Caray, Caray!

Francisco, Isa’s friend seeking benefits gifts her with perfume, her favorite, so part of him can be close to her skin…

Rod continues as the master of ceremonies at work handing out Christmas gifts and toasting to the workers and the year ahead. Gavi thought bubbles back to their passionate kiss outside her apartment and slips out of the gathering to go cry in her office. Her love for him is stronger than she is! She grabs her purse and takes off for home.

Rod grabs another present and calls out “Mariana Franco!” but he sees Gavi is gone from the party. He thinks, she ran away from me…. Later he knocks on her office door with her gift and sees she is not there. He takes the opportunity to stroke her chair and her keyboard (did anyone notice she has large stuffed animal in her office?). Rod picks up the phone and inhales deeply. He says this is the last Christmas that they are going to have to spend apart.

Clarita is making the rounds with gifts in the garden outside the charity hospital where she volunteers. She gives gifts to two boys who are playing, then spies grumpy Don Arnufo on a nearby bench. Clara hurries over to give him his gift, a scarf. He doesn’t want it and doesn’t want any part of the holiday. He says God abandoned him a long time ago. Clarita tells him that there must be a good reason why he feels that way. He tells her the story of the cold night when he lit a fire to keep his family warm and returned to find them dead of asphyxiation. Clara is shocked at his loss and tries to comfort him.

Just then, one of the nearby boys starts to choke. Clara runs over, but can’t do much. The frail Don A sprints over and gives the boy the Heimlich maneuver, saving his life. Clara exclaims, that was the reason why you are here! The kid thanks Mr. Grumpy.

Isa has invited Francisco in for tea. He talks about his parents at the casino in Monte Carlo, and how that’s not his scene. He had planned to be on a yacht for the holidays with his music and party. He describes the scene and gently blows on Isa’s hair. But hurricane Cassandra came through and ruined it all his plans. Isa remarks that it’s not hurricane season. Francisco clarifies that Cassandra was his girlfriend, now ex-girlfriend. They talk about holiday plans and Francisco invites Isa, and of course Rod, over for a drink. She’s not sure what they’ll do for the holiday. Francisco says at least it’s comforting to know someone else is in the building. He gives her a slow kiss goodbye on each cheek.

At Casa Pilar, the family is starting to gather for Christmas Eve dinner.

Clarita returns home and tells Gavi about her day and Don A’s story. It turns out the Benvenutto got called away for the evening to fill in for the cook at his restaurant, and Dona Altagracia does not feel like going out. Clarita does not want to stay home, because she knows Gavi will mope about Rod. Gavi had received a number of invitations for the evening, along with all the gifts. But they’re mainly for older divorced men in the industry who are asking her out to try their luck with her. Gavi brightens. They will go out to a fancy place, and she has ideas for what they can do with some of the gifts they have received.

Rod returns back to his apartment sad. He and Isa fight over whose family’s Christmas Eve dinner they should go to. She doesn’t want to go to Pilar’s. They finally agree that he will go to the Montalvo’s, and then meet her and her parents afterward. He leaves to get ready and she tells him she has very special plans for the night. Rod looks uncomfortable as he goes to change his clothes.

Outside his apartment, Rod is loading gifts into the trunk of his car and grabs a small one from the bag with his teeth. He drives off.

Gavi has fixed her mom’s hair with a big purple bow and goes to get ready. There is a knock at the door to their apartment.

Clarita opens the door to Rod, who has a bouquet of flowers for her and a present for Gavi. He says he’d like to leave the gift with her, but Clarita tells him to stay. Gavi opens her bedroom door momentarily and is shocked to see Rod. Clara offers Rod some coffee, but he prefers tequila. She rips into one of the gift packages Gavi got for a bottle. Gavi calls out to her mom for her purse. Clara tells Rod to make himself at home, the glasses are in the kitchen.

As soon as she steps into the other room, Rod rushes over to the Christmas tree and starts grabbing at the cards on all the gifts to see who they are from. He does the same with the gift baskets and flowers in the kitchen. Next he stands outside Gavi’s bedroom door and eavesdrops as someone calls to invite her out for the evening. He rushes away from door and tries to compose himself in the kitchen as Clarita comes back into the room.

Rod tells Clarita he could not find the shot glasses…Clara asks him if he knows the people who gave Gavi all of the gifts. He says yes, they are from the tequila industry. They pour a drink and he tries to make conversation about what their plans are for Christmas. Clarita does not know where she and Gavi are going. Rod tells her he’ll be with his family. Rod’s is about to leave again, when he hears Gavi’s voice.

Gavi steps into the room in a blue evening gown, ready for the night out. She is smiling. Rod takes a moment to collect himself and look her over in appreciation and admiration. With his eyes, he lets her know she looks great, then gives her a slightly pleading expression. Clarita steps out of the room.

Rod has Gavi’s present, he couldn’t give it to her earlier. She opens up a small box with an expensive looking pair of drop earrings. He asks if he can put them on and carefully does. She is staring at him with bright eyes. The earrings suit you, he says. She turns to get his present. She was going to give it to them earlier, the night they did the balances, but the timing wasn’t so good. She says her present is sort of a joke. He starts to open it and the phone rings. It’s a fancy pen (so he can sign more documents!). Clara calls to Gavi, the phone is for her.

Gavi asks Rod to wait a minute. It’s someone else asking her out for the evening. Rod edges toward the door, and Gavi turns and asks him to stay. She declines the invitation and tells the caller how popular they are. She and her mom already have plans, with Eduardo Saldivar at the tequila industry dinner dance. Rod looks angry and disappointed. He opens the door to the apartment and slams it as he leaves.

Clara comes in to scold Gavi for blabbing so much on the phone. She says, Rod is suffering! He would give his life to be able to spend Christmas with you. Gavi says she is dying, too. And it’s better if Rod is disillusioned with her, because their love has no future.

At Casa Pilar, Daniela arrives and greets the family. Her boyfriend will be along later. Patricio arrives with his fiancée, Rain. The family greets her, all except Minerva, who is furious. Patricio turns away from Minerva and makes a weak explanation that Pilar had asked him to bring his fiancée.

Minerva springs out of her seat and starts screaming that she is not going to share Christmas Eve dinner with her husband’s former lover. The family is shocked at airing this news out in the open. Minerva pleads with Pilar, this is humiliating, a lack of respect! Pilar’s expression is, as always, somewhat blank.

Rain says that she shouldn’t have come, and Patricio tells Pilar they will leave. Pilar nods. As they walk out, Sophia remarks at Patricio’s total lack of respect. Bruno tries to change the subject with a toast to good times. Minerva looks ill.

Gavi and her mom step out into the street below her apartment, which is decorated with lights for Christmas. Children are playing outside. Eduardo greets them and Gavi introduces her mom. Clarita shakes his hand vigorously and tries to lean over to look at something across the street. She gets into the car.

Eduardo takes Gavi’s hand and tells her that she looks divine. Gavi looks off into the distance… There across the street is the white car, and Rod scowling inside. Gavi’s eyes fill with tears. Eduardo asks what’s wrong and tells her they’ll be late for the party. She gets in the car and is looking at Rod, devastated. Rod’s face is set with anger.

Back at Casa Pilar, Aaron has arrived. He gives Minerva a bracelet for Christmas, and she tells him her best present is to be with him. Daniela jokes that it would have been a great present if Aaron had stayed in Miami! Bruno asks Aaron how he got his jet. Fedra tells then not to talk business. Aaron agrees, he’s here to celebrate with his family. He asks after Patricio. Sophie gives his a scolding look. Minerva gets up and explains that Patricio arrived with Aaron’s former secretary Rain. Former secretary -- and lover! Aaron is all, yes, I remember her…

Isa is having drinks with her parents. Her dad whispers to her mom that he doesn’t understand how the artificial insemination thing works – Isa’s mom will tell him later.

At Pilar’s, they ask after Isa. Sophie says that Isa does not feel close to the family, she feels that they have not been on her side regarding the Mariana Franco matter. Minerva states that Isa has a right to be jealous and feel the way she does. Sophie gets up to call Isa.

The phone rings at Isa’s, she thinks it must be Rod. Sophie asks why Isa’s not joining them. Isa is furious when she realizes that Rod did not tell the family she was not coming, because Rod has not arrived yet!

Sophie reports back to the family that Isa is not coming. They talk about what to do with the jealousy Isa has for Mariana. Just then Rod arrives and greets the family warmly. Sophie wants Rod to call Isa, but he puts her off. Pilar continues the discussion: Isa’s distancing herself from the family. Rod jokes that Isa’s not far enough away!

Pilar wants to talk seriously about his marriage. It’s not the best time, but they’re all affected by it. Pilar states that Isa is acting the way she is because of Mariana. Pilar wonders if they should get rid of Mariana at the corporativo. She respects and admires Mariana, but family comes first. Rod says, if Mariana goes, I go. He complains that the gathering is becoming an inquisition. Sophie tells him that he has to choose between the business and his marriage. He tells Sophie how much he likes it when she interferes with his life! Daniela tells him to choose the corporativo over his marriage. He jokes that he will step out while they make their judgment about him.

Daniela follows him, she knows it bothers him when they say bad things about Gavi. His Christmas Eve has become horrible! She tells Rod to find Gavi. He says it’s not worth it. Pilar calls him back.

Rod jokes, have you made your decision? Pilar says they can’t make a decision on the spot, but Rod needs to know that he can’t put himself in another compromising situation with Mariana. If he does, Pilar wants him to know that the family will stand with Isa. Sophie tells Rod to call Isa. Rod calls Isa, and tells her he’ll join her soon.

At the Tequila dinner dance, Eduardo arrives with Gavi and her mom. They make their way to their table and Eduardo proudly introduced Mariana as the general manager at Montalvo. Clarita says a cheery hi and tells them she’s Mariana’s mom.

At Casa Pilar, Videgaray has stopped by to pay them a visit. Rod is glad to see him. Videgaray starts to tell Rod that he’s not at all happy with what he’s seen happening at the corporativo. Just then Aaron approaches, and they change the subject. Aaron tells Rod he better get on his way, or Isa’s going to rake him over the coals. Rod starts to leave.

Just then the maid rushes in and whispers to Daniela that Elvis has arrived. Daniela tells Rod to wait, she wants him to meet her boyfriend. Daniela beams, and proudly introduces her man.

Elvis steps into the doorway with a big grin. He is black with long dreads and is very casually dressed. The family members register various states of shock! Dani proudly takes his arm, and Elvis gives them a beautiful smile and warm greeting: Merry Christmas family!!



**Advance (for Monday, alas):

We see Gavi and Rod together….it looks she may be breaking several of her promises to his wife and family!

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