Show Me Chapter 23

"Miguel can you pass the huevas por favor? And don't forget about your math homework."

"Where are my lucky socks?"

"Oye! Who took my Twilight book?"

As a typical morning at the hacienda began, Elena went about making breakfast for her family all the while keeping a sharp eye on Gloria and Miguel (who didn't get any sleep the night before). Breakfasts at the hacienda were almost always loud and noisy, with everyone rushing every which way as they headed off to work and school respectively. Since Luisa was feeling ill, it was up to the remaining adults to keep things in check with the kids. Or in this case, Gloria, Franco and Carmen.

"Miguel, don't forget you have algebra today." Carmen answered each of the kids, "Abel, you're wearing your lucky socks! Rosa, I've told you dozens of times to stop reading those books! They're nothing but basura!"

As each of the Rivera children went about following their tía or mamá's directions and went about them, Gloria made her way to the sink as she helped Elena and Enrique with the dishes. Berto had gone to get the mail while Carmen had decided to walk the children to school.

"Gloria, what's wrong?" Enrique asked. "You were very quiet last night at dinner and even more quiet today at breakfast. Did something bad happen?"

Not wanting to answer her younger brother's request, Gloria simply replied, "I'm fine, hermano. Just a lot of things on my mind that's all. I'll tell you later."

Clearly suspicious but as it was apparent Gloria did not want to say more, Enrique simply nodded and reassured his sister. "If you need to talk or anything, hermana, just let me know."

A few minutes later, Carmen returned from walking the younger children to school and Abel to the bus stop. Classes would start up again soon at the college and Abel had wanted to get caught up on his schoolwork. Due to the break-in, most of Abel's professors were very kind about giving him some extensions on homework but now it was time to get life back to normal.

In terms of the other children, the twins would be in preschool at the daycare nearby and Rosa and Miguel were attending the local secundaria. The older children were allowed to walk to school with the understanding that Carmen or another adult would walk to a halfway point. And under no circumstances were they to walk anywhere alone, much to their protest.

"It's for your safety, mijos," Enrique explained. "We don't want anything to happen to you nor do we want you to get hurt in any way."

Rosa and Miguel tried to protest but Elena put her foot down. It was not going to happen-at least not until the culprits behind the break-in were caught and the Rodriguez case over. And little known to the kids, some of the townspeople who hadn't forgiven Elena were calling the kids names behind their backs. Names that Elena wouldn't have dared allowed to be spoken in her own living room.

"Do the police have any idea who caused the break-in?" Enrique asked his mamá who shrugged.

"No idea," she whispered. "But the strange thing was that nothing was taken. I just wish that—"

"Even if you had been there Mamá, there was nothing you could have done. They probably would have tried to hurt you, too." Berto said.

Elena nodded, annoyed at Gloria's absence, as she looked around for her middle child. "Has anyone seen Gloria?"

"Last I saw her she was in the kitchen, Mamá." Berto said turning to face his mamá. But Elena was already gone.

The Rivera in question was out in the courtyard, helping Carmen putting away clothes in a laundry basket while baby Socorro played nearby. In her own way, little Socorro had become the family's paparazzi detector. If any member of the press tried to get into the house (identified by their cameras and notebooks), Socorro would shake her rattle and scream.

"Glorita!" Elena's voice called, cutting across the lawn. Jumping slightly, Gloria smoothed back her hair and went to talk to her mamá.

"Sí, Mamá?" Gloria said. "What is it?"

Lowering her voice, a bit, Elena said, "I just wanted to check in and see how you were doing, mija. No need to look so frightened!"

Gloria nodded, but Elena noticed that she hadn't said anything which she knew indicated that Gloria was on the verge of tears.

"I booked my ticket for México City last night," Gloria said wobblily. "I want to let Jule know first before I tell the rest of the family. But I'm not—"

Putting up her hand to stop her daughter, Elena said, "Take your time, mija. As much of it as need be. If you don't want the kids to know, then we won't tell them."

The next few days went by in a flash, with Elena keeping Gloria as busy as possible to keep her mind off her worries. In other words, cleaning up the museum and filling an order of dance shoes for a wedding party.

When the day of departure arrived, Elena waved anxiously as Enrique and Gloria headed out on a bus. The kids were in school and Gloria didn't want an army of Riveras sending her off, so it was just Luisa, little Socorro, Franco and Elena.

"Buena suerte, mija," Elena said as she drew her daughter into a tight hug. "Todo estará bien."

Gloria nodded, part of her agreeing with her mamá but the other part not. "I hope you're right, Mamá."

Elena passed the next couple of hours anxiously glancing at the clock and waiting for the familiar sound of a truck roaring into view.

"Lena, stop worrying," Franco said as he looked up from his book. "I'm sure they're both fine. It's only been a few hours and Enrique did say that they might stay over if either the weather or traffic was bad."

Elena sighed, walking back over to the coach. "No es eso, I'm just worried about Gloria. She said that she was going to break the news to Jule today. I hope he's supportive."

Hearing the familiar sound of a truck pull up, Elena immediately became alarmed as she saw her daughter's face, tear-streaked and…happy?

"Glorita? Qué pasó?" Elena asked as she approached her daughter.

"I told him everything, Mamá. And while he was disappointed, his main worry was how I was handling it all," Gloria said with tears in her eyes. "He said that he wants to marry me one day and that if need be, we can always adopt."

At that point, Franco had come up behind his wife and daughter, looking as relieved as Elena who now had a smile on her face.

"He also said that he wanted to meet the family properly, Mamá over dinner sometime once this whole thing is over. Not as clients but as mi novio." Gloria said. "Can we-?"

"Absolutely mija!" Elena said with delight as she mentally began preparing the dinner menu for that day. "What are his favorite foods?"

"He said he'll eat almost anything!" Gloria said to her instant regret. Now Elena would probably cook enough food for forty people. But in hindsight, it wasn't such a bad thing. Some joy would definitely help cheer everyone.

As she linked arms with her daughter, Elena headed back inside, chatting excitedly about the upcoming dinner party. Franco chuckled, happy to finally see a smile on Gloria's face.

And one of Elena's famous tamales would definitely help with that.