This fic is the continuation of my previous one - "Trial by memories". To understand better what`s going on here, it`s better to read that one first ;)

Rosita was standing by a stove as Hector entered. Noticing two large rolls in his hands, she asked:

"Have you bought something, Hector? Can I see it?..."

She interrupted herself and starred back at the pans. She forgot to say "Papa" again.

However, it seemed Hector didn`t even noticed it. He just smiled mysteriously and said:

"You`ll see it, Rosita. Pero wait a little bit. It must to be a surprise".

He passed through the kitchen and went toward the Zapateria.

Closing the door behind himself, Hector looked around. Only Rosita and he were at home at this moment. Another Riveras went away for a business meeting, but should be back in no time. That meant, he should not lose time.

Hector`s task was to clean the Zapateria up. It was done, but one very important thing was lacking. The young skeleton walked slowly through the Zapateria. Somewhere he already saw these… Yes, here they were!... Two deep plastic vases stood under a table. Maybe not very beautiful, but for the first time it would be enough. By the way, who would care about a vase, when there are so splendid flowers in it?

Dante trotted to a counter where his master left the rolls with lilies, sniffed and tried to chew them.

"Dante! Stop that!"

Careful Hector unwrapped the newspapers that were used as the wrappings for the lilies. Imelda always liked flowers, especially these. He recalled the shining in her eyes every time he brought her a bouquet. As she was a young girl, she dreamt about an own little flower garden. Strangely, but there were no flowers in the dead Riveras` house. Now the young Imelda`s spouse was going to improve this.

Unintentionally he glanced at the newspaper's highline.

There was his own photo. On it the young skeleton stood by the pulpit, with a very stupid expression on his face. The victim acquitted his murder, declared the highline, HR vs DLC: mercy or some old feelings? Lower, under the text were two other photos. On the first one, he saw Imelda who looked like she was going to kill somebody in a very cruel way. On the second one was Ernesto`s face in close shot. This face expressed total suffering. Apparently, the paparazzi caught the moment when the guard-toad bit him.

Hector pursed his lips and crumpled vexed the newspaper. Those clingy paparazzi left him and his family alone not long ago. Only after tired and angry Imelda set Pepita on them. Although Hector didn`t think it was the best decision. The paparazzi could write the entire report-series about Hector Rivera`s "cruel wife". However, as he shared his fears with Imelda, she smiled quietly and said: "Hector, mi corazon, believe me, if I had ever cared about the things people thinking about me, I had never become what I am and never started my own business".

….Hector just finished to decorate the Zapateria with lilies as he heard the sound of the steps behind the front door. Hector recognized them immediately.

Hastily the young skeleton took three remaining lilies, stood in the middle of the room, and commanded Dante to sit beside him. Meanwhile the skeleton hand turned a key in a door lock.

Imelda, wearing a wide hat and a mantlet, stepped into her Zapateria. Hector smiled. Dante barked friendly. The lilies` smell was everywhere. She stood still, looking at the flowers with surprise.

"Surprise!" cried Hector at loud and held out three lilies, "By the way, this is for you".

"Ah, Hector…"

Hector didn`t see happiness in his wife`s eyes. Were the flowers in her house so unusual for her?

"Hector", said Imelda looking very confused and… frightened, "No, no! We should put them all away immediately!"

Hector was chocked.

"Por qué?" he asked feeling himself a little bit insulted.

Before Imelda could answer, they heard Victoria`s and twins` voices from outside.

"Dios mio!" exclaimed Imelda and rushed toward the doorway, "Victoria, mijita, no enter here!"

Too late. Tia Victoria stepped already into the Zapateria.

"Nice smell", she said wiping her glasses, "Which cleanser did you use, Pa…?… ahchoo! Wha?…ahchoo!"

XXX

Riveras surrounded Tia Victoria`s bed. In the evening, her sneezing became better, but she still had the problems with running eyes.

"Victoria, I… Lo siento mucho! I just couldn`t imagine you have an allergy!"

Hector felt himself very embarrassed.

"Don`t blame yourself so hard. You really couldn`t know this", comforted him Rosita, while Julio and Tio Oskar nodded agreed.

"You could ask first, anyway", added Tio Felipe.

Imelda said nothing to this. She didn`t look angry, but it was evidently, that what has happened made her feel upset. For Hector it was very painful. First time he wanted to make her feel good – and such failure. And he could blame nobody for that but himself.

"Ah, don`t be worry… ahchoo!... In two days I will be all right", said Victoria and blew her non-existent nose loudly.

"I think, Victoria needs her rest", stated Imelda looking all her family members around, "We go away"

Almost everybody left the room. Standing in the doorway Julio turned to his daughter:

"If you need something, mijita, call us immediately… Hector? Do you go?"

It seemed Hector wasn`t about to join the other.

"Honestly, I wanted…"

Hector hesitated, and then continued addressing to his granddaughter:

"May I stay with you for a while, Victoria?"

Instead of answer, Victoria sneezed. However, with a move of her shoulders she showed she had nothing against his wish.

They stayed alone. Hector sat down in the armchair beside the bed.

"How are you feeling, Victoria?"

"Better than before, Hector"

Her skull lied on the large pillow. The afterlife marks on her cheekbones and forehead were changing their colors constantly. During his life in Shantytown Hector often saw the similar symptoms on the faces of the sick skeletons. In those times it seemed normal for Hector. He also used to have the symptoms by himself. And it used to be very uncomfortable, because the marks itched.

"Victoria, don`t scratch your marks!" warned Hector, "If you do, they`ll become worse".

"Muchas gracias", Victoria smiled weakly, "I know it. I am not a little girl, at all… Oh! Dios mio!"

Suddenly Victoria rose up and clasped her skull in horror.

"Victoria, what`s wrong?" asked Hector frightened.

He rubbed her shoulder.

"Does something ache?"

"No… ahchoo!... I have almost forgotten!... Ah… ahchoo!..."

Victoria`s frustration was so hard, that she began to sneeze again.

"Victoria, por favor, calm down. Tell me, what have you forgotten? Puede ser, I can help you"

Victoria glanced at her young drandfather.

"I don`t sure you can help with it, He… Papa Hector… Tomorrow I have a very important work"

"Work? Tomorrow? Pero tomorrow is Sunday, the Zapateria is closed, isn`t it?"

"It is not about the Zapateria. It is about social work. Every Sunday the Council of San-Chimilco choose somebody who does it. This time they fixed their choice upon me"

Hector still waited for explanation. Victoria sighed and said:

"There are some children and teenagers here. They need an extra-care and extra-a…ahchoo!..ttention. The Council created Sunday club for them. An adult skeleton comes to these niños and spends the entire day with them"

Unexpected for her Hector cried out joyful and even clapped his hands.

"Ah, that what you mean, Victoria? The children! Está tranquila, then! I`ll come to them"

"Wait-wait, Hector!"

Her grandfather`s enthusiasm didn`t encourage Victoria too much.

"No comprendes, Papa Hector. These children are special. They died in such young age and supposed to stay like this forever. The work with them is up only to the adult experienced skeletons…"

Hector frowned and rose his skull proudly.

"So, Victoria, do you think I`m not adult and experienced enough?"

"No, pero…"

"I`m the eldest skeleton in our family, to your information! After Imelda, of course…"

It was spoken in so serious manner. Victoria could not contain herself and burst out laughing.

"What`s funny?" asked Hector quietly and seriously.

"See, señor 'The Eldest Skeleton in Our Family', it is not about some kind of experience. You will need the special experience. Because the children are special…. And you even don`t know them"

Victoria made an emphasis on her last phrase. The skeleton woman did know these children in contrast to Hector.

"Well, I already know a couple of girls, Erica and Felicity. They seemed nice to me". Hector shook his shoulders careless.

"By the way, I spent the most part of my life among the skeletons from Shantytown. Not all from them were too friendly. You think I cannot find the common language with the children after all of those?"

Victoria hesitated. She still had doubts. However, it seemed she really had no choice.

4