Efrén makes two mistakes after he leaves the McDonald’s: He gives two young children money from his hidden stash of cash, unfortunately revealing to several people nearby that he has a large amount of bills. When he sees not one but two arches outside the shops, one of which is supposed to lead him from the marketplace, he chooses the wrong direction to look for the Taco Loco. Men follow him down the street. He begins to run, but there is no sign of the restaurant he is supposed to find. He stops, coughs, and looks behind him; the men are still there, smiling in a “menacing” way (184).

Suddenly, Lalo pulls up in his taxi and calls Efrén to get in. Lalo tells him he went the wrong direction and that both of them now needed to “hang low for a bit” (185). Lalo brings Efrén to his home, a tiny one-room shack with a shared outhouse in the back. Lalo makes Efrén some ramen noodles. He takes him to the Muro—the place where the US-Mexico border meets the ocean. Lalo reveals that his daughter is actually a teen now, and that her memories of him are through the fence at the Muro. When they arrive, Efrén sees people clasping hands and talking through the fence. Lalo tells Efrén, “It’s how I got to see my daughter grow up” (191). Efrén sees a mother and daughter touching through the fence and crying. He thinks again how lucky he is to be able to cross that border, and how luck (not any skill or trait of his own) is the only factor that makes it possible.

Efrén tells Lalo how Amá will come across the border with a coyote she found, but Lalo does not trust this plan. He offers to try to find a more trustworthy person to help Amá. Efrén asks why Lalo will not cross too to see his daughter. Lalo explains he will go to prison if caught again because he has a criminal record. He counsels Efrén to always “surround yourself with good people. People who will bring out the good in you. Not the bad” (195). He says his daughter Abby has a better life in the US and that to him, that is all that matters. 

Lalo drops Efrén at the Arco. At first Efrén cannot find Amá at the Taco Loco; the lady at the counter identifies him as Efrén and tells him his mother went to the Arco to find him. He takes off in that direction, but within moments, Amá spots him, and they reunite. Lalo joins them and they sit to eat. Lalo tells Amá he “got ditched twice” (200) by coyotes in his own attempts at crossing the border, and he offers to find her a safer connection for the money they have, about $1,300. Lalo says help through “the customs line” would be 10 to 15 thousand. Amá gratefully agrees to accept whatever arrangement Lalo can set up. Amá thanks Efrén for taking care of the twins and for coming across the border with the money. They talk about the twins and Apá. Lalo makes calls while they talk, and when he returns, he tells Amá a plan is in place; Amá and Efrén are excited. Amá tells Efrén that she made the first trip into California on the back of a motorcycle—while pregnant with him. She toasts with her glass to “a safe return to America […] and to Lalo […] our guardian angel” (205).

Amá is tearful but hopeful as she kisses Efrén repeatedly in saying goodbye. Efrén thanks Lalo, and Lalo hugs him. Efrén is eager to see Apá and tell him all the news. He thinks about how he will see Amá the next day at home. As Efrén goes into the border crossing station, he reflects on how he feels a deeper connection with “his Mexican side” (208). Efrén must show his forms as he crosses into the US. The agent reminds him the forms “represent a giant sacrifice from your parents. A true gift” (209). Efrén tells the man he understands.

Apá is relieved to see Efrén. Efrén tells Apá all went smoothly and the next day’s plan for Amá to come home. Efrén asks Apá why they left Mexico in the first place, and Apá tells him about the drug cartels and corrupt government that made life unsafe. They have a brief scare when they think that the checkpoint is open, but it turns out to be slow traffic. Efrén thanks God for all his blessings: Amá, Apá, his siblings, his life in the US.

Apá and Efrén pick up the twins and go home. Efrén, exhausted, is ready for sleep, but he asks Apá if they can attend Mass in the morning. Apá agrees. In the morning, Efrén helps Apá clean the apartment. Apá gets a call and joyously tells Efrén that Amá crossed the border and is on her way home. Apá and Efrén tell the twins, and they all jump excitedly on the mattresses.

Apá tries to iron the twins’ clothes like Amá does. He seems pensive and tells Efrén he wishes he could provide more for the family. After Mass, they eat at the church’s pancake fundraiser. They pick flowers for Amá on the way home, and Efrén uses laundry change to buy two “Welcome Home” balloons. When families in the neighborhood see the balloons, many of them make a dish to share and come to the apartment to welcome Amá. Hours go by, however, and Amá does not arrive. Efrén begins to worry. Eventually, the neighbors leave. Sometime after four in the afternoon, the phone rings, and Efrén sees the bad news on Apá’s face.