So the triplets went to visit Rodolfo and Maria where they told them the whole story.
"So your mother left huh?" Rodolfo said.
"Yeah do you think she'll come back?" Lorena asked.
"Of course. The women of the Riveras cannot stay away from us long. Isn't that right Maria?"
"You make it sound like we wives came back crawling to you men." Maria said. "Truth of the matter is my little nietos and nieta, is that once a Rivera man looses the woman he loves he spends his whole life begging on his knees to get her back, it was like that for your grandfather, great-grandfather, and so on, so on, so on."
"You mean all Rivera men did something to make their wives leave?" Emilio asked.
"Yep. Sometimes it was for a short amount of time and sometimes it was for years. But in the end neither the Rivera man or his angry wife could live without each other. So I'm sure things will work out with your parents."
"What made your mother so mad anyway?" Rodolfo asked sipping his coffee.
"Dad forgot their anniversary and then said he saw her more as friend than a wife."
Rodolfo spat out his coffee in shock.
"That is the worst of the worst!" He gasped.
"Seriously?" Emilio said.
"Well actually no the worst is adultery which is how your great, great, great, grandfather lost his wife but that is a close second!"
"That bad?" Antonio said. "He just forgot one day and said the wrong words."
"Let me explain nietos." Maria said. "Now as you know before your parents fell in love and got married they were best friends. But the problem with marrying your best friend is that sometimes the husband or wife might think their spouse doesn't really hold any romantic feelings for them, that they're confusing friendship with love. By forgetting all those dates and concerts and saying that he always forgot your mother was his wife, your father was basically saying he doesn't love her like a wife."
"But that's not true." Emilio said.
"Well your mother is scared that, that's how your father really feels."
"Is that why you left Grandpapi?" Antonio asked.
"No dear every Rivera wife left her husband for a different reason."
"What do we do?"
"I'm afraid you three can't do anything. This is between your parents so they need to work this out themselves. Speaking of which where is your father?"
"As we speak he's falling into a state of depression."
"Oh dear, why don't you three stay over here for the night and give your father some time to think?" Maria said.
As much as they loved staying at their grandparents they were still worried.
"Isn't there anything we can do?" Emilio asked his brother and sister.
"Well we could always steal jewelry, give it to her, and say Dad got it for her." Antonio said.
"Lying and stealing will not fix this!" Lorena scolded. "We need something genuine and true."
"I know let's get her a soap opera tape." Emilio suggested.
Lorena face palmed herself.
"And you two wonder why you don't have girlfriends yet." She said.
"To be fair you women are complicated creatures." Antonio said.
"Look it's like Grandmami said Mom and Dad are gonna work it out."
"Maybe." Emilio said.
A few days later Frida came to see her kids and took Emilio to visit Maya at the hospital. Zoe was there and she knew all about what happened between her and Manny.
"So you're not talking to him?" Zoe said.
"No I'm not." Frida said.
"Are you going to leave him?"
"I don't know. I hardly ever see him now, I know part of it isn't his fault because he's a hero now but there are times even when he's not working and he still ignores me."
"I'm sure he's doing the best he can. Why can't you just talk to him?"
"Because I'm still angry and upset. For as long as I could remember I have always loved him and I had always known that he was going to be my husband. Even when I was a child but he didn't love me til later. I was just a friend to him for so long and sometimes I feel like deep down that hasn't changed. That he never really loved me to begin with, that only thought he did."
"You're an idiot!" Zoe cried angrily.
"What?"
"Never loved you to begin with? Only sees you has a friend? My God Suarez are you that dumb?!"
"What are you talking about?"
"He has always loved you! Always! Even when you were kids! He didn't know it then and neither did you but I did! I knew it the very moment he picked you over me! Do you remember that day when I wrecked your party?"
"Yes, you did it because I didn't invite you even though you didn't want to go. What was that about anyway?"
"Give me a break I was a kid going through puberty, I had rage issues. Anyway he told me that you were too important to him to betray you and join me. He said it to me! A girl he crushed on even though at the time he thought you were just a friend! He loved you and I hated you for it for the longest time but I'm over it now. The point is he chose you! Every time he chose you! And he will always choose you!"
"Why are doing this? I thought that you'd be thrilled over the possibility of us splitting up. If we did you could just swoop in and make him yours."
"You still don't get it do you?! He will never be mine! Never! He won't be mine or any other woman's because he'll always be yours! Always has been, always will be! Look he's a thoughtless idiot I'll give you that but you're the only woman he ever loved. He never once looked at me the way he looked you! Don't let him go! If he was mine I would never let him go!"
Frida was speechless. Zoe had changed. She was no longer the goth girl who liked to bully her and steal Manny from her. She was now, dare Frida say one of her best friends. After a moment of silence Frida smiled softly and hugged Zoe. Zoe hugged her back. Though it was pretty clear before, now it was confirmed. Their rivalry had been long dead and over the years a friendship had been born.
"Thank you." Frida said.
"Don't mention, seriously don't. If my mother ever found out I helped a Rivera man get his wife back she'll never let me hear then end of it. Now go to him."
"But what about-"
"I'll watch your kid now go."
Frida gave her another hug then left happily.
"Well that was nice." Django said smugly. "Are you going soft now Zoe."
"Shut up." She told him. "And if you tell anyone else about this I'll tell your grandmother that you sold her gold tooth for beer."
"Oh God Zoe don't! She'll destroy me if she ever finds that out!"
"Then keep you lipless mouth shut about this."
"You know you could be nicer to me."
"Let me think uh no."
"What is your problem? Why do you keep pushing me away? I get it if you don't love me anymore but can't we just try to get along for Maya's sake?"
"No."
"Why?"
"Because you won't stay!"
"What?"
"Sure you'll stick around but eventually you'll get tired and then you'll leave us. Just like my father left me and my mother and grandfather left my mother and my grandmother and so on and so on."
"So that's what this is about?"
"Yes! All the men that the women in my family loved left once they had kids. Aves women aren't meant to get married or grow up with a father! It's been that way for years! So I don't want you with us because I don't want Maya to be heartbroken when you stop coming for good!"
"Zoe I'm not like that! You know I'm not like that!"
"How do I know?"
"Because I've been through it! My Dad left too Zoe! He left me and it destroyed my mother! She was so depressed over him that she could hardly bring herself to look at me without crying! Yeah she kept me but my grandmother was the one who raised me! At least your mom wasn't so screwed up over your dad leaving that she couldn't take care of you! So don't act like you're the only one with Dad issues and a screwed up childhood! When my dad was gone for good I promised myself that if I ever had a kid I wouldn't abandon it like he did to me! So to hell with how you feel about me! But Maya is my daughter and I am going to be her father! So get over yourself and deal with it!"
He then stomped off somewhere to cool off leaving her speechless.
