Chapter 8: New Addition(s)

It was another two months before Ernesto returned to Santa Cecilia to personally review the brand new songs that Héctor had written for him. He sat outside in the courtyard under the shade of the large tree in the corner, sipping on a bottle of mango agua fresca and flipping through the dozen of sheets of paper filled with lilting melodies, toe tapping tempos and, at times, funny lyrics. He hummed out the tunes himself, laughed at the appropriate times and when he finished he happily slapped Héctor on the knee.

"My friend, you have outdone yourself this time! These songs are pure gold! I personally like Flores de la Mente the best, it is hauntingly beautiful. I can imagine singing it while pining for a lost love. Was that your intention?" Ernesto asked.

"Yeah." Héctor mumbled.

"But Bang Bang Bang y Pop Pop is wonderful too. A real toe tapper and funny to boot! We're going to need to hire some professional dancers when I perform this in public. In traditional folk garb with lots of color, what do you think?"

"Sounds great." Héctor murmured.

"Perfecto!" Ernesto pulled out some papers and handed Héctor a pen. "Now if you just sign here to give permission to Barrera Records to produce it… Uh huh, and sign here for residuals and royalties… Sign here… Initial here… Bueno! Congratulations Héctor! I'll get these to Fredo muy pronto, record them, and personally give you the debut record myself just in time when the baby comes!" Ernesto smiled.

Héctor shuddered and gripped his arms. "G-gracias…"

Ernesto's cheery demeanor drooped to a pout. He thought that Héctor would be happy that their dreams were coming into fruition, instead the younger man looked like he was about to head to the gallows. "Héctor, I cannot help but feel you're not as excited as you should be. Is there something on your mind that I should be concerned about?"

"Don't mind him Ernesto." Oscar said as he and Felipe walked out into the courtyard carrying a bottle of lime agua fresca each. "He's just being a worrywart over what the doctor told him this morning."

"Doctor? Is it about Imelda? I hope everything is alright." Ernesto said, with genuine concern.

"Tell him, cuñado." Felipe said, smiling at Héctor.

Héctor wiped a hand over his face and sighed shakily. "W-well," his voice cracked and he cleared his throat. "I've n-noticed the past few weeks that Imelda seemed a bit… bigger… than her last pregnancy. Not in weight gain, but… in here," he said, gesturing to his stomach. "But I wasn't going to say anything because I didn't want to upset her. She's been so moody lately that anything will set her off. But…" Héctor gulped. "This morning she voiced the same concern that I had… S-so we went to the d-doctor… and he s-said…" he trailed off, shaking his head with wide eyes.

"Go on, amigo." Ernesto said as he patted Héctor's back.

Héctor sighed again and closed his eyes. "He said that either it was going to be a big baby, which given how small Coco was when she was born seemed unlikely… Or-…" Héctor's voice cracked again and he bowed his head into his hands.

"Or?" Ernesto goaded him on; even though he was now sure he knew what was coming next.

Héctor didn't lift up his head, but instead he raised his hand. With two fingers.

"Two?! Twins?!" Ernesto barked out a hearty laugh and shook Héctor by the shoulders. "Congratulations, hermanito! Ha ha! Ay Dios mio! Twins! I didn't think you had it in you!"

"I don't." Héctor growled and raised his head, glaring as he pointed an accusing finger at Oscar and Felipe. "It's them! This is their fault!"

Oscar and Felipe just rolled their eyes and sipped their drinks. "And how do you figure that?"

"You infected Imelda with your… doubleness!" Héctor accused, twiddling his fingers at them like they were some contagious disease.

"I don't think that's a word, Héctor." Ernesto pointed out.

"Whatever! They are twins, and because of them, Imelda is having twins. That's all I know!" Héctor huffed.

"It doesn't work like that, idiota." Felipe growled. "It's passed down the bloodline, not across it. If anything, you should blame our Mamá and Papá."

"Well, you two are here, so it's easier to blame you." Héctor growled, and then winced at his words, immediately regretting them. "I'm sorry…"

Oscar shook his head and smiled. "It's okay, hermano. We know you're stressed. Just don't say things like that in front of Imelda." He warned. Oscar and Felipe had no memory of their parents, having been far too young when they died. But Imelda did and still held them in high esteem. She would not tolerate such words said against them. Héctor nodded and sighed again.

"Héctor you can't possibly be worried about not being able to afford two babies, can you?" Ernesto said as he held up the signed papers. "You are about to be a very wealthy man, and Imelda's business is flourishing! They'll want for nothing!"

"No, it's not about the money." Héctor moaned. "I was so worried about complications back when Imelda was pregnant with Coco, and that was only with one baby! Now that there are two, the risks have literally doubled!" Héctor sighed. "Remember that viejo Senor Bautista?" The other three men nodded in sad remembrance. "They said he was once the happiest man in Santa Cecilia. Had the most beautiful wife and had a booming business as a rancher. He had the perfect life... But then she gave birth to two stillborns and died herself soon after, and he became a bitter, broken man for the rest of his days, living in that decrepit shack on the edge of town." Héctor shook his head in fear. "If that happens to Imelda, I… I don't know what I'd do! How could I even go on?!"

"You'd still have Coco, Héctor!" Felipe said and placed a hand on his brother-in-law's shoulder. "And Oscar and I. We'd never let you go down that path, we're your family."

"You'd have me as well, my friend." Ernesto said, his eyes full of sincerity. "I know I've never said this before, but your well-being means more to me than you can possibly imagine." Ernesto smiled with a hint of sadness and looked down. "You won't be alone."

Héctor smiled at his brothers. "Gracias you guys… Gah! What are we talking about?! This is Imelda, for crying out loud!" He laughed and the others joined in. "She's stronger than all four of us put together!" He raised his own grape agua fresca in a toast. "To Imelda and the new Rivera twins!"

"Salud!"

Héctor, Oscar and Felipe clinked their glasses together and made move to drink, but the crash of shattering glass startled them. Ernesto had dropped his bottle to the ground as it had slipped through deadened fingers. Héctor had just enough time to see the panicked, far-away expression on his friend's face before, with a quick shake, Ernesto dropped to the ground and started to carefully pick up the shards. "S-sorry, my friends." He mumbled. "The bottle was too slick and it flew out of my hand. I'll clean it up pronto!"

"Ernesto, are you alright?" Héctor asked and placed a hand on Ernesto's back.

"Fine! I'm fine! It's just… Ha, it's just too damn hot out!" Ernesto laughed and fanned himself. "Too much condensation on the bottle."

"Why don't you roll up your sleeves then, amigo?" Oscar offered as he pointed to Ernesto's buttoned up cuffs. "It is muy caliente out here."

"Just the sight of you in long sleeves and a jacket is starting to make me broil." Felipe added.

Ernesto grinned and chuckled nervously, backing away like a cornered animal. "Seriously, I'm fine, I-"

Suddenly Coco came out to the courtyard frowning. "Shh! Too noisy! Mamá is sleeping."

Héctor held up a hand towards his daughter. "Careful Coco, stay back. There's broken glass over here-"

"Oh, our apologies, Coco!" Ernesto butted in and smiled down at the little girl. Good, an easy out and a chance to change the subject! "You are such a considerate child. Say, what do you think about your Mamá having two babies, niña?"

"I'm very happy!" Coco said. "Yesterday it was only one baby, today it is two babies. Maybe tomorrow it will be three babies!" And with that she happily skipped back to her room, not hearing the whine of fear her Papá let out.

As Oscar and Felipe tried to console their brother-in-law again, Ernesto huffed a sigh of relief, placed the signed papers into his jacket and then tugged at his cuffs. He needed to get back to Mexico City, and fast.

It was a rainy Sunday morning at the beginning of September, and the Rivera shoe shop was closed for the day. Normally this was because the family would head off to Sunday mass and then just laze the rest of the day away and not think of work, or orders that weren't finished, or shoes at all. But today was different for the Riveras, as well as the town midwife and her two assistants, who were also missing mass. It was a day Coco had been excited about for such a long time, but now that it was here, all she felt was terror.

She clung to her Tío Oscar's shirt and huddled against his chest as she let him rock her gently, but an ear-piercing shriek caused her to shrink even more in his hold. "Mamá…" she whimpered and watched her parents' bedroom door with wide, glistening eyes.

"It's okay, Coco." Oscar said as he continued his rocking. "This is completely normal. Your Mamá will be fine. Just fi-" Another scream cut off his words of encouragement, and Coco buried her face in his shirt and trembled.

Felipe came in from the kitchen carrying four steaming cups on a tray. "Okay! Hot chocolates for everyone, including one with extra cinnamon for Héc-… Héctor? Where'd he go?"

Oscar bent his head to the door. "Imelda was screaming for him, and before I had a chance to blink he bolted in there."

Felipe rolled his eyes and shook his head. "A husband has no place in the birthing room! Everyone knows that!" he handed Oscar a mug. "This one has no cayenne."

"Since when have those two ever been orthodox?" Oscar took the mug and nodded his thanks to his brother. "C'mon Coco, drink some of this. You'll feel much better."

Coco took the mug and sipped the sweet chocolate and let the warmth flow through her. It did make her feel better, but she wished her Papá hadn't left her so suddenly. However even her small child's mind knew that he was right where he was needed.

Imelda sagged against Héctor's chest as she felt the baby finally slide out of her and gasped out trying to catch her breath. She felt his long arms wrap around her and he kissed her brow, but she wished he didn't do either. She felt hot, sticky and just plain disgusting, not to mention still in a whole lot of pain. But still Héctor held her close against him, letting her sweat and other fluids soak into his clothes, as he cried and babbled sweet nothings at her.

"Ay, bebé precioso!" he blubbered as hot tears dripped off his face and onto Imelda's. "Perfecto! Maravilloso! Imelda, it's so beautiful!"

"What is it?" Imelda panted.

"Oh, right! What is it, senora?" Héctor leaned over Imelda's head to peer at the baby.

"It's a girl." The midwife said as she wiped the newborn's face off, and at that the baby let out a creaky wail that turned into a full bellied cry, in perfect synch with her Papá's grito.

"A girl! Oh, diosa!" Héctor peppered Imelda's face with kisses as they both faintly heard Oscar and Felipe cheering on the other side of the door. "Gracias Imelda! She's so beautiful!" He bounced excitedly. "Her name! What's her name?!"

Imelda smiled tiredly and closed her eyes. "Leticia."

"Leticia…" Héctor sighed and squeezed his wife in a hug. "Leti-ti-ti-ticia, with flowers in her hair…" he sang. "Ha! I love it!" He watched the two other girls in the room clean her off and cut the umbilical cord with a dreamy expression. "Ay Imelda, she's so beautiful. So tiny."

"Tiny?" Imelda sat up as much as she could and looked at the small baby. "Ay, dios mio… Mierda! That means there is another one in here!" She said as she glared at her still protruding stomach.

Héctor chuckled. "I thought we already established that, mi amor."

"I know, but I was hoping that there wasn't so I wouldn't have to go through that agaiiiAAAAH!" Imelda surged back onto Héctor's chest and tensed up in pain. The midwife came back in between her patient's legs with one of her other helpers, ready for round two. Héctor braced himself behind his wife and held her up to aid her in her pushing. "Héctor…" she moaned. "Héctor, I'm so tired. I can't do this anymore!"

"Of course you can!" Héctor said in a stern voice that surprised Imelda. "You are a Rivera, and a Rivera never gives up on anything! You've shown me that countless times, and succeeded each time! Why do you think I call you diosa?"

"Because you're a blasphemous idiota?" Imelda smiled and winced.

"That," Héctor laughed, "and because you are an inspiration Imelda. You inspire me every day! I wouldn't be anything if it weren't for you! So you just lean on me and break my hand if you want, but you can do this Imelda!"

Imelda huffed out a sigh "Alright…" And with that she pitched forward and pushed with all her might. She squeezed Héctor's hand and screamed as the pain grew sharper, but she bore down and fought through it all. Suddenly she felt the same flush of relief and sank into Héctor's embrace again as another cry filled the room, even louder than the first.

"Ay, Dios mio!" Héctor laughed at the volume of the baby's cry. "That's a future trumpet player right there!" Then something caught his eye and he gasped. "Ooh!... Oh, Imelda, it's a boy! A boy!" He bounced again and jostled his exhausted wife. "We have a son, Imelda."

Imelda opened one eye and frowned. "If he's named Pancho, or Tiburcio, or Chucho or any other disgusting-"

"Mateo." Héctor whispered and Imelda opened both eyes and stared at Héctor with wonder as he smiled down at her. "After Padre Mateo. The man who taught me to read, write and play guitar."

"Oh, Héctor, he'll love that when we tell him. That's so thoughtful." Imelda sighed. "I just picked Leticia because it was pretty."

"It's perfect." Héctor said and kissed Imelda tenderly on the lips, and they both watched as their two children were bundled in warm blankets. "And it's good that it's a boy and a girl. I won't have trouble telling them apart!"

Imelda laughed. "Héctor, they're your children! You would know."

"You can't even tell your own brothers apart!" Héctor quipped.

"Well!-…" Imelda started to defend herself but then just sat back and glowered. "Maybe if they didn't dress the same all the time…"

The babies were then presented to their parents and after Imelda was cleaned up the rest of the family was allowed into the room to visit. Coco was content with having a brother as long as she had her sister, so in the end it all worked well. Oscar and Felipe produced two new pairs of infant sized steel toe boots to the babies, and Héctor had to physically restrain Imelda to the bed to keep her from leaping at them. But soon the excitement faded and everyone drifted off to some much needed sleep.

All was right with the world.