okay,” she says softly. “I know you’re busy. You’re growing up, I’ve accepted that you’re going to be away from home a lot. But you are always welcome back here. Of course we can do something.” She presses a kiss into Luz’s hair. “What did you have in mind?”
“...I know we’re just eating breakfast now, but can we go and get milkshakes from our favourite place after?” Luz says shyly, as if her request was entirely unreasonable. As if Camila wasn’t about to burst into tears.
“That sounds like a great idea. Milkshakes to wash down our breakfast are in order, I think,” Camila replies, letting Luz go with one last squeeze. “And you should know I can never say no to my sweet tooth.”
“I know,” Luz replies, smiling, and Camila basks in it for another moment, seeing her daughter so happy. She isn’t sure how she’s managed this life, with three teenage kids who still want to spend time with her, and a whole community (mostly consisting of witches) to support her, but she’ll take it.
Her morning with Luz continues peacefully, the two of them humming to songs on the radio together, and when Luz’s phone buzzes, her face lights up with her distinct Amity smile, thumbs eagerly tapping out a reply.
Luz will be okay. Camila knows it.