Buenas Tardes, buenas noches Señoritas y Señores! It brings me joy, que alegría to bring you this A/N: So this chapter is late because of school and also it was hard to write. I realized I want the story to go in a different direction after I led up and published the previous chapters, but don't worry! I fixed it! In any case, let me know what you think about this chapter. I'm excited for the next one but I wasn't too enthusiastic about this one but I feel pretty good about it. Hope it doesn't seem like filler to you because I really wanted it to have a place in the story even if I'm shifting gears.
Chapter 6: La Fiesta de Santa Cecilia
Imelda nervously paced her room shortly before six in the evening. Héctor and Rosalinda would be there soon to head over to La Feria de Santa Cecelia together. She was ready, she had been for the past hour. Her hair was tied back tightly, her dress washed and ironed, her shoes shined. She had recently gotten some make up to add to her calavera face so now she had purple petals painted around her eyes and wine colored lipstick where her lips used to be to make her look more human.
She couldn't deny the strange feelings that were waking up inside of her. Héctor had been handling things remarkably well; he hadn't pressed her for more than she was willing to give and he had been so considerate when they spent the day with Pepita. Héctor wanted to fix things, she could tell he wanted to fix things so badly… but what did she feel? There was a part of her that would never ever stop loving him, a part of her that to this day still ached to feel his arms around her. But there was a stronger part of her that was still furious at him for leaving her, and rightfully so.
Still, Imelda couldn't deny that the part of her she thought she'd killed, the part that was still in love with Héctor Rivera was screaming in her now louder than ever. And last week with Pepita only made things worse. Nonetheless, Imelda was determined to keep her cool. For Coco's sake, for Elena's, for Victoria's, for Julio's… The man just left his wife and daughter, writing letters only until he forgot them. He had broken all his promises to her. He had broken her heart and it broke over and over again each time she'd find reason to believe he'd be coming home only to remember that she'd been forgotten. Until Héctor proved himself to be truly worthy of their forgiveness, she couldn't dare think about letting him back into their lives…
I need an explanation. Imelda's foolish heart told herself. But before that I need him to prove that he's genuinely sorry and changed and not the monster I've convinced myself he was. After all, it was apparent that he'd been dead for most of Coco's life which meant that perhaps, if he had lived, perhaps, he would have come home. But Imelda couldn't live in the "maybe". Héctor had to prove himself genuinely changed before he got the chance to explain himself because if he had a good explanation she'd be forced to forgive him. At least this way forgiveness would be her choice….
She heard them arrive before she saw them. A little girl's laughter down the road, as Héctor told her one of his stories. Imelda grabbed her bag from where it was hanging and started down the stairs uneasily.
The door knocked, Imelda swallowed and hurried down the stairs.
"Señora Imelda, are you there?" Rosalinda called, but she was quickly hushed by Héctor.
Ghost heart hammering in her chest, Imelda forced herself to reply calmly, "Voy!"
She made it to the door, inhaled one last time, then opened it with a charming smile.
"Señora Imelda!" Rosalinda grinned, throwing her arms around Imelda. "Thank you so much for agreeing to take me tonight!"
Imelda smiled fondly and looked down at the little girl, brushing her hair gently with her hand. "Of course, Rosita."
"Sh-shall we go?" Héctor asked shyly.
Imelda looked up and almost drew in her breath. Héctor had also painted his face for the occasion, his signature yellow feathers now drawn prominently onto his cheeks, green squiggles on his chin and a pattern on his forehead obscured by his dark brown hair. His chocolate eyes hit her like a ton of bricks as usual and it was as if it were her first time seeing him in years. He was smiling shyly, a golden tooth peering through and Imelda's heart broke at how much she wanted him but couldn't have him. She would not give in.
"Yes." Imelda nodded confidently, stepping out and closing the door behind her. Just before she closed the door, Imelda paused and shouted in: "Ya voy, Mamá!"
"Wait!" an elderly woman hollered back.
Imelda's face paled and she stepped over to stand next to Rosalinda and face the door. Slowly, the door creaked open once more and Imelda's mother, María, was facing out.
Maria did not hesitate nor waste a minute. The second she stepped out, she glanced at the empty street suspiciously, then reached out to grab Héctor by his freshly trimmed beard and pulled him down so their faces were level. Imelda's hand flew to her mouth in horror.
"I know your plan Señor! I knew you weren't good for her from the start! Un musico?! Bah, I don't know how I let her marry you in the first place, but get this straight! You try anything, you have me to answer to!" Maria growled, her voice the strongest and angriest Imelda had ever heard it.
Héctor palled and Imelda absolutely wanted to die, but then Rosita burst out giggling and the sight of her mother intimidating the man she used to love made a smile sneak onto Imelda's face. She was proud of her mother and also amused by the shock and terror on Héctor's face. He had finally come across someone who wouldn't give into his charm.
"S-sí Señora," Héctor nodded.
Releasing Héctor, Maria turned to Imelda and blew her daughter a kiss. "Have fun mija!" Maria waved before letting herself back in.
The second Maria was out of earshot, Imelda caved into Rosalinda's hysterical laughter and she too began to giggle as the young girl made fun of Héctor for being afraid of an elderly woman.
"You remember that time we fell into the underground rivers and we had to wait for the police to find us?!" Rosalinda laughed. "You weren't even that scared then!"
The trio made their way over to the Plaza where Imelda gasped in awe and terror. The rides were absolutely insane. Because there was no longer much of a need for safety, the rollercoasters all looked very dangerous; some even flew off the tracks as the grand finale. There were countless people packing the giant plaza which seemed to have stretched for the event. The lights were dazzling and in the sunset La Feria looked absolutely haunting and magical.
Rosalinda grabbed Héctor and Imelda's hands and started dragging them forward towards the ride she wanted to go on. At one point they had to squeeze through the crowd causing Imelda to smash her shoulder into Héctor's chest. His eyes met hers as she blushed an apology. He smiled gently and told her not to worry about it. He didn't miss the way she rolled her eyes in response but he believed it to be because she was disgusted by him. He didn't realize she was embarrassed that she'd let herself blush in front of him.
Héctor and Rosalinda rode on most the rides together. Imelda was not exactly the roller coaster type of person in life or in death and she was content to watch Rosalinda have fun. She liked watching them speed through the rickety tracks screaming and laughing. Héctor's laugh stood out from all the others, and rang in her ears the loudest. Suddenly, one of his shouts reminded Imelda his gritos and she found herself transported to the past…
A very pregnant Imelda stood at the front row of the audience as Héctor and Ernesto began to play in the plaza of Santa Cecilia.
People were chatting and drinking and having a good time but Imelda's eyes were glued to her husband who opened his guitar case and pulled out his beautiful white guitar that had been specially made for him in Michoacan. Meanwhile, Ernesto was arranging the microphones to the correct position and then he pulled out his mass-produced black guitar.
The second Héctor struck the guitar, and began plucking the intro to Poco Loco, the crowd went silent. Imelda's heart melted at the sound of her husband's intricate plucking of the guitar strings making such a simple song complex and beautiful.
Ernesto, holding his guitar with his left hand and the microphone with his right, began to sing, "What color is the sky, ay mi amor, ay mi amor? You tell me that it's red, ay mi amor, ay mi amor…"
Imelda laughed listening to Ernesto sing. He sang it very well, but not exactly the way Héctor had intended for it to be sung when he had written it. Imelda's laughing caught Ernesto's attention and his eyes narrowed at her playfully. Imelda rolled her eyes, still laughing, and focused on her husband who was smiling and playing the guitar.
"I'll count it as a blessing… that I'm only un Poco Loco," Ernesto belted in a vibrato.
The crowd cheered at Erenesto's powerful voice and Héctor's expert playing. Then, the gears switched and Ernesto began to strum his guitar along with Héctors. He was now playing the simple background so that Héctor could do the even more complicated accompaniment. But before the song came to showcase Héctor's true talents, his eyes locked with Imelda's and he grinned.
He slid the guitar to his side, forcing Ernesto to repeat the simple part on a loop, and he rushed to the edge of the stage where he reached out for Imelda. Imelda blushed as the crowd cheered.
"C'mon mi amor, una vez más." Héctor grinned.
Imelda glanced over at their best friend Erenesto who was watching them with a genuine smile. "Dale Imelda, C'mon!" Ernesto shouted as he continued to strum the guitar.
Sighing, Imelda reached out and let her husband pull her onstage. The pueblo screamed in excitement to see the trio reunited onstage for the first time in months.
Héctor began to play the complicated part as Imelda danced and laughed on stage.
"The Loco that you make me es just un poco crazy," Héctor sang to her.
Imelda spun and danced, making it known to the whole pueblo that she was the one that made Héctor crazy. Héctor began to shout his gritos as Imelda danced causing her to laugh even more.
Finally, she pitched in for the last part of the song and sucked in her breath to sing with Héctor and Ernesto, "Un Pocititititi-tititititititi-to loco!"
The crowd erupted in cheers as their harmonies echoed from her ears. Héctor pulled Imelda close to him by her waist and she glanced up at him, their hearts poundings, both breathing deeply to catch their breath-
"Imelda?" Héctor asked, waving his hat in front of her eyes.
Imelda blinked and her eyes focused on Héctor smiling sheepishly at her. Her jaw dropped as she scrambed for something to say. Héctor, sensing this, pointed towards Rosalinda. "She wants to go on the teacups now."
Walking to the teacups ride was painful for Imelda who felt as if Héctor knew what she was thinking. He kept glancing at her with a look like he was trying to figure out what was going through her mind. Or maybe it was just her imagination.
When they made it to the line, Rosalinda found a group of friends around her age in line who called her to join them.
"Do you mind if I take this ride with them?" Rosalinda begged.
Héctor turned to Imelda who nodded kindly. Rosalinda smiled and ran to her friends.
Once they saw that Rosalinda had safely made it in line with her friends, Héctor turned to Imelda and softly said, "It happens to me too."
Imelda blinked and her eyes focused on Héctor. "What?"
"Memories. They take over sometimes and you're just frozen living in the past… it happens to me too." Héctor said.
Imelda looked to the ground to avoid his eyes. "Oh."
"Can I ask what you were thinking about?" Héctor asked gently.
Imelda glanced up at her husband. He looked so genuine, but also so reserved. Part of her didn't want to tell him, but another part wanted to see how he would take it. She wanted to see him hurt at the beautiful memory as she did, but she didn't want him remembering how deeply in love with him she was. Finally she gave in and sighed, "One of your screams on the ride reminded me of the last time I was onstage with you and Ernesto." Héctor's eyes hardened causing Imelda to raise her eyebrows. "What?"
Héctor bit his lip and muttered angrily, "Just Ernesto…"
"Made a name for himself with your songs?" Imelda finished.
Héctor shook his head. "No. I don't care about that. I did for a long time but then I realized that I'd have just handed him over my songs from the beginning if I'd have known that's how it was going to go… it's just… I wasn't really destined to be like him. If I had accepted that from the beginning, if I had listened to you, I never would have gone. I'm mad at him because he convinced me to go."
Imelda swallowed and tears welled into her eyes. They were hot tears, they were angry tears, they were happy tears. She couldn't distinguish one feeling from the other.
Héctor's eyes grew soft at the sight of Imelda crying and he gently reached out and put his hands on her shoulders. "Imelda, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make you cry- I didn't mean to bring that up- please… I've been working so hard at being careful around you, Imelda. I want to make things right with you. You don't have to take me back, ever. Of course, I will wait forever for you. No matter what, I will wait forever for the slim chance that one day you'll find it in your heart to love me again. But right now I'm begging you for a chance to let me make things right with you."
Imelda stepped back and dried her eyes, smudging her make-up slightly. She glanced up at his eyes and sighed, "Héctor, it's not that simple! If it were up to me, I might have forgiven you. But like I said before, it's Coco, it's Julio, it's Elena and Victoria… I- I can't just let you back into our family until I am sure you won't tear it apart again, Héctor. I can't just forgive you now and then find out that Coco resents you. Then I will have to side with her and I couldn't take-" she stopped herself before she said being separated from you again, swallowed, and finished, "I couldn't take that again."
Héctor looked down grimly and nodded. "I accept that. It's up to Coco then."
Imelda nodded.
Héctor raised his hand to his chin. "So you're saying that if Coco forgives me, then I might have a chance?"
Imelda bit her lips. That seemed too simple. After more twenty-plus years of resenting him, she couldn't just give him that chance so easily. But there was something in his eyes, something that reminded her why she fell in love with him in the first place. Imelda sighed with a nod, "And Julio and Elena and Victoria. If that's what they want… then… then I'll consider it…"
Héctor grinned, "How about Coco to start?"
Once again her heart was torn open by Héctor's grin and she found herself almost unable to resist his charm. Suddenly, Héctor lurched forward and his mouth was on hers. Shouting, Imelda leaped back and slapped him across the face causing his head to spin.
"I can't believe you just did that," Imelda spat angrily. "And right when I was beginning to- ugh!"
Héctor's eyes widened in shock and his hand shakily flew to his lips. "Imelda I-"
Glaring at Héctor with all the hatred she could muster, Imelda ran away leaving him staring after her, stunned.
Héctor gaped after Imelda, seeing her disappear into the crowd. His heart was broken. That's not how their first kiss in the afterlife should have gone. Suddenly, Héctor's fists clenched and he turned around angrily to see who had bumped into him causing him to fall forward and kiss Imelda. But whoever it was was long gone. And they had ruined everything.
Santiago peered up at the burgundy doors before him. They were bordered with gold to match the handles. The secretary knocked twice before opening the door to let Santiago in.
Taking a deep breath, Santiago entered the private offices of Ernesto De la Cruz. Ernesto sat on an elegant Spanish-style wooden chair, back straight as an arrow as he faced the door awaiting Santiago.
"S-señor D-de La Cruz?" Santiago greeted nervously.
"Welcome, welcome, Santiago!" Ernesto smiled in his charming manner. "Come, sit, sit, can I get you anything?"
Eyes shifting around the room, Santiago gave the slightest shake of his head.
"Nonsense!" Ernesto guffawed, "Jane, get us some of the good wine. I have the feeling Santiago has brought me some good news."
The secretary nodded and stepped out of the room, closing the door behind her. Glancing at Santiago with menacing eyes but a charming smile, Ernesto asked, "You do have good news for me, right?"
"S-sí Señor," Santiago nodded.
Ernesto waited a beat for Santiago to elaborated but when the smaller man said nothing, he sighed, exhasperated. "Well, get on with it! What happened?"
"I-I followed the pair as you said. They went to la Feria de Santa Cecilia with a young girl. Anyways, Imelda has not yet warmed up to him. But I could tell that she was beginning to. Then they began to talk about you-" Santiago froze as Ernesto's eyes grew murderous. He pretended not to notice and continued, "Just about how the three of you were friends. I-Imelda accused you of stealing his songs-"
"Bah! The liar! He's always been jealous of me,"Ernesto growled. "Continue."
"Well- then he began to talk about how much he regretted leaving and Imelda began to sob. But she seemed… she seemed close to forgiving him in that moment. He asked her for a chance to prove himself and she said yes so I shoved him, pushing him by the shoulders forward so it would seem as if he were trying to kiss her… but I must have pushed too hard because then he actually kissed her…"
At this Ernesto laughed causing Santiago to scratch his head and chuckle along nervously. Suddenly, the singer stopped and stared straight at Santiago, "I'm hoping for your sake this story get good. Fast."
"Sí Señor," Santiago rushed, "Imelda got so upset that she screamed at him never to talk to her again and she ran off. He didn't follow, and he's been giving her some space so I think the situation has been diffused for now."
Ernesto stretched back in his chair and rubbed his chin thoughtfully. His eyes settled on a portrait of him on the other side of the room. He stood tall, proud, invincible. And he smiled at the portrait.
"Excellent," Ernesto finally nodded as he concluded his pondering. "Looks like you'll just need to keep an eye on them for the time being. Keep them apart."
Santiago nodded dutifully. He glanced up at Ernesto who was now smiling contentedly and asked soflty, "S-Señor De La Cruz, is it true what she said? About you stealing Héctor Rivera's songs?"
Just then, there were two knocks on the door and Ernesto's secretary walked in with wine and two glasses. She set them on the glass table near the door, under Ernesto's portrait and faced her boss.
"Jane, change of plans. Call in my bodyguards immediately. We have a mess to clean up."