Please Send Hot Sauce

Mirabel has led many candle ceremonies now. 

She remembers her first ceremony, how nervous she was, watching Dolores’s and Mariano’s child--Danilo-- come up the stairs. Even with Abuela’s gentle guidance and the family looking at her with nothing but support in their eyes, Mirabel can’t help but see herself in Danilo. She recognizes the worry in his eyes, and sees her own younger self and replays over and over in her mind the image of her younger self gripping the doorknob for it only to disappear in her hands. 

It isn’t until Danilo grabs his own door, met with a shower of light and glittering magic, that Mirabel’s tight grip on the candle loosens, and the tension in her shoulders relax. 

With each passing ceremony, Mirable thinks less and less of her younger self, able to focus more on her family and the celebrations. She stands tall and proud, her voice no longer quivers as she guides her young family through the promises of the ceremony, promising to serve their community and strengthen their home. Her hair grays and the number of Madrigal family increases, and her memories of her own candle ceremony are outnumbered by the light and warmth of the many ceremonies she’s been able to lead her family through. 

Those younger memories are pushed farther away, until they come flooding back during Liliana’s ceremony.

The ceremony had starts like every other ceremony. The town has not attended the ceremonies since Antonio’s, the celebrations limited to family but are no less joyous. The family stands proudly as Mirabel holds the candle in one hand and holds her youngest granddaughter, Liliana’s hand in the other. Mirabel and Liliana walk up the stairs together and reach the front of the door. Mirabel holds out the candle like she has many times, asking the familiar promises. 

Yet as Liliana reaches for the door, instead of the glow of magic, the door begins to fade. There are gasps from everyone, as the glow of the door dims, the outline disappearing into dust. Nothing is left, leaving the blankness of the wall. Mirabel stares down at the candle in her hand, and Liliana stares up at Mirabel. 

Mirabel has not thought about her ceremony in so long, and now, seeing Liliana staring up at her, eyes darting back and forth, scanning Mirabel’s face and trying to see her reaction, Mirabel can only see her younger self in Liliana’s eyes. She sees her younger self, the same chubby hands grabbing the front of her skirt and twisting it in nervousness as her lips begin to quiver. Her  heart aches and she stands there frozen in spot, lost between the present and memories.

It is Liliana’s sniffle that breaks Mirabel out of her memories. She catches her breath, hands tightly gripping the candle. She looks down at the rest of her family, all with worry in their eyes, looking to her. And Mirabel resolves that this time. THIS TIME. It will be different. 

Getting down on her knees, Mirabel stares into Liliana’s eyes, and gives her a gentle smile while placing one hand on her shoulder. 

“Liliana.” Liliana sniffles again. “Do you know why this is an especially magical night for me?”

Mirabel waits for her, as Liliana looks up at her with wet eyes, letting her take the time she needs before Liliana shakes her head slowly. She can see the worry in her eyes and Mirabel’s resolve is intensified. 

“Tonight is very special, because it is a night where not only you get a gift, but I get you as a gift as well.”

She opens her arms wide and Liliana immediately buries herself into Mirabel’s arms. She stays there for a moment and Mirabel tightens her grip around Liliana, letting her take all the time she needs. After a long moment her head peeks out, eyes still wet, but no longer crying and a shaky smile beginning to cross her face. Mirabel returns that smile, trying to convey the enormity of her love and pride in her granddaughter in that expression. 

She then takes the candle, still in her grip, and looks into Liliana’s eyes. Liliana’s eyebrows twitch up in confusion, and every more so as Mirabel reaches out to pass the candle into Liliana’s own tiny ones. Her own tight grip on the candle loosens as Liliana’s own shaky hands hold the candle. Liliana’s eyes look up into Mirabel’s and she gives her a nod. 

“I believe in you.”

Mirabel gets up, giving Liliana’s shoulder a tight squeeze, as Liliana holds the candle so carefully, a solemn look in her eyes.  They both smile, eye crinkling and look towards the crowd and Mirabel addresses her family.

“We have a new gift!” and the family cheers in response, echoing Mirabel’s enthusiasm and pride. Mirabel elbows Liliana gently and looks at her expectantly.

“You know the next part.”

Lilians pauses, going through her mind on what Mirabel is referring too, and then her eyes light up and she nods. Raising the candle above her head she yells as loud as she can.

“La familia Madrigal!”

And the family yells back joyfully.