[ Having Tío Bruno back was certainly an adjustment, but it was one that the family is more than happy to make. After the past decade of secrets and quiet splintering, of a lingering emptiness that couldn't be acknowledged or talked about, it was nice having the family whole again.
But that isn't to say that it was easy. Sometimes it felt like they had to be very careful around Bruno, who tended to retreat and shy away more often than not. His years in the walls had affected him in ways that they were still trying to understand, to draw him more into the family without scaring him away.
And Luisa wanted to know more about her uncle as well, but she isn't entirely sure where to start. She cared about him of course, as she did for the rest of her family, and she did have a few pleasant memories of him as a child, but that had felt so long ago. Things had changed, they both had changed, and she isn't sure how to bridge that gap...if it was possible at all.
Even moments like now, when her mother had asked Luisa to call Bruno down to dinner, it was difficult not to think about. There were some days when Bruno was more comfortable joining everyone for mealtimes than others, so Julieta had said not to force it if this was one of those bad days. But Luisa still had to find him first in order to ask about dinner, for he wasn't in his room either.
At least Mirabel had given her an idea of where else he might be. Luisa can only hope that he was there. ]
A2
But that isn't to say that it was easy. Sometimes it felt like they had to be very careful around Bruno, who tended to retreat and shy away more often than not. His years in the walls had affected him in ways that they were still trying to understand, to draw him more into the family without scaring him away.
And Luisa wanted to know more about her uncle as well, but she isn't entirely sure where to start. She cared about him of course, as she did for the rest of her family, and she did have a few pleasant memories of him as a child, but that had felt so long ago. Things had changed, they both had changed, and she isn't sure how to bridge that gap...if it was possible at all.
Even moments like now, when her mother had asked Luisa to call Bruno down to dinner, it was difficult not to think about. There were some days when Bruno was more comfortable joining everyone for mealtimes than others, so Julieta had said not to force it if this was one of those bad days. But Luisa still had to find him first in order to ask about dinner, for he wasn't in his room either.
At least Mirabel had given her an idea of where else he might be. Luisa can only hope that he was there. ]