Coco stood outside with Julio, Victoria, Rosita, her Tíos, and a stranger as her Mamá entered the UCI with the doctor. The nurses refused to let them in, she tried eavesdropping, but heard nothing. This isn't fair! Coco thought, I've been waiting for this for 96 years since that butt-chinned killed him! no one had any right to take my Papá away from me!
"I don't need your permission to see my Papá!" She kicked the door open with her foot, ignoring Mamá's protest.
Socorro looked at the man in the hospital bed, he hasn't changed a day since their goodbye even without flesh. His markings don't have color like her familia's, but it was wild, resembling his youth. He looked so young...died so young.
"Papá?" she whispered trembly, knowing that she was no longer that 3 years old girl he parted with, "Do you remember me?".
The man tilted his head at her before a smile finally grew on his face, "Coco?".
"Papá!" Coco squealed, and climbed onto the bed, hugging her father.
"Oh mija!" Héctor sobbed as he returned the embrace, "I missed you so much, I swear I tried to come home. I'm so sorry that I wasn't there for you, I never-".
"I understand, Papá." Coco let go of the crying man, and wiped away his tears, "I know." she repeated firmly.
Miguel told her everything, what that man did to her Papá, and what that butt-chinned did to her poor bisnieto. No one brings him justice in life, so now, since she's dead, she'll make sure she gets a smack on that butt-chinned's skull.
Héctor smiled, and then turned to Imelda, "Mija, do you know her?".
"That's Mamá." Coco replied simply, "Your wife!"
Héctor gasped at her answer as her entire familia finally marched into the room. Miguel told her they had that 'I love you' look around each other, but he doesn't know if they get back together. But she knows they loved each other! Or else why would his departure hurt her Mamá till the last moment she was alive? Maybe, he just needs reminders!
"Papá, do you remember any of them?" Coco gestured to her family.
"Rosita?" The chubby woman nodded happily at the call, and then Héctor turned his face to the twin, "Oscar? Filipe?".
"Si!" the twin cheered.
"Can I borrow?" Victoria took the glasses off one of her Tío's face, and then put it on hers.
"Victoria!".
The woman nodded, and returned her glasses to her Tío. Julio timidly moved forward with Imelda.
"Papá Héctor… Do You Remember Us?".
La Muerte looked at his soul's memories through a magnifying glass, and then connected his memory to a projector. Everyone watched some part of Héctor's memory at 17x pace. There were some parts that were unfocussed, and blurred, like there was a filter on top.
"Is it partial amnesia?" Victoria asked.
"Not really, Señora." La Muerte replied, "His memories weren't really erased, it's more like sealed.".
"Then how do we-"
"Unseal it?" the twin asked.
"Only him could." La Muerte tapped Héctor's shoulder as she closed his skull after everything was back in place, "We don't know what caused his memory sealment. It could be anything, shock, unprocess issues, or even just fear.".
Fear… That made sense, he always acted like he was constantly on guard around her, and what did she expect after all she did to him? Maybe he wanted to forget her, but…
"What do you have to be afraid of me?" Julio asked Héctor, "What did I do?".
"I don't know." Héctor replied, "Lo siento."
"It's ok," Coco replied calmly, "Let us all go home first" she turned toward La Muerte, "We'll figure this out.".
~ Rivera Hacienda
They showed him around the house, he remembered everything except anything that Julio, and Imelda were involved. Victoria re-introduced Récono as Récono Rivera to the family again after Imelda took the couple to the Marigold Grand Central Station for marriage registration. Imelda insisted that it's ok if Victoria wants to take her husband's last name, but Récono happened to be huérfano, so he took her last name instead.
Victoria took Coco out for clothes shopping as the family started to decorate the courtyard for a "Welcome Party". Héctor helped the twin with the makeover of his grandson in law as Rosita, and Imelda prepared the meals. The twins quickly set up their camera as the other family members were all in their spot, and when the front gate finally opened.
"BIENVENIDO A CASA!"
Pepita, and Dante chewed their fruits on the artificial turf as Victoria told her family how she met her husband, and all the bizarre things that happened in their marriage which Coco, and Julio seemed to enjoy as Récono's wonder energies and his kind demeanor extremely reminded them of Héctor. Is this the reason she chose him? Imelda thought as she saw herself in Victoria around her husband, way more carefree than she has ever been since her death.
However, the fact that there was no miracle for him like Héctor still remained. He dozed off after a few hours of conversation, so Victoria brought him upstairs. Héctor paid attention to every word Coco spoke about her experiences from her lifetime as they were washing the dishes.
Julio, and Imelda listened to the father, and daughter's talk as they cleaned everything up. They noticed that during the dinner, Héctor never directly approached them, but at the same time observing. That's what he always does when he's trying to learn. So they decided to approach him only one on one.
~ Rivera Zapatería
Julio taught Héctor how to sketch the shoe's design again from the basics as the family started teaching Récono how to make his own pair of shoes. Both of them started it innocently until Héctor started to get in the zone, and drew something skillfully. Héctor handed Julio his finished sketch, it looked exactly the same as the one he did before the accident!
Julio smiled, and hugged his young father-in-law. Héctor didn't remember any memory of the moments he did with Julio, but he remembered what he learned from Julio, and that was enough for the old man.
Imelda looked at Récono as he happily leaned against Victoria. They already have a meal to welcome Coco who just crossed over, they have never made one for him yet. Imelda looked at Héctor after Julio let go of him, maybe this could finally be their get to know each other again time.
~ Rivera Hacienda
"Héctor." She approached him at the sofa-bed in the living room, "Will you go shopping for groceries with me tomorrow?" Héctor's eyes went wide, "I want to make a welcome party for Récono, and aside from Victoria, you are the one who knew him best.".
Imelda wants Victoria to spend all the time she could with her lover, but at the same time, she's also done with her own excuses too. She wished she could knock her skull off with her own boot after she said...
"I'll leave at 8," joder mi vida! "If you wanna come.".
"Por supuesto!" Héctor replied with a smile.
His reply brought relief to Imelda, she couldn't stop smiling that night she went to bed. She didn't get any sleep, and yet, she felt lively the next day they went to the market. One basket in her hand, and Héctor followed close behind her, she felt alive again… felt like they were in love again… but does he feel the same?
She can't get her hopes up too high, this is the first time they ever go somewhere else together alone. Well, she did go to the Shantytown with him, and it turned into De La Cruz's funeral, so that doesn't count.
"What's on your mind?" He suddenly asked as they walked home, "I don't have ears, but you can vent on me if you want." He chuckled nervously.
"Nothing important." She replied, "Just reminiscing."
He doesn't look convinced, "Can I help you with that?" he pointed at her full basket.
"Sure." She smiled, and handed him the basket.
Héctor took the basket in his left hand, and then Imelda instinctively offered her left hand to his right. They paused immediately. He looked at her, hesitated as she forgot to breathe, she didn't prepare herself for rejection if he decided to refuse.
Slowly he gently placed his hand on her, and then quickly laced his finger in her. His eyes went wide as he gave her hand a gentle squeeze. Did he finally remember me? Imelda wondered as they walked home hand in hand.
~ Rivera Hacienda
Victoria read her novel on her armchair by the window as Récono was sleeping in their bed.
"Staying with a sick man all day, are you bored?" Récono asked weakly.
"Why should I be?" Victoria raised her brow, "Some couples rarely have anytime too spent together.".
And then someone knocked on the door. Victoria put her book away, and then answered the knock. It's Coco.
"Is everything okay? Mamá.".
"All good, Mija." Coco replied, "Dinner is ready."
The white haired woman entered the room, and approached Récono, offering her arm.
"Come, yerno. Let's go eat dinner."
Victoria, and Coco helped the weak man down the stairs, and then approached the courtyard. It wasn't a grand party like Coco's, but at the same time cozy. A large estera on the turf, and foods gathered in the middle.
"¡Salud! To Señor Récono Rivera!" Héctor raised his chicken.
"To Récono!" Everyone cheered, and then ate the meal.
Récono smiled as he ate the chicken mole, and the night seemed to freeze. Normally every time Récono was around, Victoria would barely notice anyone around her, as if this world had only them, but this time she saw her family, and their love for each other is finally a part of their family.
However, time has never stopped, and when it comes, no one can stop it. Récono laid his head on Victoria's lap. She smiled ruefully, and pulled him up in her arms as he started to shimmer. The family gathered close along with Pepita, and Dante.
"Gracias, Mi Familia…"
Slowly Récono glowed in Victoria's arm, and then washed away into dust, disappeared into the night. Victoria starred up after the golden dust, the only proof that her esposo had once existed. Sobbing trembly as Coco, and Julio held her close.
Why is it Imelda, and Julio?
Vocab
Bisnieto = Great-grandson
Huérfano = Orphaned
Bienvenido A Casa = Welcome Home
Por Supuesto = Of Course
Estera = Mat