Chapter 8
The trip to the hacienda was without incident for both parties. Diego, dressed in his best suit, was already waiting for his family in front of the hacienda.
"Now I know why I never suspected you," Victoria said, as carried her into the hacienda. "How did you manage to return before us and get changed too?"
"I have a fast horse, Querida, and my wish to see you gives me wings."
"I never knew you were so romantic. And the matchmaker said you didn't a have a romantic bone in your body." She put her arms around his neck.
"She said that? How can I convince you otherwise?" Diego grinned, bending down.
"You already did," she said, breathless from kissing.
"When you continue kissing all the time, we'll never have dinner," Alejandro complained, following them inside. "I'm probably not the only one with a lot of questions, and it's time for some answers."
Diego made a face. "Do you want to have dinner, Querida?"
"Yes, I do. Don't think you can evade the questions by skipping dinner. Felipe already admitted during the ride here that he knew your secret, but he either pretended not to understand us when we questioned him or made some cryptic signs."
The cook had prepared an exceptional meal on Diego's request, who only told her it was a surprise party for his father.
"The cook has really given her best today," Alejandro complimented the food. "You're really a secretive person, Diego, planning your wedding, the dinner, and everything else without telling anyone."
"I didn't know if there would be a wedding tonight," Diego said, "but it would have been a pain to throw the food away."
"You didn't want to believe me when I told you that I love you and not only the mask," Victoria said.
"What were you thinking at that moment, Querida? Why were you crying?"
"It was simply the shock because I never suspected you. Don't think that I wasn't angry, because I was. I was angry at you and at myself for being so stupid not to recognize you before."
"But you married me anyway. I had my doubts when you didn't answer."
"I realized that I love you too much to live without you and if I rejected you out of anger at this moment, I'd regret for the rest of my life."
"You make me very happy," Diego looked her deeply in the eyes.
"I'm happy too about this marriage," Alejandro interrupted before they started kissing again, "but what are your plans for the future? Do you think it was a good idea to marry her as Zorro? Wouldn't it have been best to wait a little longer?"
"We waited long enough, Father," Diego declared. "Now that Victoria and Zorro have split up, it's time for me to court her as myself, so we can marry again officially. I'm sorry you couldn't have any of your family present tonight, but it'll be different then."
"I think I'll need someone to support me in my grief over losing Zorro and who would be better suited than my best friend Diego. You made a good start today. It didn't go unnoticed with my helpers and some patrons either." Victoria remembered how Diego had been there for her in the morning.
"Are you sure you can convince the alcalde so easily?" Alejandro asked his son, concerned. "What if alcalde doesn't believe Victoria switched her love from Zorro but instead suspects you of being Zorro? He'll hang you both. I don't want anything to happen to you and Victoria."
"We'll behave in public. I practiced enough to control my feelings."
"I believe that, but what about you, Victoria? Will you be able to control yourself when Zorro rides into the pueblo the next time? I don't know if I can," Alejandro said anxiously. "I don't know what I should think about this. I'm proud of you, Diego, but now that I know it's you, I'll never have a quiet night again. I almost wished you hadn't told me."
"Do you really wish that I had married without inviting you tonight, Father?"
Alejandro shook his head at Diego's suggestion. "No. You are my only son, and I would have felt hurt if you hadn't trusted me enough to tell me. Thank you for that."
"I never wanted you to worry, Father, though it was never easy to keep the secret from you."
"Not easy. I think that's quite an understatement," Alejandro said, remorsefully. "You made me believe you didn't care at all and never took an action and lived with my disappointment and angry remarks instead. I know it must have hurt you and I'm really sorry for that."
"I'm sorry too," Victoria added.
"It's all right. It was the price I had to pay to keep the secret and everyone else safe," Diego said, but he couldn't hide his hurt in his eyes.
"It's over, Querido," Victoria assured him, caressing his cheek. "You are no longer alone in this."
Diego squeezed her hand gratefully. "Thank you. I know this will be hard for you, but I have to ask you both to continue as before. It would be suspicious if you both changed your attitude toward me suddenly. I need you to continue with your remarks, Father, and you to act as if we're only friends, Victoria."
"But you won't mind if I start depending more on my best friend than before?" Victoria said. "I hope the next months will pass quickly."
His father swallowed. "I regret for hurting you when I didn't know better, but having to do it deliberately into your face makes it even worse."
"Our lives depend on it," Diego reminded him.
"I know. I'll remember it and I'll do as you wish." Alejandro rubbed his face, worriedly. "This has been a lot to take in, Diego. I'd never expected the evening would turn out like this, when the padre asked me to stay after the mass: finding out you are Zorro, you marrying Victoria, and now you expect me to act as if nothing happened. The next months until your official wedding won't be easy."
"No, they won't, but I heard that Mexico will take over California soon. With the new government we can hope for better times when Zorro won't be needed. We'll survive until then."
"What will you do about Zorro until then? Will you continue riding at night?" Victoria asked concerned. "You mentioned to Mendoza today that it was the last time you were doing his work for him. Does it mean you'll stop catching bandits?"
"I think I'd rather keep you company that catching bandits for Mendoza," Diego grinned. "It would be the best if Zorro simply left the area and didn't return after his farewell today. At least I'll try. You can't expect me to standby and do nothing if there are lives in danger."
"I don't know if I can stand it any longer. I've been worrying so much the recent years, never knowing if I'd see you again, and it's worse now that I know who I'm going to lose."
"You won't lose me, Querida, at least not tonight."
"Diego, there's a lot you haven't told me yet," his father said. "When and how did you become Zorro and how did you learn to fence? Why didn't you ever tell me about your fencing skills? And what about..."
Before his father could voice even more questions, Diego interrupted him.
"It's been a long and exciting day for us all, and I'd like to retire. Let's talk about your questions tomorrow, Father." Diego rose from his chair and extended his hand to Victoria. "Querida? Are you coming?"
Victoria took his hand and let him pull her up. "You're right. I'm tired too."
"Good night, Father."
"Good night, Diego, Victoria," Alejandro nodded. "I don't know if I can sleep already after all that happened tonight. Everything is upside down now. Inside of wishing, you were active I now have to worry about your safety, and only thinking about your adventures and the dangers you went through gives me a headache, but you're right, all the questions can wait until tomorrow."
Hand in hand, Diego and Victoria left the dining room heading for Diego's room. "Shouldn't I be carrying you?" he asked.
"You already carried me into the house and I'd rather like to walk than banging my head at the door frame."
"I'm careful. I didn't bang your head either when I carried you inside the house," Diego protested.
"But the door to the house is much broader than the one to your room," Victoria objected. "And we're there already."
Diego opened the door to his room for her and followed her inside, locking it behind them. "Welcome home, Querida," he whispered, drawing her into his arms. "Any regrets?"
"No, none at all. I would have regretted it for the rest of my life if I hadn't married you tonight and now I'm happy to be here with you." She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him.
"I'm very happy too." As their kissing grew more passionate, he drew her to the bed and onto the soft pillows. "We should have waited until we were married, then you could have enjoyed a comfortable bed instead of a blanket on the hard ground."
"I didn't want to wait longer either and if we had waited we wouldn't be married now," she objected. It was the most wonderful afternoon of my life, and I wouldn't mind going back there, except with one difference." Lying on her back, she had drawn him into her arms, busy removing their clothes.
"What difference?"
"I get to see you too, and no more masks between us." She roamed with her hands through his hair, noticing how much he liked it.
"No more masks, Querida. I promise. You've seen my face and there's nothing more to hide from you."
A/N: When I started this, I didn't know Diego and his family had so much to talk about. I hope you don't mind but they won't quit talking. More chapters ahead.
