Chapter X

The patio

The sound of the coach as it approached, his steps, the exact way he knocked on the door: they were already all too familiar for her.

A deep breath before opening the door, an attempt to steady her pulse, which always sped up when he was close.

"Hola!" she greeted. He was (was it possible?) even more handsome and tall, wearing a suit she'd never seen him in before.

"Josefina, you're always stunning, but you crossed the line today."

For this night, she'd chosen the emerald green dress with black embroidery. The peineta or hair comb was new as well. The pearls and the ring were the same.

"You think?" she took the sides of the dress's skirt and made a little reverence: "It's beautiful, thank you."

"It is, but not as much as you."

"There's a thing, uncle Pedro is not coming. He hasn't felt too good today and he wants to stay home and rest."

"Should we call a doctor?"

"He doesn't believe in doctors, he says they'll get him killed faster. The last one I brought, he tossed the potty at him. He does want to see you before we leave, though; would you?"

After knocking on the door, Diego received a hoarse come in! as an answer.

"Don Pedro, how are you feeling? You wanted to talk to me?"

"Bring the chair and sit."

He obeyed.

A coughing fit. Not a brief one. He helped him have some water until it subsided. On the nightstand, next to the cup, there was also a jar with some fresh flowers Diego recognized as the same that struggled to survive at the house's porch. It gave him a pang of love in the chest to think that Josefina had picked them up for her uncle.

"I apologize for that. Well then, let's get it over with." The old man wiped his face with a wrinkled kerchief, took in some air several times and began: "In the last years, I've needed Josefina's cares more than she's needed mine. Either way…" he clutched Diego's forearm: "…promise you'll always protect and take care of her."

"I will, of course, you'll see that-"

"I don't have much left to see." Maybe what people say in these cases is don't say that or everything is going to be fine. But Diego knew it's better not to lie to a man who knows his fate already. "Treat her right. Even though she tries to hide it, she's a very emotional girl… woman. Caridad used to say that all the time. Look after her. Care for her. Treat her right. Will you do that?"

He didn't have to ponder the question. He'd known the answer for weeks.

"You have my word of honor. My one concern will always be to make her happy."

Don Pedro let go of him and sank again into the pillows.

"Well, leave already. And don't tell her a word about this."

(…)

The music pouring out of the walls of the De la Vega ranch was the first one to welcome them, besides several coaches that were parked outside.

"Ready?"

An attempt at vertigo, but she was able to control it. The important thing here wasn't her absurd fears, but simply being with Diego, to become a part of his life, to celebrate what three months before seemed impossible and was now opening the door to let them in.

"With you, I am."

A multitude of flower garlands, colorful lamps and faces of all ages greeted and expressed their best wishes to them. Distinguished gentlemen, ladies with mantillas and ornamental combs, magistrates, inspectors, the Governor's correspondents, judges, captains and a sergeant (she did know this one). Even Monasterio was invited, also padre Felipe and several friends of aunt Caridad and uncle Pedro. It was all about the introductions, reverences, handshakes among the señores, kisses on the back of the hand for the señoras, everyone wanted to present their salutations to the lovely señorita that will soon become la señora De la Vega. At first, Josefina made her best effort to retain names and last names, but she lost track at the fifth or sixth family and focused on offering her best courtesy phrases and best smile which, truth be told, was coming out naturally. Champagne was poured into the glasses and distributed at an accelerating pace, an elderly gentleman who inquired:

"Do you belong to the Iglesias from Madrid?"

"No, the Iglesias from Monterrey." The man's puzzled face and his wife giving him a nudge.

Josefina had to look away not to laugh.

"Señorita. Diego."

"Ricardo del Amo, welcome."

"Allow me to say I'm really glad you're finally settling down."

"Coming from you, you have no idea how flattered I am."

"You should be and… speaking seriously now, I'd like to apologize for the confusion the other day, I assure you that, at least this time, it wasn't my intention to be a complete jerk."

"I'm sure it wasn't, that comes naturally for you. Grab some champagne and forget about it, will you?" he handed him a glass.

Ricardo wasn't the one to say no to such an offer.

"I really love your dress." This was… Ana? Yes, they called her Anita. "Is it from the ones Doña Graciela brings?"

"Thank you, yours is gorgeous, yes, she helped me pick it."

"She's the best, her taste is exquisite."

"Señorita, don Diego, I'd like you to meet Capitan Toledano, from San Diego's Garrison."

"Capitan, it's an honor."

"Señorita, I'm your servant."

"Thank you, it's a pleasure to meet you, Capitan," reverence. Similar exchanges were repeated about three hundred times, alongside trays of appetizers that came and went and emptied out just as quickly.

"Damas, caballeros! May I have your attention for just one moment, please?" Don Alejandro had stepped front and center. The musicians kept quiet immediately and the guests surrounded the orator: "First and foremost, I would like to thank you all for being here today on such a special evening. And I would also like to make a toast." Everyone raised their glasses, a lot of them half empty already, but more bottles were being uncorked as he spoke: "To Josefina and Diego. May their life together be prosper and everlasting. May their love always last and may they know how to understand each other at all times. And may everyone enjoy tonight, salud!"

"Salud!"

Josefina had served gallons and gallons of wine in her life, though had rarely tasted alcohol. The bubbly liquid tickled below her ears and in her throat, as if it had a light of its own.

"So, what do you think?" Diego hadn't left her side for an instant.

"Everything's great."

"I'm glad you like it. And… would you like to dance with me, señorita?"

"Umm…" Several couples were stepping up, the musicians prepared their first chords: "I don't think I know how to dance."

"You don't have to know. It's only you and me here."

If he said it, it had to be true.

"All right, I can try."

The guitars started off. The castanets followed along. And she didn't expect this one: it was the song about the ojos negros, black eyes, the same from that time at the tavern. The song that was for her.

Face to face in front of everyone… but it was true: it was only the two of them.

"I know that one."

"You do? Where from?"

"Someone played it and sang it for me."

"Luckiest man in the world, I'm sure."

She had a ready smile but when the music started, Diego noticed her tensing up right away.

"No one else. You and me" he said again in a low voice, very close to her: "Just follow me."

She'd thought that all of the parties and dancing people she'd seen at the tavern would be of use, but it wasn't necessary; and neither was it looking at the others with the corner of her eye, to see how they danced. Everything around them faded away, she could see only his eyes, his lips, felt his hands and his body that led her and she'd let herself go and twirl, in that faraway planet of two inhabitants.

(…)

After the dance and yet another round of canapes, Josefina found herself surrounded by the wives and daughters of three or four señores that, at the same time, had monopolized Diego.

"I was friends with Diego's mother. Imagine, I've known him since he was still in diapers". It was la señora Torres: "Allow me to say, dear, you have chosen very well."

"And the ring is so beautiful, may we see it?"

"Ohhh!"

This went on for a while, until someone elbowed her way into the circle and addressed Josefina directly:

"More champagne, please." No one understood a thing. "Oh, forgive me, I mistook you for the help. But no, you're not the help, you're just a gold digger."

Silence. Shocked faces among the ladies, one of them said something to Magdalena, Josefina didn't hear what. The images of this woman dancing with Diego that time, poured inside her head, of him staring at her, who'd grin from ear to ear.

"You're right about the first thing: I've always worked as help, that's no secret for anyone and that's how I've made an honest living." Several other guests had already noticed the incident and were staring with different levels of concealment. But it wasn't necessary to raise her voice: "In the latter, you're wrong. I'm not a gold digger, I'm marrying Diego because I love him and he loves me and you have no business being here so you'd better leave."

Someone suppressed a laugh. Everyone else was open mouthed.

"You have no right to throw me out of here, you're no one!"

"If you haven't noticed, she is the fiancée and daughter in law of the señores of the house, besides being one of the hosts." A gentleman Josefina didn't recognize held Magdalena by an arm: "Let us go, before you continue embarrassing yourself."

"Father! Instead of supporting me, you-"

"Don't make me say it again."

She glared at Josefina before heading out, pushing aside whoever dared to be in her way.

"My sincerest apologies, señorita. Alejandro, Diego." Josefina hadn't noticed the two of them had approached: "I'm very sorry my daughter's bad manners caused an uncomfortable moment. So, if you'll excuse me, good night."

Everything that had remained paralyzed, starting by the air, began to come back to life again.

"Good one!" Anita had been the one to cover her mouth with both hands not to laugh: "What a rude and disrespectful woman!"

"That was just terrible…"

"My goodness..."

"Does anybody want more champagne?"

"I know I do."

Josefina felt a tingly wave of heat in the face; she was sure it was redder than a tomato. Someone grabbed her hand:

"Are you all right?"

She nodded.

Everyone else scattered around, some to eat, some to dance.

"Josefina, look at me. Are you all right?"

She finally did.

"I'm fine, Diego. I'd say I put her in her place, didn't I?"

"And in a very elegant and graceful manner, too. May I have this dance?"

"Of course."

(…)

"Tío?"

It was almost one in the morning when she took her shoes off and came into the room sweeping the floor with the hem of her dress.

"Tío?" she called again in a whisper, but the snores, worthy of a lion, were more than enough proof that uncle Pedro was deep asleep.

She curled up in the reading chair, which was right beside the bed: "I wish you'd been there. Everything was so beautiful. Except for this one idiot, but let's not go there. I missed you… I know you don't like parties but… well. I just wish you'd been there."

For another half an hour or so, she stayed there watching his breathing.

(…)

"So that's what it was, eh?"

At the start of the day, when there was no one at the tavern yet, Josefina always organized the chairs and tables, and cleaned them if necessary. She was working at it, so she didn't see don Theo arrive.

"What was what?"

"What else? That thing. It's dazzling me from the distance; I bet it's more expensive than the entire tavern and its content."

The ring in her hand. She couldn't hide it underneath the blouse anymore and she didn't want to either.

"I'm sorry I hadn't told you, it's-"

"No, I'm the one who owes you an apology. I didn't think… well, I wouldn't have imagined one of my employees would become la señora De la Vega."

"To tell the truth, I wouldn't have imagined it either."

"You won't forget about us, will you? You'll come visit?"

"Of course I will. I owe you a lot, don Theo."

"Just tell don Diego he better buy the wine for the wedding here as well."

The first client of the day just arrived. Time to work. Time to serve tables with that ring on. Maybe it was a bit strange, but she didn't care about how much it could cost; the sentimental value was way bigger.

(…)

The patio at the De la Vega ranch had been swept and cleaned, the ornaments and trash had been thrown away, the silver and glassware had been picked up, washed and put in their right shelves, and everything was as it should be, just as if three days before there hadn't been a huge party being celebrated in the same place.

Diego and don Alejandro were having breakfast under a tree, at the wrought iron table. At ten, they had to pick up some documents from the stagecoach and at noon, there was a meeting with another rancher regarding the acquisition of some calves.

Just another day.

Until a horse that came galloping at full speed pulled over outside and a lancer came running.

"Corporal Reyes, what happened?"

They stood up and offered him some water. He rejected it.

"I have… a message from la señorita Josefina. It's not good news."

"What is it?"

"It's don Pedro, her uncle. He died during the night."

Diego didn't have to hear another word. He rushed to the stable. Bernardo caught up with him there and less than a minute later and wearing no tie, they were already heading to the town.

Note: for the scene of Josefina entering the party, I took some inspo from a scene in Sofia Coppola's Marie Antoinette, when she arrives to Versailles for the first time; of course it's a different context, but just kind of the idea or feeling. Thanks for reading! And please drop me a review