Caray, Caray!

So, what's it gonna be, Cande?  Did you love him, or didn't you?  'Cause Sev thinks if you really did love him, you would have forgiven him.  "Ha!  Like you would have forgiven me if I'd cheated."  Cande doesn't accept Sev's "well, men are different" excuse.  To her it's the same.  She went all in when she married him and she trusted him to live up to his end of the "marriage" bargain, but instead he's turned her life into a living hell.  "Hell looks pretty comfy from here.  If you wanted to, you could have left.  Maybe you're still feeling some of that love you said you used to have."  Puh-leeze!  Cande says it's "pura conveniencia" (purely convenience, interest, or benefit).



Renato helps Aldonza walk off her anger.  I hope she changed shoes.  Just saying.  He's never seen such a scene in his life.  "Well, that's Santa Lucia for you."  Aldonza still can't understand how the hell a feud between families could lead to what just happened in the church.  "They can't even let my mother rest in peace!"  But she's not leaving again…never.  And she's going ahead with her plans.  Renato is concerned about how violent things can get, but he's still in.  After getting a little frisky with her hand, he says they both need to go rest, because it's been a long day and they need to discuss the next steps for Mis Planes.  The blow to Sev needs to be delivered as soon as Aldonza is moved into El Santuario.

Before Mari can hightail (heh!) it to her room, Ulises would like a word.   He wants to know what she talked about with Emmanuel.  He knows they were arguing and he's not buying her lies that things are cool and they're just taking "a break."  He wants to have Sev fire Emmanuel.  Mari, still lying, at least tells a more noble lie and says the relationship just happened so fast and everyone's been coming down on Emmanuel and so it was HER decision to take a break and let things cool down.  Em has been a total gentleman.  Uriel backs down.

Dominga and Melesio are worried about Lola.  She's been quiet a whole three minutes.  She's mopey about Emmanuel, thinking he's dating Mari now.  Dominga would like Lola to find some other guy to crush on.  Melesio says she doesn't even have to look--the guy who's worth it will come looking for her.  Lola changes the subject to Doña BSCande.  I cackle gleefully as Dominga says she's gonna let her have it for her behavior in church!  Yeah, you go, Dominga!  Hell no, she won't stay out of it!  She may be the boss in her own house, but not in God's house.

Aldonza finally makes it home to her very worried aunt.  Adelina wants to have a talk--not about what happened, but about why Aldonza didn't tell her what was going on with Cristobal.  "Because it wasn't important."  Channeling tofie, Adelina says, "How can you call it unimportant that the only man who's ever meant something in your life tells you that he still loves you?  That's not important?  Puh-leeze!"  Aldonza says she never expected to run into him again and she thought they had both gotten over each other.  And she doesn't feel bad because of their feelings, but she does feel bad about him breaking it off with Valeria.  "It's as if I was reliving what happened with my mother.  You know, that feeling of guilt.  I'm sure that if I hadn't gone to the convent and I'd been with my mother when she found out she had cancer, things would have turned out differently."  Adelina says there's nothing Aldonza could have done.  Roberta made her decision.  As did Val, "And at least in this case, no paso de mayores" (it wasn't worse).  Aldonza imagines that poor Val must have felt so desperate, and even though she knows she's not responsible, she feels like she pushed her to it.  "I swear, I don't want to hurt Valeria, even though she was going to marry Cristobal and I was going to lose him forever."  Aldonza and Adelina cry together.  I have to admit that I did not see it coming that Aldonza would make that connection between the two suicides.  And I'm sure Val didn't make the connection either.

Speaking of accidentally brilliant manipulators…Emmanuel comes to visit and she tells Pru to let him in.  So she can tell him his friend is a fiancé-stealing skank.  And beg him to get Cristobal to come visit her.  With much whining and touching.  Come on, Em, are you going to get played by EVERY woman in town under the age of 30?

Renato gets a call that something happened, and though we don't hear the answer to "But is she ok?" he says he's on his way back right now.

Aldonza gets a message from a waiter that Renato had an emergency and had to leave.  He packed everything and left early.  She pulls out her cell phone (ding, ding, ding!) and calls him.  He's in the hospital.  His mom's not doing well.  OMG, show!  Does Aldonza have to relive every single trauma?!  Can't the poor girl catch a break for an episode or two?

Joaquin remembers explaining to Adelina that his wife is a jealous cow and there's no point talking to her when she's pissed.  Said jealous cow comes home to complain about him working for free.  He tells her that they're pretty much done with the house, but that doesn't mean he's going to abandon them out there alone.  Flavia is, of course, furious, because Joaquin, of course, is really just using that as a pretense for the hot and heavy affair that he's surely having with Adelina.  And she doesn't buy all that crap about how his son and Flavia are the most important people in the world to him.  Because if they were, he'd spend more time at home.  Joaquin talks her down and says he will be spending more time at home, but she needs to make an effort and quit thinking stupid things.  They can't let this ridiculousness upset their domestic tranquility.  Flavia can't resist a parting "Well, show me!"  Oh, yeah, Flavia, constant suspicion, jealousy, and badgering.  That's the way to keep  a man.  And if that doesn't work, I've got an inbox full of spam testimonials to send your way.

Aldonza hopes Renato's mom will be ok.  He says they don't know what it is--just headaches, and since she just put up with them and didn't say anything, they didn't know how frequently she was having them.  They kept telling her to go see a neurologist, but "you know how moms are.  She never paid attention!"  (Nicely played, show.)  Aldonza tells him everything will be fine.  She'll go get a bus ticket to be with him.  He tells her not to, she's got enough to worry about.  "Yes, but none of it's urgent."  She insists on going and gets him to give her the name of the hospital.

Irma and Adelina talk Cande and Lola can't resist joining in, saying that lady's always been a "mustia" (shriveled-up old bat?) "And I should know, I live with her!"  Irma scolds Lola.  Lola insists she speaks only truth.  Cande is a "culebra ponzoñosa" (a venemous snake).  Even the stuffed paisley dachshund with the pink ribbon agrees.  Irma says something must have set her off…it must have been something serious.  Adelina doesn't care.  Her niece didn't deserve that.  Irma agrees.  Adelina gets the call from Aldonza…"I was just thinking about you."  Aldonza jokes that "nos telepateamos" (we're telepathic).  She's calling to say that she's going to the DF because Renato's mom is sick and he's anxious about it.  Well, Adelina won't let her go alone.  "No, you stay here and get the house ready so we can move in."  Adelina fusses about how she doesn't want Aldonza in the big, bad city alone.  Lola butts in to say she'll go with Aldonza, if Irma will let her.  She begs Irma, saying the last time her BFF went to the DF alone, she didn't come back until just now!  She won't let her do that again.  Irma can't help agreeing, as long as Lola makes up the time later, plus extra.  Of course Lola agrees.  This satisfies Adelina's need to not have Aldonza left alone and Aldonza's need to have the house finished before Joaquin needs to go back to his regular job (whatever that is).  But Aldonza still hesitates, because she's in a hurry.  Well, so is Lola--to get the heck out of the Gossip Capital of Mexico for a while.  They'll meet at the bus terminal in an hour.  Annnnnnd she's off.  Adelina thanks Irma for giving Lola the time off.

Emmanuel approaches a moping Cris and asks how he's doing.  Like the good friend he is.  And tells him that Valeria is depressed.  Like the nice, but too easily manipulated guy he is.  Cris has made up his mind, he's not getting back together with Val.  Well, ok, but Emmanuel thinks he needs to talk to her and end it on good terms.  Like that's possible.  He thinks Cris should go over anyway, even though Humberto told him to stay away.  Now, finally, Cris asks about Em's women problems.  Emmanuel doesn't know how he got himself into this mess or how he's going to get himself out of it.  He explains to Cris how it's probably going to cost him his job, since he told Mari to take a hike.  Cris offers to step in , but Emmanuel tells him to take care of his own drama.

Lola's packed and ready.  Dominga punts to Melesio.  Melesio succumbs to the combination of whining, ready answers (that they're taking a bus and will stay at Aldonza's apartment), Lola's need for a change of scenery, her assertion that she packed before asking because she knew they'd say yes, and probably his own exasperation and need for a little peace and quiet after ALL the drama lately.  He warns her that they'd better behave.  He'll take her to the bus station and give her some money.  Lola runs off to tell the taxi to wait.  Dominga isn't sure they're doing the right thing, but Mel says Lola's a grown woman and they keep treating her like a child.  They need to let her open her wings and fly.  Dominga says the change of scenery will do Lola some good.

Valeria is tired of being in bed and comes downstairs to ask Pru to let Cris in, if he shows up.  And she's sure he will show up because she asked Emmanuel to help her.  She also wants to be left alone with Cris.  Just to talk.  Like two civilized people.  Well, that would take a third person in the room, at the very least.  Well, Pru agrees to do it and not tell Humberto.

Lola and Mel get to the bus depot and Mel tells them to call when they get there.  He tries to pay for the bus ticket and has to settle for giving Lola money for food and a blessing.

Adelina visits Padre J's office.  She tells him about Aldonza going to Mexico.  She doesn't know what's wrong with Renato's mother.  Padre J likes that she went, since Renato's done a lot for her lately.  He hopes this time out of town will help get Cris out of her head and her heart.  Padre, are you familiar with the rites of exorcism, 'cause I don't think a trip to the DF is gonna do the trick.  Adelina is feeling like the more they keep thinking that Cris and Aldonza shouldn't be together, the more life throws them together.  They both agree that they'll be praying for Renato's mother.

She's in a hospital bed, but they don't have the test results yet.  Renato is telling her that he's sure everything is going to be fine.  "Ok.  But if it's not, I want you to know I'm happy you turned out so well.  You're a man in every sense of the word, and I'm really proud of you.  And soon you'll find a woman who will make you happy.  Or may be you found her already?"  Renato says she may be right.  She reminds him the paths of the heart are uncertain.  Aw, crap, she's totally going to die.  And where the hell is his dad?

On the bus, Lola and Aldonza talk about Renato's mom.  And then Cande.  Aldonza's confused that she would make a scene like that after she supposedly invited her to the engagement party so they could make peace.  But, whatever.  She's not going to spend her life crying about it.  And she's never going to show it when they hurt her.  Lola says Cris doesn't seem to care and he luuuuuurves her.  "What good is that.  The more he loves me, the more his dear saintly mother hates me."  Lola brings up how jealous Val must be now, and Aldonza laughs, forgetting her earlier self-imposed guilt trip.

Renato says his mom will get better and everything will be fine.  "We don't know that, but I do know that one way or another, you're going to be happy.  Because you have a big heart.  I have a son that's worth a family of 20.  You've given me all the happinesses a mother could ask for. "  Renato says he was also a bad kid, he didn't listen, he broke windows, he was a rebel.  Mami calls him a naughty angel.

Aldonza and Lola move on to talking about the Mari-Emmanuel scene at the party. Yeah, Aldonza saw.  "But if he gets tired of Mari and realizes you're the one he really wants, would you take him back?"  Lola doesn't think so.  She can't wait around for him.  She's given up on him and never wants to hear about him again.

The extended goodbye scene continues.  I'm sad, y'all.  I want some doctor to come in and announce that she needs some ridiculously simple surgery to fix whatever the problem is and all this has been unnecessary.  She tells him he's been a great son and she loves him a bunch.  Renato loves her too, with all his heart.  He urges her to sleep and he'll be there, watching over her.  "I love you."  "I love you more."

Emmanuel shows off Soletario's smooth moves for Severiano and some guy named Jacinto.  I have no idea where he came from, but I guess we needed some new faces?  Jacinto and Sev talk about how Emmanuel seems born for the saddle.  His skill with horses is equal only to his lack of luck with women.  No horse can resist him.  Mari is also there, looking on and gloating.  Lemme paint the scene.  She's wearing a long-sleeved, button up shirt in some sort of drapey fabric, that's only buttoned right at her boobs, and shorts that are rolled up to about a 2-inch inseam.  She goes over to greet Severiano, and I swear it looked like he kissed her on the mouth.  He DEFINITELY leaned back to check out her ass.  And the fact that the two actors are married to each other did NOT make that look any less skeevy.  Am I supposed to believe that Sev has some kind of radar that enables him to only ogle women like this when nobody's looking?  Mari's still trying to talk to Emmanuel.  Severiano summons Jacinto so she can talk to him alone.  But Emmanuel doesn't want to talk.  Mari says she doesn't want to force anything.  "Oh, now you tell me."  He thinks she's showing off her "cinismo" (shamelessness).  Mari explains that she told her dad they broke up and asked him not to get Emmanuel fired.  She just came there to say she wouldn't bother him again.  Emmanuel thanks her sincerely.  And asks if they'll still be friends.  Um…why?  Mari, of course, agrees.

Lola and Aldonza get to the hospital, dragging their suitcases, and just as the doors start to close a *ahem* handsome young man in a suit comes barreling down the hallway begging them to wait, runs directly into the elevator and practically pins Lola to the wall.  She's not complaining.  I'm not complaining.  They're having a moment.  I'm having a moment.  Mr. 5ft is cracking me up, asking if men are just falling form heaven.  Um, I kinda think so.  Once they exit the elevator, he apologizes profusely, but hey, it could happen to anyone, and ten apologies is a little excessive.  He's not following them, he's a friend of Renato's.  Ohhhhh, this is the guy from the day Aldonza registered for school, right?  Patricio?  Aldonza goes on ahead to greet Renato.  His dad is in with the neurologist and they haven't told him what's up yet.  Two doctors come running past Ren and Aldonza and his dad blocks him from going into the room…or after the hospital bed as they wheel his mother away.  He assures Renato that his mom is in the best possible hands, but she just fell into a coma.

And now, the confrontation we've all been waiting for.  I'll spare myself the time to analyze and give it to you con todos sus letras…

Cande: Dominga, serve me a tea.  My head is going to explode.
Dominga: Maybe that's from the shame that's looking for a way out.
C: What are you talking about?
D: Seriously?  You know exactly what I'm talking about.  How did you dare do something so…stupid…in the middle of the church!
C: Don't start, Dominga!
D: Oh, I'm starting!
C: I'm giving you an order!
D: Yes, I know you're the boss around here, but not in God's house!  There you're the same as me and the same as any of the faithful, and what you did, Candela--
C: What I did isn't any of your business.
D: Oh, yes it is, because you didn't just offend Aldonza Alcocer, but all the believers in the church, and I'm a believer in the church!  You offended Padre Jeronimo and God himself!
C: Don't exaggerate.
D: Listen up, Candela.  God's house is not for you to be resolving your personal conflicts.
C: You're going too far, Dominga.
D: Lots of donations, lots of prayers…but when it comes to actions, that's when someone shows the kind of Christian they are.  And if you want to fire me for saying this to you, then let me know and I'll pack my bags.

Melesio has been in a panic, trying to get Dominga to shut up without actually saying or doing anything by waving his hand around and gaping.  How are those Jedi powers working out for you, Don Mele?  Candy waits a beat and then tells Dominga to bring the tea up when it's ready.  She's not going to keep listening to "tonterias" (stupidity).  Sev has been eavesdropping and comes in when Cande leaves.  Melesio is already begging for their jobs, but Sev says he'd rather give Dominga a bonus than fire her.  "It's about time somebody put Candela's feet on the ground.  Congratulations, Dominga.  I'd applaud you if I could.  Would you bring me a tea, too?"  Dominga's in shock.  I would have liked it better if Sev didn't also need someone to deliver a verbal, physical, spiritual, and/or nuclear smackdown to him as well.

Renato's dad explains that she's going into emergency surgery to repair an aneurism.  As soon as he knows more, he'll let Renato know.  And he goes off, presumably to go help.  Or stalk the doctors.  Aldonza tells Renato to be calm and trust his dad.  They have to be positive.  Yeah, that's…not going to work.

Cris shows up to see Valeria and Pru makes herself scarce.  Val has returned to bed.  She pretends to be surprised to see him and says she's ok.  "You probably think I was being stupid and I just did it to blackmail you, but I swear, I felt so bad.  I really did want to die.  I don't know what I'm going to do without you?  How can I go on living when you're everything to me?"  Cris tells her that she's giving him way too much credit and she'll feel better with time.  "You'll realize I'm not worth dying over."  Val says he'll always be important to her and, like she said on the phone, she loves him and she'll always love him.  She pulls him in for a hug…and then tries to get a little sexual healing, if the sexy sax music is any indication.

Tomorrow: We'll find out if they done the deed, I would assume.  Lots of people are plotting various things.  The announcer warns of "the worst revenge."

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