The Forbidden Promise (5 page)

"Won’t you ever forgive me? Can’t you one day forget Hector
Navarra y Reyes?" She asked.
Costantino smiled softly and he caressed her bronze hair.
" I've long since forgotten him, and what about you?"
" When I decided to get married, I vowed that I would do everything
possible to erase him from my mind and to love you as you deserved. I think I
have succeeded. Please don’t ever doubt me. You and our daughter are the best
thing that have ever happened to me, you have to believe this."
Costantino touched her lips with a tender kiss.
"I believe you, Viviana, but I well know how it hurts seeing the dreams of
youth shattered."
Viviana hugged him.
I don’t deserve you, Costantino, I have never deserved
you. I hate you, Hector. I hate you and all your family for having prevented me
from being completely happy.
Aurora stopped running only after passing through the gate of the house and
having turned the corner. The maid that accompanied her, as required when young
ladies went out, was struggling to keep up.
I'll be in big trouble when I get back, but at the moment I don’t care, and
soon Federico will come and everything will be fine.
She walked to Tampico’s square and went into the church. She crossed herself
before the image of the Virgin, and after a few moments of silence, she went
directly to the rectory to seek Father Julian, leaving her maid to pray in
front of the sacred image. At the rectory, she found the housekeeper, who
informed her that Father Julian was in his study.
After having thanked her and bid her good day, Aurora headed for the door
indicated by the housekeeper and saw that it was ajar. She immediately heard
that Father Julian was not alone in fact he was talking quite animatedly with
someone.
" I'm not saying it's not right that you try to regain your position, but
I don’t want you to take a step that’s too risky." Father Julian was
clearly trying to dissuade someone.
"Think about it, Father, a
hacienda
in Zacatecas! I could re-start
the extraction of silver and the deal would make me a lot of money. I'm sure
I'll be able to manage it. In addition, the owner is in deep water so I'm
certain I could get it for a good price."
Said the man who was
talking with Father Julian.
"You’d have to sell everything you have and invest the fund that was left
to you in your mother's inheritance. It still wouldn’t be enough for you to buy
a
hacienda
like this!" Said Father Julian.
"I came to seek help and support. You don’t understand Father, I need to
win back the position that was taken from me."
Aurora heard Father Julian sigh loudly.
"I've known you since you were a child and I love you like a son, I know
perfectly well the fire that devours you. You want to be rich and powerful and
then find a way to get revenge. But I tell you, revenge is not a Christian
sentiment. It isn’t with hatred and bitterness that you’ll find your way, but
in forgiveness, as taught by our Lord Jesus Christ."
"I'll go to Don Guadalupe, the banker, to ask for a loan." Replied
the man.
Aurora decided to knock, not wanting to be discovered listening, like a nosy
parker.
"Come in," replied Father Julian.
Aurora entered the room. Next to Father Julian’s writing desk, she saw a tall,
tanned man with flowing black hair and irresistible green eyes.
I know this man, he’s the one from the market!
The stranger had also recognized Aurora, she could tell by the nod that he gave
her, accompanied by a grin.
"Good morning, dear child,” said Father Julian, getting up from his chair
to hug her. “Welcome back! I'm so happy to see you here in Tampico again. Make
yourself at home, you must tell me about your experience in Mexico City."
"Yes, Father, I’d be happy to, but if you're busy I’ll come back
later."
"No, don’t worry," interrupted the man in a warm and mellow voice.
"I was just going to leave."
"I didn’t mean to interrupt
you
.
" Said
Aurora uncertain.
" No, I’ve finished. Stay, please."
"You know each other?" Asked Father Julian intervening in the
conversation.
" To tell the truth, I’ve had the great pleasure of meeting the young
lady, but I haven’t yet had the pleasure of being presented to her." He
answered as he turned to Aurora.
"My name is Lucas Navarra y Reyes, at your service." He took her hand
gently, brushing the back lightly with their lips, while his green eyes stared
up at her face.
Aurora looked away, embarrassed.
" Very pleased to meet you, I'm Aurora Vargas de Coronado."
" Dr. Costantino’s daughter, I guess?"
Aurora nodded.
" And are you by any chance a relative of Federico Navarra y Reyes?"
Asked Aurora
Lucas stiffened slightly.
"Yes," he replied curtly. "I'm his brother.”
Aurora looked at him strangely. In Mexico City, Federico had never mentioned a
brother.
" Are you surprised?" urged Lucas." You find us so different?”
"No. it’s that he never mentioned a brother. That's all" Replied
Aurora.
"You don’t know him very well, then. All Tampico knows about us."
" I’ve been away for a long time and prior to going to Mexico City I
hadn’t met your brother." Retorted Aurora who began to get irritated.
Lucas spoke in a rather abrupt manner and forced her to justify herself over
almost every word, as if she had committed a terrible deed.
" Of course I knew who the Navarra y Reyes were, the owners of the largest
hacienda
in the surrounding area," Adding "I guess it's
wonderful to live there.”
A flash of fury passed across Lucas’ eyes.
"Don’t ask me. Ask your friend. If you’ll excuse me I’ll leave." He
turned away abruptly.
Aurora opened her fan and began to fan nervously.
How ill mannered! But what
did I do to him?

Aurora looked quizzically at the old priest.
"Don’t worry, child," he said. "I'll tell you a few things about
Lucas. He's a good man, but certain things irritate him enormously. This of
course doesn’t exempt him from being courteous, especially to a young
lady."
" I don’t understand. What could have irritated him in what I said?"
queried Aurora.
" Really, you've never heard of the story of the two Navarra y Reyes
brothers? Your parents are really praiseworthy people if they’ve never spoken
of the gossip at home. Although I don’t like to gossip, I think you deserve an
explanation. Furthermore, their story is not exactly a secret."
Father Julian gave her a brief summary of the affair. Aurora looked at him
dismayed.
" Now I understand that I may have irritated him," she said
disconsolately. " He must have suffered a lot, poor thing."
"Yes, daughter, certain offenses are difficult to forget. But now, tell me
about yourself. "
Aurora spoke briefly of her life in Mexico City: her studies, the bustle of the
city, her cousin Dolores.
Father Julian listened with great attention and a deep interest.
" You can understand now how I get bored here and would like to practice
what I studied. I’d be very happy if I could offer my services as a volunteer
in the infirmary for the parish’s sick destitute."
"Your charitable mind gives you honor, my child," said Father Julian
admiringly. ”Your father also works there sometimes for free. The good nuns of
La
Virgen de la Caridad
that help in the infirmary are really enthusiastic
about him. "
"My father is a good man. If it hadn’t been for him, I’d never have had
the opportunity to study medicine. As you know my mother didn’t approved at
all."
"
Doña
Viviana is just as good," said Father Julian. “The
organization of her charity auctions is always perfect and she devotes a lot of
time to them. You must understand, my daughter, she has a different view of
life from yours, but what she wants more than anything else is your
happiness."
Aurora decided to skip over the thorny issue of her relationship with her
mother.
"You think I can work at the hospital? “She inquired.
" If you really want to, I will speak with the Mother Superior,"
replied Father Julian.
" Thank you so much." Aurora thanked him enthusiastically. “I can’t
wait to begin."
Aurora left the rectory very satisfied. As she didn’t want to return home
immediately she walked towards the sea, followed as always by recalcitrant maid
who pleaded constantly that they return home. The white beach shone under the
rays of the sun, while the calm waves left a line of foam on the shore. The
green palms completed the wonderful and exotic landscape. She sat down in the
shade of a palm tree to admire the ocean with the sun sparkling on the surface
of the blue waves.
The sea was perhaps the thing that she had missed most in Mexico City. She was
lost in her thoughts, and didn’t notice the passage of time. She couldn’t
completely banish the memory of the meetings she had had with Lucas Navarra y
Reyes. It was as if from the depths of her mind the man’s irresistible eyes
continually appeared to distract her
. Federico isn’t to blame for what
happened. He’s also much more refined and elegant. Federico, when can we see
each other again?
Suddenly she realized that the sun was slowly descending towards the
horizon, assuming a pink tinge. She got up and walked back towards the town.
After crossing the square, she suddenly saw Lucas coming out of the bank. She
remembered the conversation she had overheard at Father Julian’s, before she
had knocked on the door.
He went to ask for a loan
. Lucas’ face was
dark. For a moment, she thought of changing direction, but it was too late and
her move would have been immediately interpreted for what it was, a misguided
attempt to avoid him that would have made her look irreparably rude.
She swallowed and braced herself.
"Good evening, Miss Vargas de Coronado," said Lucas making a small
bow. "This town must be very small if in two days we meet for the third
time.”
Lucas gave her a sunny smile.
" You’re right," said Aurora smiling back." Tampico seems like a
small village. "
Relieved, she decided to make up for the earlier unpleasant meeting.
" I'm sorry for what I said at Father Julian’s. I didn’t know that it
would irritate you. "
She realized immediately that her words had had exactly the opposite effect.
"You didn’t know, but you saw fit to inform yourself as soon as
possible!" Retorted Lucas annoyed “I hope you didn’t have to work too hard
to carry out your investigation!"
Aurora decided to answer tartly.
" It wasn’t difficult, as you said all Tampico is aware of it," she
replied sarcastically.
"I’m pleased that you were able to get to the bottom of your
curiosity." Retorted Lucas.
"Don’t overestimate yourself. I didn’t and I don’t have any particular curiosity
in you!"
"Oh yes. I forgot, you're more interested in my brother." Said Lucas
" How dare you! You know nothing about me! " Aurora answered back.
"You say that? You’re the first female doctor in Tampico, one of the few
in the whole Mexico? News travels fast, young lady."
"Having been in Mexico City for so long, I forgot how gossipy the
inhabitants in the province can be. I am surprised that a man like you would
devote himself to this hobby. Now I understand why you thought I’d have a
morbid curiosity about your background, you’ve judged me by your own
standards."
Lucas laughed.
" You find this funny?“ She asked angrily.
"Yes. Maybe you don’t realize it, but we’re among the most famous and most
talked-about residents of Tampico. "
" You are impossible! "
" Yes, maybe I am."
"You’re self-centered! "
" Living alone often makes you self-centered; who else should you think of
otherwise?"
Aurora looked at him dumbfounded for a few seconds, then not able to resist any
longer she burst out laughing.
Lucas stared captivated by the light that shone from Aurora’s hazel eyes while
she laughed, obviously very much amused. The delicate face had taken on a
joyful and charming expression.
" Excuse me if I offended you," he said in a mellow voice, sincerely
repentant. "Sometimes I can’t help myself. You’ll think that I am a boor,
but I swear I do know how to behave with a girl as pretty as you."
Aurora was surprised by Lucas’ sudden change of mood. She saw his eyes relax
and become irresistible, as if he wanted to attract her like a magnet.
" Apology accepted, don’t worry," she replied slowly.
"Then you won’t keep any bad memories of me? "
" Should I keep any memories of you at all? "
" Perhaps you want to forget me? "
Aurora did not answer. She just smiled.
" Now I really have to go. My parents will wonder where I am. If you’ll
excuse me."
"Of course.” Replied Lucas amused.
Aurora continued on her way home, followed by the maid that begged her to hurry
or they would both incur
Doña
Viviana’s ire. Aurora had her head full of
other thoughts, in fact, she strove hard not to give in to the impulse to turn
around to see if Lucas was still watching her.
She returned home quickly, knowing that the servant was right and that she had
been out too long.
She found her mother sitting on the sofa, intent on her embroidery.
"Good evening, mother. "
"Welcome back," said her mother without another word.
Costantino having finished the last patient’s visit, joined Viviana and Aurora
and shortly after Carmen served dinner.
" Aurora, have you spoken with Father Julian?" He asked calmly.
Aurora, looked at her mother before answering, but
Doña
Viviana remained
silent, moving her fork elegantly to her mouth and continued to eat.
" Yes, he told me that he would help me," she said.
Viviana looked up staring at her for a few seconds. Then she turned to speak to
Costantino.
" I saw that you had a visit from Rev. Luis Antonio Braganza," she
said. “I hope he’s all right and there is nothing to worry about."
Costantino replied that it was just common ailments of old age. Aurora was
distracted and did not participate in the conversation. She reflected on the
happy events of the afternoon, that Father Julian had promise to help her, that
she had met Lucas again.
What a hassle. I seem to be destined to find myself
in front of him wherever I go.
She finished dinner and immediately retired to her room. That evening she had
trouble getting to sleep. When she finally drifted off, Federico and Lucas’
faces flashed before her closed eyes, alternating and overlapping.
The
Navarra y Reyes brothers, it’ll be them that decide my destiny.