Tuesday, April 10, 2007, Episode #5035

Brooke tells Rick that she's decided to resign from Forrester Originals.

Brooke is in Eric's office at Forrester Originals, looking at the issue of EYE ON FASHION covering her and Ridge's Rodeo Drive wedding plans. The image of her and Ridge on the cover sparks several memories; Ridge proposing to her at the first Forrester Originals press conference; Ridge and her spending time together by the Sydney Harbor; Ridge striking Rick in Sydney; and her breaking up with Ridge after the Sydney blow-up. Rick comes in and asks his mom if she's OK; Brooke admits to Rick that she can't stop thinking about how Ridge hit him in Sydney. Rick confesses that he hates seeing his mom so hurt, even though he opposed her being with Ridge, so he asks how things have been. Brooke says they haven't been so good, which is why she's decided to resign from Forrester Originals. Rick can't believe his mom is giving up her career and asks if she's doing this because of Stephanie. Brooke explains that she's doing it for Nick; she tells Rick how Nick was always bothered by her working with Ridge while they were married, so she wants to show Nick how important he is to her. Rick admires her initiative, but he warns that Taylor might be pregnant already. Brooke however doesn't think Taylor is pregnant yet, so she'll cross that bridge with Nick when she comes to it. Right now, she wants to know how things are with Rick and Phoebe.

Rick talks with his mother about Ashley.

Rick says things are great with Phoebe. Brooke senses some reluctance from Rick about discussing his sex life with his mother. Rick tells her that there is no sex between him and Phoebe, since they agreed not to make love until they're committed. Brooke thinks that's great, even though her son is a grown man and has had his share of women by now. Rick tells his mom that she sounds just like Ashley. Brooke is surprised that he talks about his sex life with Ashley, but she then recalls how closely Rick worked with Ashley in Paris. She guesses things must have went well there, since Ashley wouldn't have called looking for a job at Forrester Originals had things been unpleasant in Paris. Rick is confused, since he thought she called Ashley; Brooke explains that Ashley contacted her first.

Nick asks Phoebe to trust him.

Phoebe drops by Forrester Creations to see Nick. Meriah asks Phoebe if she has an appointment, but Nick tells his assistant that it's OK and invites Phoebe to sit down and tell him what's on her mind. Phoebe assumes Nick knows that her dad and Brooke called off the wedding. Nick asks if she thinks it's really over for those two. She admits she never thought Brooke and her dad would break up, but they have, so she can't help but consider that her parents might reunite now. But even so, she knows her mom is engaged to Nick and trying to have a child with him, and she sees how happy Nick makes her mom. All she's wanted since the break-up with Thorne is for Taylor to be happy, but her whole family hates Nick for taking their company. But she doesn't want to hate Nick, and that's why she needs to know if she can trust Nick - and more importantly, if her mom can trust him. Nick replies that she and her mom can both trust him, and he hopes he'll have the chance to prove it. He tells Phoebe they're a lot alike, since her situation with Rick was sensitive, too, and he thinks he can understand what she went through. Phoebe indicates that he's one of the few people who didn't freak out over her and Rick. Nick tells Phoebe that her mom wants the best for her, and he thinks she feels the same way about Taylor. He admits he's not perfect, but in the end, he and Taylor love each other, and that's the only answer he has for Phoebe. When he thinks about it, he suspects that's the only answer Phoebe needs to hear, too.

Phoebe has a chat with Brooke.

Phoebe goes back to Forrester Originals and looks for Rick, but she finds Brooke in the office. Brooke thinks that Rick is in the lab. Phoebe turns to go look for Rick there, but Brooke asks Phoebe is there's anything else she wants to say. Phoebe tells Brooke that she's sorry about the break-up with Ridge, which she feels partially responsible for. She thinks Brooke and her dad would be married had Brooke not stood up for her and Rick, which is why she hopes that time might heal the rift between Brooke and her dad. Brooke tells Phoebe that she needed a clean break in more ways than one, and that's why she's resigning from Forrester Originals. Phoebe is stunned, but Brooke thinks it's best for everyone. Phoebe asks Brooke if she hopes to reunite with Nick, who is now engaged to Phoebe's mom. Brooke supposes things will work out like they're supposed to, just like they did for Phoebe and Rick. Phoebe tells Brooke that she loves Rick; Brooke says she knows that, and she thinks Rick is lucky to have Phoebe by his side. She offers to call Rick for Phoebe, but Phoebe says that's OK and heads down to the lab to look for Rick herself.

Ridge regrets his mistakes with Brooke.

Meanwhile, Ridge and Ashley find themselves locked in the supply closet. Ashley asks Ridge if he's going to answer her question and tell her what he does to get over someone, assuming it's not too personal. Ridge is willing to tell her if she's willing to listen. She's interested in hearing what makes a lady's man like him tick and tells him to go ahead. Ridge admits that the old Ridge Forrester was a lady's man, but the man he is now wants to find out how he messed up and lost Brooke when they were so close to having it all. Ash asks if it's really over with Brooke; Ridge says it is and wonders how he bounces back from losing everything he and Brooke shared. Ashley suggests that things might get better over time. Ridge takes that answer as a hint that Ashley has had some experience with this. Ashley admits that she has; she knows what it's like to love someone so deeply that it hurts when you lose that love. Ridge asks if that means that a man is responsible for all the changes in Ashley's life lately. Ash asks why men always assume that a woman's desire for a fresh start must be connected to some man. She admits she made some mistakes, and some have had to do with men. But one thing she's learned is that people always take their baggage with them. Ridge agrees and wishes there was a button someone could press to instantly erase one's mistakes, since he made an impulsive mistake with Brooke, Rick and Phoebe by hitting Rick. But he couldn't help it after seeing Rick in bed with his daughter!

Victor confronts Ashley on Y&R, circa: 1986.

Ashley admits to Ridge that she can see why he'd get upset seeing the older, more experienced Rick alone with his 18-year-old daughter. Ridge is glad someone finally sympathizes with him. Ashley tells him that she still abhors violence, but she can understand about having regrets, having had more than her fair share of regrets in her life. Ridge asks for an example of what she regrets, so she tells him about how she made a huge mistake involving her ex-husband, Victor Newman, long before they were married. She thought the decision was best for everyone, but looking back, she can't help but wonder what her life would have been like had she made a different choice. She then flashes back to a time (in a 1986 scene from The Young & the Restless) when she told Victor that she had aborted their child that she was carrying. As they stood in the rain, a furious Victor lashed out at her for making that decision without consulting him. Back in the present, Ashley tells Ridge that no matter how bad you want it, you just can't go back. She knows his heart is broken, but she's found that endings bring about new beginnings. She advises Ridge not to dwell on the past lest he miss those opportunities, which sometimes show up when you least expect them to. Like being in a closet? Ridge asks.