Caray, Caray!

At Rancho Arroyo Seco, James has returned from town but he tells Acacia that he forgot the rat poison. He offers to set a trap instead. Acacia stares at him and tells him that he doesn’t understand….

Meliton approaches and tells James that he’s heard James is going to DF. Acacia is fearful. Meliton asks when he will be back, in light of the upcoming harvest. James says he doesn’t know, it’s a matter to discuss with Rod. But Hilario will be by to check on the crops. Meliton grumbles to himself that James didn’t ask him for his help. James grumbles bitterly to himself that Acacia will not turn Meliton in to the authorities for all the harm he has caused.

At Corporativo Montalvo, Gavi/Mariana comes into Rod’s office smiling with some documents for him. He plays it cool, just put them on the table, he says. She asks if she should confirm his attendance at an upcoming event. He says yes, but it doesn’t matter to me if you go or not. She tells him she’s planning to go. His phone rings and it’s Isa. She tells him they can’t get an appointment with the doctor until tomorrow morning. He says, it doesn’t matter, the decision is made.

When he hangs up, Gavi asks, anything else? Yes, he says. Very deliberately, he tells her that in order to strengthen his marriage and get over loving Gavi so much, he has decided to have a child with Isa. Gavi looks away from him, disgusted. Rod looks at her for her reaction. She thinks to herself, go ahead and do that, that’s the best way to get you out of my heart. She tells him, she has only one thing to say to him. Congratuations! She walks out and slams the door. He tells himself that this will be the way for him to get away from all of his jealousy. Now your love belongs to someone else, it’s not mine.

Just then Aaron and Minerva knock on the door. How are things? Rod says alls well except that little problem with Artemio Treijo’s shipment. Minnie asks, what’s new with Isa? Aaron asks, where is Mariana Franco? That gets a jealous rise out of Minnie. Then Elvira calls to tell Rod the family has arrived for the meeting. They all get up to leave. Aaron asks Rod if he’s smoothed over the rough patch with Mariana, Rod looks pained and is fumbling for words. Aaron laughs at him for being so overly enthusiastic about talking about Mariana. They go into the meeting.

In the copy room, a worker is making copies. Gavi is looking off into the distance, very sad. She wipes away a few tears.

Fedra turns to Minnie in the boardroom, how was Houston? Minnie says she’ll tell her later. They are waiting for Mariana and some documents. Rod wonders to himself if Gavi was bothered by what he said to her, but he figures that she doesn’t care about his life. Aaron and Patricio are starting to whisper about Aaron’s dealings. Bruno tries to find out about their conversation. Dona Pilar tells them that while they’re waiting for the docs, she’d like to thank them for coming, Daniela will arrive this evening, etc.

Mariana enters the boardroom with the docs for everyone describing the financials during Rod’s tenure there. Minnie is staring at her. Rod tells her she can leave when she’s done. Aaron motions for her to stay. Mariana is reluctant to stay, since it’s a family meeting. Bruno tells her they value any thoughts she has. Minnie is disgusted.

Pilar tells them that she got a call from the tequila regulator, who expressed concern about the bad shipment to Artemio Treijo’s clinet. Aaron asserts that it was a clean deal on their end. If there was a problem, it was Artemio’s bad luck and Artemio’s responsibility. Rod thinks they should help Artemio, if they can. Mariana agrees. Aaron wants them for forget it! If we were in this situation, no one would help us. Let’s cut our losses and cut ties with Treijo. Patricio looks uncomfortable. Pilar says that what happened was a tragedy. Aaron speculates that Treijo got involved with the black market.

Placido enters the room and whispers to Mariana that someone has arrived for her. Mari excuses herself and Rod looks after her as she leaves, confused. As Mari opens the door to exit, who should be there but Isa! TWB gives her a friendly greeting and comes in. Rod is less that thrilled that his wife is there. He excuses himself to go get some documents. Isa whispers to Sophie that Rod has agreed to try for a child and the two of them squeal.

Mariana exits the building and Benvenutto is waiting with the car outside. She gives him a hug and Rod sees them from a window inside the building. Rod tries to pull himself away from watching them, but he can’t.

Back in the boardroom, Pilar wants them to settle the Treijo matter without discord in the family. Bruno states that they have to deal with the problem. Pilar is concerned about the damage it could do to the corporation’s image and she tells Aaron to shape up his attitude.

Isa and Sophie take the opportunity to leave when the conversation turns to financial matters. Minnie watches them go. In Rod’s office, Sophie asks if Rod really agreed to have a child, or if Isa just said that to get at Minerva. Isa tells her that it was strange, Rod came home last night and asked her point blank about getting a doctor’s appointment. She has learned not to ask why. She prefers his silence to any answer he might give her. They speculate about the shock that Rod’s child would cause Minnie and Aaron.

Minnie, listening from the door berates them for not inviting her to come with them. At a time like this, she needs them to be on her side. She carefully tells Isa she’s genuinely happy for her with the baby news. Isa says she not pregnant, no need to congratulate her just yet. Sophie asks, how was Houston? Very, very good. With a little luck, we’ll both give birth at the same time!

Minnie turns the conversation to Rod, he must leave the office early, no? Isa tells her that in fact Rod comes home late a lot. Minnie points out that Rod has a lot of work-related social events to go to, but he doesn’t invite Isa, he takes Mariana instead. TWB looks nervous. Minnie warns Isa about trying to be friends with Mariana, and storms out.

Isa looks perturbed… when Sophie leaves, Isa inquires with Elvira. Was there a party last night? No, only the tasting event a couple of days ago. Isa wants to know who Rod talks to, who he sees, who calls him, etc. Elvira comments that Mariana is the only person. Isa asks if Rod and Mariana leave the office together. Elvira saw them going to the tasting a couple of days ago, but that was it.

Elvira mentions that Rod and Mariana do spend a lot of time together, talking. Isa thinks that’s to be expected, since they work so closely together, right? But Elvira adds that they fight, a lot. There’s something going on that she doesn’t understand. Isa is worried.

Benvenutto and Gavi drive out of the city. He tells Gavi he wishes he could take away her sadness. She says he’s like a gift from heaven, he came to her when she needed him. Ben asks, if you love this Rod character so much, why don’t you fight for him. Gavi tells him about the kid Rod plans to have.

Back at the boardroom, Aaron introduces slimy Onate as their export person and lawyer, roughly slapping his back. Onate the Smarmy says he is their service. Bruno is impressed with the success of Turquise Tequila, they talk about a second edition. Minnie is proud.

Bruno wants to know how they did so well, when they were opening up all those markets at the same time. Onate says it was a team effort with Rod and Mariana Franco. Bruno congratulates Rod, who is lost in thought. Rod mentions Mariana’s idea to open a quality assurance school. They are pleased with the idea. The family leaves, Aaron pulls Onate aside to talk dirt, and Minnie asks Aaron if he had something to do with Artemio’s bad luck…

At Casa Mariana, the building superintendent chatting with another woman outside. Rod pulls up and asks where he can find Mariana, she’s a friend. The superintendent tells him she remembers Rod, he was the guy who was lurking around the building before! Just then, our suave Benvenutto walks up with ascot and groceries. The women greet him warmly and tell him Mariana is waiting for him upstairs.

Rod accosts Benvenutto, what do you think you’re doing? I saw you outside the office! Rod is circling him like an animal ready to fight. Benvenutto looks at him puzzled, then looks away (maybe to stall for time and think about his options for getting away safely…). Rod is staring at him with wide eyes and flaring nostrils. Rod shouts,
-- I don’t know who you are and I’m not interested!

Ben is not used to being threatened by strangers like this. Rod wants to know how long Ben has been going out with Gavi. Rod is leaning toward Ben, shaking his fists.

Gavi sees them from upstairs and runs down to the street. She pulls Rod aside and tells him he should be ashamed for making such a ridiculous scene! He tells her he’s been asking her for a while if she was going out with someone else, but she didn’t give him an answer. She says she didn’t and she won’t he needs to butt out of her personal life. Rod says his feelings tell him she loves him. She shakes her head slightly, in frustration. Rod goes on, but my heart is mistaken again. Her face is angry, but her eyes are full. Rod syas, if you had been honest with me, I could have avoided these stupid jealous scenes. She tells him she’s done talking with him.

Rod stares at each of them and turns to stagger to his car. Ben is holding Gavi’s shoulders as they watch. Rod peels away from the curb. Gavi tells Ben to stop her from doing what she feels like doing. She cries and Ben comforts her with a hug. He says that life goes on, you’ve got to face it with a smile. She is pining after Rodrigo. Mama Clarita looks down at them embracing and is impactada! Gavi and Ben come upstairs and make introductions.

Rod pulls up at a park in the city and is breathing hard, trying not to cry. He gets out and limps into the park, up a hill, with his cassette. He loosens his tie and starts to lumber down the path into the dark. At a tree he screams, falls to the ground crying,
-- I believed that our love was eternal!
-- I believed that you loved me!

He gropes for his audiocassette in the dirt and clutches it to his chest.
– I can’t stop loving you!

At Gavi’s apartment, they sit down to Ben’s dinner. Clarita chops up his pasta aggressively. Ben toasts to them.

At Casa Pilar, the family is gathering in the drawing room and talking amongst themselves. Isa is fretting about why Rod hasn’t shown up. Minerva tells Fedra that the news from the doctors about her chances of getting pregnant is not good. Minnie doesn’t know how to tell Aaron, their marriage is in play. Patricio tells Aaron that his assistant is nervous about the shipments. Rain has to sign docs for them and would be legally involved. Daniela bursts into the room and greets everyone.

Aaron remarks that she must have a new love in her life. Well, maybe, probably. They inquire and she tells them he’s a sculptor, painter, and poet. Not a millionaire, but he has a good life.

Isa decides that she’s waited long enough for Rod and rises to make an announcement to the family about their decision to try for a baby. Minnie looks sick, and Daniela is confused. Fedra squints, maybe wondering how that would be achieved. Grandma Pilar is thrilled.

Rod enters, fresh from his expedition in the park. He tells them he just some things to take care of at the office. More talk about Daniela’s man: tall, well-built, good conversation, and doesn’t let a woman go unsatisfied!

Dani teases him about the big chore this evening with his wife! Rod says that the chore will be through the miracle of science at the doctor’s office. Dani wants to know why he is having a kid, instead of running a marathon, climbing Everest, getting a dog, etc. He says bitterly it’s the only way to get out of this curse. Just then, Isa rushes in, worried.

Dani tells Isa that fortunately nothing happened to Rod, he’s OK. But if he keeps up with this foolishness, he’ll have something to regret. Isa is puzzled. Rod suggests that they go into dinner.

Fedra pulls Aaron aside and tell him the news the Minnie can’t give him the child he desires, now it’s time to chose. Why don’t you divorce your wife and find a healthy woman who can give you a child!

At Rancho Arroyo Seco, James is getting ready to leave and Acacia threatens to burn the crops if he does not return. But that won’t be necessary! He can’t live without her. They hug.

At the dinner table, Pilar is toasting. Rod flashes back to the angry scene outside Gavi’s apartment. He imagines Ben kissing Gavi. Pilar is going on about how Isa and Rod’s baby shows the strength of their marriage. Rod is sad, but he forces a grimace of a smile. Fredra rolls her eyes.

Rod holds up his glass for the toast and stairs off into the distance. Looking mildly drugged, he imagines he is riding on a horse with Gavi in the agave fields at the hacienda, kissing her.

Pilar wishes Minnie success with her fertility treatment and tells Patricio he’s just like a member of the family. Aaron wants to know why Patricio didn’t invite his girlfriend…. Pilar starts the toasts, and Isa smiles at Rod. Rod imagines it’s Gavi and they are toasting to their happiness together. Gavi tells him she loves him. He comes to and sees Isa still grinning at him and chokes on his champagne. Isa giggles.

At Gavi’s, Clarita’s trying to say that she didn’t like her dinner. Gavi tells Ben in Italian that the dinner was great! Ben is planning to open a new restaurant in Mexico and wants to show Gavi some afternoon. Clara points out that Gavi has a jealous boss… They tell her that Ben already met him, in an ugly scene downstairs. Clara starts to talk about Rod… Gavi interrupts her. Rod is foolish, he’s just doing this to annoy me. After all, he’s having a child with Isa!

Gavi goes on, I don’t know how to put distance between us. Ben says he might have a solution…why doesn’t Gavi marry him?

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