Caray, Caray!

Luz calls Julieta to tell her that a man who says he is her father (played by one of my faves Eric del Castillo as Hugo Sr.) has just arrived and wants to see her. Julieta forgot all about him coming. She asks Luz to tell him she is on her way. Julieta has lost sight of Robert,  gives up looking for him and hurries back to the office.

Gabriel is with Daniela and is all excited about what their future could be. Gabriel tells her that she brings him good luck. He looks for some kind of reaction from her and he gets a slight smile which quickly disappears as she says that she is just confused. She tries to leave but he won’t let her. He wants her to realize that she does not love Benjamín. He thinks that maybe he should have a photo campaign where there are close ups of him all over the city proclaiming that Gabriel Musi cannot live without Daniela Córcega. Daniela smiles again. He closes his eyes and puckers up waiting for a kiss. She kisses her fingers, barely touches his lips and with a grin sneaks out of the office leaving him waiting for the smooch.


When Julieta’s dad Hugo Sr.doesn’t get much of a response from her, he asks if he should come back another day. She apologizes saying she has had a real long day. He explains that when he left her mother he had a very clear reason. Julieta accuses him of not thinking of his children. Of course, he was thinking of his children. He left their mother because he did not want to put his kids through their fighting all of the time. Julieta accuses him of thinking of himself as a hero. No, he wasn’t that. Life with her mother was not easy at all. He is not saying that Catalina is a bad woman but Julieta knows her as well as he does. Julieta remarks that that does not erase the fact that he abandoned them. He asks if she wants to hear his version or fight. Julieta summarizes it all: he left because her mother and his mother could not stand each other. He further explains that he didn’t want to be in the middle of a war between the two of them and have to chose his wife or his mother. In-laws can be the worst things in the world. Julieta thinks that he should have chosen; chosen to stay with his kids. He explains that his children were being manipulated because they were his weak spot. Her mother used the kids to blackmail him. He left because he could not take it anymore. Julieta remembers her mother yelling at her that her father left because of her and she was responsible. Julieta now crying asks why he never came back. He didn’t because her mother would not allow him to see the children but he always loved them. He just could not live with her mother. Julieta wants to know that he is telling her the truth. He asks what would be the purpose of lying to her. He found out what was going on with the children. He knows that Julieta is a brilliant woman who does not have the best image of him and that is why he has kept distant.

Aurelio and Belén have met in a restaurant over ice cream sodas. He is happy to see her. She makes it clear that she is expecting nothing from him. She just wanted to make sure he was well. He also wanted to see that she was okay. He explains that he left her because he was a fool but now he knows that she is the most important person in his life. They grab each other’s hands.

Enzo talks to Amalia about a singing competition. She doesn’t want to enter it because their will be a bunch of skinny waisted pretty girls. Enzo says she has to believe in herself. If she enters, he will support her and coach her. He reminds her once again that she has to believe in herself and not be her own worst enemy. Enzo turns and leaves. Amalia suddenly has to go running for the bathroom. It seems like she is taking some sort of weight loss pills.

Octavio tells Robert not to take any action right now in reference to Ana because now is not the best time. Robert is fuming asking why. How could she watch his family suffering for so many years and never had said anything? She had no compassion for her own. Octavio tells Robert that they are talking about a woman who is mentally unbalanced. Robert is not buying it. Ana betrays people. Ana has hurt the people he loves most in this world.

Julieta tells her father all about Robert. She misses him like crazy. He is her power. He is her everything. Her father warns her against making the same mistakes that he did. He adds that she is doing the same thing her mother did by getting into a fight with the in-laws. Julieta clarifies that her problem is with his family. It is not easy living with them. They do not accept her for who she is. She feels like she is repeating both his and Catalina’s patterns. Julieta realizes she escaped the conflicts with the Córcegas but at the same time she left Robert alone just like when her father left them.

Tulio informs Ana that if Robert tells the family the truth she will have to assume the consequences and they will have to disappear. Ana notes that Tulio never let her go in all of these years. Does he hate her for what she did? No, and he thinks that she has suffered too much. He is not going to leave her. He sits next to her and puts his arms around her. He is sticking with her in spite of the relationship with Julián. They have each other. They have to prepare themselves to face the family.

Julieta tells her dad that she has heard his version of what happened but she can never forget what he did to them. No matter what her mother and his mother were fighting about, he should have come to see his children. She is also to blame because since they had no father, she turned into him. It was easy for him to disappear and let them resolve their own lives. She likes to face her problems. She wants to show him that happy couples do exist. All her father wants is for her and her brothers to be happy and to help her out little by little. He asks if he can give her a hug. As they hug, Julieta remembers her mother telling her that her father left because he wanted another male child but then she arrived . . .

Tulio goes to visit Robert at the hospital. Robert cannot believe that Tulio is there after having lied to his face knowing that Ana abandoned him. Tulio agrees but adds that he was not the only one who suffered. Tulio goes on. The woman he loved was lost. Tulio is there to ask Robert not to do anything crazy because if he does the family will be destroyed. Robert reminds him that his family has been suffering for over thirty years because of them. Tulio explains that Ana lost her mind and three children. Robert insists that they could have done many other things rather than take him and put his mother and grandmother through what they did. Tulio tells Robert more. It was Robert’s grandmother who said his wife was good for nothing because she could not have children and turned her back on his family. Robert sees Tulio as being worse than Ana because he could have done something to save his wife but didn’t. Tulio tells Robert it is now his turn to save the family. If Robert tells the truth, the whole family will be in shambles. Robert tells him to leave. He never wants to see him again in his life.

Daniela tells her sisters that she does not know if it was the right thing to agree to go out with Benjamín. She still has not made up her mind between the two  men. Benjamín comes from a family like theirs while Gabriel is from a family with a lot of money. Blanca breaks in with an announcement that the girls’ festival dresses have arrived. Blanca adds that their brother will be going with them, too, this year.

Dafne sees Robert and is soon giving him advice. If Julieta wants to be alone, he should leave her alone. She suggests that a little fresh air might do him good. Robert agrees but he makes it clear that he is going ALONE. He thanks Dafne for being a friend and leaves her behind.

Julieta remembers hearing Ana tell Robert that it was she who abandoned Robert in the market.

Robert takes a walk by himself and remembers his early life with his parents when he said he would take care of them forever. Robert pledges the same thing: to take care of his parents forever.

Imelda remarks to Blanca that she does not know what is going on with Ana. She has answered none of the messages she has left her. As they play “La Zandunga” in the background Linda, Marisol and Daniela appear all modeling their new festival outfits. Imelda and Blanca love the way they look. They will go to La Guelaguetza as a family.

We will pause here for a culture break. :) La Guelaguetza is a major festival in Oaxaca. It runs two consecutive Mondays in July. The dates change each year. The festival has its roots in the Pre-Columbian past. The word "guelagueta" is Zapotec (Native American tribe) for "gift' or "offering".

On with the story: Aristóteles is talking with his dad who has been waiting for him. Aristóteles thinks he did well on the academic olympics test he took. Audifaz is so proud of him and thinks that he will be a great role model for the baby on the way. He is also thinking of naming the baby Platón (Plato). Clearly, Aristóteles does not agree. Aristóteles remarks that they won’t be going to the festival because of needing things for the baby. Audifaz is really anxious that Aristóteles read the first chapter of the book he is writing and give him his opinion. He sends Aristóteles off to read it in his room.

Gabriel visits Julieta at work. He wants to go to La Guelaguetza and since he does not want to go alone, he invites Julieta. Julieta’s mind is clearly somewhere else. She apologizes for being distracted. Julieta doesn’t feel like going out. She can’t tell him why. She suggests that he invite Daniela. He does not know how to do that when Daniela is the most complicated woman on the planet earth. She wants to quit working at the restaurant and he does not want her to go. Julieta tells him to do something to win her heart. He has already told her that he likes her and that she has a future with him but she just keeps acting the fool. Then she is going out with that guy with the goatee. Julieta never thought she would ever see Gabriel Musi in love but it is obvious and he cannot deny it. He knows that he is is love with  Daniela but their love is not possible. Daniela doesn’t think they work as a couple and then there is the subject of. . . Julieta smiles sadly and completes his sentence: the family.

Daniela is helping Eugenio clean the basement and is telling him her wish to start a small carpentry shop. It will have to be small because she doesn’t have all of the machines. He thought that she was done with the carpentry business. No, it is what she likes the best. She will be able to pay the family rent money for the space. He can’t charge her rent but if she wants to go ahead and start her business he is there to support her. Daniela is all excited. Now they can have the Córcega bakery and carpentry shop. She hugs a happy Eugenio.

Julieta tells Gabriel what the Córcega’s have been like. They are good people but she cannot deny that they have been different, difficult, closed, invasive. . . Gabriel sees that she didn’t click with them and that is why she broke up with Robert. No, Julieta tells him they have not broken up they are just separated for a while. She does not get why that is so difficult for everyone to understand even though the Córcega’s are an obstacle in her relationship. Gabriel wonders if they are an obstacle to him in going out with Daniela. Julieta thinks his biggest obstacle is going to be his father and his sisters. She is just warning him that Daniela could live a nightmare with the “in-laws”. He didn’t come to get scared so he will see her at the festival. He will not take no for an answer. He is out of there.

Julieta is left alone going over everything Ana told her and thinking back to Robert and his gifts when Robert asked Ana what was it she wanted him to forgive her for. Julieta concludes that Ana is a hypocrite.

A sad Robert remembering his childhood ends up walking to the bakery and just looking at it.

Polita is serving dinner. Audifaz doesnt’t want to interrupt Aristóteles reading the first chapter of his book. When he goes to see what he thought of his book, Aristóteles is fast asleep and Audifaz is upset. He wants to know if it really was that boring. The sleepy headed kid says no and that it really was very good. Audifaz is convinced that his book will be a failure.

Catalina is aggravated and tells Diana that Julieta didn’t call her to tell her about her meeting with her father. Diana asks if she is worried that Julieta could hear something that could affect her. Of course not! Julieta walks into the house and Catalina is all over her saying she has been calling her all day to find out what happened. Did she see that evil man? All Julieta will say is that she saw him and that they talked. Julieta does not want to talk about it because she has other things she is worried about. Catalina takes that as she is evidently not important. Julieta states calmly that she is tired and does not want to fight. To be honest Julieta does not know who to believe. It is horrible that people tell so many lies. Catalina knew it because her spiritual advisor told her to beware of shadows from the past. Julieta says it does not matter because you cannot change the past or ease the pain that she has suffered. Catalina cannot stop telling Julieta that her father only tells lies. Julieta tells her today is one of those days when she does not want to think. She doesn’t want to be the victim either because there is far worse suffering going on out there. Catalina wants to know if there is another reason she hates her. Julieta tells her she doesn’t hate her nor does she want to fight with her. Can she just be alone, please? Catalina goes on that Hugo Sr. must have poisoned Julieta against her and leaves whining and crying.

Robert sends Julieta a text. She looks concerned but we do not see her answer it.

Blanca serves Robert supper and she notices how pensive he is. She knows how he must be missing Julieta. If he wants she will call Julieta and try to talk her into coming back. Robert says he is sure that he and Julieta love each other and that this time apart is good for both of them especially now. Blanca wonders what he means and what he is thinking about. He is thinking about her. Why her? He asks her to remember how one day she apologized for having lost him. She says that is how she always felt so guilty and so helpless that she could not squeeze his hand hard enough because of the contractions she was having. Robert asks if she still feels that way. Of course she does. She thinks she will spend the rest of her life reproaching herself for the time she did not have Juan Pablo in her life. Robert asks how her time was after he disappeared. She decribes how her life has been hell because nobody in the family could forgive her. It was as if a thorn had been put through her heart. Robert tells her that today he wants her to record something in her soul. She is not guilty. Blanca asks if not she, then who is guilty. Robert answers that destiny is. Robert hugs his mother.

Tulio is talking with Ana. He is counting on Robert not telling the family the truth because he will not want to cause them any more pain recounting what she has done. So, Ana can calm down. Ana is worried about Julián talking. Tulio assures her that he already sent him to jail.

Julieta is talking in her sleep while taking a nap. She is saying “The truth. You cannot stay silent. You must tell everyone the truth”. Catalina has wandered in and hears what she is saying. She goes to cover Julieta and asks her what her father said to her. Julieta awakens with a start. Catalina is back in Julieta’s face demanding to know what her father told her. Julieta says she was asleep. Catalina says she was talking about the truth. Julieta needs to sleep and will move to the living room if she can’t sleep in Catallina’s room. Catalina keeps up her harangue that her father will ruin their lovely relationship. Julieta asks about it being so “lovely”. Bruno pops by saying that all of the ruckus woke him up. Julieta finds it interesting that the sleepy head is complaining that he did not get his full twenty hours of sleep. She moves to the living room.

Linda is talking to a picture of Bruno on her cell phone and deciding if she should write him or not. She ends up accidentally sending him a text asking if he is still alive and saying that she misses him. Sne is upset. She tries to explain it all to Imelda. Bruno gets the text and admits to himself that the worst thing is that he misses Linda, too, but he chooses not answer her. She falls apart and Imelda does her best to console her, support her and build up her self esteem.

Ignacio calls to talk to his daughter Frida. She is already asleep. Marisol tells him so and it is not such a good time for him to remember that he does have a daughter. Of course she is not is not going to tell her he called. He can try calling at a decent time. Frida deserves more than the crumbs he wants to throw her. Marisol hangs up.

Robert talks with Xavi about going to the festival Xavi is not going because he is not in the mood. Robert is ready to go sleep. Xavi asks if Julieta has come back. Robert misses her a lot but he promised not to bother her or go to see her. Xavi says he will run into her when he least expects it. Robert also has noted that the new song that Xavi composed must be for someone very special. After Robert leaves, Xavi says “Marisol” to himself.

The next day, Eugenio talks to Blanca about bringing some of their bread samples to Guelaguetza. Business has not been so good lately and they need to increase their sales. Blanca thinks it just part of the business cycle sometimes they are up, sometimes they are down. Eugenio tells her that things are not like they were before. Eugenio reminds her that they have a lot of competition these days. Blanca suggests they try to sell their new products. She wants Eugenio to come along. No, he has to stay at the bakery. She should go and enjoy herself because she deserves it. By the way, she has to make sure that the bread samples are well distributed. Blanca rolls her eyes and remarks that he even wants her to work at the festival.

Robert looks at his photo with Julieta and then goes to see his mother. She is all dressed up for the festival and has on the new earrings he bought her. The sisters are all decked out in their new outfits for the festival, too. Imelda is staying at home. After they leave, she calls Ana. Ana is depressed in bed and does not answer. This is the third message that Imelda has left.

Julieta discusses the Ana situation with Luz. Julieta knows that Robert will say nothing to his family. She knows how he is. That is just not right. Luz asks if she is going to tell. She doesn’t know because Robert has not told her. Ana has to pay for what she did. Luz says she has to talk to Robert. Julieta feels that if she is quiet about the truth she will be just as bad as Ana.

The festival group stops off to see Eugenio. He is so happy and proud to see them all together. He proclaims that he has the best looking wife and most beautiful daughters in all of Oaxaca. The girls must have inherited his genes. Ha! Ha! They leave for the festival. Eugenio thanks God for letting him see his family together like that.

Julieta gets a phone call from Gabriel as she has just gone back to the apartment to see Robert. She will call him when she is ready to go. She needs to talk to Robert first. He wonders how Daniela is doing. He wonders if she is going to the festival. She tells him not to be afraid and call Daniela himself if he wants to know. Julieta looks around the apartment but Robert is gone.

Julieta goes down to see Eugenio at the bakery. He asks if she has returned. She says not yet. She asks if Robert has told him anything. No, he hasn't. She asks Eugenio for advice. She is a little nervous. He is worried about seeing her like this and wants to know what is going on. Julieta has a question. If he found out about by accident something serious that happened to a person . . . Eugenio wants to know who she is talking about. Julieta says someone in her family. She explains it is something very serious and she does not know what to do. It deals with secrets. The point is if she tells the secret it is going to cause a lot of pain and if she doesn’t she feels like an accomplice in the lie. Eugenio says it sounds really serious. He wants to know what the lie is about. Julieta says it involves a person that they both trust. He wants to know if Juan Pablo is involved in this. He wants to know whatever it might be.