Thursday, January 31, 2008, Episode #5239

Ashley is flattered but surprised by Taylor's request.

At the Marone mansion, Taylor is on the phone making preparations for her dinner party tonight. She tells the person on the phone that Brooke will be there and asks the person to "get here and get the job done." When she hangs up, she tells herself that things will change for Brooke after tonight. Soon after, the doorbell rings, and it's Ashley, who tells Taylor that she was in the neighborhood and decided to stop by to see the new baby. Taylor invites Ashley in to chat. While comparing experiences raising a new baby, Taylor tells Ashley she needs a favor and asks Ms. Abbott to be Jack's godmother. Ashley is flattered, but she wonders why Taylor would pick her. Taylor explains that she feels a kinship with Ashley since they both suffered losses to Brooke, and she needs someone like that in her life now. Ashley admits she needs that kind of friend, too and remarks that Taylor seems much happier today. Taylor agrees that she's feeling much better now, so much so that she's hosting a dinner party tonight with Ridge and Brooke as the guests of honor. "It is going to be a night to remember," Taylor boasts. After getting a peek at Jack, Ashley thinks she should be going and asks Taylor to call her with details after her dinner party. "After tonight," Taylor pronounces, "Nick and I will be able to live our lives in peace."

Ridge discusses Taylor's invitation with Brooke.

Meanwhile, Brooke is in her office, chatting with Ridge about the dinner party. She confides that it seems odd that Taylor would invite them over for dinner given Taylor's recent attempts to put some distance between them over the situation with Jack. Ridge reminds her that she was the one who suggested that the two of them needed to get along with Nick and Taylor, but Brooke still finds something odd about the invitation. Brooke gets a call that there's an emergency in the sewing room that only the great Ridge Forrester can solve, so Ridge prepares to go save the day. Before he goes, he tells Brooke that like it or not, their lives are intertwined with Nick's and Taylor's, so it's probably for the best that they learn to get along. After Ridge, Nick stops by to chat with Brooke about the dinner party. Nick asks if she's sure she wants to be there. Brooke tells him that Taylor and Ridge both seem gung-ho about it, but she's not sure she's ready for it. Still, she thinks Ridge is right that they should make tonight a fresh start for the four of them, so she and Ridge will be there. She wonders if Taylor is up to something. Nick doesn't think so, as he thinks Taylor is just making an attempt to put her fears behind her. Brooke hopes he's right, but she can't shake the feeling that tonight will be about more than just dinner. After Nick leaves, Ridge returns from the sewing room. He and Brooke chat some more about the dinner party and agree to keep a positive attitude before heading home to get ready.

Rick learns about Taylor's dinner plans from Ashley.

Later, Ashley drops by Eric's office and finds Rick busy at work. After making a really bad "knock-knock" joke that leads Rick to criticize both her sense of humor and her singing, Ashley asks him why he's here so late. He explains that he had some things to wrap up. Ashley tells him about her visit with Taylor earlier, so Rick asks how Taylor seemed, since he knows Taylor has been going through a lot lately. Ashley surmises from the comment that Rick knows about the egg mix-up. Rick admits that he does, and he confides that he's a bit surprised to hear that Taylor was fine when Ashley saw her given how stressed out Taylor was when he last saw her. Ashley admits she was worried at first, but Taylor really seemed much better and even invited Brooke and Ridge to dinner tonight. Rick finds it hard to imagine his mom, Ridge, Nick and Taylor having dinner together, and it seems even odder to him that it was Taylor's idea. Ashley agrees that it seems strange, but she suggests that Taylor is just trying to make peace with the circumstances of Jack's maternity. She tells Rick that Taylor even has some big surprise planned tonight for tonight. Rick wonders what that means; Ashley isn't sure, although she recalls that Taylor said the surprise would make the night unforgettable and would solve all their problems.

Nick greets his dinner guests.

Nick arrives home and finds Taylor cheerfully setting the table. She asks him if he can go check on Jack while she finishes up here and gets dressed. "Tonight is going to be a whole new beginning for all of us," she promises. Soon after, Taylor comes down all dressed up; Nick compliments her on how beautiful she looks just as the doorbell rings, heralding the arrival of their guests of honor. Naturally, things seem a bit awkward between the foursome, but Taylor thanks Ridge and Brooke for coming tonight. "Tonight is the start of something wonderful," she enthuses, hoping the four of them can be friends after this dinner. While Taylor goes to the kitchen to check on dinner, Nick offers Ridge and Brooke a drink. "I thought he'd never ask," Ridge sarcastically comments to Brooke.

Taylor has a surprise for Brooke and Ridge...

After they sit down for dinner, Taylor proposes a toast to health for their families and to new beginnings. The others echo sentiment as they clink their glasses. Following the toast, Nick wants to chow down, but Taylor has something to say first. She talks about all the shared history among the four of her and admits that she's been harboring anger over that which has just been poisoning her. She doesn't want to go through that anymore, so she's decided to put and end to her pity party and rise above it all by looking at the positive. She thanks Brooke for giving Jack to Nick, confessing that she's finally come to see what a gift Brooke gave them. Brooke nervously laughs that she was glad to give Taylor and Nick their son. Taylor tells Brooke that she wants to give something back now, which is why she invited Ridge and Brooke here to give them a special surprise that's going to change all their lives. Ridge and Brooke both seem wary about that statement, even after Taylor assures them that this surprise will help give all of them closure and help them move on with their lives as friends.