Turning Tables Epilogue

Date: November 6, 2018. A few days after Dia de los Muertos.

Dia de los Muertos had come and gone, the celebration lasting into the night. Héctor had finally gotten a glimpse of his hometown and much to his shock, Miguel was able to see and communicate with the ancestors, who cheered him and his cousins on in the music competition. It had been the first time that Héctor was able to see his hometown since he left, and Imelda practically had to drag him away so they wouldn't be there once sunrise hit. After dancing for nearly 5 hours, the dead Riveras had to head back to the other side, but not after wishing Miguel good luck and love.

And now, several days after Dia de los Muertos, it was time for another celebration: Héctor and Imelda's vow renewals.

Imelda Rivera stood patiently inside her house as Ceci made the final touches to her beautiful wedding dress. Today was the day of her vow renewals and she couldn't be more excited, albeit a bit reserved. A year ago, the very idea of renewing her vows with Héctor seemed foolish and out of the question. But that all changed because of one very special 12-year old boy.

"All done Imelda!" Ceci said, clapping her hands. "Ay, you look so pretty!"

"Héctor is going to have a second death from looking at you!" said Frida as she walked in, carrying the bouquet that Imelda would hold. Victoria smiled softly, smoothing out her bridesmaid dress as best as she could as her tía weaved flowers into her hair.

The wedding was not the most traditional in terms of Mexican weddings. Since both Héctor and Imelda's parents were not around, Victoria, Rosita, Ceci and Frida would be part of the bridal party as well as the wedding planning committee. There would also be no wedding sponsors, since many of the people from Héctor and Imelda's lifetime were Forgotten decades ago or just didn't want anything to do with the press attention.

Coco had a special job too: walking her mamá down the aisle. The twins had backed out of the tradition, not wanting to upstage Imelda accidentally or make her look silly. And Imelda, ever the non-traditionalist, agreed. Coco had technically been at her parents' wedding decades ago, but this would be the first time that she would get an active job participating.

But back in the male section of the wedding party, things weren't going so smoothly. Héctor was, in the plainest terms, freaking out.

"It's almost time, Héctor." Gustave said as he closed the door behind him. "Are you ready?"

Nodding slightly, Héctor stood up shakily. "Díos, I hope I don't screw this up. I already did un trabajo fantástico screwing up the first time around!"

At that Gustave said, "Well chor-Héctor, would she have agreed to a vow renewal if she hadn't forgiven you?"

Shrugging non-conclusively, Héctor prepared himself to go out to the main front that had been beautifully decorated by Rosita and Frida.

Miguel had managed to get a message to the dead Riveras, letting them know that Héctor had been found and buried next to Coco and Imelda in the Rivera family plot. It had been a small funeral, Miguel said, with many of the townspeople had showed up to pay their respects once the truth had been revealed.

Marco Escobar and Ernesto de la Cruz had been sentenced to eternity in jail, with Marco spending extra time due to hiding de la Cruz and threatening to go after his daughter's husband at sentencing. As for Josefina, she hadn't been seen since that day except to reach out to Imelda, asking for forgiveness. Imelda was too upset to reply, not feeling ready to forgive her mamá for her actions towards her. As a result, Josefina had not been invited to the renewals and there was an armed bodyguard (courtesy of Frida) waiting outside to keep angry de la Cruz supporters at bay.

Putting those thoughts aside, Héctor walked up to the main aisle, positioning himself next to Julio as they prepared to wait for Imelda.

"Do you have the coins, Julio?" Héctor asked nervously as he fidgeted slightly in his Rivera shoes (made for him during the first week of his stay the year before). Héctor and his son-in-law had developed a very close bond, much to Coco's delight.

"Sí, Papá Héctor," Julio answered as he reached out to reassure the nervous skeleton as he handed him the coins. "I do. I was actually just as nervous as you were before I married Coco."

"Really?"

"I almost fainted from being so nervous," Julio replied as he looked back on it. "Díos, I thought I wouldn't make it through the reception, much less the ceremony."

Héctor laughed and then became solemn. Coco had missed out on so many important father-daughter moments in her life thanks to de la Cruz and that poisoned drink. Héctor sighed sadly, but then straightened up as Julio touched his shoulder.

"Coco and I were talking," Julio murmured. "We know that you missed out on seeing us getting married and we want you to be a part of that. We were thinking of renewing our vows as well, maybe sometime next month, after everything settles down a bit."

Héctor smiled, his nerves becoming non-existent for the moment as he hugged Julio tight. He only let go when Julio said he couldn't breathe.

"Lo siento, Julio," Héctor said. "But that's a fantastico idea!"

Smiling softly, Julio directed Héctor's attention to the back of the room. It was time.

Meanwhile in the back of the room, Coco and Imelda were preparing to walk forward. Imelda looked very happy and breathtakingly beautiful; Rosita and Ceci had done wonders. Shakily, she latched onto Coco's arm as she walked up the aisle.

Héctor's eyes almost fell out in shock as he turned around to see both of his girls. Coco beamed happily, knowing that her parents had definitely moved on from the past. As Imelda said her vows, Héctor zoned out, too enraptured with his wife to pay attention.

The twins and Rosita wept happy tears, loving every minute of it and soaking it all in. Even Victoria and Ceci looked a bit misty eyed. The two women had grown closer that year and Coco was beginning to suspect that there may be something more than friendship going on.

When it came time for Héctor's vows, he quickly handed Imelda the coins and reached over to the side, grabbing his guitar in the process. Imelda lovingly rolled her eyes as Héctor began playing her song, encouraging everyone else to join in, some even getting up to dance.

Que el cielo no es azul

Ay, mi amor; ay, mi amor

Que es rojo dices tú

Ay, mi amor; ay, mi amor

Ves todo al revés

Ay, mi amor; ay, mi amor

Creo que piensas con los pies

Ay, mi amor; ay, mi amor

Tú me traes un poco loco, un poquititito loco

Estoy adivinando qué quieres y pa' cuándo

Y así estoy celebrando

Que me he vuelto un poco loco

Chiflado tú me vuelves, eso está un poco loco

Tu mente que despega, tú siempre con ideas

Con mi cabeza juegas, todo es un poco loco

Todo es un poco loco, con mi cabeza juegas

Todo es un poco loco, con mi cabeza juegas

Todo es un poco loco, con mi cabeza juegas

Todo es un poco loco, con mi cabeza juegas

¡Un poquititititititititi-titititito loco!

¡Ay, ay, ah!

When the song ended, Imelda's eyes lit up as she gently kissed Héctor. Frida laughed softly and as quickly as she could, finished the ceremony and announcing for everyone to get ready for the real dancing.

Contrary to traditional Mexican weddings, Héctor and Imelda decided not to have a first dance, much to the astonishment of everyone. In their words, they believed that everyone deserved to join in the dancing as a way of a thank you for their efforts in bringing Ernesto to justice.

As the party went on into the night, Imelda wandered outside, looking up at the moon. So much had happened that year and never in a million years did she think that she would be given back everything that had been taken from her in life.

Jumping slightly as a pair of arms encircled her waist, Imelda turned around to meet her husband who laughed sheepishly as she pretended to be stern.

"What are you doing, Héctor? I thought you were supposed to be entertaining our guests!"

Héctor shrugged and as he pulled Imelda back into the party, one thing settled in her mind: family. This was where Héctor truly belonged—with all his family, whether they be Forgotten or Remembered.

And tonight, once again, the family was complete at last.

El fin