~ Rivera Hacienda, Santa Cecilia

Imelda entered the courtyard with a laundry bucket, and then placed the clothes on the racks. She started with Coco's, then hers, and then the twins. She wished she had stopped her constant laundry habit sooner - Héctor's scent had faded much too quickly from their bedsheets, and from his clothing. Just as Imelda turned back to the bucket, a familiar hand lifted Coco's blanket out of the pile.

"Héctor!" she screeched in delight, and threw herself into his arms, "I missed you."

"I missed you too." Héctor replied cheerfully before they let each other go.

"Is everything alright?" Imelda asked, "I thought you said you'd come back next month."

Before Héctor could answer, an unsightly face came up behind her husband.

"Hola Ernesto." she greeted dryly.

"Hola Imelda."

Esto es raro, Imelda thought. Ernesto's reply wasn't unfriendly, or filled with the false happiness she usually received from him. It was a simple greeting, and also… sad!? Ernesto SAD!? And they came back early... Imelda watched him with some interest as he entered the house.

"What's wrong?" she asked, now worried.

"He quit," Héctor's face turned sad. "I'll tell you later. Let's go meet Coco!"


"Tío Ernie!"

A young girl screamed after Ernesto entered the house and rushed down the stairs to hug his leg. The twins followed soon after, greeting him.

"Is Papá home too?" Coco asked eagerly.

As if on cue, Héctor barged in with Imelda. The girl's eyes grew as wide as saucers. "PAP?!" she squealed as she rushed into Héctor's arms. Ernesto left the two to reunite in the living room, instead retreating to the room he shared with the twins.

Laying down, and forcing himself to close his eyes, he struggled to ignore the failure. The twins later awoke him for a dinner of chicken mole after the sun had set. Despite having been made just the way Ernesto liked, it still seemed to the twins that there was no change in his downcast demeanor.

Ernesto stayed with Coco in the living room as the twins showered and Héctor washed dishes with Imelda. He looked down at his hand, fighting against the urge to strum a guitar.

"Why don't you play anymore?" Coco asked suddenly, as she made her toy dance. "You love music."

"Because I won't play anymore," Ernesto replied carelessly, "Never again."

"Por qué?" she asked again as she moved to sit next to him.

"Because I'm not rich, and I'll never be famous" he replied with a roll of his eyes.

"What is 'rich'?" Coco asked innocently, "Why do you need to be a 'fae-mus'?"

Ay por Dios, she's sooo stupid Ernesto thought as he tried to come up with a better explanation. Fine, I quit, he thought. 'Famous' is a career, so there's no way she'd understand.

"It's what I need to be so society would love me, and stop bullying me."

"Well, if Se?ora So-sigh-ty bullies you again, let me know then." Coco said seriously, "You are a good Tío, and I love you, so she should too! Even you are not rich, or a 'fae-mus'"

Ernesto looked down at the 3-year-old girl. What is this weird feeling in my chest? And why do I feel like I could smile even though I'm still hurt?

"Gracias, Coco"


Héctor helped wiped the plates dry and stacked them in the cabinet as Imelda finished cleaning the sink.

"Thanks for making Ernesto's favorite dish, mi amor."

"He's annoying," Imelda said bluntly, "But no matter what, we all grew up together, and live under the same roof." She put the damp cloth away. "I know I'm hot headed, and sometimes controlling. I'm sorry about what I said to you on that day. I was scared, and lashing out was the only way I knew how to handle that feeling."

Héctor turned to face her, and then pulled her into his arms. He knew she was feeling vulnerable in this moment, and desperately needed the comfort of his embrace.

"Don't worry about it, mi amor." He kissed Imelda's forehead. "I was hurt, but it's behind us now. I will never leave again. Lo prometo.".

"You don't have to do that, mi amor." she smiled, "I'm always on your side. I believe in you, and I will always support you."

"Gracias, mi esposa.".

They tucked Coco in bed, sang her lullaby as Ernesto showered, and then took their own shower after him.

"You know what? I'm glad you returned home today." Imelda spoke as they cuddled in bed, "I went to get our family photo yesterday and met a travelers couple. They were looking for somewhere to stay, and one of them is a zapatera. I offered them a place here, so they can teach me how to make shoes as payment."

"That's great, mi amor! Can I join too?"

"Are you sure?" Imelda asked, "You do know it's not going to be as fun as music, right?"

"I know when to be fun and when to be serious, mi amor."

Imelda chuckled at her husband's statement, and told Hector her dream of opening a shoe shop. The pair lay awake, painting their family's future until finally falling asleep.

The next morning, a caravan stopped at the Hacienda's front gate. Coco and the twins rushed out to look at it in awe. A crown-braided woman in a long gray dress got down from the wagon alongside a man in a big hat who was around 10 centimeters shorter than her.

"Hola!" She greeted, "I'm Chelo! And this is my husband, Chicharrón."


Thank You So Much For Reading!

Vocab

Raro = Weird

Por Qué = Why

Prometo = Promise

Zapatera = Shoemaker

PS. I'm so sorry I forgot to update xD