Chapter 10

Later that afternoon, Victoria watched as don Alejandro and Diego walked away from the plaza together.
She gazed at Felipe standing next to her, feeling somewhat awkward.

"Will you join me at the tavern for a drink?"
She put an arm around his shoulders, and together they walked through the kitchen door into the tavern.
Victoria took a pitcher of juice out of the storage room and poured two glasses full.
"Don Diego and don Alejandro will be here in a minute, I am sure."
Victoria felt as uncomfortable as Felipe seemed to feel.
So much had happened this afternoon that she could still barely contain it.

De Soto had killed Gilberto Risendo.
Risendo had been in a fight with don Diego. Zorro had never shown up in or near the hacienda or the pueblo. And for the first time, Victoria knew why.
She remembered that she had a bowl of cookies.
Victoria offered one to Felipe.
"It has been quite a day. How nice that don Diego wants to adopt you."

Felipe smiled and nibbled on the cookie.

They chatted about meaningless things until Diego came in, followed by don Alejandro.
Both dons knew that when the tavern was closed. And Victoria was there. They could always come in the back.
Victoria poured more glasses full and offered everyone a cookie.
Both dons didn't say much but exchanged meaningful glances Victoria presumed had more meaning.
Victoria ignored them, and after fifteen minutes, Alejandro stood up.
"I think we are going to head for the hacienda. Diego, Felipe, are you coming?"

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Victoria attended Gilberto de la Vega's funeral the next day.
If only for the moral support of a family that was dear to her.
All the events were especially hard on don Alejandro. The discovery that he had another son he had never known was something hard to deal with. The old don stood by the grave with shoulders lowered, and it pained Victoria's heart to see the man she considered a father so desolate.
Victoria got invited to join them at the hacienda after the ceremony. For a moment, it crossed her mind to confront Diego today with her discovery.
She could not bring herself to burden Diego any further. He had lost a brother and needed to support his father. And so Victoria clamped her lips together and did everything she could to assist and comfort both men.
And deep down inside, she felt relieved about it.

The insight Victoria had just gained still needed time to sink in. She could still hardly believe it could be real. Victoria had made several valiant attempts to dismiss it as nonsense. In the past, she had always succeeded doing just that. Often, Diego had helped her do it. How many times had she thought that Zorro might be Diego? And how many times had Diego then done something that made her feel silly for even considering such a ridiculous idea?
Convincing herself to the belief that if something was too good to be true, it usually was.
This time, Victoria could no longer ignore the signals. The longer she knew and thought about it, the more the evidence piled up.
Victoria had no choice but finally accept Zorro and Diego were as different as day and night. Together, however, they were whole.

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It was amazing how easily the following days stretched themselves together.
De Soto took over the leadership in the pueblo again and seemed to have improved his attitude.
Zorro had not shown up again, and the question that occupied many was what had happened to Zorro. The lancers had found his hat.
People dared to come to the pueblo again, and the tavern was as crowded as ever.
The events as they had happened in the past week were the talk of the day. And got every day discussed at length.
Everyone agreed that the de la Vega's, especially don Alejandro, had suffered the most from Inez and Gilberto Risendo.
Victoria did worry over the old don. Alejandro tried to pick up his life again. Sometimes he showed up in the pueblo. The pitying looks, encouraging pats on the back and reassuring words soon became too much for him. After which, he returned to the quiet of his rancho.
Diego and Felipe, with the help of Padre Benitez, were busy almost every day arranging the formalities of the adoption. Only once did they eat at the tavern.

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On the eighth day, Victoria arranged for her helpers to open the tavern after the siesta. She planned to go to the hacienda.
Victoria was on edge with nerves. Zorro had told her he had feelings for her. At the same time, hr had never wanted to take his mask off for her. As a reason, he said he didn't want to put her in danger. How would Diego react when he discovered she had figured the secret out all on her own? Would he reject her because the risks were still there? Or would he allow them to start building a life together?
Victoria had grown aware that Diego had given her subtle hints. She had the idea that Diego had tried to tell her, but didn't dare. After all, Zorro had also told her that his greatest fear was that she would reject him after he unmasked. Back then it had sounded unbelievable, Zorro could even think such a thing. Thinking back on some remarks she had made, Victoria realized Zorro might have a point, thinking that.

By chance, Victoria had heard Mendoza say that don Alejandro and Felipe were planning to visit the orphanage this afternoon. She had hoped it meant that she could meet Diego alone in the hacienda. That seemed better to her. This way, there was plenty of opportunity to talk in private. The option of asking Diego to come to the tavern, Victoria had dismissed right away. There were too many opportunities to get disturbed there.

Victoria knocked on the thick oak door, and seconds after, the door swung open.
"Victoria," Diego called out, happily surprised.

"Buenos días, don Diego. I wanted to come and bring your father a little treat."

Diego held the door open invitingly, and Victoria hesitated for a moment before stepping over the threshold, knowing that this might change her life.
Victoria pulled off the cloth she had placed over the basket to protect the food she had brought during the short ride from the pueblo to the hacienda.

"A flan!" Exclaimed Diego. "I'm sure my father will appreciate that. Thank you, Victoria. He's not here at the moment. He and Felipe are visiting the orphanage together." Diego took the basket from her to put on the corner of the piano.

Flan was don Alejandro's favourite dessert and also Diego's, as Victoria knew all too well.
"How is your father? The last time I saw him, he seemed so upset."

"Father is still having a hard time coping with all. He blames himself." Explained Diego. "My suspicion is that is why he is visiting the orphanage. He wants to show those children, not everyone rejects them."

Victoria understood the reasoning. Fed up with señora Risendo's lies, Gilberto must have felt rejected by his parents as a child. That had caused his hatred to get rooted so deep.
Many of those orphans could also feel as if no one in the world cared enough about them.
"And how are you?" Victoria stepped in his direction and saw how Diego was getting slightly nervous.

"I'm fine," Diego replied coldly.

It was harder than Victoria had thought. How was she supposed to let Diego know that she knew? Was this also something he had struggled with, Victoria wondered. She didn't want to forgive Diego straight away for all the years of deceit and tricks he played on her. She felt hurt and cheated. Yet she also had no intention whatsoever of rejecting him.
Victoria walked toward the outer door again. Diego followed her.
At the doorway, she turned around. "Should you need to talk about it, will you let me know?"

"I most certainly will," Diego replied, just as civil and polite as always.

Victoria continued to dawdle at the door.
She scraped her courage together. She had sent herself on a mission and wanted to tell Diego. So Victoria asked him. "Don Diego, can I ask you a question?"

Diego gave her a friendly smile. "Of course. Tell me what I can do for you."

"Perhaps we'd better sit down first. What I want to say is rather private."

Diego made a wide, inviting arm gesture toward the sofa and offered her his arm. Victoria accepted, and she took a seat.
She licked her tongue along her lips. The moment of truth had arrived. It was time to ask her question. Victoria opened her mouth, and words came out.
"Don't you think you owe me an explanation?"

Questioningly, Diego raised his eyebrows.
"When you're talking about Gilberto. It is true, nor my father, nor I knew."

"I'm not talking about Gilberto." Her voice faltered. "I'm talking about us." Victoria scraped her throat. "Starting with, why did you never tell?"

Bewildered, Diego uttered. "Tell you what? I don't understand what you're talking about."

Quasi nonchalantly, as if she barely cared about the answer, Victoria asked. "Were you planning on ever telling me we are engaged?"

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