Yo No Creo en los Hombres #75 Lunes 10/26/15

Chapter 75: Surprises

Esperanza opened the door. Scuzzy Santibañez charged in, grabbed Maria Dolores, and held a pair of scissors to her throat. The police bust in behind him, pistols drawn. Her screams attracted the neighbors, including Hosefa. Mama Bear and her shark ran into the courtyard. Danny-Boy demanded that the police not shoot. Mama Bear and Arango went into the Morales apartment.

“Son, don't do this. Don't be foolish!” she yelled.

“I'm not losing my son, not after all we did,” he answered.

The police pushed Ùrsula back and Danny-Boy started lowering the scissors.

“This is all your fault!” Mama Bear yelled at Maria Dolores.

“I haven't done anything wrong,” she answered. “He raped me. You raped me!” she yelled at him as she elbowed him in the side. The younger cop's reflexes were good. He got in and shoved Danny-Boy's face down onto the worktable. His partner closed in as he said to Danny-Boy “You're under arrest and will need a lawyer.”

They dragged him out the door. He protested as they frogmarched him past the neighbors.

“Wait till you see what happens to you for all this,” Mama Bear shouted. She shook her indez finger at Maria Dolores like an orphanage mistress out of Oliver Twist.

“Don't you threaten my daughter,” said Esperanza. “Nobody was more unfair and cruel than Daniel. It's your fault as his mother for not teaching him any values.”

“Yes, yes, yes,” Chelito shouted. “Face it; he's committed a crime and he has to pay.”

“You will be sorry for this,” Mama Bear said. “I will make you sorry and I will have help. I will always remember this moment.”

Arango said “Vamanos” as he pulled her out the door. Maria Dolores looked frightened, Doris angry.

Mama Bear followed her cub out of the courtyard, telling him “Don't worry; I'm coming.” She sounded like he was a bullied child rather than an adult criminal. Julian watched from his wheelchair, surrounded by neighbors. The Bustamantes were pulling up next to the police car. Max opened the back door behind his mother and got out. They spotted the weasel.

Max marched up demanding “What did you do to Maria Dolores?” He grabbed him by the hoodie, but Claudio pulled him back. The two cops shoved the weasel into his cage.

Mama Bear looked the Bustamantes in the eyes and said “You ruined our lives so I will ruin all of you!” she then followed Arango so they could follow the police car. Ma walked up to the courtyard, clutching his injured side. His parents followed him up to the Morales apartment.

“He tried to make me say he didn't rape me,” Maria Dolores said. He told her to calm down. She said she would, for the baby's sake. They kissed.

Hosefa couldn't wait. She called Isela.

“Girl, you're going to like this. The Santibañez are going to suffer for a long time.”

“Why do you say that?” she asked. There was no emotion in her voice.

“Because the police were just here to arrest Daniel. He'll go to prison for years.”

Isela rolled her eyes. “Yeah. He has a lot of money. He can get out.”

“That has nothing to do with being a criminal. If Max helps Maria Dolores he'll go to prison.”

“Maybe, but I don't think Ùrsula will take that lying down.”

“No, but maybe that can work to our advantage, girl. She'll be so busy getting that animal out of prison she'll leave us alone.”

Esperanza and Chelito offered coffee or tea, but Alma declined. She told Max they should leave. Maria Dolores reminded him that his doctor ordered bed rest. He told her he would be resting at his parents' but to call him if she needed him.

“The only thing I need is for you to follow doctors' orders to the letter,” she told him. “Get well very soon.” She kissed him. Embraced him as well. Alma and Claudio were not pleased. But as others of their kind were bent they said nothing.

Ùrsula and Arango marched into her parlor. Jacinto followed them. Maleny was waiting.

“What happened?” she asked. Mama Bear shoved her onto the couch.

“You don't know how I wish I had aborted you,” Mama Bear said. Maleny got up and Mama Bear grabbed her throat. Arango pulled her hand back as Maleny screamed.

“Ùrsula, please!” he said. He pulled her away. Maleny sank back onto the couch.

“I was happy with your brother but your father wanted a little girl. What for? So few are worth it but you mean nothing to me. Your father went nuts. He wouldn't let me abort you. You weren't worth any of this.”

She became inaudible after that. Behind her Jacinto was mildly shocked, then amused. Arango remained stoic, as he always did.

“You're going to be sorry you said these things,” Maleny said. “I'm going to find a way to get out of this prison.” She threw her drink onto the table and went out.

Max and Alma arrived at her house. She encouraged him to lie down and offered to get more clothes from his apartment. He told her it wasn't necessary; he wasn't staying long. If he needed anything he would have Leo take care of it. She kissed him and left him alone in his old room.

Isidro brought the phone to Mama Bear, telling her it was Victor Cadena, a friend of Danny-Boy's.

“Tell him I'm not in,” she said.

“He says it's urgent, Madam.” She took the phone and the butler left.

“Talk.”

“Ma'am, I'm outside the precinct. Daniel called me. He asked me to call you so we can help him.”

“I'm going to look for the best lawyers to be in charge of his case,” she said.

“I understand, but we only have 72 hours to present Daniel's case or they'll transfer him to the pen.”

“No, no. Not that. Never.”

“If the police find evidence to charge him they will send him to prison. Once inside there it will be very difficult to get him out. It could take weeks, months, or years.”

“No. We have to do something.”

“I don't think there's much we can do that doesn't need money. That's the advice I have for your 'eminent' lawyers. Until later, Ma'am.”

“Tell me, where can I see you? I'll be there right away.”

“I'll tell you where and what to bring,” he said. She listened for a few seconds.

“Wait for me,” she finally said and ended the call. She looked at Arango. “We have to get Daniel out of jail. I'm going to get what Cadena said to take.”

“I'll go with you,” said Jacinto.

“Why?”

“Why? What do I do, for God's sake?”

“The same as usual.” He smirked at her. “Wipe that stupid smile off that stupid face or you're fired. Because Daniel will be out of jail before anyone knows it.”
She left the room. Jacinto looked like he wanted to eyeroll Arango passed by him, looking like he didn't notice.

Leo told Max he would meet him shortly. He and Clara were preparing his apartment for his homecoming. Good kids.

“There you are. Look me in the face,” Ùrsula said to Maleny. “Maleny, I'm talking to you.”

Maleny was sitting on the floor behind the desk. She had one of Claudio's file folders.

“Before I decide I don't want to help you, tell me if you're going to do something.”

Maleny paused for a second. She roughly put the file on the floor and stood up.

“Very well. Only I realized when you didn't want one we'll talk,” she said. “But not about my little brother and obviously not for you. It's for what I have to know.”

“You still have crazy ideas about your father's death?”

“You won't get my brother out of jail until you tell me who killed my father.”

“I told you a hundred times. It was you.” She may as well have been talking about the weather.

“Mother, I know I didn't do it!” Ùrsula didn't flinch. “Very well, Mother. You don't want to talk. As the days pass and you see my brother behind bars – “

“You think I'm so stupid as to believe you have some magical solution?”

“I can make Claudio move heaven and earth to free Daniel,” she mimed a flying bird. “Like that.”

“Claudio won't do anything to endanger his professional reputation.”

Maleny laughed. “His professional reputation? No, Mother. But his 'beautiful' family, his precious family life? Like that.” She snapped her fingers. “I can destroy it if I want to.” She went back to looking at the old documents.

Alma told her husband that Max didn't intend to stay long under their roof. He reminded her that he had warned her months ago they couldn't keep him away from “that woman.” Alma said she would not be welcome there.

Esperanza and the others tried to get Maria Dolores to rest up. She said she was alright. Not that she looked it. She said she was still shook up by what happened and how Danny-Boy looked at his arrest. He deserved what happened, but it was such a disgraceful situation. They encouraged her to take care of herself for the baby's sake. She wanted to work on a new dress. The client was the same size as Doris so she held the pattern up against her. They tried to persuade Chelito to stay a few more days.

Ivana sat at her vanity. She stopped writing long enough to look in the oval mirror. She remembered her last exchange with Maleny and stopped. She gathered her books and left.

Danny-Boy glanced briefly at his cellmate as a guard let Mama Bear into the cellblock room. He went to the other end to embrace her through the bars.

“Don't worry. We're getting you out.”

“Now?” he asked.

“No, no. We're filing the documents.”

“What? I can't stay in here.”

“Victor is doing everything to get you out of here as fast as possible.”

“I can't be in here ever.”

“I won't permit it. I won't permit it.”

“Do you know what it's like to be here in jail?”

Mama Bear began to cry. She kept promising to get him out.

Orlando arrived at the Morales home. Esperanza was concerned but Doris explained that Claudio had called off the dogs. He explained the situation and that he was no longer interested in Isela. Maria Dolores said she had told her she was “in love” with Claudio but nothing else. Orlando explained that this was a lie. He had seen them kissing.

Ùrsula came out of the police station. She asked Arango where Victor was.

“He's doing his job. I told you that he got you here so you could see Daniel.”

“But what did he tell you?”

“Only that there's no news yet. It's only been a few hours.”

“Daniel can't be in there one minute longer. I'm going to have to tell Maleny the truth.”

“Ùrsula, you know you can't fool yourself about this. Give Victor another chance and let him talk to you. Besides if you tell Maleny the truth she will not believe you about saving her brother.”

The Moraleses realized the situation wasn't easy. Chelito had observed the Bustamantes closely enough to recognize that they didn't approve of Maria Dolores. Orlando explained that he got Claudio to remove the restraining order or he would rat him out to Max. And to show Doris he was no fool about Isela. They stared at each other for a long moment.

Leo told his parents that he and Clara had prepped Max's apartment for his return. Alma was proud of their gesture and Claudio also hugged his younger son. Isela listened. She looked resentful. She was also to return home; Claudio said that Orlando promised he wouldn't bother her.

Orlando swept his apartment. He stopped and looked at the photo on his nightstand. The Isela he once loved stared back at him. He removed the photo, tore it to pieces, and threw it away. Chelito arrived to check up on him and to tell him something very important. “My Doris is in love with you.”

Ivana went to the Santibañez den where she waited for its beasts.

“Wow. Looks like you changed your mind,” said Maleny.

“Isidro said you were here,” said Ùrsula. She almost grinned.

“We need to talk alone, Ùrsula,” she said. She deliberately looked at Maleny. So did Ùrsula.

“I'm happy you're going to work together to get my brother out of jail,” she said. “I hope you're able to.” She left the room and Ùrsula closed the door behind her.

“Don't look at me like that, Ùrsula,” Ivana said as she sat. “You made your image and it sickens me. You had the privilege of speaking with me about my life and my wanting to be a mother. And why? To have a daughter like yours who cares only for her brother? Her own blood. A son who is as weak as his father?”

“No, no. Daniel isn't like Hector.”

“He is capable of raping a woman to give you a grandchild and in order to take away half of my fortune!”

“Is that what Maleny told you? Well, that's not true. I have enough money to get Daniel out of jail and more. Not like you. Your fortune was to create a false pregnancy so you and others could believe that you could have a baby. Because you're infertile all you have is money. Money can help hush the scandal that would follow.”

“I am not afraid of what other people think.”

“Very well, but you would have the whole world believe that your marriage and pregnancy were too good to be true. You lost a baby and your flamboyant husband is in the slammer for raping a woman. Your family slipped out of your hands. Just like your parents.” She stared at Ivana with nasty satisfaction. “Just stay in your house, dear,” she said as she left the room.

Ivana tried to hold back the tears. She failed.

Orlando served Chelito some coffee. He wasn't sure he heard her correctly. She smiled and said Doris hadn't told her but “Anyone can see it. The only one who doesn't is you.” He remembered giving her the giant plush toy. He remembered her kissing him on the forehead in the middle of the night. And he remembered the night when she called out his name in the fight they had about Isela.

Isela went into the Bustamantes' library with Claudio on her tail. She was fighting him off.

“I don't want to take chances. It's not just your wife, it's “

“I'll handle Leo. He's a man.” He grabbed her and pulled her up off her feet.

“Please, Claudio, I don't trust you.”

“But we're working.”

“Here? Locked in with a key?”

“I have to revoke the restraining order against Orlando. That keeps Max from finding out.”

“Maybe, but maybe not. I can't stay here.”

“I'll fix everything.”

“With what excuse?”

“I'll do it.”

“No, Claudio. No.” He grabbed her by the arms.

“Why do you want to go back to the barrio? To be close to Orlando?”

“He doesn't love me and he said so.”

“And you? You also don't love him? Just leave him alone.” His kisses looked more like mauling.

“Like this? And when did you stop trusting me?” She stared in his eyes. “Yes. I can't keep living here under the same roof as your wife and your sons.”

“I want you to stay here. I don't want you near Orlando. Do you understand? He forced a kiss on her and continued down her throat. Looked like another desk was about to be desecrated.

Ùrsula walked around alone, finally entering Danny-Boy's room. She was tense. At the same time Danny-Boy stayed awake in his cell. He was wrapped in a grey blanket that matched his hoodie. Finally he sat on the cold floor. They remained this way until morning.

Max and Maria Dolores spoke on the phone. She was worried about seeing Danny-Boy again.

“It's necessary with the proceeding. But don't worry. I'll be with you all the time.”

“But do you think he'll reclaim paternity?”

“No matter what happens, everything will be alright.”

“Yes, yes, I'm sorry.”

“I understand that you're worried, but believe me. Everything will be alright.”

“Are you eating well at your mother's house?”

“Yes. She wanted me to have time to recover.”

“You have to take care of yourself, my love. So you'll feel better when you leave.”

“I feel fine, but I'd be better if you were here with me.”

“ When you're out I'll give you a surprise. I love you, too. A lot.” She ended the call.

“Are you going to see him?” asked Esperanza.

“No, Mother. I can't decide because at the moment I don't want to see Max's parents or Isela.” Esperanza shushed her. She was afraid Clara would hear. “Besides, Orlando confirmed it wasn't like Isela said. Alma wouldn't believe us.”

“It's not easy to accept.”

“I feel I have to be honest with Max. Even though his parents would still hate me.”

Esperanza shook her head.

“So what do you believe?” Claudio asked Alma. “That I had Orlando thrown out of the hospital?”

“I hope I misunderstood.”

“Why does this occur to you? I have enough problems.”

“But doesn't it look odd that Isela is still here?”

“The important thing is that you're here in your house with your sons and I don't want to argue anymore. I'm going to cancel the restraining order on Orlando.”

“You can't do that. Think of Isela.”

“It's your house. But you can't say anything. You say Isela wants to return to the barrio. We'll be safe here. That's all. It's done.”

She nodded in reluctant agreement.

Doris arrived at the Morales' the next day and got a surprise. Maria Dolores gave her the red dress that had been commissioned... for her. She had once promised she's make a dress for her when they sold their first one. She had worked all night so Chelito could see it before she left. Doris couldn't wait to try it on.

Victor Cadena had some bad news for Mama Bear.

“I can't do anything,” he said.

“Why? If it's about money...”

“This is a felony. It will be prosecuted.”

“How do we fix this?”

“We could offer all the money in the world. The real problem is that Maria Dolores is represented by the Bustamantes and nobody wants to mess with Claudio.”

Ùrsula got up and left the library. Arango followed her.

“Ùrsula, where are you going?”

“Getting Maleny out because she needs to know I will her.”

Isidro arrived with another unwelcome caller.

“Madam, this is Ivana Duval's lawyer.”

“If this is about the divorce, I don't have time for that right now.”

“No, no; I'm here at Ivana's request to tell you that she is prepared to put all our legal forces behind you to get your son out of jail.”

Ùrsula looked shocked, then suspicious.

Alma went back to the doctor's office alone. She asked the doctor to share Claudio's information with her.

“Excuse me, but Claudio – like most men – is afraid to show weakness in front of me. I know that inside he's very conflicted.”

“Your husband doesn't have a problem. His test results are all very good.”

Doris went home in her new red dress. She found a note on the table:

My dear girl, I went home to my town first because I'm an old woman who shouldn't travel alone. Secondly, I want to give you a gift. None is bigger than giving you life but yes, there is one bigger I will give you. I love you. I love you.

Doris cried a moment, then felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned around. Orlando was there is a crisp new shirt. He dried her tears and said “You'll spoil your makeup.” He kissed her exactly as she had always been hoping for.