Two weeks after all of this...discussion on the set up of the Rivera household and Business, and words that had not needed repeating for their being way over stated before, things seemed to be returning to their usual normal. Coco had, of course, told her husband she had not donated the shoes, and would have told him where she put them, except he said that alone was enough, and silently and supportively kept the secret.

Imelda, thankfully, didn't check up; having far too many shoe orders to oversee and do.

The Flores' still kept up their patronage, until the crossroads Coco had expected, and Imelda ultimately declined an order of shoes for Ricardo. It was too soon to know, but Coco felt they wouldn't see the family at their door again, as customers anyway.

That was why Coco was surprised when she passed through the market, getting things for the household and Mama specifically as she was not feeling up to it (because the local talent show was setting up in the plaza again), to see Young Ricardo Flores seated on a bench, either recently un-shoed foot in her Tío Oscar and Felipe's hands, and her two uncles measuring. Victoria, currently under their care, stood nearby, watching, with a Helado.

Coco smiled and walked closer, "Is this...business or...shaking down?", she asked lightly.

The two's swap off she had long ago become fluent in (mostly fluent) started up, started by Oscar.

"The muchaco bought Victoria another Helado"

"Before we knew what was what", Felipe added.

"Or could stop him"

"So we are paying back"

"Unofficially"

"With a shoe repair"

"Imelda doesn't have to bother with"

"And which is not selling"

"Exactly"

"But more".

Coco held up a hand, laughing, "Alright, I get it, and won't tell", her eyes sparkled. Her family had more than one secret, and that seemed to be something that would never truly let up she was realizing. "But why the measuring if...it's a repair?", she gave Ricardo her most sorry look for what he had to endure first from her mother and now uncles. The boy, still in his teens, just grinned back.

He kind of resembled how Papa might have looked when younger, in certain ways that had more to do with essence than relation.

Maybe a double reason for her mother's refusal.

"He ruined both the heel and front"

"and we're pretty much starting from scratch"

Came the answer. Coco nodded, only they could defend how that still made it a repair. She then glanced to Victoria still just quietly eating her ice cream and doing the smartest thing, not commenting. She put an arm around her daughter's shoulder to lead her back towards the house, "Well gracias, Ricardo" she nodded to the teen to still help her daughter after being pursued with a shoe, if not hit, and now having to deal with her twin tíos for his good deed.

The boy just nodded, "De nada, and it was my fault, I...should have known...your mother's...rule...and arm is...a legend in the neighborhood" he answered carefully. Coco just smiled again and lead Victoria on, effectively relieving her uncles of duty, and letting them focus on Ricardo and his shoes. Victoria actually taking the helado from the musician to have bought it for her was such a small thing, but she was proud of her girl in a way. Of course she'd never tell her Abeulita, and Coco wouldn't spill the secret either.

All families were meant to have small, little secrets anyway, weren't they? Like dance shoes, and helado, probably never actual music. Coco didn't know how anyone would get away with that, dancing had been hard enough.