Friday, May 11, 2007, Episode #5057

Stephanie assures Ridge that he did the right thing.

Backstage at Forrester Originals, Stephanie assures Ridge that he did the right thing at the press conference. Ridge frets that he implied that Nick was involved in Shane's death. Stephanie insists that Nick's comeuppance is long overdue and tells Ridge to get on with his life, but he's not sure how to do that. Ashley comes back looking for her cell phone. Stephanie reminds Ashley and Ridge that they have a date to reschedule and makes herself scarce. Laughing at his mother's lack of subtlety, Ridge tells Ashley that he still wants to take her out and asks if she's still interested. Ashley says she is, so Ridge asks if she's busy tonight. She replies that she can't, since she has to get home to her daughter Abby, who's with a sitter. In that case, Ridge offers to bring dinner to them. Ashley accepts.

Ashley's daughter Abby shows Ridge photos of her family in Genoa City.

Ashley comes home and thanks an off-screen Catherine (who must be real busy between Hope, R.J., Alexandria and now Abby) for her help. Ashley then sits with Abby and asks if she had fun with Catherine. Abby (played by Darcy Rose Byrnes, who played her most recently on The Young & The Restless) says she did. The doorbell rings, so Ashley sends Abby to answer it. Abby goes to the door and greets Ridge (who must have met Abby before, since he asks Abby if she remembers him). Abby ushers Ridge, who has plenty of take out food from Cafe Russe, inside. After dinner, Abby shows Ridge photos of her family in Genoa City, including her daddy Brad Carlton; she says that she talks to her daddy every day and he might come visit soon. Ashley tells Abby it's time for bed and sends her to put on her jammies.

Ridge has some questions for Ashley.

Once Abby goes up, Ridge tells Ashley that she's settling in nicely here in Felicia's beach house, which Felicia rented to her after moving back to one of the Forrester guest houses to be near the family. Ash guesses it's nice have the family close by. Ridge agrees that it is, as he well knows having relied on his mother a lot lately. Ridge turns the conversation back to Ashley, who's glad she found a fresh start in L.A. Ridge asks if she needed to find something new, or if she needed to get away from something. A bit of both, Ashley replies. Ridge thinks that sounds like she has a story to tell and asks if it's about Victor Newman or Brad Carlton. Neither, Ashley replies as she flashes back to her time with Rick in Paris. After Ashley tucks Abby in, she talks some more about life in L.A. Ridge decides they've talked enough and kisses her.

Phoebe is stunned by Nick's accusation.

Nick invites Phoebe to the Marone mansion to ask her some questions, since she was the last one on the boat the night Shane died. Phoebe hopes she didn't do anything wrong. Taylor assures her that Nick just needs information. Nick asks Phoebe if she noticed anything out of place on the Marlin, or if she drove it. Phoebe says she was careful not to move anything, and she certainly couldn't steer a boat that size. Nick recalls that she said her dad came to see her on the boat the next day; Phoebe confirms that her dad came to check on her, since Shane followed her to Insomnia the night before. Nick asks if that was the last time she saw Shane. Phoebe recalls that Shane came by Forrester Originals the next day. Her grandmother let the staff go home early as a reward for their hard work on the Rodeo Drive opening, so there weren't many people there when Shane came to see her dad. She recalls that she was waiting for her dad in his office when Shane arrived. She could sense something different about Shane from the desperate look in his eyes, and it freaked her out, so she asked him to leave and called security to keep him from returning. But she never actually saw Shane leave the building. Nick asks Phoebe if her dad was still in the building. Phoebe thinks so, but she didn't stay around to find out. She guesses from Nick's questions that he thinks her dad is involved with Shane's death and insists that Ridge couldn't have been! Phoebe looks to Taylor for support. Taylor tells Nick not to make accusations without proof, but Nick thinks they all have to accept that Ridge doesn't like him and would love to see him hang for this.

Taylor wonders what Stephanie is up to.

Later, Taylor is alone, recalling how Nick told her and Brooke that Ridge might have set him up. Stephanie drops by to see Taylor. Taylor asks if they can talk tomorrow, but Stephanie wants to talk now. Stephanie says that she's held her tongue about Taylor's relationship with Nick out of respect for Taylor, but she can't do that now. She urges Taylor to end her relationship with Nick. Taylor points out that Nick is her husband now, and she plans to stand by him. La Forrester tells Taylor not to play the martyr again, but Taylor insists she loves Nick, who may have given her a child. Stephanie asks Taylor if she's pregnant; when Taylor says she doesn't know yet, Stephanie retorts, "For your sake, I hope you're not." Taylor asks why Stephanie even cares; Stephanie points out that Nick may go to jail, but Taylor is sure that Nick will clear his name, especially since he has a lead. "What lead?" Stephanie asks. Taylor doesn't want to say, since she knows Stephanie won't like it, but Stephanie presses her into admitting that Nick thinks Ridge set him up. Stephanie thinks that's ridiculous, but Taylor says that Nick feels quite strongly about it. Stephanie excitedly demands to know where Nick is; surprised at Stephanie's anxious tone, Taylor wonders why Stephanie needs to know. "Is there something you're not telling me?" Taylor asks.

Ashley gets a call from Nick.

Ashley and Ridge are kissing when Ashley's cell phone rings. Ridge tells her not to answer, but after a few rings, Ashley thinks she should and picks up. She's surprised to find Nick on the line, hoping to talk to her. Without saying who she's talking to, Ashley says this is a bad time. Nick asks if she's with Ridge; when Ashley is taken aback by the question, Nick takes that as a yes and asks her not tell Ridge who she's talking to. Nick asks if he can see her; Ashley firmly tells him to call her assistant in the morning for an appointment, but Nick says it has to be tonight. Ashley says she's sorry, but she can't. Nick asks for just a few minutes of her time, but she again tells him to call her assistant and hangs up. Ridge asks if everything's OK. Ashley says she'll deal with it tomorrow. Ridge guesses he should be going, since it's getting late. Ashley thanks him for dinner, but Ridge thinks he should be thanking her for giving him the chance to make things right. Ashley bids Ridge good night with a kiss and he leaves.