Wednesday, August 08, 2007, Episode #5120

Andy likes the advice he gets from Stephanie.

At the bar at Cafe Russe, Andy wonders why Stephanie is so anxious to hook him up with Brooke. Stephanie feigns concern for her ex-daughter in law, who is going through a rough time after losing first her marriage and then custody of her kids. She thinks Brooke needs some warmth in her life, and since she didn't see a wedding ring on Andy's finger, she thought the handsome lawyer might be just to one to bring that warmth. Andy understands where he's coming from, but he fears Brooke might freak out by some guy who spilled a drink on her in a bar calling on her. Stephanie suggests that he buy Brooke some romantic gift and offer it as an apology for spilling the drink on her. Liking the idea, Andy toasts to it with Stephanie, who excuses herself. As La Forrester steps away from the table, Andy asks the bartender who that lady is. The bartender tells Andy that it was fashion diva Stephanie Forrester.

Bridget gets upset with Carl.

Nick and Taylor are at the hospital, where Bridget is examining Taylor. Nick looks at the latest ultrasound photo and proclaims that his kid must be a boy, since he's showing his "yo ho ho." Bridget corrects him that they can't tell the baby's gender yet, since baby Marone is being private about his or her private parts and is facing away. Just then, Carl comes in with some supplies. Seeing the Marones with Bridget, Carl gets flustered and drops a box of tongue depressors. As Carl tries to clean up, he listens to Nick ask about an amnio; Nick thinks the test might be a good idea because of Taylor's age, but then he recalls that the egg donor was a young woman. Carl starts to cough. Bridget tells Nick and Taylor that they should still do the amnio because of other possible complication, and she than asks Carl to step outside with her so the Marones can have some privacy. Carl goes with her into the hall, where Bridget asks what he was doing. Carl asserts that he was trying to remind her that an amnio might be needed, since her mother, who is an older woman, might be the donor. Bridget asks if he's really bringing that up again. Carl suggests she do a DNA test from the amnio, but Bridget points out that it won't work, since some DNA from Taylor would be in the fluid. Carl tries to press the issue, but Bridget warns him not to bring this up again.

Taylor questions the wisdom of Stephanie's actions.

After the exam, Taylor returns to her office, where she gets a visit from Stephanie. Stephanie wants to talk about Thorne, who she thinks has gotten worse since the night he yelled at Taylor at Bikini Beach. She tells Taylor how Thorne got upset by her comments about Brooke on TV. Taylor remarks that Stephanie did quite a hatchet job on Brooke on TV. Stephanie insists she was only telling the truth, but Taylor suggests that it would have been more prudent not to say anything, to avoid stirring the waters any more. "Hasn't Brooke been through enough?" Taylor asks.

Stephanie thinks she has Brooke all figured out.

Stephanie replies that Brooke has only her own promiscuous behavior to blame for the courts and Child Services taking away her kids. She's sure Brooke will wind up with another man soon enough, proving her true colors to the court. Taylor doubts that Brooke will not do anything to jeopardize getting her children back, and that includes avoiding sex. Stephanie concedes that Brooke will stay on the straight and narrow for now, since the authorities are watching her like a hawk. However, she thinks it's only a matter of time before some guy comes along and tempts Brooke, and then those kids will take a back seat again. Taylor doesn't think that's fair, but Stephanie insists it's going to happen.

Nick reassures Brooke.

When she gets home after her visit with the kids, Brooke calls Donna. Brooke tells her sister how well the visit with the kids went, despite the fact that Stephanie was there when she first arrived. She's just glad Ridge was there to keep his mother from interfering, although she wishes the visit didn't have to end so soon. Donna promises Brooke that Stephanie will pay for this soon enough and ends the call. Later, Brooke gets a visit from Nick, who was alone at the house since Taylor went to the office on a patient matter. Brooke tells Nick that he doesn't need to check up on her, but Nick insists that he's just concerned about a distraught employee and asks how the visit with the kids went. Brooke tells him it was wonderful, which is why it was so hard to come home after the visit to an empty house. She laments that her life seems so empty now.

Brooke gets a surprise gift.

After Nick leaves, Brooke gets a buzz from the gate from a deliveryman who has a package for her. Thinking it's some fabric from Clarke, Brooke buzzes him in. When Brooke opens the door to let the deliveryman in, we see that it's Andy.Playing the part of a nosy deliveryman, Andy asks Brooke why she's so upset. Brooke says she's just surprised, since this isn't what she was expecting. Andy notes how cozy the place looks and guesses that it looks like a great place to raise kids. Brooke asks how he knew she had kids; Andy covers that he saw all the photos of the little ones around the room. Andy guesses that the kids must be the lights of her love. "They mean everything to me," Brooke glumly replies. Seeing how upset she is, Andy forgoes his tip and offers to show himself out. Once he's gone, Brooke opens the box and finds a mechanical songbird in a cage. As she makes the bird chirp, she finds a note in the box and reads that it's from a "secret admirer." While Brooke wonders who the gift might be from, Andy peeks through the slightly ajar door and watches Brooke.

Donna asks Thorne if they can really have a future.

In Las Vegas, Thorne offers Donna some champagne and asks why she sees so distracted. Donna explains that she's starting to realize how complicated their relationship will be, since he's a Forrester and she's a Logan. She fears that his mother will always find a way to come between them. Thorne points out that his mother doesn't run his life, but Donna doubts that he could stop his mother's interference, especially after what Stephanie did to Brooke. Thorne tells Donna to forget about that, but Donna can't help thinking about it. She thinks about all the times she spent feeling second best all her life, but she doesn't feel that way when he's with him, and she fears she might lose that if Stephanie has her way. Thorne assures Donna that she matters to him, whether she's a Logan or not. He thinks they both deserve some happiness, as does Alexandria, and he won't let his mother interfere in that. Donna protests, but Thorne says he wants to make it impossible for him to lose her. Donna fears there are so many obstacles, but Thorne thinks they can get past those obstacles.