Your 𝑩𝒐𝒚𝒇𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒅'𝒔 Here!

❥ 𝒇𝒊𝒓𝒔𝒕 𝒘𝒆𝒆𝒌𝒔

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DOLORES SIGHED AS she watched Eliana clean from the balcony. The other didn't know she was still there because Dolores didn't normally stay home. She would always go out and help the people of Encanto find their missing things, but Mariano told her to take it easy because her baby bump was starting to grow.

Dolores saw Eliana wipe her brow and a heavy feeling settled on her. She felt bad for resting while their guest cleans their home. But no matter how much her mami or Abuela tells her not to clean or cook snacks and treats because she was their guest, she would just do it in secret.

Dolores didn't tell on her either, because she knew it was her way of coping with stress. Though that didn't stop Dolores from wishing Eliana to stop and take it easy herself.

Everyone tried to help her adjust: Pepa and Felix dragged her to the crop fields to watch Pepa dance under the beaming sun or light drizzle over her head, Antonio babysat her little sister well (which earned him the favorite stamp from Eliana), Luisa and her novio offered to help her with her activities or carry her things (or even her), she, Isabela, Isabela's wife, Mirabel and Julieta would try small talk- even Bruno's rats would dance in front of her just to make her smile!

The only person who didn't really bother was Camilo. Camilo the oh so good host and friend. He did bare minimum to make her feel at home, only doing what he was told to do by his mami or Abuela. But even then, she could see he was uncomfortable around Eliana and didn't understand why. Eliana was a sweet woman, albeit kind of stiff and polite. She was also sincere, thoughtful and caring, especially for her hermanita Natalia and Dolores liked her.

In fact, Eliana was so loving she would always have a brave face for her sister even though she felt homesick and anxious.

Dolores sighed again. That was the sad side of her gift. She could hear everything, from the happiest of shrieks to the most silent whispers of sadness. And it made her very sad to hear Eliana stay awake every night, unable to sleep her worries away.

A small tear fell from Dolores' eye and she immediately wiped it off. My pregnancy hormones are coming back... she exhaled once, twice before looking down to see that the woman disappeared. 

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"I just don't know what else to do to help her..." Dolores finished, exhaling in relief as the heavy feeling in her chest lifted a bit. Mariano (thank God for her beautiful esposo) noticed she was getting stressed and told her to let it out, so here she was, having a girl talk with her primas about Eliana.

The others nodded along, understanding how she felt. They were all silent for a bit, the only things Dolores could hear was the noise Isabela's hairbrush made while she was braiding Carmen's hair and the faint chatter of the villagers outside.

"What if... we were stubborn with helping her out too!" Mirabel straightened, smiling proudly at her idea.

Luisa sighed, "Enrico and I already tried, Mira. But she would always find a way to give the favor back."

"Then we'll also do a favor back." The other smiled, unfazed by the small problem.

Isabela was the one who sighed this time as she restarted on one stubborn braid, "We don't have time for favor wars. We have chores."

"Pah. You have time to kiss your wife, Isa, so why not for our guest?" Mirabel retorted, knowing full well that Isabela had time. She, like the rest of the familia, was just disheartened by the lack of progress with Señorita tranquila.

"I'm her wife. It's in her vow to make time for me and my needs." Carmen threw back playfully, trying to lighten the mood.

Isabela flushed a bit before she pushed Carmen's head from her lap, "I take back what I said. It seems I do time for better things."

Her esposa pouted and threw herself at Isabela, clinging to her like she was her lifeline. "I am the best thing you will ever have, mi amor."

Isabela glanced at her, pretending to give the cold shoulder. "Are you?"

Carmen pecked her cheek, "yes I am. And you to me <3" Isabela looked away to hide her growing smile.

Mirabel fake gagged, "Get a room." 

"You talk as if you're not lovey dovey with your esposo too, pregnant woman." Isabela shot back, earning a loud gasp from Mirabel. 

Luisa and Dolores chuckled at the sight.

"Speaking of lovey dovey..." Isabela grew serious as she saw Camilo through the window, flirting with random village women for fun.

Dolores sighed, "He's been acting weird lately. I know he doesn't like being set up when he's not interested in a relationship but he isn't even acting like the friend he said he was to Eliana."

"I could drag him with us to help her." Luisa suggested.

Carmen tilted her head, "but she doesn't want help, remember?"

They grew silent again.

"We don't have to..." Mirabel started, her face getting brighter as she came up with a more solid plan. "We can just accompany her while she does her stuff. Stick by her so much she'll get used to us and start getting more comfortable here!"

Luisa raised a brow, "We can't always 'stick by her' while she does her own thing since we have our own things to do too. Like chores, as Isa said."

Mirabel smiled widely and pointed out the window. "Well, he looks like he's got time." 

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•  translations  •

mami ~ mommy ;
Abuela ~ grandma ;
novio ~ boyfriend ;
hermanita ~ little sister ;
esposo ~ husband ;
primas ~ girl cousins ;
Señorita tranquila ~ quiet lady ;
familia ~ family ;
esposa ~ wife ;
mi amor ~ my love

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