Caray, Caray!

{This may take a while to get up today as I've got holiday commitments sprouting up out of nowhere. I'll try to get it up by later this evening. You have the page to comment for now. --Jardinera654 }

~~Parte 1~~


Cap. #34

Lo del Pasado:

Viewerville, fighting to view the characters through the garish glare of Party Princess Pinks and Purples, has noted that Jose Luis, aka Francisco Castro, aka Fakecisco has just thrown a damper on the party by showing up and stealing all Ricardo’s step Papi glory by bringing the best present there could be for his little daughter: a brand new garishly pink and purple bicycle complete with pink training wheels and streamers. Ric and Oriana head directly over to tell Fakecisco to take his Daddy From the Dark Side presence and the training bike with him. Guard-dog de Guerrero de Eliseo makes to pull his gun out of the back of his belt at the insult, but is stopped with a single hand gesture from JL. Padre Mariano of the windowpane plaid padre-collared shirts comes over to second the request.

Lo del Nuevo:

As Viewerville successfully fights the urge to do a color check of its tv screens, Mariano follows JL out to the street and lets him know that he knows who Fakecisco really is and hopes the man won’t sacrifice his wife’s and little girl’s futures just to get his own way. “—Don’t be so naive, Padre!!” “—And you? Don’t be so sure, Son!” JL fights the urge to argue any further and forces himself to walk away.





Meanwhile, Oriana explains to a very tearful Alina, in a bit more detail how Daddy went over to the Dark Side and they all had to flee Colombia and the police to keep from going to jail, especially herself since she wasn’t to blame for anything, or an orphanage full of unloving strangers. But all Lina can say is that she wants to stay with Paloma and the gang there. Oriana says she’ll tell all to Dona Paloma as soon as she can so that Lina and Tito will be able to stick around even if she cannot……

At the same time, all Oriana’s friends in the know are busy making excuses and telling half-truths about 2nes having been abandoned years ago by her husband who is now suddenly reappearing and wanting to take up his marriage where he left off. Ric, in particular, deals with his Aunt Fidelia’s concern that he’s involved with a married woman. Why didn’t 2nes admit she was married? Ric quickly explains that she did tell him. Fidelia’s also concerned that this guy turns out to be the same man who wants to invest money into Aresti & Sanchez, and didn’t her hubby know about their relationship? Ric says he knows all of it, and he is mistaken if he thinks he’ll break the two of them up; also it was Ric who was the first to reject the offer because he knew the man couldn’t be trusted. Fabiola and Piero are discussing the situation and Fabi doesn’t understand why Ines wouldn’t be ready to return to her hubby’s side. Piero only says that the guy chose to return at a really bad time. Talk progresses to problems with love, Fabi’s love life and that she’s now Sebastian’s girlfriend. He was supposed to come, should show up soon, and blah, blah, blah.

Nearer the entrance the “Tres Mosqueteros” as JL lovingly (not) referred to them, are griping about his showing up precisely to irritate the Hell out of Oriana and show he could rattle her anytime he wanted to. Ric wants to put a quick stop to it all, but Mariano reminds him that it would be crazy to try anything just yet. But if he tries to force them to go off with him, insists Ric? Nope, says Mariano. It wouldn’t be prudent…..Just then Oriana returns to the patio area, she explains how JL had told her he doesn’t care to challenge their rejection of his investing with the company, but that in exchange he demands they go off with him. Ric says no way Jose and she are going anywhere together. She’s upset wondering how she’s going to explain to all the guests what’s going on. Piero explains what Lucina and Raquel have been telling all of the guests to get her off the hook. Padre P says not to worry. No real damage was done.

2nes returns to the party to apologize to Fidelia and Marilou for the nasty scene. Fidelia starts to ask the same questions for Oriana’s version, but Ric tells her to change the subject. Fidelia reddens from embarrassment and Marilous thanks them for a great time.

Mariano asks what Piero learned about the signature for the account JL set up illicitly in Oriana’s name.

After the party’s over and people are all gone, Lucina mentions that Fakecisco is one and the same as Jose Luis, the fugitive from the law of Colombia. Yeah, so? Lucina asks Raqui if they shouldn’t kick Fakecisco the heck out of their respectable hotel. Raqui reminds her that he’s the only guest they have, at the moment other than Berto, who as far as she’s concerned is probably the person who killed Gabriel, and so it wouldn’t be exactly be the smartest thing they’ve ever done, considering. Lucina says they need to insure their place is “clean”, though and their reputations along with it. Screw that, says Raq. The one who needs to be in the clear is Oriana. The fact that her hubby, who we never met, shows up with a fake passport isn’t our concern! How would we have known? Oriana’s the one with the problem here. Yes, says Lucina sympathetically. “--Poor Oriana!” “—Poor Oriana nothing! She’s got two millionaires fighting over her! What’s more, we should probably be able to take good advantage of that little factoid ourselves, don’t you think?” We already have taken advantage of that in a way, replies Lucina, considering they’ve gotten a three million peso loan from Dona Paloma. No, that’s a loan from her so-called [disque] grandmother, corrects Raqui. I’m saying you put your little brain to work figuring a way to get ourselves all out of this predicament without getting burned [raspar=lit. scraped, grazed]


During their good-byes Marilou whispers to 2nes that she wants to talk with her about something when she has a moment. Oriana makes sure to let Ric in on what Marilou said when he asks about it after they’ve gone. He tells her they need to strategize now that JL’s on the move. Oriana says she can’t right now. She’s just too mentally exhausted and needs to take care of her daughter and sleep it off for a bit. He says fine, they’ll manage to do something about it tomorrow. They profess their enduring love for each other and seal it with a kiss.

Oriana walks over to speak to Lucina and Raqi. Raq reminds Oriana that JL just happens to be staying at their B&B right now. “—Is he dangerous or what?” “—No, not at all. Really! It’s just that ambition got the better of him.” Lucina wonders if he realizes that they know his true identity. Oriana nods. Raqi hands over the phone with the video of the party for Dona Paloma, minus the part where JL shows up.


2nes walks in on Mathilde grouching at Fabi and hubby Ruben how interesting it was that the man who is Lina’s errant daddy just happened to be the same man who offered to invest in Aresti & Sanchez. Ruben sees Ines silently standing behind her and adds quickly that he figures she’ll explain when she’s good and ready and to whom she chooses. “—Yes, you have a right to know the details. We were married, had a child and then were separated. That’s all.” Mad Hilde asks why. Ruben upset by her rude insistence, tells her to shut it. 2nes says she’ll let her know the rest of the details, but first her obligation is to tell her abuela the whole megillah first, thank you very much. She walks out of the room and Fabi suggests it’s 2nes’s duty to return to her hubby. Ruben uses the statement to put Mad Hilde in her place—uhhhhgain. “—If a man and woman, married or no, cannot get along together [llevarse bien] , then they have a right to get divorced!” Madhilde hisses back that if they took an oath before Dios, then nobody and nothing should separate them ever. Really, asks Ruben? Then maybe you should have thought of that before asking me for a divorce! He harrumphs out of the room.
================

~~Parte 2~~

Lucina and Raqi arrive back at the B&B that evening. Luci goes upstairs to bed and Raqi orders Felipe to brink her and their guest a couple of whiskeys into the dining room. She joins JL there and tells him how his appearance there really caused a ruckus at his daughter’s party earlier. It turns out you’re really Jose Luis Falcon, she adds, taking a seat next to him at the dining table. “--Oriana already told you before, right?“ She turns the subject around to what interests her more: money and herself --though IMHO money ranked 2nd. “—How did you make so much money?” He laughs softly and says let’s just say I am good at business.

Monkey business is the only kind of business that interests Raqi about now however. (Ya think?) “Tell me something else: do I interest you?” “—Who wouldn’t be interested in a woman like you?” “—Then, I suggest you marry me and I won’t tell anybody.” “--Anybody what?” “--Who you really are: a fugitive from Colombia.” He tells her he’s not a fugitive from Colombia and can prove his innocence completely. He was forced to participate in those illegal smuggling operations because of their threats to harm his family, he explains. She says she doesn’t believe him, but not that it matters. He continues, then, playing to his advantage. “—Of course I’m attracted to you. But, of course, you’re a great friend of Oriana’s, so I’d have you as a lover.” Raqi refuses and says she’s not interested in having to share. “--A lover!! No way!” She wants the whole package. He tells her to take it or leave it. That’s all he’s offering since he’s already a married man.

Excuse me for saying so, but you’re married to a woman who’s in love with another man, Raqi clarifies. Oh, he says rather smugly with a macho snicker for emphasis and to remind her who holds all the good cards in this deck, we haven’t renewed our relationship, but when we do--. Raqi’s not interested in sharing him. Ok. Then let’s just talk about a business relationship. I know very well how your friend and you forced Oriana into accepting the role of Ines Valdivia, even falsifying all the papers she’d need to pass for her. “--That was all Lucina’s idea, not mine!” “—Ay, well, fine. I also know that Dona Paloma lent you three million pesos for this little joint [changarro]. I’m ready to give you the money to pay off that debt. Besides, I found out that the house next door is for sale; I could buy that for the two of you and could increase this business.” Really, she asks wide-eyed? He caresses her chin. “--You could be my lover and enjoy these and other benefits. But you have to keep your sweet little mouth shut.” She takes his hand in hers and intertwines their fingers seductively. “--And Lucina? “ “—That’s your task.”

They quickly pull apart and fake their prior attitude of guest and host as Felipe rushes in with their two drinks. They toast each other. He takes a sip while she smiles flirtatiously back at him. “—And if you want to see what a terrific lover I am, then give me a try. If you don’t like what you get, no problem.” (JL, nothing could be as bad as bedding Seb the Boy Bastard—and she’d die, I’m betting, before ever let you know how hard up she had to be to do nasty with Ricardo’s Bastardo!! Now that would be must see t.v.!!)

When Ric gets home, Fidelia lays down the law. He needs to wait till 2nes gets a divorce, hard as it is she can understand considering how Gabe divorced her sister and such. However, that’s the only thing to do as 2nes is married and has had a child with the other man! Ric tells her sorry, he’s in love with the woman of his dreams, with apologies to Marilou for the hard truth, but that’s the way it’s turned out. Fidelia warns him that a husband on the outs always causes problems with a three way relationship and that’s all he can expect from Ines with a repentant husband/father after her, till the divorce is final at least. Love will find a way, Ric insists. He’s old enough to make his own decisions in this sorts of things, he reminds her. “--Yes, but you say that only because you have no idea what’s in store for you! ‘Love’ is the least of it and doesn’t count for much.”

Ric tells his Tía she’s just too old fashioned about these things. Ines has suffered a lot because of this guy and he’s going to try to put an end to it. She didn’t exactly show much expertise when she was faced with her own mess of a lovers’ triangle. She turned tail the first sign of trouble Madhilde gave her. That starts Fidelia weeping over Ruben and forbids him to ever speak that way to her again! Ric continues that what he and Ines feel for each other is much stronger than he’d ever have believed and because of it, they’ll stay together no matter what happens. Once Ric heads back to Blue Bayou, Marilou tries to calm her down by saying we all have heartaches due to love, but we all get over them. Not me, Fidelia tells Marilou. Her heartbreak feels still as fresh as if it were yesterday.

Back in the bungalow, Ric tries reaching Oriana on her cell, but she refuses to pick up. She is too filled with angst over Paloma finding out and the need to ‘fess up to the old woman.

At the same time, Raqi visits JL to take him up on that test run he’s offered.

The next morning, Oriana lets Lina take her bike out and has the chauffeur give lessons while she visits Paloma in the hospital. Ric calls again, worried, and she finally answers. She lies that she was unable to answer his calls last night and then tells him that she’s simply got to tell Paloma the truth. He agrees, but wants to make sure the doctor feels she’s strong enough to handle things.
~~end parte 2~~
============
~~Parte 3~~

Lucina has breakfast with JL that morning. He offers to leave the B&B, but she says there’s no reason to. She just wants to know what his intentions are towards Oriana now, especially after showing up at the party the way he did. He tells her his life’s been a daily hell, full of uncertainty since all of this happened. He misses his wife; he’s had to leave his home and job in Colombia. She reminds him he’s a criminal and on the run from the law. She wasn’t. “—You committed a crime. She didn’t.” It was a crime, he admits. “—Haven’t you ever committed a crime? You helped Oriana when you provided [proporcionar] her with falsified documents and forced her into taking up a new identity after the law accused her of killing that man!” (Lucina, honey, you cannot disagree. He’s gotcha there!) “—She was innocent!” “—So am I! They forced me to do what I did by threatening my family.” Lucina tells him she wasn’t born yesterday. He tells her she’s free to believe what she wants. She shakes her head in disbelief. He mentions then that he can become a business partner and invest money into her B&B and pay off the debt she still owes Dona Paloma Aresti. She’d never have to worry again whether she has guests or not if she becomes his business partner.

A bit late Lucina discusses JL’s business proposition with Raqi. She’s worried what other nefarious things he as a criminal might ask them to do for him. He might even force them to convince Oriana to return to him. Raqi sniffs and says ain’t gonna happen. Why not? Well, for starters, what’s Oriana got that she hasn’t? Raqi’s got better looks, more sex appeal, and she’s anything but a prude! It hits Lucina then that Raqi’s already gone to bed with her friends hubby. What a whore she is. Hey, says Raqi, when you live with wolves you learn to howl. Anyway, she’s doing Oriana a favor becoming involved with JL. “--She’s in love with Ricardo now, not Jose Luis, remember?” Yeah, but what about his little girl, asks Lucina? So what? Is Raqi snippy reply. I can have a child too. It would be worth the effort swelling up [hincharse] like a watermelon [sandia] for the man.

At the hospital later that morning, 2nes is showing Paloma the video taken on her cell phone when Ric shows up. The doctor tells her and Ric that Paloma is being released the next day or so but that she’s to have no disagreeable news, and do not exposed her to anything shocking or disturbing. To prove the point, Paloma tells them she’s no fool and nothing that goes on in her house (with all her paid servants forced to inform her of everything, of course) and Oriana’s forced to bring up the business with Oriana’s hubby returning and coming by to see them. She tells Oriana to tell him to come see her cuz she’s got a few things she wants to tell him! Her heartbeat goes so high it gives the doc and the others a fit.

So much for Truth or Dare with Paloma, says Ric. (More like Truth or Die.) She’ll realize 2nes’s hubby is Fakecisco and he’ll vengefully tell her that Oriana is not her granddaughter, Ines Valdivia. All Hell will break lose at that point. Oriana doesn’t think he’d do that. No? Well, at the minimum he’ll threaten them if she doesn’t agree to go back to him. She reminds him that he’s no longer interested in buying into their company and he’s looking into something else. Doesn’t matter, he knows we’re in love and he’ll stop at nothing till he gets you back. “--For now, you should tell her that your husband has left the city.” She says that’s only putting a bandaid on the situation. Sooner or later it’s going to happen. He replies that at least it will buy them some time for Paloma to get better.

While Ric and Oriana are strategizing in the coffee shop, Mad Hilde and Ruben pay their respects to Paloma. Maddy pushes the envelope as much as she can regarding Ines’s hubby showing up unexpectedly at the party and bringing a bike for Lina. Paloma says she already knows Ines’s husband has made contact and was there and thinks the bike was a nice gesture [detalle]. Oh, says Maddy, but did what else did she tell you about him? Ruben quickly jumps in and says what Maddy means how he was there unexpectedly and how Piero, Ric and Padre Mariano politely asked him to leave and how he did so, just as politely. Once they’re out of there Ruben lights into his wife, attempting to tell Paloma that Ines’s husband was one in the same as Fakecisco. She says of course and that her aunt has the right to know. Ruben calls her an idiot and Maddy, the only idiot on screen, slaps him. Cara de harrumph de Ruben, who looks her up and down a good one before walking off in a snit. Mad Hilde realizes she’s lost control and races off after him. (Viewerville hopes he’s sensible enough to seek out Doctora Lucina for another get well chat, and that Maddy follows him there for a good come-uppance.)

When Oriana returns home from the hospital she gets a call on her cell from JL asking her and Lina to have lunch with him. Since it involves Lina, it’s an offer she can’t refuse.

Fabi, meanwhile, calls Sebastardo and wakes him from his beauty sleep. She asks why he wasn’t at the party and he makes some worthless excuse. She tells him about the surprise visit Ines’s heretofore unheard of hubby made.

Inside the manse, Mad Hilde makes sure to run into 2nes as she’s entering her bedroom. “—Thank God, my aunt is still alive. I heard you came to visit her. Did you mention your husband was Francisco Castro?” No, says 2nes with a raised eyebrow. Did you? Oh, no replies MadHilde with a look down at necklace of bells—which appears more and more like a cat’s collar with large, loud bells put there purposely to warn off any possible prey. She’s too cautious [prudente], she purrs, to do anything like that. When do you plan to, she asks in return? 2nes smiles warily back at her. “—In due time.”

Over at the Blue Bayou Ric calls Piero to come over and join him for lunch. He’s got things on his mind and wants to use Perro as a sounding board. Pierro agrees to come over for lunch.

Across the way at the B&B, Berto pays a visit to JL and tells him he’s got some dirt on Ricardo. Jose Luis is all ears. Berto explains how he met some guy named Benigno who knows Ric really well. Turns out he was the gardener for Ric’s family years ago and the father of the crazy, retarded woman who also happens to be Sebastardo’s mama, and Ric’s son. Maligno is willing to contact a reporter and give him the whole skinny on Ric’s “dark past”, in exchange for money of course. They agree it would be a huge scandal for a man of Ric’s position, especially in a town the size of Hermosillo. And, Ric now has her locked up in a psychiatric hospital. JL asks if Oriana knows. Berto says he hasn’t a clue.

JL changes the subject to whether Berto’s found his pistol yet. No, Berto tells him. He thinks it’s got to be some where inside Ric’s house. JL pulls rank and gets angry. Then find out for sure! If it’s not at his house then it might be at his office. I don’t want any “dunno’s!” Berto asks why it’s so important to him. JL says it’s not about him it’s about Berto. He wants only people with a spotless record around him! Viewerville notes how Berto is having trouble processing this demand.

At the B&B Lucina tells Raqi that she’s not certain what she’ll tell JL about his proposal. This is something that could really get them in hot water with the authorities if it ever got found out. Raqi says she doesn’t think that very likely and besides, he came to them with everything pointing to his being a Sr. Francisco Castro. How would they have ever known the difference? If she backs down on this [echarse para atras= back out, back down] then they could very well end up without a centavo between them. Lucina insists something could go very wrong with the deal. It’s a tempting offer and she can’t deny it, cajoles Raqi. It’s not like they’re pure white doves that should get all finicky over the suggestion, either. Lucina determines she’s got to discuss it with Oriana first since she knows the man better than anybody. Raqi’s lost this one so far and is not a happy camper.

Ric tells Pierro he’s worried that in order to avoid problems over her husband she’s willing to return to him and simply doesn’t want to tell him. Pierro says she’s too intelligent to put herself or her daughter in the hands of some criminal. At worst, she’s just confused and needs time. He thinks they can avoid a lot of angst if they can get to Lt. Manolo and convince him she’s innocent. And if they can’t, asks Ric? She may spend some time in jail, but at least once she proves her innocence, things will ease up and she’ll be fine. Ric disagrees. He changes the subject to what the lawyer they sent to Colombia found out. Pierro tells him that JL is a cosignatory, but that only he has ever drawn cash out of that account [expedir=financially issue] were signed by him. Ric says that’s important now since they could probably says she didn’t even know the count existed as she was never even a beneficiary of that dirty money account.

At the restaurant, JL and Oriana squabble about why she hasn’t decided what to do with his proposal. She says she’s scarcely had time to tell “her grandmother” the news that he came to the party or why, let alone that now it turns out he’s actually the big investor, Francisco Castro. JL says just explain that he asked her not to mention it so as not to prejudice the result of the meeting. –“Your grandmother, is it???” Oriana tells him the woman’s no fool and is in fact, brilliant. You can’t put anything like that over on her. JL counters and says she’s still an old fashioned old lady who has become very close to her. What’s really happening here is that you’re in love with that fool! “—Ricardo’s no fool. He’s an honest and honorable man, unlike you!” “--Could it be you don’t want the old woman to find out so you can get hold of her money?” “--After all those years of living with me, do you really think that’s the case?” People change, he tells her indignantly.

They certainly do, she answers her hubby, just as indignantly. “--When I met you you were a good, intelligent and decent boy. Since then you’ve become a criminal, associated with the mob, a bunch of narco-traffickers!” He hisses back that he’s finished with all of that. She hisses right back that she doesn’t believe him. Ok, he says, then lets come to terms on this. Come back to me, or if you prefer to, keep the old lady’s inheritance and the handsome little young man [galancete]; just hand over our little girl to me!” “—Not even if I were dead!” Don’t say it twice, or it might just come true, he threatens her.

Oriana gives him the evil eye. Lunch and chat time is over! She gets Lina and tells her it’s time to leave. Lina races quickly over to her daddy to say good-bye. She asks him if they fought again with each other. He says, yes, that her mother doesn’t want to come with him. He stops and lowers his voice, asking her if she’d come with him if it were without her mother. (Oooooh, this guy really does not play fair when he wants his way!) Lina looks over at her mother and then at him and has to think long and hard. Would she or not? We'll just have to wait and see.....

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