A Surprise for Elena

"Gracias for coming, Regina. I wanted to ask you for your help," Mama Reynaldo said with a warm smile. She drew the young girl into the bedroom closest to the kitchen, opened the armoire and pulled something from one of the bottom shelves. As Mama unwrapped the fabric, Regina gasped. The fabric was gorgeous and beautifully embroidered.

"It's so pretty!" Regina blurted out, reaching out to touch it.

"I was hoping you'd try the dress on for me. You and Elena are very much the same size and I need to see if it fits. I don't have much time to make alterations."

"I don't mind. It will just be tough taking it off and giving it back, but I'm happy to help," Regina said.

"Bueno, I shall be back in a few minutes. If you need help with the buttons, just call for me," Mama said. "And gracias... thank you... Regina."

A Request from Mama Reynaldo

"Regina! Hóla, Regina!"

It was Elena's brother Armando calling her. The girls had left the house itself and were sitting in the dark coolness of the nearby barn, playing with a litter of three week old kittens. The little cats' eyes had recently opened and were a beautiful blue. Their ears were also open and stuck up like little peaks from their furred heads. They were adorable.

"What does he want with you now?" Elena complained. "We watched the niños all morning. Surely we deserve some time to rest."

"And some quiet. Those kids were full of energy and so noisy!" Regina laughed as she set the little black and white kitten back in the straw beside its mother. "I'll go see what Armando wants."

As she excited the dim light of the barn, Regina shielded her eyes from the bright sun. Armando spotted her before she could call out to him and dashed over.

"Is Elena with you?" he asked in hushed tones.

"She's in the barn, why?"

"I need to talk to you. Mama has a plan," Armando said, glancing toward the barn with a mischievous grin. "Go on. Go find Mama in the salon. I'll stall Elena."

Regina looked doubtfully at him and took an involuntary step toward the barn. Armando reached out and took hold of her shoulders.

"No, the salon. Please. Mama sent me and she needs your help. Go on now," Armando's tone was insistent.

"Fine, fine. I'll go," she replied. "But please make sure Elena knows it's your fault I'm gone, OK?"

"Whatever you say, chica," Armando laughed quietly. "Now go on before she comes out. Hurry!"

Breakfast

If she'd thought she would be lonely and sad without her grandfather during the holidays, Regina was very mistaken. The Reynaldo household was bustling. Aunts and uncles (tías and tíos as they were called) had come for Christmas and brought their children, their animals, their parents. Regina and Elena were pressed into service watching the children each morning while the women cooked and chattered away. The smells wafting from the kitchen made them all hungry - it was tough to keep the little ones out of the hacienda's kitchen until desayuno or breakfast.

When they finally sat down to eat, Regina's stomach was grumbling loudly. "Mmm, this looks delicious, Elena," she whispered. "Thanks again for bringing me to your home. There's nothing they serve as Miss Porter's that tastes this delicious."

"Thanks, but make sure you tell madre that, Regina." Elena replied, shooting a glance down the length of the table toward her mother. "She worried that you wouldn't like the food."

"But 'Lena," Regina protested. "I've stayed with you before and I love your mother's cooking. She knows that doesn't she?"

"Yes, but you've never stayed so long and she's not just cooking for us this time. She's got a whole houseful of relatives who expect the usual holiday fare. Plus, she likes you. She wants you to be happy." Elena shrugged and forked another bite of chorizo and eggs into her mouth.

"I'll be sure to tell her then," Regina said and fell silent as both girls ate their fill.

Christmas at Elena's

Elena and Regina were packed and waiting outside the school's front gate when her family wagon pulled up. There had been carts and wagons arriving all day, hauling laughing girls away with their happy families. Elena didn't ask but she thought Regina was watching the other girls wistfully as they hugged and kissed their parents. She hoped she was right, that they'd have a good time at her family home. Elena wanted to put a smile back on Regina's face again.

"There you are, chicas. The two most beautiful ladies in Santa Barbara. Ahora, Armando, load up their bags," Papa ordered. "Time to head out. Mama has been cooking all day. She can't wait to see the two of you again."

Regina clambered up into the back of the wagon behind Elena and settled in. She'd come to enjoy watching the scenery - it was so different than back home in Kentucky, but still lovely. For the next several weeks she would pretend to be a member of the wonderful, big, noisy Reynaldo family. She would keep busy and forget how far away she was from her own home and her Pappy. It would be a sad Christmas but maybe if she kept busy, stayed occupied, she wouldn't cry too much.