♪♪
>> Ridge: My destiny.
I don't even know what the hell that means anymore.
♪♪
>> Steffy: So, coming to Aspen was a good idea?
>> Taylor: Yes. Yes.
I don't know if it's just the altitude, but I'm feeling
lighter already. >> Steffy: Good.
I mean, maybe we should buy Bill's house.
And we could turn it into, like, a family retreat.
>> Taylor: Not just your mom's temporary hideaway.
>> Steffy: It's not a hideaway, Mom.
You're just getting away to figure things out.
>> Taylor: Yeah. With the help of my very
supportive daughter. >> Steffy: Sometimes
you just need to step away from things to really take
a better look at it. >> Taylor: You're right.
You're right. And I just want to find
a new path forward. That's it.
And just-- just feel like myself again.
>> Steffy: As long as that path doesn't take you away from us
and lead you right back to Dad. ♪♪
>> Brooke: Did Hope get back to you?
>> Liam: No, nothing. I- I'll text her again, though.
>> Brooke: She's probably still tied up in that meeting.
>> Liam: [ chuckling ] Please, let's-- let's avoid
the phrase 'tied up' when talking about Thomas.
>> Brooke: I'm really frustrated, too.
I really hate the fact that he's monopolizing her time.
>> Liam: Time at work, her time after work or time on weekends.
If she wants to see her son, she has to see him.
And I'm sorry. We are not being paranoid
and thinking that's exactly how Thomas wants it.
♪♪ >> Hope: I'm so sorry, Thomas.
That must have been a pretty stressful situation for you.
>> Thomas: Yeah, I mean, it was. Uh, I--
I held it together for Douglas, though.
I don't think getting upset with, um, two CPS officials
would have been the best look. >> Hope: [ chuckling ] Uh,
well, did they tell Douglas why they were there?
That they were with Child Protective Services?
>> Thomas: Uh, not-- I mean, not really.
They-- They kind of just asked him a few questions,
made sure he was okay, and-- and then left.
>> Hope: It's-- It's over now. And, uh,
the important thing is that you and Douglas are alright.
But I do want you to know that you can call me for backup.
>> Thomas: You would have been there for me?
>> Hope: Well, I-- You would be there for me,
wouldn't you? >> Thomas: Yeah, of course.
In a heartbeat. It's just I, um,
I didn't realize you had that much faith in me.
♪♪
>> Hope: I, uh, told Liam I wanted to stop by and see
Douglas later, if that's all right.
>> Thomas: You're always welcome. Beth too.
Uh, you now, Douglas loves seeing you.
>> Hope: Thank you. >> Thomas: I don't want
my house to seem like a place that you're not
invited to. You are always welcome there.
>> Hope: I appreciate that. Look,
I get that you probably feel like you're having to walk
on eggshells right now. But I want you to know that you
do not have to do that with me. >> Thomas: I know that you're
not exactly the most happy with Douglas continually
wanting to stay at my place. >> Hope: I miss him.
I miss singing him to sleep and hearing
his laughter in the cabin. >> Thomas: That's
a great sound. >> Hope: Yeah. It is.
♪♪ >> Hope: I wasn't exactly open
to this in the beginning. I had my concerns,
but it's clear that Douglas is enjoying
his time with you. And let's face it,
before we know it, he's going to be a teenager.
>> Thomas: No, no, no, no, no. I'm not ready for that.
I'm not. >> Hope: Oh, you will be.
You're good with him. And I've never seen Douglas
as happy as he is right now. ♪♪
>> Steffy: Do you want me to call Othello and get
some reservations going? >> Taylor: Oh, no. No.
I think I'm just gonna-- I just wanna stay in.
I have so much to sort through. >> Steffy: Okay.
I'll order in. >> Taylor: Okay.
>> Steffy: What goes with self-reflection?
Sushi? Thai. >> Taylor: [ chuckling ]
>> Steffy: Food for thought. >> Taylor: Yeah, well, for me,
something off the kids' menu, maybe?
The way I've been behaving. >> Steffy: Like a woman
in love. >> Taylor: Like a teenager
in love. Impulsive.
Not thinking things through. Uh, flirting with
your dad and kissing him. Just-- Oh, God, Steffy,
coming back to L.A. inspired some very
questionable choices for me. >> Steffy: No, Mom.
No, no, no, no, no. Coming back to L.A.
gave you another chance. Just please, please,
please do not give up on Dad. ♪♪
>> Thomas: You know, I--
I don't want you to ever wonder if Douglas
is actually safe with me. >> Hope: I know,
but I also don't want you to be afraid
to talk to me about things like what happened with CPS.
You know, we're-- we're a team. And we need to be able to
communicate, just [ chuckling ] like we do here at the office.
>> Thomas: We do that well.y
>> Hope: Collaboration and trusting each other
to do their best. >> Thomas: I'm trying.
>> Hope: Oh, I know you are. But I also get that
you're going to do things in your own way.
But just like here at work, we do have a common goal.
>> Thomas: Uh, speaking of a common goal,
um, not to change the subject but I got those details from
our new supplier and I put 'em into the latest projections.
>> Holly: I got that email, and they look great.
>> Thomas: Yeah, they're better than we expected.
>> Holly: I know. I am pretty proud to call
our line a success. >> Thomas: Our line?
>> Holly: I mean, Hope for the Future
is a team effort. You've been there from
the beginning, and you knew what I wanted to do.
And you managed to bring that vision to life.
And without your artistry and your dedication, I don't
know where we'd be right now. >> Thomas: Well,
you can count on me, Hope. I will always give my best
to you and Hope for the Future. >> Hope: Well, uh,
speaking of work, I think maybe we should get back to it.
>> Thomas: Yeah. Yeah. >> Hope: Um,
so I saw you were sketching. >> Thomas: Yeah, yeah, yeah.
>> Hope: Can I see what you got?
>> Thomas: Sure. It's this and the next page.
>> Liam: Well, here's an idea. How about you postpone
your dinner plans and we all just go marching over
to Eric's right now? >> Brooke: No, no, no. Okay.
Ridge and I are going to share a romantic dinner
overlooking the ocean. [ Liam chuckling ]
>> Liam: Yeah, I can't say I blame you.
You could use a win. >> Brooke: It's going to
be nice. You know, gives us a moment.
We can just push aside all of this tension and enjoy
reconnecting with each other.
>> Taylor: Steffy, you--
your dad and I will always be important in each
other's lives, but-- But I don't want to stay
stuck in the cycle anymore. >> Steffy: He loves you.
>> Taylor: And I love him so much, but I just-- I-- I--
I can't let those feelings impair my judgment anymore.
>> Steffy: You have to hold on. There is something so
amazing between you two. He adores you.
I see it in Dad's eyes every time he looks at you.
>> Taylor: I see it, too, Steffy. I do.
And that's-- that's why I need to stay away.
I have to. Because when I'm with your dad,
all I can think about is "what if?"
You know, "What if now is finally our time?"
You know? And I hang on to these little
glimmers of hope that, you know, that your dad
is gonna finally come to his senses and choose happiness
over obligation and tell me that Brooke is his past,
and I am his future. It's not going to happen.
>> Steffy: You don't know that. >> Taylor: Oh, God.
>> Steffy: Brooke is going to break his trust.
She always does. >> Taylor: Okay, fine.
If she does, she does. But we don't
need to wish for it. It's not right.
>> Steffy: It's who she is. >> Taylor: But it's not who
I am. It's not who I want to be.
Sweetie, I need you-- I need you to just stop.
Stop encouraging this thing between your dad and me,
please. Because I don't want it
like this. I don't. Please.
It's just gonna cause a lot of heartbreak and a lot
of disappointment for me. For all of us.
♪♪
>> Liam: Well, thank you for the tea.
>> Brooke: Of course. >> Liam: And, uh, yeah, I hope
you and Ridge have a really nice time tonight.
>> Brooke: We're going to have an amazing night.
Just like you and Hope will. >> Liam: Yeah. Yeah.
Um, if she comes home in time. [ Brooke sighing ]
>> Liam: Okay. Look, there's-- there's another piece to this.
Uh, and I'm so sorry. I ju- I really didn't wanna
burden you with it. I really didn't wanna fan
any flames, especially when it comes
to you and Ridge. But, um-- >> Brooke: What?
>> Liam: There have been a few nights th--
that Hope has brought Beth over to Eric's, um,
and she's been spending the night there, too.
>> Brooke: What? Hope never told me that.
>> Liam: I really want her to be careful, you know?
I really-- I want her to be aware.
>> Brooke: Now I'm actually really worried.
>> Liam: Well, that means a lot to me.
You having my back. >> Brooke: You need to be there
for my daughter, Liam. You guys are so good together.
You have a future with her. Just like I do with Ridge.
>> Hope: I know this
might be a bit of a crazy idea, but what if we actually did
a slit up the side? >> Thomas: Uh, to where?
>> Hope: I don't know, maybe here?
>> Hope: It's just a thought.
>> Thomas: No, it's a-- it's a great thought.
I'll work on it for sure. >> Hope: Yeah.
Well, I'll let you do that, and-- Oop!
I should go check on Zende. >> Thomas: Okay.
I'll, uh-- I'll-- I'll see you back at the house.
>> Hope: I am looking forward to it.
Bye. >> Thomas: Bye.
♪♪
>> Steffy: Mom, Dad loves you. And you know that.
>> Taylor: Yeah, but he's, uh, he's with Brooke.
And he's committed to her. So why wouldn't I respect that?
>> Steffy: Brooke don't even know what that word means.
It's only a matter of time before that marriage implodes.
Always does. >> Taylor: I don't want him
to be with me because Brooke let him down again or because,
you know, he got mad at her again or--
I want him to choose me because I am his first choice.
Steffy, that's what he's been to me this whole time.
And I deserve the same thing. That I want all of him
or nothing. It's very simple.
But he can't give that to me. I deserve so much more.
And I-- I'm not gonna do this to you and Thomas
and to my grandkids. >> Steffy: Mom, Thomas and I,
we want you two together and we'll do whatever we can
to help, but-- >> Taylor: Good.
Then focus on your own happiness and your own lives.
>> Steffy: Mom, you can be happy, too.
Just give Dad a little more time.
>> Taylor: Just a little more time?
Steffy, do you hear yourself? How much more time can I give?
I'm not doing it anymore, Steffy. I'm not.
It's-- It's not fair. I just-- I--
I keep thinking, like, you know how this story ends.
I mean, I do. Your dad finally comes
to his senses, and he-- he leaves Brooke,
and he comes to me, and I-- and I welcome
him with open arms. And we all get really
excited because we think he's gonna stay.
But it's just temporary. You know why?
Because his heart is divided between two women.
And he goes back to Brooke, and I am left brokenhearted.
I can't do this anymore, Steffy. I'm done.
I have to let him go. I have to.
With everything inside of me, it's so hard.
But I- I am going to, okay? Because I gotta give that
love and support to myself. I've been giving it away.
And, honey? It's breaking me. It's breaking
my heart and my soul. And I can't do it anymore.
And I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry. But I need you to understand.
>> Steffy: No, Mom, I get it. I get it.
>> Taylor: [ crying ] Okay? >> Steffy: I understand.
>> Taylor: You understand? >> Steffy: I understand.
I'm sorry. I understand. ♪♪
[ phone ringing ]
>> Thomas: Hey. I was wondering when I'd hear
from you. Are you and, uh, Mom in Aspen?
>> Steffy: Yeah, but it's not off to a great start.
>> Thomas: What do you mean? What's wrong?
>> Steffy: Mom's having a really hard time.
All this back and forth with Dad and Brooke.
It's starting to take a toll on her.
I mean, you knew it, but to actually see it?
>> Thomas: To see what? Her frustration with Dad?
>> Steffy: Yeah. Pain. Frustration. It's like
she's questioning everything. Their relationship,
her behavior, her judgment, all of it.
>> Thomas: Ah, so much for getting away from it all,
right? >> Steffy: So,
what's going on with you? Where's Dad?
>> Thomas: Wait, you haven't heard from him?
>> Steffy: No, that's why I'm calling you.
I texted him before we landed. I thought
he might be in a meeting. >> Thomas: Well, I don't
think he's in the building. Uh, I mean,
last we were speaking we were-- we were talking about Brooke,
but I haven't seen him since. >> Steffy: Huh.
>> Brooke: Hi, Ridge. Still trying to reach you.
Just let me know when you'll be home, okay?
That way I can order the car. 'Cause after the day we've had,
I just want tonight to be... [ sighing ]
Well, I just can't wait to see you.
[ sighing ] ♪♪
[ car arriving outside ]
♪♪
[ birds chirping ] >> Ridge: You've been
our strength through this whole ordeal.
[ indistinct ] And the only true thing in all of this.
I've never been so proud to have had kids with you.
♪♪
>> Taylor: [ sighing ]
>> Ridge: Taylor!
>> Ridge: Hey!
♪♪