Chapter 14

Alejandro was worried about the pueblo. It had been clear that the new tax had only been a trap for Zorro, and he was somewhat relieved that Zorro hadn't appeared to spring it. He remembered too well how Victoria had broken down when she had thought him to be injured or dead. Even though she was married to Diego now, it was clear that she still had feelings for Zorro. The thought of it made him still angry at Diego.

He hadn't seen his son for some time, and though he didn't want to admit it, he missed him and Felipe terribly. There was no one there to keep him company in the evening, to play a game of chess or play on the piano.

There had been two more letters from Felipe sent from harbors his ship had passed through. Felipe hadn't written much, only that he was alright whatever that meant and that he hoped everything was well in Los Angeles too. Unfortunately, it was impossible to reply, since the ship with the mail would reach the harbors Felipe passed through only after he had already left. So, he had to wait to the next letter for news, and eventually the message that Felipe was on his way home.

Alejandro read the newest edition of The Guardian with Diego's article about the new tax on the front. With respect he noticed how fast Diego and Victoria had reacted, pointing out that the new tax was illegal.

It was so typical for Diego to write the article. Alejandro remembered too well the many times he had wanted Diego to act and protest beside him, but always Diego had preferred to stay at home, suggesting writing a letter to the governor. Fortunately, Zorro had taken care of the problem and called the alcalde to order.

But now, Zorro didn't come anymore to the pueblo to challenge the alcalde or deliver some bandits he had caught. The soldiers were saying that Zorro had become a ghost, but Alejandro didn't believe in ghosts. He was sure that Zorro was still alive, roaming alone in the night, mourning his lost love.

Alejandro wished to turn back time, before everything had gone so astray. When he had had his lunch in the tavern together with Diego and Felipe served by Victoria, and Zorro had come to rescue those threatened by the alcalde.

In the pueblo Alejandro had wanted to protest against the new tax, but he had discovered that he was without support. It wasn't that the other caballeros or normal peasants agreed with the new tax, but they had become afraid to raise their voice without Zorro to come to their aid. And Victoria was missing too, who had always been the first to protest, despite the consequences.

Alejandro had to realize that his fight with his son, and Diego's subsequent marriage with Victoria had greater consequences than anticipated. Now, that Victoria was married with someone else, Zorro had withdrawn his support, and it had disturbed the balance of power in the pueblo. Without resistance the alcalde could create a new tax until a clever article in the newspaper proved it to be illegal, or the governor told him to rescind them. Fortunately, De Soto wasn't as greedy or evil as former alcalde Ramon or the situation would be much worse.

Alejandro had been discussing with the other caballeros what they could do. But before they made a decision they needed to know if they could still count on Zorro or not. In the whole pueblo there was only one person, who might be able to tell them, and that was Victoria.

Z Z Z

The need to know had led Alejandro to his son's hacienda again, knocking on the door. It was the same servant, who had opened him the only other time he had been here before, to answer the door.

"Don Alejandro, my patron Don Diego is not at home, and Doña Victoria doesn't receive anyone because she isn't feeling well."

"Please, ask Doña Victoria, if she will receive me anyway, it's about Zorro."

It was one of the days Victoria was feeling tired and exhausted from her pregnancy, and so she was lying on a couch on the balcony where she could watch the ocean and listen to its sound. Helène was keeping her company, and both were talking about children and their pregnancies when the maid interrupted their chat.

"Don Alejandro de la Vega is here to speak to you, Doña Victoria."

"Diego's father? Did you tell him that my husband isn't here, and that I'm not in the mood of receiving guests?"

"I told him that, but he asks you to meet him anyway. Don Alejandro said it was about Zorro."

"About Zorro?" Victoria asked, wondering. Had someone made a connection between Diego and Zorro, or had something happened to him? She needed to know what it was about.

"Tell Don Alejandro, I will receive him here." Victoria told her servant.

"Helène," she addressed her friend, "I'm sorry, but we'll have to continue our chat tomorrow."

Helène was surprised by Victoria's sudden change of heart. "Who is this Zorro? And why are you suddenly so concerned? I owe him the life of my son, but I never had the chance to show him my gratitude. I heard that you and Zorro were very close before your marriage."

Helène noticed that her friend wasn't telling her everything. She heard some rumors about the marriage of Don Diego and his wife, but she couldn't figure out why the mysterious rider was still so important to her.

"I'm sorry, Helène, it's quite personal, and I don't want to talk about it right now."

ZZZ

The servant returned to the door where Alejandro was waiting.

"Doña Victoria will receive you on balcony at the back, please follow me."

The servant guided him around the house and up a stairway that led to a balcony on the first floor. On the broad balcony overlooking the sea was a couch and several chairs. Victoria lay on a couch and was talking to a woman on a chair opposite her. The small blonde woman she had been talking to rose from her chair and slowly headed for the stairs when he approached. Alejandro noticed that she was pregnant too and that he had obviously interrupted some talk between the women.

"Don Alejandro," Victoria greeted him as he was led onto the balcony by the maid. She made no effort to get up from the couch she was lying on, but got up into an upright position and offered him a seat opposite of her.

"Excuse me, Don Alejandro, for not greeting you properly, but I wasn't feeling so well, and Diego made me promise to lie down until he has returned. My servant told me you have come to talk to me about Zorro. May I ask you why? You didn't come to see Diego?"

"No, actually, I came to see you," Alejandro replied. "Among other reasons I wanted to see if you have recovered again." He looked at her as she stroked unconsciously over her growing belly, and he remembered how his wife had done the same while she had been expecting Diego.

"As you can see I'm much better, and Diego is taking good care of me," she smiled at the thought of her husband. "But I'm sure this is not the only reason, since you have never cared so much before," she inquired Don Alejandro.

"Well, you are right," Alejandro didn't know how to start that somehow delicate topic. "I need to ask you something, and you're probably the only person who knows."

"Knows what?" Diego stepped on the balcony, interrupting the conversation. The servant had told him of their visitor when had returned from his ride, and Diego had immediately gone to see his wife.

"Buenos días, I hope you haven't come to start another fight? Then I must ask you to leave at once. Any excitement isn't good for Victoria." Diego didn't show his emotions.

"Hola, Diego," Alejandro greeted him. "No, I don't think there is anything we need to discuss that hasn't already been said. Would you mind if I had a private talk with your wife?"

"What is it that you can discuss with Victoria, but not with me?" Diego questioned him, suspiciously, taking some pillows and stuffing them at Victoria's back. Then he sat down beside her, allowing her to lean comfortably against his shoulder while he put his arm protectively around her.

"Diego is right, Don Alejandro," Victoria added. "There is nothing I wouldn't discuss in Diego's presence."

Alejandro realized there was no chance to talk to Victoria without Diego, and that he had to ask her in his presence no matter how embarrassing it might be.

"If you wish Diego, I only wanted to spare you the embarrassment," Alejandro conceded. "In the recent weeks Zorro has never been seen in the pueblo again, despite the alcalde's efforts to have him come out of hiding. The caballeros are discussing endlessly, but they won't do anything without Zorro to back them up. Since we can't contact him, I wanted to ask Victoria if she knows something about Zorro's whereabouts."

"Why do you think Victoria might know where Zorro is?" Diego inquired.

"Well, hm, ah, you weren't present when Victoria collapsed when she witnessed how Zorro was shot. But when he turned around, it became obvious how much Zorro still loves her. I don't think he'd leave without telling her. That's why I thought she might know something about his plans."

Victoria exchanged a look with Diego before she replied. "There is no more Zorro, Don Alejandro. He won't come anymore."

"Then Zorro has left the area and finally given you up?" Alejandro inquired, surprised.

"No, Zorro will never give me up, and I won't give him up either." Victoria answered, reaching for Diego's hand on her shoulder and smiling at him.

Though she tried to hide it behind her smile, Diego could see how much the situation between him and his father affected Victoria. It was hard for her to be held in such a low regard by the man who had been like a father to her in the recent years. Now that there was no more Zorro, it was time to try mending the rift that kept the family apart for too long.

Alejandro was shocked by Victoria's statement. Victoria and Zorro!

"Victoria is right," Diego added, bowing over the hand of his wife and kissing it. "It's not for Victoria to give up Zorro, but me." Victoria gasped at Diego's unexpected disclosure and waited for Alejandro's reaction.

Alejandro stared at them, uncomprehendingly. "How can you accept that so calmly, Diego? Your wife and Zorro! I'll never understand you, Diego."

"I hoped you would try just once to open your eyes, Father. You only see what you want to see," Diego replied, quietly. "But I must ask you to tell no one about our conversation, except for the fact that there will be no more Zorro coming to the rescue."

"I don't think anyone needs to know more, except that we can't count on Zorro any longer." Embarrassed and disgusted by the turn of the conversation, he quickly rose from his seat to return home.

Z Z Z

After Alejandro had left, Victoria looked at Diego questioningly. "Why did you tell your father today? Why now, and not earlier?"

"It was the first time after our breakup that we had a kind of conversation when we weren't yelling at each other. Now that I have given up to ride as Zorro, he needs to know, and it's time to become a family again. It's not only important for us, but also for our child. At least I thought I should give it a try, but unfortunately my father doesn't listen, only seeing what meets his expectations." He stroked across her belly that was quite heavy already, feeling the child kick inside. "I felt it move," he smiled at her. "Did you feel it, too?" he asked her in wonder.

"It does it all the time, Diego," Victoria laughed. "How do you get any sleep?" Diego questioned. "No wonder you're often so tired."

"I'm fine, Diego, it's what I have been dreaming of all these years, being married to you and have your children."

"I wanted the same, Querida." Gently, Diego took her in his arms and kissed her.