You are a madrigal

Part 12

As the years followed, Dolores taught him how to write and read. Antonio was a very smart boy and picked up on things fast. 

By the time he was three he could form full sentences and when he was 4, he could read books that had some pictures in them . She noticed that the ones he usually read were about animals.

Pepa had told her she did a really good job and the satisfaction she got from that was only half of what she got whenever she was actually with the young boy.

 When she had the time off and Antonio wasn't busy with learning how to do things for himself, he would always sit next to her on the couch or in her room and she would read to him before he fell asleep on her lap or against her arm. Occasionally he will pop up and ask to read a book to her that he really liked and she would indulge him.

To know that he was still comfortable with her as he grew up really made her happy. Over the years she did think about it, telling him who she was. Her parents even suggested to her twice that he would be mature enough to understand soon, that she would be able to tell him but she denied.

She loved Antonio with all her heart, he was practically the reason why she lived, but to tell him the truth was a whole different issue and she knew how it would go. He would ask her why she didn't just raise him as her own, why was it kept secret, where was his father?

Those were questions that she wouldn't have been able to answer just yet and she didn't want him to think that he was just a mistake. That would not only crush his soul but also her own spirit. The situation itself wasn't ever a good one, but it happened, and now he existed because Dolores wanted to find a solution to the problem, she couldn't have been happier with him in her life.

Her son was none the wiser of his origins and still had a pretty good childhood. What she didn't know was that it all was going to change when he's fifth birthday came around. The day of his ceremony.

A week before the event, Antonio asked questions about how it felt and if they knew what his gift was going to be, to which they all gave him different answers but one thing stayed the same. He wouldn't know what his gift would be until he touched the door.

Abuela had been talking to him about how it is his duty to carry out the family tradition, That it was his responsibility to take care of their home, and that did nothing to calm his nerves, it made them worse.

 Dolores was upset when she heard her tell him that but there was nothing she could do. Abuela had given that speech to everyone before him and she seemed even more determined to make sure Antonio understood. Dolores knew he was stressing over if he would get a door.

About two days before Antonio came to her room. She had let him in and sat him on her bed, she could see it in his eyes that he was scared. "Tonito, que pasa?" He looked up at her and had tears in his eyes. 

She sat beside him before she moved him to her lap and raked her hands through his curly hair. He laid his head against her chest and whispered as his fist clenched at her top. "What will happen if I don't get a gift?"

She sighed as she kissed his forehead. She could've sworn she was having dejavu. Mirabel had been the same way, but that was after her ceremony. "I'm going to tell you something I told Mirabel after her ceremony." Antonio looked up a little to see her eyes as she spoke with a smile.

"Sometimes things that are out of our control happen, and that's okay because maybe there is a good reason as to why it happens... So whether you get a gift or not, it doesn't matter. You are just as special as every unique person in our family and you are very special to me. Because gift or no gift you are still Antonio, our principito, and nothing will ever change that. Do you understand, Toni? "

He nodded his head and looked back down with a sigh. "Will you hum that song for me? The one you hummed when I was a baby." She gave him a smile and agreed to his request before rocking back and forth with him in my arms.

The day of his ceremony, everyone's nerves were high. After breakfast, the usual chores began, Luisa catered to the town and Julieta healed whoever was injured. Isabela bloomed floral decorations for the town. Camilo was also in town helping whoever needed a doppelganger. Dolores was just watching over Antonio for the most part.

They went to the market and looked around for a bit. When they walked past the church, she paused in the middle of town, she heard a sound that made her heart leap to her throat. A sound she hasn't heard in almost six years.

Antonio looked at her and recognized the face she made. She heard something important. "Lola?" She broke out of her frozen state at the sound of her name coming from his tiny voice. She kneeled down beside him and brushed at his hair. 

"I have to go check something out. I want you to go back to the house. Make sure you change into the outfit I have laid on my bed. Don't get it dirty, when you are finished getting dressed, meet with Papi in the kitchen, okay?"

He nodded his head and ran off to casita after she kissed his cheek. She stood up and watched him leave before following the sound she heard back to a place she hasn't been since Antonio was born.

As she made it to where the river laid the sound of a guitar played louder and louder. Her heart leapt to her throat as she saw a man sitting there. He had dark curly hair and tan skin, and wore a deep red shirt that matched with Dolores' own skirt and bow. She wanted to say something, anything to get him to turn around so that she could see his eyes, and secretly hoped they were the eyes she's dreamed of since she was 16. 

She hoped it was his face.

She walked closer barely making a sound until she was right behind him. "Disculpe, mi amigo?" The man paused his playing and when he turned to look at her Dolores almost burst into tears. 

"Dolores."

It was the same reddish brown eyes that matched Antonio's, the same curly black hair. His face looked the same but with some changes. His features matured as he aged, he had a stubble that matched the color of his hair and even though it took her a minute to recognize the face. It was still him.

"Alejandro.."