Chapter 29: Have Faith

Coco had taken it upon herself to act as the head of the family while Imelda was in surgery. She practically ordered Matty and Julio to drive back home to change into clean clothes and to bring some back for her and Héctor. She also instructed Matty to telegraph Oscar and Felipe about their sister. As they left to do as instructed Coco winced and suddenly felt bad about the harsh, urgent tones she used. She wasn't used to being so authoritative towards other.

But she was left with no choice. Her father had been rendered completely useless.

Héctor stared blankly at the ground with his elbows resting on his knees. His fingers twitched and rubbed at the dried, sticky blood that still coated them and he hummed in a vain attempt to calm himself. Coco made her way over to him, sat down and took his hand. "Julio is going to bring you some clean clothes so you'll be more comfortable Papá. But why don't you go to the bathroom and wash your hands?"

Héctor faintly shook his head. "No, I need to be here in case they come with news."

"I'll be here, Papá. I'll come get you if they have any word-"

"No! I need to be here! I wasn't there for them before, so I'll be here for them now!" Héctor ran his dirty hands through his hair and yanked hard. "I never should have left them alone! I knew Imelda was feeling poorly, I should have just cancelled the stupid performance and stayed with her and the baby."

Coco shook her head as her heart broke for her father. "You couldn't have known. None of us did. And the end result would have still been the same."

"But she wouldn't have been alone when it happened... She must have been so scared." He pressed the heels of his hands into his eyes and sniffled. "She was so terrified about this happening the night she told me. And I promised her I wouldn't let anything happen to her or the baby... And now-!" The rest of his words choked off into a sob and his shoulders shook as he tried to suppress them.

"Oh Papá..." Coco pulled Héctor in and let him lean on her shoulder as he cried out his fears.

Unbeknownst to Héctor his other daughter was hugging him as well, resting her cheekbone on his shoulder and sniffling herself. It took a while to make it on foot, but Leti and her grandparents had made it to the hospital and were now waiting for any news to come for the short time they were allowed. Time that was just about to run out.

"Leticia?" Leti looked up to see Mirasol's sad expression. "We have to go now mija. Sunrise is in an hour. We have to make it back to the cemetery to cross the bridge."

Leti sighed. "I know... I just wished we had more time! I wish the doctors weren't taking so long! What if Mamá and the baby die?"

"Then we will greet them in The Land of the Dead with open arms." Gaspar said, holding out his hand for Leti to take. "You did everything you possible could. Don't worry."

Leti nodded solemnly and kissed her father and sister on the cheeks. "Goodbye Papá. Goodbye Coco. See you next year..." Then she took her grandfather's hand and they left the hospital with heavy hearts.

It took a while to make their way back to the bridge, but any relief they might have felt at making it in time was lost to them. This was not the most joyous visit to the Land of the Living they had experienced. Far from it. All three walked hand in hand and in silence, physically and emotionally drained from the turbulent evening.

As they reached the gate Leti let out a gasp. "Oh no!"

Gaspar and Mirasol flinched violently in surprise. "What?! What?!"

"Tio Oscar and Tio Felipe!" Leti said with dismay. "I had completely forgotten about them! I didn't get their offerings for you from their ofrenda!" Given that there was only one surviving photograph of their parents, Oscar and Felipe didn't have one to put up on their own ofrenda. But they still left out offerings for them, and over the years Leti would visit them by herself and retrieve the offerings for her grandparents.

Gaspar clutched at his chest and sighed in relief as the rush of fear fled them. "Por Dios... It's okay mija. Honestly with all the excitement we forgot about them too."

Leti shook her head. "But you haven't seen them in three years! I was supposed to let you know how they were both doing. All I did was waste our time at the hospital. I'm sorry..."

Mirasol bent down to kiss her little forehead and smiled tenderly. "Leticia, you have such a big heart. If we had more time of course we would have stayed longer. Anything to give you some closure. And I promise you that you did not waste it. Don't ever think that."

Leti gave a watery smile before hugging her grandmother, and then her grandfather bent down to join them. They stayed like that for a while until Leti let out a giggle. "Besides Abuelita, even if I didn't get to go see them, I bet my left fibula that both of them are still not married."

Dr. Alviso held the tiny baby gingerly as it squirmed around and whined. "Being born premature he is underweight, Héctor. Only two and one quarter kilograms. He's also having trouble keeping a normal body temperature so we need to either keep him wrapped in warm blankets or, better yet, give him skin to skin contact."

"That's why you had me take off my shirt." Héctor said as he sat in the nursery on an old rocking chair. He had just changed out of his ruined charro suit and into clean clothes when Dr. Alviso called him in to discuss his son and then made him take it off again.

" Sí." Dr. Alviso handed Héctor the baby and smiled as he watched him place his son flush against his bare chest. The baby whined a little and curled in closer, savoring the heat. "I want to keep him here long enough for him to put on some weight and develop further. That being said his lungs are fully developed, his reflexes are good, and he was able to suckle some water so he should have no trouble eating. You and Imelda did well, Héctor."

At the mention of his wife's name Héctor tore his loving gaze away from the baby to Dr. Alviso. "Imelda… How is she? It's been so long Tomas and I haven't heard a word! What happened to her?"

"I'm not sure yet." Dr. Alviso sighed before pulling up a chair and sitting down next to Héctor. "They're working on her right now."

"Why aren't you?"

Dr. Alviso snorted and held up his knobby hands. "I haven't operated in two years. Damn arthritis. It won't be long before I retire completely. But don't worry, Imelda is in good hands. My grandson is a fine surgeon and will do everything he can to-"

"Wait wait wait wait… Your gr-grandson?! Some kid is operating on my wife?!"

Dr. Alviso held out a hand. "He's not a kid, Héctor. He's thirty three now, graduated top of his class in Mexico City and has performed hundreds of surgeries since then. He just recently transferred to Santa Cecilia to take over my practice."

"A doctor trained in Mexico City?" Héctor sneered. "Forgive me if that doesn't fill me with confidence."

"Just have faith, Héctor… I'll leave you alone with your son for a few moments. Just holler if you both need anything." And with that he left the despondent father with his new baby to bond.

Héctor looked over his son, grimacing a little at the waxy, almost yellowish skin the baby had instead of the healthy tan his other children did. Fine hair covered all over his face, but Dr. Alviso claimed that was normal with premature babies and that it would fade with time. The baby's chin started to wobble a little in a shiver and Héctor held him closer and wrapped both arms close around the little body. When the boy let out a small sigh Héctor finally smiled.

"You're alright…" Héctor cooed and snuggled against the soft dark hair, breathing in his scent. "You'll be just fine, don't you worry. I'll keep you nice and warm until your Mamá can hold you. Just you wait mijo, she's better than even a hot water bottle."

"Papá?"

Héctor looked up to see Matty poking his head through the open doorway. With a roll of his head he beckoned the teen to come in. Matty looked at the baby with wide eyes. "How is he?"

Héctor smiled down at the baby. "A little small. A little cold. But other than that he's a fighter, just like all of my children."

Matty nodded his head and with a hesitant hand he reached out to trace a finger over his brother's cheek. The little boy grunted at the touch and turned to try and suckle at the digit, making Matty smile. "What's his name? You name the boys, right?"

"I do. And I was going to name him Álvaro, but… Looking at him now I'm just not sure. It doesn't fit him, you know?" Héctor shrugged. "I'll figure out something…"

Matty nodded. "I got a telegram back from Tio Oscar and Tio Felipe. They're boarding the next train here. They should be here in a few hours, and they're going to stay for a while to help out with whatever happens." Then he sighed and stood up straight. "And I'm going to help too. With everything. I'll run the store while you are with Mamá and the baby. I'll also cook, clean and run errands so you don't have to worry about a thing. I will be here for my family!"

"Well that is very thoughtful, mijo." Héctor smiled with a quirked brow. "But what about Yale?"

"That doesn't matter, family is more importaaaaaa… What?" Matty stared at Héctor with a dumbstruck expression as his father beamed back. "What the- how did?- When?! Papá, how do you know I applied to Yale?!"

"I heard you talking to Barto about it from across the courtyard earlier. How many times do I have to tell you kids?" Héctor pointed at his ears. "These things aren't for show!"

"Ay, Dios mio…" Matty wiped a hand across his face. "Well, like I said it doesn't matter. I need to be here for my family, not in America."

"Mateo." At his father's stern voice Matty looked down at Héctor. "Your Mamá and I want you to be whatever you want to be. And if that's the head of Rivera Shoes in America then I am all for it. I would be more than happy to finally use my money and influence to give you a bright future, and I'm lucky to be able to do that! Yes we'll be far apart, but as long as you love and remember us I'll always hold you in… my… heart."

Matty smirked a little. "Was that Remember Me, Papá?"

"Mierda, it might have been. I never thought I would use that song again." Héctor looked down at his baby and smiled. "I guess Ernesto was right, after all…"

"Señor Rivera?"

Both Héctor and Matty looked up to see a doctor that neither of them recognized. He was very young and baby-faced, but his eyes held a sage wisdom that only years of surgical procedures could bring. He held out his hand and shook Héctor's. "I'm Dr. Morales. Tomas Alviso is my abuelo, and I have just finished the operation on your wife."

"Imelda!" Héctor stood up gingerly as to not wake the baby and tried to keep his voice low. "How is she? What happened to her? Will she be alright?"

Dr. Morales frowned deeply. "Señor Rivera, your wife suffered from a hemorrhage in her uterus. I can't say for sure what caused it, seeing that she was on bedrest, but I guess that this pregnancy just put too much strain on her body. Luckily she was still able to have strong enough contractions to birth the baby, but I'm afraid that the damage was too severe to repair. I was forced to perform an emergency hysterectomy on your wife."

Héctor turned when he heard Matty gasp behind him, but still shook his head in confusion. "Hysterectomy? What's that?"

"It's the removal of the female reproductive system, señor. The womb to be precise. I was able to leave her ovaries though, so she shouldn't go through premature menopause."

"You mean?-" Héctor's throat clenched tightly and he choked. "You cut out her… She can survive without that?!"

Dr. Morales nodded. "Si, señor. The womb is not necessary for living like the heart and lungs are. They can be removed."

Héctor shook his head and felt sick. This man had cut open and removed a part of his wife, never to be returned or healed. He fought down they desire to grab the man by the collar to shake him and asked in a choked voice. "Are you sure there was no other way? Why didn't you ask me if it was alright?"

"Señor, there was no time to consider any other course of action. And I am not legally allowed to ask you for your consent. It is the patient themselves who has to give it."

Héctor's face paled and his heart fluttered a little when he was able to register what the doctor was telling him. He looked at Dr. Morales with watery eyes and whispered, "She-… She said it was okay? She woke up?"

Dr. Morales nodded again. "We gave her an emergency blood transfusion to replace what she lost and we were able to rouse her enough to coherency. I needed her consent to do the procedure since it is a very personal operation. I explained to her what would happen and how it would affect her and she gave me her permission to do so." Then he smiled. "Actually she called me an idiota for needing permission to save her life."

Héctor barked out a short, manic laugh and grabbed the doctor by the shoulder. "She said that?! S-so she'll be okay right? She's going to live?! Both my wife and my baby are going to live?!"

The doctor smiled. "She went through the operation beautifully with no complications. She'll need to stay in the hospital for a few weeks to recover some and watch for any infection, but I think she'll pull through."

Héctor smothered the need to scream out to the heavens that his wife would live, his mouth painfully clenched into a gritting smile as he handed his baby over to Matty. Once the equally joyous teen had a good hold on him Héctor flung his arms around the surprised doctor and twirled him around in large circles. "GRACIAS! Ay, Gracias a Dios! Imelda, mi diosa! Ay, gracias gracias gracias! I can't believe it!" He set the doctor down and shook him firmly by the hand. "Oh, thank you! Thank you Dr. Whatever-Your-Name-Was! N-no, I need to remember your name. The man who saved my wife's life deserves to be remembered for all time! Chamaco, please tell me your name again!"

The doctor shook his head dizzily before smiling. "Morales. Dr. Miguel Morales."

Héctor's smiled faded and his eyes took on a strange, glazed look. He looked over at the baby in Matty's arms, then at the doctor whose hand he still held. He glanced back and forth between the two for a few more seconds before a twinkle shined in his eyes.

"Huh…"

A month had passed and it was time again for Los Posadas. The Riveras , the Magallanes family and Ernesto were all gathered under one roof, preparing the feast for the night as the first hosts for the holidays. Héctor held up a slab of cooked meat in front of the men and watched as they all drooled over it.

"Mira. Look at this beautiful bistec, mi familia. Perfectly marbled with enough fat to make it tender, flavorful and juicy. Slowly roasted for hours and seasoned with quality herbs and spices from our dear Rosita's garden. Nice and charred on the outside, pink and supple on the inside. Gentlemen, you will not find a finer cut of meat in this whole town." He placed the steaming chunk onto a plate. "And this delicious carne shall be bestowed upon… Dante!"

The men groaned out loud as Héctor placed the steak onto the floor in front of the ravenous dog. The pup happily started ripping into the meat as Héctor laughed and rubbed his back. "Dig in boy!"

"Cuñado, that's not fair!" Oscar pouted.

"You always give Dante the best cuts of meat!" Felipe whined.

"At least for the last month!"

"When are you going to stop?!"

"Stop?!" Héctor looked offended on Dante's behalf and hugged the dog closely as he continued to chow down on the meat. "This is a hero dog, hermanitos! I will give him nothing but the best for the rest of his doggy days! All of us should, as a matter of fact!"

Matty folded his arms across his chest. "I don't want you to fatten up my dog while I'm away at school, Papá."

"Oh?" Héctor stood up and ruffled his son's hair, grinning widely as the boy growled and swiped his hand away. "Think you can order me around just because you're going off to Yalé, college boy?"

Matty glared as he fixed his hair. "Yale, not Yalé! I hate when people call it that!" Then he sighed wearily as all the men started to chant out the mispronunciation. "Whatever…"

"What is going on out here?"

Héctor whipped around and smiled warmly as Imelda was wheeled out to the courtyard by Coco in her wheelchair, with her baby snuggled in a warm blanket and in her arms. Today was her first day out of the hospital and finally back home with her family, and everyone couldn't have been happier that she had made it in time for Los Posadas. She glared at all the men for their foolish behavior. "Are you all making fun of my son?"

"Sí, Mamá Imelda…" all the men said sheepishly.

"Well I won't have it! You should all be proud of Matty! He's smarter than all of you put together." Imelda's mouth twitched up into a smile. "Besides, it's not every day that you get to attend Yalé."

"Mamá!" Matty whined as everyone laughed, but even he couldn't help but smile at his mother's joke.

The baby in Imelda's arms whined and squirmed. "Here Héctor. He wants his Papá."

"Aww, come here Miguelito!" Héctor picked up the baby and held him close to his face. His eyes brightened when he saw his father and his lips curled into a little smile, accentuating the dimple in his left cheek. "You want your Papá, or do you want a song?" At Miguel's chirp Héctor grinned. "Do I know you or what? A song it is!"

"Better let me sing it, hermanito!" Ernesto grinned. "After all I had to cut my Navidad Spectacular for you and for little Miguel here. My vocal chords are screaming to be used!"

"No, we want to eat first!"

"No, the piñata!"

"The children aren't even here yet, payaso!"

"W-we could go back to the hospital?"

At Coco's quiet voice everyone turned towards her as she grinned nervously. Héctor scratched his goatee and frowned. "Why mija? Did we forget something?"

"N-no… It's just that, um…" She stepped to the side and gestured down. There everyone saw a patch of soiled dirt next to her feet. "My water just broke."

As the children of Santa Cecilia gathered around the green double doors of the Rivera complex with their parents nearby, they all trembled with excitement. The Riveras always threw the best parties, made the most delicious food, and were the kindest hosts in town. This was going to be the best night of Los Posadas this year, just like it had been every year when they hosted. It wasn't really fair to the other hosts during the holiday. With their candles held in their hands the children lined up and started to sing.

En el nombre del cielo

os pido posada

pues no puede andar

mi esposa amada-

The doors were suddenly kicked open and Héctor Rivera burst through them, scaring the children out of their wits and their parents as well. "OUT OF THE WAY, CHAMACOS!"

"Make space, amigos!" Oscar shouted.

"Pregnant lady, coming through!" Felipe cried.

"It's alright, mi amor!" Julio said as he hurried Coco towards the car. "Everything is going to be all right! There's no need to panic. Don't panic! Stop panicking!"

"I'm not panicking- wah!" Coco was none to gently shoved into the back of the BMW and the door slammed shut on her confused face.

"I'm fine Rosita! I can walk!" Imelda said as she held a crying Miguel close.

"No can do, Mamá Imelda! I will be your legs!" Rosita roared as she heaved Imelda into Facundo's truck. "Papá, let's follow them to the hospital!"

"Si, mija!"

"Héctor, what's going on?! Where are you all going?!" One of the neighbors asked as he pulled Héctor to the side.

Héctor stared at him with a wild expression and glanced back and forth between the house and the BMW. "Uh… Sorry amigos! Change of plans! We have important family affairs to deal with, so we need to get going now! Mary and Joseph, we have room! Come on in! Feel free to break open the food and eat the piñata, but we've gotta go! Bye!"

"But what about the performance from Ernesto de la Cruz?!"

Ernesto's eyes bugged and gave a short, nervous laugh. "Ah right! Of course! Remember me, though I have to say goodbye. Okay, goodbye!" Then he and Héctor hopped into the back of Oscar and Felipe's truck and slapped at the side. "Vámanos!"

And with that the two trucks and the BMW sped down the dusty roads towards the hospital, leaving the townspeople in the dirt and bewildered at what they just witnessed.