Choice
Coco took that moment, took two moments, to try to decide what to do. The box, thankfully closed, was clutched to her, but she struggled to not act too suspicious. Elena would notice that and it would just make everything worse. "M-Mija...", she still hadn't found her response, but was trying to.
Julio glanced between his two girls, and then took up the challenge. "Why, tell her how big you're getting", he scooped her up, or went to, she was getting big. Coco smiled, it wasn't going to work, but it was a valiant try and she was glad of her husband thinking so quickly.
For a moment Julio, and both of them, were given a real distraction from distracting the girl when Elena, for the first time since her father had gone for such, didn't shove him off, but wiggled aside, "Papa stop it! I'm too big". She didn't mean insult by it, just, again, was a very mature child for her age and still gave a smile after fixing at her skirts. It only did so much, though.
With all of her previous thoughts, Coco was hit with the double regret of Elena possibly putting the same to her and her own small affectionate things, and...how she'd never been given the chance to get too big to shrug off her own papa. She glanced to Julio, he was affected, of course he was, it was in the small gestures as he recollected himself, clearing his throat, "Of course, sorry Mija".
Painful as this was, the moment could have moved them all along, except Coco didn't have the presence of mind to put the box back in the gap of time she had, and Elena next noticed it still in her hand. "What's that?", she walked over.
"Just old shoes", Coco told the truth, and turned to put them away, but Elena's intrigue was only heightened. Maybe she could see how they were made and learn further skills!
"Ooh, may I see Mama!".
"No!", Coco hated how rushed her words sounded, and she would never for the world return snap for snap for her daughter's true but hurtful statement of growing big. She winced, "They...are too old". That could pass for truth. Wasn't the reasons she was so nervous, but...
"I could probably still see some of the stitches, please Mama!", Elena's small hands reached. Coco moved the box up more, looking for more reasoning. "Elena...".
"'Lena, your mother said no", Julio tried. She was such an obedient little girl this excitement of her own was unusual. Like when Coco stepped aside her own obedience to dance those few times. She had promised herself never again, but...she could keep the shoes; and above all Elena must not see them. She was too dutiful to not tell her Abuela.
"Please!"
"'Lena!"
The tip of the box-lid was gripped and the whole thing tumbled from Coco's hands, spilling open and the shoes even giving a merry tap as they fumbled free to the floor. All three paused once more. Elena bent down and picked one up. "These are dance shoes...", she glanced to her mother confused, "Abuela said we don't make dance shoes".
"No, but I kept one pair...", Coco began, "'Lena listen to me...", her pet name might help in this situation, "...I know how what I'm about to say sounds, but...you can't tell your Abuela...".
Deception? Elena looked stunned and confused. "But...".
"Your Great-Tios made some extra dance shoes, when we still made dances shoes, and I kept them, only because...because...". She couldn't tell her daughter why.
Coco let out a breath, "Remember when I fell in my slippers that time, dancing in the courtyard...?". The oddest memory to help with all this. "I promised, and I've kept, that I would never dance again, since it does bring trouble, but...I'm only keeping mementos Mija, so please, one secret from Abuela...".
She wasn't sure how much of this was fair to ask of the little girl, or if she could fully understand. She and Julio just paused, awaiting reaction as it were. Elena glanced from the box to her mother, confusion still on her face, then...she was no doubt horribly confused, Coco didn't blame her, but her heart did skip as her daughter turned and rushed from the store room, still holding the dance shoe, past her stunned father and...Coco knew where to.
"Mija!", she hurriedly set the box down and gave slight chase. Hearing Julio apologize for his lack of focus as he turned and followed also.
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