TRADITION
by Jo
EnyaJo@aol.com

Response to Maril's Christmas Challenge. There's no Christmas carol in sight, but this scene popped into my head and hope it's okay.

Happy Holidays!

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Marta had finished sewing a button on the Queen of Swords' black silk blouse, a button from the right cuff that she had lost on her latest escapade the night before. At least this time the repair needed was only a button, and not sewing up a slash or worse yet, trying to get off a blood stain. This was the fourth blouse that Marta had made for the Queen and she hoped that she wouldn't have to make anymore because of damage.

Marta hung the blouse on a hook in the secret closet that held the Queen's wardrobe and weaponry behind a fake panel in the pantry. The Queen's boots were placed along the side wall of the closet but their high legs had flopped to the side. Marta picked them up and thought to give them a spit shine. They had ran a lot of miles, they had seen a lot of action, and they were beyond the stage where a simple rubbing could get them clean. Marta looked at the sword and the dagger that Tessa diligently oiled and sharpened after returning from each escapade. She wondered what Don Alvarado would think of his little girl, fighting for justice, fulfilling the 'destiny' that they were convinced he had wanted for her.

"God rest his soul," Marta said, as she always did when her thoughts turned to Tessa's father who was so horribly taken out by Montoya. Although no one would admit it, everyone knew that was the case. Tessa just needed proof so she could expose Montoya for what he was to his superiors and get rid of him once and for all.

Marta walked with the Queen's boots in her arms into the table for a thorough cleaning when she suddenly wondered what had happened to Tessa. She called for her and looked around the hacienda. Tessa could not be found until Marta saw the open door to the cellar, which held the Alvarado riches behind the wine rack. Marta hadn't been down there for weeks, in fact the last time she had been, it was to get more black silk from a bolt that they had hid down there so no one would even know that they had any of the fabric that made up the Queen's uniform.

"Tessa," Marta called again, this time down the rickety stairs to the dark cellar. Marta walked down a couple of steps. When her eyes adjusted to the dark, she realized that there was a candle burning below and that Tessa had to be down there. "Tessa?"

Tessa only answered with a sniffle, making Marta walk all the way down the steps. Tessa suddenly said, "Remember to watch the second to the last step, Marta," just as Marta's foot hovered over it.

Marta smiled, "Yes, I remember about the step," she said as she held onto the hand railing and stepped past it to the bottom stair slat. She turned to see that Tessa was sitting on the old chest with an old book in her hands. Tessa's head was down, and Marta could tell that she had been crying. She hurried to her charge and put a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Tessa? What are you doing down here?"

Tessa answered with another sniffle, then lifted the book towards Marta, who took it, but concentrated on Tessa and gingerly asked, "Are you crying? Why?"

"What is next week," Tessa asked in reply.

"The Holy Season," Marta said with a warm smile. "Navidad, which is certainly not holiday to cry over, Tessa. What's the matter?"

Tessa wiped away her tears that had stained her cheeks, took a deep breath and said, "Look at the book, surely you recognize it."

As soon as Marta opened the leather bound bible she instantly knew of it's importance to Tessa. Since the year her parents received it as a wedding gift, Don and Senora Alvarado would make sure to write on the even of the birth of Christ all their blessings of the past year. The first entry was the first year of their marriage and both had recorded their gratitude that they had found each other. The next year, they had both recorded that they were ecstatic that the Lord was gifting them with a child. Marta scanned the opening pages of the bible that contained all of the Don's and Senora's handwriting, all the things they were thankful for, all their hopes and dreams in their futures. Marta knew that it was a treasured family heirloom.

After Senora Alvarado died, the Don had asked his beloved daughter to join him in continuing the ritual, starting when she was a young girl of twelve. Marta smiled when she read Tessa's first entry, "At least I still have my padre." How much she had grown, how she had matured, had come to terms with her loss over time. Tessa had been despondent without her mother before Marta joined the family. There were still times when Marta wondered if Tessa still missed the Senora more than she cared to admit. To so tragically lose the Don had to be too much for the young woman to bear.

Marta put her arm around Tessa's shoulder and they nestled their heads together. "I don't have anyone anymore," Tessa solemnly said. "I'm all alone now. I have no one to share the blessings of the season."

Marta started to say, "You have me...," but Tessa cut her off.

"I know I have you, Marta, and I'm so thankful. But you know what I mean, you have family." Tessa suddenly looked at Marta, "Marta, you won't be with your family for the first time."

Marta smiled and simply said, "But I am with my family."

"But it's not the same," Tessa said. "There isn't time for you to make it for the celebration, but would you like to go back to Spain to visit your family?"

"One day," Marta said. "When it is right. For now, my work is here, along with yours."

Tessa nodded ambitiously, "Yes. Our work is here. We are family, you and I." Marta enthusiastically nodded in agreement. Tessa stated, "I'll find the proof that I need to get rid of Montoya. I will live up to my father's hopes and dreams."

Marta smiled and hugged Tessa tightly, "You already have, Tessa. He's so proud of you."

Tessa took back her cherished book and held it protectively, then took Marta's hand. "Will you write with me in our family bible this year?"

Marta squeezed Tessa's hand and declared, "I would be honored."

THE END