Move On Chapter 5

The next week went by in a flash with no major incidents. The orchestra had sent out an apology letter to both Imelda and Héctor, but everyone knew that Imelda's energy was focused on the future, not the past. Normally, Imelda would have dealt with something like this herself, but all of her attention on Héctor. Dealing with a bunch of rude jokes about Héctor's death would have to wait.

Word of the impromptu press conference had spread quickly since Imelda released a notice in the local newspaper the day after Victoria had confronted the orchestra. But what no one had predicted was just how many skeletons and reporters would show up at this conference. "Just a few," Rosita had predicted. But she had been wrong. Very wrong.

After going out on a supply run on the day of the press conference, Victoria and Julio made their way back home, astounded to find the house surrounded. Skeletons holding flashing cameras and notepads were everywhere. The twins were out on the front porch, speaking into a microphone. With help from Julio, they shakily answered the questions put to them.

"Is Imelda Rivera La Llorona from the Sunset Spectuclar?" Someone asked.

"Why did she sing onstage in the first place?" Asked another.

"Our sister is—." Oscar said.

"La Llorona from the Sunset Spectacular." Felipe said.

"She sang that song to prevent my abuelo's photo from getting into the wrong hands." Victoria answered from the sidelines with Rosita at her side, acting as a barrier to prevent any reporters from making their way into the house. Not that the two women needed any help—Pepita was doing a good job guarding the house and growling menacingly at anyone who dared attempt to enter.

"Mamá Imelda is with Héctor," Rosita whispered to her niece as she looked around for her grandmother. "He woke up again briefly, but he went back to sleep right after. She didn't want to miss it if he woke up again, but she fell asleep in the chair. Best not to disturb her."

The rest of the press conference droned on smoothly, Rosita bowing out after a few questions to go clean up the workshop and make lunch. In her own view, she believed that Héctor would wake up soon and she didn't want him to be hungry. The others stayed behind, hoping to draw the press conference to a close so they could go back to their normal lives.

"Will music be allowed back in the Silent District?" One of the reporters asked.

Nodding, Julio answered. "Sí, señora. Music has been allowed back in the house. But we're waiting for Papá Héctor to wake up before we start playing music again."

As the conference wound down, the reporters began to ask a few more questions until finally, Victoria spoke up.

"Family always comes first for us," she spoke loudly and clearly. "We will do everything we can to make it up to him. Nothing is more important than family after all."

Satisfied with that answer, the press began to slowly leave the lawn, leaving behind the Riveras and Pepita, who was making sure that no one stayed behind. After all, who would be crazy enough to argue with an alebreje the size of a house?

When everyone had left, Victoria, Julio and the twins were left standing outside, recovering from what had just happened.

"We should go—." Felipe said.

"Inside" Oscar continued.

"And prepare something for everyone." They finished together.

"After all, Imelda…." Felipe said.

"Must be starving." Oscar finished.

Nodding, Victoria headed back inside, feeling a huge weight lifted off her shoulders as they walked through the door.

It was quiet inside as the twins went about preparing lunch for themselves. Before arriving home, Victoria and Julio had also grabbed some food from a local restaurant for the rest of the family. No one trusted the twins to cook anything that wouldn't make them sick and Imelda wouldn't have allowed them to cook for the family anyway, especially given the fact that their version of "well done" translated to "burnt to a crisp so no one could eat it because it tasted like charcoal".

"How are they?" Julio asked his sister as she came in. "Is he still—?"

"Still asleep, hermano," Rosita said quietly. "But I think he'll be waking up soon. I heard him muttering in his sleep about Miguel and staying safe."

Sighing in relief, Victoria went back to the workshop, more determined than ever before.

"Victoria," Rosita called. "Where are you going?"

"He needs Rivera shoes, Tía," Victoria said, calling over her shoulder. Not wanting to be left out of the project, both twins started to follow their grand-niece but Julio stopped them. This was a special project that both Victoria and Imelda had been working on together for the past week.

"It's Victoria's way of making up for how she had treated Papá Héctor," Julio said. "Mamá Imelda picked out the design and the fabric and Vicita is putting it all together. I offered to get a new hat for him, but Mamá Imelda told me no. I think that it was a hat she had given him before he left."

A few hours later, Victoria emerged from the workshop, carrying a Rivera Shoes shoebox in her arms and a satisfied smile on her face.

"Todo listo!" Victoria said with a triumphant look in her eyes.

"He'll be a true Rivera now," Julio said as he took in the shoes. Designed with little spires and guitars, it was very Héctor and had bits of Imelda added in as well.

"When do you think he'll wake up, Papá?" Victoria asked. "It's been two weeks since Dia de los Muertos."

Shrugging his shoulders, Julio said, "It's hard to say, mija. A lot of things have happened over the past week. Besides it might be best if we—."

Just as Julio was about to finish his sentence, Rosita rushed past him carrying a tray and looking more animated than anyone had ever seen her.

"Hermana?" Julio asked. "Qué pasó?"

Turning around briefly, Rosita simply said, "It's Papá Héctor! He's awake!"

And on that note, this story ends right where Chapter 12 of "Turning Tables" picks up! Stay tuned for the sequel to Turning Tables, coming out soon!