Tuesday, October 24, 2006, Episode #4921

Eric supports Bridget in telling Felicia and Dante about her baby's father.

At her beach house, Bridget waits with Eric for Felicia and Dante to arrive for dinner. Eric asks if she's sure she wants to break the news about her baby's paternity to Dante and Felicia this way, since Felicia is bound to see this as bad news. Bridget asks her dad not to be so negative, but Eric says he's just being real for a change. Bridget responds that she just wants Felicia and Dante to realize that she can raise this baby alone, so nothing has to change for them. Eric asks what makes her think Felicia and Dante will do that; "Because I am not losing another child," Bridget replies. Dante and Felicia arrive; Felicia sees her dad there and asks to talk to Bridget alone, but Bridget tells her that Eric knows about her pregnancy. Felicia says she has no secrets from her husband-to-be, who she send over to Eric with Italian wine and sparkling cider they brought. Felicia suggests that Bridget not even try to hush up about the baby, even if they avoid mentioning "the other party's name." Bridget tries to change the subject, but Felicia comes back to the baby. Felicia asks if Brooke knows; Bridget says he mom knows about her and Nick. Dante asks, "There is no 'you and Nick,' right?" No, Bridget responds. Felicia asks how Brooke reacted to the news; Bridget says she really doesn't know where her mom's marriage stands, but Felicia guesses that it was a shock for Brooke to learn that her husband and daughter slept together.

Felicia and Dante are stunned by Bridget's announcement.

Over dinner, Bridget tries to share some stories from the hospital, but the only patient Felicia wants to talk about is Bridget herself. She offers to talk to Brooke on Bridget's behalf, to smooth things over. She's sure things will be easier if she reminds Brooke that when a baby is involved, nothing matters but the child. Bridget is glad Felicia feels that way. Felicia recalls how everyone tried to get her to abort her pregnancy because of her cancer, and how she decided nothing else mattered but the child. She made up her mind and expected everyone to get on board with her decision. In that case, Bridget says, she needs to explain something. She tells Dante and Felicia that she prefers to raise her baby on her own, but Felicia and Dante don't see that happen. Dante reminds Bridget that she and Felicia mean the world to him, so... Felicia cuts him off and tells Bridget that she and Dante would be thrilled to be the baby's godparents, but Bridget says she was trying to say something else. She tells them that she made a mistake about how far along she is. Confused, Dante asks Bridget if she was with Nick more than that one time since their divorce. Bridget confirms that it was only that one time. Then how far along is she? Dante asks. Bridget blurts out, "The baby's yours." Felicia and Dante are stunned.

Ridge decides to move back to Taylor's house for now.

At Taylor's house, Stephanie is with Ridge, who has decided to move back in for now. Ridge wonders how long it will be, but Stephanie is confident that Taylor has a chance now that Thorne gave her permission to fight for her freedom. Ridge comments that permission to hope can make a difference; Stephanie thinks that applies to him, too, reminding him that Brooke was in court with him today. Ridge still thinks it's not over till it's over, but Stephanie thinks it's over for Nick after sleeping with Bridget, even if Nick won't accept it. After Stephanie leaves the room, Ridge goes to answer a knock at the door; he finds Jackie there, claiming that she want to check on Phoebe. She's surprised to see Ridge there, but when he tells her that he's moving back in, she approves; she wonders if he regrets moving out in the first place, since that set him on his futile quest to pursue Brooke again. Ridge accuses Jackie of being so obvious; she tells him that her Nicky would never walk out on his marriage, but Ridge points out that the marriage is walking away from "Nicky" already. Jackie teases that Brooke and Nick are dining together as they speak. Ridge says he knew, and he's not surprised that Brooke chose to be in a public place to break the bad news to Nick, given Nick's temper.

Jackie taunts Stephanie.

Stephanie comes in and is surprised to see Jackie, especially after Ridge tells her that Jackie claimed to be checking on Phoebe. Jackie says she didn't know Ridge was here, so Stephanie accuses her of wanting to come over to fill Phoebe's head with insinuations about Ridge and the soon to be ex Mrs. Marone. Ridge tells him that Jackie thinks he should be there for Taylor, but Stephanie sees through Jackie. Ridge asks his mom to stay here with Phoebe while he goes to pack the rest of his things; as Ridge leaves, Jackie commends him for doing the right thing. Once Ridge is gone, Stephanie asks Jackie who she is to commend anyone. Jackie thinks Stephanie isn't helping by encouraging Ridge to think that Nick will give up on Brooke. Stephanie laughs at how Jackie makes Nick sleeping with his step-daughter sound so trivial, although she's not surprised at Nick's actions given his trashy mother. She thinks Jackie has no sense of decency, but Jackie thinks Stephanie is one too talk with her knack of stamping out passion. Stephanie brings up Jackie chasing Eric and Jackie's failed marriage to Massimo as examples of Jackie's "sexual depravity," but Jackie thinks Stephanie's the one who is depraved by suppressing any passion. She suggests that lack of passion is why Eric keeps searching for the passion Stephanie has lavished elsewhere. In fact, she bets Stephanie even has Brooke's lingerie picked out - perhaps something demure that Stephanie would wear, so that Ridge can fantasize when he slips it off that he's making love to Stephanie! Disgusted, Stephanie hauls off and slaps Jackie in the face!

Nick has dinner with Brooke.

Brooke arrives at Cafe Russe and joins Nick, who is already seated. She thanks him for coming, so she didn't think she could be open with him if they were alone. Nick takes that to mean that she didn't think he'd listen. Brooke reminds him that even before he slept with Bridget, they had problems in their marriage that they overlooked. Then why don't they just say it like it is, Nick suggests, so they can either commit to their marriage or move on. The waiter comes by to take their order, but Nick says they're not ready. As the waiter walks away, Brooke scolds Nick for speaking for her again. Nick points out that they're not ready, but Brooke tells him that she doesn't need him to be the father he never had. Nick says he doesn't feel fatherly toward her, but Brooke says she wouldn't know it with the way he tries to answer for her all the time. She needs him to accept that her father walking out on her family will always shape her life, as will the father of her son. Nick says that he was trying to protect her from her ex-, but Brooke tells him that it's not his place to cut off her son's father, or to tell her to work from Marone instead of Forrester. Nick tells her that it's not her he mistrusts, but she thinks he's not one to point fingers after sleeping with her daughter. Nick reminds her that Bridget asked him not to tell her about that; then he's the one who doesn't know where his loyalties lie, Brooke states.