Chapter 30: The Calm Before the Storm
Rosita squealed as the cork popped off the bottle of champagne and shot across the train compartment. “Ay, Dios mio! Whew… More champagne, Coco?”
Coco giggled, her face already red as she lounged against the bench. “Oh no, please. Anymore and I won’t be able to walk off the train!”
“This is your big moment, Coco.” Imelda smiled as she accepted a glass. “Mi hija pequeña, the next big movie star of Mexico! And your first premier! We are all so excited for you, mija.”
The cause for the celebration had happened almost five months ago, when Ernesto had come to Santa Cecilia with an idea for a new movie. While it would, or course, star him in the leading role, there was another role that Ernesto thought was perfect for his goddaughter. For the last two years Coco had been trying to pursue a career in dancing, her one true passion, and Ernesto was able to persuade her that the role of his dancing, violin-playing daughter in the movie would be perfect exposure for her. With her family’s encouragement Coco had signed a contract with Rivera de la Cruz productions then and there, and her path to stardom had begun.
“The first premier of many, I assure you.” A stern looking woman sitting next to Coco said. Theresa Delgado was Coco’s manager from the moment she had set foot on the soundstage and had overseen her every movement career-wise. She set up photo shoots, interviews, meetings, dinners and much more for the new star. Behind the scenes, unbeknownst to the family, she also staged spots for the paparazzi to follow Coco, told personal stories to publishers for the highest bid, and anything else to cash in on her. Theresa Delgado had found herself a prize, and she was not going to let it go any time soon.
“Still, it’ll be nice to rest after the premier and go home.” Coco sighed. “I’ve missed Julio and mi hija so much.”
Theresa scoffed. “Home? No no no, there will be no time for that. You have a publicity tour all across Mexico to promote the film with Ernesto. Then I’ll shop around for your next movie.”
Coco sat up, her brow creased with worry. “Another movie? So soon? But I’ve been away from my daughter for four months!”
“You are new to this, Coco.” Theresa said soothingly, as if talking to a child. “You’ve got to keep yourself fresh in the public’s mind. Fame is fleeting, and if you rest now then your career will fizzle out. Trust me on this, Chiquita.”
“Let’s not worry about this right now!” Rosita said, looking between a distraught Coco and an increasingly annoyed Imelda. “Let’s just enjoy the train ride, drink some more champagne and dine on this delectable fruit basket Ernesto got for us. Just us girls all chatting away… Oh, and Matty too.”
Matty snorted as he flipped through his newspaper. “Don’t mind me. I’ll just read my paper while you hens keep on clucking.” His brow creased and a dark shadow fell over his face at what he read. “Mierda. The Soviets lost to Germany again…”
“Mateo, stop reading that basura and talk with us.” Imelda said sternly. “Tell us about school! How are your studies going?”
Matty’s stiffened at his mother’s question and folded his paper up. He shrugged a little and averted his eyes. “Its fine, no complaints. I aced all my finals, said goodbye to mis amigos, and now I’m here to enjoy my summer vacation with mi familia. You know… Same as last year.”
Imelda squinted slightly at her son. “Are you sure? There’s nothing else you want to tell me?”
“Mamá, I swear it’s fine. I’m at the top of my class and beating all those preppy Americans at their own version of football,” he said with air quotes, “So you don’t need to worry.” Then he smirked. “What you do need to worry about is if Coco just starred in the biggest flop of the year.”
“Oh, thank you for the vote of confidence hermanito!” Coco laughed as she decided to help herself to another glass of champagne after all.
As the rest of the ladies started talking amongst themselves again Matty sighed in relief and opened his newspaper back up. Frowning at the news from across the world and relishing the company of his long missed family, Matty found himself wavering yet again on the decision he had made for himself before leaving school. One that could spell his life or death.
The train pulled into the station of Mexico City, and the ladies and Matty walked out to stretch after a long journey. “Ay, what a relaxing trip!” Rosita said. “Just us adults, no bebés running around. It was so nice of Papá Héctor and Julio to watch the niños for us! I hope they had a nice time as well.”
Everyone turned to see a very haggard looking Héctor and Julio trudge up next to them, each holding a kicking and screaming two year old child in one arm. Miguel was trying to swipe at a crying Victoria’s face, to which she blew spit filled raspberries at him. Oscar and Felipe soon walked up carrying the luggage, looking shell-shocked as well and their arms covered in suspicious looking bite marks.
As soon as Victoria set her eyes on Coco she reached for her desperately and wailed harder. “Mamá!”
“Oh, cielita!” Coco said as she scooped Victoria into her arms. She sighed as the little girl clung to her tightly and buried her face in her shoulder as she cried. “Estas bien, mija.” She gave her daughter a kiss and turned towards her husband. “They weren’t good?”
Julio smiled wearily. “Oh they were… For the first hour at least.”
“Then they got bored and started screaming and crying.” Héctor said.
“And they wouldn’t take a nap because the train was too loud and bumpy.”
“Victoria got motion sickness and threw up on the floor.”
“Then before we could clean it up Miguel jumped into it and then he threw up.”
“They wouldn’t eat any of their food and instead smeared it on all the windows.”
Felipe interjected. “But then I had the bright idea to give them paper to color on, and then all was peaceful… Until Miguel shoved Victoria’s crayons up his nose.”
“Then the fighting started and it hasn’t stopped since.” Héctor held up Miguel and pressed him towards Imelda. “Ayudeme…”
Imelda took her son and looked him in the eyes. “Miguelito, were you bad?”
Miguel smiled sweetly up at his mother. “No, Mamá. I’m a good boy.”
“Of course you are, mi angelito!” Imelda smothered her baby with kisses as Miguel giggled and gave a toothy grin towards Héctor.
Héctor smothered some curses and wiped a heavy hand across his face. “Ay, whatever! Let’s just get tonight over with. I want to put the most embarrassing event of my career far behind me and as soon as possible…”
“Señor Molina is the real culprit?! He’s is the one who murdered poor Eduardo?!”
“Arrest that scoundrel at once!”
“You’ll never take me, pendejos!” Señor Molina shouted as he fled the courtroom and past all the astonished onlookers, making his dastardly escape.
“Quickly! Get those handcuffs off of poor Cipriano!”
“No need!” With a mighty heave Ernesto’s character pulled his wrists apart and managed to snap the handcuffs off of himself like tissue paper. The courtroom gasped in astonishment and awe, but Ernesto payed them no heed. “I’ll stop that bastardo myself!” And with that he took off after the villain.
A dramatic chase scene ensued throughout the crowded streets of the town before the two made their way towards the derelict parts, covered in shadows and grime with the homeless watching the two men wrestle with each other. Suddenly Señor Molina pulled out a knife and with a quick swipe managed to cut Ernesto on the forearm. Ernesto pulled back with a cry while the evil man laughed maniacally.
“End of the line, cabrón!” Molina sneered.
“It may be for both of us, amigo.” Ernesto gasped while holding his bleeding arm. “But just tell me why! Why did you kill mi yerno and them frame me for it?”
“Lupita was mine, damnit! She should have never married that lowly baker when I could have provided her with everything she could ever want! And when I found out she was going to have his cursed child I couldn’t take it! With Eduardo gone Lupita and her bastard child would finally be mine. You were perfect to take the fall! You never cared for Eduardo either, at least not for your precious daughter!”
Ernesto growled out, “I preferred him over you even before then. Especially now. Now that I realize that their love was true. You could have never given her that!”
“Well now you won’t live to see her or her brat! Prepare to die, cabrón-”
From out of nowhere a scraggly, patched up guitar swung out from behind Molina and shattered over his head, knocking the man out cold onto the pavement. Ernesto gaped in shock as out of the shadows a homeless man stepped out and into the light. A tall, scrawny man with dark shades covering his blind eyes, a large nose and even larger ears.
“Montenegro!” Ernesto exclaimed. “How did you?-”
Montenegro cracked a smile and helped his friend to his feet. “It seems like justice really isn’t blind, eh amigo?”
Héctor hid his face in his hands and groaned in embarrassment as he watched his character on screen spout such hammy drivel. It was awkward to perform it time after time in front of the camera back then, but now it was painful to just watch it. He heard Ernesto laugh as he playfully shoved his shoulder and Imelda chuckle next to him, but he could find no humor in this. This was humiliating! Just go back to Coco already!
“I’ll watch over this pendejo until the police come. You just go home to your daughter, Cipriano.”
Ernesto clasped his hand into Héctor’s and shook it in gratitude. “You have my thanks, mi amigo! I promise you I’ll buy you a new guitar to replace that one. The finest in all of Mexico!”
“I’ll hold you to it. Now go my friend, go! Back home to your daughter where you belong!”
Ernesto raced down the street, running as fast as he could towards his modest home. As he broke through the door he sagged in relief to find Coco in bed with the midwife and nurses surrounding her, and a tiny baby in her arms.
“Ay, mi hija!” Ernesto collapsed next to the bed and hugged Coco tightly.
“Oh Papá! I heard what happened! That wicked devil killed my poor husband! I knew you could never do such a terrible thing, no matter how much you disliked him… Papá, you’re bleeding!”
“Never mind that, mija. Just knowing that you and the baby are alright makes me so happy.” Ernesto looked down at the baby and smiled. “It’s beautiful.”
“Here Papá.” Coco said as she handed him the baby. “I named him Eduardo, after his father.”
Ernesto stood and lifted the baby up towards his face as the orchestra swelled in joyous symphony. “My grandson!… I will show you everything the world has to offer. And even beyond that! Just you wait! Because…”
And I will be there by your side
Adventurers young and oooooold!…
“Ay, at last!” Héctor moaned to himself underneath the rapturous applause from the audience. Still he stood up and put on a cheesy, forced smile as he waved to the adoring crowd below him and let Ernesto hold his hand up in the air. Same as all the other movie premiers he had been too, except now he could officially add actor to his resume. It had been hard to be away from his wife and youngest son for so long during the shoot, but working alongside Coco had made it more bearable than when he had toured alone with Ernesto all those years ago.
He looked to his right and saw Imelda holding Miguel as the little boy cheered, his smile turning slightly sad as Imelda met his gaze and then averted hers. He waved more enthusiastically towards the crowd to hide his hurt. These last few years with Imelda had been… strained to say the least. Ever since Miguel had been born she had seemed distant and closed off towards him. At first he let her be as she slowly healed from her invasive surgery, but those long months turned into long years of closed mouth pecks on the cheeks and nothing else. They slept in the same bed still but she always had her back towards him, never letting him touch her.
How he had longed to hold her and kiss her like he used to when they were both so passionately in love. Dios, he was still passionately in love with Imelda! But it seemed her love for him had cooled with time. When he had signed on to take a role in this movie part of him wished that Imelda would be angry with him for it, pleading with him to stay home with her and Miguel like she had done when Coco was a baby. But no, she had agreed that now was a good time for him to go off and gain new exposure as an artist. She had given him her blessing to go, and a small part of his heart had broken.
After a long session of interviews and photographs the family made their way back to Ernesto’s mansion to rest, and Héctor finally found himself alone with his wife and son. He bent down to ruffle the little boy’s hair. “So Miguel, what did you think of Papá’s movie?” His smile faded when he saw Miguel glaring angrily up at him. “What’s wrong? You didn’t like it?”
Miguel crossed his arms in front of his chest and glowered. “You broke a guitar, Papá. I don’t like that! That was bad, Papá!”
Héctor sighed in relief and laughed. He wasn’t surprised that that part had irked Miguel. While all of his children had been musically talented, it was more like a fun hobby rather than a passion for them. Miguel, however, was the true embodiment of Héctor’s love for music. Even at a young age Miguel had a fascination with all things music, and every time his father would play for him it was like the notes and lyrics flowed through him and gave him life. Music was sacred to him, so of course the destruction of something so pure and magnificent to the little boy was inexcusable.
“Ay, no Miguel! Don’t worry, that wasn’t a real guitar. It was a fake one made out of cardboard, the same stuff that’s used to make Mamá’s shoe boxes. Trust me mijo, I would never destroy a real guitar.”
Miguel’s eyes widened at that. “Really?” At his father’s nod Miguel let out a big, one dimpled grin. “Good! I’m glad. I like the movie now. Make some more?”
Héctor chuckled and kissed his forehead. “Maybe some other time down the road, but if you want me to I will. Can’t disappoint my biggest fan now can I?”
“I’m Tio Nesto’s biggest fan!” Miguel happily said and made his way out of the bedroom, calling for Ernesto to come tuck him in and not noticing Héctor sag in disappointment.
“Of course you are…” Héctor straightened up and looked over to where Imelda was standing at her vanity table, taking off her pearls and earrings. Shyly he made his way over to her and cleared his throat to get her attention. “So… What did you think of the movie, mi amor?”
Imelda turned towards him and smiled. “It was very good. Coco was born to be a star. This is going to make her a bona fide celebrity of her own right, instead of being related to one.”
“Si, you’re right.” Héctor rubbed the back of his neck. “Um… What did you think of my performance?”
Imelda paused for a second and turned her back towards him, pulling off the remainder of her jewelry and her fur stole. “You were very good as well, Héctor. And you looked… muy guapo on screen.”
Héctor perked up and smiled at the praise. “Really? W-well if you want I can tell you all about the production while we go to bed-”
“It’s been a long night Héctor, and I’m really tired. We can talk about it with the whole family tomorrow at breakfast, alright?” She walked over and pecked him quickly on the cheek. “I’ve got to go put Miguel in his night clothes. But you can go ahead and go to bed. Buenos noches, Héctor.”
She left the room quickly, not noticing how desperately Héctor had leaned into the kiss and how his hand had reached out towards her as she left. He stood there for a few minutes before finally retracting his hand and placing it over his heart as he let out a sad sigh. A persistent ache settled behind his eyes and he rubbed his head tiredly. His hung head low he slowly made his way over to his suitcase to grab some pajamas, ready to spend another lonely night.
As everyone settled around the breakfast table, Ernesto was busy chatting away with Héctor. “I’m telling you people could not get enough of Coco last night! She is going to go to big places, I’m telling you. Theresa has already booked her for another movie! It’s going to start shooting at the beginning of June. Ay, I’d be jealous if I wasn’t getting a cut of her profits for having discovered her. Heh, getting paid for discovering my own goddaughter!”
“June?” Julio asked with some exasperation. “That’s less than two weeks away! She’s been gone for so long already. Victoria misses her Mamá so much!”
“Well then she can see her on the big screen.” Theresa said flippantly, not looking up from her ever present clipboard as she jotted down notes. “She is providing for her family, Señor Magallanes. Providing much more than a carpenter’s salary can provide.”
“Theresa!” Coco said as she looked apologetically at her husband. “There’s no call for-”
“Matty?” At Imelda’s question everyone looked to see Matty enter the dining room, a newspaper held limply in his hands as he stared off into space. He leaned against a marble pillar and let the paper drop, his face pale and his eyes filled with unshed tears. “Matty, what’s the matter- MATEO!”
Everyone sans Theresa leapt from the table when Matty collapsed to his knees with a broken cry. They crowded around him as he began to sob in grief, with Héctor holding his son in support. “Mijo! What is it, what’s wrong?!”
With a shuddering whimper Matty picked up the paper and held it towards his father. “La Doncella Feliz! Barto’s ship! Sunk by the Germans! There were… There were no survivors! Barto’s gone, Papá! He’s dead!” He again collapsed into Héctor’s arms, sobbing hysterically. “There’s not even a body! His parents won’t get to bury him! Aaah!” He curled onto the floor and repeatedly pounded the tiles as he screamed in extreme grief and rage. “BARTO!”
As the family circled over and tried to comfort their hysterical son, Héctor looked down at the headline of the page:
MEXICO DECLARES WAR ON NAZI GERMANY
