Chapter Text
Sunday was Mother's Day in Gravesfield and Camila Noceda was sleeping peacefully in her bed.
She begins to stir in her sleep when the filtered sunlight hits her eyes as she eventually wakes up.
Shifting her gaze to the right, she notices the empty space beside her on the bed.
A soft smile started to bloom on Camila's face.
'He must be downstairs making my coffee,' Camila thought to herself, the image of Beardo Philip in her mind filling her coffee cup with an adorable, sleepy dad smile causing a comforting warmth to rise in her chest and cheeks.
After a long yawn, followed by a stretch of her arms, Camila sits up, planting one foot on the rug beside her bed as she steps on something...
The sole of her foot steps on something soft.
It wasn't the usual texture of the rug nor was it the floor, but rather something unexpectedly pliant and strangely springy.
Something like...
"A marshmallow?" Camila inquires with a bewildered tone and a raised foot.
She continued to stare at the deflated pink-colored confectionery, her gaze fixed on it.
'Hmm... this is odd... ,' Camila told herself as she turned to the mirror hanging over one of her nightstands.
A pink sticky note declared in familiar, scribbly handwriting, "Follow the trail! :)"
"Follow the...?" Camila's eyes drifted back to the floor and she finally noticed the path of scattered, fruit-flavored pastel puffs that led from the foot of her bed to her bedroom door.
When she opened her door, she saw more marshmallows leading to the stairs like a sugary breadcrumb trail.
The sweet and soft pathway caused Camila to chuckle, a playful smile dancing on her lips.
"Looks like Alma is trying to pull a prank on me."
She visualized an image in her mind of Alma placing marshmallows on the floor while clutching Star Catcher.
Still smiling, Camila decided to pursue the pillowy trail, which led her through the hallway, down the stairs, and into the kitchen, where her nose was met with the smell of brewing coffee and mangú.
She observed Philip, still in his pajamas, flipping pancakes while Luz was preparing bacon and eggs.
"Mama, Mama!" Alma beamed as she rushed up to her mother.
"You followed the trail! Star Catcher and I set it up for you! Happy Mother's Day!"
Looking up, Camila saw a banner, slightly askew, that read the words, "Happy Mother's Day!"
Her jaw dropped, a surprised laugh bubbling up in her throat, mixed with the sudden prickle of tears behind her eyes.
Mother's Day!
She had completely forgotten.
As her family enveloped her in a warm embrace, she felt a profound sense of gratitude and love wash over her.
Looking at Philip, Luz, and Alma, Camila saw the undeniable glint of Manny's caring spirit in their eyes and felt his enduring love woven into the fabric of their family.
This forgotten Mother's Day had become one of the most memorable of her life.