The Swap

Breakfast

After delivering the eggs and getting promptly banned from the kitchen by Camilo, Julieta and Pepa took other breakfast items to the outside breakfast table in an effort to keep themselves busy. Mirabel and Dolores were already out there, chatting while they sipped coffee. Before the four of them could talk, Luisa emerged onto the terrace with a pitcher of orange juice in one hand and the dining room table in the other. The chairs all slid up to the table as everyone made their plates, Camilo swooping in with a bowl of scrambled eggs just in time. Julieta and Pepa were understandably not very hungry, so they were through the line quickly and took their normal seats, with Julieta sitting on Abuela's right hand and Pepa on the left. Casita quickly fixed that though, moving Pepa down one chair for some reason. As the rest of the family came to the table, it started to make sense why. Camilo settled into the chair next to Julieta, his plate piled high with arepas, fruit, and other goodies, while Isabela sat down next to Pepa with a significantly smaller plate. Pepa and Julieta shared a look before Camilo tapped Julieta on the arm, getting her attention.

"Are you feeling better, mamí?" he asked.

Julieta could see the mixture of hope and worry in her son's- no, no, no, he's her nephew- in his eyes. She took a deep breath and put on a smile. "I think so, cariño. Thank you for always taking care of me."

Camilo leaned over and laid his head on Julieta's shoulder. "I love you, mamí."

Julieta kissed Camilo on the top of his head. "I love you, too, mijo."

Camilo stayed there for a second longer, his eyes fluttering closed as four days of cooking for the Encanto caught up with him for a second. Julieta's smile was stopped in its tracks when she saw a raincloud form over Pepa's head. She gave her sister an apologetic look that Pepa returned with only a nod of understanding. At the sight of the cloud gathering over her mother's head, Isabela reached up and tucked a sunflower behind Pepa's ear. It was a simple, small gesture, but Pepa's cloud immediately disappeared and was replaced by a glittering rainbow.

"Don't be sad, mamá," Isabela said with a smile. "You deserve to always be happy."

Pepa couldn't help but smile at her daughter's gesture, even as she mentally corrected herself that Isabela wasn't her daughter. At least, she was pretty sure she wasn't. Camilo had said the same kind of thing to her a bunch of times, so it was something she was used to hearing from her children. Hearing it from Isabela was strange, but at the same time, it wasn't. Julieta saw the whole thing and was watching with a sad expression, but the sisters locked eyes and understood with just a glance.

"Gracias, mija," Pepa said, putting on a smile that she had been putting on her entire life and hoping Isabela didn't realize it was fake. "Your flowers are always so beautiful."

Isabela returned her smile, but Pepa could see the look in her eyes change. "You don't have to pretend everything's okay all the time," Isabela whispered. "We can talk about it if you want."

"Maybe later, okay? Not right now."

Isabela nodded and waved her hand, creating a flower crown of orange carnations and yellow daisies that landed on Pepa's head and made her rainbow even brighter. "Love you."

"Love you too."

Julieta was watching everything across the table and trying so hard not to cry as her oldest daughter showered her sister with affection. Casita made things better by scooting her a little bit closer to Camilo, who hugged her in his sleep and made her forget all about Isabela and Pepa. On the other side of Camilo, Mirabel locked eyes with Dolores, who just shook her head slightly and rolled her eyes. Some things didn't change. It wasn't the first time Camilo had fallen asleep on his mother's shoulder at the table. Both Dolores and Mirabel had to remind themselves that it was the first time he had done it to Julieta. Everyone instinctively straightened up as Abuela walked over, a cup of coffee in hand.