Chapter 10 - Los Angeles

A week later Diego arrived back home.

"Father, Selena." he called out as he entered the hacienda from the side entrance and went to the library, "Where are you?"

"Diego, is that you?" Don Alejandro's voice came floating to him from deeper inside their home, "We didn't know when you will be back. How did it go, son?" he asked as he stepped into the library.

Diego smiled, "Everything has been settled," he replied, "Where is Selena?" he asked as he looked around for his wife.

"I'm here Diego." Selena replied as she came around the corner.

He turned to face her with compassion in his blue eyes, "I'm sorry Selena, that this has caused problems between you and your father." he said kindly as he walked over and took her hand in his.

She nodded as she gave him a sad smile, "Father and I have always had problems ever since I could remember," she replied, "So tell us what happened."

Diego gave her hand a quick squeeze before he turned to include his father in the conversation, "I visited Don Luis the moment I arrived in Santa Barbara and he suggested that I lodge a formal complaint against Don Jorge with the territorial magistrate, who just happened to be in town at the same time."

Don Alejandro whistled softly, "That was very lucky, otherwise you may had to wait weeks or months for the matter to be heard," he said, "So what happened?"

"The magistrate took one look at the promissory note and with our combined statements that we had no knowledge of the debt, nor did we give him permission to use our name and he immediately ruled in our favour." he paused as he squeezed Selena's hand in support. "He had some harsh words for your father, in regards to his gambling and his misuse of our name due to connections with us. Don Jorge was angry but also very worried. I don't think he believed that we would have taken this action and he was extremely lucky that the magistrate didn't fine him. He only has to pay the original debt. He has also been ordered never to use our name again, for any future debts he may incur."

Don Alejandro shook his head in disbelief, "Jorge and I had known each other for many years, done some business together. He knew what my feelings were about gambling, which was why I was so surprised that he would have put our name to his debt just because you -" he stopped suddenly as he realised what he was going to say but Selena beat him to it.

"It's alright Alejandro, we all know why he did it. It was because I married your son." she replied sadly, as she let go of Diego's hand and left them alone.

Diego shook his head as he watched her leave, "This is hurting Selena terribly."

"I don't want to add to that hurt but while you were away, I made some enquiries about Jorge and I found that he has serious debt problems." Don Alejandro said.

Diego frowned, "How serious?"

"Almost as bad as it could get, son," the older man replied, "He owes money to many people and apparently he is only just ahead of the creditors. He wins enough money at cards to keep everyone happy but a couple of times he has had to sell some of his cattle to pay the debts."

Diego shook his head in disbelief, "I don't understand how any man could live like that, especially with a family to support," he said, "Have you told Selena about this?"

"No, I haven't," Don Alejandro replied, "Knowing that her father used our good name to pay his debts was bad enough. But to know just how badly in debt her father is, would just crush her."

Diego sighed as he ran his fingers through his hair, "You know, father, I have always wondered why Don Jorge was so adamant in us marrying so fast," he said.

Don Alejandro frowned, he didn't like that thought at all, "Do you know what you are saying, son?" he asked.

"Unfortunately I do," Diego replied, "That the only reason he pressed for a rapid marriage was to get access to our good name as well as our money," he said as he shook his head, "I don't like it anymore than you, father, but what else can explain it. I even offered him an engagement to Selena but he dismissed it and forced a marriage within two days."

Don Alejandro sighed and shook his head, "It was all very irregular, not even having the banns read in Mass either," he said, "I guess he was so desperate to pay his debts, he didn't care who or what he did, including using his own daughter. It doesn't say much about the kind of man he is." He gazed thoughtfully at his son, "She's going to need all your support and comfort in this."

Diego nodded, "I know, father, and I will."

He found Selena standing alone, by the window of her room, with her arms wrapped around herself. He walked up to her, placed his hands on her shoulders, and he was surprised by the strength of her tremors, "I'm sorry Selena. I wish there had been some other way to deal with your father."

She shook her head as she turned to face him, hot tears welling in her eyes, "It's not your fault Diego, it's his. It's always been his fault," she replied, "Ever since I could remember, he's always been like this, wanting to control other people's lives, not wanting to take responsibility for his gambling." she moved away from him. "What I told you before, that I wasn't aware of how much debt he was in, wasn't quite true."

Diego frowned but let her continue, "When Roberto died, I went through his papers and I came across a three similar notes that father had signed into Roberto's name," she said, "They were all over different times and amounts."

"Madre de dios. How could he have done that to you?" he fumed at the injustice of her father's attitude. He just couldn't understand how a man could use his own daughter to escape his moral and legal obligations. He, himself, had been raised to believe that every man was responsible for his own actions, be it good or bad and he was beginning to see that Don Jorge was not a gentleman in the true sense of the word, "Did Roberto ever tell you about it and did he pay the debt?"

She shook her head, "No, he never told me but I found out that he had indeed paid the debt," she replied, "It wasn't a great deal, I think the largest amount was about four hundred pesos." she turned to face him but this time with anger in her eyes. "I was so angry at father for doing that to Roberto. I think father knew that he wouldn't take any action to stop him and now he is doing the same to us. How could he think that you and your father would simply just pay the debt without question," she shook her head, "I will never speak with him again, never." she stated with heated conviction even as tears welled once more in her eyes.

Diego felt such an overwhelming need to protect her that he pulled her into his arms and held her tight, "Shhh. It will be alright, Selena." he whispered softly as he planted a soft kiss to the top of her head. As he held her, giving her comfort, his subconscious mind took note of how well her soft curves seemed to mould against him, of how well they fitted together that he unconsciously tightened his hold on her.

Selena took the comfort that Diego was so willing to give as she held him tight against the hurt that her father had caused to both her husbands. She would never deal with her father again; the de la Vegas were her family now. A family where she felt love and respected; a family that she loved.

She pulled back from his warm and comforting embrace, "Thank you -" she stopped and held her breath as Diego reached out and gently caressed her face with his hand. It was the first time he had touched her like that and she didn't want to ruin the moment by speaking.

"You are family, Selena," he said somewhat hoarsely as he trailed his fingers down her cheek in a feather light touch, "My family." he added. He gazed into her eyes and saw something that he was only beginning to realise about her and that something was love. His wife loved him. And even if he was denying his growing feelings, he wasn't insensitive to hers. He leant down and gently pressed his lips against hers.

He meant it as a sign of comfort, of support but just like their first kiss, it became more.

Selena closed her eyes the moment his warm lips touched hers and she couldn't help but to move back into his arms. She had been waiting months for her husband to kiss her and now he was, it felt so right, so good that she slowly moved her arms up around his neck and returned his kiss with growing passion. His senses were overloading his better judgement as he pulled her tight against him; once again he noted just how well her soft curves fitted him, of how her sweet lips seemed to have been made just for him.

But as he began to deepen their kiss further, Marie came rushing up to their legs, knocking them off balance, "Mama, can I have a kitten?" she asked eagerly.

Diego and Selena broke apart somewhat guiltily, "What was that Marie?" she asked her daughter, her face flushed.

"Felipe showed me some kittens. Can I have one, please?" she asked again as she turned to stepfather, "Papa, can I?"

Diego cleared his throat, "It's alright with me, Marie," he replied, "But it is up to your mother to decide." he added as he held Selena's gaze and saw the flush on her cheeks. He hadn't intended to kiss her like that but it felt so natural that he couldn't stop. He wondered how far they would have gone if their daughter hadn't interrupted them. Perhaps it was good that she had interrupted them for he didn't know if he was ready for anything more.

Selena found herself becoming lost in his blue eyes; eyes that had darkened by love. Or was she only hoping that it was love. She really didn't know how he felt about her except through that kiss. His kiss was loving, tender, and was becoming more passionate until Marie interrupted them. She felt that this time, he was kissing her and not Victoria and that made her light headed. It meant that he was coming to love her, that he wanted to love her. All he needed was a little more time.

"Mama, please. Can I have a kitten?" the little girl pleaded as she tugged on her mother's skirts.

Selena smiled down at her daughter and couldn't find it in her heart to say no, "Alright, you can have a kitten," she replied, "But you must take good care of it."

Marie beamed happily, "I will, mama. I promise. Can we go and pick one now?"

Selena exchanged an amused glance with Diego, "Yes, let's go and pick out a kitten." she replied as she took her daughter's hand and together they walked out of the room. But just as she reached the door, she glanced back at her husband and for a moment the two of them held each other's gaze before Marie tugged on her hand, "Come on mama."

"I'm coming Marie." she replied as allowed her daughter to pull her out of the room.