Chapter 3

The next day was the christening of Rafael's son. After the ceremony the large number of guests that were mainly members from Margarita's extended family and some from Rafael's mother's side, gathered at the hacienda to celebrate the event.

Diego was seated next to a young señorita who was introduced to him as Maria Gonzalez, the daughter of Don Pedro Gonzalez, a distant relative of Margarita. Diego estimated her to be about twenty years old, nearly the same age Victoria had been when he first met her again after his return from Spain four years ago. With her auburn hair and tall, slender build she was a real beauty that Diego couldn't fail to notice.

Thinking about his conversation with his cousin last night he decided to make the best of his situation and to enjoy his stay in Monterey. He hadn't had a rest from his work as Zorro since he had returned from France, and after his break-up with Victoria he was a free man.

"It seems like we're the only ones our age who aren't married yet. That's why they put us together."

Diego looked around and found her statement to be true. All the adults in their twenties appeared to be married and attended the feast with their spouses.

"Then I must be very lucky to be seated near such a beautiful señorita as you," Diego complimented her. "It could be much worse." Diego pointed to an older voluminous widow in tight black clothes who looked rather grim. His remark made her laugh.

"Oh, that is my Aunt Esmeralda. She is quite a dragon and everyone tiptoes around her, trying to stay out of her way."

"What good fortune has kept you from being here with a husband or fiancé, so I have the pleasure to be your dinner partner?" Diego inquired charmingly, sipping at his wine.

"I have only recently returned from school in Spain and there weren't any social activities I have been able to attend since then." Maria replied. "But why aren't you married, Don Diego? Or are you a widower already?" she asked gently.

Since most men of his age were already married for several years, it was not unusual that some were widowed again having lost their wives in childbirth.

"No, I'm still unmarried because I haven't taken the time yet to find the right woman," Diego declared.

"What keeps you so occupied that you find no time for the nice things in life like having a family, Don Diego?" Maria inquired curiously.

"In contrast to most caballeros who walk around displaying their sword skill, I've never liked this kind of action. In addition to editing our local newspaper I spend my time with reading, arts and scientific experiments." Though Diego had decided to be more like himself during his stay in Monterey he knew he had to keep up the image of weak studious Diego, though he started to hate it.

"But now you are here in Monterey, Don Diego, there are no experiments to occupy you. How will you spend your time?" Maria was obviously flirting with him and for once he didn't mind.

"Maybe you could show me around a bit?" Diego took the hint.

"I'd be delighted," Maria smiled and started to talk about the sights Monterey had to offer. Soon they chatted amiably with each other, Maria laughing often at his remarks.

Z Z Z

The next morning Diego woke up with a headache from the unusual amount of wine he had drunk the day before.

"You did make quite an impression on the señoritas yesterday." His cousin laughed at his miserable state at breakfast. Especially Señorita Maria Gonzalez was ravished by your charm."

"You mean the auburn young lady who was my dinner partner?" Diego's memory was a bit blurred.

"What do you remember from yesterday?" Rafael was having fun at his expense. "If you have forgotten it, I have to remind you that you are expected at her house at 10 for a tour of Monterey. So you have about an hour for breakfast and sobering up a bit."

"Was else did I do?" Diego was horrified that he might have given himself away yesterday without remembering it.

"I can assure you, Diego, nothing has happened except that you were the most charming man of the whole party, having many men jealously eying their wives while they were dancing with you. It was nearly like old times before you went to Madrid. You should really open up more often, Diego."

Relieved by his cousin's assurance Diego was soon on his way to his appointment with Maria Gonzalez. They went for a walk to the market at Monterey's central plaza and he found the tour quite enjoyable.

During the next few days Diego spent a lot of time in the company of Maria Gonzalez, who enjoyed going for a walk with him or showing him around. Slowly, Diego began to warm up to the idea of spending time with a woman that was not Victoria. At least her company helped him not to think about Victoria all the time, and he could do with some distraction. Having learned from his headache, he kept the amount of wine he drank to a minimum, though he enjoyed the liberty of not having to be on constant alert.

In return for the hospitality and the friendly reception he had gotten from Don Pedro and his daughter, Diego invited them for a visit to Los Angeles. They wanted to accompany him when he returned home, making him stay a few days longer than he had initially planned, so they could get ready for the journey.

Z Z Z

"Don Alejandro, what can I bring you?" Victoria asked her fatherly friend, putting on a small smile for him. "The carne asada Diego likes so much? Where is Diego by the way? I haven't seen him for weeks now."

"I'll have to disappoint you if you were hoping to see him. At the moment he is visiting his cousin Rafael in Monterey. You remember him? You have met him and his fiancée Margarita before they got married."

"Yes, I remember." Victoria's didn't like to be reminded of that encounter when she and Margarita had thrown food at each other fighting about Zorro. "Diego is in Monterey? He didn't even tell me he was going there or say goodbye!" Victoria was surprised and disappointed by his behavior.

"I don't know what has gotten into him lately, Victoria. I had somehow the impression he was trying to avoid you. Did the two of you have a fight?"

"Nothing I can remember. But I hope we can sort it out. When will he be back?"

"I don't know for sure. He just wrote a letter that he will stay a few days longer than the week he had intended. First Diego didn't want to go and now he wants to stay. He always surprises me."

In low spirits, Victoria returned to the kitchen. Except for the time he had been in France for three months, this was the longest time she hadn't seen him, and she missed his company. Why hadn't he come to tavern before he left? Was he cross with her as Alejandro had hinted? Or didn't he want to be bothered with her pining for Zorro?

Sensing her mood, Alejandro asked Victoria to join him at the table for a moment. "Sit down for a moment. The tavern is nearly empty and you look as if you need a break."

Gratefully, Victoria sat down on a chair opposite to Don Alejandro and put her arms on the table. She appreciated his attempts to cheer her up. "How are you today, Victoria?"

"As always," she replied, depressed. "Zorro hasn't been seen in the pueblo for days and I don't know if I should be grateful that I'm spared the indifference he has shown me lately or if I'm angry that he doesn't come any more and I haven't a chance to corner him and talk to him."

"Have you made any progress in your efforts to find out who he is?"

"No, none at all. He told me he gave me enough clues, but I'm running circles in my mind trying to make the right connections. I tried for years to discover his identity, but I could never figure it out. What chance do I have now when he's no longer talking to me?"

Feeling helpless Alejandro watched her run into the kitchen to hide the tears she didn't want her customers to see. Sighing, he wished he hadn't sent Diego to Monterey, maybe he would be able to do something for her.