Chapter 14

"Where's Diego? Isn't he joining us for breakfast?" Alejandro asked Felipe, sitting down at the table. Felipe signed that Diego had already left.

"Is he having breakfast at the tavern again?" Alejandro inquired, shaking his head.

Felipe signed that Diego had gone to Santa Paula.

"Santa Paula? Wasn't he there two days ago?" Alejandro questioned. Watching Felipe's signs he understood. "Victoria has to visit the bank in Santa Paula. I see. Of course, Diego went with her. He doesn't let her out of his sight anymore." Felipe nodded, grinning. "It's about time they get married."

Since Diego and Victoria announced their engagement they were nearly inseparable. Diego always got up early now, eager to ride into the pueblo to see Victoria and then they spent as much of the day together as their work allowed. Victoria was occupied with her tavern and wedding preparations and Diego had taken over more responsibilities at the hacienda besides his work at the newspaper. The engagement had definitely done him good, Alejandro thought.

Z Z Z

Diego and Victoria decided to wait six weeks with the wedding to give Victoria the chance to eventually get her memory back and to organize the big wedding everyone expected of them. It would be enough time for her brothers to come to Los Angeles and visit the sister they had believed dead after she had gone missing.

Victoria showed the letter from her brothers to Diego. "Ramon has written that he can't come to the wedding, but he is happy that I'm alive. He wishes me all the best with you and expresses his opinion that I made the right choice marrying you instead of Zorro."

Diego grinned. "Well, I can't blame him that he prefers his sister being married to me instead of an outlaw. And I can be very happy to get you!"

Diego pulled her close. "I think I deserve a special reward for getting you away from that outlaw!" His blue eyes twinkled mischievously and he bent down to kiss her. Only when they were both panting heavily did he release her again.

"If my brother only knew about you, then he wouldn't be so happy!" Victoria chided him. "Well, he doesn't and he won't find out!" Diego laughed happily.

"And what about Francisco?" Diego asked. "Isn't he coming either?"

"He will come," Victoria said, but she didn't look very happy about it.

"Don't you want him to come?" Diego inquired.

"I'm not sure," Victoria admitted.

"Why not?" He hadn't expected that.

"I don't know how to face him if I don't remember him!"

"But he's your brother!"

"Yes, that's part of the problem. He'll want to share those childhood memories with me that I can't remember! I'll be facing a stranger while he expects me to be his little sister." Victoria was close to crying. Diego drew her close again and hugged her soothingly.

"You'll work it out, Victoria. You'll be a beautiful bride when he walks you down the aisle. It may be the trigger you need to remember. And even if not, you'll need to find out as much as you can about your past. And who can do that better than a sibling?"

"You are right, Diego. Thank you for me lifting me up." Victoria smiled a little again. "No matter, how I'll get along with my brother, it will be the happiest day in my life, because I'll become your wife!"

Diego smiled as she reached out to kiss him. "It will be the happiest day in my life too, Victoria!" The smile went straight to his eyes and Victoria swore to herself she'd do everything to keep him that happy.

Z Z Z

The time passed quickly as they had much to organize and take care of before their wedding day. Though Victoria was looking forward to the day of their marriage, her missing memory still depressed her. There was no sign she'd remember her past and with every passing day she lost more hope of regaining her memory.

A few days before the wedding her brother Francisco entered the tavern. Diego recognized him instantly and rose from the table where he had been sitting together with Victoria to discuss a few details about the wedding reception.

"It's your brother Francisco," Diego pulled Victoria with him to greet the arrival.

"Francisco, I'm glad you made it." Diego greeted him.

"I couldn't have my sister get married without any of her brothers." Francisco smiled.

"Congratulations on your engagement, Diego." The he turned to Victoria to give her a brotherly hug.

"Victoria, I'm so happy to see you so well. Ramon and I were devastated when we heard about your disappearance. Let me have a look at you, Victoria." Francisco put her down to scrutinize her.

"Being engaged becomes you, Victoria. You really look good."

"Thank you, Francisco," Victoria smiled a little insecurely. She stared at the man who was her brother, hoping it would trigger her memory, but nothing happened. He was still a stranger to her and she began to cry.

"There's no reason to cry, Victoria," Francisco said, "because you're happy to see me. Will I get my old room?" Victoria only nodded, unable to speak. "I need to freshen up a bit from my journey and then we can have a talk."

"Yes, I'll be there, Francisco." Victoria agreed, but rushed to the quiet of the kitchen as soon as he had walked up the stairs. She didn't want the guests see her cry.

"We can talk about the detail of party later," Diego excused her, having followed her. "It's good that your brother is here."

"But what should I say to him? He's a stranger to me! You two probably have more to talk about, though I'm his sister. I had hoped so much, my memory would come back when I met him." Victoria started crying again and Diego tried to sooth her as best as he could, taking her into his arms. He didn't know how he could help her, noticing how Victoria became more and more depressed over the loss of her memory when another hope to regain it had fallen to pieces.

"Francisco was always your favorite brother, he'll understand when you tell him everything. I'll join you a little later if you want."

Victoria nodded. "Thank you, Diego."

"You know that I love you, Victoria." He made her smile again.