Chapter 14: Felipe's Homecoming
Four years later, Diego and his family waited outside for the stage-coach.
"There it is, it's coming down the hill now." Young Edmond yelled as he ran back to the rose garden.
"Victoria, the coach is almost here." Diego called inside as he passed the open door.
"I will be right out, I need to finish feeding Annabell." Victoria called back softly so she wouldn't disturb the small child.
Diego hurried to the garden gates. Edmond stayed close to his father and watched the coach come to a stop in front of the hacienda.
Felipe stepped out of the coach and smiled with excitement. He was going to meet his new siblings for the first time, and his father was also in for a surprise.
"Felipe, look at how much you've grown. You are no longer a boy, but a smart young man who will be very successful." Diego pulled Felipe into a huge hug and patted him on the back.
"Father, I missed you." Felipe said slowly and shyly smiled at the surprised expression on Diego's face.
"You can speak?" Diego spit out before he could think.
"Yes, I wanted to surprise you. I found someone at school that could help me learn while I was taking my classes." Felipe replied quietly with a huge smile.
"You certainly surprised me son." Diego could feel a few tears of joy well up in the corners of his eyes. He quickly wiped them away before turning to introduce Edmond to his brother.
"Edmond, this is your bother Felipe." Diego picked Edmond up and was happy to see the smile on his young sons face.
"Pleased to meet you." Felipe introduced himself to his young brother.
Edmond smiled and buried his face in Diego's shirt. "He will warm up to you. He is shy at first, but once he gets to know you, he will follow you everywhere." Diego patted Edmonds back softly.
"Lets go inside, Victoria is putting Annabell down for her nap. She has been staying out of the heat since your little sister was born two months ago." Diego explained as they walked toward the front door and went inside.
Victoria was waiting for them in the library, she was about to doze off when they came in the front door. Edmond ran over to the couch she was sitting on and climbed up onto her lap.
Her face brightened into a happy smile when she saw Felipe. Her fatigue forgotten, as a warm feeling of joy and love warmed her heart.
"Welcome home son. How was your trip?" Victoria stood up and gave her tall son a hug, still holding Edmond on her hip.
"It was long, but exciting." He signed. He could hardly hold himself back when he was about to speak instead of sign.
Diego smiled with excitement and went to stand next to Victoria. " Could you please bring some refreshments, and tell Maria that Felipe has returned home from school." Diego asked politely when one of the helpers passed by the library.
They talked for a few hours, and soon it was siesta time. Felipe went to rest in his old room, and Victoria made sure the children were resting and laid down when Diego came to read a book quietly in bed.
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Alejandro came home and was greeted with a warm and very much missed hug from his oldest grandson. "The University has treated you well, you are taller than me, and there is some meat on your bones." Alejandro said with over joyed excitement and tears in his eye's.
Felipe smiled with happiness and motioned for his Grandfather to sit down. "I have some special news to share with you tonight." He signed slowly so his Grandfather could follow.
Diego came into the library quietly and waited until his father turned around. "There you are Diego, Felipe has some special news to share with us tonight." Alejandro asked with a touch of wonder in his tone. Diego and Felipe were very good at keeping secrets, "do you know anything about this special news?" He questioned his son with a slight smile.
Diego winked at Felipe, "He hasn't said a word to me about what this special news might be." Felipe held back a giggle when Diego tried to cover his smile up with a serious expression.
"You two are up to something, but it's useless trying to get it out of you before tonight." Alejandro saw the exchanged glance and wink and shook his head.
"You will have to wait just like the rest of us father." Diego smiled and quickly left the room before he laughed out loud.
Felipe smiled and quietly slipped out while Alejandro was watching Diego leave. "Felipe,…" He turned around to ask his grandson about his surprise. "Where did he go? Those two are so sneaky." He shook his head and went to the kitchen, hoping dinner would be ready soon.