Caray, Caray!

⦁ Daniel/a meets with Ricardo to give up the awarded right to paternal rights.  (Guess he's having second thoughts about the upset he'll cause everybody.)

⦁ Carlos accepts that Alejandra is going to accept the offer from his competition--as it's a magnificent opportunity for her (Viewerville agrees it is).  But we all know that deep down it's gotta grate the hell out of him!  He does get his digs in on Ric.  He tells her that she's a thousand times better attorney than Ric and soon she'll realize it. She's surprised and pleased at Carlos's support for her decision.   "--I will always support you because I love you!" (Viewerville wonders how long he can keep up that smile before his face cracks and the snake hisses out from behind.)

⦁ Leo Returns to work and the secretaries are thrilled along with Olivia who forgets her place, forcing Victoria to pull her off him.  Leo tells the group and the office manager that the welcome back party she's planning will be a great opportunity for the firm to meet his girlfriend--it's a very serious relationship.



⦁ Back in Ric's office, Daniel/a explains he won't give up the financial support he's offered, but rather than mess up the kid's life, he'd rather view him and his activities from a distance.  He would rather not have the boy suffer for the decision he made in having the sex change: he doesn't want the other kids pointing fingers at him or making fun of him for having a trans-sexual for a father.  (Seems like he's finally come to his senses--or maybe the writers have: s/he's won the legal argument but not the religious/socio-cultural one.) 

⦁ Vicki takes Oli into her office and scolds her for crawling all over Leo like a ridiculous child and making herself look like a fool.  Oli defends her actions by defending Leo's great qualities to which, Vicki adds, there's a serious girlfriend that makes him HAPPY!   So get your act together and let him alone!

⦁ Ric mentions the great sacrifice that Daniel/a is making.  He'll draw up the terms of the agreement with Nuria's lawyer.  Daniel/a will be happy just with payments for pictures and the like of all the major life events.  When the boy reaches the age of majority it will then be up to him to determine if there'll be any type of real relationship.

⦁ Roberto tries dissuading Leo from ideas of matrimony.  "--Look around us.  Working in this environment you soon realize that marriage ain't all it's cooked up to be.  None of it lasts."  Leo insists this lady is the one for him.  Rob is anxious to meet this wonder woman.

⦁ Meanwhile, Gustavo's in court with Gramps and Errant Son who refuses to provide for his child.  Gramps objects to Gus's masquerade when coming to the store to check if they had any income to claim for alimony and child support--of which there seems to be sufficient.

⦁ Alan visits Carlos and gossips about how he saw Ale and Ric together in a restaurant looking like they were really enjoying each other's company.  As for the case, well now the witnesses are adding their interpretation of events which make it more convincing that Carlos had to be the doer/murderer.

⦁ The judge rules that Gramps must pay 850 pesos/month ($45.76) in child support for his son's issue. The old guy punchees Gus in the arm and calls him a jerk.  Gus reprimands him in front of the court and says it's not his fault the old guy failed to raise his son to be responsible!  Gramps gives a withering look to his son and excuses himself.

⦁ Ric and Ale meet in his office and he tells her what Daniel/a decided.  They both won in this case and they agree that they both feel the same way.  They exchange winning smiles.....

⦁ Vicki tells Rob she's not gotten any response to her phone calls from Rocio, her friend whose hubby's using her as a punching bag.  Rob suggests an anonymous report to the police of family violence.  He says she can show him her gratitude by allowing him to show her a good time.  She turns him down, natch.

⦁ Speaking of the punchee and the puncherrrrr, he comes in with a huge bouquet of roses to give Rocio and begs forgiveness.  She's frightened he'll hurt her again.  She's calling it quits.  He wants another chance--begs her, says he's learned his lesson and won't ever do it again. "--Please, do it for the family [unit]; do it for the CHILDREN."

⦁ Ale accepts Ric's offer to join the firm.  He invites her to stay for Leo's welcome back party.

⦁ Vicki arrives at Leo's party with Diego - a blond charmer--and Rob arrives with Monica.  Vicki takes note--more so than before??? Then Benjamin arrives with his wife, Carina, who Letizia hugs like it's been years and years.....(the hutzba-humbug!)

⦁ Dario promises Rocio a vacation to make it up to her.  She gives in. Just then the doorbell rings.  The cop/court clerk/social worker?? asks if she's ok.  Rocio doesn't have the horrid marks from earlier in the week.  She says she's just fine.  The official says he's there because of a report of family violence.  He notes the remaining  bruise on her face.  She claims it was from falling on the stairs.  But they both smile at the official.  She refuses to put her husband behind bars or to accept a security detail???  She signs the report as refusing to prosecute the claim.  Seems the official's been to this rodeo more than a few times and he does NOT look convinced.  He leaves with a major eye roll stage right.

⦁ Once the court official leaves, Dario accuses Rocio of sicking the police on him.  She swears it was not her.  Then how would they know to come?  It was Victoria.  "--Ahh!  She's always been jealous of our happiness!  Let's not let anything separate us, ok?"  Rocio looks anything but convinced.

⦁ Leo's missing from his own party.  People are chatting and drinking and snacking on goodies.  Vega arrives with Ric, who advises him that Ale accepted the firm's offer to work there.  Vega's extremely pleased -- more so than if she'd thrown her life away to have a family and give up a promising law career.

⦁ Vicki and Diego start chatting.  He must have been a 21 pick up cuz she only now learns he's a mechanic.  She and Rob exchange glances at the party.

⦁ Oli wants to leave before Leo and his girlfriend arrive.  Unfortunately, Carmen holds her up.  Leo walks in with Ana Maria all pretty in pink.  Leo walks over to Rob and is introduced to Monica.  AM is elsewhere.  She, however, suddenly appears and is introduced as the love of Leo's life.  AM and Rob share suddenly sour glowers.  (Ooops!)

⦁ Ale and her mama discuss Daniel/a's sacrifice giving up a chance to be close to the child during the formative years......FF>>FF>> Ale then informs her mom about joining Vega and Associates.

⦁ Rob excuses himself and rushes over to Ric.  He confides to Ric he's got a huge problem now.  It's that he has slept with Leo's girlfriend.  It was NOT before he knew Leo or they began dating but during Leo's hospital stay!!!  (Ruh-rohhh!)  Ric advises telling AM that if she doesn't fess up to Leo then Rob will himself.  Rob downs a full glass of whiskey--screwing up his courage.

⦁ Oli admits to Vicki she can't bear seeing Leo and AM together.  (My gaawd.  Get it together.  Don't start bawling now!  That IS uncool!)

⦁ Rob walks up to AM at the snack table and tells her they've got to tell Leo the truth.  "--Why?  That was only one night and it was a mistake!  I'm not ruining my relationship with Leo over that!"  Leo introduces her to his two best friends--almost brothers--Ric and Rob.  Nice to meetcha!  Now where is that wine?  Rob reports the result of his failed attempt with AM.  They shake their heads in dismay.

⦁ Jaime returns home and gets the news of the accepted job offer.  Ale admits she no longer feels angry, just deceived.  She's trying to get over it all, but seeing Carlos locked up, well, she feels locked up also.  She doesn't have the heart to spill her true feelings about all of this with Carlos because it's bad enough he's locked up in jail.  Wrong time and wrong place.  Daddy says again, none of this is her fault; he did it to himself.

⦁ Back at the party, Ana Maria asks Leo if she can offer a toast.  She says as life has given Leo a second chance, she's taking advantage of that second chance herself and accepts his proposal of marriage.  Ric and Rob look on in amazement as everyone else claps--well, except for Olivia, of course.  One by one, the members of the firm congratulate Leo.  The two of them hold back.  Ric insists Rob must tell him the truth.  Rob says better at another time.  Leo walks over to the two of them.  What?  No congrats?  "--Sure.  Sure thing."  Rob looks over Leo's shoulder at AM who stares back at him.  Rob excuses his attitude by saying Leo knows his opinion of marriage.  Ric says just about the same thing and offers free service if he ever needs a lawyer.

⦁ Jaime gives Ale the same pep talk as her mama did the day before.  She tells him she's not bringing up her relationship to Carlos again till he's finally out of jail.  Meanwhile, she'll concentrate on her career and yes, trying to be happy again.

⦁ Back at the party, Leo laments how AM will be closed up in four walls day in and day out while he's busy with his cases at the office.  Ric jumps in and mentions Leo's great quality of honesty and how he believes that AM shares that quality.  AM states she only wishes she was a good a person as he.  Ric looks skeptically back at her.  She says--for Ric and Rob's benefit--that she's made many mistakes in life and only hopes she can be now as good a person as Leo is.  She lands a big smooch on Leo's lips and then glances over at Rob, who hasn't missed a second of this exchange.....

Labels: ley