The first thing Héctor notices when him and Imelda approach the hacienda front door is that he can see the lights on in the living room. He stiffens and glances at Imelda, who seems as confused as he is.
"No one should be up at this hour," she mutters as she pushes the door open.
Before they can step inside, Coco appears in front of them. Her face is a mix of worry and a flash of agitation.
"Where were you?" she asks, her voice taking on a forceful tone that Héctor has heard Imelda use lots of times.
Coco's gaze drifts over to Héctor, and her expression becomes concerned. "Papá? What's going on?"
Héctor hesitates. There's no way he can tell her about him running away, about the things Imelda said to him when she caught up with him.
Héctor opens his mouth to speak, but Imelda gets there before him.
"Nothing's wrong, mija," she says, squeezing Héctor's hand. "We worked everything out. You don't need to worry."
Coco looks between the two of them, hands on her hips with a doubtful look. "Where were you, though?" she asks. "I woke up because I heard you yelling, but when I checked your room, you and Papá were gone."
Héctor looks at the ground, feeling a sense of guilt. No one speaks for a few seconds, a careful quiet in between the three of them as Coco waits for an explination that can't be put into words.
Finally, knowing that it probably won't help, Héctor speaks up.
"You don't need to be concerned," he says. "Like your mamá said, we just had to work through some things."
Coco gives them another long look, but greatfully, she lets it go. Her gaze lingers on him a second longer, though, which makes Héctor think that she knows more than she lets on.
She turns toward the stairs for a moment before asking, "Are you coming?"
"You go on without us," Imelda tells her.
Héctor looks at her.
After Coco retreats upstairs, Imelda turns to him.
Her look is sympathetic as she pulls him into a soft embrace. Héctor wraps his arms around her as well.
When Imelda lets him go, she sighs. Then she says, "I wish you would've told me that you were having problems," she says.
Héctor nods. "I know. I just--" He trails off, staring at her.
Imelda looks away. "I'm not mad at you anymore. I made a lot of mistakes, chasing you away that. I should've listened to you."
Héctor grabs her hand. "I don't like worrying you. And besides, I learned to deal with it."
Imelda gives him a small smile and yawns. "I think we could both use some rest tonight," she says.
A cold fear starts to wrap around Héctor, but he pushes it away. He puts an arm around her as they head to their bedroom.
As they get into bed, Imelda smiles at him again. "Buenos noches," she whispers to him.
They lay down and Imelda puts an arm around Héctor before she falls asleep.
That night, he rests peacefully, all his fears silenced once and for all.