Monday, September 24, 2007, Episode #5151

Eric doesn't care to talk to Felicia about Stephanie.

By the Forrester pool, Eric pulls back from kissing Donna, reminding her that he's still a married man. "Are you?" she asks. Eric points out that a kiss is not just a kiss, but a start of something between them that probably wouldn't end well. Donna laments that she's tired of living life based on how she expects things to turn out and asks why they can't just let things be. Eric suggests that's how the guard rails on the highway of life work. Before Donna can reply, they hear a car pull up. Donna fears it might be Stephanie. Eric agrees it's possible his wife is back, so he suggests that Donna grab her clothes and leave. Sighing, Donna gets her things and bolts for the house, so Eric is alone when Felicia pops by the pool to share some good news about her love life. Eric guesses this has to do with Constantine. Felicia confirms that it does and tells Eric that the singer/producer has asked her to meet up with him at the Seattle stop on his concert tour. She'd like to go, but she has deadlines for their upcoming fashion show, and her mother's not around to watch the baby. Eric tells her that he'll both watch the baby and cut her some slack at work, so she can go. Felicia thanks him, regretting that she can't share the news with her mother. She asks Eric when Stephanie is coming home; he tells her that he doesn't know, and he doesn't really want to talk about his wife at the moment.

Felicia asks Eric not to make a hasty decision.

Felicia asks Eric what her mother did that has him so down. Eric laments that Stephanie got out of control again, and he regrets that he didn't rein her in when he should have. Felicia reminds him that Stephanie is an uncontrollable force of nature who has crossed the line so many times, so she can't imagine anything bad enough that Eric wouldn't forgive Stephanie for. Eric informs her that Stephanie has gone too far this time and has to pay for her actions, and he's so disappointed in his wife that he doesn't know or care where she is. Felicia can't envision a scenario where her dad can't patch things up with her mom, the woman responsible for Felicia being here today. Eric gets her point, but he can't look at Stephanie as this incredible woman knowing what she did. Felicia realizes that her dad isn't going to tell her what her mother did; Eric doesn't see the point, since it would only take the burden he's carrying off his chest and put it on Felicia's. He's sure that Stephanie, wherever she is, can take care of herself. Felicia asks her dad to at least think of all the things he accomplished with Stephanie over the years, since she doesn't want him making a hasty decision he'll later regret. "You'll never find another woman to be Mother's equal," she states, pointing out how her parents are opposites that attract each other. Eric concedes that he's proud of his family, but he just doesn't know the woman Stephanie has become. Felicia reminds him of all the things Stephanie has forgiven him for and thinks he owes her mother a little forgiveness in return.

Donna asks Eric if she wants to leave.

Up at the main house, Donna is dressed and is about to leave when there's a knock at the door. Unable to leave and still avoid whoever it is, Donna answers the door and finds a deliveryman with a letter that needs to be signed for by either Eric or Felicia. Realizing that the deliveryman thinks she's Felicia, Donna signs Felicia's name and accepts the letter. Once she closes the door, she looks at the envelope and sees that it's a letter from Stephanie. She looks at the fire burning in the fireplace, then at the letter, considering what to do. Eric comes in and is surprised to see Donna still there. He's even more surprised when she hands him the letter from Stephanie and admits that she considered burning it. Eric thanks her and puts the letter in his pocket, since he's sure it's just another apology like all the ones he's heard before. He asks Donna if she has something to say to her. "Only the wrong things," she laughs. Eric warns that he's not going to seduce her, and he's not going to turn on the lights, either. Donna asks if he wants her to go. Eric finds it refreshing that for the first time in maybe twice Donna's lifetime, someone is asking him what he wants, but he concedes that he doesn't really have an answer. He does know, however, that he doesn't want her to go. Donna tells him to think of her not as a mistake that he fears making, but as a messenger. She thinks he sees something in her that other men don't, and she fears she won't find out what it is if she leaves know. Eric responds by kissing her.

Rick tries to keep Ashley from being hurt.

At Forrester Originals, Ashley has returned to the lab after her time in the sauna. When Rick appears in the lab door, Ashley is worried. Rick assures her that he's not here for round two. He just wants to help her skip over the part where she gets disillusioned and hurt, but if she wants to do this the hard way... Ashley reminds Rick that he was the one who let her down, and she doesn't think Ridge will do that to her. Rick tells Ashley again that he had to make a choice, and he thought she knew that by now. Ashley concedes to Rick that his mother has a connection to Ridge that she has to respect, just as she has things she needs to keep private with her own ex-husband. Rick asks Ashley how much rope she's willing to give his mom and Ridge in private before Ashley hangs herself with that rope. That's the question, Ashley says, turning for the door and asking Rick to lock up. Rick tells her that she knows where to find her if she needs him as she bolts out the door.

Ridge looks at the ring that signifies his future.

Ridge is busy at his Bel Air mansion, meeting with the caterer to choose the wine for dinner. He tells the lady caterer to call him when the meat is on the grill, as he doesn't want the meat to overcook. The caterer excuses herself to get back work. Ridge takes out the engagement ring he bought from the jeweler and looks at it. When the doorbell rings, he closes the ring box and puts it on the living room table, next to his cell phone and out of sight. He answers the door and greets Brooke, who is impressed that he pulled out all the stops for this "little dinner." Ridge admits that he doesn't feel very casual tonight. As they sit down to dinner, Brooke admires that he went to all this trouble. He explains that he didn't feel like he said what he meant during their last conversation. Brooke is glad he thinks that, since there is more to their relationship than broken trust and disappointments. And tonight is about all those other things, Ridge informs her, the many good things like their son and their future. He admits that they had it all so many times before, but something always got in her way. Brooke corrects that his mother got in their way with her deceptions and manipulations, , but Ridge doesn't think they can blame everything on his mother. Brooke tells him that she wants the once in a lifetime feelings they shared back again, but Ridge doesn't want to go there and have the rug pulled out from under him again. Brooke promises that it won't be that way if he can just give her a chance to bring family, trust and happiness back to their lives.

Brooke wants to focus on getting her life with Ridge back.

Ridge tells Brooke that they shouldn't dwell on the past, since they are in a good place right now. Brooke agrees that it feels like old times, with the two of them sitting across from each other at dinner, like she's the only other person in his world. She doesn't want to argue with him anymore. She just wants to focus on Hope and R.J. and getting their lives back together, because she feels like they are all so close to making that happen. She's sure that they will have the best years of their lives if they can just give themselves over to each other, because that will mean that they have endured pretty much everything and come through it together, with their love stronger than ever. Realizing that's she's going on, Brooke apologizes for babbling. It's just that she is so excited, since this is the moment she's waited for most of her life. But since she knows Ridge asked her here to tell her something, she tells him that she's going to shut up now and let him speak.