Show Me Chapter 24

Hello everyone! Hope you're all staying healthy and safe in the new year! Thank you all so much for your support! As always, enjoy this chapter and feel free to share your thoughts! Happy reading!

"Mija, if you don't hold still, your markings will look funny"

Victoria sighed in annoyance as Coco and Rosita got her ready for her date with Gustave. While not a romantic person at heart, the youngest Rivera ancestor still felt she understood what romance was having read many books the subject as well as watch it in action with her familia.

"Isn't this a bit grande?" Victoria interjected. "We're just going to an informal concert and dinner afterwards. It's not like we're getting married or something and no, don't get any ideas, Tía!"

Rosita's face fell for a moment then lit back up almost immediately; nothing could keep this sunny Rivera down. As Rosita spun her niece around to admire her handiwork, Victoria looked in the mirror and sighed.

Rosita had put Victoria's long hair in a braid made up of a bunch of mini-braids adorned with flowers. Since her niece was not comfortable wearing modern-day clothes, Rosita kept the wardrobe simple yet elegant, picking out a vintage turquoise colored dress embroidered with yellow flowers and matching Rivera boots.

"Oh, you look muy linda, mija!" Coco said. But she noted silently that her eldest daughter didn't look happy. In fact, Victoria was trying not to cry. Taking Victoria into her arms, Coco asked, "What's wrong, Vicita? Are you nervous?"

Carefully dabbing her eyes with a tissue, Victoria said, "No. I know it sounds loco, but I just wish Elena were here too."

Hugging her daughter, Coco simply said, "Lo se, mija. I do too." Knowing that saying more would probably cause her to start get teary as well, Coco added, "Just focus on having a fun time tonight and you can tell us all about it when you get back! Maybe even include that in your next letter to Miguel."

Nodding, and with no more signs of tears, Victoria straightened up and finished getting ready for the date. After all, Elena wouldn't want her to be sad!

After waving goodbye to Victoria, Coco sat back, happiness spilling onto her face. "I'm so happy for her, Rosita. Victoria deserves this and more."

Rosita nodded, a dreamy expression on her face. "Sí, hermana. But I just wish that things would be different between tus padres y Gustavo. They don't trust him at all."

"But can you blame them?" Julio said as he joined them. "He joked about Papá Héctor's death for years. And for all we know Gustavo could be forgotten any minute."

"Mí amor, our daughter is a grown woman," Coco said. "She can take care of herself and it's not like she's keeping secrets from us."

And Victoria had made sure to keep her family up to date on what was going on. According to her, Gustavo was widowed with no children of his own except for several living nieces and nephews. And despite a rocky start to the relationship, Victoria seemed perfectly happy.

"But I'm not sure what Mamá Imelda will—"

"You're not sure that I'll what?" a voice asked. Jumping slightly in his chair, Julio turned around to face the Rivera matriarch as she came in from the shop.

"Buenos tardes, Mamá Imelda," Julio said. "We were just talking about Victoria's new relationship and what your thoughts were."

Imelda sighed. She had been a bit reluctant to accept the idea of Victoria dating a musician, especially one who thought death jokes made appropriate dinnertime conversation. But Victoria had been very happy, and it wasn't like her to hide things from the family. Not that she could.

"I'm very happy for her, Julio," Imelda said. "But I just don't want to see her get hurt in case he turns out to be like de la—well, like him."

Shuddering at the thought, Coco said, "Gustavo is nothing like him, Mamá. If anything, he is twice the man that Ernesto is."

Agreeing with her daughter, Imelda headed over to the living room, deciding to get some mending done on a favorite pair of boots she owned.

Imelda was never a fan of watching movies, especially romance ones, so she was somewhat surprised to see Héctor and Rosita both watching a romance film that Héctor had once called cheesy.

As the dialogue went on Imelda resisted from clicking her tongue. After all she had fallen in love at a young age as did the couple in the movie. She even remembered when this historic event happened, having been a young teenager at the time. It was all anyone could could talk about for months.

Héctor watched the scene on the television with a certain level of curiosity. Gloria had left the movie on the offrenda the previous year, knowing from one of Héctor's letters to Miguel that the ancestors owned a VHS player.

After lowering the volume on the movie so as to not tune out family members, Héctor walked with Imelda out to the sunroom.

"You didn't have to stop watching the movie, Héctor," Imelda said as she sat down in a chair. "I was just coming in to get some of my sewing done."

Putting an arm around his wife's shoulders, Héctor said "I know, mi amor, but I didn't want you to think I was ignoring you. Besides, I can watch the movie later."

Knowing that was Héctor-speak for "I really didn't like the movie and I wanted to come and keep you company", Imelda shrugged and got back to working on her sewing.

"So how do you think our Vicita's date is going with Gustavo?" Héctor asked. "Espero que la trate bien."

Imelda agreed, knowing fully well that Victoria was more than capable of handling herself. But this was also Victoria's first serious novio, so….

"I think we'll just have to get to know him, Imelda," Héctor said. "Our nieta has a good head on her shoulders and she isn't the kind of person to act precipitadamente."

Several hours later, the sound of a gate being opened alerted Rosita who went downstairs to investigate. Creeping silently along the wall, Rosita watched as Victoria and Gustavo approached the house.

"…I hope you had fun tonight at the concert," Gustavo was saying. "Did you enjoy it?"

"Sí," Victoria said. "I've never heard music like that before and me gustó mucho. I hope we can do it again sometime?"

Nodding, Gustavo said, "Seguro! I enjoy spending time with you, Victoria."

Walking her to the door, Gustavo waited for a moment before leaning up and gently kissing Victoria on the lips. Victoria looked shocked but genuinely happy. She had never been kissed before and to have it be with someone she cared about so much made her feel like floating on air.

Wishing Gustavo good night, Victoria headed back inside, a smile playing on her lips. Her first kiss. Nothing like the movies.

"How did your date go, Vicita?" Rosita asked when Victoria came inside. "Did you have a good time?"

Victoria nodded, feeling a bit like a teenager who went on her first date. "Sí, it was very good. He was un perfecto caballero the entire time and we're going to go out again sometime soon."

Rosita squealed in excitement and gave her niece a hug as Victoria choked out, "C-can't breathe, Tía."

Letting Victoria go, Rosita said, "Lo siento, mija, but I'm so excited and happy for you!"

Nodding tiredly, Victoria headed upstairs to bed, her evening having completely worn her out. Imelda came out of her room and headed over to talk to Rosita before going to bed.

"How did the date go?" Imelda whispered. "Victoria looks very happy and I haven't seen her smile like that in a very long time."

Rosita whispered back, "The date went fine, Mamá Imelda. Victoria told me that they're going to go out again sometime soon."

Imelda smiled and wished Rosita goodnight. Heading back to her room, she got into bed, snuggling up next to Héctor who was sound asleep. Closing her eyes, Imelda quickly began to fall asleep, soothed by her husband's deep and even breathing as she thought of her youngest granddaughter happy and content.

Anyone want to take a guess as to what movie Héctor and Rosita were watching?