Chapter 41
The Wedding Day…
"Stop fidgeting, Francisco," Diego chided gently while adjusting the groom's cravat, "you look wonderful. Everything will be fine. In a little while, you will be a happily married man to a wonderful woman."
"I am usually the picture of calm. Why do I feel so nervous? I know Margarita is the one for me…I have no doubts about what I am doing. So why…"
"Do you feel so nervous? I was the same way myself…I just hid it a little better, I hope. You will be fine. I am sure that your bride is just as nervous," the tall caballero assured him, "your nerves will disappear once you see her and take your vows."
"I know that you are right, Diego. I guess I am anxious to take my vows and finally make Margarita my wife…it seemed like this day would never get here and now it has finally arrived," Francisco smiled, "thank goodness, I have you and Ramon to support me…"
The Church…
Francisco smiled as he looked at his bride. He felt a sense of joy, peace and elation. He was finally married to the woman he loved above all others. Diego was right about one thing…Once I took the vows…all my doubts and fears melted away…I couldn't imagine a better way to start our lives together. "How does it feel, Senora Escalante?"
"Senora Escalante, that sounds so good. I feel happy….I am finally your wife. We have so much to celebrate…"
The de la Vega hacienda…
A festive mariachi band played a lively tune as Margarita and Francisco danced their first dance as man and wife. The wedding guests formed a heart shape around the newlyweds cheering them on. Diego and Victoria smiled as they remembered their own wedding day. "I am so happy for them, Diego," Victoria sighed contentedly as she relaxed in her husband's arms.
"So am I. They will be almost as happy as we are," he teased, "can I have this dance, Senora?"
"I wondered when you would finally ask."
"It has been a wonderful evening, Alejandro. Margarita and Francisco certainly look happy together," Don Esteban stated, "my daughter has done well for herself."
"She certainly has….Francisco loves her. I think that they will do well together. Things certainly turned out differently than we expected," Don Alejandro sipped his wine thoughtfully, "hopefully, there will be another wedding in the future…"
"Do you think Rafael might marry someday?" Don Esteban hoped that the young Rafael would find his own happiness with someone…
"What are you two men talking about," Dona Alisa approached her husband, "you remember Dona Inez and her husband, Don Luis."
"It is a pleasure to see you again, Dona Inez. Luis, it has been years since I have seen you…"
"Esteban, it is good to see you as well and at such a happy occasion. You must be so proud of Margarita," Don Luis responded, "she has found a good man to spend the rest of her life with. I look forward to the future filled with happiness and…"
"Grandchildren," Don Alejandro laughed, "Diego married the woman that I have always thought of as a daughter and soon the first of what I hope will be many grandchildren. It gives me hope for the future…"
"If only, our own daughter's future was so settled," Dona Inez sighed, "I am fond of your nephew and I wish that Lolita would give him a chance. I didn't know that my daughter could be so stubborn…"
"She is like me in that regard in that way unfortunately, Inez," Don Luis stated as he shook his head, "if only there were some way to change her mind, but I promised my wife that I would not interfere…"
"Sometimes, it takes cooler heads to prevail, Luis. Maybe, if we put our heads together….we could come up with something. Time is so short. I hate to see two people who obviously care for each other wasting time when they could be happy together."
The Dance Floor…
"I wonder what that is all about," Diego wondered as he danced with his bride, "it looks pretty serious…" The young don glanced at this father and his friends. They are up to something…I can feel it in my bones…
"It looks like a group of friends reminiscing. You don't think that there is something else going on. It looks perfectly innocent," Victoria smiled, "you're just imagining things. What could they possibly be up to?"
"I know my father and I recognize the look on his face. I have been on the receiving end of too many of his matchmaking schemes not to know that look when I see it. If I am correct, I suspect that it has something to do with Rafael and his love life…"
"Diego…Father wouldn't do such a thing…interfere with your cousin's love life and Lolita's. That sounds like something that I would do," she admitted honestly, "but I promised you that I would not interfere, and I haven't."
"I admire your restraint, my love. Once my father sets his mind to something…it is hard to change it. He is a romantic at heart….My father means well even though sometimes, his efforts may be a little misguided," he said as he kissed her forehead, "I just hope that I am wrong, and my father and his friends let Lolita and Rafael find their way back together…if they are meant to be…then they will be together, and nothing can change that…"
"They both deserve happiness…together or apart," she stated as she placed her head on his chest, "I hope things will work out for the two of them. They deserve nothing less."
"My cousin and I have had our ups and downs, but I want Rafael to be happy. I hope Lolita overcomes her fears and forgives him. Zafira hurt me…I know what rejection is painful, but I also know what real love is. I found that with you and I want them to find it, too…"