Wednesday, June 07, 2006, Episode #4824

Dante enjoys spending time with Dino.

Felicia is at Dante's house, watching Dante play with Dino. She wishes he could be the way he described her before. He thinks she is, but she bets he doesn't even remember what he said. He said she was caring, loving and a good mommy, he recalls. Impressed, she adds that she could be less impetuous and crazy, but he thinks that's the best thing about her. But does that make her a good role model? she asks. She loves their son, so what else does she need? Dante asks in reply. They agree that Dominick is the best thing that ever happened to both of them. When Felicia goes to put the baby down, Dante eyes a jewelry box across the room. When Felicia returns, she tells Dante that she loves being together with him and Dino. Family is important, Dante agrees. Felicia bets HIS family is ticked that she wouldn't let him take Dino to Italy and assures him that she put a stop to her mom's attempts to deport him. She wants their son to know his father's family, too. Dante's glad, since he talks to his family all the time about Dino, and they always ask when they'll get to meet Dino's mother. Probably to ask why they aren't married, Felicia guesses, asking if he told her all the things about her he told her earlier. He says he may not have been too subtle, but she thinks his "lead glove" approach was perfect, since it shows he cares. Of course he cares about the mother of his son, he replies. In fact, he suggests he take her to Italy to meet his family!

Felicia is stunned by Dante's proposal.

Felicia is stunned by the invitation and asks Dante if he's sure. He points out he wouldn't ask if he wasn't, so Felicia says yes and gives him a short kiss that then gets deeper. Pulling away, Felicia remembers that she left him a hickey as a souvenir of that night in Nice. He tells her it wasn't hard to conceal, but she's still sorry about that. Speaking of being impetuous, Dante thinks they should do that now and picks up the jewelry box. Felicia recognizes it as the engagement ring he gave Bridget. Bridget didn't want it, he reminds her, so he wonders if she'd like to wear it to Italy. Felicia guesses that he wants her to wear it for show, so his parents will think they're engaged, but Dante tells her that this isn't pretend. He opens the ring box and tells her again that Dominick is the best thing that happened to them both, and he feels complete whenever he's with her and Dino. She laughs that he may not be doing this right, so he gets down on bended knee and asks her to marry him. They can be a family with their son, he adds, and it will be "perfecto!" Impressed, Felicia laughs as she accepts his proposal! Perfecto! he says again as he slides the ring on her finger and kisses her.

Stephanie tries to apologize to Brooke.

In the Forrester CEO's office, Stephanie apologizes profusely for throwing the letter opener at Brooke. Old habits die hard, Brooke responds. And that's all it is, Stephanie says, pleading for Brooke to believe that all she wants it to make Ridge happy. Since she sees that Brooke being with Ridge makes him happy, she hopes Brooke won't turn her backs on them. Brooke says she is, but Stephanie fears that Brooke's letting other people, like Nick or Stephen, influence her. Brooke tells her to stop saying that, but Stephanie can't help it. Ridge is RJ's father, Stephanie points out, and he's begged Brooke over and over to forgive her. Brooke asks if she's entitled to have a little humility after everything Ridge and Stephanie have both put her through. Stephanie says that's she's groveled and begged, so what else does she have to do? She can start by accepting her decision to run Forrester from Marone Industries, Brooke replies. Stephanie reluctantly agrees as long as she knows Brooke will come back here to the Ridge and the family. Brooke asks if she can really trust Stephanie. She can, Stephanie says, telling Brooke that this is her home. She hopes Brooke can see that and gives her a hug. Ridge walks in at that moment and is pleased to see his mother and Brooke in such a tender embrace.

Ridge assures his mother that he'll get back together with Brooke.

After Brooke leaves, Ridge comes back in and thanks his mother for the effort she's making in trying to accept Brooke. He admits he couldn't believe it when he saw them hugging. He also knows it can't be easy for her to know that Brooke controls 52% of the company. Stephanie admits that there was a moment where she wasn't sure if she wanted to hug Brooke or kill her. She assures Ridge that she intends to do anything in her power to convince Brooke that this is where she belongs, but she worries about what might happen if Nick and Brooke marry. Ridge tells her not to worry. He reminds her that Nick and Bridget's divorce won't be final for months, and in that time, he and Brooke will be spending lots of time working together on the Brooke's Bedroom line. By the time they show that new line, he promises, he and Brooke will be back together.

Bridget wants Nick to be happy.

At the beach house, Bridget tells Nick that she's happy for him; she thinks he's up to the challenge of loving her mom, which can sometimes be tricky. Nick thinks he is. Then why is he still here? Bridget asks, urging him to find her mom. Nick thanks her. He then tells her that he hopes she's not waiting around to see if things don't work out between him and her mom. He tells her that he still loves her, so he wants her to be happy, too. Bridget says that sometimes, when it comes to her mom, it's hard to see things for what they are. Nick wonders if that makes him stupid. He may be stubborn and pig-headed, Bridget says, but he's not stupid. Still, she thinks it's time for the two of them to let go. Nick gives her a goodbye hug and leaves, leaving her sitting alone on the sofa holding the baby blanket she made for Nicole.

Brooke assures Nick that she wants to be with him.

When Nick gets to Brooke's, he finds her on the patio. He tells her that he talked with Bridget in an attempt to make sense of this, and he still doesn't want her working with that family. And she doesn't want to throw them out of their own company, she says, which is why she compromised and agreed to run things from Marone. She knows that he's still sensitive about Ridge, but she assures him that she can handle this, and she won't let Ridge do anything to her. But Ridge already has! Nick argues. She promises Nick that Ridge will see how committed she is to him. Nick fears that Ridge won't back off. And now that she's chosen to let the Forresters stay, he wonders what she really wants.