"All aboard!" The conductor shouted.

"Let's go hermanos!" Imelda called, while panting. It was a chilling day day in late November. Although a bit chilly, the weather was cold enough for Imelda to wear her coat. "The train is about to leave soon!" The woman was running as much as she could, while carrying Pepita.

"We know hermana!" Oscar called back, catching up with her. He ran beside her while his twin caught up with them. "We are running as fast as we could!" Felipe panted.

Imelda reached for the opening door of a passenger car, catching up with her mother. "Imeldita, slow down," Martha said, worriedly. "It's not good for your condition!"

"I am fine, Mamá," Imelda panted. They reached for the opening door of a passenger car, where Francisco had been standing. He had reached the spot first, and had been waiting a bit for his family to catch up. As soon as the rest of his family arrived, he helped them hop inside. The twins carried two big suitcases and dragged them across the floor while the parents looked for some seats that are available.

Luckily, in a car of crowded people, Imelda found five that were not being used. She sat down as gracefully as she could on a seat by the window. She gently calmed down Pepita, who meowed. The cat was not used to being on trains. "Esta bien, Pepita."

Her brothers followed a few minutes later and plopped down on a seat across from her. Martha sat down beside her daughter, very gracefully. Francisco told the boys to scoot over thus he could sit down next to them.

The conductor shouted, "All aboard!" one last time. Then, the train began to start their engines that would take Imelda and her brothers to their destination: Santa Cecilia

"Whew, now we can rest!" Felipe and Oscar sighed.

"You boys forgot to store our luggage in the compartment!" Francisco reminded them, sharply.

The boys who were looking so forward to relax, groaned. Thankfully, a conductor came by and said, "Tickets please! I will store up your luggage in the compartment, afterwards." After their tickets were shown to the conductor, the man stored their luggage in a compartment, like he promised. As soon as he went on his way to do his daily tasks, Imelda and her family leaned in to whisper.

"Do you have Héctor's home address?"

"Por supuesto, Mamá!" said Imelda, quickly showing them the address that Héctor once gave to her. "Hopefully we can find him."

"Agreed," Oscar nodded. "His house shouldn't be too hard to find."

"The sooner we find that idiota and marry you off to him, the better!" Their father grumbled.

"And remember, don't get too excited," Martha reminded her daughter, sternly. "We want your baby to be healthy."

"Right," Imelda nodded as she felt her slightly swollen belly. "How did this come to be?" she sighed, her voice full of weariness. "The trip to Santa Cecilia happened so quickly."

She thought back to what happened when she reunited with her family.

Last September, when Imelda had reunited with her mother and brothers, she had confided in them about everything that happened to her. Martha was concerned that Héctor was the reason that Imelda divorced Ernesto. However, her daughter had assured her that her divorce to Ernesto had been planned long before Hector showed up.

While the family was talking, there was a sound of knocking on the door. Martha realized that her husband must be home. As she went to answer the door, Imelda became as stiff as a stick. Would her Papa be angry to see her? Would he ask her to leave? She was comforted by her brothers who said that Papa would be happy to see her.

As soon as Francisco walked in, he greeted his wife with a kiss and his sons with a hug. He did a double-take upon seeing his daughter's presence. Hardening his countenance, Francisco asked his wife what was "that girl" doing here. Martha was quick to come to Imelda's defense and beseeched him to let her stay. Learning about his daughter's divorce from his wife, the father wasn't sure how to feel. He did not look thrilled but he did not look angry, either. How could his daughter become a divorced woman? She wouldn't marry again, would she? But then a comforting thought rested on Francisco. Because Imelda is divorced, no one else would marry her. No more men trying to make an advance on her. He walked over to the anxious girl and slowly gave her a hug. Perhaps Imelda could stay with the family, as long as she stays away from men. Additionally, they could forget about her terrible marriage. And Imelda would have to forget about Héctor. Or so she thought.

It was November 15 1917, when Imelda and her family went to see Dr. Olvera. "I have not been feeling well, Doctor," Imelda explained. "I have missed my 'time of the month,' my breaths are stiff, and I had been running to the bathroom after every meal!"

"Let's see what could be the problem," Dr. Olvera said, while observing his patient's belly.

"Let us do some tests."

Meanwhile, Imelda's family was waiting in the waiting room. They wondered what could be the problem.

Actually, Martha had a feeling what could happen but she dared not to think. If this turned out to be pregnancy, they would be in trouble!

The family looked up when a surprised Dr. Olvera and a frightened girl appeared from the doctor's room.

"Well, you may never believe this Señora and Señor but you're daughter is with child."

Martha gasped, Francisco growled, and the twins fell out of their chairs.

"It's true," Imelda said a scared tone.

"Doctor, you can't be serious!" Martha cried. "Not again!"

"I am afraid I am," said the doctor, gravely.

"Several months ago, you said that Imelda couldn't bear any more children!" Francisco a accused. "Were you lying or did you not know shit about pregnancy?"

The doctor looked offended but chose wisely to speak as calm as he could. "Perhaps I was wrong and-"

"Oh, never mind that, you pea brain!" The father turned to his daughter. "Who was the father? Was it Ernesto or was it that other guy?"

"Francisco!" Martha gasped, horrified that he would ask such a question.

"Oye, she was seen with that Héctor guy by everybody! You don't think I have heard rumors of her walking around with him at the marketplace? Everybody had seen them!"

"Who is 'everybody?'"

"The seamstresses, the mariachis, the farmer," Francisco listed. "Even Doc here, saw them! And your sons heard it from-"

"Héctor," Imelda spoke softly. She was looking down at the floor.

"What?" Francisco barked.

"Héctor is the father," she repeated. Her voice had a bit more volume but the tone of it was still full of sadness. "I know this because I have slept with him not too long ago."

At first, the family was stunned and didn't speak for three minutes. Then Martha broke the silence. "Imelda, how could this happen?" she cried. "Oh, I feel like going to a corner and cry for five hours!"

"Mamá-"

"It's one matter to be pregnant out of wedlock, but it is another matter to bear a child of a man that isn't your husband! How could you not think this through?" Martha's face crumbled up and her eyes shed tears. She covered her face as her sons comforted her. "I need a tissue!" In response, the Scott handed her one, sympathetically.

"Mamá, lo disculpa-"

She stopped when Martha ran outside toward the outhouse, to cry privately.

"Ugh, see what you have done!?" Francisco shouted at his daughter. He stunned her into silence. "You ruined everything! You ruined your marriage prospects and you ruined your brothers' prospects, too!"

"Papá, I never meant for this to happen!" Imelda apologized. She had to talk fast so that her father wouldn't interrupt her. "I didn't even know I would be pregnant again, regardless who was the father. And how did I ruin my brothers' marriage prospects?"

"Yeah, we're not the ones who are with child!" Felipe spoke up.

"And we're not the ones that cheated on Senor de la Crud by sleeping with his friend!" Oscar added. He and Oscar both received a big smack in the heads from their sister's boot. The twins fell down, rubbing their heads. "Ouch."

"I'll tell you how!" Francisco roared at them, making the boys jump in the air. "The whole town will talk about you! Once they hear about this scandal, they will say, 'Oh, Imelda cheated on her husband and is carrying someone else's child! What are the chances that her brothers would be adúlteros too?"

"Papá!" Imelda gasped.

"We would never do such a thing!" Oscar cried.

"I agree with Oscar!" Felipe barked. "What kind of idiotas do you think we are?"

"Muchos idiotas!"

"He is right," Dr. Olvera spoke meekly. The family almost forgot that he was present, due to him being quiet. "People would have trouble trusting that you boys won't do the same mistakes your sister made."

"Marrying Ernesto was a big mistake!" Imelda snapped, hating that she was being blamed again. She was ignored by the men.

"What are we going to do?" Francisco questioned. "Doctor, I know your practice is only in medicine, not life but-"

"Why are you asking me?," Doctor Olvera interrupted him, gently. "You know what to do: marry your daughter off to the father of her child!"

"But he is in Santa Cecilia!" Imelda said, sadly.

"Well, If I were you, Señorita Imelda, I would go to him. This is a perfect opportunity to move to a different town in order to get away from gossip."

"Good idea!" Francisco said, smiling. "Imelda, you would go to Santa Cecilia!"

"Que!?" Imelda was stunned.

"If I can arrange you a train ticket to leave town, our problems would be solved!" Francisco explained. "We would accompany you, as well!"

After they came home from the Doctor's, Francisco and Martha scrambles all their savings to buy train tickets for Santa Cecilia. The parents were careful to hide Imelda's growing belly. If any neighbors asked, they would tell them that their children are going to an apprenticeship to learn to become shoemakers.

Imelda was jolted out of her thoughts as she heard the announcer that their next stop is Santa Cecilia. She looked out through the window, making sure they don't miss it.

Finally, her eyes caught a sign that said, Welcome to Santa Cecilia.

"Well, this it!" she announced to her family, feeling butterflies in her stomach. She stood up, with Pepita in her arms.

"Bueno," said Francisco, standing up. "Boys, get the luggage!"

The twins groaned, not enjoying their chore. "Why do we have to be the ones-" Oscar started.

-"dragging the suitcases all the time?" Felipe finished.

"It builds character and strength!" Francisco barked at them. "Now stop your whining and get moving!"

When Imelda and her family hopped off the train, Imelda walked beside her mother, followed by her father, and the twins.

Imelda breathed out a sigh that showed dread and worry.

"Está bien, mija?" Martha asked her.

"Mamá, what if Héctor doesn't want me?" Imelda asked, in a quiet voice.

Pepita meowed sympathetically and leaned into her mistress's arms, as a sign of comfort.

"He'll want you," her mother assured her. "He'll have to marry you."

"But what if he doesn't love me?"

"Based on your stories, it seems to me that he cared a great deal of you. Unlike your last husband."

As assuring Martha's words were, Imelda was still uncertain. "I don't know. I bet Héctor has probably forgotten about me."

Meanwhile, not too far from the train station, was a house that was medium-sized and cozy. It was adjacent to the red barn, full of bustling animals, two farmers, and one musician. Héctor was moping around in his in the backyard. He sat on a pile of hay in the red barn, playing a sad tune from his guitar. Since he came home from Pátzcuaro, Héctor had been doing nothing but mope around all day while singing songs that are so sad and beautiful that they'd make you cry. Every night, he'd wake up in a cold sweat suffering from many nightmares of him or Imelda being hurt by Ernesto. The dreams always ended with Ernesto shooting him while Imelda screamed. How long must this go on? he thought to himself.

"Héctor, que pasa?" Tia Juanita asked, while doing laundry outside. She was a short and plump woman with her hair up in a bun, covered by a dark green shawl. She put one wet blanket sheet on the clothesline and began adding another one.

"N-nada tía," her nephew responded, accidentally hitting the wrong chord. He knew she was concerned and wished to say what was wrong, but he didn't know what to say.

"Héctor, why are you not doing your chores?" his Tío Chicharrón, barked, making the tall man jump. Chicharrón was a short man, sporting a brown hat to cover his bald head. Chicharrón wiped his hands clean, and came i to the barn, having just finished feeding the chickens. "I don't know what's eating you, but you should get your butt up and feed the pigs!" The old man said in a cranky tone. "There's work to be done around here and I want them down before sunset!"

"Yes, Tío Chicharrón," Héctor sighed, slowly standing up. It was as if he had no energy in him at all. Grabbing two buckets of slop that were beside him, he walked out of the barn and turned left toward the pig pen. Tía Juanita and Tío Chicharron continued to discuss privately about their nephew's odd behavior, as soon as he was out of earshot.

"I am worried about him, Chicharrón," said Juanita. "This is the unpteenth time that I found him sighing and lying around." She took another wet sheet and put it over the clothesline. "He hasn't been eating or sleeping well since he came back from the trip. Whenever I asked him what was bothering him, he won't respond!"

"Is he still sore about that talent agent?" her husband wondered. The old man started feeding his horses, Coffee and Silver, some oats. "Because last time I asked him, he told me about the talent show and how he failed at it." He wiped his hands, having fed the horses.

"If Héctor is still upset about that, he should forget about it. That talent agent was an idiot for excluding our nephew just because he cared about marketing and appearances more than talent! Why care about star appeal when talent, passion, and work ethics are more important than that? And he could always play in the plaza."

"I don't know, mi amor," Juanita murmured. The old woman put a third wet dress over the clothesline. "I have a feeling that there is something else that is bothering him."

Héctor wiped sweat across his eyebrow. There, that was the second bucket. Pouring buckets of slop for the pigs was really tiring. "Enjoy your meal, amigos," he said, gently ruffling on one of the pigs' heads. They oinked in response, gobbling up their food.

Héctor was about to head inside the house through the backdoor and wash the buckets, when he heard the doorbell rang. "Who is that?" He wondered. The tall man jogged away from the pig pen, and exited the barn. He was almost there to his house, turned a corner, and spotted a young woman who looked oddly familiar. She had her head covered with a purple shawl, and was standing beside an older woman, a man and two boys who were ringing the doorbell nonstop. (The twins were confused at why no one was answering, much to Francisco's annoyance).The woman turned her head toward his direction and walked toward him. That was when Héctor recognized her.

"Imelda!?" He gasped. "Is it really you?"

"Hola Héctor," his lover said nervously, as she slowly inched toward him.

The musician rubbed his eyes, hoping it wasn't his imagination. When he felt a touch of her hand on his, he pulled her in for an embrace and kissed her firmly, on the lips. "Oh mi amor, I have missed you so much!"

The woman gasped at feeling his lips upon hers, but moaned as she felt a rush of joy. "I missed you too!"

The couple pulled away after a few minutes of kissing, with their arms still around each other.

"Héctor, I'm in trouble," Imelda told him, in a melancholic tone. She looked like she was about to cry.

"Por que? What's wrong?" the musician was confused until his hand felt her stomach. Tracing the outline of her stomach very slowly, his eyes widened as he realized how swollen it felt. "Oh...,"

Stunned, he silently asked Imelda, "How far are you?" He couldn't help but feel a bit jealous that that it could be Ernesto's. Of course, it is his best friend's baby! Why wouldn't it be? It died down when Imelda whispered to him in his ear, "Do you remember the night we made love?"

"Of course I do," Héctor said in a nostalgic voice. "How could I-wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait..."

Héctor did the math in his head and his eyes widened.

"Is the baby mine?" He asked. "Am I the father?!"

Imelda nodded slowly. She winced, fearing how he would react.

Héctor felt as if his mind was exploding. "I'm...the...father." Then without warning, he groaned and fainted on the ground with a big thud.

"Héctor!" Imelda cried.