Wednesday, June 28, 2006, Episode #4839

At the beach house, Bridget says she can't let Dante go. She admits that this is her fault, but at least they know where they stand. Felicia accuses Bridget of feeling sorry for herself instead of for Felicia, and she thinks that's because Bridget wants to get back at her. Bridget asks what she means. Felicia recalls how the doctors told her she would never carry her child to term. But her son lived, but Bridget's child didn't, and she doesn't think Bridget can forgive that. A tearful Bridget says she never knew Felicia felt that way. Like Bridget said before, Felicia comments, at least they know where they stand now. Bridget says it's fine, but Felicia then apologizes for what she said. She asks herself why she would ever say something like that. Because if was the cruelest thing Felicia could think of, Bridget guesses, pointing out how she always loved Dino like her very own, even though Felicia nearly shoved the boy in her arms after she had just lost her own child. Felicia says she knows how selfish she is, no matter what Bridget thinks. She also knows Bridget hates her, or ought to hate her if she doesn't. Bridget asks why she would just watch Felicia marry a man Bridget loves if she hated Felicia. Then why did she? Felicia asks. Bridget says it was too late to change her mind, but Felicia says it's never too late. Bridget says she's not like Felicia. Thank God, Felicia retorts, recalling how she was the black sheep of the family who didn't give a damn about anyone until she had her son. She's never loved someone so much that she wanted better for that person than she wanted for herself. Bridget assures Felicia that Dante has feelings for her, but Felicia says she was talking about Bridget; she can take just about anything, except for Bridget just becoming a *distant* relative.

Dante wants to talk to Felicia.

Felicia tells Bridget that it's her turn, since Bridget got Nick. Nick was "on loan," Bridget says. Felicia asks why Bridget goes after her mom's men, thinking it would be like her going after Massimo. Bridget supposes that it's a reaction to seeing all the men walk away from her, leaving her wondering if she could have done something to make them stay. Felicia points out how Bridget isn't the only screwed up one, and she recalls how she even asked Bridget nicely if she could have a crack at Dante, provided Bridget didn't want him. Bridget recalls that Felicia was naked at the time. But that doesn't explain why Bridget agreed, Bridget points out. Bridget explains that she changed her mind. Felicia asks how Dante is supposed to trust that Bridget won't change her mind again. Bridget says that Dante understands her in ways no other man ever did, and she doesn't know why she took if for granted for so long. She wonders if maybe she thought love, like hers for Nick, was something she had to fight for. She guesses that Dante saw things in her that she shied away from because she thought of herself as ordinary, but she knows know that she ISN'T ordinary to Dante. As if on cue, Dante walks in. He starts to speak, but Felicia cuts him off and tells him that he is NOT going to tell her that the wedding is off!

Felicia thinks Bridget ought to thank her.

Dante asks Felicia to listen for their son's sake. She asks him not to bring Dino into this, but he tells her that he wants their son to know what an amazing mother he has, and to know how lucky his dad was to have ever loved this free and fearless. He reminds Felicia how she always admired that he was a dreamer. He looks to Bridget and tells Felicia that his dream came true, and that doesn't happen often. Wiping a tear, Felicia tells Dante that she doesn't just LIKE him, but she LOVES him, so she hopes he doesn't think he's letting her down easy. He's not, she explains. Dante responds that she would never let him. Felicia wipes another tear and tells Bridget and Dante that they ought to thank her for getting them off the dime, since they'd still be making cow-eyes at each other until they get old without her. Bridget and Dante smile as Dante admits there's some truth in that. Felicia turns to leave and takes off her ring, but she says she's going to keep it; after all, she might someday need proof that this drop-dead gorgeous man was insane enough to think he could make a wife of her. She turns, opens the door and leaves. Dante turns and stares at Bridget.

Brooke asks Ridge to let her go.

At the Private Dining Room, Brooke prepares a special evening with maitre d' Max. She tells him everything is perfect. Ridge steps in, so Max greets Ridge and excuses himself. Ridge and Brooke take their seats as Ridge starts to tell her what he thought when she called him here tonight. She asks him to stop and tells him that she wants tonight to be about the two of them that only they know, the couple that no one else sees. Ridge admits that others really don't understand them. Brooke admits it's been a hard year for them, especially watching him struggle, since she knows she contributed to his pain and didn't know how to take it away. She then looks down at his place setting; he follows her glance and sees one of the wedding announcements that Nick had made for them. So they're going through with it, he says. Brooke tells him that she'll understand if he can't be there. In fact, even her dad isn't going to be there, since she doesn't need to be given away. She tells Ridge that in many ways, he shaped her and made her the woman she is today. She loves him for half her life, and that's why she's now asking him to let her go. She says that she does love Nick and they will be together. He reminds her that Nick is still married to Bridget. She explains that the divorce is final. She pushed Nick to the limit - two strikes, he called it, and she doesn't want a third. That's why she's giving Ridge a choice. He can either keep pushing her, and she'll then push back. Or he can love her as he always has and be happy that she's happy.