El Viaje de Coquita
El Capítulo Treinta
By the time the next Día de los Muertos came around, Santa Cecilia had undergone a total transformation. Every statue of Ernesto de la Cruz was dismantled, and his mausoleum had shut down for good, with the bust over the entrance bearing a wooden sign: FORGET YOU
The Rivera household, by contrast, had been expanded with a tourist display containing all of Héctor's letters and his old guitar. Miguel's book had gone on to sell millions of copies across Mexico, making him a household name like his tatarabuelo, and as was expected to inevitably happen as a result, making the family's shoe business more popular than anyone, living or dead, had ever dreamed.
Elena's recovery was slow and tedious, but apart from now having to use a wheelchair, she made a full recovery. And as a woman of her word, the collapse of Ernesto de la Cruz's status as the idol of Santa Cecilia spelled the end of the Riveras' century-long ban on music.
Socorro made it a point from the moment she returned home to have Miguel pick up where Héctor had left off in the time spent in the Land of the Living. From wearing the same clothes as him to encouraging him to write his own songs, she did everything in her power to make up for lost time.
All of Socorro's cousins had taken up learning to play instruments of their own. Abel had taken up the accordion, Rosa learned the violin, and Benny and Manny were becoming trumpeters. Miguel still played the guitar, and Socorro continued as a singer, with occasional maraca playing.
Patricia had married into the family by this point and was now pregnant with her first child. Her due date was at the end of the month, and Socorro was excited at the prospect of being an aunt. She had so much to tell the child about his soon-to-be family.
Most notable of all, however, was the family's ofrenda. The pictures still remained in their usual places, but Imelda's foto was now entirely in one piece, complete with Héctor in all his warm glory.
It was almost sundown when the dead Riveras arrived at the hacienda.
"Can you believe how many people made ofrendas for me this year?"
"I didn't even know book covers could be used as ofrenda fotos."
"You're not going to go visit them all, are you, Papá?"
"Nah. Being with my family is all I could ever ask for, mija."
"Just be thankful that we have Pepita to keep all those loco fans away."
"Por supuesto."
They saw Miguel and Socorro standing in front of the ofrenda.
"So, you actually got to meet our dead family last year?"
"Sí. Fue de miedo at first, but they were every bit as nice as they were when they were alive."
"Any idea when they'll be getting here?"
"Bueno, they were here to watch the fight that happened last year, so they might actually be here by now."
Coco chuckled at Socorro's guess. "If only they knew."
A bark sounded from outside the ofrenda room, prompting the two living souls to turn around.
Socorro gasped. "Dante!"
As she ran to meet the xolo dog, she noticed a small gray cat trailing behind.
The cat meowed as she nuzzled against Socorro's leg.
Elena noticed the cat as well. "Ah, Pepita. So nice of you to join us."
Socorro chuckled. "Yep. Everyone's here now."
Elena wheeled herself to Socorro. "Don't go getting yourself cursed again, mijita Coquita angelita dulcita."
"We've all learned our lessons, Abuelita." She gave the old woman a hug before gazing wistfully at the ofrenda. "At least I didn't have to put up with you on the other side last year."
"And for that, you are one lucky girl."
"Puedes decir eso de nuevo."
Miguel joined the embrace. "Hopefully, you're not in any rush to meet the rest of the family."
"Not even in your dreams, Miguelito."
As the sun vanished from the horizon, the town became completely enshrouded in darkness, lit only by the lamps set out by its people and fireworks going off all around the square.
In the courtyard of the Rivera home, candles adorned every corner as the youngest members of the family gathered on a makeshift stage, instruments at the ready. All of them were wearing charro suits of different colors; Abel wore green, Rosa wore pink, Benny and Manny wore blue, Miguel wore purple, and Socorro wore yellow.
The dead family gathered amongst the rest of the living to watch the display.
Imelda laughed at how well Socorro had sculpted her brother into a second Héctor. "I should hope by all the heavens that I don't have to deal with two of you on the other side."
Héctor gave his wife a reassuring shoulder pat. "Not as long as I have anything to say about it."
Rosa and Miguel picked out the opening notes as Socorro started singing.
"Dirás que es raro lo que me pasó..."
Héctor and Imelda held each other in an embrace.
"Parece que a noche te encontré en mis sueños..."
Abel joined in with the accordion.
"Las palabras que dije se volvieron canción,
Versos que tuyos son y el recuerdo nos dió!"
Coco looked to her father, who winked at her.
"Una melodía bella que el alma tocó
con el ritmo que vibra en nuestro interior
Amor verdadero nos une por siempre
en el latido de mi corazón!
Amor verdadero nos une por siempre
en el latido de mi corazón!"
Benny and Manny took up their trumpets, as the dead and living family all joined in on the singing.
"Ay mi familia, oiga mi gente!
Canten a coro nuestra canción!
Amor verdadero nos une por siempre
en el latido de mi corazón!
Ay mi familia, oiga mi gente!
Canten a coro nuestra canción!
Amor verdadero nos une por siempre
en el latido de mi corazón!"