Trasna na huiscí

Azucena felt her heart quicken with anticipation as her father's castle appeared in the distance, fighting the urge to make her mare go faster. "We are almost there, senorita Ramos", said her escort Alonso.

She nodded at the man as the castle grew closer, the escort taking the reins and helping her dismount. A big grin formed on her face when she saw her father, running over to his arms and embracing him. "Papi!" she exclaimed.

"Hola, chica. I want you to rest and take a bath, later you will meet your new mother", he said, a hand resting on her curly auburn hair.

"Is she pretty and kind?", asked Azucena.

"Si, ella son bonita y carinosa, chica. And if you are a good girl, I will ask the cook to make you pestinos for dessert", he said as his daughter smiled with delight.

"Gracias, Papi", she said happily.

Sergio chuckled and kissed his daugher's forehead as the girl was escorted to her chamber. I can't wait for Aine to meet her, my two favorite girls, he chuckled.

Aine was still as the seamstress pinned the back of the dress tight, the seamstress nodding in approval. "Eras tan hermosa, senorita O'Flaherty", said the middle-aged woman.

"Gracias", she replied as she glanced at herself in the mirror. Aine modeled her future wedding dress, a heavy blue satin broacde. The bodice and upper skirts were sky blue embroidered with tiny glass beads and the floor-length lower skirt was a rich dark teal patterned with black glass beads that shimmered and thin blue silk peticoats underneath.

The seamstress helped her out of the dress and carefully placed it on one of the wooden dressmakers' dummies, packing up her things while Aine carefully removed the peticoats. "I will come back in two days for the final fitting, Senorita", she said.

Aine nodded as she removed the pins from her hair and got in bed to take her nap. Sergio says his daughter is supposed to arrive today, I hope she likes me, she thought before falling asleep.

Aine was in a better mood and felt refreshed when she woke up from her nap several hours later, Elena taking a dress from the wardrobe and brushing her hair. "La hija de Sergio son muy linda, son peliroja. Y el esta muy carinosa para ella", she said.

Aine nodded as Elena gently loosened the tangles and then brushed her hair. "I want to meet her, if I am going to be her mother", she replied.

Elena braided her hair and styled it in a bun at the base of her neck, placing a golden caul over it. The dress was a simple pine green silk gown with a full skirt and a high neckline, a thin gold chain with a ruby and moonstone pendant shaped like a carnation, a gift from Sergio. "Tu eras mas bella, senorita Aine. Sergio va a gustar", she teased.

Aine just smiled as she lef the room and saw Ciara and Kevin waiting, the younger girl wearing a similar dress in a deep rose pink and their brother n a black satin suit with knee breeches. "I've seen Sergio's daughter with her nurse, she is a pretty lass with dark red hair and sweet. You will like her", she said.

"That is good to know", she replied as they walked towards the parlor. Aine had to smile when she saw Sergio on a large settee with a little girl seated between his legs as he taught her a singing game, having the girl sing and clap along in a rhythm. He looked up and smiled, carefully having his daughter stand up and getting to his feet before taking her hand and kissing the knuckles. "Hola, mi tesoro. This is my daughter Azucena Ramos Perez. Azucena, ese son tu nueva mam y mi esposa futura, Aine O'Flaherty", he said.

Aine bent down and smiled kindly at the little girl. "Hola, Azucena", she siad.

"Hola, Senora", she replied shyly. Azucena was a pretty child with long curly auburn hair the color of melted garnets and the same dark eyes as her father, wearing a simple dark blue dress that brought out the red in her hair.

"She is just nervous, once she gets to know you better, she will warm up to you", said Sergio.

Azucena broke into a grin when Don Ramos entered the room, running into his arms as he embraced her. "Hola, chica. Que tal?", he asked.

"Son bueno, abuelo. Tiene pestinos para postre?", she asked.

"Si, nena", he chuckled.

Sergio smiled at the sight as everyone made their way towards the dining room. "Papi, when are you getting married?", she asked.

"In a week, nena. And you will have a pretty dress and flowers in your hair when you go to church, Tio Rene will be doing the ceremony", he replied as her eyes went wide like saucers.

"Me gusto mucho, Papi", she said.

Sergio chuckled at his daughter as a servent poured everyone a glass of wine. Throughout the dinner Aine watched him as Sergio cut the meat in tiny pieces for her and made sure her cup was filled with milk. He is a very good father to his daughter, that is a good sign, she mused.

After the dinner dishes were cleared, a servent brought out a large platter of the fried honey fritters and a pitcher of sweet cream, much to the girl's delight. Sergio chuckled and served her before serving Aine and then himself. "Papa, I want to hear a story", she said.

"Let me tell you a story, you will have to translate, Sergio", said Aine as she began the tale of The Voyage of Bran as Sergio translated.

"Aine, I want to go to that place", said Azucena.

"It is an old Irish story, many of them are about voyages to strange places only special people go. Perhaps if you are one of the lucky ones, you can go on such a voyage", she replied kindly.

Segio bent down to her level and looked the girl straight in the eyes. "Mira a mi, hija. Aine is going to be your mother, you are staying here with us and I will have a tutor for you so you don't have to go back to the school. Verdad, son bueno?", he asked.

"Si, Papi. Am I going to have a pony?", she asked.

"Si, chica. I will teach you to ride, it is a good thing to know", he chuckled.