Gardener’s Daughter

The insane things a woman can do because of love! Amelia, for me, is the major subject of this episode. I was very hurt as a woman for the high-level treachery and ingratitude of Amelia to Pedro Perez. Her bitterness towards the poverty of Pedro makes her never to love him.
Amelia went to borrow a better dress from Lupe- her only friend, telling her she has a date with the only man she ever and would ever love. Lupe was surprised and asked her what of her husband Pedro. Amelia confided in Lupe that she only married him for convinience of accomodation at the church premisces after her father threw her out for being pregnant. She said that Pedro is not the father of Luisa and the real father of Luisa is the man she is now dating. She succeeded in decieving Pedro that morning of court appearance and she left home with Luisa purportedly for the ‘hospital’.

Carlos overslept at Jennifer’s house and had to rush out late to join Augusto and Luisa in the court. Jennifer was not happy that her man is involved in a case with Luisa. You can see uncertainty and fear of loosing Carlos to Luisa, written on her face.

On arrival at the court, Amelia told the young lawyer that she would take charge of the negotiation with L.A. (brevity for Luis Alejandro). When L.A. arrived Amelia confronted him and annouced to him that: “we need to talk in private.” “Who are you?” replied L.A. Amelia was stunned…she asked him, “you mean you don’t know me?” Alejandro replied “I don’t know you, and I have never met you in my life.” He walked past her and went to inside the court-room. Amelia almost collapsed with shame and astonishment. That Luis Alejandro could not remember or recognise her again after 18 years, was too much of a pain that she almost ran into a speeding car while floundering around in utter disbelief and shock. Luisa approached her to ask her the reason for her weeping, the burden was too much for her to explain the deep mystery to her daughter. She was too ashamed and uposet to return home, else Pedro might get suspicious, so she went to her friend’s Lupe’s office.

Luisa lambasted Carlos at the court premises for not telling his father to withdraw the case and called him a liar.

Don Elcantara suffered a sudden heart-attack and Carlos was called in for the emergency, he came immediately and treated Don- Amelia’s enstranged father. The old man seem to have taken a liken to Dr. Carlos, he promised him that he would obey and take his medications as recommended by Carlos. As soon as Carlos left, Consuela rushed after him, wanting to explain the embarassing and amorous circumstances carlos found her with his step-father- Luis Alejandro yesterday. Carlos snubbed her by telling her: “I am not interested in your explanation, goodbye.” and he walked away.

Luis Alejandro lost the first round of the case in court. The court ruled that it has the jurisdiction to hear the matter and gave a date for the next hearing. This was good news to the young shark- Augusto, this was his first case after graduating from law school, and against a wealthy popular giant attorney of L.A.’s stature and status for that matter, this, indeed is a great victory.

Alejandro came out angry and boiling out of the court-room to threaten Augusto and Luisa that he would not rest until they are destroyed. He even called Augusto a thief who wants to use legal means to take money from him.

L.A. later told Marissa his wife that he is going to investigate Luisa Fernanda’s family and background in order to have evidence to destroy them in court.

Just like the case of Diego and Paloma, in Cuando Seas Mia (When You Are Mine), Luisa Fernanda and Carlos gave us a glimpse of the love adventures that would grow between them in weeks and months to come: A defiant love that would be driven by a stupor that would trigger passionate hatred and desperate intrigues and has no respect for any opposition, be it from families, associates, fiance or fiancees.

Luisa, in a fit of anger stormed the house of Carlos with the aim of confronting Luis Alejandro to warn him to desist from insulting her mom and threatening her. Just near-arrival, she saw her father, Pedro Perez there too and she ran back thinking he was on a similar mission. Not knowing that the man was working there on a contract as a jardinero to get the garden ready for a big party.

Carlos, who was driving home for a meeting with his mom and fiancee, Marissa and Jennifer, saw her in the distance and went after her. Their rebuff and exchange of anger and apologies landed both, in a near-by restaurant for a lunch date. Carlos and Luisa dug up so much about each other’s background on this date. Luisa forgave and drank the wine of Carlos (did I hear you say ‘wine of love’?) recklessly, shunning every restraint by Carlos. She opened up that she doesn’t have any boyfriend when carlos broached the issue. Carlos lied that he too doesn’t have any girlfriend. When Luisa reminded him of Jennifer, he lied that Jenny was a family friend. Carlos confesses to Luisa that his attraction to her was her transparent innocence and honesty.

Jennifer de la Vega and Marissa became worried when Carlos did not show up for the lunch meeting, so Jenny put in a call through to Carlos who was still being spell-bound by Luisa’s ravishing beauty at the restaurant. He picked the call and lied to Jenny that he could not make the lunch meeting because he was attending to a medical emergency at the hospital. Luisa laughed and said, “…so I am your medical emergency?” to which Carlos explained away his lies that they were some of his friends who invited him to lunch and would be offended if he had told them that he is at lunch with another person.

Jennifer became suspicious and requested from Boukina, the old house-keeper of Marissa, to take carlos lunch to him at work. She invited Marissa to join her for the surprise visitation which trully turned out as a shock and unexpected discovery that Carlos was not at the hospital for any medical emergency. Jennfer de la Vega was hot with jealousy and furious because she suspected Carlos of having lied to her to cover up his escapade with the ‘young school girl’- Luisa. She lost her cheerful countenance and concentration for the rest of the day and was moody and very harsh with all the models who came for audition/practise in her company in preparation for her forth-coming fashion show, eminently supported by Marissa Gomez Ruiz.

Consuela entered Luiz Alejandro’s office, meeting him with Andreina- his mistress and concubine, who also happens to be his wife’s, Marissa’s secretary. The “Consuela-L.A.” meeting was a session in catalog of revelations, as both learned that their respective marriages to their spouses have produced no offsprings. Consuela briefed L.A. of his step-son’s encounter and visit to attend to don Elcantara’s medication at home, and how he spurned her. L.A. suggested to her to divorce her husband (and he could handle the suit), if she is truly unhappy with her marriage as she claimed (she had earlier told L.A that her hubby was an ambitious money-monger who has no love for her). She changed the subject immediately, because the hubby is also a pawn in her schemes to inherit the fortune of Don Elcantara after scheming Amelia, her elder sister out of the heritage. L.A. tried to discourage Consuela from any affair with him, saying (but of course lying) that he is a faithful husband and adores his wife. He warned Consuela to forget she ever kissed him yesterday and should just let bygone be bygone. The past should be buried and not uprooted.

Luisa Fernanda was drunk silly, she couldn’t even stand on her feet. Carlos had to drive her home, and they were lucky Luisa’s parents, particularly the hot-tempered and acidic-tongued Amelia. it was Ceasar, Pedro’s apprentice who rescued her and helped Carlos to carry her to her bderoom to sleep off after a bout of vomiting.

Heriberto Sotomayor, Consuela’s husband came home late and was challenged by Rigobert, the old house-keeper why he didn’t respond immediately to the distress call during the mild heart-attack of Don Elcantara earlier in the day. he replied that he was very busy with an important meeting and that it is time for the old man to…

The stupor of yesternight’s wine may have worn off but the sweet aroma of that encounter has become more and more intoxicating. Carlos could not sleep all-nite because of the savour of that encounter. Luisa could not wait the following morning to see Carlos again. At the slightest excuse, she sought a favor from the lawyer Augusto, who had come to take her to the court for the next hearing, to first take her to meet the Doctor Carlos Gomez. That visit culminated in the First Kiss of Love as the newest couple in town were escounded in each others arms, lost to the world and… Augusto, who was waiting outside the hospital for Luisa Fernanda Perez.

That kiss succeeded in opening a floodgate of uncontrollable emotions that found both in the ladies rest-room of a restaurant doing… what they found out they could only do best- Kissing….

I’d continue tonight’s episode later…let me attend to my family first…see ya later friends…

…friends, I am back. pardon my delay.

Rigoberto the old maid, Consuela and her husband Heriberto Sotomayor were discussing the failing health of Don Elcantara, which has become a great concern to the household of recent. Rigoberto mentioned something about the old man saying something about his will recently. Heriberto- the consumate schemer, was startled and asked the old woman what was in the will and what did Don say. Consuela complacently replied that the will is not a subject of importance since she is the only heiress, and there is nothing to bother about. Rigoberto however asked her to wake up from her day-dream, saying that Consuela should not be so fast to jump into conclusion,…”you have a sister who has a daughter…”. At that point Consuela was silenced, but became thoughtful and sulky.

Carlos arrived Jennifer’s house, but Jenny did not even grant him an audience of explanation for his absence. She called him a cheating liar and marched him out of her house before he could take a seat.

I suspect that some portion of the telenovela was cut off because, the next thing we saw was, Carlos and Luisa in deep kiss in the ladies rest-room of a restaurant. A woman came in to ease herself and was shocked to find a man in a ladies rest-room kissing a lady. Carlos apologized and walked out of the rest room. It happenned to be a friendly dinner of four friends- Carlos, Luisa, Vanessa Sotomayor and Augusto. I guess that Luisa must have agreed to Augusto’s invitation to a dinner date by wisely roping Vanessa and of course her new love Carlos into the scheme.

So, neither Augusto nor Vanessa knew that a secret affair had already started between Carlos and Luisa. Carlos and Luisa must have taken excuse to go to the restrooms, leaving Vanessa and Augusto at the dinner table. The secret lovers now met by pre-arranged signal at the ladies rest-romm for the continuation of what they started yesterday. as soon as both arrived at the table Luisa announced that she is going home as her mom would be expecting her back at home by now. Vanessa was happy and said she would still hang around with Carlos. An eye signal from Luisa was enough for carlos to also say he is not hanging around but had to leave too. That is how this two love-birds used their innocent but ambitious best friends to achieve their love game that night.

Pedro came home from work and asked Amelia about Luisa, she replied with a confrontation saying, “I am sick and tired of this fake marriage”. Pedro was shocked and asked her why the sudden out burst, to which shee replied that, if she doesn’t get this off her heart she would explode. Pedro wanted to know if she had been seeing a man to which she said no and continued her tirade…”…what a disgrace to stay with you under the same roof for 18 years because there is no alternative.” she said she couldn’t cope again with the lie that he is the father of Luisa. She lied that, the reason for her (weird and mysterious recent behaviours) why she sent him out when receiving a secret telephone call was because an old friend called her and reminded her of her family.

Pedro became sympathetic and suggested that they should give calling on her father, Don Elcantara and family another trial. She did, and behold, it was Rigoberto that picked the call, she must have been weeping when she called from the account of Rigoberto, Amelia seem very upset and therefore Consuela should make effort to fish Amelia and Pedro out. Consuela was not too enthusiatic about this Samaritan assignment, obviously because any new invitation of Amelia into the family would scatter her grand scheme of inheriting her father’s fortune when he dies. The old woman- Rigoberto has said it several times under her breath that Consuela and her husband Heriberto are waiting and praying that Don should die soon so they can solely inherit his great fortune.

Tonite’s episode was a big drama. How art the mighty weeping! It is a spectacle to see the stubborn and strong-willed Don Fernando Elcantara, broke down and wept secretly for his 18-year indiscretion of sending his pregnant daughter Amelia, out of his life. It was also another moment of truth for Luis Alejandro who through Don, discovered that he had a child by Amelia, and Don has decided to secretly without Consuela’s knowledge, will all his fortune for this grandaughter. Don had come to him to discretely enlist the services of a detective to seek out his ‘lost’ daughter- Amelia and his unknown grand daughter Luisa. He said with soberity to himself after Don left his office: “So, Consuela deceived me; Amelia didn’t have an abortion afterall; So, I have a daughter”.

Another momemt of truth came, this time, it is Jennifer turn, as she discovered that she can no longer use her enraptured beauty to manipulate Carlos, and she might be losing him to another woman. Carlos had asked her to let them call their relationship quits. The river of truth also swept through Carlos’ heart as he confesses Luisa Fernanda to ‘Nana’ Rosario- his mom’s old maid, as his true and only real love, and not the georgeously ravishing Jennifer de la Vega.
Carlos confessed to the old maid- Rosario that Luisa is not just another adventure. He said of Luisa Fernanda with tears almost streaming from his eyes: “she is different, she is under my skin, she is inside my heart”. The family get-together dinner organised by Marissa was a sham as the purpose of it (bringing Jennifer and Carlos together in re-union and fence-mending) was defeated. Carlos refused all entreaties to join them for the dinner downstairs. When his mom, Marissa came upstairs to persuade him to join them he confronted her with another statement of truth: “I don’t want to be anywhere near your husband; if you don’t want to get upset, don’t ask me why”. Marissa, afraid of the unknown was silenced and went back to dinner leaving his son in his bed-room.

Carlos stole the best minutes of the next day to wait for Luisa at the school gate. When Luisa asked him why he came, he confessed that it is just to see her, even if it is for 5 minutes! So they both went to a nearby restaurant to sip coffee and for love chat. Their growing love for each other is becoming a danger that may deeply hurt their best friends- Vanessa and Augusto. They were wondering how they could disentangle these ‘dreamers’ from their respective ‘dreams’ with minimal hurts, because, sooner or later they both would know the truth.

The conspiratorial and scheming couple- Consuela and Heriberto had their own fight in tonite’s episode. Don has declined the offer to sell his Estate at Hacienda, based on the report faxed by Luis Alejandro. The L.A. report exposed the offer as a scandalous rip-off and the price of the Estate is far worth more than the offer brought by Heriberto’s ‘419′ friends. Heriberto was mad with his wife, Consuela, for bringing her ‘genius lawyer friend’, who ended up exposing their scam. He asked what the name of the man is, if he can meet him to amend his report. Heriberto was shocked to know that he was Luis Alejandro Montero.

With his mind full of subtlety, he told his wife that L.A’s face adorn the front pages of society magazines daily and that he is married to a banking baroness, Marissa Gomez Ruiz who owns the Metropolitan bank which she inherited from her late husband. This is not surprising coming from a scammer- they are mostly an intelligent walking encyclopedia of Big names and Big business which are often their prime targets. At this news, Consuela now nodded with a knowing, why L.A. is not ready for an affair with her. Luis Alejandro already has a gold mine where he is minning gold from, why would he be interested in exploring another mine. I personally would not be surprised if this evil architect- Consuela devices to blackmail L.A. into playing amorous games with her; future episodes would tell if this prognosis would come true. Heriberto now began to device how to “forge a frienship” with L.A’s family. He quickly came up with plans to invite them for a family dinner. after knowing through Consuela that the man had a ’son’ who is about 25 years old he quickly suggested bringing his daughter, Vanessa to the dinner hoping to match-make them. Consuela agreed to this plan obviously because she had her own hidden agenda.

After much persuation by Rigoberto, Consuela agreed to search out Amelia and Pedro. She found them, Amelia was so joyful for this first visit by her younger sister after 18 years. Consuela told her that Don still hates her, and there is no hope for their reconcilliation. She obviously plotted this statement to further build an impregnable barrier between father (Don) and his ‘princess’ daughter (Amelia). So that her return to the family would not threaten her inheritance plans. Amelia was sad but still told Consuela that the reason why she called, was to raise a small loan from her. The schemer in Consuela enquired and found out Luisa fernanda’s picture on the table. Now she knows the young lady anytime she meets her anywhere.

Consuela Alcantara was the ‘attention-grabber’ of this episode of the telenovela. The unimaginable evil schemes that she methodically implemented with gusto! Any time she does good, it is always with an indescribably evil motive. Yes, she located and visited her ‘long-abandoned’ sister- Amelia, but it is with the intention of scaring and warning her not to make the mistake of calling the family house on phone again, NEVER! Her excuse? So that their daddy Don Elcantara, who supposedly still ‘hates’ Amelia with passion may accidentally pick it!

Even while still with Amelia, she received an urgent call from Luis Alejandro, (the same man whom she and Amelia were just talking about). She stood up to go, lying that her husband just called her for an urgent matter. What a cold-hearted criminal! On arrival at Alejandro’s office, the already suspicious Alejandro accused her of lying about Amelia’s purported abortion of 18 years ago. She was momentarily taken aback when confronted with this fact. She quickly recovered to manufacture another lie to cover up for that leakage. She told L.A. that her father was sickly and they did not want to aggravate his health condition then, that was why she sold a lie to the father that Amelia had a baby girl. In actual fact she had aborted the pregnancy, said the consumate liar. When asked about the present whereabouts of her sister- Amelia, she lied again that Amelia travelled out of the country with her husband to Texas, San Antonio. “…we NEVER heard from her again” she concluded.

I have hunch that Luis Alejandro did not believe this new lie, but he kept his expression free of doubt before Consuela.

Heriberto Sotomayor- Consuela’s Husband, had a heated arguement with Don Elcantara over the proposed sale of the Hacienda property. The old man flew off the handle and told him that the case for sale offer is permanently closed. He said he would not sell this heritage that still holds the dear memory of his family and his late wife, No, not to swindlers! he said, the house is his LIFE, and he is not selling his life… Period!

The Prime Lovers of La hija del Jardinero- Carlos and Luisa Fernanda had another date, this time, they went to nite movies and later went ice-skating together. Upon being told by Luisa that her father works as a gardener in Carlos house. Carlos was excited and he said he would go to Pedro to seek his fatherly consent to marry his daughter. Luisa Fernanda became afraid and warned him to to do so, as her parents would think she is wayward for keeping a boy friend.

Vanessa Sotomayor, Luisa’s best friend came with Heriberto her father to a supposedly birthday party of her fried’s father Pedro. She got the shock of her life when Pedro told them he is not celebrating any birthday and it must have been a ploted scheme by the two friends. Heriberto was disappointed with the embarrasment and the obvious poverty he saw in Pedro’s house. He warned his daughter not to mix with such people again.

Amelia was weeping when Luisa came home, Luisa challenged her mother whom she suspected of hiding some painful memory of some secrets. She begged her to open up and share the burden with her. Amelia refused, saying it is an adult matter which she would not understand. Upon insistence of Luisa, Amelia who had lived a life of lie for 18 years told Luisa a bundle of half-truths:
1. “You have another family, this is not your only family”. TRUE!
2. “I have a mother who died when I was young, I was raised by a good old beloved maid called Rigoberto”. TRUE!
3. “My father too, died when I was young”. FALSEHOOD!
4. “I have a sister by name Consuela, who travelled abroad with her husband, and just came back”. HALF-TRUTH!

This wonderful and lovable girl is going to weave and swim through these half-truths in future to discover the real truth.