When Victoria and the twins made it back to the shoe shop, Julio was the first one to notice the irritated look on his daughter's face.

"What's wrong, mija?" Julio asked, as he watched his daughter sit down on a chair at the work table. "You look a little upset."

"I'm fine," she lied as she placed her book on her lap, while Rosita passed down to her the materials needed to craft a sandal. She was silent as she began crafting the shoe, remembering Bruno's words – how he had said It's not right for a girl like you to behave this way. "Papá," she began, looking at her father, "do you think I'm an improper woman?"

Everyone else in the work shop immediately turned to her, shocked to hear such a question.

"My daughter, an improper woman?" Julio asked, repeating her words. "Where did you get that idea from?"

"Señor Acosta said it wasn't right for a girl like me to read and work in the shop," Victoria explained, frowning as she recalled the man's smug grin.

"You shouldn't listen to him," Rosita advised her niece. "He's just being unreasonable."

"Besides, he can't dictate what you do," Felipe remarked.

"He's just a random stranger, not a spirit guide or an ancestor," Óscar added.

"Well, he seems to think that he knows what's best for me," Victoria continued, sounding bitter. "He thinks that I should 'occupy myself with more important things' like him, and that you're all lunatics for letting me act so 'unladylike.'" She had a disgusted tone of voice as she spat out the last words.

"Is that so?" Imelda clenched her teeth in anger, as she lifted her leg up and began to take off one of her boots. There was not a chance in hell that the little imbécil would get away with acting so horrid around her granddaughter. "Then I suppose I'll just have to show him what happens when you mess with a Rivera—!"

Héctor immediately placed his hands on his wife's shoulder as he tried to soothe her, "Cálmate, amor." While he, too, wanted to grind Señor Acosta into a pulp, he knew that now wasn't the time and that his granddaughter needed a bit of support.

"But Héctor, that man—"

"—I know, but now is not the time," he cut her off, as he gestured to their granddaughter.

"Don't listen to that man, mija," Julio said as he walked over to his daughter. "He knows nothing – never had to work a day in his life, nor learned how to treat a woman." He took her hand as she looked at him. "You're not an improper woman – you're very unique, in fact."

"You think so?" Victoria asked, as her spirits were lifted a little by her father's encouraging words.

"I know so," Julio replied with a smile on his face. "You are your mamá's daughter – you have as much grace, kindness and beauty as she does."

Victoria smiled back and hugged her father. "Gracias, Papá," she whispered.

"De nada, mija," he murmured, patting her back. When they pulled away from the hug, he suddenly had an idea. Perhaps, she would feel even more better after receiving a gift. "Victoria, is there something that you would like?"

She tilted her head in confusion. "Why do you ask?"

"I just want to know, is there anything you'd like to have?" Julio questioned his daughter.

"Well…" she trailed off as she thought about it for a moment. She had already gotten a book, and she knew that she couldn't voice her secret desires – so she then thought of her mother; how Coco would often head out to the local greenhouse just to sniff the special marigold flowers, without the inner reds. She smiled at the memory, then said, "Marigolds – the pure golden ones, like from the greenhouses back in Santa Cecilia."

"Well then – this afternoon, I'll head out and get you those flowers!" Julio declared.

"Oh, that's so sweet!" Héctor remarked, putting his hand over his chest. Then, he realized that his son-in-law meant that he was heading out alone. "Wait, you're doing it on your own?"

When Julio nodded, the others got a little concerned. He was much more shorter and frail, so the thought of him heading out alone was worrying.

"Are you sure, hermano?" Rosita asked. "I could always come with you."

"No, hermana, you don't have to," Julio dismissed her suggestion.

"But you don't know—" Óscar began.

"—what could happen out there," Felipe finished his brother's sentence.

"They're right," Imelda agreed with her younger brothers. "It's best if you have someone to accompany you – like Pepita."

"I'm eighty-four," Julio deadpanned. "I may be old, but I can still do things by myself without the help of mi familia or an alebrije."

Victoria felt a little anxious about her father leaving. So many things could happen – he could get lost, or end up at the wrong place at the wrong time. "Papá, you don't have to do this for me," she spoke, concern evident in her tone. "I'll be fine. They're just flowers, nothing special."

"Nonsense, mija – you want those marigolds, so I'll get you those marigolds," Julio insisted, with a wave of his hand. "It won't take long. I'll be back before dark, I promise."

The family all looked at each other, then nodded slowly.

"Okay," Victoria sighed. "But please be careful out there."

"I'll be fine," Julio said, taking his daughter's hand once more, squeezing it gently. "What's the worst that could happen, anyway?"

the rivera family is the BEST family, and no one can change my mind.

also rip julio he's gotta be sacrificed for the crack ship cause