Caray, Caray!

TAN CERCA DE TI, NACE EL AMOR #74 Page 1

Notes from the Couch

1. Uh oh, Mario called Nuria so she could meet with Rebeca who had something very important to tell her. Rebeca says it has to do with Vale piquing Nuria's interest of course. Rebeca says Vale is one of her besties and the decisions she is making are really worrying he. Rebeca makes her promise not to tell anyone what she is going to tell her. Nuria agrees to find out what problems her niece has gotten into.

2. Kassandra is asleep. Mario goes into their room. He uses her thumb to open her phone.

3. Diego and Majo are comfy under a throw watching tv together. He invites her to come live with him at the house. They joke about what that would look like. He rephrases his request saying he would love to live with her . . . one day. He loves her so much like he never thought he could love. She loves him, too, and will forever. They kiss.

4. The thief is busy at the office and steals Diego's headphones that he left on his desk.

5. Kasandra wakes up and asks Mario if he is examining what is on her phone. He "says" he was looking for Villar the accountant's number. He doesn't have it and he urgently needs to talk to him. She reminds him he only needed to ask her for it. He explains that she was resting and he didn't want to bother her. She sends Villar's number to him. He is going to his office. She reminds him she will be waiting up for him. He will be back soon. He leaves. She says to herself that she knows that he is hiding something from her.

6. A pathetic Mario is leaving Romina a fifth message without a response to the other four. He begs for another chance. Nico, who is now working at the snack bar, just stares at him.

7. Vero is going to meet with Joaquín Romina says that is fine by her since she doesn't want to talk any more or think any more.
 

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8. Vale and Eleazar are in the kitchen where she is celebrating having finally beat him. He reminds her it was only by thousandths of a second. She says no matter, she won and now it is time to settle the bet. She is going to change and then they can go to the restaurant of her choice. He says it is worth it all to see her so happy. They kiss and are caught by Nuria asking how dare she do this to her siblings, her or anyone in the family??? Incensed, Nuria addresses herself to Vale. Eleazar is the son of her brother's MURDERER, the man who killed her parents and destroyed their family.

9. Romina answers the door. It is Joaquín who is there to pick up Vero. It comes out that she will be staying with Vero for a while. She and Marcos are separating for good this time. He is so sorry to hear that. He says that Iván explained what was going on when he left the company. She slightly smiles hearing Iván's name.

10. Mario calls Vero. She asks how he got her number. When he wants to find out something, nothing stops him. He knows she is a very good journalist and is not cleaning houses for no good reason. He spent all afternoon reading her articles and she has no idea how he felt reading what she had written. It is as if he is discovering who she is all over again and the woman he has never been able to stop loving. She tells him to be quiet and to say those things to his wife. He explains that Kassandra is a business deal. He has never has had a real relationship with her. Vero is everything for him. She reminds him she asked him to leave her alone. He insists that they need to talk. She gets angry and tells him that she does not understand how he would dare to ask to see her as Joaquín is coming into the room. She tells him tells him not to call her again. She hangs up. Joaquín asks her what is going on and who she was talking to.

11. Nuria tells Vale that being with Eleazar is a betrayal and bad karma for everyone in the family. Vale angrily tells her that Eleazar is not his father and is not guilty of anything. Nuria says of course he is since he carries his father's blood. Nuria reminds her that Luis and Susana took her in when her mother threw her out into the street. They put a roof over her head, gave her a name, a surname, a life and this is how she pays them back by smooching with their murderer's son. In tears, an infuriated Vale tells her to shut up and that she cannot hate Eleazar for something that he didn't do and stop her from loving him. Nuria answers of course she can because what she is doing is breaking the sacred balance of this family which she has never known how to value. She will not allow her to stain the memory of her brother. Her godfather may put up with it but she will not. Eleazar makes it clear he means no harm. He loves Vale with his whole heart. Nuria gives a sick smile and tells him to show it by walking away from her forever.
 

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12. Joaquín asks Vero who she was talking to. She isn't saying (didn't learn her lesson??) as he tries to guess and *she leads him to believe* that she was talking to Marcos. She tells him that Marcos cheated on Romina. *Joaquín says that he thinks that when a person betrays trust they not only destroy the soul of the person they love but they destroy themselves.* He hugs her not knowing what he is consoling her for.

13. At the snack bar, a drunk who has had one too many beers is harassing Lorena. One of his buddies tells him not to mess with Lorena. She knows how to take care of herself. What is more, her daughter's father is with her now. He gave up his cassock for her. The drunk says that is why she is in such a bad mood. She needs a real man.

14. At another table, Marcos is telling Nico the he cannot believe how stupid he has been. He has just lost the best woman in the world. Nico tells him that it is important that he is sorry for what he did now. All Marcos wants is for him and Romina to be back to how they were. He adds that Olga is back with her little smiles and looks provoking him. He admits that he fell for it like an idiot. Nico won't let him put the responsibility on Olga as he wants to do. They are both at fault but especially him since he is not a free man like she is a free woman. Marcos whines saying yes but she knew he was a married man and as trying to fix things with his wife. He refuses to agree with Nico that there was no justification for what he did.

15. As Mario keeps defending himself, the drunk is harassing Lorena again. He grabs Lorena and Nico gets up to take care of the situation. He grabs the drunk by his collar.

16. Nuria demands that Eleazar leave right now. Diego comes in with Majo wondering what is going on. Vale tells him that Nuria wants to throw Eleazar out. Nuria thinks this is an embarrassment and wants Diego, as "man of the house", to throw out that murderer's son. Diego refuses. He isn't him throwing out anyone let alone his sister's novio. Nuria's fury turns on Diego and Majo next asking them where they have been and what they were doing. Not appreciating Diego's angry response, an hysterical Nuria blames it all on the dark vibes that have filled the house with bad karma and chaos. As their guardian, she will not allow it! Dani appears telling her to quit meddling in their lives. Crazily, Nuria decides they are all lost! Meli comes out yelling at her to be quiet already!!! Ever since she has been back, things are horrible again.
 

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17. Lorena asks Nico to let the drunk go and he does but the drunk is too stupid to shut up. He grabs Lorena again and tells Nico "the little priest" to marry him and Lorena now so they can celebrate their wedding night. Nico punches him in the face and he keeps punching him over and over again. The fight is broken up but Marcos can barely hold Nico back.

18. Mario keeps trying to call Vero but she isn't answering. He is angry because she must be with that imbecile Navarro. He refuses to lose her again. She will be his again sooner or late even if he has to rip her from Joaquín's side.

19. Joaquín and Vero are out enjoying street food. Of course, the solution for hot spicy food is a Coke! They realize this is the first time they are out being who they actually are. He has never felt so alive as ehe feels now. He loves her so much. She loves him, too. They kiss.

20. Lorena is lecturing Nico about his violent intervention as he ices his hand. She knows how to deal with drunks. She has been doing it her whole career. Nico knows it but when he saw the drunk touch her, his judgment was clouded. and he got angry. It is who he is and something he has not managed to learn how to control. She blames herself for having him leave the church, the only place where he has been able to find peace. He insists it isn't her fault. She gave him the chance to have a family. He admits he is losing it. Since he left the church, he cannot find peace. He did not make a mistake loving her but he cannot overcome the feeing that he is failing God. He is happy that Claudia wasn't there to see the man he thought he had left behind years ago. Claudia arrives wondering why the bar is closed early. What is wrong with her dad's hand? Lorena says he fell.

21. Marcos is going down memory lane at home crying over Romina. Romina is crying at Vero's over Iván.

22. Mario arrives at home where Kassandra has waited up for him. He only wants to sleep but she changes his mind.
 

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23. The next day, Majo wakes up to her mother packing. No she is not going off with Marcos. She is all alone as she always is. Majo wants to know what she is escaping from now. Olga says Romina found out about her and Mario. She saw them kissing. Majo is not about to console her. She was looking for it. Olga apologizes. Majo tells her that she was doing well here in Mexico with her father and then she came and ruined it all. Olga insists she will fix it by going back to Spain and Majo will be alone, calm and well. Majo is upset.

24. The next morning the kids tell Vero what happened with Nuria in detail. Vero is outraged and tells them that as long as she is there they will not shed one more tear because of that woman. They have a group hug. Nuria comes into the kitchen and sees them.

25. Majo asks her mother not to run this time but to stay and face up to what she has done. Majo promises if she does that, she will be with her no matter what happens. Just as Olga is pushing her luggage out the door, a smiling Iván appears.

26. Nuria wants to talk to Vero alone. She remarks how she embraces her nieces and nephews as if she were a part of the family. Vero says it is only because she cares about them a lot as they do about her. That is not won with last names but with affection. Nuria thinks she has found the perfect way to replace their mother like nobody else has. Vero says that she didn't look for it. It simply happened because she listens to them, she spends time with them and when they cry, she hugs them. That is all it takes. Nuria tells her not to get confused. It is one thing to serve and something very different to aspire to replace a person. Smiling, Vero says she isn't aspiring to replace anyone. She is merely trying to have love in the air in the house which something Nuria has forgotten about.

27. Iván is surprised that Olga was getting ready to leave. She insists that she is going back to Spain. Majo explains that she wants to escape. Iván wonders what kind of a disaster she caused now. Olga won't say but Majo offers that she got involved with a married man. Before anyone can give more info, a woman appears who was waiting for Iván in the car.
 

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28. Nuria says what she saw was more of a case of emotional manipulation than love with the kids. Vero has them so under her control they cannot see how she is poisoning them to get her own way. Vero tells her not to dare talk like that to her and accuse her of things that are not true. She continues saying of course she loves them as if they were her own children. Nuria says that is exactly what worries her. There is just too much confusion and somebody has to put things in order. Vero cannot believe what she said. Nuria caused this mess. She will not allow her to take out all of her frustrations and all of her resentment on the kids. It's not fair! Nuria laughs at her bravery and thinks that she must feel protected because she managed to get Joaquín in her bed. Nuria gives her fifteen minutes to get her things together ad leave the house. She is fired. Vero says she will go if Joaquín orders her to. Nuria corrects her. She gives the orders in this house. She is the guardian and wants Vero far from them.. She reminds her fifteen minutes. It would be a pity to have to call the police. Vero is shocked.

29. Romina tells Consuelo she was up all night. She has Iván on her mind. She thought that the right thing was to fight for her marriage and she ended up losing him. Iván was there with his heart in his hand. One word could have stopped him from leaving but she didn't say it. She was afraid of being happy. Consuelo asks what she would tell him if he were to come back. Romina says she would tell him that she loves him. and that she always did. She has ended up without a marriage and without the man she loves.

30. Lorena talks to Nico at the snack bar. She was up all night thinking about what the said and didn't . He didn't sleep either. He was up praying and has realized thee are paths that cannot be forced. She helped him discover that he still had a heart but he has found out that his heart cannot be at peace outside of the church. He blames her for nothing and says that she gave him something he never knew that he had: the capacity to feel the great love a father has for a daughter. She says it was a beautiful dream but he has his calling and she has to let him go. He answers that he will continue serving God and be forever grateful that God put her on his path and gave him a daughter. She asks him to go back with his head held high and no guilt with her affection as a source of peace and not as a burden. He promises and wants her to promise to be happy and to let a man into her life who can love her without fear. She deserves it. He will always be there for Claudia. Lorena says he is the best man she has ever known. They hug.

31. The woman with Iván introduces herself. She is Isabel de Almeida y Velasco. She tells Majo that her father has told her wonderful things about her. She is sure they will get along very well. Iván explains that he met the "Countess"on his trip. Olga asks if he brought her back as a souvenir or did he bring her in his carry on. Iván calls her on her acid comments. Olga advises the countess to enjoy Iván. He is an expert in making you feel unique until you aren't. Olga tells Majo to take care and not to repeat her mistakes. She leaves.
 

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32. Claudia is disappointed that her father is leaving them. Lorena says things don't always turn out like you want them to. There are people that sometimes come into our lives to teach us something but not to stay. Her father's place is in his parish and vocation. Claudia says he told her the same thing and that he would always be there for her. Lorena assures her this was the best for all of them. They hug.

33. The kids are talking with Joaquín about what went down with Nuria. Dani told him and he is going to take matters into his own hands. Vale says they do not want Nuria as their guardian. Diego says how mean she was to everyone. Joaquín promises he will talk to Nuria. Meli thanks him. He wants to thank them for reminding him what is really important: love and their family.

FIN
 

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Another plot line resolved favorably IMHO. Nico seems to have anger issues that can only be controlled by the priesthood. I enjoyed his and Lorena's plot line not necessarily Crazy Claudia's.

Why did Vale lie again to Joaquín? Give me a break already.

Nuria is turning out to be much more evil than I thought.

Seems that Vero didn't think the situation through very well in the confrontation with Nuria. Didn't she know that Nuria was already some how the guardian with the power to hire and fire?

I wonder where Olga will end up. At Marcos'?
 

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Jarifa, thank you for your excellent recap which expertly captured the pervasive angst that permeated tonight's storyline. The wheels came off the bus (so to speak) for many who went careening downhill toward certain disaster.

Nuria's poisonous mumbo jumbo needs to be brought to a halt. The self-appointed high priestess has now rained verbal cruelty down on the children, alienating all. Vero has been banished from the house, leaving the children to fend for themselves. Nuria is out of control and out of her mind.

Mario's coldness and disinterest in Kassandra could not be clearer. Is she in denial or just incredibly dense? The ink on the marriage certificate is barely dry when he admits to Vero, the love he cannot forget that "Kassandra is a business deal. He has never had had a real relationship with her. Vero is everything for him".

"*Joaquín says that he thinks that when a person betrays trust they not only destroy the soul of the person they love but they destroy themselves.* He hugs her not knowing what he is consoling her for." Joaquin has shown Vero incredible support and kindness after learning that Vale is her daughter. Given that, her failure to tell him about Mario is puzzling and frustrating. Rather than aligning with Joaquin to tell Vale the truth, she remains quiet, leaving her daughter vulnerable to be preyed on by others who will eagerly reveal her identity once they learn it.

"Nico seems to have anger issues that can only be controlled by the priesthood" was exactly right Jarifa. His home, his past and future continues to be the religious life. I hope Lorena finds happiness with someone else down the line.

When Ivan returned with a genuine smile, my rather harsh opinion of him softened a bit. That is until I saw the "countess" in tow. LOVED "Olga asks if he brought her back as a souvenir or did he bring her in his carry on" which was perfect. Really Ivan, what is the point? Are you aiming to show Romina what she is missing? She doesn't look like your soul mate to me. Broken hearted Romina deserves so much better.

I also wonder where wandering Olga will land. Marcos' may well be her destination Jarifa. Like Zack Mayo, she's "got nowhere else to go". :)

Jarifa, this was marvelous. Thank you.

Diana