The Chameleon's Grin ll Camilo Madrigal

Chapter 18 : An Offer You Can't Refuse

Camilo's pov:

When I stepped back into the dining room, I saw Diana sitting beside Antonio.

"Where's Carmen?" I asked.

"She and Mirabel just left for a walk outside." Isabela answered.

"Great, gracias-" Before I could reach the front door to go and bother them, a vine wrapped around my wrist, dragging me back. "HEY!" I exclaimed, wrenching the thing off and glaring at Isabela, who just shrugged.

"Give them some time, querido (dear)." Mami insisted. "Carmen needed to talk to Mirabel alone, girl to girl.'

I shifted into Dolores. "There, now we can talk girl to girl to girl."

She shook her head sternly, a small cloud forming over her head.

I sighed, knowing better. I turned back into myself, and pouted. "Fine."

Once Antonio and Diana left, the final details of our offer to the Cortes sisters were being fine-tuned.

The only thing left was to ask them.

Carmen's pov:

Mirabel and I returned from our walk around the darkened garden of Casita.

We wiped the fresh tears off of our faces. The both of us had cried outside, but it was in an oddly supportive manner.

I hugged Mirabel meaningfully, wanting her to feel every once of gratefulness could offer.

And by the way she squeezed back, I knew she understood.

Dolores walked down the back staircase, and ran up to join in the hug.

The cousins both smelled absolutely amazing, which was embarrassing because I hadn't had time to shower for a week.

They seemed to ignore it though, and only let go when I began to squirm.

Dolores looked like she too had been crying, and she sniffled slightly.

Taking a deep breath, I walked back into the dining room, followed by the two.

Felix came right after us with Antonio and Diana.

"Did she get into trouble?" I asked the man.

He shook his head reassuringly. "No no! We just want everyone in the dining room right now."

The Madrigal clan sat facing the entrance of the room.

Felix, Dolores, Antonio, and Mirabel all sat down, leaving two empty seats at the head of the table.

Diana and I took them, and I realized the growing tension in the room.

"Is... there something wrong?"

"Not at all," Abuela Alma answered, her lips drawn into a soft smile. "We have a proposal."

"Of what kind?"

"A..." She struggled for the words.

"It is the permanent kind." Pepa said.

"If you wish, that is." Julieta added.

I looked at Bruno, who looked the most relaxed out of all of them, despite having the most timid posture. "It's up to you, kid."

I looked him in his eyes. "You've already seen the answer." I said, just loud enough for everyone to hear.

"That is true," he admitted, "but recently my prophecies have been known to be... flexible." He glanced at Mirabel.

"Alright," I turned my attention back to Abuela. "What's the proposal?"

The old woman looked around the table and everyone nodded in confirmation.

"We invite you to stay at La Casita."

"Wait, really?" I looked down at Diana, who was listening for my answer.

The Madrigals nodded.

I blinked, thinking through the idea. "For how long?"

"Forever, if you'd be willing." Julieta said softly, lacing her hand with Mirabel's.

I watched the action with a blank face, though so many emotions have never infested my brain at once before.

I wanted to be happy at least others had a mother figure around, but I was so deprived of a mothers touch that I envied it greatly. It was hard to watch Julieta with her daughters or Pepa's kids, because she was such a good Mamá to everyone, and took care of them like they were her own.

My eyes watered yet again, and I clenched my fists so tightly they were white. Before I could reject their help yet again, I felt Diana's hands gently pulling my fist out of it's protective state. She turned my hand over and held it, her soft fingers on my burnt and calloused ones.

I looked down at her, but this time she was looking directly at Abuela.

"Yes, please." She said.

***

The table was taken aback by her answer, but didn't push the actual decision on me, because they knew we were desperate if the child had to say something.

Abuela nodded, and smiled. "Welcome to la familia."

I looked at the table in silence.

I was ashamed that I had to rely on others to feed us, and to give us a home.

"We think it would be good for you two to live in a family environment." Julieta said, and I jumped, not realizing she had moved.

I got up from my seat, "I'd like it if I could continue to keep working for you, though."

She nodded, but then frowned slightly. "Of course, but you're taking a break for a week. This next week I want you to settle in, and you're not going to school tomorrow either."

I was about to protest, but she had put her foot down. "Okay, but I like to bake to keep my mind off of things, is that alright?"

"Yes, do whatever you need to cope, but it won't be towards work. If you bake something, it's either for yourself, or dinner with la familia." She put her hands on me shoulders. "Please, take it easy. If not for yourself, then do it for Diana."

Slowly, I agreed and she gave me a hopeful look only Mamá had given me before. "Mirabel! Let's show Carmen her room!"

Pepa, Felix, and Antonio had swept Diana up to her own room, but the house was oddly quiet.

As Mirabel and Julieta led me up the staircase and down the balcony, they froze in their tracks.

"What's going on-" I stopped talking when I saw what they were looking at.

There, a new corridor started. Through the hall sat two new doors across from each other. Each giving off a golden glow.