You are a madrigal

Part 17

After their talk, Antonio was too tired to go back into his own room so he stayed with her. Dolores had held him all night as she told him how much he meant to her, before both of them fell asleep.

When she awoke that morning, Dolores smiled at his sleeping face as she caressed his cheek. He was such a sweet and caring boy, and she didn't want anything to change that about him. She still felt sorry for lying to him all these years but she mentally promised that she would fix it. He was going to still be her happy baby boy.

By the time Antonio finally woke up, Dolores was in her day clothes and she smiled at him when he looked at her. "Good morning, Tonito." He mumbled out a good morning as he slugged his way off the bed simultaneously rubbing at his eyes. Dolores grabbed at a spare hair tie she had and moved to put his hair up out of his face.

"Do you remember what we talked about last night? It was pretty late when you came in." When she finished, the small boy turned around to face her with newfound excitement in his eyes. "It wasn't a dream. You really are my mama?" She gave him a smile and held his face in her hands. "Si, Principito. It wasn't a dream."

Antonio moved to wrap his hands around her shoulders as he smiled at her. She hugged him back before nudging at his head. "There's something I wanted to ask you." He backed away and looked at her face in curiosity as she gave him a smile. "Do you want to spend the day with me? There's somewhere I wanted to take you.... And I was hoping you would like to meet your papa.."

He stared at her for a second before nodding his head lightly. "Okay, after you get dressed and we've had breakfast we can go." She received a nod from the small boy before they both left the room.

While Antonio went to his room to change, Dolores walked down the stairs to find her mother in the kitchen with her aunt. She gave them a bright smile that they returned before she sat down next to Pepa at the table. "Antonio knows."

Pepa looked at her confused before she realized what she was talking about. "How did it go? Is he okay?" Dolores nodded her head as she laid her chin in her hands. "He said the rats told him. He was confused and upset at first but I talked with him. el tal vez todavía sorprendido, he seemed really quiet this morning but I think he's happy. "

She looked back at her mother as her smile resurfaced. "He wants me to be his mama..." Pepa's eyes shined excitedly and the temperature became warmer. She wrapped her arms around her daughter with a grin. "Eso es una noticia fantástica, mi amor!! I told you everything would be fine."

Pepa looked over to Julieta who gave her a smile as she finished making the rest of breakfast. Dolores sighed as she began twiddling with the hem of her skirt . "I know mama, and I'm really happy about it."

Pepa looked at her and saw the light frown on her face. She placed her hands on Dolores' own and gave her a concerned look. "What's wrong, Lola?" Dark brown eyes meet her green ones and Dolores gave her shoulders a light shrug. "I'm not sure, I just have an off feeling. Now that Antonio and Alex both know. I'm just trying to figure out what needs to be done next."

Julieta came over and placed her hand on her niece's back. When Dolores looked over the older woman gave her a smile. "Mija, you don't need to do anything that you aren't comfortable with. Whatever you think is the most important thing to do, then you do that. Your papa, mama and I are here to help you with whatever you need." Dolores gave her a smile as she placed a kiss on her forehead.

When breakfast came around, it was somewhat awkward. Dolores would catch Antonio looking at her ever so often and give him a light smile. Pepa and Felix gave them smiles of their own as Felix grabbed onto his wife's hand. Camilo was either busy stuffing his face and shifting into Mariano to tease Isa. Mirabel would glance over to Luisa who wouldn't make eye contact with anyone. Julieta and Augustin both gave her a concerned look.

After Breakfast Dolores looked over to where Antonio was as he was walking up to her with a bright smile that she gladly returned. "Are you ready to go, Principito?"

"y a dónde vas?" Abuela stood with a curious but stern look on her face. Dolores' eyes widened as she held her son's hand. She glanced at him before looking back to the head of the family. "I was just taking Toni out. I promised him we'd spend the day together."

Abuela looked down at the small boy before glancing back to Dolores. Before she could say anything else to the younger woman, Pepa came up and glared lightly at her mother. "Mama leave them alone. If Dolores wants to spend time with Antonio then she can."

The redhead gave her a daughter a smile and waved as she began to leave. "Have fun! Tell Alejandro I said hello, mija." Dolores smiled at Pepa and nodded her head before looking down at Antonio and gesturing for them to go.

On their way to the river Dolores told Antonio that they would be meeting with Alex. He asked only a few questions here and there about the tall man and Dolores happily answered. When they finally got there Alex stood with his hair in a ponytail and his pants sleeves rolled up as his feet were in the water. He Turned his head and had a light smile as he saw Dolores before seeing Antonio with her.

He got out of the water and went to kiss Dolores' cheek when she met him. " Buenos días, Muñeca . Tonito, how are you today, Hombrecito?" Antonio stared up at him causing Alex to look at Dolores questioningly. She gave him an awkward smile as she let go of Antonio's hand. "Mama says hi. Antonio knows about us...being his parents. The rats told him."

The curly haired man's eyes widened and he looked back down to his son. "Oh." He sat down with Dolores and looked back to Antonio. The small boy had yet to say something to him. Instead it looked like he was looking over his face, studying his features. Antonio sat down beside him. "We have the same eyes."

Alex blinked at him repeatedly before chuckling slightly. "Yes, I suppose we do... Does that upset you?" Antonio shook his head before glancing at Dolores then back to him. "Mama said you like to play music."

Dolores' heartbeat picked up at the name he called her. They hadn't talked about him calling her anything specific, she thought that he would still call her by her nickname. She definitely prefers him calling her mama then anything else. Dolores gave Alex a smile when he looked at her before he smiled back at Antonio and nodded his head. "I do. In fact that's how me and your mama met."

Antonio gave him a smile as his eyes lit up. "Will you tell me about it? Please?"

Alex gave him a smile that matched his own. "Okay, it all started 9 years ago..."