November 23rd (1)
Victoria had woken up a little more cheerful than on other days. It seemed to her that Diego had a little better color lately. A few days ago they had decided that after getting him out of bed, they were going to put him in a wheelchair and take him out into the back yard, hoping that the sunlight, the wind on his face and hands, and the smells outside would do him some good. Somehow it seemed to Victoria that he was more serene.
She began to incorporate him a little, with the practice she had acquired during the two months she had been living at the hacienda. She brushed Diego's hair, unable to resist the temptation to run her fingers through his locks. She thought about how many times she had wanted to do something like that with Zorro and her eyes watered, but she shook her head and went to get what she needed to shave him.
Victoria began to talk to him, telling him what she had done the day before. She did this every day, and it gave her encouragement to share something with him, even if he couldn't answer her. "I went to the tavern yesterday. Your father said it wasn't necessary, but I like to go at least once a week to check that everything is going well. Pilar told me I look better, she even stated that I look better than ever. I think she noticed that my breasts are growing." said Victoria with a giggle. "The corset almost fits me the same in the waist, but at the top I need to leave more room. It's a good thing your son is already letting me eat normally, because I had lost quite a bit of weight. Well, I don't really know if it´s a boy, but I have a feeling he is. A little Alejandro who will drive us all crazy, you'll see."
Diego heard snatches of conversation near him. A woman's voice, sweet and clear, though not as cheerful as other times. He would recognize that voice anywhere. He had to find her, it was important to tell her something, but what? He strained to follow the sound of that voice.
"I dread the day when the town's comadres find out I'm expecting and do the math. Your father says not to worry about anything, but they can be such gossips... you men don't suffer those comments, although I don't know why I say that, if I really have no idea what you talk about when we're not around." said Victoria as she finished shaving Diego and dried his cheeks and chin with a towel. Then she laid him back down on the bed, stroking his freshly shaved face. She turned to set the basin on a small table, still talking.
"Just in case my intuition isn't good we should think of a girl's name too. I still don't know whether to start with your mother's name or mine. Well, what do you think?" At that moment she turned again to Diego, expecting to see his peaceful face, only to meet his blue eyes, which seemed even larger than usual because of the thinness of his face, looking at her with a puzzled expression.
"Diego!" she exclaimed at the sight of him. He blinked and tried to speak, but his throat was very dry.
"Wait, I'll get you something to drink." she said in a voice strained with emotion. She walked over to the bedside table and poured water from an earthenware jar into a glass, which clinked due to the trembling of her hands. She left the glass on the table, walked over to Diego and hugged him to sit him up, holding him tightly against her chest with one arm while with the other hand she grabbed a pillow to fold it in half and put it behind his back. When she reclined him again he was even more astonished than before and a little flushed.
"I guess you weren't expecting that." she said holding the glass up to his lips. He drank and coughed a little. Then he cleared his throat.
"Victoria." he whispered in a voice hoarse from lack of use.
"How are you feeling?" she said.
He shook his head, downplaying his condition. "Victoria. So... do you know for sure that you are pregnant?"
She realized that he had indeed been listening, at least this time.
"Yes," she said, nodding her head. "Three and a half months pregnant."