Monday, November 14, 2005, Episode #4681

Nick and Brooke tell Bridget the truth.

At Brooke's house, Bridget asks Nick to admit the truth that he and her mother love and want each other. If they want to make it about the truth, Nick says, then she needs to know that he dragged Brooke out on his boat into the middle of the ocean, to confront their feelings. But nothing happened, and nothing ever will. Bridget asks Eric if he knew about this, and he guesses that was Brooke's way of proving what she wants. Brooke says all Nick can be to her is the father of Bridget's child. Bridget frets that they're blaming her again for her mom and Nick not being together. Nick reminds her that things change in life. Even the love of your life? she asks, pointing out to Eric that it sounds like the two of them are Brooke and Nick's backup plan. Eric says it's natural to want what you can't have, but sometimes you have to just see what you DO have, And since Bridget wants to be Nick's only love and can't, he supposes, she told herself she doesn't want him at all. But even if Nick will never love her like he does Brooke, Eric asks Bridget, why can't she trust the way Nick loves her [Bridget]?

Eric tries to help Bridget.

Bridget tells her dad that maybe he can do that, but she doesn't want a man who wants someone else. Nick doesn't, Eric says. They're all very clever at making her feel foolish, she says. Eric knows she can raise the baby alone, but he thinks that won't help her when she's alone in her bed at night. If she wants someone who's a blank slate to write her name on, he says, she'll be waiting a long time. Bridget tells Eric that she's not afraid of being alone or of raising a child alone, but she's scared about raising a child while thinking that love makes it OK to insult her. Eric tells her that no one is adverse to her standing up for herself, as she's done that with Nick. There is no Nick and her, she proclaims, as everything they had between them is gone. It's misplaced, Nick says, not gone. He pulls her ring out of his pocket. She's surprised he has it. He says he took it when she called him over. Did he honestly think she would ask for it back? she asks, suggesting they're broken beyond repair. Brooke reminds Bridget of the way her body and needs are changing as the baby grows inside her; she thinks Bridget's ideas of happiness will change, too, as will her commitment to Nick.

Hector opens up to Taylor.

At Ridge's house, Hector tells Taylor that he didn't mean to say that they should just make love because her husband isn't here. Taylor says she knows. Hector says he hasn't hidden anything from her, but Taylor thinks she has, as she only leans on him when things aren't going so well for her. She values his friendship, but she thinks he deserves better than someone who's fighting to save her marriage, If she gives herself to him, it should be out of strength, not because she had too much to drink when Ridge isn't around. They hear a car outside; Taylor guesses that the limo left, but Hector peeks outside and asks what kind of car Ridge drives, since a car just drove up.

Ridge comes in and is surprised to find Taylor in bed, awake. She asks if everything is OK in Big Bear. He says everything is fine. He just heard about the press conference and realized what an idiot he was for not being there for her. What his mother does isn't her fault, he says. He asks about the limo outside and wonders if Thorne is here; when he hears the limo leave, he guesses the driver was doing his paperwork. Actually, Taylor says, the driver was waiting for Hector, who just left to avoid a scene when he heard Ridge drive up - although he was leaving anyway. Ridge asks why that last part matters. Taylor explains how she and Hector had champagne and stopped here to clean up. Ridge sees the wet towel by the bed and asks if Hector dried off in this room. They didn't have sex, Taylor states. Ridge points out the way she's dressed in a night gown and wonders if Hector wanted to kiss her again - or if she wanted to kiss Hector again. Taylor doesn't think that's fair. Ridge says it shouldn't surprise him that a man would want to spend even an hour with her, which is why he should be thanking God that she chose him for a lifetime. He couldn't take losing her again, he says, so he'll have to do better. They embrace.

Ridge tells Taylor that they'll be OK once he gets his head on straight. He realizes he shouldn't have come down on Taylor for his mother stealing the company from under him. He guesses he wanted to put distance between himself and the thing he was robbed of. Taylor reminds him that Stephanie felt robbed, too. But the way she acted, Ridge says, wasn't just getting back at Eric; his mother chose her methods knowing it would hurt Brooke the most. Taylor agrees that Stephanie may have made some unusual decisions and probably will again, but she also has some good ideas. Ridge agrees that Stephanie's idea of a line appealing to all women is a good one, and he would create a whole line along those lines if he were in charge. At the same time, he can't just turn his back on everything the company did to try something so unique. Taylor thinks Stephanie would ask for changes if she ran into trouble. But would she change those things based on real facts? Ridge asks. He doesn't think it matters, since he intends to take the company back.

Ridge and Taylor come to terms.

Taylor wonders if Ridge is reluctant to tell her what he has planned since she's on Stephanie's team. But she's also his wife, Ridge says. And they shouldn't let a business disagreement break their marriage beyond repair, Taylor says. So they don't have to discuss it, Ridge says. Taylor says it would make sense that he wouldn't support her career given how much support he showed tonight. Ridge says he's not proud of what he did tonight, but at least it scared him enough to get his priorities straight. She admits she was scared, too, and she's not proud of that. She suggests forgetting Stephanie. Ridge is OK with that, but first, he wants to make a phone call. He calls Hector and thanks him for being there for Taylor tonight and for getting her home. Ridge knows he hasn't been too courteous to Hector lately - he hadn't noticed, Hector quips - but Taylor speaks highly of the fireman and their friendship, so Ridge is glad Hector was there tonight when he couldn't be. Hector says that Ridge must have a lot of demands for his attention. But there is nothing more important than Taylor, Ridge says. Hector comments that Ridge has been wasteful and careless most of his life and guesses it's never too late to grow up. Ridge bids Hector goodnight and hangs up. He then turns to Taylor asks what they should do without the kids in the house. He holds up the alarm clock and asks if they should set it. Taylor tosses the clock across the room. Ridge tells her not to let him lose her. She leans in and they start kissing passionately.