Ditto

Chapter 8: You Rat

Hector stared, anger bubbling up inside of him as he saw Ernesto walk into his apartment, wearing his usual sleazy smile and smart suit. Ernesto walked towards Imelda, arms open and smile widening.

"Ah, Imelda, you look wonderful!"

Imelda raised an eyebrow as Ernesto gave her the usual greeting peck.

"I'm only wearing a nightgown, Ernesto."

Ernesto merely shrugged and moved away, smiling at Coco, who just gave a small wave. Her eyes were trained on her father, who stood in the corner with his fists clenched.

Had Ernesto always hung on Imelda like that?

Imelda went and picked up Coco, kissing her on the cheek before setting her down again.

"Coco, amor, could you go get dressed and play in your room until Tio Ernesto and I are done talking?"

Coco nodded, knowing it was worthless to argue with her mother. She threw one last glance at her father-who offered the softest smile he could despite his anger-and turned and skipped back to her room, humming.

Imelda smiled after her and motioned Ernesto to follow her into the kitchen, where she began to make two cups of coffee. Placing Ernesto's cup in front of him, she leaned forward on the counter. Hector had followed them over, and he was now staring at Ernesto with a glare that surely would have killed him if Hector was not already dead.

And whose fault was that?

Ernesto raised his mug to Imelda and took a sip, wiping his moth with a napkin as Imelda fixed him with a inquisitive glance.

"So, why have you come here so early, Ernesto? Usually you would have at least given me the common courtesy of being fully dressed before stopping by."

Ernesto chuckled, a sound that sent chills and a fresh wave of fury over Hector. Dios, how dare he sit there and talk to her, laugh with her, speak with her?

Once again, the living were completely oblivious to his presence, and Ernesto leaned forward on his elbows and smiled at Imelda.

God, Hector hated that smile.

"I just wanted to check up on you, Imelda, my darling. Just wanted to see if you and Coco are still doing okay. You've both been through so much, and I worry about you."

Imelda raised an eyebrow, but Hector could still see the slight catch of her breath in her chest when Ernesto brought up the subject. Nevertheless, she answered, voice as calm and cool as ever.

"Well, that's sweet of you Ernesto, but we're doing just fine. I'm still working and Coco is happy and healthy, so we don't need anything else. We never did."

Hector had been about to take a step towards her, but her words had stopped him dead in his tracks and caused his non-existent breath to catch in his chest.

"We never did."

'You need ME' he thought. 'You need me. I need you. Dios, why can't you see that? Why can't you see me?'

Imelda remained oblivious, and Hector felt the memory of his heart clench.

Ernesto took another sip of coffee, and Imelda rolled her eyes.