November 23th (5)
"You are the best husband I could ever have. I knew it when I heard you recite the vows, with no one to remind you what to say." Victoria told him unable to hold back tears. "When we buried that man thinking he was Zorro I couldn't believe it was really him. I felt cold and empty, but when I saw you so sick and you said my name I knew I couldn't bear to lose you too, that you were so much more real than a man I saw for a few moments and then disappeared from my life. I prayed that you would live and we would have a chance to learn to love each other, as your father suggested. Then I knew it had been you all along, by my side in one way or another, never making demands on me, just waiting to be able to keep your promise."
He stroked her hand. "No wonder I could say the vows from memory, I had replayed them in my head so many times, it was all I could think of while I was lost."
Victoria ran her hand over her cheeks, trying to compose herself. "I'm making you too tired. I'm going to get you something to eat, you need to get your strength back, and you've barely been eating any broth and very watery meat and vegetable purees. I'll be right back."
Victoria got up from the bed she had been sitting on to tend to Diego and ran to the kitchen. The cook realized she had been crying, and for a moment she feared the worst, but Victoria spoke up excitedly, "Maria! Diego is awake. Do you have anything he can eat? Doctor Hernandez said that if he woke up we should give him something soft, that won't hurt him, as if he were a small child."
"Thank God! What a joy señora! I was just making chicken stew to try to get him to eat something. Now I won't have to turn it into mush. I'll bring him a plate right away."
"I'll be right back with him."
"Of course, I'll come as soon as I serve it."
Victoria sat down beside him, and helped him up so he could eat. A moment later Maria knocked on the door and came in with a tray. Victoria went over to take it and the woman looked at Diego smiling. "Don Diego, how good to see you awake."
"Thank you, Maria." he replied with a warm smile.
"Now you have to eat, you're gone to the bone. What a fright you have given us."
"I'll do what I can." he laughed.
She looked at him a moment longer and left the room.
"Does she always scold you?" Victoria asked.
"It's her way of telling me she cares about me." he replied.
Diego ate most of the stew, although he was having a hard time staying awake. Victoria had to help him, because he wasn't able to keep hold of the spoon without his hand shaking.
"Don't be distressed, you haven't been moving for two months and eating very little. I'm sure you'll regain your strength in no time."
Diego nodded, and noticed his eyes closing. Victoria helped him lie back down.
"Now you need to sleep for a while. When you wake up I'll be here with you."
Diego began to become aware of the noises around him, one voice predominating over the other sounds.
"I just want to stop by and see him for a moment." he heard his father whisper.
"He needs to rest." Victoria replied trying to lower her voice and only half succeeding.
"Are you sure he was all right, were you able to reason with him?"
"He was tired, and at first a little confused, but then yes, he was lucid."
Diego opened his eyes slowly, and saw his father standing in the doorway of the room, next to Victoria. He tried to sit up, and they noticed.
"Wait, Diego, I'll help you." she said hugging him again to incorporate him on the bed. This time it was Don Alejandro who placed pillows on his back, with a precision that indicated that both had been collaborating during all that time.
"Thank you." Diego said.
"I'm sorry I woke you up." don Alejandro said to Victoria's stern look.
"I had been hearing the noises in the house for a while now, I wasn't sleeping soundly." Diego replied .
"How are you feeling?"
"Weak, tired... and happy to know that I am married to Victoria." he said taking his wife's hand.
"Thank God the fever hasn't affected your mind. We were afraid you might not wake up, or that you wouldn't be the same if you did."