You are a madrigal

Part 18

Alex, Dolores, and Antonio spent the majority of that day simply telling stories. Antonio's nervousness faded away and he bonded with Alex fairly well. Dolores had a smile plastered on her face when Toni asked the man if it was okay for him to be called papa to which Alex happily agreed. He sat in Alex's lap with a smile that shined brighter than a thousand suns.

An animal would pass by them every once in a while and Antonio would talk with them about whatever the animal had said. It was a very fun day. That was until the clouds began to darken and Dolores heard something that made her spine crawl in fear.

"..Because Dolores is allowed to be around her son!"

Dolores gasped. She knew that voice anywhere, it was her mother. She looked over to Alex who gave her a concerned look. "Are you alright, mi amor?" she glanced down at Antonio who's expression matched his father's before looking back at him. "We need to go to Casita. Now."

.          .         .

"..Tell Alejandro I said hello, mija."

When Dolores and Antonio left, Pepa glanced at her mother who gave her a light glare before walking off to be with Felix. " You aren't worried about Tonito?" she paused and looked at her mother slightly confused. "Why should I be?"

She frowned and shook her head. "That boy is a stranger Pepa, what if something happened to him?" Pepa crossed her arms and gave Alma an incredulous look. "Mama. Dolores is with Antonio. Felix and I have known Alex for years, he would never do anything to hurt them."

Pepa went into the kitchen with a small dark cloud looming over her head. The kids glanced at her before sharing a look with one another. Felix looked over at her with concerned eyes before grabbing at one of her hands and rubbing her back. "Pepi, what's wrong?"

She sighed and the cloud became lighter as Felix calmed her down. "Mami is pestering again." Felix gave her a sympathetic look and continued to calm her. Camilo got up from the table to make his mother a cup of tea. When he gave it to her she gave him a smile and kissed his cheek.

After a while she went back to her calm demeanor and tried not to let what her mother said get to her. Everyone knew Alma didn't like Alex. For whatever reason it was, she would always give the boy dirty looks when he came by. And every time he caught them, he would be subtly matching the looks. He made it known he would not tolerate Alma's attitude and for that Felix and Pepa supported his relationship with Dolores even more.

He openly showed how much he cared for their daughter, never letting a day go by to let her doubt his love for her. He even told them that he wanted to care for Antonio as well. He said that from the second he knew about Antonio, he wanted to step up and be a father to the boy. He wanted to prove his worth, and Felix and Pepa knew that he would.

They knew one day Alex would make an amazing son in law.

Pepa was pulled out of her thoughts when she heard her mothers voice. " Dolores y Toñito se han ido por un tiempo... " She inwardly groaned and looked at her mother as she walked into the kitchen. "They are having fun Mama. Let them bond."

Alma's eyes widened slightly as she looked at her daughter." I never said they couldn't bond. I just don't understand why they couldn't bond while being here. You even said so yourself, that Dolores went to go see that boy."

The cloud came back and Felix waved it away as he gave the older woman a look. Pepa stared at her with a straight face. "Mama. 'That boy's' Name is Alex, and if Dolores wants to go see him then I will not stop her. He is a very nice young man. If Dolores wants to spend time with Alex while Tonito is with her then that is completely fine."

Alma frowned. " You've always let Dolores watch over Antonio. You don't find it concerning that she took him to go see a stranger? That a disrespectful man is near him?" Pepa stood up with a frown. " Dolores is a grown woman who can make her own decisions. Alex isn't a stranger nor is he disrespectful. He is very helpful, caring and considerate of Dolores. He's her novio. Even if you do not like him, I will support their relationship because she loves him and it's very clear that he feels the same. Now let this go, it isn't a big deal."

" It isn't a big deal?! He's a stranger to this family, Pepa. Antonio shouldn't be near him. You shouldn't have let Dolores take him with her." The cloud above Pepa's head was becoming bigger by the second. Everyone that was left in the kitchen looked at them concerningly but didn't say a word.

Alma huffed and began raising her voice. "Pepa, calm down! All I'm saying is that if Dolores is going to go see him then she shouldn't bring Antonio with her." Rage began to fill Pepa's eyes as her mother continued to yell and complain.

"Let it go mama!"

But her mother didn't listen. She continued to undermine Dolores' relationship, her responsibility of taking care of Antonio as well as the role Pepa had as a mother and that was the last straw. Her fist was balled up tight and the cloud became darker and bigger. "Mama, are you questioning my mothering skills?! You want to know why I'm not worried? Why do I trust my daughter to be around Alex with Antonio?! You want to know why Dolores can live her own life?!"

By now, she's grabbed everyone's attention in the house. She glared at her mother as she yelled. 

"From the time Antonio was born Dolores has done nothing but take care of him, perfectly! She's earned the right to do what she wants! So yes, Dolores can go anywhere she wants to. She's allowed to see whoever she wants to! I'm perfectly fine with her taking Antonio whenever she wants because Dolores is allowed to be around her son!"

Besides the storm that continued to grow it was quiet. Pepa's eyes widened when she realized what she said. She looked at Felix who gave her a worried expression. Julieta shared the same expression as them where as Luisa, Camilo, Isabela and Mirabel stared wide eyed. Pepa looked back at her mother and saw the shocked expression before it converted to a frown.

"What?!"