Category: Daytime

Young & The Restless Update

Recap written by Christine
Photos by Dora

Just as Mariah was trying to convince herself that the pain she felt was a pulled muscle and not a contraction, another one hit. She reminded herself about Braxton Hicks, practice contractions, and she said that’s what this had better be, because it was way too soon for Bowie to make is grand entrance. Mariah was drenched in sweat as she panted through the contractions. She uncovered the camera and begged her captor to get her to a doctor. “Why would you do this to a woman and her unborn child?,” she yelled.

At the Chancellor house, Abby, Sharon, Devon, Tessa and Ben waited for Rey to call and let them know if the lead from the convenience store panned out. Abby wanted Sharon to call Rey, but Sharon explained that Rey had to run things by Paul first, and it’d take time to get permission to view private video footage. Abby said they were lucky Ben saw the guy. Devon asked where the convenience store was, and Ben answered. Devon recalled Ben saying he was staying at the GCAC before he left for Iowa. Devon asked what Ben was doing in the part of town where the convenience store was located. Ben admitted the market was out of his way, and he’d never been there before. He said after he and Abby went to look at an apartment for him, they went to the park, and after she left, he visited that pond they used to go to. By the time he left, it was late, so he stopped at the convenience store for snacks. Devon questioned Ben happening to be at the store at the exact same time as the person of interest. Ben said the guy came in after he did. Devon said that was pretty lucky, but Ben said not lucky enough, since it took him so long to put things together. Tessa was glad they had a lead now. Abby said, thanks to Ben, Rey was finally on the path that could bring them to Mariah.

Tessa felt restless, so she went to the kitchen, and Sharon joined her. Devon needed to make some calls, so Abby told him he could go to the study. Now Abby and Ben were alone. He hoped he didn’t make her uncomfortable when he mentioned taking the sentimental detour by their pond. It ddin’t make her upset. She used to love going to that pond. He hoped she took her son there one day. He quickly apologized, but she said it was okay and that she would take her baby there. He promised she’d be able to make all kinds of incredible memories with her boy. She said that was what she needed to hear. He said it meant so much to him reconnecting like this. She felt the same way. He had to go check in with Max’s care team, and he asked if she’d be okay. She said she’d be fine, and she went to the kitchen. Devon returned, and Ben him to call if Abby needed Ben. Devon said okay, and Ben left. Devon looked suspicious.

Later, Rey arrived and told everyone still at the house that he was waiting on a warrant for the convenience store footage. The wait was excruciating for Tessa. Rey said the good news was Paul gave him permission to set up surveillance at the store, in case this guy returned. They were also pulling all the traffic camera footage in the area so they could track this person to where they went after they left the store. He wanted to tell them this in person, but he had to get back to work. He promised he wouldn’t give up until Mariah was found.

At Society, Gloria met with Lauren and admitted that she got a bit aggressive at their meeting the other day, due to her enthusiasm getting the best of her. Kevin and Chloe arrived, and Gloria told them this was a business meeting. Chloe assured Gloria that they’d reserved a table of their own, and they walked away to a spot where they couldn’t help but overhear Lauren and Gloria. Lauren was willing to hear Gloria out. Gloria had studied the market, and she promised to anticipate trends and beat other companies. She swore she wouldn’t be reckless. She wanted to carry forward the work Summer and Sally started. Lauren asked if Gloria understood the target demo. Gloria did her research – young women wanted socially conscious environmentally friendly clothes. Lauren acknowledged that Gloria did her homework. Lauren asked if Gloria could pinpoint places to improve JCV. Gloria wanted to find a fashion forward designer who could improve their jewelry, because some young women might not be able to afford the whole line, but they could buy a necklace to make their outfit pop. Lauren said that was a good idea, and she mentioned that a lot of candidates were tripped up by the question. She gave Gloria the job on a trial basis. A grateful Gloria headed back to the office to dive back in.

Meanwhile, at their own table, Kevin told Chloe that according to Michael, Gloria wanted to be the head of JCV. Chloe realized that explained the way Gloria questioned Sally the other day. Kevin was waiting for an update on Mariah. Chloe was sure his friend could handle whatever happened to her. Lauren came over to tell Kevin and Chloe the news, but they already overheard. She asked if they thought she was crazy. Chloe thought it was a great idea. Kevin hoped Gloria didn’t drive Lauren crazy. Lauren said that’s why it was interim. It would take her some time to commit, after Sally. She wished Chloe had considered that before hiring her. Chloe wanted to agree to disagree. She went into this with her eyes wide open. She said they’d all made mistakes. Lauren said this went way beyond an error in judgment. Chloe said Chelsea was a grifter, and Chloe went off the rails after she lost her daughter. She sensed a kindred spirit in Sally, and she thought she deserved the chance to move her life forward. Lauren agreed with that in principle, but she didn’t think Sally was going to change.

Lauren left. Kevin asked if Chloe was having doubts about Sally. Chloe was having doubts about a lot of people, including herself. She wondered what she was thinking believing she could stop Sally from going to the dark side. She brought up the situation with Chelsea – she loved Chelsea, but… She decided not to even get started on Adam. She wondered why she thought she, Chelsea and Adam could be the combined positive forces in Sally’s life. She thought about their rap sheets combined and said they were the legion of doom. He thought Adam was a super villain, but he didn’t think she gave herself enough credit. Kevin noted that he and Chloe had a colorful history, but they’d become upstanding citizens. He thought most people, besides Adam, were capable of change, and he advised her to keep thinking positive about Sally. Chloe mentioned that Sally said she was trying to forget seeking revenge on Phyllis and she was putting all her energy into her work. Chloe believed her. Kevin found out there was a lead on Mariah, so he left.

Back at the Chancellor house, Sharon said they might be getting closer to finding Mariah, but she still seemed so far away. Sharon asked if she could go up to Tessa and Mariah’s room so she could feel closer to her daughter. Tessa thought that was a wonderful idea, and they went upstairs.

Devon asked what Abby thought of Ben’s story about the man at the convenience station. Abby was caught off guard when she realized Devon was casting doubt on Ben’s statement. She asked why Ben would make something like that up. He wasn’t saying Ben was lying. Devon didn’t want to stress Abby, but he was suspicious, and he was telling her this because he cared. He thought they could all agree Ben’s story was pretty coincidental. He also thought it was a bit odd that Ben showed up out of the blue at this point in Abby’s life. He noted that Ben kept delaying his departure and showing up to see Abby, then he came back to town without having a job lined up. He thought Ben was going out of his way to be a shoulder for Abby to lean on while her husband was out of town. He couldn’t help but wonder if Ben was trying to get close to Abby or rekindle what they once had by taking advantage of the pain and fear she was feeling. Abby looked deep in thought.

Kevin and Rey met at Crimson Lights to go over the surveillance footage from the store. Rey said that Ben gave them a time frame to look through. Kevin said they just had to find Ben on the footage, then they could track him through the store, and that would lead them to the man they were after.

At the Abbott house, Jack told Phyllis that Summer loved her gift. She asked how Summer and Kyle were doing and how things were going with Harrison. Jack said it appeared that their kids were fantastic. He’d worked out the logistics with Kyle to do his job remotely, and Summer seemed to be shining at Marchetti. Phyllis claimed that she was happy, but Jack didn’t think she sounded like it. Phyllis swore she was thrilled, but she wanted Summer, Kyle and Harrison in Genoa City. She believed he felt the same way, and she asked why he couldn’t just admit this was a loss for him too. He said it wasn’t a loss – Kyle and Harrison were hours away by plane. She said it wasn’t the same. He confessed that this was a lot harder than he’d admitted, but he said they weren’t going to wallow. She moaned that she wanted mutual wallowing, but he said no.

Jack took Phyllis to the park and said to soak up the sun without focusing on the fact that they weren’t with their kids. She suggested Jabot buy Marchetti and move the offices to Genoa City. They laughed. She said it was nice to see him laugh, and he replied that it was nice to laugh. Sally walked up and mentioned that Jack and Phyllis were joined at the hip lately. Phyllis said they were friends – a friend was someone who you cared about and could trust. She was sure that was a foreign concept to Sally. Sally scoffed at the idea of Phyllis being trustworthy. Jack told Sally it was nice to see her, and he asked her to keep walking, so she did. Phyllis apologized. Jack wished they could rise above and be civil. He asked if she thought she could do that. She said she’d try not to let Sally get to her, and he decided that was good enough for now. She offered to buy him an iced coffee, and he accepted.

Victor told Nick that he was investigating what happened with Mariah. Nick appreciated that – Sharon was worried sick.

Ashland was at home on the phone. Victoria walked in and overheard him wrapping up the call. He said he wasn’t surprised, as he’d expected this to happen at some point. Victoria asked what happened. Ashland said that a man who used to work at his first news station called to say that people had been contacting him to get information on Ashland. Victoria figured Billy was behind it. Ashland was thinking Newman Media might be doing some digging too. Victoria was sure Adam would do that to grab headlines. She added that Victor might be involved too. She noted that he was taking it in stride. He was used to people digging into his life, but he wanted her to hear things about his life from him. He sat her down and said years ago, when he was starting out, he worked for an older woman who mentored him in the media world. Her husband owned two news stations, and when he died, she took over. Years later, when she died, Ashland bought the stations from her and that’s how his empire started. Victoria appreciated hearing the truth from Ashland.

Back at the ranch, Victor had learned the same basic story that Ashland just shared with Victoria. He recounted it to Nikki and Nick, who didn’t think it sounded like a big deal. Victor said that there very few people were left who knew details about the relationship between Ashland and this woman, and those who did know were reluctant to talk. Nick said that it sounded like a non-issue to him – Victor’s PI didn’t have trouble finding this information, so clearly Ashland didn’t go through much trouble to cover it up. Nikki added that it wasn’t a crime to be an ambitious businessman. She thought they should accept that Victoria found a man who didn’t have any skeletons in his closet worth finding. Victor planned to keep investigating, and Nikki said that it was almost like he wanted to find something. She asked if he wanted to destroy Victoria’s marriage.

Victor was happy for Victoria, and he thought Ashland was a good man, but he didn’t want Victoria going into the marriage blindly. He said if they didn’t find anything, they could enjoy the wedding honestly. Nick said Phyllis warned him that this investigation could backfire. He saw the irony in that. His first instinct was to dig into Ashland’s past, then he asked himself what right they had to question Victoria’s choices. Nikki was also against the investigation. She said the worst case scenario was that Ashland died too soon. If Ashland had a dark past, that was then, this was now, and what was important was the man Ashland was today, Nikki saw it.

At their place, Victoria asked if Ashland had a more personal relationship with this woman, and he said no. The woman was lovely, bright and fun to be with, but it was nothing like what he and Victoria had. Victoria wasn’t threatened by something that took place decades ago. She was just interested in the path he took to become the man he was today. He wanted to tell her everything, and he was glad she’d be by his side for the next chapter of his life.

Sally went to Crimson Lights and overheard Nick call Phyllis and leave a message wondering if she wanted to meet for lunch. Sally said Phyllis was where she always was lately, with Jack.

Victoria showed up at the main house when Victor was there alone. She asked if he started an investigation into Ashland’s past. He asked if that would surprise her. She said that Ashland didn’t have anything to hide. Victor hoped that was true. Victoria said she and Victor had gotten to a good place, and she hoped that didn’t have to change. She asked him to leave this alone.

Back to the Main Days of Our Lives Page

Back to the Y&R Updates Page

Young & The Restless Update

Recap written by Christine
Photos by Dora

Nate went to Devon’s hoping to see Moses. Devon said his brother was upstairs, but he was probably taking off soon. Nate just wanted to touch base with his cousin again. He admitted he was a little disappointed Moses wasn’t going into medicine, but it was his life. Nate thought that Devon would be a great mentor to Moses. He said losing Neil was hard on Moses, but he was growing into a young man now, and a lot of that was thanks to Devon. Devon gave Nate and Sofia credit too. Moses came down and overheard Devon suggest inviting Sofia out to visit. Moses didn’t want that because he thought his mom would want to take him back to NY.

Moses admitted that he’d been dodging his mom’s calls the past few days because he didn’t want to explain why he stopped pursuing a career in medicine. He said she was so excited about him becoming a doctor, and to her, there was a big difference between being a doctor and being in the entertainment industry. Devon understood that, but the job still required hard work and dedication. He offered to have that conversation with Sofia. He said that Neil wanted him to go into business, not music, but Devon was able to get him to come around. Nate and Devon knew Faith was one of the reasons Moses wanted to stay. Devon said he’d make the call to Sofia, but Moses would have to follow up with her and let her know he was excited about this decision. Nate had to go. Devon and Moses teased him about not being too famous to spend time with the little people anymore. He said he’d be around a lot, but right now he had to go fill a gap that just opened.

Ben was at Abby’s. She told him that Rey and Victor both checked in, but neither had any new leads on Mariah. Ben was concerned for Abby, but she thought they should be focusing on Mariah, because they had no idea what conditions she was in right now, whether she and the baby were getting nutritious food and whether they’d get the help they needed if something went wrong. Ben urged Abby to stay positive. With all the people looking for Mariah, a lead was bound to turn up. Abby just hoped Mariah knew how much Abby cared about her. Ben said of course she did, but Abby worried that Mariah felt abandoned by Abby. When Abby went through her purse for a tissue, she pulled out a Maternity brand protein bar. Ben picked it up, and Abby said that she always kept a few in her purse because Mariah liked them. Ben said he saw Maternity bars before.

Mariah exercised in her room and confided to Bowie that if the door even opened a crack, she was going to bolt. Mariah had a pile of the protein bars Ben recognized. She ate one then got up to do more aerobics. She suddenly grabbed her belly and said “what was that?” She inhaled sharply. To her horror, the sensation happened again, and she realized she might be going into early labor.

At Crimson Lights, Faith surprised Sharon by being excited for school to start in a few weeks. Faith knew she should dread the end of summer vacation, but this year already felt better than the last. Having a friend like Moses in her corner helped. She thought she could deal with the bullies this time, because she felt more mature and safe. Faith noticed something was off with Sharon and asked if she was okay. Sharon assured her daughter that everything was fine. Before Faith left for her meeting with Moses, she asked if Sharon heard from Mariah lately. As Rey walked in, Faith said she knew Mariah was taking some time to herself, but she barely responded to texts. Sharon pretended all was well, and Faith left. Sharon second guessed her decision to keep Faith in the dark about the situation with Mariah. Rey reminded Sharon that she’d decided not to worry Faith without being able to give her something positive, like a reason to believe Mariah would be okay. Abby called and told Sharon and Rey to come over right away.

Back at the Chancellor house, Ben told Tessa, Abby, Sharon and Rey that the last time he was in Genoa City, he saw a guy buying a whole bunch of maternity protein bars. Rey didn’t think that was much of a lead. Abby urged Ben to tell Sharon and Rey what he’d told her. Ben said this guy was an older man who could’ve been buying them for his wife, but Ben didn’t get an “expectant father” vibe from him. Rey asked for a description. Ben said he was average height with gray hair, and he was wearing a button down. Rey said just because this guy was older didn’t mean he wasn’t a father-to-be, or perhaps grandfather-to-be. Tessa thought the same thing. Sharon asked if Ben remembered anything else about that encounter. Ben recalled that the guy had a shopping list written on paper with storks on it. The guy dropped it, and Ben picked it up and handed it back. Tessa looked hopeful and asked if it was yellow, and Ben said he thought so. Tessa gave Mariah a notepad just like that, and Mariah kept it in her purse.

Rey, who now thought this was a promising lead, instructed Ben to dig deep and tell him every little detail he could remember, no matter how insignificant it seemed. Rey also wanted to know the name and location of this store and the time and the date of the encounter. He hoped they’d get lucky and the store had security footage. Sharon said that if this man had Mariah, buying the protein bars she liked was a good sign that he was taking care of her needs on some level. Elated by the lead, Abby called Ben a hero. Devon showed up. Rey made some phone calls to the station about Ben’s information. Sharon thanked Ben. Across the room, Devon said Christine hadn’t gotten in touch with Chance yet, but she was working on it. Abby hoped that Mariah would be home before Chance returned and their precious baby would be safe. Ben looked over at Abby.

Faith and Moses met at the park. She’d made a pop quiz for him, and she asked what they were doing on May 4^th. After some thought, he said they were played chess in her hospital room. She noted that they shared their first kiss recently, and she only kissed people she cared about, and they had to care about her enough to remember important times they shared together. She promised this trip down memory lane would be fun, but he looked nervous and asked what if he wasn’t good at dates and failed. She looked at him, and he sensed they’d be over if he failed. “No pressure right?,” she asked, and he grinned at her.

Moses got all the questions right, but Faith said that all his right answers would be thrown out if he didn’t know this last one. He didn’t think that was fair, but she said she made the rules. She asked what happened August 6^th. He was stumped, though he knew it was a few days after the concert. She said it was the day that he gave her the pressed vinyl copy of the concert. She got up to leave, since he didn’t know the answer. He said he liked her a lot, and he let her set all the rules and he tried not to pressure her, but it was impossible to pretend he was okay with just being friends. He wanted to spend time with her. “It’s what I want, not what I expect,” he said. He said she gave him this feeling all the way back on May 4^th when they were playing chess. Faith thought there was something so special about the vinyl record. It had a note from Kendra and Krista saying she should hold onto Moses. She said the last year went so wrong, but in a way it went right because she was still here and healthy, and he stuck by her through it all. She wanted to spend time with him too. He asked if that meant he passed. Moses thought Faith’s smile meant he got an A+ on her quiz, but she said he missed a question. He said he had a question, and if she got it right, they’d both get As. He asked what happened on August 13^th. That was easy for her – she’d never forget their first kiss. He didn’t think Nick would forget either. Moses suggested that he and Faith go on a real date, and she loved the idea.

Traci and Jack were at the Abbott house. He told her how excited Kyle and Summer were to have Harrison. He respected Ashland for doing what was best for the child, even though it would be hard to have Harrison so far away. Traci knew Jack was putting a positive spin on Harrison’s move, but she could tell he missed him already. He said she was very perceptive, which made her a good writer. She asked him to take a look at the book she was working on, which was a fictional account of Dina’s early days at high society in Paris. She only needed him to look at the first few pages. He said he could do a maximum of five before he had to go back to work. Jack became engrossed in the book, and Traci smiled knowingly as he devoured it. Eventually, she interrupted to ask him to take her to lunch, and he was shocked by how much time had passed. He asked how she knew this book was just what he needed. “I know you. And I thank my lucky stars for that every single day,” she said. They hugged.

At work, Billy asked why he’d try and keep things from Lily when she saw through him better than anyone. She suggested that one day he’d stop trying. He admitted he was trying to find something on Ashland that would make Victoria second guess the marriage, which Billy thought would be a mistake for Victoria, Johnny and Katie. Lily pointed out that Billy assured Victoria that he accepted her engagement. He said that if he didn’t find anything, Victoria would never know he’d investigated Ashland, so no harm, no foul. However, if he did find something, Victoria could be angry, or she could be relieved she and the kids dodged a bullet, in which case she’d be indebted to him forever. Lily scoffed and said to dream on.

Jack and Traci were at Society, and he told her that her book would be a bestseller. He thought her writing captured the spirit of their mother. Billy happened to come up, and Jack told him about the book. Billy wanted to read it, but not now, because he and Lily were having a game night with the kids. Traci stepped away to go chat with an old friend. Jack asked if ChancComm was still pursuing the story on Tara’s arrest. Billy said they couldn’t ignore a story of that magnitude just because it involved their family. He mentioned that they were working on a story that would be a deep dive into Ashland’s background. Jack didn’t think that would end well. Billy didn’t see anything wrong with an investigation. Traci returned, and Jack said their little brother was digging up dirt on Ashland, a man famous for destroying anyone who crossed him. Traci asked why Billy was doing it. Jack was concerned with how this would affect Victoria. Billy hoped to uncover something that would make Victoria second-guess this mistake she was making. Traci asked how Billy would feel if someone was slinging mud at Lily, and he said that was different because Lily was an open book. Jack wondered if this mistake Victoria was about to make was marrying someone with a terminal illness or marrying someone like Ashland. Billy didn’t see why it couldn’t be both.

Jack and Traci went back home, and she noticed that he was back in his mood. She asked if it was Harrison or Billy, and he said a little of both. He knew Harrison was where he belonged though, and he said he was fine. She said she’d tell anyone else to step back and recharge, but Jack was their father’s son, and she knew he wouldn’t do that. Traci said John would’ve thrown himself more deeply into work. Jack said he had his hands full now that his his co-CEO was in Italy. He told her to focus on finishing her fabulous new book, and if she was looking for someone to worry about, Billy was a good choice. He left the room, and she looked concerned.

Nate met Lily in her office. She told him that the numbers for AskMDNow were excellent, and he was a huge hit. He told her that was bittersweet for him. He’d been promoted to chief of surgery at the hospital, and he didn’t have the time to be the face of the site anymore. He was there to help her find a replacement. She was disappointed, but she understood, and she was proud of him for reaching this level of success. She said he’d be hard to replace – he had the good looks and brilliance in one package. He thought he knew someone who had all that and more – Elena. She thought that was an interesting idea. After Nate left, Billy brought Lily lunch and told her that he had work to do. The gleam in his eye told her it had to do with Ashland. A reporter had informed Billy that Ashland was involved with an older woman before he met Tara. There weren’t many details on this relationship except that she’d been very wealthy and Ashland had been in his 20s at the time. Lily said that wasn’t compelling, and it was a little ageist. Billy sensed there was more to it, and he was going to find it.

Elena was at Crimson Lights taking a minute to regroup when Amanda walked over. Noting that Elena looked exhausted and was still in scrubs, Amanda hoped that she wasn’t about to go to the hospital. Elena said her shift was over. She was trying to decompress with chamomile tea because she had to go back to work in less than eight hours. Things had been tough lately, as Elena had been picking up extra shifts. She didn’t know why her name kept ending up at the top of the assignment list. According to Amanda, Nate said the surgeons loved having Elena assist because she had the best bedside manner on the staff. Amanda joked that Elena should become terrible at her job so that no one would request her.

Elena finished her tea, but she said she was still tired and wired. Amanda thought Elena was just worn out. Elena said she had to go upstairs and force herself to sleep. Amanda asked if nobody at the hospital could lighten Elena’s workload. Elena said she was fine, but Amanda was concerned. Elena went upstairs.

Back to the Main Days of Our Lives Page

Back to the Y&R Updates Page

Young & The Restless Update

Recap written by Christine
Photos by Dora

At the main house, Victor told his security guy to gather information on Ashland. He said this was a priority, second only to finding out what happened to Mariah. Nikki walked in and wanted an explanation. After the man left, Nikki warned Victor that digging into Ashland’s past could cause more tension with Victoria. She didn’t understand why he was looking for something nefarious now. He said he liked Ashland and he wasn’t trying to break up the relationship. He just didn’t want there to be any surprises. Victor said that, like him, Ashland was ruthless in business. Nikki thought that facing your mortality affected people. Nikki said Ashland and Victoria loved each other, and if Victor insisted on going through with this investigation, Victoria would feel like he didn’t trust her judgment. He said he was a loving father who didn’t want his daughter to be unhappy, but Nikki said this would make Victoria unhappy. Victor just hoped his investigation didn’t turn up anything shady. Nikki didn’t think it would, since Ashland had been in the public eye for many years. Victor didn’t want Victoria to go into the marriage until she knew everything about Ashland.

Nick bumped into Billy at Crimson Lights. Billy promised to keep his opinions about Victoria’s impending nuptials to himself, but Nick admitted that he thought Billy made some good points. Nick said that if this wasn’t just jealousy on Billy’s part, he wanted to hear Billy’s concerns. Billy said, besides the obvious, that Ashland would probably die, leaving Victoria heartbroken, they didn’t really know anything about Ashland. Nick mentioned that he’d said the same thing to his sister and his parents. Nick commented on the trajectory of the relationship – Ashland got involved with Victoria before his divorce finalized, then he found out he had terminal cancer, then they got engaged. He said something wasn’t right. He added that Victoria had a terrible track record with men, present company included. Billy didn’t take offense. “No, no. take offense, Billy,” Nick replied.

Nick tried to figure out what the rush was – why did Victoria and Ashland have to make it official to spend time together? Billy said that when Nick asked those questions, it was like he was conceding that Billy knew Victoria better than anyone else did, even her own brother. Nick refused to agree that Billy was a Victoria-expert. Nick said he was talking to everyone in Victoria’s life to get a read on some of her actions. He wanted to stay out of her personal business if possible. Billy sensed that Nick wanted to know if he was going to use the resources at ChancComm to go after Ashland. “You want me to do the digging because if it blows up in my face then I’m the one that takes the brunt of it,” Billy said. Nick theorized that Billy was already planning to do this whether Nick encouraged it or not. Nick left.

At their place, Ashland told Victoria that Jack and Harrison arrived safely in Milan. Kyle and Summer were house-hunting in Basiglio for a place with a big yard for Harrison to play in. Victoria said the Newman apartment was lovely, but it wasn’t ideal for a family of three. She mentioned that Harrison would see Ashland during the wedding week. Ashland thought Victoria was sweet to try and arrange that for him. He already missed Harrison. They shifted gears and talked about wedding plans. He wanted the wedding to be perfect fro her. She mentioned she heard him get up last night and start working. He said things were rough when he went to bed, and he couldn’t sleep. He woke up feeling stronger, though. He thought that the healing came from being focused on something outside himself – something with so much meaning for both of them. He announced that everything was ready for the official launch of their conglomerate next month. She was surprised it would be done that soon.

Ashland had a surprise for Victoria. It was a sketch of two identical towers – one was Newman Tower, and the new one next to it would be Locke Tower. He estimated it’d take about three years to build it, and he thought he might even get to see it. She never imagined two buildings. He said it was a symbol that they were twice the company. She said that was quite the premise. He loved the idea of identical towers dominating the skyline for a century to come. She said she thought it was great, though she didn’t sound enthusiastic about it. She added that they’d talk about it later, because she had to meet her mom. She left, and he looked caught off guard by her reaction.

Ashland went to The Grand Phoenix. He told Phyllis he wanted to purchase a gym and spa package, as he’d be coming regularly as part of his treatment regimen. He figured he should do month-to-month at this time. She was willing to accommodate that. He shifted gears and thanked her for exposing Tara’s crimes. Finding out made certain decisions easier for him. Phyllis found it odd that Tara was able to fool Ashland. He said he’d loved Tara once, at least, it was a kind of love, and love made you see things differently.

Ashland said he and Phyllis got off on the wrong foot when he first came to town. He wanted to rectify that since her daughter was raising his little boy. She quipped that they were one big happy family, but he didn’t think they should go too far. He was impressed with the way Summer embraced her role as Harrison’s stepmother. Jack had reported that Summer was wonderful with him. Phyllis said that being a fan of her daughter would get Ashland a long way with her. He asked if she could help him win over her boyfriend. He told her how Nick compared him to Billy Abbott. It rankled him how the men in Victoria’s life treated her like a fragile flower, even though she was one of the strongest smartest, most capable women Ashland ever met. He’d told Nick that Victoria didn’t need to justify her actions to anyone. Phyllis said Nick was protective of his family. She thought Ashland had to concede that the circumstances of this marriage were odd. He asked what he thoughts were, since everyone else was weighing in. she thought true love was hard to find and it should be held onto. He hoped she could help Nick see this was only about two people who’d found the rarest of commodities – true love.

After Ashland left, Nick showed up. Phyllis told him about her talk with Ashland. Nick didn’t see the engagement ending well for Victoria. Phyllis said that it probably wouldn’t end well for Ashland. Nick had a feeling that something wasn’t right. Phyllis asked if he was going to try to talk Victoria out of it. He asked for one good reason why he shouldn’t. She had three – it was none of his business, Victoria was in love, which was hard to find, and Victoria was going to do what she wanted. He asked if she was saying he shouldn’t meddle to prevent someone he cared about from getting hurt. She said he was calling her a hypocrite, but he said he wouldn’t do that. “Sometimes your selective logic never ceases to amaze me,” he said. She told him to do what he wanted, because it didn’t matter to her. She just guaranteed there would be blowback from Victoria, though. He considered staying on the sidelines and letting Billy be the one to torpedo things.

Billy went to work and got on Lily’s laptop. She walked in and asked what he was doing. He claimed he was doing research on the project about romantic breakups in Genoa City. He was making a list of all the marriages and divorces, like Phyllis and Jack. Lily said not to forget Victoria, and Billy said he didn’t. Lily had a feeling Billy was hiding something from her. He admitted she was right. He not only was looking into long term residents, he was also looking into Ashland’s past, because that was another potentially dangerous and doomed relationship in the making. Lily noted that this sort of research was the job of the reporter who’d write the story. “So what are you really doing?,” she asked. She thought he was trying to find something that would make Victoria call off the wedding.

Sally ran into Adam at Society. She was having a bad day, and he offered to listen. Phyllis just sent her a massive bill for extras, like all the times Sally asked housekeeping for extra towels. He smiled at her ranting, but she said no one would be laughing when she paid Phyllis off for ruining her life. Adam thought Sally seemed to be better off. He reminded her that she’d said she found her niche at Newman Media – a place where her talents were appreciated, free from the town’s rampant hypocrisy. He said that maybe she should thank Phyllis, but Sally scoffed. He admitted that his attempts to get even had backfired, and he told her to learn from his experience. He added that payback was never as satisfying as you envisioned. She asked if he was suggesting she become a new and improved version of herself, like he did. He thought the fact that she didn’t leave town said a lot about how strong and determined she was. She suggested it meant she was stupid, but he vehemently disagreed. He encouraged her to channel her resentment into something positive and force her haters to watch her meteoric rise. She asked how that was working out for him. He said it was a lot better than doing things the old way. “Trust me,” he said. She replied that everyone told her that would be a mistake.

At Newman Media, Victor revealed that he knew Adam was trying to poach Locke employees. He said from now on Newman/Locke employees were out of bonds. Adam said he reached out to a select few individuals, and nobody made them come meet with him. Victor made it clear that Adam was not to undermine his sister or endanger the merger. Adam noted that he was in charge of this company, and he made the decisions. “You are an advisor. That’s the role you chose to work with me, your CEO,” Adam said. Adam stated that he’d taken Victor’s warning about Locke Communications group as advice that he could take, or not take. He had no doubt that Lily and Billy would see the same opportunity, and Victor said that was their prerogative. Adam said Locke’s employees were stuck in the middle of a transition, and he was offering solid ground. He said he wasn’t going to miss out on a potential goldmine of talent because Victor didn’t want hurt Victoria’s feelings. “It’s just business, Dad. As you have said a thousand times under similar circumstances,” he stated. Adam said he was doing what he needed to do, just like Victoria. He asked if Victor didn’t think Victoria was up to the task. “You know I do,” Victor said. Adam felt that this was part of business – competing for scarce resources. Adam asked Victor to keep his personal feelings out of it. “You’re my son alright. But I advise you to keep your personal feelings out of it as well,” Victor replied.

While at Society with Nikki, Victoria reported that Ashland’s treatment was going well. Nikki was happy to hear that. She knew all about making the most of the good days. Victoria mentioned that Nick had reserved judgment on her engagement until he got to know Ashland. She’d been hoping for family unity on the subject. “You have to look at this from our point of view,” Nikki said. She said the family was concerned about Victoria marrying someone who could leave her all too soon. Victoria said they were taking this step because they didn’t know how much time they’d have together. She asked why Nick couldn’t just support and respect her decision, the same way Victor did. Nikki looked away. Victoria shifted gears and said they had a wedding to plan.

Sally overheard Victoria talking about the A-list packed wedding she was planning. She was going to ask Summer if she could get Angelina Marchetti to design her wedding dress. Victoria described the gown of her dreams, and Sally secretly typed all the information into her phone. Nikki and Victoria discussed music for the wedding. Victoria wanted a harpist and a string quartet.

Nikki asked what, if any, arrangements they’d need to make for what was soon to be Newman/Locke. Would Ashland need an office and reception area, any special equipment etc. The topic made Victoria’s cheerful mood evaporate. Nikki said she could take care of all that while the couple was on their honeymoon. Victoria said she and Ashland never discussed it. Nikki noticed the shift in Victoria and asked if she was upset. Victoria said it was complicated planning for an uncertain future. She and Ashland were planning for the best but they couldn’t ignore the reality. Victoria thought it was wrong to focus a lot on Ashland’s work life, because she was worried he’d push himself. She didn’t want him to push himself. Nikki said that it might prepare Ashland for the best outcome. Victoria mentioned that the merger would be official in a month. Victoria spent countless hours making sure it would go smoothly. She wanted the same thing for the wedding. She wanted it to be a celebration of her and Ashland as a couple, not as business partners. She wanted to take the work situation by ear.

Sally was sketching something on her tablet in the park when Chloe showed up. Chloe asked about Sally coming into the office. Sally replied that she’d sent Chloe a text saying she was going to work in the park. Chloe ran into Adam at work, and he’d mentioned that he saw Sally earlier, so Chloe was here to check on Sally. Sally said Adam stopped her from making a huge mistake. She brought Chloe up to speed on everything. She said Adam’s advice resonated because he’d been in her position. Chloe knew the feeling of wanting to hurt someone 1,000 times worse than they hurt you. Sally knew Adam wasn’t Chloe’s favorite, but she really felt better after talking to him. She was ready to ignore Phyllis. Chloe said Phyllis liked going to war, so it was probably best for Sally to stay off her radar. Chloe said to trust her, and Sally said a lot of people were asking her to do that lately.

Sally said she got her best ideas outside sometimes, and shes promised to be just as productive as she would be in the office. Chloe asked what Sally was working on. Sally rattled off a list of things, but Chloe sensed there was something else Sally was working on that she was hiding. Sally kept pretending that there wasn’t anything else. Chloe noted that she’d asked Sally to be honest with her. Sally cracked and said she wasn’t going to share this idea until she was further along. She said she was going to convince Victoria to let her design her wedding dress.

Sally said she heard Victoria say precisely what she was looking for in a dress. She predicted Victoria would be blown away when she saw Sally’s sketches. She thought Victoria would feel like Sally read her mind. Sally said that the wedding would be the social event of the decade and it’d put their fashion platform on the map. Chloe admired Sally’s talent and drive, but there was no way Summer’s aunt was going to let Sally anywhere near this. Sally said so many people had written her off, and it only made her more determined to get what she wanted.

Victoria went home and called for Ashland. He wasn’t there. She picked up the sketch of the two towers and stared at it.
Back to the Main Days of Our Lives Page

Back to the Y&R Updates Page

Young & The Restless Update

Recap written by Christine
Photos by Dora

At the Chancellor house, Ben/Stitch told Abby and Tessa that he was sorry to hear about Mariah. He wished he’d been able to come back earlier, but there was an issue with Max. Abby was concerned, and Ben assured her that his son was stabilized now. He asked what Mariah had been saying. Abby and Tessa exchanged glances, and Tessa said they weren’t so sure that Mariah was the one sending the texts. Before he left town, Ben had been told that the texts didn’t sound like Mariah. He asked if they’d gotten more texts that seemed off. Abby stated that Mariah hadn’t used her credit cards or made any calls since she left. Tessa added that they took Ben’s suggestion of using a phone tracking app, but Mariah’s location was blocked. He asked if there was a ransom demand, and Abby said that was the strangest part – whoever was doing this wanted them to think Mariah left of her own accord. Ben didn’t think that made sense. Tessa noted that they inadvertently let the trail go cold because they thought they were respecting Mariah’s privacy. “If this is about time and not money, then why? I mean how long is this gonna go on. And what do we have to do to get Mariah back?,” Abby asked.

Ben suggested that they could find witnesses if they offered a reward. Abby was willing to pay, but she was holding off at Rey’s request. Tessa explained that Rey thought it was best if they let the kidnapper think their plan was working. Abby said it was excruciating – she wanted to text this kidnapper and order them to let Mariah go. Tessa said they couldn’t let the kidnapper know that they’d figured it out. Abby said she had to stay positive. Tessa couldn’t sit around anymore, so she went to go check on Sharon. Ben asked if there was something he could do. Abby said just having him here meant a lot. He asked how much confidence she had in Rey. Abby trusted him – he was a smart detective and Mariah’s stepfather. She said there wasn’t much Rey could do with so little to go on. She was starting to realize they couldn’t just rely on the cops.

Abby and Ben visited Victor at his place. He was shocked when she told him that Mariah had been missing for several weeks. Victor asked why Abby didn’t come to him in the first place. Abby admitted she should’ve. Ben said, in Abby’s defense, the kidnappers made it seem like there was no reason for concern. Victor promised he and his security team would find Mariah and bring her back.

Tessa went to Crimson Lights and told Sharon that Stitch was back in town, and he was with Abby. She said he was trying to be helpful, but they’d either already tried or decided against all his suggestions. Sharon said she had to trust that Rey would find Mariah. Tessa said she should’ve known Mariah wouldn’t just leave without saying goodbye. “If she doesn’t come back –,” Tessa cried. Sharon told Tessa not to even go there. Sharon was adamant that Mariah would come back because of the love Mariah and Tessa shared. Sharon said that love would keep Mariah strong and fighting to come back to them, and she implored Tessa to hold the faith.

Denise, the private investigator, met Devon at his home. She hoped Sutton would finally be held accountable. Devon thought Denise deserved a lot of credit – without her investigation, they never would’ve learned the real reason Sutton went after Amanda’s father. She was glad to do her part, but she’d turned over all her case files to the DA, if that’s what Devon wanted to discuss. He realized she was retired, but he was hoping that once she heard the circumstances, she’d be willing to look into a case for him. He laid out the facts of Mariah’s situation. Devon said that the baby Mariah was carrying was related to just about every powerful family in town. It was the son of Abby Newman Abbott Chancellor, and every family would move heaven and earth to find him. Denise asked why Devon felt like he needed her expertise too. He said there weren’t any leads, and he was impressed with how dedicated she was in Richard Nealon’s case. He noted that she uncovered things that had been cold for 30 years. He was also impressed by how personally she took cases. Denise was heartbroken that Richard never got to meet his children. Devon said there was another child who was in danger of never meeting the parents who were trying so desperately for finding him. Denise asked how Mariah and Abby’s families would feel about Devon taking the initiative and hiring her. He knew there wouldn’t be a problem because he, Mariah and Abby were like family.

Denise said the baby’s connection to so many powerful families added complexity to this case. She recalled that Abby had been a minor celebrity at one time, so she could have an obsessive fan or two. Devon added that Abby’s husband was a federal agent, so someone could be targeting his family, if his cover had been blown. Denise suggested that Mariah changed her mind and decided she couldn’t give the baby up. Devon said they considered that, but they didn’t think so, because Mariah had been excited about being a surrogate. He said that it was Mariah’s idea, and she volunteered to do this. “We actually volunteered together. She’s the carrier and I’m the donor,” he said. There were a lot of people who’d be devastated if anything happened to Mariah or the baby, and he wanted to do everything in his power to make sure that didn’t happen. Denise offered to do whatever she could to help.

Mariah paced around the room and talked to Bowie. She vowed to keep her promise to give Chance and Abby a healthy happy baby. “Hi there, precious little Bowie. I’m so glad that you’re here with me.” She tearfully said he was the only thing keeping her sane in this endless nightmare. She felt Bowie’s elbow jab her, and she wondered if he was hungry. She said there wasn’t a lot she could do about that, since she wasn’t in charge of the nourishment here. She thought they were in similar situations – trapped in a small space, completely dependent on someone else to bring them food, keep them alive, and with no idea of what was going on outside and no way to communicate, though at least he could send messages with his elbow. She was sure their families were so worried about them. This lunatic had her phone. She thought it might be a good sign that whoever this person was wouldn’t let her see them, so she wouldn’t be able to identify them later. Maybe that meant they were planning on letting her and Bowie go.

Tessa went home and sat in the dark living room. “Mariah, I miss you,” she said. Meanwhile, the lights were also out in Mariah’s room. She said she wanted to come home to Tessa. She was sure Tessa must feel that. Back at the Chancellor house, Tessa swore she’d find Mariah, no matter how long it too. Both women wept. Abby and Ben returned. Tessa ran over to them and said Mariah needed them. “She’s terrified. I can feel it,” she said. Tessa figured they thought this was in her head, but she knew what she felt. Abby believed her. She’d been trying to do the same thing with Chance, and she had to believe he could feel it. Abby believed Mariah could feel Tessa’s love and support. Abby said Victor promised to do everything he could to help. Tessa had a nagging feeling they were missing something. Abby said they could go over the texts again, but Tessa said there weren’t any clues in them. She excused herself to go write some music. It helped her think. Ben said this was hitting Tessa pretty hard. Abby said Tessa and Mariah were deeply in love. She didn’t know how anyone could do something so cruel to them. Abby swore she wouldn’t fall apart, because Mariah and the baby needed her.

Devon came to the Chancellor house and let Abby know he hired a PI. Ben came in from the kitchen, and Devon asked if he was going to be starting his job as chief of surgery at Memorial soon. “We’ll see,” Ben replied. Abby was confused because she thought it was a done deal. Devon said that his cousin, Dr. Nate Hastings, got that job. Ben didn’t want to say this before, because Abby was dealing with so much, but Memorial needed someone who could start right away, which he wasn’t able to do because he was with his son, Max. Abby was sorry to hear that, though she was happy for Nate. She didn’t understand why Ben came back if he didn’t get the job, though. He said he’d had a feeling that he needed to see how Abby was doing, and after hearing what was going on, he was glad he did. Devon looked skeptical. Abby told Devon that Ben went with her to talk to Victor. She then told Ben that Devon hired a private investigator. Ben thought it was a shame Chance couldn’t be there. Devon said there was a message on the way to Chance now. Abby would love nothing more than to have her husband with her, but in the meantime, having friends like Devon and Ben meant a lot to her. She turned to Ben and said she’d never forget how he’d been there for her and Mariah during this crisis.

Mariah sobbed because she worried that she wasn’t going to have the beautiful birth experience she’d planned. She told Bowie what it was supposed to have been like. “Tessa’s music was going to be playing in the delivery room.” Abby and Tessa were going to be by her side helping her through the delivery. She realized this psycho might plan to make her give birth in here, alone. She didn’t know if she could do it. What if something went wrong?

Adam ran into Sally at Society and asked if she’d found a place to live. She found something temporary, but she was looking for something more permanent, if he knew of any openings. He guessed that meant she felt optimistic about her new job. She intended to make herself indispensible, but for now, she’d buy him a drink. He thought that might be frowned upon by the HR policy. She noted that, as the boss, he could change the policy, or just suspend it for the night. He thought that kind of thinking may have gotten her in trouble at Fenmore’s. She didn’t think he was a stickler for the rules. She said he was rich, and she had bills to worry about, so he could buy her a drink. He did think she had a bright future at Newman Media, and to show her how confident he was about that, he’d let her buy him a drink.

Sally and Adam had a single malt that he chose. She listed the different flavors she detected, and he was impressed by her palate. She said this was a bit out of her price range, but since he ordered it, she decided to try it too. He thought Abby put it on the menu at their father’s request. Kevin and Chloe showed up and went to a different section of the restaurant. Chloe looked dismayed that Sally didn’t heed her warning about Adam. In spite of Kevin trying to stop her, Chloe went over to the bar and asked if she’d missed the memo on this little meeting. Adam said it wasn’t about business – he was just getting to know their new hire. Adam left. Chloe demanded to know what Sally was doing – why didn’t she listen to the warning about Adam? Sally reminded Chloe that she’d said buttering up the boss was good office politics. Chloe thought that Sally had been flirting with Adam. Sally said she was just being friendly. Chloe contended that Sally was letting her guard down and falling for Adam’s “great guy” routine. Chloe reiterated the message that Adam was not a great guy. Kevin walked over, and Chloe said he was a great guy. She made introductions. Sally pointed out that Chloe said everyone deserved a second chance. Chloe stated that she was talking about people like herself, Sally and Kevin – people with hearts, not the town sociopath. Sally thought that was brutal. Chloe said that her friend Chelsea literally grew up running cons, and she thought she could handle Adam, but he handled her – right into a psych ward. Kevin said Chelsea wasn’t the first – Adam had a gift for driving strong confident people to desperation. Sally asked why Chloe would be willing to work with someone like that. Chloe said that Adam owed her and Chelsea, and they were going to take what they wanted from him and move on, but they weren’t going to trust him or let their guard down.

Kevin and Chloe went back to their seat. He thought they got through to Sally. Chloe hoped so. She really liked Sally. Sally was a risk taker, which paid off in fashion, but caused problems in life. She was afraid Sally would need a little extra adult supervision. She apologized for making their date night about Adam and Sally. He thought about Mariah and wondered if there was someone looking out for her. She said that Rey was following all the possible leads, and he even questioned Adam. Kevin said Rey didn’t think Adam was involved. As warped as Adam was, there was no reason for him to take Abby’s baby or Sharon’s daughter. Chloe said that Adam just saved Faith’s life twice and scored major points with Sharon. It didn’t make sense for him to terrorize her other daughter. She said the only person whose opinion mattered to Adam was Sharon.

Adam entered Crimson Lights and asked if he was too late. Sharon was just closing, but she could get him coffee to go. He wasn’t there for coffee. He was hoping there was news on Mariah. He asked if there was anything he could do to help. She wished there was. She’d gotten his text, and she appreciated his concern. She hoped Rey could figure this out. He said if anyone could find Mariah, it was Rey. It was taking all her energy to keep her emotions and imagination in check, so she was sorry if she was coming off as rude. He said it was fine. He prayed Mariah would be home soon, safe and sound. She thanked him, and he left.

Adam went to the main house and overheard Victor instructing someone to see if Mariah bought a plane or train ticket under a false name. Victor hung up and he asked if Adam heard the news. Adam said Rey came to talk to him earlier. Victor didn’t think this was about ransom. He asked if Adam talked to Sharon. Adam said he did, briefly, and she wasn’t doing well. He said she’d already been through a lot this year, and she was hanging on by a thread. He asked if Victor thought Sharon had a right to be scared. Victor said this situation didn’t look good.

Back to the Main Days of Our Lives Page

Back to the Y&R Updates Page