A Slow Burning Candle *Main story completed, additional scenes to be added*

Chapter 13: Vision

Two weeks.

That was how long Alma had been watching them.

After the flower festival, she'd been clued into the fact that Luz and Bruno had disappeared for a small period of time, and no one could tell her where they'd been.

She'd asked Dolores if she'd heard anything, but the girl just shook her head and told her grandmother that they'd been talking about flowers.

The matriarch felt that something had changed between them though. From the house, she could see them as they sat in the yard and talked. Before, they had been friendly and jovial, but now, though they never dared so much as to touch each other, she recognized how they looked at each other.

It was the same kind of understanding that she'd once had with Pedro. She could recognize that comfort, that gentleness. The way that she served him coffee, the way he pulled out her chair. Maybe it had started out friendly, but it had certainly become something else.

There was a sadness to it, especially since it involved her Bruno. Alma had become more accustomed to him hiding in the background, slinking off into the shadows. His presence caused the community enough distress that she was certain that it might be for the best that he wasn't such a prominent member of la familia anymore.

That didn't mean it hurt her any less to think that she was going to need to deprive him of this happiness he'd found, even if it was for the best.

Luz had signed a contract to follow her rules, "And the rules keep our community strong." The phrase played over and over in Alma's head. "We have to be strong and the magic will stay strong."

She was concerned about what the villagers would think. Bruno was so disliked that if he and Luz did manage to become a couple, the town would likely transfer their ire to her in some regard. Who can trust a teacher whose husband brings bad luck? Luz would be cursed by proxy, and then what would happen? They'd lose faith in her ability to teach, perhaps? Alma wasn't sure, but she knew, from how it had been before... once people lost faith in their neighbors, their leaders, that the best scenario was gossip and fear.

The worst was one she didn't want to think about. She couldn't allow the balance to be upset so easily.

From the church in town, the bell sounded and she watched as Luz packed up and Bruno walked her into the house. Alma moved along the balcony, waiting until Luz had left and the door closed behind her.

"Bruno?"

He looked up, surprised, "Yes madre?"

"I need to talk to you."

"Oh," He looked around, confused, "Okay?"

She stood there staring down at him until he realized that he was meant to go to her and he turned and made his way up the stairs.

Alma met him at the landing.

"It was brought to my attention that you and maestra Estrada left the festival for a period of time."

Bruno was shocked that she was bringing it up now, he was certain that they'd gotten away with it, "Sí?"

"What happened?"

"She wanted to decorate the escuela, and I helped her to carry the flower bundles and set them up."

His mother nodded, looking at him as if she was looking through him, "Hijo, I'm no fool."

"I didn't say that – "

She held up her hand, "I know that something is going on."

"No mamá – "