Caray, Caray!

I'm desperately sorry this is so late! Next week I'll be far more timely, I promise! I apologize for the typos and editing too; I'm running on very little sleep and I want people to be able to discuss the eppy.

After Max stupidly admits that he said he wanted to “play” with her, MD doesn’t give him a chance to explain himself and kicks both him and Daniel out. “I’m not some rich boy’s toy!” Max and Leo leave right away, but Daniel lingers to say that Max is on Ivana’s side because they’re friends and he won’t be able to give Maleny all she wants by himself. MD remains firm in telling him to get out, but she still loves him in her head.

Claudio and Isela explore the historic-styled hotel where Isela wants to stage Claudio and Alma’s anniversary. The hotel guide mistakes them for a married couple, but Isela clarifies that she’s his secretary. They explore the gorgeous area and it seems that Isela has set this excursion up as a kind of extended, but innocent “date.” Claudio’s very taken with her as they stroll through the area. After they’ve explored, they’re ready to head back but, oh no! Claudio’s car mysteriously won’t start. While they wait for mechanical help, Isela orders herself a drink. Claudio sticks to coffee. As they’re finally leaving that night, Isela seems to be getting sick from the drinks. Claudio helps her lean against the wall…and then keeps leaning in, as if for a kiss. Right before they cross that line, Alma calls out! She and Max are at the hotel! Alma doesn’t see how Claudio and Isela are standing. She runs up to Claudio with arms wide open, crying “Happy Anniversary, my love!” Turns out the whole day was Alma’s plan! She wanted to surprise Claudio. Isela helped her with the whole thing and Max drove her out so that he could take Isela back with him. Claudio and Isela share a look while hugging Max and Alma. As Isela nd Max walk to the car, he asks Isela to talk to MD about Daniel. Isela says she had, but MD’s in love. Besides, Dan says he’s going to marry her. If that’s his plan, why stand in the way?

After Julian sees his mother trying to wake Fermin up from his drunken stupor, he insists they take him home. After all, his testimony saved Julian from jail. Honoria protests mightily, but there are no beds available in the hospital for people who have elsewhere to go and Julian insists Fermin does have elsewhere to go – with he and his mom.  When Fermin wakes up in Julian’s room, he calls him his son. Julian corrects him, but says he and Honoria will be his family while he’s staying with them. Later, MD thanks Julian for his role in making her parents’ dream of having the shop become a reality. As Leo moves in, Max talks to his mom. He admits he feels something very strong for MD. He doesn’t know if she’s “The One,” but she’s different from any woman he’s ever met.  He assures his mom that he’s never cheated on Maleny; he’s only just started to understand what he’s feeling. His mom is horrified! She thinks maybe he’s confusing his natural desire to help and protect people with romantic feelings for MD. She asks him to stay away from her before these feelings become something more and he ends up hurting poor Maleny.

Maleny’s second, third, and fourth guessing her decision to help Daniel. She can’t concentrate on her tennis game, which might be why she kisses Ari without noticing her brother walking up to them. Dan rudely dismisses Ari (who gets in a few true insults about Daniel having no ambition). Now Dan knows Maleny’s secret – she’s got a thing for the lower class too! Well he’s not about to sacrifice himself on the altar of that pig Ivana all by himself. She’s got to help him out or he’ll tell Max about Ari. She begs him to stop this because he’s stupid obsession is going to ruin them all, but Dan won’t give up his games so that Maleny and Ursula can keep doing whatever they want.

Ivana’s taking the break up hard. She’s drinking and banging away absently on the piano, while Gerry looks on. Susana tells her she can “celebrate” discovering that Dan was a phony tonight, but she’s got to go to work tomorrow (excuse you, Leech Lady! Get a job if you’re so worried!), unless she wants to throw away everything she’s worked for. Gerry holds Ivana back from attacking Susana, then physically removes Susy from the room. Ivana collapses into tears, while Gerry holds her. (NOTE: Thank you to everyone who pointed out that my thinking Gerry was gay was based on my own assumptions about how TNs portray make fashion designers. Everything about him screams that he loves Ivana and it’s so beautiful that I like her more for his loving her.)

Maleny visits MD and Esperanza. She’s come to defend Daniel. She tells them that it’s true, Dan used to be a womanizer and a lazy spendthrift. But he’s different now. When they went bankrupt, he asked an old business friend of their father’s for a job. He really worked hard for the money he used to rent the shop for them. Esperanza’s not buying it. Maleny points out that she’s there, trying to support her brother in this. Their mom won’t, but would Esperanza and her husband have done the same? Maybe Dan has lied a lot, but he’s telling the truth about loving MD, Maleny insists. He’s done everything possible to show his family that he won’t let her go. That’s why she’s there: He asked Maleny, on behalf of the family, to ask Esperanza for MD’s hand in marriage! Esperanza is firm. She will NEVER support Dan marrying MD. Maleny leaves without another word.

Ari is telling Doris about his “friend,” who’s two timing his girlfriend with a rich chick. He’s even proposing to the girlfriend! He would never do that to a woman. Doris says what he means is he wouldn’t take things that far. She thinks Ari’s “friend” sounds like a jerk and that Ari should say something. No way! Ari argues. He could lose his job over that!

MD goes to share her troubles with Julian. He’s the only one she can talk to; she doesn’t know what to do. He tells her he can’t talk to her as a friend because he wouldn’t be able to support her; in his opinion, honesty is the most important thing in a relationship. But if it were him, if the woman he loved did something like that, he’d forgive her and marry her. She asks if he can ever forgive her for not loving him the way he loves her. “You know?!” He asks.  She begs him to forgive her and insists that he’ll find someone else one day. Nope, he says. Just like she’ll always love Dan, he’ll always love her (oh good! Then there’s hope!) He takes her hand; he’ll always be there for her.

Fermin is bummed that Julian doesn’t know how to woo a lady. Honoria defensively says she taught him what she could. But Fermin shouldn’t try to make up for lost time. Julian might have needed him when he was little, but he doesn’t need him now.

Josefa almost jumps on Isela when she gets home, wanting to know how things went with Claudio. Did she sleep with him? No, ISela says. Even better: she left him wanting her. Josefa thinks this is dumb; he’ll just transfer all of that want to his wife! Isela doesn’t think so. They’re a Netflix in bed couple; they’ve lost the fire. They may both be right; Claudio’s thinking of ISela while he watches Alma show off the anniversary dress she bought. He’s thinking of Isela when he says they should have dinner in their room. And he’s thinking of Isela when he kisses Alma and lays her down on the bed…

Dan comes upon MD pondering her situation in the alley. Maleny told him that Esperanza won’t accept their marriage…but that MD hasn’t completely rejected it. He wants her to balance his lie with everything he’s doing now to be with her forever. He cries as he tells her he loves her, she’s the most important thing in his life. He wants to be with her forever, to build a family with her, to wake up beside her every day and tell her he loves her. He kisses her and they stare at each other for an endless minute before she gives in to her wants. They kiss passionately again. Wow...I’ve got to give it to him: the bastard’s good. He’s really good.

Max, meanwhile, sits in bed, miserably remembering MD. Maleny comes into his room. Leo sees her and demands to know why she asked for MD’s hand in marriage for Daniel. Maleny swears she’s trying to help; she wants him to stop using MD too, just like them.

MD tells Clara and Esperanza that she and Daniel are back together…and getting married.  Esperanza thinks marriage is too sacred to survive under lies. Clara doesn’t buy Daniel’s turn about to the truth either. MD says she loves him and a lot of what he told her was true. She asks them to support her in this.

Fermin begins to crave his “medicine.” Julian, sweet innocent that he is, thinks he’s talking about the doctor-prescribed medication. His mom clears that up. Julian is firm that Fermin won’t be getting any of that while he’s in their house. MD stops by to tell him about her and Daniel before he find out elsewhere. He’s crushed, but he just wants her to be happy. He asks if he can give her away at the church.

Ivana doesn’t want to get out of bed. Her fruit breakfast is making her nauseated and she has cramps. Susana thought it was a hangover. Or the fact that a week ago, Dan was proposing to her. (NOTE: Shut up, Susana.)

Esperanza wants to support her daughter, but this isn’t want she and her husband wanted for MD. Besides, people marry into families and Ursula doesn’t want MD in her family. Daniel repeats that his mom’s all about the Benjamins, but he’s not. Clara’s not moved; Dan should’ve defended his love, like Leo did. Dan sadly says that the Bustamantes will reject her too. They’re exactly like his parents.  MD backs him up, saying Max’a parents told her she was a mistake in Dan’s life. Clara’s hurt that MD thinks Leo’s parents will be same with her. Isela confirms this for Clara, who leaves the house in tears. Isela worries Clara will tell Leo’s parents about this and she'll lose her job. Josefa belittles MD and Clara and says if Leo tells his parents, Isela will get fired for telling their business. Isela says is he doesn't, they'll get Clara and MD out of picture, so why does she care.

Claudio and Alma explore the area. They haven’t had a chance to hang out by themselves in a while. Alma doesn’t want to leave because they had such a great night.

Dan wants to marry in a week. MD and Esperanza say that’s nuts; they can’t organize a church wedding that quickly! Well, great because Daniel says they’re not getting married in a church. They’re going to city hall this marriage.