Caray, Caray!

Carlota glows a murky shade of purple as she tells Paloma she’s been so worried, and soon Paloma will be as good as new. Paloma says she’d rather die than be imprisoned in Carlota’s house again. Carlota actually seems genuinely sad and shaken at this. Paloma says her life is Iñaki now. Auntie Cruel wonders if that means she’s already married him, or even (gasp, choke) slept with him?! “Think whatever you want,” smirks Paloma. “I’ll escape as many times as I have to, but I’ll leave with him.”

Carmen rushes to tell Iñaki the good news of Paloma’s awakening, only to find she has been scooped by Natalia. Iñaki wants a wheelchair so he can go visit his beloved, but they all say no way; he’s got to stay still. So he decides to send Emiliano as his envoy: “Tell her I’m really sorry, and I love her, and give her a kiss for me.” The sort of favor you can only ask of your best friends, I guess. Well, Paloma already has Emiliano’s blood, so what’s a little spit? Iñaki also has his mother remove his crucifix necklace (the medical staff left that on?!) so that Emiliano can give that to Paloma as well.

Macarena is mad at Carlota for going to visit Paloma first. Oh, also because Cruelota wants to send Iñaki to jail.

Camila and Romina find Emiliano in the corridor and confirm with him that Paloma is out of danger. Romina wants to go visit, but Emiliano wants to go first, since he is the bearer of mushy messages. And no, he won’t let Romina take his place as courier. Which is a little unfortunate, because that would surely turn into an amusing game of telephone. Romina leaves with a very strange facial expression which I cannot interpret.

Mac finally visits Paloma. Pal thinks Mac must be upset that she ran away, but Macarena says she understands it was a crisis. Paloma sobs that she doesn’t want to go home; she wants to go to Spain with Iñaki as they had planned. Mac is more interested to hear of the plans than upset.

Natalia and Alonso breakfast in the hospital cafeteria, as Alonso gripes that he hopes this little incident will convince Iñaki to stop being so stupid and change his mind about Paloma. Natalia says there’s no way; doesn’t he remember what it’s like to be in love and care about someone so much that it’s worth any amount of trouble? Alonso grouches that he was never like that. The only stupid crazy thing he’s ever done was marrying Carmen, and he’s regretted it ever since. Carmen overhears this from another table. For rude, Alonso.

Mac tells Paloma that she’s started a legal action to put an end to Cruelota’s abuses of her guardianship over Paloma. She says she’ll free Paloma from Cruel IF IT’S THE LAST THING SHE DOES. That’s anvil bait if I ever heard any.

Alonso continues sweet-talking his wife with pronouncements about how love is stupid; it’s better to be practical. She is touched by that deep romantic sentiment and asks whether he married her for love or for convenience. “Whatever, I’m talking about my idiot son, not us,” he responds. His phone sounds a surprisingly jazzy ring. It’s the lawyer, Ruben, and Alonso heads off to meet him.

After the old crab scuttles off, Carmen sashays on over to Natalia’s table and empathizes about the difficult husband. Then she asks whether Natalia and Alonso were already an item at the time of the divorce.

Ruben tells Alonso that if Iñaki and Paloma weren’t physically intimate, then Carlota won’t have much of a case even though Paloma is a minor.

Natalia says that although she had already met Alonso when he and Carmen divorced, they didn’t begin their…(I’m searching for a word here. Romantic? Intimate? Friendly? Passionate? None of those seem possible with Alonso. Carnal? Maybe closer)…whatever relationship until well after the divorce. At the time, Natalia herself was too distraught over having been left at the altar by Cristóbal. Carmen then rudely pries into Natalia’s personal life with question after question about whether Nat really loves Alonso, would do anything for him, etc., and whether Nat traded all the deep passion she had with Cris for a merely comfortable existence.

Mac has finished her visit with Paloma, so it’s Emiliano’s turn. Romina wants to tag along, but Mac helpfully says only one visitor at a time is permitted; Romina will have to wait her turn. He heads off and Romina is petulant and pouty, and Mac and Camila rave about what a good boy Emiliano is. Mac says Ro must be so proud of her novio, and Ro says yep, so proud, and so in love. Camila goes wide-eyed but says nothing. After Mac leaves, Camila reproaches Romina for having lied. Romina says it wasn’t the time to mention the breakup, but I don’t know why not. Camila, ever the wearer of rose-colored glasses, changes the subject by saying how nice it is that Romina is so concerned and affectionate toward Paloma even though they’ve had their differences lately. Ro says it’s all Paloma’s fault they’ve drifted apart, since she has a boyfriend now and wants to spend time with him. Cami says that doesn’t mean she doesn’t still care about you, too. Romina snarls.

Carlota finds the doctor and instructs him that he is only to talk to her about Paloma’s recovery, and to tell no one but herself when Paloma is going to be released. “Sure, and the patient herself, of course,” says the doc. Carlota says no, because Paloma is a minor. “And in full control of her faculties,” responds the long-suffering doctor. Carlota tries to intimidate him but he’s having none of it and tells her his only priority is Paloma’s recovery, and he’ll prevent Carlota from visiting her if that’s what his patient wants. Carlota threatens to go to his superiors, but he calmly replies that he’s the director of the hospital and she’s welcome to take it up with the law if she wishes. Carlota and her purple eyelids are foiled again.

Emiliano stands and stares swoonily at a sleeping Paloma while the theme song plays. She wakes up and thanks him for the blood. He says anytime, and now she has something of his forever. She asks about Iñaki, and he carefully releases her hand in order to give her a Deep Meaningful affectionate kiss on the forehead. She looks a tad confused, and he clarifies that Iñaki asked him to give her the kiss, and also to tell her that (slow and schmaltzy here) he loves her. “Wow, you’re a really good messenger,” says Paloma. He also passes on the disculpas about the accident and all. He puts Iñaki’s crucifix on Paloma’s wrist.

Paloma asks Emiliano to tell Iñaki that she loves him and is dying to see him (but not actually dying), and she gives him her Virgen medallion to take to Iñaki. He holds her hand for a long time as he takes it, and she gets him to promise that they will always be friends. He kisses her hand With Great Feeling.

Iñaki tells his nosy father that it’s none of his business; that’s between him and Paloma. Alonso reminds him that if Carlota gets her case to court, he and Paloma will have to testify about their personal life in front of a judge, and that will be even more embarrassing. So Iñaki says no, he and Paloma never had relations. All the parents breathe a sigh of relief. Iñaki can’t just leave it at that, he has to go on a bit about how they might have expected more to happen, but it didn’t, and he’s not going to get into details. Carmen stops him by saying, “well, that’s great! Now Carlota doesn’t have a case!” and he says he feels ridiculous talking about such things with them. “And we feel ridiculous asking,” replies Carmen, although Alonso doesn’t feel ridiculous because he doesn’t have feelings.

Emiliano is in the men’s room dousing his head with cold water, a full shower not being available. He thanks God for saving Paloma and Iñaki.

Carmen sits at Paloma’s bedside, trying to make idle friendly chitchat but accidentally mentioning Carlota’s attempt at a case against Iñaki, so then she has to explain the whole hassle. Paloma assures her she would never testify against Iñaki, and Carmen says she’s sure they’ll overcome this obstacle.

Macarena tells Camila that she’s got to stop Carlota’s perverse lawsuit, and she thinks the time has come to reveal her big secret, even though it might mean losing Paloma’s affection. Camila doesn’t think any secret could make Paloma not love her. Romina listens in.

Carlota slithers in and asks whether Mac did what she asked. “No. I’m going to do something better and definitive,” says Mac.

Before she can, however, Alonso and Natalia join them and introduce themselves. Mac is friendly, Carlota is rude. Alonso advises Carlota to give up on the legal proceedings; she isn’t going to get far because Paloma isn’t about to testify that Iñaki tried to kill her, and the two of them were never intimate. Emiliano returns from the gents’ just in time to hear that, of course. He tries to hide his delight. Romina does not try to hide her shock, and is shushed by Camila. Mac tells Carlota she guesses there’s no need to do anything definitive, at least for the moment.

Even though he dumped her, Emiliano is still compelled to explain his behavior to Romina. He says he had to go visit Paloma; Iñaki asked him to. Romina coerces him into going to the cafeteria with her.

Carlota paces toward Iñaki’s room, deciding to tell him that she doesn’t believe his claims, but stops outside the door to eavesdrop. Carmen is telling Iñaki that Carlota is up in arms and thinks she has the right to trample (atropellar) other people’s lives. Natalia chimes in to say that Carlota has always been like that. In fact, Sagrario wanted to move to the D.F. to get away from Carlota, but Javier was so grateful to Carlota for taking care of him after their mother died that he let her dominate him, which really bugged Sagrario. They all wonder why Sagrario would have named Carlota as her daughter’s guardian, when the logical solution would have been to make Macarena the guardian and Carlota the executor (albacea) of the estate. “What estate?,” asks Iñaki. “Paloma doesn’t have any money.” Natalia says she must have a big inheritance because Sagrario and Javier were quite wealthy. They decide Carlota must be hiding the money in order to manipulate and blackmail (chantajear) Paloma. Iñaki says he’s going to investigate the matter, and Natalia says she’ll help. Carlota looks stricken. She thinks to herself that they are NOT going to take what’s hers. No, dearie, they’re going to take what’s Paloma’s.

Romina tells Emiliano that according to Evil Auntie, Paloma has brought scandal and shame on the family. Em says that’s ridiculous. Romina would rather gossip about Paloma’s and Iñaki’s lack of action, but Emiliano says it’s none of their business.

Emiliano and Romina go to visit Iñaki, and Emiliano passes along Paloma’s messages and medallion, but without the accompanying emotion and smooches this time. Romina hints around at the only thing on her mind with remarks about the besmirching of Paloma’s reputation and what everyone at the party was saying, while Emiliano shoots hostile looks at her. Iñaki says he doesn’t care what anyone thinks. He’s in love with Paloma and he’s going to marry her, and Emiliano and Romina will probably feel the same when they decide to marry. Emiliano says they are, in fact, already splitsville, and Romina throws a little fit and flounces out. “Why?,” asks Iñaki. “I don’t love her like Paloma…umm…I mean, like you love Paloma,” fumbles Emiliano. Iñaki, sweet and naïve as he is, agrees that Emiliano would be much happier with someone like Paloma.

Camila asks Mac what the big secret is. Mac doesn’t want to tell. Camila says she really should, because you can’t change the past; the best you can do is accept it and move on, and it would be such a relief to get it over with. Mac still isn’t ready.

Alonso tells Iñaki that Ruben says there’s nothing to worry about, but to forget about Paloma and go back to Madrid and pretend he never met her. Nothing doing, says Iñaki. Alonso tells his son with all the affection he can muster, which is none, that he’s an idiot and that girl will be his downfall. Since he can’t get Iñaki to agree with him, Alonso says he’s done there and he takes off.

Paloma gets wheeled into a room after her x-rays or scans or whatever and the nurse asks her fan club to let her rest. Macarena decides to stay with Paloma, but Camila is going to go home, so Mac asks her to get the results of her tests. Camila says she will, and she’ll also tell Dr. Bermúdez what’s going on. Mac thanks her for being such a good friend, and Camila says it’s a privilege.

Back in Real del Monte, Rufi asks Carlota about Paloma’s state and gets the most cursory of reports. The lawyer arrives, so Carlota gives Rufi money and sends her to the pharmacy for aspirin to get rid of her.

Emiliano catches Romina at the elevator and says he doesn’t like to see her so upset. She whines about how awful her life has been, losing him and nearly losing Paloma. He still wants to be friends, but she thinks it will be too hard to be near him and not be able to touch him and kiss him. She wants another chance, but he seems to have a little more spine now and denies her. “You will never find someone else who loves you like I do!,” she threatens. He can only hope. “I love you!,” she says passionately as the elevator doors close, and he stands there and stares at her and I hope makes plans to preview the scripts and cut this scene out should the writers recycle it any more.

Carlota tells Licenciado Rojas that the icky musician is trying to inveigle (engatusar) Paloma and get her inheritance. They’ve got to stop him. The lawyer thinks they can try to keep the contents of the will secret so Paloma won’t know she’s entitled to money, but if Paloma gets it into her head to ask for a copy of the will after she’s 18, they won’t be able to stop her. Carlota is still pretending to him that she’s trying to protect her niece, so he suggests that she have a talk with Paloma about what that young man is up to. Carlota obviously doesn’t think that will work, and the lawyer says there’s not much he can do.

Emiliano says goodbye to Paloma, and Mac thanks him for his help and says he’s like a guardian angel. After he goes, Paloma swoons about Iñaki a bit and asks Mac whether she’s ever felt that way about anyone. Mac doesn’t want to talk about it. She didn’t have Paloma’s strong character, so it didn’t work out, but she’s sure Paloma and Iñaki will overcome.

Carlota messes with stuff on the Shelf of Mysteries and gets all twitchy-jawed thinking about Iñaki and his vow to find out about Paloma’s inheritance. She adds something to her cauldron and glares.
Avances: Diana tells Rafael if he leaves the house, he’s not coming back. Paloma and Iñaki kiss and hurt their damaged faces. Carlota gives her authorization for the marriage. Romina is suspended from school. Some lady tells Arcadia about belladonna, which makes you sleep forever. Carlota buys something. Belladonna?

Labels: amor