September 18, 1917.
Imelda was confined to her house for the weekend, Josefina would barely allow the girl out of her sight. But come grocery day Josefina was unable to leave the house and reluctantly allowed the young woman to go into town to buy groceries. She was to escort the twins into town for school, they were to stay with her at all times while she shopped, and she was to return home by 10 am sharp; not a minute later.
There was no doubt that Josefina had already told most of her peers to keep Héctor Rivera away from Imelda. The young woman had seen several older Señoras chase off no good boys from the well-respected girls in the town when they came too close.
"Hola Imelda." Inez Alvarez greets as Imelda approaches the produce stand, leaving her brothers to fool around in the square.
"Hola Inez." Imelda responds with a smile.
"I hear about what happened. Your mamá told mine about it at mass on Sunday." Inez gives her a sympathetic smile.
"What exactly did my mamá say?" Imelda asks, scared to ask. She knew there would be no way that Josefina would tell anyone what had truly transpired between Imelda and Héctor. She wouldn't risk Imelda's reputation.
"Only that Héctor Rivera showed up at your house and asked for your hand. What an embarrassment." Inez laughs. Imelda looks at the younger girl, trying hard not to lose her temper at her cruelness.
"Can I get 4 Tomatillos, 3 poblano peppers, 2 chilaca peppers, some coriander." Imelda begins, watching the girl collect the produce. "4 cebollas, 3 heads of ajo, and some oregano."
"Is that all?" Inez asks as she hands the oregano to the other woman. Imelda nods her head, putting the herb in her basket.
"What do I owe you?" Imelda inquires, grabbing her purse from the basket.
"9 pesos por favour." Inez responds. The other woman reaches into her purse, handing the younger girl the money.
"Hola." A deep voice appears beside Imelda. She looks to the voice to find Ernesto standing beside her.
"H-hola. Señor Cruz." Inez stutters, a blush spreading across the young girl's cheek. Imelda can't help but be amused at the girl's response to Ernesto, she sighs as he meets his gaze.
"Bueno dias Señora. You look lovely today." He regards Inez with his most charming smile, causing Imelda to roll her eyes at him.
"What do you want Ernesto?" Imelda asks, immediately suspicious of the man's presence. His attention turns away from the young girl to Imelda, sighing.
"Unfortunately, Señora Alvarez I'm not here to buy anything. I need to talk to Señora Herrera. Shall we?" Ernesto offers Imelda his arm, a gesture Imelda stares at; not taking his arm. The two walk away from the stand and come to stand in the plaza.
"Ernesto I really don't have time for this. I have to be home by 10 and I still need to buy fish." Imelda huffs, she was already in a bad mood and at this rate, she would only have 15 minutes to walk home.
"Okay, fine. Just…Héctor wants to talk to you." Ernesto says in a quiet voice.
"I do too but I don't have time." Imelda sighs, pulling away from Ernesto to make her way to Señor Alverez to buy fish. Ernesto comes back to her side while she picks out fish.
"Okay okay." He huffs. "I'll give you a ride home today."
"I'm not taking charity from you." Imelda retorts, thanking God that Señor Alverez was partially deaf and couldn't hear the pair as he wrapped her fish.
"It's not." Ernesto raises his voice slightly, causing the vendor to look at them before going back to wrapping the fish. "Listen, do you want my help or not?"
"Fine." Imelda huffs, as much as she didn't want his help it may be the only way for her to talk with Héctor. "Let me pay Señor Alverez and get my fish."
"I'll go ahead, and you follow me." Ernesto quietly says. Imelda nods while reaching into her purse to hand the older man 5 pesos and takes her fish from him. Securely placing it in her basket, Imelda looks up to see Ernesto was already halfway across the plaza. She follows nearly 7 paces behind Ernesto, not wanting anyone to be suspicious.
She is unsurprised when Ernesto leads her to the clearing by the lake, to their tree. A smile appears on her face when she sees Héctor leaning against the tree. Ernesto turns to her with a smug smile, but she doesn't pay attention as she shoves her shopping basket into his chest; making him hold it.
Héctor sees her and can't stop himself from launching himself to her, collecting her in his arms as he comes to stand in front of her. Imelda buries her face in his chest, inhaling his scent as she wraps her arms around his waist.
"I've missed you." He whispers in her ear. Imelda smiles up at him, shaking her head.
"It's only been 4 days Flaco."
"It feels longer." He sighs. Her smile drops at that, she knew what he meant; those four days had felt like four months. Imelda detaches herself from him, straightening his red tie as she pulls away. Héctor's hands remain on her forearm, trying to remain in physical contact with her as much as possible.
"You have to stop coming to the property. I think papá means it this time when he says he's going to shoot you if you come back." Imelda warns, raising an eyebrow at him. Despite the tense evening a few days ago Héctor found himself coming to the property every day since and asking Raúl to reconsider, the older man never did.
"Nah, despite what's happened I think he still likes me." He jokes, flashing her his most charming smile.
"You're not as charming as you think Musico." Imelda smirks tugging on his cotton shirt.
"I think my intended would say otherwise." He retorts pulling her back into his arms. Imelda's smile falters as he refers to her as his intended, her eyes cast down in sadness; everything coming back to reality.
"Héctor…my father he will never give his permission." Imelda laments, her fists clenching the fabric of his shirt.
"Then I'm done asking permission." Héctor answers. "Melda I love you; I'm not giving up on you." She looks up at him through her tears.
"How can you not? My parents will have me married off as soon as this is all over."
"Imelda, I know how important your familia is to you but…what if we got married without their permission." Héctor removes his hands from Imelda, untying his tie from his next and placing it in her hands. Imelda opens her mouth to respond as he closes her hands around the garment. "I know. Take your time however much time you need. When you're ready for me if you ever are, tie this to your window and I'll be there that evening to get you."
"and what if I'm never ready and married to another man?"
"Then I'll come by every night and serenade you until you run away with me." He jokes. She smiles at this, knowing he was joking he'd respect her decision; whatever it would be.
"I need to go." Imelda says, placing his tie into her basket. Héctor nods sadly. "I love you." She brushes his cheek, before pressing a kiss to the soft skin.
"I love you." He responds, leaning into the kiss. She smiles as him softly, before turning away; not wanting him to see the tears falling down her cheek. Ernesto was true to his word and drove her home, neither of them say anything on the drive.
"You can stop here." Imelda says as they approach the house. Ernesto brakes the truck a little too hard, causing both of them to jerk forward slightly. "Thank you for the ride."
"Don't worry about it and don't worry about him. He'll get back on his feet once you move on, he always does." Ernesto cockily smiles at her as she opens the door. Imelda scowls at him, for once she thought he was alright but once again he proved her wrong. She gets out of the truck, slamming the door as hard as she can, causing Ernesto to wince afraid that she caused damage to the truck.
She stalks off away from the truck, feeling a mix of emotion as she walks towards the house. Imelda walks into the kitchen, unloading her groceries onto the kitchen table when Josefina walks into the room.
"Your home on time." The older women comments as she watches her daughter unload the produce. "Did the twins get to school?"
Mierda. She knew she had forgotten to do something while she was in town.
"Yes. I made sure they got there." She lies.
"Good." Josefina responds, looking over the quality of the produce. "You dealt with Inez today?"
"I did."
"Mmm, that girl really must learn how to pick better produce. This Tomatillo has so many bruises. I'll have a word with her mother about it at mass." The older woman shakes her head. Imelda doesn't respond, things hadn't been the same since the other night. Conversations in the family were strained and tense.
"Corundas for lunch?" Imelda asks.
"That's an excellent idea Mija." Josefina smiles. It was the first time she had called Imelda that in days. "What's this?" she asks as she picks up Héctor's tie.
"It was hot today, I thought I'd bring a handkerchief with me today." The young woman excuses, taking the garment from her mother. The two sit down and begin preparing lunch, the tie sitting on Imelda's lap as she debates what she was going to do.
September 20, 1917
Imelda sat up in her room after dinner reading, something she did nearly every night since her and Héctor had been found out. It got her away from the way her father stared at her or the way her mother talks to her now. She stands from her bed, putting her copy of Little Women on the surface. Imelda makes her way to the kitchen to get herself some water. As she reaches the bottom floor, she hears her mother call.
"Imelda is that you?"
"It is." Imelda confirms making her way to the sitting room to see both of her parents sitting there.
"Have a seat Imelda." Raúl gestures to the armchair across from him. Imelda takes a seat in the old piece of furniture, her heart hammering in her chest. "Your mamá and I have been talking about what we are to do given the current…situation."
"Because of the circumstance, both your papá and I believe careful steps need to be taken to retain your respectability. Especially with your virtue being…tainted."
"We both feel it be best for us to send you to your Tía Juana in Oaxaca."
"How long will I be gone for?" Imelda asks, raising a brow at her parents. The couple look at each other and then back to her.
"We've written to your Tía and she'll make arrangements with a respectable family down there with the intention that you will marry into the family. You won't say a word about…him and everything will be behind us." Josefina says, wringing her hands.
"Your…marrying me off to a man we don't know?"
"Imelda don't be so dramatic. If you hadn't been so difficult all these months, we wouldn't have to do this." The older woman spits.
"And what? I'm supposed to stay away from Santa Cecilia for the rest of my life?" Imelda demands, her brows furrowing in anger.
"If your husband allows you too then you may come to visit."
"And papá?" The young woman looks to her father. "What about keeping family close and being the most important thing?"
"You've left us with no choice Imelda." He sighs, casting his eyes to the floor. Imelda suppresses every curse and acts of defiance running through her brain. She sighs, looking to the ceiling in order to stop her eyes from watering. She hated that she cried when she was angry.
"When do I leave?" She quietly asks.
"Your aunt will write to us with all the details. It will likely be in October, after your birthday." Josefina says. Imelda nods before standing.
"I'm finding myself to be tired. I think I'll go to bed. Buenas noches." Imelda walks off without another word, not even waiting for her parents to respond. She goes back upstairs, trying not to seem upset. As she walks into her bedroom, she closes the door behind her with a sigh.
Her family had sold her, despite what they said she still didn't feel shame in what she did with Héctor. Nor did she find any fault in what she had done. Her parents had raised her with the idea that family came first and to keep them close, yet they were sending her away without a second thought.
She looks to her bed; her mind was made up. She grabs the red tie sitting on her bed and opens her window, tying the garment to the iron faux balcony outside her window before shutting it again. The young woman smiles as she looks at the red tie there, this was the first thing she had been sure about for months. She was going to marry Héctor, whether her parents liked it or not.
September 21, 1917
Imelda nearly ran upstairs once she finished washing the dinner dishes. Héctor would arrive right before sundown, she had to hurry. She throws her father's leather suitcase on her bed hastily. She grabs her boots which sat beside her door, packing them first. Only her favourite things would go with her. She opens her armoire looking through the clothing hanging in there. She grabs several skirts, her informal ones along with her favourite blouses. Then she packs her undergarments; save for her corsets. Imelda makes her way to her vanity, grabbing her hairbrush and her ribbons. She looks over the jewelry, grabbing anything she thought had any value.
The young woman strips into her undergarments, packing the clothes she wore during that day in the suitcase. She walks over to the bed where she had laid out what she was going to wear for her wedding. The skirt she had picked was a dark purple and plain while the blouse that matched it was white with a variety of purple, blue, and red flowers were embroidered across her chest. She quickly dresses into the combination, tucking the blouse into the waist of the skirt, tying a red sash around her waist. As she finishes tying the sash she walks back to her vanity, sitting at it as she braids purple ribbons through her hair. The sounds of something small colliding with her window echoes through her room, Imelda stands from the vanity and runs to the window. A smile spreading across her face as she opens it to see Héctor standing below it, a grin spreading across the young man's face as he sees her.
"Throw me your bag." Héctor calls up in the quietest voice he can. Imelda unties the tie from the iron and runs back to her suitcase, throwing the garment into the bag before closing it. She grabs the spare sashes and ties them around the suitcase, hoping to god it would secure it in place along with the fasteners. She picks the object up from her bed, poking her head out of the window.
"Estas listo?" She asks, Héctor nods as he takes a step forward. Imelda brings her head back into before putting the suitcase through the window and drops it from the second story. The bag drops to the ground with a thud, Héctor going forward to pick it up.
"I don't know if I trust myself to catch you." He jokes. Imelda rolls her eyes at his comment.
"I know I don't. Wait for me I'll be around in a minute." She smiles at him as he nods, she closes her window and walks to her door. She goes to her vanity, blowing out the last candle in her room. She then stops at the door, taking a look around her childhood bedroom for the last time. The young woman quietly shuts her door and quietly stocks down the stairs in her nyloned feet, her boots in her hand. As she comes to the bottom of the stairs, she can hear her parents talking in the sitting room. Imelda walks turns the corner into the living room and then into the kitchen. She takes a breath as she comes to the back door and quietly opens it, slinking out of her childhood home. Imelda quietly closes the door behind her, her heart pounding as it clicks shut.
She is quick on her feet as the door is closed, making her way around the house. She turns the corner to the front of the house, smiling as she sees Héctor standing on the stone walkway. Imelda runs to him, placing a hand on his cheek and pressing a chaste kiss to his lips.
"Let's go." Imelda says as she takes his hands in hers and leads him away from the house. The couple walk into town together, their laughter echoing down the nearly emptied streets.
"Ernesto said he'll meet us at the church. He was going to talk to Padre Luis for us."
"Ernesto is? What does he want in return?" Imelda questions, causing the man beside her to chuckle.
"Nothing, he's just being a good friend. I know you don't like him; he's just trying to extend an olive branch."
"Okay." Imelda shrugs not totally convinced but not wanting to argue on her wedding night. The couple walk to the plaza, seeing Ernesto sitting on the pavilion.
"Nesto! Over here." Héctor calls waving his arm in the air to get his friend's attention. The other man stands up and walks towards the couple.
"Imelda… you look nice." Ernesto says. "You could've even fooled me."
"Funny." Imelda rolls her eyes. "Is Padre Luis ready to marry us?"
"About that…" Ernesto trails off. "He won't marry you two without having consent from Imelda's parents." Imelda and Héctor look at each other, wondering if this was all for nought.
"How long would it take us to get to Colonia el Cárcamo in your papá's truck?" Imelda questions, turning to Ernesto.
"About 20 minutes." Ernesto shrugs.
"Then we'll go there, I know the priest there will marry couples quick." Imelda says, already stalking towards the Cruz's residence, causing both men to run after her. Upon reaching the house Héctor throws her suitcase in the bed of the truck as Ernesto and Imelda climb into it. The young man comes around the side and squeezes next to Imelda in the front.
Héctor begins to sing as the truck leaves Santa Cecilia, Imelda joins him after the first song. By the time the trio reached Colonia el Cárcamo all three of them were singing and having a good time.
Ernesto parks the truck in front of the church, the trio get out of the truck; Héctor offering his soon-to-be-wife a hand, which she graciously accepts. Ernesto goes ahead of them and enters the church first. The Priest greets all three of them, looking questioningly at the small group of young adults before him.
"I am Padre Juan. What can I do for you three?" The old man asks, clasping his hands together.
"My intended and I wish to be married tonight." Héctor states, grabbing Imelda by the hand. The Priest smiles at the young couple.
"Of course. In these unforeseen times, I see no reason why two people who wish to be married should wait. Come in." Padre Juan steps aside allowing the young couple to enter the sanctuary. Ernesto takes a seat in the front pew and watches.
The old man's words echo throughout the nearly empty church, Imelda and Héctor standing at the alter their hands joined as they beam at each other. Imelda feels herself becoming emotional as she slips the ring onto Héctor's finger and nearly cries when he places the ring onto her finger.
"With the power vested in me and the church and states. I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss your bride." The priest smiles as the young couple. Imelda nearly launches herself into Héctor's arms as he kisses her. Both of them laughing as they withdraw from one another.
Ernesto signs as a witness on their marriage license, Héctor then signs the document and hands the quill over to Imelda.
"Do I have to sign my family name?" Imelda asks the priest, who shakes his head.
"If you wish you take your husband's name you can sign with it, you will have to still change it legally." Padre Juan explains, Imelda smiles at the man and looks back down at the document. Signing,
Imelda Adelita Rivera.
There was no going back now.
