Chapter 2

The Ring

James parked their small hatchback on the street near Grandma Vicki's house. The old lady was out on the porch, waiting on the swing, watching her great grandson and his new bride. What was her name again? Debbie? Cute name, she supposed.

"Hey Grandma Vicki, how are you?"

"All the better for a visit, not long now and I'll be in a nasty home for the elderly." James grinned and gave her a gentle hug. Debbie self-consciously followed her husband's example.

"You have been saying that since I was 16. Twenty years later, you are still going strong," he said with a smile. "This is my wife, Debbie. I rang you the other day because we found something unusual in the old house."

"Come in out of the heat," she responded. She was going to add 'children' but stopped herself. James was now 36 and a strong and mature man. Just because she was 89, didn't mean he was still a baby in a cradle.

The air conditioner hummed quietly. Her grandson made sure she was comfortable, but one day the home will be compulsory. Richard Vega was not a man who liked dependence of any sort. It had been a good move for his wife to leave when she had done, taking her young children with her. It had been a hard life for all of them when Richard had refused to support them, and hired lawyers to make sure that any obligations were null and void.

Vicki glanced at the young man. He was definitely his father's son, the de la Vega likeness even shone from his face. He even reminded her of her own father-in-law, all those years ago. The genes must be so dominant, she thought to herself.

"How is Bob's old place?" Her other grandson, defying his older brother, had stood by the nephew and niece, and James had inherited it just recently in his will. She missed Robert. He had been a favourite, she couldn't deny it. He had been steadfast and strong minded, as well as compassionate to people in need.

They all sat, and she poured tea from a beautiful old teapot into plain white tea cups that rested on their saucers.

"We found such a wonderful thing in the old house," Debbie said with excitement. Her voice was soft and serious, and her eyes were pretty, Vicki decided.

Vicki watched the couple closely for a few seconds. "Yes, my dear?"

"It's a hidden passageway. A secret passage," James explained.

Vicki stilled, and remembered. She remembered all the wonderful times in that house. She remembered her father in law talking about all the old stories. A passage way factored in something, some fairy-tale passed down through the generations. She had forgotten up until that moment.

"So there may be fact in the old stories after all," Vicki said, half to herself. Debbie was quiet and watched the old lady's face.

"I thought it might have had something to do with the early Spanish settlers. There were frequent Indian attacks in the very early days," Debbie said seriously. Vicki raised her eyebrows.

"You're interested in Alta California?"

"I'm a history professor in my spare time," Debbie admitted with a laugh. "I'm on extended leave."

"Well, that's different. No one really wants to know about the past anymore. James, will you please go to the top drawer in my desk over there. I'd do it, but the arthritis is playing up a little today," Vicki said, and watched as her great grandson acted as a perfect gentleman and did as he was asked.

"What am I looking for, Grandma?"

"There is a rather large ring with a pretty stone in it. Can you bring it over here?"

He scooped the ring into his hand, and brought it back to the group of chairs. "It's pretty…" He said, with a shade of doubt that made his great grandma laugh. In her opinion, it was garish and overdone. She had worn it more for the sake of her beloved husband, than for her own desire for it.

"Pretty horrible," Vicki said still smiling.

"I think it is beautiful. Can I see it better?"

"Deb, sweetie, it's nothing very special. Just costume jewellery, just trash," James said.

"No." The strong serious tone in the elderly woman surprised the couple. "No, actually it isn't. Not trash. That red stone is a ruby, and the little diamonds are real diamonds." The older lady handed Debbie the ring. Debbie's hands trembled, and she wanted to hand it back.

"No, you can't break it," the lady said with a snort of amusement.

Debbie held it in her hand, turning it to catch the light. It was beautiful to her eyes. She turned it again, and her eyes caught the inscription on the underside. "D & V" was engraved on the ring.

David and Vicki, that was romantic. "It was nice to have your husband and your name etched into the ring. It must have cost a fortune."

The lady looked at her curiously and smiled strangely. "No. It was already inscribed before us. Diego and Victoria. See the wear, it can barely be seen. Hardly anyone notices it these days," she answered.

Debbie couldn't see how it could be missed. It stood out so clearly, and she showed her curious husband. "See, just here," she said, pointing out the obvious letters. Obvious to her, but not to James.

"I don't see anything. You have history on the brain, my dear."

"If you'd like, you can keep it, Debbie. I can't use it, it never really appealed to me since my husband died. But it is a treasure, as a ruby and as a memory." Vicki said, enjoying the shocked look in her new relative's face. Debbie slipped the ring on her finger where her wedding band sat. "Consider it the engagement ring James should have bought you…" The old lady glared at James.

"We couldn't find any I liked. I got so amazingly fussy. This would be perfect, James," Debbie said, breathlessly.

The ring fitted perfectly. It felt warm and comfortable on her finger, and somehow it felt like it had always been hers.

"My wife is an amazing woman," he said, wrapping an arm around her and giving her a squeeze. "Do you know Diego means James in Spanish?"

"Of course, every time Diego's name is mentioned I get a reminder. How you can be jealous of your great, great, great, great, great, great, grandfather is beyond me. Yes, that's right, your 5th great grandfather. Even if he rose from the dead, I'm sure a rotting zombie would not tempt me away from you, my love."

"Would you like to see a picture of Diego de la Vega," Vicki said. She got up and walked to her small bedroom, and dragged a box out from under her bed. Rifling through the papers and records, she returned with a foolscap folder and sat back down. She opened it up to show them the family history.