Turning Tables Chapter 1

After Mama Coco had finished telling her papá's story, no one in the family spoke a word as they took in everything that Coco had said. With a soft smile on her wrinkled cheeks, Coco kissed her bisnieto's forehead as he gave her a hug.

"Gracias, mijo. Thank you for helping me remember."

"No problema, Mama Coco." Came Miguel's muffled reply as Coco secured him tightly in a cocoon-like embrace, something that she hadn't been able to do for years, decades even. No one had expected her to be lucid again, least of all Miguel. Not even Elena, who was currently standing shell-shocked by the door, tears glistening in her eyes, unable to move or speak as Franco held her.

"Miguel why don't you get some sleep?" Luisa said softly as she laid one hand on her pregnant stomach and another on her son's shoulder as his eyelids drooped. "We can talk later, sí?"

"Mamá, I'm fine, honestly. Estoy bien" Miguel lied, just as he yawned with exhaustion. But one look from Luisa and the boy quietly nodded, defeat and fatigue in his normally bright brown eyes. Something that everyone hated seeing. Especially from a bright, active boy like Miguel who loved to run and play. Elena made her way over to ask her grandson what happened, but she was stopped by her husband.

"Elena, let him rest." Franco spoke. "Our nieto is absolutely exhausted and needs to recover from what happened. You can talk to him later."

"I think we all need to have a family meeting." Elena murmured in an uncharacteristically low voice as she took in her grandson's appearance. "But not here and not now. Berto, Quique, close the shop today. Gloria, make sure that the closed sign is up and visible."

With a "Sí, Mama", Berto, Enrique and Gloria left Mama Coco's room, stopping only briefly to look at the family assembled.

"Abel can you go and clean up the courtyard and Miguel's––"

At those words, Elena stopped speaking suddenly looking at her grandson, who looked close to falling asleep with his head in Coco's lap. Abel silently nodded, catching onto the double meaning of her instructions. Now was not the time to bring up the reason why Miguel had run off last night.

"I'll do my best, Abuelita, but I've never fixed one before." Abel replied as he left the room with an uneasy look at his drowsy cousin.

Sighing softly, Elena kissed her mother's wrinkly cheek as she tried to disentangle her grandson from her mother's arms.

"Luisa, can you make sure he gets to bed? And then meet us in the living room."

Quietly, Luisa gently unwrapped her son from Elena's embrace as she helped him up, half carrying, half walking him towards the door, the fatigue from last night's events beginning to wear him down.

At one point, it looked like Miguel was about to nosedive into the floor but Carmen quickly caught him and helped him up, directing him into Luisa's arms again. When both Luisa and Miguel left the room, Elena turned to the remaining members of the family who were standing assembled near the door. Rosa had remained near her mama, silent and observant.

"Rosa, can you take Manny and Benny to the playroom for a bit?" Carmen asked her daughter. Nodding affirmatively, Rosa stood up and took her brothers' hands, heading for the small playroom in the back of the complex, just as Berto, Enrique and Gloria returned. No one moved or spoke a word.

Finally, after a few minutes, Enrique broke the silence with a "Let's give Mama Coco some space" as he quietly lead everyone out of the room, leaving Elena and Coco behind.

"Volveré pronto, mamá." Elena murmured as she squeezed her mamá's hand.

"Te quiero." Coco responded softly as her daughter left the room.

Shutting the door quietly, Elena made her way up the stairs to Miguel's bedroom stopping at the door. Hearing Luisa's voice, Elena listened intently as Luisa asked Miguel where he had gone yesterday and how he had learned that song.

From a muffled reply, Elena managed to pick up the phrase You won't believe me.

"Por favor, Miguel. Please tell me. I'll believe you no matter what. And so will Papá."

Judging by the silence, it was obvious that Miguel had fallen asleep. Sighing softly, Elena walked into her grandson's bedroom. Miguel was fast asleep, wearing his pajamas, his head laying on Luisa's lap. Luisa quietly lowered his head onto the pillow and covered him with a blanket as Elena gingerly ran her fingers through his hair.

"Oh mijo. I'm so, so sorry." Elena murmured. "I hope you can forgive me."

Deciding that now was not the time to wake her grandson to ask where he went, Elena went back downstairs with her husband, her mind filled with questions. What happened to Miguel last night? What is he not telling us?