"Beto", Edelira told Caydance on the telephone, "stood his ground in his role as advance guard. 'Dalila was married until last week when her divorce came through', he informed his brother. 'According to family spies, whom I cannot name as I am pledged to secrecy, Dalila will be here with sister no 1 and brother-law no 1 in about 10 minutes. Or sooner, since I think I hear Marco's car.'"

Edelira paused to emphasize the horror of the situation. "When In the door," she continued, "dressed for an office party; bragging about her promotion to administrative assistant at the-up-and-coming R & D company where she worked, Maricella arrived -- bringing with her not only her husband Marco, but also JuanJose's former girlfriend, Dalila -- I knew there was going to be trouble.

"When Dalila emphatically kissed JJ (yes that is what she called him) and said that a great job was waiting for him in her Father's company. The situation called for offensive strategy.

I considered that punch that you taught me. But I had underestimated Beto."