Chapter Text
The dining room was filled with the sounds of the scraping of chairs, clinking of plates and chatter as the family settled down to have breakfast. Pepa had cooked today. She had been cooking more often in the past few weeks, insisting her sister should get some rest. Julieta eventually learned to accept the much needed help.
"Recemos, familia" Alma said after taking a seat at the head of the table. She offered her hands to Pepa and Julieta, who were sitting next to her. The chatter died down as the rest of the family took each other's hands and closed their eyes. Alma said a prayer of gratitude for the food on the table and the family's constant blessings. After saying their amens, they dug into the meal.
Antonio looked around the table at his family eating and talking unbothered, confusion etched in his features. He glanced at the balcony where Bruno's door stood now level with the others, but it was closed.
He got onto his knees on the chair and leaned against his brother's side, putting his hand up to hide his message. Camilo paused and leaned closer curiously to listen. "Otra vez no viene tío Bruno?" Antonio whispered into his ear. Camilo quickly looked around to check if his tío was anywhere to be seen, then shook his head.
"Nah, I don't think so" He continued to eat.
Antonio sat back, not touching his food but looking down at his feet distractedly and fidgeting as thoughts raced through his mind. Only hours after receiving his gift all those months ago, he had been told by the rats everything he needed to know about his estranged uncle who he'd heard so little about. A fascinating and heart-wrenching tale that made sure from then on Antonio would do anything in his reach to make sure his tío Bruno felt included in the family.
The day Casita was officially finished had been the happiest day of Antonio's life. Even happier than the day of his ceremony, when he was so nervous. It was happier because that day was all about joy. The family was reunited, the entire village came over and surprised the family with a great party to celebrate the occasion, giving them the opportunity to relax and be on the other side for once, without doing all the planning and cooking.
They laughed, danced, played music, ate and chatted with friends and family.
That evening, each family member touched the doorknobs on their brand new doors, bringing the visual representation of their gifts back in an awe-inspiring spectacle of light as the rooms were once again materialised into reality. The family and the fascinated crowd eagerly explored each of these new additions to the house. Some of the rooms looked different as a result of the self-reflection the family had done. Mirabel even got her own room that day, and Antonio couldn't have been happier for her!
That evening his tío Bruno took his hand and sat with him on the floor in a quiet area with their respective plates in hand. Antonio told his tío all about his life, his friends in the village, his school, his favourite games and toys, his gift and his animals. Bruno listened attentively, asking questions and encouraging him.
Bruno, in turn, told him stories about his childhood in the village and his pet rats. He made silly voices, funny jokes and took interest in everything Antonio had to say; eager to get to know his youngest sobrino whom he'd never had a chance to interact with. When they were done eating, Bruno gave his nephew a piggyback to the heart of the party where his parents were dancing and joined the fun with the rest of the family.
It went like this all night long, until Antonio got tired and his papá tucked him into bed and went right back to partying.
After such special hours spent together, Antonio grew to admire and love his tío even more. He was looking forward to every interaction with him ever since. He thought they had become friends.
Unfortunately, since then Bruno had been present for very few family meals; still preferring to keep to himself. Antonio hadn't had many opportunities to interact with Bruno. Maybe life hadn't changed that much after all.
Camilo noticed Antonio was a little too quiet and took a glance at his little brother to check on him. When he saw the look on Antonio's face, he put down his fork.
Camilo turned to Antonio and laid a comforting hand on his shoulder. The child looked up at him with big, teary eyes. "Hey, I know what you're thinking. Don't you go worrying about your tío. He's a grown-up, he's gonna be okay" He pointed a finger, keeping his voice down so the conversation would stay between them.
"But- but why does tío Bruno not wanna eat with us?" Antonio questioned, feeling hurt.
Camilo thought for a second, searching for the right words.
"Do you remember Scary Bruno?"
Antonio nodded sadly, picturing the silly impression of their tío that Camilo used to do - seven foot frame, rats along his back, mean expression and mischievous grin.
"That's how people used to see him. So they gave him a hard time because of it. But when tío came back, people learned to live with him, right? But he's still learning to live with people again" Camilo concluded. "Do you get it?"
Antonio nodded slowly, processing the information as he started to understand and feel calmer.
"He just needs a little more...time and patience from us. Can you be patient for your tío?"
Antonio nodded again, determined this time.
Camilo patted him on the back and gave him a soft affectionate squeeze on the shoulder as they both turned to their plates. Suddenly Camilo felt someone staring at him and looked up to see Mirabel, who he just now realized had been listening the whole time, smiling softly at him from across the table. He grinned back at her.
Just as he did, the chatter died down once again. The family seemed to have run out of things to say for now, and ate in comfortable silence for a couple of minutes until Agustin quietly chimed in. "So, it looks like Bruno's not coming down for breakfast this morning"
The first month Bruno was back, the family would always wait politely for him before starting to eat; sometimes going as far as sending someone upstairs to knock on his door and ask if he was going to come down to eat with the family. That is, until he thanked them for the gesture but insisted it's not necessary they wait for him. Since then, they lowered their expectations and allowed him the freedom to come down when he feels like it.
Alma glanced up at Bruno's door on the second floor "No, but it's okay. We need to give him time, he'll come to us when he's ready" She nodded, partially trying to reassure herself too. It was always hard for her to see Bruno so isolated. Him returning home and going straight back to his old habits brought back her old concerns for her son.
Another minute of silence.
"Mamá, speaking of Bruno" Pepa spoke up suddenly, making everyone's heads turn towards her. "Julieta and I washed his red chair yesterday. It was a lot of work." She sighed.
"He kept saying 'no, no, that's okay Pepa' but we couldn't just leave it like that!" Pepa imitated her brother's tone and expression. "The thing was falling apart. You should've seen it!"
"Might as well have sent it off to the dump and bought a new one. Saved you the trouble" Felix cackled and Dolores and Camilo chuckled.
"Ay Felix, no digas eso!" Pepa shoved his arm playfully and spoke in a warning tone. "You know what he told us?" She pointed with her fork, looking around at the other relatives to engage them in the conversation.
"He said that chair was the first piece of furniture he managed to get for the hideout" Felix choked on his juice and started coughing, and all of the kids burst out laughing at his apologetic expression.
"Right, Julieta? Didn't he?" Pepa nodded at Julieta, asking her to back her up.
Julieta nodded. "We tried to tell him we could get a new one, but he just wasn't having it" Julieta explained to the family. "Said it had sentimental value" She sighed.
Something clicked for Mirabel and she spoke up "I know what we should do! We should take him out in the village and help him pick out new furniture for his room, new clothes. It will be fun!"
Julieta tensed up and exchanged a knowing look with an equally tense Pepa "Uy, mija... You know what your tío is like. It's hard enough to get him to come downstairs; let alone convince him to leave the house" Agustín placed a supportive hand on her shoulder.
"But maybe if we try to-" Mirabel started.
"It's not like we didn't try. Mamá woud knock on his door every day, beg him to come outside but he wouldn't listen!" Pepa interrupted. "It was no use" Felix nodded knowingly, while abuela just sat in silence staring off into the distance, not wishing to discuss the subject.
"But what if it's different this time?" Mirabel argued.
"The point is, Mira... I don't think he's ready yet. It's too soon." Julieta finished firmly with an apologetic smile, taking her daughter's hand and giving it a gentle squeeze. "I'm sorry"
Mirabel, now frustrated, dropped the subject and picked up her fork. Her distracted, unfocused gaze rested on the plate as, in her mind, she stubbornly gave the final word: "We'll never know if we don't try"