Show Me Chapter 15

We're going to do a half and half chapter (half in the Land of the Dead and half in the Land of the Living) today! Once again, thank you for all your support and I hope you all are enjoying the story so far. Happy reading!

While the letter was delivered to the Rivera ancestors, back in the living world things were chaotic. All morning and most of the afternoon, Enrique tried to arrange an earlier flight home with no success. Elena and Gloria had gone to the library to meet up with Rodriguez in one of the private study rooms to go over research before packing for the trip home. Enrique knew that work would be the only balm to soothe Elena's frazzled nerves as he and Miguel worked from the hotel.

At the library, Gloria quickly explained to Martinez what had happened back home. The investigator's immediate reaction was dismay and then he offered to do whatever he could to help, but Elena shushed him. They had come to the library to work, not worry, and Elena felt that he was already doing so much. Sensing a change in subject was needed, Gloria brought up Araceli Torres and asked how that was coming.

"We need to be absolutely sure that this information is accurate, Doña Rivera," Martinez said as he looked at the information about de la Cruz's romance with Araceli Torres. "I'm not saying that I don't believe this, but we have to be sure. The wrong information could damage this girl's legacy as well as her family's reputation. Especially considering her age. We really don't know how old she was when she died, given the huge fire that happened in the '50s that destroyed so many records."

Gloria looked serious as she considered that fact. Three different sources had different accounts of how old Torres was when she was dating de la Cruz. But the general agreement was that Torres was in her late teens/early '20s when she started seeing him.

"No matter what her age was, she didn't deserve to die so young." Elena said firmly. "She wasn't much older than Papá Héctor when he died. If one of her descendants is still out there, we have to find them."

Tears in her eyes, Gloria nodded, Martinez quietly offering her a tissue. Inclining her head in thanks, Gloria dabbed her eyes and went back to reading the book in front of her. Something about that story affected her and made her tear up; but Elena once again sensed that something was wrong. As her thoughts drifted, Elena went back to thinking about her ancestors.

Oh, Mamá Imelda, I'm so, so sorry. I wish I could tell you.

Little did Elena know, but at that moment, it was busy as usual at the Rivera hacienda in the Land of the Dead as everyone bustled around to get as much done as possible. For a few short more minutes, it was a family at peace.

Frida had come by earlier that morning with Ceci and Gustave in tow, which made Imelda suspect that they were hoping to talk her into performing in the show based on Miguel's adventure. But much to her relief, Frida didn't mention it and simply told Imelda what she had been up to since Héctor's last visit.

"I've spoken to all my friends around the Flapper District and in the Arts District," Frida said as she laid out a huge map of the Land of the Dead. "They're going to do everything they can to find out more about Rodriguez."

Imelda nodded, looking graver by the minute. She and the rest of the family knew that they were running on borrowed time. It had taken a bit of convincing from Héctor, but Imelda had slowly begun to believe Rodriguez's story. Rosita and Coco had immediately believed the story, feeling sorry for Rodriguez no matter the truth.

"Do you think he's been Forgotten, Frida?" Rosita asked softly. "I don't want him or his family to live through the pain that Papá Héctor went through."

Patting Rosita's hand, Ceci replied, "Esta bien, Rosita. We'll do everything that we can to make sure that Jorge Rodriguez isn't forgotten by anyone and that he gets a chance to have his story told."

Deciding to take their leave, the three artists left the hacienda, with promises to return the next day. Except for Coco, little did anyone know that Héctor had been secretly trying to track down his missing mother-in-law, wanting to get answers about Rodriguez.

Imelda looked on the verge of tears, but she composed herself and turned towards Héctor, who had entered the kitchen with a thin piece of paper.

"Eh….did I interrupt something?" Héctor asked sheepishly. "Melda?"

"No es nada, Héctor," Imelda replied, eyeing the paper Héctor carried. "What's that?"

"A letter from Miguel," Héctor said seriously. "Imelda, I think you need to sit down."

Shaking her head, Imelda answered, "Héctor, I'm fine. I can take whatever Miguel has to say."

But Héctor refused to acknowledge that, simply leading the family matriarch to a chair. "Por favor siéntate mi amor. It's not good, something bad happened."

Forty minutes and forty piles of crumpled up tissues later, Héctor managed to explain what had happened to everyone assembled. Everybody was in shock, but none more so than Imelda. While Rosita and Coco had both burst into tears upon hearing about the shop's destruction, both Victoria and Imelda remained stony-faced and angry. The twins and Julio stood there, stunned as they tried to come to grips with what happened.

"Who. Would. Do. This." Imelda spat out in pure disgust as Héctor attempted to scan the letter. As he was about to answer, the family matriarch put her hand up. "No, don't answer that, Héctor. I know. It was that Lopez. Or someone connected that de la Cruz. Or that woman."

Héctor knew that there was no point in getting through to his wife when she was that upset. "Mí amor, we don't know for certain if it was them," Héctor said feebly, trying to get Imelda to calm down.

Sensing the mounting tension in the room, Victoria piped up.

"At least Franco is going to be okay, Abuelita." Victoria said calmly as she put her hand on top of Imelda's curled up fist. "And it sounds like the offrenda and the museum weren't damaged."

Coco nodded but then sadly added. "Poor Elenita. I can't imagine what she's feeling right now. I wish there was something I could do to comfort her."

Calming down slightly at her daughter's words, Imelda hugged Coco tightly and murmured, "We'll do everything we can from our end to help, mija. I promise."

Deciding the best thing to was to write a letter to Miguel to be delivered when he came home, Rosita and Victoria left the room with Coco and the twins in tow. Héctor stayed behind, watching Imelda as her posture became stiff with an icy fury.

"Oh, mi vida," Héctor said as he pulled his wife into his arms. "Lo siento mucho."

Imelda didn't respond, her body stiffening with emotion, but Héctor understood immediately. The shop had been Imelda's livelihood for nearly 50 years and to hear that it was destroyed with tossed bricks and stones was a huge blow.

"Héctor," Imelda croaked out as she calmed herself down. "Why would someone do something like this? Hasn't de la Cruz done enough damage?"

Knowing that Imelda's uncharacteristic reaction was due to what had happened, Héctor simply said, "I wish I knew, mi amor. But we're all going to try and find out. As a family. Remember that story I told Coco when she was little?"

Not quite understanding her husband's point, Imelda shook her head. "The one about the time you got your head stuck in a fence?"

"No, mi amor," Héctor said, trying not to laugh. "Caja de Pandora. Bad things can happen when la caja opens but there is always hope. The damage can be repaired, Franco is going to be okay and we all have each other. En cado latido de mi orgulloso corazón."

Following a kiss on the forehead from Héctor, Imelda smiled softly, stood up from the chair and headed for the living room. Sighing softly as Imelda left the room, Héctor grabbed a piece of paper and pen from his desk.

Quickly writing a letter to Miguel to be sent when the teen got back from Texas (the communication with Miguel while he was asleep had to by initiated by Miguel), Héctor started a second letter.

After several failed attempts, Héctor finally managed to finish the second letter. Taking a deep breath, he whistled for Dulce, Victoria's owl alebreje. Similar to the owls in the Harry Potter books that Victoria loved, Dulce could deliver any messages to anyone, anywhere, no address or location required. Plus, the ink and paper would not fade when touched by an alebreje delivering a message.

"I hope this works," Héctor whispered as he glanced towards the workshop. "Por favor Dios."