Caray, Caray!

Recap by HellaShelle

Previously on LSDP: We are forced to relive Aldonza’s living nightmare. Severiano backs her into one corner after another while she squirms away. He finally backs her up against the desk and Aldonza grabs a letter opener behind her back. She warns him that if he takes one more step she can’t be held responsible for what she does next. Unfortunately for Severiano, he’s still living in the past while Aldonza’s determined not to relive it. This time she fights back by stabbing him!

Hoy: Humberto comes out in time to hear Aldonza declare that she promised her mother that she wouldn’t let Sev hurt her again. She flees the scene while Hum holds a raging Sev back. The red cloud in front of Sev’s eyes clears long enough for him to realize that he should deal with the stab wound and he demands loudly, rudely and repeatedly that Hum help him (even though Hum is already escorting him into the office so that he can stitch him up.)



In the town center, Valeria is getting lessons from the queen of the telenovela demon wives. Cande brushes off Vale’s worries. Vale admits that she doesn’t think Cristobal is in love with her, but Cande thinks that maybe her son isn’t capable of loving. The thing with Aldonza was infatuation, not love, and anyway love inevitably fades with time, so Vale shouldn’t waste her time worrying about it (anyone else a lil surprised that she would reveal this much about her world view/crack in the picture perfect facade?). Vale insists she wants Cris to love her like a love song baby, but Cande is all about realism: life is what it is, not what we want it to be. She wants Vale to focus on the fact that she’s marrying THE CRISTOBAL MENDOZA and leave the petty love stuff for the fairy tales. Love is a contract. It’s not as beautiful to think of it that way, but much more practical and binding than the fairy tale.

Aldonza runs through the streets of Santa Lucia. Must be the back streets, because no one seems to be around to see her frantic race or the panicked way she scrubs her blood covered hands on the hem of her white dress. She finally finds a dark corner bench and tries to calm down.

Cris is waiting for his intended at her house with a semi-sloshed Prudencia for company. She tries to ply him with coffee that she should prob be drinking, but he declines. She tries to get his support for the Santuario Reception, but he gives the same arguments as his mom (plus he adds that they’ll just fill it with trash). Pru cuts to the tough stuff: it’s really that he doesn’t want to bring up bad memories, isn’t it?

Cande continues her dysfunctional marriage lecture. She warns Vale not to waste her time trying to make herself a victim because Cris is going to marry her and that’s all that matters. If he’s not in love with her yet, then that’s something Vale just needs to work on, if it’s even possible. Vale notes that Cande and Sev have been a well-respected couple of years, but Cande says they’re there to talk about her marriage, but the upcoming one. Vale presses: what does she have that I don’t have? We can practically hear Cande asking herself that question all those years ago…Well, Cande might not know how to make a man fall in love, but she knows how to keep him by her side in just 2 easy steps: 1) become indispensable. Like the sole of his shoe, make it so that he can’t take a step without you. Guess that’s why Vale’s a Zapata. 2) Learn his motivations and secrets and how to take away his shame and his fears. This is Vale’s new life’s homework. It might not make Cris fall in love, but at least it will keep him from falling for someone else  (because between him mom and Vale, he will think all women are insane control freaks). Vale heard all of that…but she’s gonna make Cris love her, yes she is, yes she is.

Vale finally gets home, but Cris is ready to go. He reinforces that they’re not having anything at the Santuario, and it has nothing to do with the past. Where did Pru even get such an idea? Pru slurs that Vale herself thinks that. Vale’s totally red faced over it, but Cris declares that Vale is the only woman he loves. That being said, he’s rather not hang out with the love of his life right now. Vale asks him to stay since she just got home, but he takes his leave. Vale snaps at her mom for making her look so jealous and insecure, but Pru doesn’t see what the big deal is.

Cris runs into Emmanuel, who advises him to tell Vale that Aldonza’s back in town before she hears it from someone else. Cris is surprised Emmanuel wants to support their relationship, but E shows that he might be the only character in TN history to really understand love is by letting Cris know that whatever his feelings towards Vale, he cares about them both so he wants them to have a good marriage. They hug it out.

Aldonza gets home and tries to hide what’s up, but Adelina sees the blood and wants to know what happened. At first Aldonza claims she cut her hand, but since there is no cut she has to come clean and admit to Adelina and PadrJ that she stabbed Sev. (Tsk tsk. She has no problem lying to religious folks, does she).

Back at Hum’s office, Sev is patched up and will be fine with some antibiotics and pain pills. Sev starts swearing revenge, but Dr. Hum says he got what he deserved. Hum saw what was going down and if asked, he won’t cover for Sev, he’ll tell the truth. Sev reminds him that they’ve both crossed the line more than once, so Hum shouldn’t start trying to be a good guy this late in the game. Sev wanted to settle the matter of El Santuario but now he’s not in the mood. He pays for the consult, takes the pills and leaves.

Adelina is furious: how dare that man try to out his hands on Aldonza again! Aldie says it doesn’t matter. Her eyes glitter with just a hint of hysteria and the adrenaline seems to still be pumping in her as she claims that now Sev knows she’s not the same stupid little girl from before; now, she can defend herself. Adelina’s not so sure and suggests they get outta Dodge and start fresh again, but Aldonza’s determined not to run from her problems again. Adelina wants to know what Aldie was doing at Hum’s office anyway. Aldie tells her she wants to rent the old house. Hum didn’t give her answer tonight, but he’s promised to think about it.

Cande’s getting ready for bed and looks through some old photos with surprisingly happy nostalgia. One falls to the ground as Cris comes in to see how her meeting with Vale went. She says it was the usual – dresses, and wedding whatnot. Cris laughingly says his future MIL ran him off. Cris finds the fallen photo and asks who’s in it. Cande looks panicked.

Dr. Hum has brought up the idea of renting the Santuario house with Pru, but she doesn’t know who would want to rent a broken down place with such a bad name…unless it’s to turn it into a brothel! Before she can lets her imagination run wild, Hum wearily reigns it in, telling her to forget about it, she’s right, no one would want to rent it. He settles into bed and asks how her day went. She hems a little, Pru style, and he basically rolls his eyes and asks who’s trying to ruin her life now. She tells him to hyuck it up if he wants; he clearly doesn’t understand what it is to give birth to a child and watch them leave you and not even take your opinions into account. Vale ignores her, Cande controls everything and even Cris isn’t on her side and...Hum’s already knocked out.
Cande has taken the photo and avoids answering Cris, saying they’re just some old friends that hse had long before marrying Sev. She gives the photo back to Cris and whaddaya know, PadrJ and Ray are in the picture. Cris is surprised because that means they weren’t always mortal enemies. No, Cande agrees. She never had anything against Raymundo. Things just soured when he got involved with…well, an inconvenient woman. That and El Santuario, Cris adds. Cande doesn’t want to talk about it and she’s tired. Cris wants to know why she and Sev never want to tell the full feud history, but whatevs. They kiss goodnight and Cande looks off into the distance.

Sev meets Cris on the stairs and Cris notes that he looks pain. Sev says it’s nothing, but Cris also wants to ask why Sev didn’t buy the Santuario when the Alcocers left. Sev says it wasn’t a good time because of the problems with Roberta – the accusations of arson and all. Cris is still surprised since the land borders theirs and Sev still uses it anyway. Life’s full of coincidences, Sev replies, but why doesn’t Cris get to what’s really bothering him: does he think his dad could do something underhanded or dishonest? No, Cris’s faith in his dad is rock solid. Papa’s glad to hear it because jealous people say crazy things…Cris would trust his dad more if he’s explain how the feud over El Santuario got started. Neither Sev nor Cande ever wants to explain it. Ok, Sev says he’ll tell him. They go to the office.

Apparently el Santuario used to belong to Sev’s family long ago, but Sev’s grandpa (appropriately named Justiniano) was up to his neck in debt to Aldonza’s drunken, gambling grandpa (well, that’s how he looks in the flashback). Justi gave over El Santuario as payment and died penniless. Sev never recouped the land. We get confirmation that Las Animas belongs to Cande’s family and Sev’s just been working it. So, Cris points out, if Sev got el Santuario back then he wouldn’t be – Sev cuts him off: “wouldn’t be what? Your mother’s employee?” Cris didn’t mean that, of course, but Sev knows that’s what he was thinking. Cris admits that yeah, the thought crossed his mind. Well Sev points out that HE’S the one who’s made the land what it is, HE’S the one who made the horse business what it is. Cris wants to know if that’s why his parents are so distant, but Sev says that’s not it. Love and passion change over time. Cris brings up that they sleep in different rooms, but Sev says that’s between himself and Cande. Cris just wants answers, but Sev has explained the land issue and if Cris wants to imagine other things about his parent’s marriage based on that, that’s his own business.

Hum and Pru discuss renting the Santuario house again at breakfast. Pru has thought about it and if they had more money, the Mendoza’s wouldn’t feel like they could control everything the way they do just because they’re paying for the wedding. Hum says he’s going to take out a bank loan so that he’s princess can have the greatest wedding the town’s ever seen. Words to Pru’s ears…

Dominga pays Adelina a visit to give her condolences and ask if there will be a mass. She tells Adelina that Joaquin waited a long time, but eventually married. Adelina knows and is happy for him; he was nice, she just never fell for him. Besides, she was busy with Aldonza. Dominga says Lola’s a bit ticked/hurt that Aldonza hasn’t looked her old friend up. Adelina says Aldie’s just got a lot on her plate right now and she’ll find a minute to catch up with Lola.

Cut to Aldie going to Lola’s job. Lola’s face starts to light up before she remembers she’s pissed. Aldonza’s sorry and Lola’s not one to stay mad at her friend for more than 30 seconds, so they hug it out. Aldonza’s got a lot going on, she says, and maybe one day she’ll tell Lola everything.

Hum goes to the bank for the loan for $150,000(?). It’s a large amount, but they have great credit with the bank.

Aldonza and Lola are catching up because Lola’s the Genie to Aldonza’s Aladdin. She didn’t stay in touch because she didn’t want to know anything about anything having to do with Santa Lucia. She knows Cris and Vale are getting married, and brushes it off like it’s no big deal. She’s more concerned with whether or not Sev’s ok. Lola tells Aldie he’s fine, but she’s suspicious about why Aldonza wants to know.

I’m not sure I got this all, but it looks like Abelardo’s dad and Hum discuss putting something up to the bank to borrow against the loan and Hum says he’ll think about it and gather the necessary documentation in the meantime. He doesn’t need to remind Abe’s dad that this is confidential.

Cande’s ticked that Dominga went to give condolences about Roberta. Cande goes 0 to 60 when she hears Aldie’s back in town. She accuses Lola of telling Aldonza about the wedding, but Dominga says Cande should leave that poor girl alone and worry about her husband. She shows Cande Sev’s bloody shirt.

Mary and Vale are looking at Vale’s invitations or programs or something. Vale talks down about the wedding resources in pueblo, including Irma’s shop (because of Lola). She says Mary’s always defending the losers like Lola and Emmanuel, but they’re to be pitied, not trusted. Talk turns to Abelardo. Mary hopes he’s not invited to the wedding because he’s way too interested in it for her liking. Vale feigns ignorance as to why that might be and says they should go see her dad for her pre-wedding medical. She dumps the wedding stuff into Mary’s arms like Mary’s a flunkie and they head out.

PadrJ runs into Emmenuel and informs him of Roberta’s death. He’s clearly affected.

Aldonza apologizes to Hum for what happened. Hum tells her not to worry, he saw what happened and bad grass never dies, so Sev’ll be fine. He notes that she inherited her mother’s character and beauty. She thanks him and asks about renting the house. He says he can’t right now because his daughter might live there after the wedding. Aldie’s bummed for multiple reasons, but thanks him and leaves. (No good can come of this mutual respect and appreciation)

PadrJ confronts Sev about attacking Aldonza. Sev is worried for a hot sec, but clearly PadrJ doesn’t know about the rape. Sev says Aldie’s losing her marbles, and PadrJ looks like he wants to throw a punch, but he just warns Sev to stay away from Aldie. Cande walks in on the discussion and wants to know what’s going on. PadrJ tells her to ask her hubby.

Aldonza and Vale meet face to face outside of Hum’s office. Vale’s been taking lessons with the Ice Queen, but Aldie’s also taken Mean Girls 101 and will not be cowed by these fools. She meets Vale’s obvious attempts to make her jealous with hard edged sweetness, side stepping Vale’s question about why she was in Hum’s office and congratulating her on her upcoming wedding. When Vale says Cris will forget all about Aldonza soon, Aldie one ups her, saying she already forgot about him long ago and hadn’t thought about him til she saw him the other day. But in any case, Vale looks great, so nice seeing her again, congrats on the wedding, tah-tah! Vale is seething and takes off to raise hell somewhere else, cutting off Mary’s puppy like offer to come along.

Cande doesn’t like not being in on the story. PadrJ fills her in since Sev stays quiet: Sev and Aldie fought over something and Aldie confronted him with a letteropener. Sev claims he was warning Aldie away from Cris because he’s about to get married. Cande literally takes his side, going to stand behind him while he tells PadrJ that if Aldie plays the victim, Sev will take the matter to the cops.
Avances – Clearly The Green Eyed Monster had too much green beer and is a day late!: Vale slaps Cris because of Aldonza, Cris punches Abe because of Vale, and Vale and Cande apparently plan a trick for Aldonza.

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