Chapter 12: Gifts
Héctor looked to his side and smiled as Imelda gazed out the car window at the wonders of Mexico City. Not only was this the children's first time to venture outside of Santa Cecilia, but Imelda's as well. They had all marveled at the first-class amenities on the train ride like the country mice that they were, treating themselves to the lunch trolley and laying out in the compartment beds as they watched the scenery pass by. If they were that impressed by a train ride, Héctor couldn't wait to see their faces when they got to Ernesto's mansion.
"What do you think diosa?" Héctor asked.
"It's so… big." Imelda said a little overwhelmed. "A little too big for my tastes. You could live here your whole life and not be able to experience everything."
"Si, but there are some places in this city that no one should want to experience. Not everything here glitters." Héctor looked out the back window of the car to see another bright white Cadillac trailing behind them and he smiled as he could see his children smooshing themselves close to the windows to see everything. He then noticed that they were driving on a street that he did not recognize and turned back to the driver. "Senor, we are going to Ernesto's mansion, right?"
"Senor de la Cruz moved to a new one a week ago. Much bigger than the last one! I'm sure you will be very pleased, Senor Rivera." The driver explained.
"You've gotta be kidding me!" Héctor huffed as he leaned back into his seat. "It's never enough for that guy, is it?"
"You are the only one who ever seems to be surprised about that, mi amor." Imelda said as she kissed Héctor's cheek. It was few minutes later when they pulled up to a gate that Imelda gasped in amazement. "Dios mio!"
The gate itself was cast iron with two golden E's emblazoned on the front, which opened up to the house itself. The estate was sprawling with hedges trimmed and molded to look like musical notes, giant lush trees and a large fountain bubbling away in the center of the circle driveway. The mansion itself was sterling white with long windows that reached up three stories and huge dark blue curtains draping inside them, and ivy that crept up along the walls. The two cars drove up to the huge white double doors, which opened to reveal Ernesto himself in full evening attire.
"Bienvenidos, mis amigos!" Ernesto said grandly. "Welcome to La Casa de la Cruz!"
"This is your house Tio Nesto?! Que padre!" Leti squealed as she raced up to him for a hug. "How much did it cost?"
"Leticia!" Imelda scolded. "You don't ask such things."
"It's quite all right, Imelda. I'll tell you what it cost, niños." Ernesto said as he crouched down to their level. "It cost my voice and it cost your father's heart. This is the house that music built! That means that this is your house too, so go on inside and take a look around!" The children didn't have to be told twice and raced inside. Ernesto turned back to Héctor and Imelda. "So, what do you guys think of the new house?"
"It's great Ernesto, but… what was wrong with your old mansion?" Héctor asked.
"Ah, Héctor." Ernesto chuckled and looped his arms around Héctor and Imelda's shoulders. "Have you ever had a goldfish and kept it in a bowl? Well you feed it more and more, and sooner or later that fish will grow, and therefore you need to get a bigger bowl. The same concept applies to me!"
"Nice metaphor, Ernesto." Imelda said sarcastically.
"I'm sorry Imelda, but the modest lifestyle is just not for me. I need to surround myself in luxury! And I think this suits my fancy." He said as he led them inside. The front hallway had two staircases that wound to different sides to the house, and the ceiling was held up by huge polished marble pillars. Paintings decorated the walls with the center one being a large portrait of Ernesto and Ming vases were filled with flowers of all colors. The sounds of the children's laughter echoed throughout the house as their parents gazed in awe at their surroundings.
"You'd never know that there was a depression going on after seeing all of this." Imelda said dryly.
"Aren't you glad you made me in charge of your money?" Ernesto said smugly. "You would have lost it all in the crash! In fact you all should move into a nicer house as well. Lord knows you can afford it."
"Our town has been going through some hard times, Ernesto." Héctor explained. "We'd rather just spread the wealth around instead of flaunt it. Share it with people less fortunate than us. Sure, the children would like nicer things like this too, but in the end they understand."
"Mamá, Papá!" Leti came in running. "Tio Nesto has a swimming pool inside the house! And it's shaped like a guitar! Can we go swimming?!"
"Of course you can cielita!" Ernesto said. "But later, alright? First we must get you all settled in and then we will enjoy a nice supper-"
"Mamá! Papá!" Matty came in running next. "The kitchen is huge! And there are a dozen cooks in there! One of them had this big bowl of goo and he was stretching it up and over his head with a spoon!"
"Ah, that would be the aligot!" Ernesto informed them. "It's a French recipe of cheese and potatoes, and it is muy delicioso. I thought we might expand our horizons this evening and explore a different culture's cuisine."
Suddenly a high-pitched scream rose from upstairs and the three adults looked up in alarm, only to see Coco running to the top of the stairs carrying something pink and fuzzy. "Tio Nesto, I found this in my room! A mink stole! And in my favorite color! Is this for me?! Please tell me this is for me!"
"Of course Coco, only the best for my godchildren!" Ernesto smiled broadly and Coco screamed again as she clutched the stole to her chest. "I also purchased furs for Leticia and you as well Imelda, as well as dresses designed by Jeanne Lanvin herself. I want you ladies to look your best for the premier in two days!" To Héctor's surprise Imelda screamed like Coco did before she hugged Ernesto, then him, and then raced up the stairs to Coco, where they both screamed in unison and fled to their respective rooms. Leti seemed unimpressed with the clothes and raced back into the pool room.
"And you, Matty." Ernesto said warmly as he reached into his pocket. "You need to look your best too!"
"That's okay, Tio Nesto." Matty said waving him off. "Boys don't wear furs." But Ernesto snapped open a small black case in front of the boy, who gaped in astonishment. Inside were two gold cufflinks with a huge diamond in the center of each, as well as a gold pocket watch encrusted with smaller diamonds. Matty traced a finger over the words etched into the watch cover: Seize Your Moment. "Th-… This is for me?" At Ernesto's nod Matty flung his arms around his neck and hugged tight. "Gracias, Tio Nesto! Gracias!"
Ernesto laughed as he watched the boy race off with his new treasures and looked back at Héctor, who stood awkwardly before saying, "Well, I guess they like some luxuries every once in a while… Did you get me anything?" he asked lamely.
"Of course, hermanito!" Ernesto said. "I give you… the pleasure of having me as company for the next week!"
"Ha ha, very funny…" Héctor grumbled before holding up his guitar case. "Well I have a present for you."
Ernesto looked at the case and scoffed. "You're going to serenade me on your guitar? Amigo, you'll make Imelda jealous-"
"My guitar is back at home." Héctor interrupted before holding out the case to Ernesto with a smile. "Here."
Ernesto's smirk faded and he looked at the case in confusion before taking it. Kneeling down he set the case on the floor, opened it, and gasped. Inside was a brand new guitar, the spitting image of Héctor's, with the same designs on the body and the painted skull on the headstock. Only this guitar was painted a beautiful golden color, the designs were a deep chocolate brown, and the skull had perfect ivory teeth. Ernesto ran his fingers lovingly along the strings, listening to them give a gentle hum. "Héctor…"
"It took a while to track down the guy who made my guitar." Héctor said. "He had moved two towns over and had retired by then, but I paid him enough money to make this one. I know how much you always liked my guitar, so I figured I'd have it made just like it, but with a more de la Cruz flare. What do you think?" Héctor looked down only to see Ernesto's shoulders shaking and he gave out a small huff. "I know it's nothing fancy, but I thought you'd appreciate it. Maybe I should have just bought you a Fabergé Egg or maybe a- GUAHH!"
Ernesto took a hold of the front of Héctor's shirt and dragged him down to the ground to his level, wrapping his arms tightly around the younger man. Héctor hesitantly returned the hug before realizing with shock that Ernesto hadn't been laughing at him, he was crying! "Ernesto…" he whispered.
"Gracias, Héctor!" Ernesto choked out. "This is-… Forgive me, I'm just… so touched!" He squeezed Héctor harder and buried his eyes in his shoulder as he let out another whimper.
"De… nada, Ernesto. But-" Héctor groaned. "Can't… breathe!"
"Oh, perdoname!" Ernesto released Héctor and quickly scrubbed his eyes free of tears while they both gasped for air. "I'm sorry for my reaction, amigo. I don't know what came over me."
Héctor smiled warmly. "That's what happens when you're given gifts from the heart."
Ernesto nodded. "Si." He clapped a hand on Héctor's shoulder and returned the smile. After a few moments he gave himself a shake and laughed. "That's enough emotional nonsense for me today!" He stood up and offered a hand to hoist Héctor up as well. "I lied by the way. I bought you some presents as well. They're in yours and Imelda's room. Hopefully they'll make you look slightly more suitable for the cameras."
"Yes!" Héctor cheered and raced up the stairs like a little boy. Ernesto watched him go before looking down at the guitar once more. He picked it up and held it in his hands reverently before giving it a gentle strum. Perfecto. He felt the tears start to well up again as he slightly curled in on himself. Of all the luxuries he had in his possession, this guitar was one that he would treasure for the rest of his life.
And he didn't deserve it at all.
El Camino a Casa was truly a spectacle to behold, especially for it being the freshman project of Rivera de la Cruz Productions. Ernesto played the role of Rodrigo, the owner of a meager piece of land that, though small in size, was a prime piece of real estate that had caught the eye of the greedy land baron Don Hidalgo. Rodrigo was in love with his neighbor's daughter, the lovely Ana Rosa, and after wooing her with a performance of Un Poco Loco the two of them were to married. But, through a lot of twists in turns, Don Hidalgo had managed to separate the two and force an arranged marriage between the poor girl and his own nephew, the lothario Humberto!
On the day of the wedding Don Hidalgo lured Rodrigo into his house under the assumption that he would let Rodrigo keep his land if he stayed away from Ana Rosa, sealing their deal with a toast. But Rodrigo soon realized that Don Hidalgo was trying to murder him! After a quick but brutal fight, Rodrigo triumphed over the dastardly villain and had his fellow ranchers hold him prisoner in his own home to await arrest. Then Rodrigo leapt onto his trusty steed Dante and raced off towards the wedding.
Before the priest finished the sacred vows, Rodrigo showed up to object to the marriage, while serenading the visitors with The World is Mi Familia as he walked down the aisle to his love. After a swift punch to Humberto's glass jaw, the wedding was able to continue, only this time with a different groom! And so Rodrigo took Ana Rosa onto his horse, and they rode away into the sunset to live the rest of their lives happily ever after!
As El Fin dissolved onto the screen and the lights turned back on the entire theater erupted with cheers and applause. The audience screamed bravo and encore as their attention turned to the box seats above them, where the Ernesto de la Cruz was seated with the Rivera family. Ernesto stood up and bowed gracefully at the adoring crowd and blew kisses at them, before reaching down to pull Héctor up to stand next to him. He raised Héctor's hand in the air and the crowd cheered again as they recognized the talented songwriter for the tunes they had heard. Héctor smiled as his face flushed a deep red and he couldn't remember a time when he had felt this validated as an artist. To able to enjoy it with his family as well as Ernesto was a dream come true.
After a few hours of photographs and interviews with the press, the Rivera family and Ernesto made it back to the mansion. Everyone was still buzzing about the entire evening. It would be a while before anyone was going to be able to settle down for sleep.
"My favorite part was the horse!" Matty said as he galloped around the living room. "What color was it Tio Nesto? I couldn't tell because there was no color. Was it white?"
"Actually he was a lovely cream color." Ernesto said as he draped his jacket across the sofa. "And he was exquisitely trained as well as a sweet, gentle animal."
"If I had a pet, I would name him Dante too!" Matty said. "But I can't have one because of my allergies."
"That's okay!" Leti said. "We can jump on Coco's back and pretend she's Dante! Can we, hermana?"
"No way!" Coco shook her head and crossed her arms. "You'll ruin my mink stole as well as yours! Why on Earth would I want to play the horse anyway? I'd rather play the role of Ana Rosa. She was so beautiful!"
"Si, she was." Ernesto leered and stared off dreamily. "In more ways than one. The stories I have about her and I- Grrk!" Ernesto winced as Imelda pinched and tugged his ear down while giving him a lethal glare. "Sorry…" he said sheepishly.
"No, I still think you should play Dante, Coco." Leti said, smiling mischievously. "After all your face already looks like a horse!" Her loud laughs turned to screams as Coco growled and started chasing after her with her clutch raised over her head, ready to strike her younger sister. The two girls sped out of the room with Matty still galloping behind them.
"Coco, don't hit your sister!" Imelda yelled out as she raced after them. "She has enough bruises already, she doesn't need any more!"
Héctor and Ernesto laughed as they sank down onto the couch. The laughter died down to sighs and they sat in silence with the only sounds being the ticking of the grandfather clock and the distant shrieks of children. They turned to each other and smiled wearily.
"Good night, eh?" Ernesto asked.
"No, great night!" Héctor said.
"I told you this would be a good idea!" Ernesto shoved Héctor's shoulder playfully. "By the end of next week the movie will be in every theater in the valley, and soon after that it will spread to the other states of Mexico. This is a bona fide hit to be sure!"
"Congratulations Ernesto. You should be proud… Then again when are you never not proud?" Héctor laughed at his own joke, not noticing the shadow pass over Ernesto's face. More than you know, hermano. More than you know.