Realization

                                    

                                          
Bruno could have killed Pepa.
Inviting Maria over for dinner?! Normally that would be fine but not after something like that!
Not when his mind was still going over how wonderfully right it had felt to be near her, how he wanted to bask in her warmth a little bit longer...
Not to mention she had followed him down the stairs and out of his room, all the way to the dining room, badgering him for answers about "what had happened" with Maria.
She had a sun so she was happy about it, but nothing had happened! Bruno had just been a baby and too weak to help himself so she, like the wild angel she was, decided to help him.
That was it!
He didn't look at Maria, even when Casita made sure to put their chairs next to each other. (Normally they sat beside one another when she was over for dinner...)
Mama cleared her throat. "Brunito...I've had a few complaints about visions today..."
And here it was. He fought back a groan. He had been expecting this but did she have to do this around Maria?
"I know Mama...I'll do better...I promise."
"I know your trying...but we are the Madrigals, we give everything we have and then some, mijo." Mama soothed.
Bruno nodded, sparing a glance to his sisters, who looked pitying.
When Julieta offered the bowl of corn for Maria, Maria didn't take it. She looked like she was contemplating something.
"Um...Ma..."
His voice seemed to set her off.
"I think having him do as many visions today as you did isn't smart." Her voice was quiet but firm.
Mama seemed a bit taken aback. "Do you think him doing this many is why they were bad?" She asked.
"no...but I think it is bad for him to do this many. He passed out when I got up there."
Mama got the look on her face. Bruno knew the Look, the one where she was disappointed in him or his hermanas, though mostly him. She was wearing a milder version of it now.
He lightly nudged Maria, both hoping and not hoping she'd stop.
"Just keep it in mind. Surely you want your children to be in the best shape possible..."
"...I will consider it querida..."
His Mama used pet names all the time, for him and his hermanas, Agustin, for Julieta and Pepa's friends, even for Felix, Pepa's latest boyfriend that she finally said yes to!
It wasn't the first time she called Maria that, but it made Bruno blush.
"Um...water?!" He said too loudly as he grabbed the pitcher, spilling it over Maria.
"Lo siento!" He blushed again.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Maria knew that tone.
Her parents used it often enough. It was an empty promise to "consider" things when you really weren't going to because you thought your way was better.
Her heart twinged when she realized she may have just made it worse for Bruno which was not intentional.
Then she got distracted by getting a bath.