Chapter 9

"Diego, I have to talk to you."

Angrily Alejandro strode into the library where his son was reading.

"Father is something wrong?"

Diego faced his father innocently, putting his book aside.

"Something wrong? That's quite an understatement. I just had to witness a conversation between Victoria and Zorro and it was the most embarrassing talk I ever heard. And half of the pueblo was present when Victoria told Zorro what I never wanted to hear."

"What did she say?" Diego asked with a blank face.

"She split up with Zorro and she told him that you were the reason. What I want to know from you if this is true? You and Victoria?" He didn't finish the sentence again, the topic was too embarrassing for him.

"If you must know, father, it is true. Of course Victoria and I will marry as soon as possible. Will next week be right for you?"

"You're talking about this as if this was an invitation for a dinner and not for your wedding. How can you take this so easily? I still can't believe it. Victoria was distressed, because she thought that Zorro was dead and you had nothing better to do than to take advantage of her. Victoria probably broke Zorro's heart today after all these years he has been true to her. How could you do this to them? I thought I had raised you better."

"Father, it is not as you think. You don't know everything."

"He's right, Don Alejandro," added Victoria. In his rage Alejandro hadn't noticed Victoria enter the library who had followed Alejandro from the pueblo.

Without comment Diego opened his arms and Victoria went straight into his embrace ignoring Alejandro's angry look. Seeing them so close only enhanced Alejandro's rage.

"I don't want to see the two of you together until you are properly wed." Alejandro growled.

"Then there won't be a problem," Diego grinned mischievously turning his attention to the woman in his arms. "I'm sorry I had to put you through this, Victoria. You were marvelous today."

"It was my idea and it served our purpose well to get officially married soon."

"If only the padre will be so easily persuaded as the alcalde. I'm not looking forward to talk to him again."

Alejandro looked at them uncomprehendingly. "What are you talking about? Shouldn't you show at least a little remorse for what you have done? Victoria, I really thought better of you. All those years Zorro courted you and you promised to wait for him and now it seems as if it was nothing to you!"

"Father, I think you should really sit down. There are some things I need to tell you."

Diego pointed to Alejandro's favorite chair and motioned him to sit while he and Victoria sat down together on the sofa, never letting her go.

Alejandro slowly lowered himself to the edge of the seat ready to jump up instantly.

"The problem with the padre, father, is that we are already married since last week. You really did raise me well. And Victoria didn't break Zorro's heart today, because I am Zorro."

Alejandro opened his mouth to say something, but he was too stunned to utter a word.

"The conversation today in the pueblo was just a ruse to make everyone believe that Zorro and I are two different persons when of course we are not."

The moment Diego said it, he shed his Diego attitude like an old skin that had become too small for him letting his father see through the invisible mask he had been wearing the last years. Alejandro only continued to stare at his son who had so thoroughly changed in front of his eyes. Only the tight grip on the armrests prevented him from sliding down at the carpet.

Now that Diego had stopped acting, there was the man he knew as Zorro sitting in front of him. His whole bearing was much more self confident and commanding than the son he knew. Even his voice had changed and was much lower now.

"You are Zorro!" It wasn't a question but a statement that came from Alejandro's lips. "For how long have you known, Victoria?"

"Only since she spilled the food over my jacket, the day I returned form the north." Diego answered. Then he began to explain most of the events from the last days except for the private parts. Alejandro saw his former suspicions confirmed guessing some of the details Diego so conveniently left out.

Diego had to explain a lot more that night until it was time to retire. He took his wife up in his arms and carried her to his room leaving his bewildered father behind who was still trying to grasp all the news he learned today.