"Let's go home Hector" Imelda helped him get up and all of them were walking to the Rivera house. Imelda was not letting him go this time. She remembered all their nights just dancing and singing, the flowers he got her everyday, the birth of Coco and how Hector wouldn't stop crying whenever he held her in his hands. However everyone else was still a bit doubted on this decision. A man who had abandoned his family just for music was coming back in their lives just like that. He didn't have to go through any hardships in life or death and just like that without any suffering Mama Imelda was letting him come back but no more like ordering him.
Hector shakes his head and murmured "Imelda just drop me at my house please" It was so weird how still Imelda got goosebumps whenever he said his name. She felt complete, loved and secure. It was hard to explain what it meant to her and the feelings she got. Yes, she hated him and maybe still does but the amount of love she had for him surpassed the level of hate. After all the decades her heart still belonged to this man.
Imelda the matriarch of this family ordered Hector "You are coming to my house. Your house. Why is it so hard for you to listen to me once! You are not well and you are coming with us" He kept shaking his head and pulled his arm from Imelda's hold. Everyone was shocked! No one could say no to Imelda because they knew the consequences. Even Imelda was shocked, how dare he not listen to her, this was not the Hector she remembered. Her Hector would blindly do whatever she wanted him to. Not once in their life he had said no to Imelda except the last time and look what that did to their family. He was murdered.
Hector started walking to the opposite direction. No actually more like limping to Shannytown where all the forgotten stayed. "Yes he may not be forgotten right now but only Coco held his memories and she is very old. Once she dies no one wi..."
His thoughts were interrupted by Imelda's shoe "You idiota! How hard is it to accept my love! To do what I want you to do! To not leave me! How dare you come back in my life, reopen those memories I had locked away, make me sing our song and make me rekindle my love for you! And all that for what? To just leave me once again?" It was very rare for Imelda to show her vulnerable side to anyone but again this was Hector Rivera, The Love of her life. How could she not be vulnerable in front of him? Both of them had forgotten about their familia watching them. Julio had turned off the camera as soon as Ernesto died to give them all some privacy so the only people watching this moment was their familia, who were still not fan of Hector. Only Julio knew the true Hector because he had married Coco and knew how much she loved him and how much her papa loved her. Only Julio could understand Hector.
Hector dropped on the floor and cried "Imelda when I died I thought you would miss me, you would tell our daughter how much her papa loved her but instead you took me off the ofrenda, made our daughter hate me that she forgot me. My Coco forgot me Imelda because of you! How can you call me the love of your life when I never was? Was it so hard to trust me? Was it so hard to love me? Believe in me?" All these words stabbed Imelda right in the heart, she deserved this and just like this he kept on going "When I died, or was murdered which I just found out. I couldn't stay with the guilt that I had left you to raise our daughter, our Coco alone. I wanted to cross the bridge to see how you both were doing, to maybe try and kiss you or hug you both! But when I couldn't cross the bridge I thought you had replaced me with someone else so fast and so...easily"
Imelda gasped and cupped his cheek "Hector I could never" Hector moved his head away from her hand and missed that feeling right away but he needed her to hear him for once. For once he wanted to tell her how he felt. Their familia was watching them with nothing but sadness. They all has been too busy hating him that they forgot it wasn't his fault.
Hector held up his hand "No Mi Amo...Imelda let me...let me talk. I never knew that you didn't trust me because I thought...I thought you loved me. Was I so bad to you that you were glad you got rid of me? You never searched for me Imelda. You never did. Did you not trust in my love? I did everything for you Imelda because I loved you. So much that it even baffled me, how can a person love someone this much? How could I not? You married me, gave me a family. Our Coco. When I couldn't cross I thought you...you...married someone else. You got a new husband and my Coco got a new father. I tried to cross every year because deep down I still believed you loved me and trusted me. That maybe this all bridge thing was a mishap. I kept believing you did put up my photo but I just couldn't cross the bridge somehow. I love you Imelda, so much that I can't believe how I survived these decades without you. Imelda the truth is I can't come close to you" Hector looked up at Imelda and tears rushed down her face. Only then he realized what he had done. He made her cry again. Why did he have to open his mouth again?
Hector put a hand on her Cheek and touched her forehead with his "I don't have enough time. After Coco dies I'll be forgotten but just know that I loved you. I loved you so much Mi Amore. It hurt me to leave you and Coco but I had to earn for our family. I wanted to give you what you deserved. You chose me over wealthy and handsome men. You could've gotten anyone! I knew I wasn't good enough but I wanted to try and give you everything. I'm sorry Mi Amore for everything"
Imelda opened her eyes and wiped Hectors tears "I'm sorry Hector. I'm so sorry. I thought you had left and married another woman. Yes I trusted you. I trusted you with my life but at that time I was vulnerable. I had to move on and I just thought that maybe by hating you I could forget you but I couldn't. Every night I sang our song and remembered you. I never thought what went on you. Only today I learned that you were murdered, if I had known back then I would've never forgotten you. Lo siento Mi Amore. Lo siento" Imelda kissed Hector and not right away but slowly he kissed back. They both cried while they held onto each other.
Hector wiped her tears and laughed "This is my first kiss in decades you know? With the love of my life"
Imelda gasped and put a hand on his chest bones "You didn't? I mean you didn't get in a relationship again?"
Hector threw his head back and put her hair behind her ear "You are the only one for me mi corazón" He suddenly cried out "Did you? I mean do you...did you ever love someone else in life or here?"
Imelda kissed him and replied "Are you kidding me? No one could replace you Mi Amore" Imelda pulled him in by his suspenders and pleaded "Now will you please come home. Our Home"
Hector let go of Imelda and shakes his head "I'll be forgotten in a few years. This time I choose to leave you. I can't hurt you again...I can't" Saying that Hector ran back to Shannytown. Where he belonged. Leaving Imelda once again. She stood in her spot and watched him ran away. Just like that he left her again. If only she had given him a chance to talk to her or didn't make their familia hate him. She will stay with this guilt forever. Why didn't she think of Hector all these years? Yes, she missed him. She missed him so much that it hurt her. Maybe they would've had more years together if she just heard his side of story once. She knew she will regret it forever.
Imelda was about to leave that a hand touched her shoulder so she took off her shoe and smacked his face. Then she realized it was Hector "You idiota! What are you doing here? I thought you left!"
Hector pulled her in a deep kiss "I can't make a mistake twice. Even if it's a day I want to spend every second with you Mi Amore"
Imelda kissed him again and cried vulnerably and loudly "Hector we both really are stupid. I don't want to lose more time now. Te amo mucho Mi Amore"
Hector laughed and caressed her cheek "Yo también te amo mucho Mi Amore" Imelda pulled him in another kiss Hector snaked an arm around her waist and pulled her closer to him to which Imelda moaned. Several coughs were heard and they jumped away from each other. They had truly forgotten about their familia. Before they knew what was happening everyone launched themselves on Hector. Giving him big hugs and kisses. Especially his granddaughter. Without a doubt everyone knew she'd be Hector's favorite and she was.
Victoria pouted and made it very clear "Papa Hector you're coming with us and that's final" It reminded him of Coco and soon he melted under her hug.
Hector kissed her forehead and bowed "As you say mija" Everyone was crying and adored this moment but Hector didn't miss the hint of jealousy on Imelda's face. She was jealous how Hector was listening to her granddaughter and not his wife. This seemed hilarious to Hector and he went up to Imelda and hugged her then whispered in her ear "You're my Queen Mi Amore. Your wish is my command" Imelda was shocked how he figured out. He remembered...he remembered all her faces and emotions. After so many decades he still did. This only made her feel more guilty.
Imelda was about to go for another kiss when The twins yelled "Can you take your love somewhere else I'm gonna throw up" Hector had to stop Imelda from ripping them apart. The twins shivered in fear realizing what they had done. After all they were the dumb ones of their family for a reason.
"Ok we still have some time so we can try going to the land of the living. Maybe somehow you are on the ofrenda" Julio reminded them. Hector hesitated but nodded and everyone headed to the bridge. Everyone passed and Hector was the last one in line. When his turn came Imelda stood by his side and gripped his hand hard. Hector got the confidence and went in front of the camera. He was very much prepared to hear a red sound but he saw the green light and almost passed out. All familia was shocked that it actually worked. But how?
Hector jumped up and spinner Imelda in the air "Imelda Mi Amore. They put a photo up and that means I get to see Coco again. Also I get to...be with you forever my love"
Imelda's tears rushed down her face in happiness and she kissed him all over the face while yelling "That disobedient child kept your photo! For the first time I'm not angry at her. Mi esposo. We got to stay together forever! Oh Mi corazon" Hector wiped her tears and pecked her lips. They were showing a lot of affection in public but everyone agreed they had decades of catching up to do. The employees were laughing and some even clapped realizing Hector Rivera finally gets to pass the bridge. All these years of his struggles finally will be over. The whole family walked over the bridge headed to their town.
Hector put his arm around Imelda and sighed "I'm sorry Imelda. I said some things I didn't mean to. I just hope you can forgive me for leaving you in the first place. I guess it wasn't fair to you that I blamed you for my stupid decision too"
Imelda chuckled "Yes you were stupid but you only meant good when you left. You left for us also I am sorry too for you know what I did. The point is we both made mistakes and said stuff we didn't want to. I did for decades and you just did today. I'm kinda shocked though where did you get the guts from Mi marido idiota"
Hector shrieked under her glare and apologized again "Eheh won't happen again I promise. God please don't take off your shoe" Imelda smiled proudly knowing well enough she still held that power over him. In a way she loved that he was scared of her and he loved that too. Hector continued "I guess all husbands are scared of their wives but you are just something else Mi Amore" Imelda rolled her eyes and dropped her head on his shoulder.
Imelda whispered "Te quiero husband"
Hector whispered back "Yo también te amo wife" He looked down at her eyes and kissed her "Mi Amore" She was and is his everything.