Tuesday, July 11, 2006, Episode #4848

Ridge is in Thorne’s office, looking at a newspaper headline about Brooke and Nick’s wedding. “Shipping Magnate Marries Fashion Diva,” the headline reads. Thorne comes in with coffee for Ridge, who laments that Brooke really married Nick! Thorne tells Ridge that their mom called him with the news last night. Ridge still can’t believe it, as he always expected that he, Brooke, Hope and RJ would be together as a family. Thorne tells Ridge that Brooke loves him and always will, and he thinks that Brooke would be married to Ridge if Nick and Bridget hadn’t stopped Ridge’s wedding to Brooke. Ridge laments that he kept joking that Brooke was only trying to punish him; now he thinks the jokes is on him. Thorne tells Ridge not to beat himself up over this, even though Ridge thinks he deserves it after what he did to Taylor. Thorne advises his big brother not to think of this as karmic judgement, but rather, as part of life. He suggests that this happened to show Ridge that there’s someone other than Brooke out there, and he points to his own marriage as an example. Darla changes his life every day, he explains.

Thorne is surprised when Darla reaches out to Ridge.

As if on cue, Darla comes in. Ridge bets Darla’s here to tell him what a fool he’s been, so he holds his arms out and tells her to go ahead, because it’s true. However, Darla surprises Ridge and Thorne by giving Ridge a hug and telling him that she’s sorry that he lost Brooke. Brooke isn’t dead, Ridge points out, but Darla thinks the loss devastated him, nonetheless. Ridge asks Thorne and Darla why they’re doing this. Because they love him, Darla states. Since when? Ridge asks. Darla reminds him that his family is here for him to lean on after Brooke broke his heart. Ridge reminds Darla that she never liked him; she points out that he’s not the first person to call her a dingbat. It’s like she always tells Alexandria, it’s like sticks and stones. Ridge thanks her. Darla bets he’ll be back to his old self and insulting her again in no time. Ridge says he won’t do that again. In that case, Darla suggests, why don’t they make a fresh start by having him come by the house with the kids for Alexandria’s birthday party? Ridge isn’t sure he’d be good company, but Thorne quips that 4-year old Alexandria (who should really be 2 1/2 - my how they age fast in soaps!) won’t care if he looks like hell. Darla pleads with Uncle Ridge, who gives in and says he’ll bring Phoebe and Thomas with him. Good, a pleased Darla responds. Ridge thanks her again.

Taylor tells Thomas that she saw the headline about the wedding.

At the Bel Air mansion, Thomas tries to hide the newspaper with the story about the wedding, but Taylor tells him that she already saw it. Thomas asks how she feels; she hopes Nick and Brooke will be happy. Thomas reminds her that his dad left her for Brooke, but Taylor doesn’t want to talk about it. Just then, Phoebe comes in after getting home from London last night. (The part of Phoebe has been recast and is now played by Mackenzie Mauzy.) Thomas still can’t believe that she gave up a summer abroad, especially since Steffy loves it there. Phoebe retorts that she’s not Steffy; she found the weather depressing and the food gross, so she’s glad to be home. She hopes she can have lunch with her dad now that she’s back; Thomas suggests that their dad might not be in the mood after losing Brooke, since Ridge hates to lose. Taylor adds that Ridge has nothing to be ashamed of, although he might disagree given Brooke’s choice. Phoebe asks if Ridge can come home now; Taylor says it’s not that simple. She doesn’t want Thomas or Phoebe dwelling on this while they should be having fun this summer, so she sends them off to do something. Phoebe asks if she can borrow Taylor’s hybrid to go see some friends. Taylor says yes, as long as she’s careful. Phoebe promises she will be as she heads off.

Thomas worries about his mom's drinking.

Once Phoebe is gone, Thomas tells Taylor that he’s worried about how much she’s drinking, especially since he’s seen the empty wine bottles in the recycling bin. Taylor admits she’s worried, too. Thomas suggests that she call Ridge for help, but Taylor thinks she’s strong enough to help herself. Thomas suggests counseling, but Taylor thinks she can counsel herself. She promises Thomas that she’ll clean up her act and pour all her wine down the drain, so she can get back to being the mother he remembers - and the mother he deserves. Thomas tells her that he just wants her to be happy and gives her a hug. He then thinks he should be going, too; once he’s gone, Taylor goes over to a wine bottle that has two glasses next to it; she picks up the bottle and looks at it.

Phoebe drops in to see her dad.

Instead of going to see her friends, Phoebe goes to Forrester to see her dad, who is thrilled to see his big girl back home. She’s just glad he let her come home. Because of how much the trip cost? Ridge asks. He tells her that he doesn’t care about the money, since his little girl is home. He asks her if Steffy is homesick in London; not at all, Phoebe says, admitting she doesn’t get her sister. Ridge asks if she liked anything about London. The boys were cute, Phoebe admits; Ridge laughs that she was supposed to be studying, but she gets serious and says she couldn’t concentrate, because of how things were for her mom when she left. She tells him that Taylor misses him and asks if he can come home now that Brooke is married. It’s not that simple, Ridge says. That’s just what Mom said, Phoebe laments, wondering why he just can’t come home and love her mom again. She wonders if he’s still holding out hope that he can work things out with Brooke, since she recalls how much he loved Brooke while Brooke helped raise her. Ridge says that door is closed. Then come home where he belongs, Phoebe pleads. Ridge gives her a hug and tells her about Alexandria’s party; he asks if she wants to go with him. OK, she says, noting that she should get a present. Ridge gives her some money and tells her to go buy something. On the way, she stops in the doorway and tells her dad, “I love you, no matter what happens.”

Darla drops by the Bel Air mansion and finds Taylor pouring wine down the drain. Taylor explains that she’s doing this because Thomas is worried, and she wants to be the happy, together mom to him that she used to be. She admits she misses that happy person, too. Darla says she’s sorry; she feels responsible, since she and Thorne never invited Taylor over, because they felt it would be like choosing between her and... She stops before she can say Ridge’s name, but Taylor says it’s OK to say it. Darla says she saw Ridge earlier and saw he was hurting, but that’s not why she’s here. She tells Taylor that they’re throwing a bash for the family to celebrate Alexandria’s birthday, and she wants Taylor to come. After hearing that Ridge is going to be there, Taylor suggests that it’s probably a good idea for her to stay away. She tells Darla to give Alexandria a birthday hug for her; Darla tells her to deliver that hug herself, since she and Taylor are still sisters in law, and she wants them to be there for each other, no matter what. She tells Taylor to call if she needs anything, because she loves Taylor. “I love you, too,” Taylor replies.

It’s getting dark by the time Darla gets back to Forrester and finds Thorne still at work. She asks why he isn’t at home decorating for the party; he assures her that Sally has that covered. She worries that Sally is doing all the by herself, but he tells her to relax. Darla reminds him that Sally is like a mom to her. Thorne says he knows that, and her big heart is one of the things he loves about her. He tells her how proud he was when she reached out to Ridge earlier. Darla thanks him, although she laughs that Ridge was in shock about it. She asks if Ridge is still coming to the party. He is, Thorne confirms, suggesting that Ridge needs to be around family now. What he needs, Darla says, is Taylor; she tells him about her visit with Taylor, who passed on the party invitation. She thinks it was obvious to her that Taylor still loves Ridge and the life they shared. Thorne agrees and asks if she thinks Taylor and Ridge have a chance of reconciling; Darla isn’t sure, since Ridge broke Taylor’s heart. She thinks Taylor is a strong woman who has worked hard to get her life on track, so even the love Taylor still feels for Ridge won’t protect her from being hurt again. In fact, it wouldn’t surprise her if Taylor never took Ridge back.