Show Me Chapter 20

Hi everyone! Hope you all had a happy Thanksgiving and that you're all staying safe! It's definitely been a crazy month!

In terms of this story, we are taking a brief detour back to the Land of the Dead where we will see a familiar face. Hope you all enjoy it and feel free to share your thoughts!

Rosita looked over at the empty spot at the table, feeling very guilty. It had only been a few days since Héctor and Imelda's fight and it had been very quiet around the house. Héctor had gone to stay with a friend in Shantytown while Imelda had thrown herself into her shoemaking. No one had seen her outside of mealtimes and everyone was worried that Imelda was overdoing it.

"I'm beginning to wonder if they'll ever talk to each other again," Julio said to Rosita as he caught her glancing at the chair. "It's been three days."

"All couples argue, hermano," Rosita said in an attempt to sound cheery. "And Papá Héctor's intentions were good; he was just trying to help Mamá Imelda patch things up with her mamá."

Julio nodded; a bit reserved as he watched the family matriarch come downstairs. Saying a quick 'buenos dias' to everyone, Imelda sat down at the table and began to pour herself some coffee.

"Hermana?" the twins asked, as he touched his sister's shoulder. "Qué paso?"

"Sí," Imelda said, no hint of anger in her voice. "Estoy bíen. Just a bit tired, is all."

Not wanting to run the risk of angering Imelda, the twins backed down. Pushing an emotionally exhausted Imelda to a boiling point would not serve in anyone's best interests.

"Have you heard anything from Abuelito?" Victoria asked Imelda as they washed the breakfast dishes. At those words, Imelda stiffened, her anger rising again, mostly at her husband for hiding this from her and at her mamá for daring to attempt showing her face.

"No, Victoria," Imelda said with an uncertainty in her voice. "I haven't heard anything."

Realizing that she and her niece would have to play hardball, Rosita tried again. "Don't be too hard on him, Mamá Imelda. He was just trying to help you and your mamá make amends."

"This family runs on honesty," Imelda said firmly. "And what your Papá Héctor did was not honest!"

"No, but he did it with good reason!" Victoria replied. "I may not have known mí abuelito for very long, but I do know that he would never hurt you on purpose, Abuelita. Remember what happened when Miguel was last here in 2017?"

Taken aback by her granddaughter's words, Imelda sank down on a chair in shock. Victoria had a very good point there. Héctor may not have the best ideas at times but his intentions were always good. Just like a certain 14-year old.

"Por favor, Mamá," Coco said as she walked into the kitchen. "Talk to Papá. Get the whole story."

Nodding resignedly, Imelda simply said, "I'm going to be going out for the rest of the day. Keep the shop running as normal and don't let any reporters in. Coco, do you want to come with me?"

Nodding, Coco and Imelda headed for the backyard where Pepita sat with Dulce. When Victoria first brought her alebreje home, Pepita hadn't been too sure of her but within weeks they had become fast friends.

"Come to Mamá," Imelda said to Pepita. "We have to go to Shantytown while there's still light out."

While it only took twenty minutes to get to Shantytown, the shock that Imelda had from seeing the small village still hadn't worn off. Everything literally looked ready to fall apart within minutes. Coco had been to Shantytown a few times since her arrival, but it still saddened her to see that children were among the Forgotten as she picked up a doll sitting idle nearby.

"It still shocks me too, mija." Imelda said as she put her hand on her daughter's shoulder. "Remember what I told you about Francesca? She was about the same age as Rosa."

Shuddering at the thought, the two women walked on, looking for any sign of the wayward Rivera. After about ten minutes of peeping into huts and looking around, they quickly concluded that Héctor was not in Shantytown and that he had left early that morning for the Arts District.

"He was here, but he left, doña," one of the women said when Imelda inquired after her husband. "He went to the Arts District early this morning to help Frida and Diego with one of their projects."

Huffing slightly, Imelda headed back towards Pepita while Coco decided to stay behind in case Héctor came back to the house. Having been there multiple times and having some friends in the nearby area as well as Pepita, Coco felt completely comfortable and safe being there alone.

"Just be careful, mija," Imelda said as Coco tried to protest. "I know, I know, but I'm your mamá and you're still mí hija, no matter how old you are."

Imelda had never liked taking the trolley, finding it too rough compared to Pepita's gentle flying and way too high up for her comfort, even though the trolley line was at the same height as Pepita.

"How Héctor could be a tour guide for one of these things, nunca lo sabré." Imelda muttered to herself as she made her way off the trolley car platform towards the Arts District.

As she walked a bit, she heard a guitar playing and some talking. Instantly recognizing her husband, Imelda stepped forward, determined to speak to Héctor and get this resolved.

"Gracias, Héctor. For listening. I just hope that she'll learn to forgive me one day," a voice said.

Madre! Imelda realized with a gasp. Stepping out of the shadows, Imelda put her hands on her hips and approached her mamá, who took a step back.

"Imelda!" Héctor said as he put his guitar down. "What are you doing here?"

"Looking for you." Imelda said coldly. Turning towards her mamá, Imelda said, "How many times do I have to say, 'leave us alone'? Wasn't throwing me out bad enough?"

Bowing her head in shame, Josefina said, "I know that there will be never be enough words to say how sorry I am, mí hija. But I would like for us to have some sort of relationship and I would like to meet my granddaughter."

Noticing Imelda's reluctance, Héctor pulled her aside and said, "Imelda, I'm so sorry about what happened. But por favor, I was just trying to help you. Please, mi amor, give her a chance. I think Josefina is really very sorry about what happened, and she just wants to get to know her family."

Rolling her eyes, Imelda turned towards her mamá again but finally saying, "Alright, Héctor. I'll give this a try. But this is her one and only chance. I'm not doing this for her, I'm doing this for Coco. She deserves a chance to know her grandmother."

Smiling softly, Héctor drew Imelda into a tight hug, but Imelda pulled away slightly, causing him to frown.

"You're still on hielo delgado, Héctor. From now on, no more secrets. Entiendo?"

About a half hour later, the three Riveras and Josefina returned to the workshop, causing heads to snap to attention in shock. The twins gasped in unison.

"Madre?" Oscar asked. "What—"

"Are—" Felipe said.

"You—" Oscar added.

"Doing here?" The twins finished together. At first Josefina went to hug her two youngest children, but they stiffened slightly. Decades later, neither twin had forgotten how coldly their parents had treated Imelda. Sadly, Josefina shrank back a bit. It would be a long road to earning back her children's trust.

Curious, Coco approached her grandmother and held out her hand for her to shake. Knowing that Imelda was uncomfortable with doing introductions, Coco decided to go ahead and do the introductions herself. After all, what was the harm?

"Me llamo Coco, your granddaughter," she said. Gesturing to Julio, she added, "This is my husband, Julio and our eldest daughter, Victoria. And this is Rosita, Julio's sister."

Reaching forward to shake everyone's hand, Josefina tentatively looked towards her daughter as Coco introduced the rest of the family. Imelda looked apprehensive and if one could put a living emotion to it: very, very, nervous.