Days of Our Lives Update
Update written by Joseph
Julie and Foster prepare for the bereavement book club meeting. Julie talks about being anxious. Foster says there’s no need to be as it’s just a trial run with her close friends. Julie clarifies that it’s not just that but her family is in a custody dispute that has her on edge which Foster says is understandable. Foster asks if she wants to postpone but Julie thinks it will be a good distraction and says she just has to pray the mediation is going well.
Jack finishes a call at home with Justin and informs Jennifer that the mediator suggested they meet without lawyers. Chad arrives and says he heard the same from Melinda. Chad and Jennifer both say they think it’s a terrible idea.
Marlena walks through the town square and finds Cat seated at a table. Cat asks how she is. Marlena says she’s doing well. Cat says she’s really glad to hear that. Marlena asks if she’s here alone. Cat says she’s waiting for her sister Felicity. Cat adds that she would usually be at work but her schedule is more flexible with EJ out of town with Sydney. Cat asks how Sydney is. Marlena says by all reports, she’s doing well. Cat is glad to hear and asks if that means EJ will be coming home soon. Marlena responds that she hopes not.
Maggie joins Julie and Foster at the Book Club. Maggie admits she hadn’t finished the section they are going to be discussing today in the book but she got halfway through. Foster asks what she thought. Maggie says the author’s experience hit close to home as she’s also been widowed twice, so she could relate to that. Julie suggests waiting for the discussion until Marlena gets there and wonders what’s keeping her.
Cat tells Marlena that she knows everyone hates EJ but he’s been kind enough to her. Marlena warns that it’s only a matter of time before that kindness turns in to something else. Marlena reveals that’s why she has a proposition for her. Marlena informs Cat that she’s thinking of going back to work at the hospital, so she wondered if Cat wanted her old job back.
Jack remarks that Jennifer and Chad already agreed on something while Jennifer points out that Jack doesn’t agree since he thinks they should meet without lawyers. Jack says it’s worth a try and nothing is official in writing while all they are doing today is talking. Jack thinks they would be less constrained and more free to express themselves without lawyers. Jack adds that they all have the same goal here. Jennifer and Chad decide they are okay with it then.
Cat tells Marlena that she was so kind to hire her to begin with and she loved working with her. Marlena guesses she’s afraid that EJ would be upset. Cat confirms that EJ did a lovely favor in hiring her and he’s come to rely on her so she wouldn’t feel right about leaving him. Marlena admires her loyalty. Felicity joins them and greets them. Cat invites Marlena to join them for ice cream but Marlena says she promised a friend a favor.
Maggie is surprised Marlena is late. Julie mentions texting her but there was no reply. Foster says he’d like to wait for her, but they only have an hour so he suggests they get started.
At the mediation, Chad talks on the phone with Melinda and gets that she doesn’t want him to go to the meeting without her but no decisions will be made today. Chad hangs up as Jack and Jennifer enter the meeting room followed by the mediator, Agnes, who introduces herself to them. Agnes says the purpose of this is for them to reach an agreement that best serves the interests of Thomas and Charlotte. She says she is a neutral party to help them and hopefully guide them to a workable resolution. She recognizes it’s a sensitive matter and emotions can run high but says there is greater success if they remain civil and respectful. They decide they are ready to begin.
Jeremy sits at home with Thomas, going over his math work. Thomas complains that he can’t concentrate. Jeremy asks if he wants to talk about it. Thomas doesn’t know what to say as he just feels like everyone is mad at everyone else and it’s all his fault.
Agnes starts with Chad, asking how he proposes they resolve this custody dispute. Chad believes his kids should remain with him because he is their father and no one loves them more than he does. Chad says he rocked them to sleep as babies, changed their diapers, held them when they were sick, took them go games and recitals. Chad says he’s always been with them and they need him close right now because he’s the only parent they have left as his wife Abigail was murdered a few years ago. Chad asks how do you tell your kids they are never going to see their mother again and calls it the hardest thing he’s ever had to do. Chad adds that right after Abigail was killed, he was barely holding it together and one day, he snapped at Thomas and lost his temper with him. Chad says he confided in Jennifer how he messed up and how badly he felt and she said he would never forget it, noting that you just have to be there for your kids. Chad says he apologized to Thomas and they agreed they were just mad at the world for taking Abigail from them. Chad recalls not knowing what to do about it and Thomas saying they could make each other feel better. Chad talks about moving forward together and how his kids were thriving. Chad says he was very proud to see his kids happy. Agnes says it seems he’s come a long way. Chad admits it hasn’t always been perfect but they’ve come far and he’s been there every step of the way which Jennifer said was most important. Chad declares that he has to be with his kids. Agnes notes that Jack and Jennifer’s position has clearly changed and asks Chad to tell her why that is. Chad calls it a long and complicated story but explains that Cat Green impersonated Abigail and made them believe that she hadn’t really died, but they found out that Clyde Weston forced her to do it or he was going to kill Cat’s mother if she didn’t follow his orders. Agnes asks what happened when Chad found out Cat wasn’t really Abigail. Chad says they were all furious as what she did was cruel but Cat didn’t do it on her own and told him how sorry she was over and over again. Chad says he believed her and came to believe she deserved forgiveness just like the rest of them. Agnes asks him to elaborate. Chad brings up Jennifer’s addiction to painkillers which Jack argues is irrelevant and has nothing to do with this. Jack decides this was a bad idea and declares the meeting over.
Maggie talks about the book they read and relating to the character’s clashing with her second husband’s adult children. Marlena arrives and apologizes for being late. Julie says it’s okay and they are just delighted she’s there.
Felicity comments to Cat that Marlena seemed sad. Cat agrees and guesses Marlena is missing her husband. Felicity notes that Cat seems sad too. Cat asks why she would be sad. Felicity guesses she misses Chad.
Agnes asks Jack if what Chad said is untrue. Jennifer confirms it’s not. Jack remarks that they didn’t think he would stoop so low. Agnes feels Jennifer’s addiction is relevant to being fit for custody. Chad agrees it’s not and apologizes for saying anything. Chad states that Jennifer has been clean for years, so his kids are perfectly safe with her as they are with him. Agnes goes back to Cat and her part in this dispute. Agnes asks how Chad explained the impersonation to his children. Chad admits he didn’t and wasn’t going to but a friend at school told Thomas, so he told him that he and Cat were in a relationship. Chad knows it will sound strange but when Cat was pretending to be Abigail, she developed genuine feelings for him and he had feelings for her from thinking she was his wife and the feelings don’t just go away. Chad says he and Cat started spending time together, became friends and eventually more than friends. Jennifer points out that Chad kept that a secret and when Thomas asked if they were more than friends, he lied to Thomas. Jack says that’s until he couldn’t cover it up any longer and had to come to clean. Jennifer continues that Thomas was obviously upset that Chad would date his mother’s impostor. Chad assures that he broke it off the next day. Jennifer points out that Thomas was so upset that he asked to go live with her and Jack in Boston. Jennifer says they said no as Jack explains that they didn’t think Abigail would want her children taken away from their surviving parent as they thought Chad ended his relationship with Cat. Chad insists that he did. Jennifer talks about Chad giving his word that Cat would stay out of their lives and their relationship was over which turned out to be another lie. Chad asks to explain. Agnes asks why Jennifer says it was a lie. Jennifer explains that days later, she and Thomas saw Chad and Cat with their arms around each other in the town square and Thomas got so upset that he ran in to traffic and got hit by a car. Chad argues that Thomas misunderstood what he saw as Cat had just gotten bad news about her mother, so he was trying to comfort her but he realizes now that was a mistake. Jack asks how he can promise he won’t make another mistake. Chad argues that he can’t promise his kids will never get angry at him for something he did, but he can promise he loves his kids more than anything else in the world and he would do anything for them. Chad declares that he will always put them first. Agnes asks if Jack and Jennifer have a response. Jennifer responds that she doesn’t believe Chad.
Jeremy asks why Thomas thinks it’s his fault that everyone is mad at each other. Thomas goes over getting mad at Chad for being with Cat, which made Jack and Jennifer mad at Chad, and then Chad got angry at him for saying he wanted to go live with Jack and Jennifer. Jeremy asks if Thomas still wants to live with them but Thomas says not anymore. Jeremy guesses that when Chad went missing, Thomas got scared he might never see him again and that got him thinking if he really wanted to go to Boston or if he was just angry at Chad. Thomas confirms that is right but he told Jack and Jennifer that he did mean it and now they are trying to make it happen. Jeremy encourages that he still has time to tell them that he changed his mind. Thomas feels like even if he does, everyone will still be mad at each other.
Chad doesn’t know what else he can do to make Jennifer believe him. Agnes asks why Jennifer doesn’t believe that Chad will prioritize his children. Jennifer prefaces by telling Chad that we love him and know how much he loves their grandchildren and how much Abigail loved him. Jennifer says they wouldn’t consider taking Thomas and Charlotte away from him which Jack says was until the car accident. Jennifer recalls the doctor fixing Thomas’s dislocated shoulder and he wanted her there but not Chad and that’s when she changed her mind about wanting the children to live with them. Jennifer recalls telling Chad to be there for his kids and he wasn’t no matter how many promises because he was still with Cat and Thomas could’ve died. Jennifer says she told Chad that they don’t trust him so she was going to honor Thomas’s wishes and take them to Boston. Jennifer adds that if Chad tried to fight them, they would sue for custody and that’s exactly what they did.
Julie talks about how Doug would’ve loved the book they read and how they would read together. Julie recalls a discussion they had about music which Doug was passionate about and she misses those conversations. Julie gets emotional talking about Doug. Foster says his wife has been gone for 15 years and he still imagines conversations with her. Maggie relates to feeling Victor and Mickey responding to her. Foster asks if Marlena read the book. Marlena says she did but she has nothing to add and will just listen.
Cat reminds Felicity that she and Chad can’t be together because he wants to do what’s best for his kids, but admits she was thinking about Chad because she happened to find out he had a really important meeting today, so she’s really hoping it went well.
Agnes asks to hear from Jack. Jack reiterates that they never dreamed that they would need to take Thomas and Charlotte away from their father, but Chad has broken their trust again and again. Chad argues that hugging Cat was not romantic. Jennifer argues that he can’t seem to stay away from Cat which means he obviously still has feelings for her. Chad complains that they both just want him to be alone and not have feelings for anyone or be with anyone but Abigail. Jack says that’s not it all, pointing out that Cat wasn’t the first person he dated since Abigail. Jennifer says they would like nothing more for him to meet someone to spend the rest of his life with, someone kind and caring who Abigail would love to help raise their children but that person is not and will never be Cat Green.
Jeremy tells Thomas that he knows it’s hard feeling like everyone is mad at each other and will never make up. Jeremy brings up the mediation being today. Thomas says Chad tried to explain but it was confusing. Jeremy explains that they both disagree on where Thomas and Charlotte should live, so they sit down with someone to try and reach a compromise that works for everyone. Thomas asks if he thinks that’s possible. Jeremy says he really hopes so.
Julie jokes about Marlena always listening as a psychiatrist. Marlena wonders if maybe she shouldn’t be here and thinks she should go.
Cat knows Felicity wishes she and Chad could be together, but sometimes it’s just not possible. They then go to get ice cream.
Agnes pauses the mediation to take a breath. Agnes asks what made Jack and Jennifer agree to mediation after initially going to court. Jack explains that Justin suggested it and they didn’t think it was a good idea. Jennifer adds that Chad was then kidnapped and when they first heard, they worried that they needed to get Thomas and Charlotte as far away from Chad’s family as possible to keep them safe. Jack adds that their feelings changed because Thomas cried himself to sleep every night, afraid that he would never see his father again. Jennifer says miraculously and thankfully, Chad was rescued and they saw how relieved Thomas was to have his father back, so they realized they were going about the custody dilemma all wrong and they just need to find the solution to agree on. Jennifer promises they aren’t trying to punish Chad, but trying to think of every way possible to keep the kids safe. Chad says they have the exact same goal then. Chad reveals that he and Melinda have come up with a proposal which Jack questions.
Jeremy tells Thomas that in baseball, both teams want to win but Chad and Jack and Jennifer are trying to work together for what’s best. Thomas brings up that Chad still lied to him a lot, so he doesn’t know if he will ever trust him again. Jeremy says when someone breaks trust, it takes a long time to fix it, but he can’t fix it with Chad unless he gives him another chance. Thomas agrees to try.
Chad admits Jack and Jennifer are incredible grandparents and he knows his kids love spending time with them. Chad says he and Melinda thought they could go visit every summer for a month and that Jack and Jennifer can come visit anytime they want, but he retains full custody and he is not budging on that. Agnes asks if Jack and Jennifer have a plan as well. Jack responds that their plans changed as when they first brought up the lawsuit, Thomas was really upset and insisted that he did not want to stay with Chad, but after Chad was kidnapped, they realized how much Thomas loves Chad and wants to stay with him. Jennifer declares that their only sticking point in all of this is Chad’s involvement with Cat Green. Jack states that if Chad would promise to never have a relationship with Cat ever again, they would drop the suit for custody. Agnes asks if Chad agrees with that. Chad says he does and gives his word. Jack adds that they would like to have two months with the kids. Jennifer suggests revisiting the custody issue if Thomas changes his mind and didn’t want to live with Chad but Chad says no and calls that completely unreasonable. Jennifer asks why it’s unreasonable to listen to Thomas. Chad argues that Thomas is still a kid and he’s not going to allow him to hold this over his head anytime he enforces a rule he doesn’t like. Chad says Thomas also should not control where Charlotte lives. Jennifer agrees that he’s right. Agnes asks if they have an agreement. Jack, Jennifer, and Chad say that they do as they join hands.
Maggie asks Marlena not to go while Julie says she didn’t mean to upset her. Marlena says she knows that but it was difficult for her to come and she just thought she should, so she forced herself to come but now she sees she’s not ready for it. Marlena then exits. Julie worries about what she has done. Maggie insists it’s not her fault, it’s just too soon for Marlena. Foster states that Marlena just wasn’t ready to be there, but she read the book and she listened, so she will be back.
Jennifer and Jack go home. Jennifer thanks Jeremy for watching Thomas. Jeremy says it was his pleasure as he exits the room. Thomas asks how it went. Jack didn’t think they would beat Chad home, so they will wait until he gets home to talk about it. Thomas pleads with them to tell him now. Jack says the mediation went well and Jennifer says she really thinks they can to an agreement. Jennifer informs Thomas that Chad will keep custody of he and Charlotte, but they will get to visit every summer for two months and that Chad promised to never start a relationship with Cat Green ever again. Jack asks what Thomas thinks.
Chad goes to Book Club to see Julie, which she calls a nice surprise. Chad tells her that mediation went well and he’s cautiously optimistic that they reached an agreement they can all be happy about it. Julie calls that great news as she hugs Chad.
Jennifer asks what Thomas thinks about the agreement. Thomas responds that it’s not good enough. Jack asks what he means. Thomas argues that Chad lied about Cat before and asks how to know he won’t do it again.
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