Caray, Caray!

Xmas Eve continues . . .

Nerón is entertaining Roberto this Xmas Eve. Roberto has come with gifts for everybody. Nerón leaves Flor and Robert alone to go get his gifts. They chit chat about about Nerón telling Robert to get a wife and maybe one with a child. Robert quietly expresses concern for Nerón’s health and asks Flor about it since Nerón seems to be talking about it a lot in the last couple of days. Flor looks concerned.

At Toño's parents, Christmas Eve is not too merry. Verónica reminds Toño that the only reason she is there is because of the kids and that the two of them are still separated. He gets sarcastic about what a sacrifice it must be for her to have to deal with all of his relatives. She makes it clear that is not the problem. Her problem is putting on a happy face so she does not ruin the children’s Xmas especially Neto's. They get into an argument about Neto and his medicine for his supposed ADD. Toño cannot understand how a doctor can see him only once and put him on medicine. Verónica explains that the doctor is an expert. It seems to her that Toño doesn’t take anything seriously. Toño argues it is not that. It is only that he has been on the internet . . . She scoffs at that. According to what he has read, the experts say that taking medication is the last option that should be considered. Before going with medication, you have to take a look at what is happening in the child's home, his environment.
Verónica takes that as a low blow. Continuing the low blows, Toño wants to know why is she so worried "now" about Neto? She explains that it is about her son’s health and so his ADD doesn’t turn into something more serious. Toño does not believe that anyone really knows if Neto has ADD or not. He does not want to see his son being labeled ahead of time. She insists she is not labeling anybody. They are interrupted by Toño’s mother Esperanza who tells them that she has had enough. It is supper time and the turkey is going to get cold. She insists they come to the table to eat right now. No excuses.


R and R are at home this Xmas Eve. Rodrigo says that his family sends Rafael their regards. Rafael sends them his, too, and states that Rodrigo could be with his family. No way! Rodrigo is happy to be with Rafael as they celebrate their first Xmas together. Rafael surmises that this will be their last Xmas Eve alone because by next year at this time, they should have their child with a pile of toys under the tree and diapers all over the house. Rodrigo warns him to not get so far ahead of himself. He does not want to see him become disappointed because in vitro fertilization sometimes doesn’t work out so easily. Rafael tells him not be such a pessimist. Rodrigo sees himself as a realist and he is being one for Rafael’s sake. He does not want to see him disappointed. Rafael thanks him but thinks if they really concentrate on the situation it and put all of their energy into it, it is bound to happen. Rafael asks him if he wants a girl or a boy.

Anifer is telling Mauricio and Renée how Xmas Eve was celebrated with her mother. They would start with the posadas and then then everybody would be invited over for the piñata and really delicious food for supper. Renée always spent it with her mother, too. Eventhough they didn’t have any relatives to share it with, it was a party just being together. Anifer asks her father how he celebrated. When his mother was alive, they had incredibly huge parties with champagne, caviar, romeritos (dish from Southern Mexico), really everything. After his mother died, all of that ended. Renée acknowledges that he misses his mother a lot. He agrees but from now on they are with him. Mauricio tells Renée to tell them now she would spend her Xmas. Renée continues. After eating supper, they would open the gifts. Anifer, too, opened her gifts on Xmas Eve but Santa Claus did not come to her town. The baby Jesus did.

At Jorge’s house, the family has gathered around the tree to see what Santa Claus brought them. The first one to open up a gift is Lili. She and Jorge hug as they all chant for her to open her gift. He has given her a book ”Family Advice” that is very educational, entertaining and important. She thanks Jorge and "acts" as if she is happy with her gift. That first gift sort of takes the wind out of the kids' sails. The next gift is for Baldo. It is a traditional style watch. They all play along again to make Jorge feel good about the gift..

Back at Mauricio’s, Renée tells them that the gift itself does not matter only that it was given with lots of love. It is midnight so Anifer wants to open her gifts. Mauricio wants her to wait until tomorrow like when he was a kid. He gives into the pleading of Anifer and Renée by saying she can open one gift tonight. It can be anyone that she wants. She picks the biggest gift. It is a huge doll house.

Jorge has a gift next for Samuel. It is a blue sweater. Samuel does his best to act like he likes it. The last gift is for Jorge's princess Valentina. It is a ruffly white blouse. He thought of her when he saw it.

At Nerón’s, he and his new found best friend Roberto are having a great time as Flor just sits and watches.

Toño and Verónica have put their problems aside for a time to play with the kids in their room at Toño’s parents’ house while his mother watches with a smile.

At Nerón’s, he, Roberto, Flor, Milady and Pablo are all around the tree as Nerón hands out the gifts. The first gift is for Flor from Nerón and it is a sweater. She does not look very excited.

At Mauricio’s, Anifer gives Renée a picture she drew of herself, Renée and Mauricio all together. Mauricio gets the same picture. Everyone is happy.

THREE WEEKS LATER:

Mauricio is at Logatoys when he sees Fabián with Falcón. He confronts Fabián labeling him as a liar saying he does not know how he can dare to be there at an official Logatoys meeting acting as if nothing happened. He talked to him twenty times and left him a hundred messages. Fabián says he has been traveling. Mauricio tells him he never goes on vacation. Mauricio wants to know what really happened in Chiapas. Fabián sarcastically reminds him that Mauricio sent him to find María’s body because he could not "deal" with seeing anybody "burned." As usual, Mauricio could not do what was his responsibility to do. Mauricio just wants to know if the body in the morgue was María or not. Fabián asks what more does he want. Everybody else thinks that María is dead and buried. Mauricio asks one more time where María is and Fabián finally tells him that María is in jail. She is going to be there for a good while, too. Mauricio is surprised and Fabián wonders why. She is a criminal and the least important thing in her life is her daughter.

Renée is at her house she is renting to R and R. She is talking to Rafael and is worried about the surprise visit from a government representative regarding her house to see if she really lives there. It is important that she can prove that she lives there. Rafael asks her if she is so serious because of the house business or if something else if bothering her. She says it has to do with Mauricio. Something is bothering him and he won't say what. Rafael wondered if she was acting strange because of the egg donation. Rafael already has medical tests scheduled for tomorrow. She didn’t think it would be moving that fast. The doorbell rings. Rafael wasn’t expecting anyone. Could it be that it is the government rep a checking if Renée lives there? Rafael goes to answer the door.

Mauricio tells Fabián that he does not believe anything that Fabián could say to him. He asks where María is and what Fabián did to her. Fabián says he did nothing to her. He tried contacting her just before the “nun” showed up pretending to be Anifer's aunt. He tracked the nun down and talked to her but she was very strange and ended up only giving him excuses or evasive answers so he tried to find out more . . . The bottom line, according to Fabián, is although María might present herself as this great defender of the environment, she is nothing more than a phony and for that very reason she is locked up. She was getting the towns people all worked up because she believes in self-defense. She is sort of a terrorist. Mauricio does not believe him one bit. Fabián tells him to look for her himself if he does not believe him. Mauricio still does not understand Fabian's creating a grave for María risking that he could be found in a lie. Fabián says Mauricio put him in charge of getting rid of her body. Fabián tells Mauricio not to be an imbecile and to let sleeping dogs lie and to take care of his daughter. Jorge comes in to let Mauricio know that all of the documentation is ready for the meeting. Fabián leaves to go to the meeting. Jorge asks Mauricio if he is okay. Mauricio is fuming and silence is his answer. Jorge excuses himself for what he is about to say and he asks Mauricio if he is really sure about what he is going to do: sign away his company, because it is an extremely stupid thing to do.

Nerón is back at the doctor who is chewing him out for taking so long to come back to get the results of his medical tests. Nerón has been busy and why would he come back just to hear that his days are numbered. The doctor scoffs at his reasoning and tells him that he has prostatic hyperplasia. Nerón wants to know when he is going to kick the bucket. The doctor explains that he has an enlarged prostrate. He is going to prescribe some medicine for him and he only asks that Nerón not ignore his health. If he follows the doctors directions exactly, he will live many more years. He reminds Nerón that weeds never die.

Toño has arrived at the house early to pick up the kids from school. He is talking on the phone to Verónica who reminds him that they have that meeting with the doctor about beginning Ernesto’s treatment. She asks him to please be on time. He starts complaining about how she needs to pitch in and help with the kids, too. She is called away by a work call. He is aggravated she hung up on him. Surprise!!!! Toño’s mother Esperanza has come straight from the airport. She let herself in with the keys that Verónica gave her. She is going to lend them a hand with taking care of the kids so it is easier if she has her own keys. Toño asks if she is going to be Verónica’s “assistant”. Yes, she is and also his assistant. News to him.

Back at Logatoys, Mauricio is signing the last document that Jorge has given him under Fabián’s And Falcón’s watchful eyes. Mauricio asks Fabián that he swear by the most sacred thing Fabián has: "by his father’s memory" that after this is all finalized, that Fabián will not appear in his life again and he knows what he is referring to. Fabián says okay, he swears to it and takes the seat at Mauricio’s desk. As Mauricio stares, Fabián asks what is wrong? He swore to do what he wanted him to. Fabián repeats in a full sentence that he swears on his father’s memory. Fabián suddenly notices how much “stuff” is on Mauricio’s desk. He gets up and says he will be giving Mauricio a reasonable time to bring in his “little box” and pack it with all of his “little things” so he can say “off you go” to him. He knows it is a little fast but it has to be done. Fabián leaves With Falcón to get back to work. Jorge states that now Fabián is the head of the company which is something he doesn’t understand and will never understand. Jorge says that he should have had Fabián swear to what he wanted on paper. Words are just gone with the wind. Jorge asks Mauricio why he won’t tell him what is going on. Mauricio says that the only thing he can tell him is that all of this has to do with Anifer and also with the exhumation that he asked him to investigate. Jorge says Mauricio can trust him. Mauricio gives in and asks Jorge not to say anything to anybody. This is not between a lawyer and his client but is father to father.

Toño is upset with his mother because she seems to have jumped to help his “ex” or whatever Verónica is going to be but wasn’t so quick to help him out. The first thing his mother tells him is to tone it down because if his tantrums didn’t work when he was five, it is less likely that they are going to work now at his age. He whines on his knees that he needs her help more than Verónica does. His mother does not agree. She tells him that he doesn’t want help. He only wants to be waited on hand and foot.He grew up to be useless. He cannot believe that she is calling her first-born useless. She repeats sounding out every letter that he is “USELESS”. She is about to add to that word when Toño insists that her saintly mouth cannot say those things. She then calls him a freeloader. Toño is taken aback again that his mother is calling him a freeloader. He says he will forgive her because if she helps Verónica, she will be helping him. He thanks her but she says no. Helping him? No. He is going to have to get used to the idea that she is not there to help him so when it is his turn to make dinner, like today, she is not moving a finger. He calls him “useless”, a “good for nothing”, and very lazy and tells him to get going. Toño is still on his knees arguing. He tells her how much it hurts him being called these things. She says it hurts her much more but she is doing it for his own good. One day he will thank her. She is doing it because she loves him . . .

At Nerón's house, Flor is arranging some flowers that Roberto brought her. Nerón comes in all happy and suddenly is not so pleased to see Flor so happy and going on about the flowers that Roberto brought her. He is not happy either to see Roberto there holding and playing with Milady. Flor tells Nerón that she cannot believe how well Milady gets along with Roberto. She is not like that with just anybody. He seems like her own father.

Renée is meeting with the government rep about her house. Rafael is there, too, sitting at the table with them. The government rep wants to know how many years her family has inhabited the house. Right at that moment, Rodrigo walks in like he owns the place calling out to "his love." The government rep looks at her and shakes his head.

Mauricio ends his story by telling Jorge that Anifer is not his daughter and her mother is not dead either. Jorge agrees that the situation is very serious. Mauricio says he knows nothing more about Maria than what Fabián has told him. She is a criminal in jail and is a bad woman. Jorge reminds him she still is Anifer’s mother but she is not the first woman to leave her children behind. Mauricio asks who leaves their daughter with a man she does not know amd disappears without a trace. Maybe something serious happens to her but what if she shows up and wants Anifer back. Jorge says she has the right to do just that being Anifer’s mother. What is Mauricio planning to do? He does not know. The only way he will ever be at peace is if Marís shows up. Jorge asks why not ask Fabián. Mauricio says Fabiān only lies so he has no idea how to even start.

The government rep needs to know which one of the men is Renée’s husband. R y R start arguing. Finally, Renée says that the three of them live together. At first a little surprised, the government rep says to each his own. Renée wants to know how the relationship that they have in her house has any bearing on the judgement. Next, Toño walks in and the government rep asks Renée if he is another one of her partners. Is it now a quartet? Toño wants to know what kind of a quartet. Are they playing poker? Count him in. Who is his partner? Rodrigo escorts him out of the room. Renée asks if there are any more questions or does he have enough information to prove that the house is hers. She could give him all sort of records like payments, etc. The government rep thinks that her information is enough to prove that she is the owner of the property.

Jorge says they first have to start searching the prisons for women because if María is behind bars she has to be in one of those or in a hospital. Jorge has contacts in government agencies that can help them out. Mauricio suggests that they could start with Rodrigo their neighbor who is law enforcement. Jorge says he really does not know Rodrigo that well. Mauricio trusts him. He asked him for help is solving the nonsense with Fabián. Jorge asks if he helped. Mauricio has to admit he didn’t but he was very open to the idea. Mauricio does not know what to do while Jorge gets his contacts involved. Jorge suggests that he starts out by searching all of the hospitals in Chiapas and Mexico City. Jorge would help but he just started a new job today with a new “boss”. Jorge thanks Mauricio for his confidence in him by telling him everything. Mauricio thanks him because maybe they can prevent Maria from appearing out of nowhere and taking Anifer. Jorge understands that it is a very complicated situation. Kika calls in the middle of it all. Jorge does not answer the call saying that this call can can wait.

Kika is all upset that her beautiful “Georgie Boy” is not answering her and she got voice mail. She talks to her sister Charytín instead telling her she will be in Mexico City for several months and to please inform their mother. Kika is going to be busy with business. Her sister is shocked thinking she was just going for several days and does not lose a beat in reminding her how she hopes she is not still after Mauricio because he has already humiliated her twice. Kika informs her that Mauricio is part of the past. She is now into “real” and passionate men. Her sister wants to know his name and why she hasn’t told anyone that she has another guy. Kika says because nobody has said she has another guy. Her sister wants to know all about it. Kika admits it is a little complicated. He’s free, cool, educated, just great. Her sister says that is how she always begins and then Kika ends up dragging herself along the floor crying like an unthroned Miss Universe. A clearly annoyed Kika does not agree. She has never done anything like that. Her dignity comes first before everything. Her sister laughs saying if she pulls this again, she won’t be there to feel sorry for her. Kika ends the call.

At Nerón’s, Roberto is sitting next to and very close to Flor on the couch as she goes on about how great he is and patting him on the knee. Roberto is just as impressed with her calling her “Floresota” (Nerón’s pet name for her) and unabashedly looking at her breasts. Nerón cleary simmering with anger asks if he has been there long. Flor and Roberto just go on and on like the best of friends until Flor finally says that if Nerón weren’t around some day, Roberto would be his perfect replacement. She caresses Roberto’s face. She goes on saying that Roberto and Nerón sort of look like each other, to, with their little moustaches. Roberto says it would be a pleasure for him to take Nerón’s place. As they prattle on, Nerón finally jumps up and enraged he tells them that he has had enough.

Renée asks the government rep about the process since she has never had to deal with anything like this before. He says she has points in her favor and that it has to go before a judge but she shouldn’t count her chickens because there could be somebody with a document out there that nobody knows about that could complicate things. With these cases you never know . . . Renée takes him to the door and he leaves. Jorge, R and R and Renée all breathe a big sigh of relief. They all laugh about the government rep thinking that they were a “cuartet” as Toño tells the ”trio” goodbye. Renée says goodbye to R and R and Rafael reminds her about the tests tomorrow. Rodrigo asks her if Mauricio is okay with her donating an egg. He knows that the decision is hers but she is his girlfriend. She reiterates that it is her decision and Mauricio is clear on that. To be honest, they really haven't had a lot of time to talk about it.She thinks that if Mauricio wants to talk to Rafael it must have something to do with the famous Juan Pérez.

At Nerón’s house he is exploding in anger about how Flor and Jorge were looking at each other, etc. She responds with "so what?" Nerón reminds her that he has not kicked the bucket yet. She lets him know that that is strange because she is aware of his plan to hand her over to “don” Roberto since he has one foot in the grave. Why don’t they just make a clean break now? Nerón all sheepish says that the doctor gave him some medicine to help his medical condition. She reminds him that that is his problem. She and Roberto are growing fond of each other, are on the same track, and are enjoying the romance. So, what does Nerón think about that? She asks if that was his filthy plan without even consulting her or Jorge. Nerón admits to it but begs that she understand him. She tells him that is enough and comes clean. She put Roberto up to acting out this little scene. There is really nothing between them. Roberto also assures Nerón there is nothing between them. Roberto leaves. Nerón like a whiny dog approaches Flor to give her a hug. She tells him not to touch her and not to talk to her. She warns him to leave her alone until the anger passes.

Toño is busy cooking when his mother comes in to see what he is cooking for the kids and is shocked at how he is cooking the rice. It is all stuck together. He doesn’t know why she doesn’t help him. She seemed to love to wait on them all. She never let them lift a spoon while he was growing up. She agrees that is when she started to turn him into a freeloader. He still cannot believe that she could let a word like that leave her saintly mouth. She insists it is the truth. It took her years to realize the mistake she had made doing things for the members of her family. Toño remembers it as being so nice. She repeats "so nice" and adds that it was worth absolutely nothing. She starts to go on and Toño interrupts her because he cannot believe the language she is using. He cannot believe all of this is coming out of a mouth that kissed him as a child. He has had enough. She blames mothers like herself for ending up raising boys into the typical “machos”: very lazy, good for nothings, incapable of lifting a hand, etc. Toño cannot bear to hear his saintly mother say anymore. No, she won’t be helping him no matter how much she loves him. She did that enough. He thanks her for helping him by not helping him. She says maybe he is beginning to realize that someday he will thank her.

Renée is still talking to R y R about Juan Pérez. She asks Rodrigo if he can tell her what he found out. Rodrigo is not too comfortable doing that because Mauricio was the one who asked him to look into the matter. She apologizes and says she will see them tomorrow at the hospital. When she is gone, Rodrigo tells Rafael that he is not too sure about Renée wanting to donate her egg. Rodrigo accuses him of being a real killjoy.

Flor is still letting Nerón have it as he follows her around the house. What really irks her is that he was not upfront about his so called illness. Nerón tries to excuse it all saying that he did it all for her and Milady. What else really irks her is him having no confidence in her being able to carry on alone with Milady if he did kick the bucket. She wants nothing from him. If he keeps following her around, she tells him she will kill him. He had better leave her in peace. She leaves the room.

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