Thursday, November 01, 2007, Episode #5179

Felicia is stunned to learn about the egg mix-up.

At Forrester, Felicia is glad to see Ridge back at work. When Ridge tells her that he's been dealing with something, she suggests that he means someONE, or more accurately, two someones. Ridge fills her in about Taylor's baby, informing her about both the baby's illness and about the egg mix-up. Felicia is stunned to learn that Brooke is the baby's biological mother. Ridge tries to tell her how the mix-up was a mistake, but Felicia scoffs and suggests Taylor sue the hospital. Ridge tells her that the only thing any of them want to do is move on, especially Brooke, since that will let Nick and Taylor raise the baby as they planned. But none of this is what they planned, Felicia points out - and she thinks that's true about Ridge, too, since it sounds like he dumped Ashley and went back to Brooke, who now has a baby with Nick. Ridge assures her that he and Brooke can handle it. "But what about Taylor," Felicia asks, pointing out how bizarre it would be for Taylor to raise Brooke's child.

Ridge assures Felicia that he and Brooke can cope with the situation.

Ridge reminds his sister that Taylor's baby is getting better after the transfusion, which is good news, even though they won't be out of the woods until the baby comes home. Felicia is skeptical that things will ever be normal given all the years that Brooke and Taylor have been rivals for the same man. Ridge assures her that Brooke is committed to him now while Taylor is married to Nick, but Felicia reminds him that there's a baby involved. A baby that Taylor bonded with as its mother by carrying it for eight months, Ridge asserts, but Felicia, as a mother, doesn't think it's that simple. She knows he and Brooke have been through a lot, but she thinks this baby will make for some rough times for the two of them. Ridge disagrees, informing his sister that they've all decided that the child is Nick and Taylor's. But is Taylor ready to raise Brooke's child as her own? Felicia wonders.

Bridget tells her mom to sign away her parental rights to baby Jack.

Bridget finds Brooke in the hospital nursery when she was supposed to be in Bridget's office 20 minutes ago. Brooke says she was just checking on Jack. Bridget comments about how hard this must be for Taylor, even though Taylor was just released and is on her way home. Brooke agrees that it must have been hard to leave the baby behind. Among other things, Bridget comments. Brooke tells Bridget that Nick came to talk to her. Bridget then tells her mom her chat with Taylor. "She thinks that this is my fault," she states, explaining that Taylor didn't come out and accuse her of causing the mix-up, but she could tell the thought crossed Taylor's mind. She fears those concerns are keeping Taylor from bonding with her son. Brooke feels guilty about that, since none of this would have happened without her actions. Bridget tells her not to feel guilty, reminding Brooke that a lot of the problem is caused by Taylor being separated from her newborn son. Brooke feels sorry for both Taylor and Jack and wishes there was something she could do. There is, Bridget states, handing Brooke some papers; she explains that these are the same forms the egg donors in the fertility program sign, so Brooke can sign them and give up her parental rights to Jack. She suggests that Brooke come to her office to sign the papers, but Brooke wants to spend a few more minutes watching the baby. Bridget gets paged; before she leaves, she urges Brooke to sign those papers for Taylor and Jack's sakes.

Sally with Clarke in Spectra's glory days.

C.J. is at the old offices of Spectra Fashions. As he looks around, he remembers all his mother's glory days (including some he wasn't even born for). Clarke comes in and asks C.J. if it's true that Sally is selling the business. When C.J. confirms it's true, Clarke remarks that he didn't even think Sally still owned the company. The people who bought it went bankrupt, C.J. explains, so the title reverted back to Sally (which doesn't make sense since the bank was ready to foreclose last we heard, and this doesn't account for Thorne owning half the business at that time).

C.J. wonders what his dad has in mind.

Clarke asks why Sally doesn't come back to run the place herself. C.J. points out that his mom isn't about to leave her life of cabana boys and champagne in Saint-Tropez to come back to the grind of running the company, so he's trying to sell the place. So no deal has been signed, Clarke realizes. Not yet, C.J. responds, but the phones have been ringing off the hook. Clarke tells C.J. to hold off on hearing any offers, since he thinks he has a buyer.

Phoebe and Thomas have questions about their mom and the baby.

Nick and Taylor arrive home, where Jackie, Phoebe and Thomas are waiting for them. Thomas and Phoebe have tons of questions about their mom and the baby, especially when it comes to the transfusion and the egg donor coming forward to save baby Jack. Nick assures them that the baby will be home as soon as he's able, ducking around the questions about what the egg donor was like. He tells them that they're all grateful to the donor for helping, but everyone agrees that the donor shouldn't be part of the baby's life. Taylor says she's tired, so Nick takes her upstairs. When Nick returns, Thomas and Phoebe tell him how worried they are that their mom doesn't seem like herself, but Nick tells them not to worry. Jackie asks the kids to take some things into the kitchen for her. Once Thomas and Phoebe leave the room, Jackie asks Nick if Taylor is really OK. Nick assures her that Taylor is doing as well as can be expected given the difficult circumstances around and after giving birth. Before Jackie can respond, the doorbell rings; they're both surprised to see Clarke there with a once in a lifetime opportunity for them. Nick points out that he's out of the fashion business, but Clarke points out that Jackie isn't and asks the Marones to come with him.

Jackie asks a skeptical Nick to hear Clarke out.

When Clarke brings Jackie and Nick to Spectra, C.J. is surprised at who the "buyers" his dad had in mind are. Nick thinks Clarke is trying to sucker him and his mom and motions for Jackie to leave, but Jackie asks him to hear Clarke out. Nick insists that they're not buying Spectra, but Clarke tells them that you can't "buy" Spectra; he explains that Spectra is more than just a name, but rather is an attitude that you have to embody. "It's a knock-off shop!" Nick scoffs. Which makes it the perfect means for the Marones to get back at the high and mighty Forresters, Clarke suggests; he points out that no matter what else you say about Sally, she never let the Forresters squash her under their heels.

Clarke hopes Jackie sees what he has in mind.

"You were pirates," Jackie says. The best, Clarke proudly beams. Nick doesn't think his mother wants any part of it, but Clarke disagrees, because he knows that Jackie wants to make money and to stick it to the Forresters, just like Sally always tried to do. He sees some of the same ambition and creativity that Sally had in Jackie, which is why he hopes Jackie's getting a few creative thoughts in her head right now. "I just might be, Clarke," Jackie laughs.

Taylor doesn't really want to talk to Brooke right now.

With Nick and Jackie at Spectra, Taylor is alone in her bedroom when Brooke drops by. Brooke apologizes, since Phoebe told her that Taylor might be asleep, but she thinks she and Taylor have both been thinking about Jack. Taylor says she's really not up to visitors now, but Brooke thinks they need to talk, even if it is a big awkward. "What are we going to talk about?" Taylor angrily asks. Brooke says she knows how hectic things are, so she's not here to make things worse. Taylor thinks she's still too much in shock to talk now, but Brooke points out that this whole thing has been shocking and overwhelming for her, too. She's sure Taylor will feel better once the baby is home, and she's been thinking about that a lot. Taylor asks if she's been to see the baby. Brooke admits she went by the N.I.C.U. earlier, and that just drove home her belief that she was nothing more than an egg donor for Taylor's child. "The donor was supposed to anonymous, and she was never married to Nick," Taylor scoffs. Brooke promises to distance herself from the baby, so Taylor suggests that she start by not visiting Jack at the hospital.